P.O.V. Excalibur Prime.

Why?

A simple three letter word and the unanswerable question. Why did this happen? Why did I do this? Why do I feel this way? Why, why, why!? The only thing I knew was that I. Fucked. Up…

Royally.

I love you. I said those three words. Three words that can move mountains and heal wounds. But love is a double edged sword. You can say it but not mean it. Me? No I meant every word. I love you… I love… Twilight Sparkle. There was no denying the truth. But the truth has always come to bite me in the ass. The Tenocyte Virus did... I haven’t explained the Tenocyte virus yet? It’s the infested, I’ll explain later. In 1000 years I ended wars, killed countless numbers of men. I’ve saved lives and taken them. I’ve been shot stabbed and beaten, burned, electrocuted and poisoned. But that was nothing compared to what was pulling at my heart.

I loved… Twilight… Sparkle.

I landed –no- crashed somewhere in Eastern Equestria. When I disconnected from my archwing and crashed onto the ground and rolled –violently- on the ground before I hit a tree, thus bringing my tumble to a stop. I had to have broken a few ribs at the rate of speed I hit that tree. But I didn’t care. I did the thing that I shouldn’t have. Not only did I go on a date with Twilight… but I left her there…

Alone...

Her world and heart were probably as broken as the Moon, my Moon to be precise. I rose to my hands and knees. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I leaned back on my knees and screamed as loud as I could.

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY!!!!!!?"

My head fell forward and I looked at the ground with a blank expression.

“Why?” I mumbled. In a fit of rage and sadness I stood up and promptly punched the tree I hit during my crash. Half of the trunk exploded in splinters.

As I stood there with my arm extended, my teeth clenched, and breathing heavily. The tree screeched before buckling and falling over behind me. I straightened my stance… sort of. I stood with a hunch, my head was hung low and my arms were bent. I balled my hands into fists and opened my Venka. The next ten minutes were a rage filled fit. I hacked and slashed at everything I could get my hands on. When I was done I walked about twenty feet and fell to my knees. Behind me sat fallen trees and destroyed boulders. It was a mess Rhino would have been proud of.

At this point I couldn’t think any more. Of all the things I had done in life this was in the top five of my biggest mistakes in life. I pulled my Lex from my right thigh and looked at it. I turned it with my hand as I examined the hand gun. I had gotten to know this weapon very well. I could hit dime at five hundred yards with it! Many times I had thought about what I was about to do. I was determined this time.

I placed the weapon to my head and started to squeeze the trigger. Time slowed as my world went dark. I closed my eyes and prepared for the end.

“I wouldn’t do that dumb-ass.”

Without hesitation I up and pointed my gun behind me at the phantom voice. The unknown assailant took me in an arm lock right as I fired the pistol, putting the round directly into the ground. He grabbed my wrist and bent it back causing me to drop the gun. I punched him in the jaw and took his pistol from his right hip with my left hand and held it close to my chest with the barrel pointed at him.

BANG! BANG!

He stepped out of the way causing me to miss. I extended my left arm to fire. He grabbed it and pushed his –my- gun forward. I grabbed his wrist with my right. It was almost simultaneous. Because I jerked my gun out of his hand and he jerked his out of mine. Before the weapon hit the ground I caught it and pointed at him while he pointed his at my face.

“You’re getting slow old man,” he playfully insulted.

“Nah-uh,” I said with a slight shake of my head.

I gestured at the gun pointed at his crotch with a simple nod of my head.

He looked down before focusing back on me, “Damn ninjas.”

He lowered his gun and holstered it while I did the same with mine.

I looked at the shadow in front of me, “No one, not even Ember, has beaten me like that.”

“I learned from the best.”

“Hard to learn when you’re the teacher.”

“I worked hard on my training.”

“As did I.”

We went silent and just started at each other. I narrowed my eyes while he wore this stupid half grin on his face. He was the same height as me and had the same build. He wore a simple black hoodie and a pair of olive drab cargo pants and a pair of tennis shoes. It was a familiar look. I would know, I used to wear it all the time. Now I should be surprised that another human was standing in front of me. Not only did he sneak up on me without my knowing but he was able to disarm me.

“Well… since it looks like neither the world or the universe has imploded on itself. I’m guessing all those theories about time travel are a lie?” I asked.

“Twilight did it a few times before. The only thing that came out of it was a change in the future. But she fixed it,” he answered.

“What do you mean ‘a few times'?” I asked while raising an eyebrow.

Twilight told me about the time she ‘tried to stop a disaster’. It was her just trying to calm down and she failed miserably.

“Oops, shouldn’t have let that slip," he admitted, "Anyway, I’m here for a different reason.”

I crossed my arms, “To do what? Tell me life improves and things get better? That there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? All I have ever done is fight. I’ve seen the end of the tunnel and there is nothing there but wishful thinking.”

“Oh no, I can promise you things get better.”

“How?”

“Well that would ruin the surprise!” he replied with a huge smile.

I threw my hands in the air in defeat, turned around and looked off into the distance, “You gonna lecture me about how knowing my future before it happens is going to change some important event?”

He walked up and stood next to me, “No. You will face challenges that will push you limits and test you skills. You will make hard decisions and learn from them. But I promise you,” he grabbed me by the shoulders, turned me and looked me square in the eyes, “Things. Get. Better!” he said while shaking me lightly.

He let go of me, “Fine…" I said in defeat, "But I have one question? But you probably know the answer?”

“About five and a half years,” he answered, “You think you can wait that long?”

“Depends on what I am waiting for?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy what comes of it,” he started to spark with purple lightning. He held up his hands and looked at them, “The spell is fading,” he looked at me and lowered his arms, “Good luck. Shoot straight and keep your blade sharp Tenno.”

“One last thing?”

He lowered his arms, “Yes?”

I threw a punch aimed right at his head. He caught it with his right hand with a loud smack before moving my fist out of the way, “I remember doing that,” he said with a mischievous grin.

“That was for sneaking up on me…”

SHING!

“AHH FUCK!!!”

I looked at the three claws sticking through his hand, “And that’s for pointing a gun at me.”

I closed the claws, lowered my arm and stood up straight.

He bent over while he held onto his punctured and bleeding hand. He looked up at me with anger in his eyes, “That’s going to bite you in the ass!” he said with a clenched jaw

“I got at least five years," I smugly replied, using his words against him.

He looked back at his hand, “Awe! I forgot how much of a dick I was!”

And with that he disappeared in a flash of purple light.

I turned and looked at the moon, “...Two hundred and seventy-six.”

I walked over to a nearby tree and took a seat. I removed my rifle from my back and disassembled it to pass the time. Once it was apart I put it back together and worked on my target practice by shooting rocks and tree limbs. After about ten or fifteen minutes I felt like I was being watched. I lowered my rifle waited for my watchers to land. I didn’t know who was coming, but I had an urging feeling I knew who it was. The sound of three separate wing beats confirmed my suspicion when they landed right behind me.

“How can I help you?” I asked, not turning to face the three behind me.

“I think you know why we are here?” answered Celestia.

I glanced of my shoulder for a second, “Just leave me alone.”

“We’re not leaving until you answer a few questions,” replied Cadence.

I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment, “Just leave,” I turn and opened my eyes and and looked at the three alicorns, “I want to be left alone,” I turned and faced away.

“Excalibur, you are not well. Please, let us help,” said Celestia.

“No shit Celestia, what gave it away!?” I screamed while I placed my gun on my back and held out my arms.

“Don’t you dare talk to sister like that!” snapped Luna.

“You’re only royalty by rank Luna!” I snapped back, “I am a General yet no one treated me like one!” my shoulders slumped and I looked at the ground, “Even with my deeds and sacrifices I was always treated as nothing more than a weapon. Designed to be used until the mission was complete… then I was tossed aside like some freak!” I looked Luna in the eyes, “I’m nothing but a freak! A weapon, no one cares about me!” I was breathing heavily, “Just… leave me the fuck alone,” I said while turning back around.

I started to walk away, “You’ll never know what it’s like to be cast aside and sent to your death…” I stopped and lowered my head, “No one… not even you Celestia, can fix what I have done,” I looked to the sky, “Not now… not ever,” I looked over my shoulder, “Which is why, when I get my ship repaired... I’m leaving,” I looked back to the sky, “And never coming back.”

Things went silent for a few seconds.

“You’re wrong Excalibur!” I looked back at Cadence where wore a look of concern, “There are ponies who do care about you. Serenity cares, Rainbow Dash cares, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy… Twilight cares… We care,” she paused, “You have done nothing but help us!”

“It’s because it’s what I do Cadence!” I snapped while holding my arms out again, “It might as well be etched into my very soul! I only took this job to save my planet and my family! I never knew things would turn out like this!” I let my arms drop to my sides. I turned around and placed my left hand on my hip while I grabbed my eyes with my right, “Please… just… just leave me be…”

“Excalibur, we are not leaving until you talk to us!” pleaded Celestia.

I let go of my face and lowered my arms as anger started to take hold, “Don’t force this Celestia,” I threatened while I slowly reached for my pistol.

I felt my rifle and sword disconnect from my back and my pistol from my hip. Naturally I grabbed for my gun. My hand wrapped around the grip which caused me to turn around. Just before my sword was out of reach I grabbed it with my left hand. I pulled with all my strength, but I was no match for the magical strength of an alicorn. I was being dragged with my heels digging into the ground trying to get a grip.

Celestia stood in front of me with her front hooves dug into the ground while she pulled my weapons with her magic, “I… wont… let you –neh- do this to yourself!”

My feet dug into the ground further in a futile attempt to free my gun, “F-fuck… YOU!!!”

BANG!

Looking back on it… I could have handled that better. Because I wrapped my finger around the trigger and pulled it. That's when I fully snapped and when all hell broke loose. The gun going off caused Celestia to release my weapons. I held onto my pistol and my sword but my rifle fell to the ground. I stumbled back before regaining my footing ans standing up straight. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence stood there shocked.

They all locked eyes with me, “Told you.”

Celestia's look went from shock to anger and determination. Her horn glowed and much like a few weeks ago two golden chains shot out of the ground. They wrapped around my wrists and pulled me to my knees and caused me to drop my weapons. I struggled and jerked at my restraints, but it was all in vain. I stopped and gave Celestia the death glare.

“Let me go!”

“No!” she looked at her sister, “Luna, a sleep spell please?" she asked kindly.

“Yes sister,” she answered with a nod of her head.

I glared at Luna as she approached me. Her horn glowed dark blue all the while. The closer she got the tighter I clenched my teeth. I was beyond pissed. Rage... unadulterated rage. I was going to kill them... that's how bad it was. Once she was a few feet away she started to lower her head. Just before her horn touched my head I head-butted her.

“Ouchy!” she screamed in pain before she fell on her haunches holding her head.

Celestia and Cadence looked at her with shocked expressions.

While they were momentarily distracted I grabbed the right chain with my hand and channeled every ounce of my suits energy into my right hand. And with the new influx of power I rose to one knee.

“Hurrrrrraaaaaa!” I pulled with all my strength on the chain.

The restraint was ripped from the ground. I lifted it over my head and aimed it straight for Luna. When she saw my shadow in the moonlight and looked up at me with terror written all over her face. I brought the chain down. Last minute she dove out of the way before it hit her. I brought it back and swung it at Cadence. Unlike her aunt she wasn’t fast enough to dodge it. It wrapped around her forelegs amd after adjusting it in my hand I did a reverse pull downward on the chain which caused her to fall face first into the ground. She sat up while her eyes –literally- spun around in her head.

A golden magic blast hit me in the chest causing me to take a step back. It was a massive hit too because it knocked at least 200 hundred shields off. I unraveled the chain from Cadence’s legs and snapped it at Celestia, who promptly dodged the attack.

She ran over to her niece who was now shaking her head, “Cadence, move!”

Cadence snapped back to reality, “Okay!” she replied while Celestia helped her to her hooves.

They both ran and hid behind a couple of nearby trees. I opened the claws on my right hand and cut the left shackle and snapped the right one off also. I did the same with my set of claws. As it fell to the ground I ran for the tree Celestia was behind.

“Auntie, look out!” screamed Cadence.

Celestia peered out from behind her tree. She gasped when she saw me. Just before the tree exploded into a mass of splinters she ducked out of the way and ran. I turned and faced her, only to see her ethereal tail disappear behind a bush. I took a step, only to have another blast hit me in the back. I looked over my shoulder to see Cadence.

I turned and fully faced her, “Pathetic…”

I turned her into my next target.

“EEP!” she screamed in terror and ran to my left. I watched her until another attack hit me in the back.

I turned around to see Luna and Celestia standing next to each other with their battle stances.

“Stop this Excalibur!” ordered Celestia.

“Leave me the fuck alone and I will!”

“Just let us help you!” screamed Cadence from behind me.

“Piss off Cadence!”

I stood there and glared and the sisters while she ran around and joined her aunts. They all looked at each other and nodded.

“I’m sorry Excalibur, but this is the only way to get you to listen!"

Their horns started to glow. Three separate magic beams came together at one focal point. All three of them winced as they concentrated on the beam. As their magic started to build I took my opportunity. I charged them and kicked Celestia in the chest, causing her to fall backwards a few feet. Both Luna and Cadences magic faded and their eyes shot open, but before they could do anything I gave Cadence a heavy right hook before I adjusted and gave Luna a left. Both of them fell to the ground on their sides.

I looked at Luna, “You’re tougher than you look. A hit like that would have killed any normal person,” I looked over at Cadence her started to sit up, “Checkmate… I win.”

Normally I would kill a person to prevent what was about to hit me next. But I knew that it would only make things much worse for me. I took a step, only to get hit by a very hard magic attack. It hit me with enough force to send me flying 20 or 30 feet. I crashed into a tree -which like many before it- exploded in a mass of splinters. That hit demolished my shields and part of my health. I stood up while holding my head and moaning while the tree the tree fell to the ground and toppled over.

“Now Luna!”

I looked up and promptly got a blue colored magic attack to the face. I stumbled back and blinked my eyes. Luna was able to get her sleep spell off because I felt really tired. While I struggled to keep my footing I gave them one final act of defiance. I gave them the finger….

Well two to be exact.

I lost conciseness before I hit the ground.

I woke up in yet another Orokin Tower. I looked around the white room before a voice caught my attention.

“I’m sorry Excalibur, but this is the only way we can get to you without killing you,” said Celestia.

I turned around to see the same alicorns I just fought.

“Boy you three are persistent.”

“We just want to help!” pleaded Cadence.

Yeah, because chaining my to the ground is the way to go at it.

“You’ll have to hold me down,” I said coldly.

The three rulers looked at each other and nodded again. They closed their eyes and pointed their noses to the sky. Around their feet three different kinds of flame engulfed them. For Luna it was dark blue. Celestia's was bright yellow and Cadence was light blue. When the flames faded the three alicorns had changed in appearance.

Princess Luna now had a midnight black coat light blue regalia, her wings became pointier, her eyes looked like a snake or dragons and her normally flat teeth became like daggers. Celestia’s coat had somehow become whiter. Her wings became pointier like her sister and her mane and tail was literally on fire and her crown looked like it grew a pair of horns. And finally Cadence, her coat had turned into an extremely dark purple. Instead of her usual straight mane it was flowing like her aunts with a pink sparkle instead of her usual curly mane. She wore similar regalia to Luna but it was white and had a blood red ruby in the center of her collar and her cutie mark turned onto the same color red as the ruby.

"Say hello to Nightmare Moon!” boomed Luna.

“And Nightmare Nova!”

Cadence looked at her aunts before looking at me sheepishly.

I rolled my eyes, “You might as well go with Hate,” I said while giving her a bemused look.

Since hate is the opposite of love and Cadence is the Princess of Love.

“So we’re going to play this game huh?”

Luna, I mean Nightmare Moon’s, horn glowed. The white and gold glow of the tower turned into an open field. Her horn continued to glow as a massive shadow army of ponies, dragons, and minotaurs materialized behind the three alicorns. The biggest mistake here was that this was my mind. Anything they could do… I could beat.

Literally.

“So this is the game we are going to play huh?” I interlaced my fingers and outstretched my arms and cracked my knuckles, “Game on!”

I raised my hand up to my head.

“CHARGE!!!” ordered Celestia I mean Nightmare Nova with a point of her right hoof.

I snapped my fingers.

Twenty-seven Lisets roared over the army and hovered in the air behind me. The same number of Primes dropped from the ships and lined up next to me. Then I crossed my arms and a massive metallic door opened up behind me. From it poured Grineer Bombards, Napalms, and Heavy Gunners. There were also Infested Chargers and Ancient Healers. They formed a massive wall of armor on each side of me.

I looked to each side before looking forward, “Fire.”

Every Tenno and Grineer shadows raised their weapons opened fire on the alicorn army. The leading unicorns activated shields. But it was a weak attempt of protection. The missiles from the bombers shattered the shields while the heavy gunners shredded the forward assault. The rear shadows came to a halt as the first few hundred fell to the hands of the Grineer.

I snapped my fingers again.

From the tree line the Hyena Pack rushed up to my front line. The ground began to rumble and shake as two infested bosses came charging up. The Phorid rushed up to my left flank while the Behemoth Juggernaut went to my right. The shadow army looked in awe and terror at my new allies.

“Phorid,” gestured with my left hand, “And the Juggernaut,” I gestured to the behemoth with my right hand, “Walking tanks of twisted flesh. Good luck punching through that armor!” I hollered to the three alicorns, who continued to watch in horror at my amassing army.

I snapped my fingers again.

A loud screeching noise filled the air. The three Alicorns looked to the sky. From it fell a metallic like bird. It crashed into the ground below, sending dirt, ponies and minotaurs flying while the princess held their hooves up to shield themselves from the kicked up dirt. It stood up and straightened it stance while laughing like a manic.

“Mwahahahaha!”

“Councilor Vay Hek and his Terra Frame!” I said while gesturing to the augmented Grineer leader.

Twisted beings of metal and flesh, freaks of nature. This is what happens when we play god. I crossed my arms.

“But that’s not the worst of it.”

They turned to face me. I snapped my fingers again.

The ground began to shake rather violently. It was a mini earthquake. The alicorns and their army began to examine the ground. Then, right in front of me, a massive scythe exploded from the ground. It lifted itself back before falling forward and crashing into the ground. I walked forward and stopped after twenty feet. The ground beneath me cracked and shook more violently. Then… it exploded as I was lifted into the air. The alicorns expression changed to pure, unadulterated terror. The massive head stopped stories above the army.

“Say hello to the Lephantis!” They gulped, “You think you have it bad Celestia?! This thing... is just as old as I am!” I jumped from the massive Grineer head to the ground. I landed on my hands and knees before standing up straight, “This… is the true offspring of terror,” I paused, “Sombra had nothing on this!” I turned around and walked back to my front line. I looked at the shadow of my sister, “Kill them,” I looked over my shoulder, “Kill them all.”

She nodded, “FIRE!!!”

Celestia regained her senses but I knew she was sweating, “CHARGE!!!”

The battle was a slaughter fest. The Grineer fired at everything they got their sites on while the Infested Chargers sank their teeth into anything they could. The Hyena pack jumped into the middle of the battle and used their different elemental powers to burn, freeze, and electrocute everything they could. Hek crushed anything under his metallic feet while he shot any dragon that got to close. The Juggernaut and Phorid gored and crushed anything that got to close. Finally the Lephantis cut and ate anything its three heads could grab. My Tenno shadows shot and cut everything they could. Nekros used his Shadows Of The Dead ability to bring back the dead and force them on their allies while Nyx used her Chaos ability to force the army to fight each other.

I won… again.

By the end of the battle, Luna, Celestia, and Cadence had created a bubble shield to protect themselves. The battle ended right when it started. I had them out gunned and outpaced. With my military surrounding them I walked up to the shield. All three of them focused on me with hatred in their eyes.

“This… this is nothing compared to a single Sentient,” I snapped my fingers for the final time.

The lights flicked and a beeping sound filled the air momentarily. A lone Battlyst Sentient descended from above and landed to my right. It came to a hover just a few feet from the ground.

I looked at it, “You will never know what it’s like to fight something that can adapt to anything,” I looked at Celestia, “I ran… and ran… LIKE A COWARD!!!” I clenched my jaw and gritted my teeth. I leaned back and clenched my hand into fists, “Then I killed one,” I looked up, “and another and another. Next thing I know I shoved them in a tomb closed the door and destroyed the key…” I looked at the princesses, “I wouldn’t even force them on my worst enemy…” I looked back at the Sentient, “… but that’s hard to do when they are your worst enemy…” I looked at the Rhino Prime shadow that stood a few feet away, “You know what to do,” I looked at the alicorns, “End this.”

It nodded in response before taking its defensive stance. It smashed its right foot into the ground and then it’s left. Using its Rhino Charge, its shot forward and crashed into the shield causing it to shatter like glass. This caused the alicorns to dive to the ground. When it stopped it turned back and lifted its right leg. He smashed the ground with such force it caused not only the alicorns but any dirt caught in the blast to hover in the air. Now the thing about Rhino is, he is so powerful he can stomp the ground so hard that it causes time to slow down by 90%.

I grabbed my Lex and walked up to the first alicorn. I pointed it at Cadence’s head and pulled the trigger.

BANG!

The bullet ripped through her head like it was nothing. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she was ripped from the suspension of the ability. She faded into nothing before she hit the ground. Then I walked up to Celestia and pointed the gun at her.

“Told you to leave me alone," I simply stated.

BANG!

I lowered my arm and looked at Luna while her sister faded into nothing. I walked over to her and put the gun to her forehead just above her horn.

“Pull a stunt like this again… and I will hurt you.”

BANG!

I turned away from the fading body and looked back at my false army. The world around me started to crack and shatter. Luna's spell was fading and I was going to be ripped from this false reality and be forced to face the real one. I looked at the gun in my hand.

“Was it worth it?” I asked myself before tossing the fake weapon to the side.

My eyes fluttered open. I kept them shut while I moaned and sat up while holding my head. I looked up and opened my eyes. Only to get slapped across the face by a pink hoof.

SMACK!

“OW!” I grabbed my now stinging left cheek with my hand.

“That’s for shooting me in the-”

SMACK!

I promptly slapped Cadence back, her head recoiling from the hit momentarily. She grabbed her cheek with her hoof and looked at me with shock written all over her face, “That’s for going into my head without my permission!” I stood up and rubbed my face.

Celestia and Luna walked over. I expected another assault of hoof slaps, but that wasn’t the case. The sat down a few feet away from me and crossed their forelegs. They both gave me a stern look. Like how a mother would scold her child when they lie.

“You’re not leaving until I croak… aren’t you?”

They nodded in unison.

I sighed before turning around and looking at the moon, “I…” I let out a shuddered breath. My head dropped and I started to cry. That lasted for about twenty seconds before I regained my composure. I took a deep breath and turned to the side and looked at the princesses, “Hope you’re ready for a long night,” I took a few steps over to them and took a seat in front of them, “My name… my... real name... is Christian Davis…” Luna and Celestia lowered their forelegs and their expression changed to one of concern and interest, “I was born on June sixth 2175 to Charlene and John Davis…”

I told them everything.

The invasion, my marriage, my decision with the Warframe, the battles I lead, and the mistakes I made. It was just before dawn when I finished.

I looked at Celestia, “Celestia… I… do love Twilight… with all my heart. But I can never love her. I’d be putting a target on her back. Anyone and anything would try to use her against me and... I… I just couldn’t do tha-a-a-t!” I broke down into my previous sobbing fit.

I grabbed my head with both hands. I couldn’t let Twilight become another target. If the Grineer or the Corpus caught wind of this they would hunt her down and use her as leverage. Besides, a long distance relationship wouldn’t work. Once I regained my composure we headed for Canterlot Castle.

And I was not looking forward to what I was going to have to face.

Celestia made sure to send a letter ahead and had Twilight –along with her parents- meet us at the Castle. Once we reached the bed room I placed a hand on the door knob. Before I turned it I looked back at Celestia. She nodded at me. I sighed and looked at the floor momentarily before I straightened my back and put on a stern face. I opened the door and stepped inside. The room was regal of course, but not like one of the princess' rooms - I think. It contained one large bed -which was occupied by eight bodies- a desk to the right of the door and a single chair. But that was the glimpse I caught before something else happened.

POW!

Out of nowhere a hoof connected with my nose.

“AWE FUCK!” I screamed while I grabbed my face and stumbled backwards. I turned around, fell to one knee and placed my left hand on the door frame while my right held my bleeding nose.

“Now I am not usually one to condone violence. But I believe he had it coming!” Rarity harshly said behind me. The venom in her voice was very evident.

I heard what I would have to call agreements from her friends. I ignored them. I was too distracted by my bleeding nose.

“Excalibur, are you alright?” Celestia asked while she placed a hoof on my back.

I looked at my blood soaked right hand, “Yeah…” I jerked my hand in a futile attempt to clean it off. Which splattered my blood all over the floor, “But it’s going to bleed like a mofo,” I rose to my feet and placed my hands on each side of my nose. There was one definitive thing though. My nose was broken.

In my head I counted to three. Once I reached three I jerked my nose to the left and realigned it. It made a sick and disgusting crack and it hurt like hell but my nose was fixed… sort of. I walked over to a nearby table and sat down in the chair.

“Tilt your head back,” said Celestia while she walked up to my left side.

I placed my forearms on my knees and sat forward, “And choke on my own blood? … pass.”

“What’s wrong? You take a sword to the belly and walk away but when you get hoofed to the face you break down?”

I glared and the stuck up diva, “There’s a huge difference here Rarity!” I snapped out of frustration, “One organ digests food the other operates my entire body!”

“You know you have a lot of nerve showing up here son!”

I looked at the angry stallion that started to approach me, “Back off Nightlight! I fucked up, you don’t think I realize that!?” I looked back at the blood soaked floor and grabbed my still bleeding nose, “Everyone in this room wants to kick my ass, but it all comes down to what Twilight wants!” I paused, “And don’t call me son…” I looked at him, “If anything I am as old as your great grandfather to the tenth power,” his eyes went wide at that, “I’m older then a millennium, son.”

Anyway what I said was true. This was Twilight's choice, but I didn’t want to hear what Twilight wanted to say. If she forgave me, I had a chance at redemption… but if she didn’t… well, I have to live with this guilt for the rest of my life.

“Excalibur, how do you want to go at this?” Celestia asked.

“I want everyone gone. Except the obvious, you and her parents,” I requested.

“We are not leaving our friend in her time of need!” snapped Rarity.

“Yeah!” came an angry chorus of voices.

“And I’ll cluck like a chicken when you’re all gone!” i snapped at the group of angry mares.

Celestia turned and looked at the angry group.

“Girls, please leave,” she calmly requested.

“I’m sorry your majesty, but we are staying!” replied Rarity while she stomped her hoof on the floor.

“Yeah!” replied the mares in unison... again.

Celestia's eyes narrowed, “As a Princess of Equestria, I order you to leave. Or you will be punished.”

I believe that was the first time in a very long time anyone had heard Celestia pull the rank card and threaten to do something drastic. Every one shrunk out of fear and looked at each other nervously. Then they looked at Celestia and stood up and started to slowly leave the room.

Applejack stopped just before the door and gave Twilight a concerned look, “We’ll be right outside Twi,” she looked at me with hatred in her eyes, “If he harms Twilight,” she looked at Celestia, “He’ll be in ah world ah hurt.”

“Love you too Applejack," I sarcastically deadpanned.

I looked up at Twilight who sat on the large bed with her mother on her left holding her. We locked eyes and I felt a twinge of pain shoot through my body. She was pretty clean except for the puffy and blood shot eyes. I didn't have to think at all how that happened. Her father stood to her right and stared daggers into my soul. After a couple of seconds Celestia walked up and stood nearby. I let go of my blood soaked nose and stood up.

I sighed and looked to my right and out a nearby window, “Where do I even start?” I mumbled to myself.

“How about at the beginning?” suggested Celestia.

My head dropped before I took a deep breath, “My name is-“

I told Twilight and her parents what I told the princesses. They stayed quiet through the entire story. I cried during my more personal stories and fumed during the angry ones. When I finished I looked at Twilight.

“I’m sorry Twilight. I know how much you care about me and… and I feel the same about you… but…” I paused longer than I planned while I looked back out the window, “I… I just can’t.”

“Why?” I looked at her, “You never explained why…”

“I…” I bit my lower lip and looked to the side while trying to form the right words.

“Tell me!” she snapped.

“Twilight I-”

“Spit it out you piece of shit!”

That was the first time I ever heard Twilight curse. Especially a word that I thought didn’t exist here. Celestia and her parents were shocked. But me… well…

I could have responded better.

“SHUT YOU FUCKING MOUTH AND LET ME TALK THEN!!!”

Twilight recoiled back but her father stepped forward.

“DON’T TALK TO MY DAUGHTER LIKE THAT!!!”

“FUCK YOU NIGHTLIGHT!!! I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXPLAIN MYSELF!!!”

He backed off and held a hoof to his chest. But his –along with his daughters and wife’s- eyes were focused on my raised right hand. I looked at it, only to see three dark claws jutting from my knuckles. I didn't even realize that I opened them. I closed my claws and opened my hand before I lowered my arm and looked at the guard. I popped it off with my left hand and did the same with the other.

I held them out to the princess, “Celestia?” she looked at them, “Before I do something I regret.”

She took them with her magic and placed them next to herself. She looked at me, “Your other weapons?”

“… sure.”

They were enveloped in her golden aura and removed from my body. She hovered them over to herself placed them next to the claws and I believe she placed a spell over them. I could see a faint tint in the shape of a dome over them. Now that I was unarmed and –somewhat- less of a threat I walked over to a nearby table and placed my hands on them.

“Well…?” asked Twilight, “Are you going to say something or just sit there like a coward?” the venom in her voice not only boiled my blood. But no one calls me a coward.

I brought my arm over my head and violently smashed the table in two before turning around, “No one calls this fucker a coward!”

“Excalibur!” boomed Celestia, “Enough! Not only did you break a priceless table but you are getting out of hoof!”

I looked at her with a clenched jaw. After a few seconds I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm my nerves. It worked… to a degree. I was still angry but it wasn’t a ‘strangle someone’s neck’ anger.

“Did you like the table?” I calmly asked Celestia before opening my eyes.

“Well no…” she answered while looking to the side with a slight head tilt.

“Then it was essentially worthless,” I looked at Twilight, “I can’t love you… and here’s why,” I walked over to the window and placed my hands on the windowsill, “Twilight. I would be painting a target on your back,” I turned and faced her, “And your family. If the Grineer or the Corpus caught wind that a Tenno was in a relationship, they would do everything in their power to hunt you down. They would torture you, kill your family and use you against me... And even if I did surrender, they wouldn’t spare your life… no matter the outcome, you die.”

I walked over and stood in front of her, and her parents, “And then the worry aspect. Once my repairs are finished I will be light-years away. With my line of work you would worry day and night and wonder if I survived the day,” I paused, “And I’ve seen the dangers here… I would be worried sick about you,” I took a deep breath and looked up and focused on the far wall, “And then there’s the other side effect of the Tennogen Virus…” I turned and looked at Celestia, “Luna knows this and I am sure you are all too familiar?”

“And what would that be?” inquired Celestia.

“Immortality,” I looked at Twilight, “By the time I turned fifty I thought the virus just had an anti-aging aspect to it and I would pass away in the next few decades. And by the time I turned one hundred I knew this was permanent. I watched the decades and centuries pass until I ordered the primes into cryo-pods,” I felt tears start to form, “Twilight… even if we did marry I…” I let out a shuddered breath, “I wouldn’t be able to sit there with you on your deathbed while you died in my arms!” I started to cry harder, “I would watch our kids and grand kids and so on DIE while I went on living…” I grabbed my face with my right hand and placed my left on my hip, “Which… which is why I can’t love you!” I removed my hand and let out a hollow chuckle, “The key to happiness is standing right in front of me!" I held my hand out to accentuate my point, "And I can’t have it no matter how much I want it! … I’m sorry Twilight… I truly am,” my head dropped and my arms went limp while i closed my eyes, “But you do deserve better.”

I opened my eyes while she just sat there in truthful disbelief. Her head dropped along with her ears while she examined the floor for an answer.

“Just leave,” she looked up at me with hate filled eyes, “Just get out of here! I hate you! I don't want to ever see your fucking face again!!!” she screamed while pointing past me and to the door all while tears ran down her face like a river and her lower lip quivered. Her parents and Celestia looked at her with shock and disbelief. Now one and I mean no one sweared on this planet.

Those words felt like daggers in my ears and my heart.

“As you wish,” I turned and walked up to Celestia, “We’re done here.”

She nodded her head slightly, “Excalibur, for your assault on the Twin Princess of Equestria and the Princess of the Crystal Empire, I hereby order you to house arrest to the castle. From here on out your will stay under my personal supervision until further ordered. Is that clear?”

“You know… I could argue that what I did was self-defense?” I answered, “But I’m too tired to argue. I hereby accept my punishment… even though I also think it’s a little light.”

“Alright. I will allow you to make any necessary arrangements with your teammate and grab any gear you think you may need here in the castle. Is that clear?”

“Yes.”

“Good. You are dismissed.”

I walked over to the door and before I opened it and turned my head slightly to the side.

“I hope one day you can forgive me,” I looked back at the door, “If not… well, I’ll learn to accept it…” ‘…maybe.'

I placed my hand on the handle and pulled it open. When it opened part way it flew out of my hand and all of Twilight friends fell inside the room and landed in a big multi-color pile of limbs and tails in front of me. I just looked at them expressionless while they looked at me nervously.

“Eavesdrop much?”

I didn’t let them answer. I walked passed them and out of the room and into one of the many halls of the castle.

With my advanced hearing I heard, “I do” behind me.

But I couldn’t handle it and I had a hard time accepting those two words that were so clear to me. They were filled with sadness but also forgiveness. But I chose not to accept it that day. I cried for the next week. Twilight reminded me so much of Melanie. I had everything... than nothing.

I failed...

I failed...

'...where did I go wrong?'

Author's Notes:

So can you guess who that man was? What will happen to the two lovers? Will there be forgiveness, beatings, tacos!? Well, the chimp writing this story sure knows, I'm just the German Shepard that reads the comments... and you cant prove otherwise!