Author's Notes:

WARNING! DO NOT DISMISS THIS NOTE!

I'll give credit where is due.

The user metordragon gave me a huge help for this chapter. I was going to take the story through a specific path, but his suggestion was way more interesting and gave space to work without having to rely on a time skip of four years (that, for now, will no longer happen).

Whenever someone contacts me in private to give suggestions or gives me an idea/advice that helps immensely to the story's progression in the comments I will try my best to give them all credit. Here are some other people who helped me out so far: PuzzleMaster98, Oops door, Ale, Don't Forget Me.

This is everyone that has heavily influenced the story so far.

Thank you all for the support and patience. Have a nice reading.

'Are they willing to talk?' Arden thought to himself as he continued his work while a mob was assembling and heading towards him. 'Okay, Rainbow is cracking her knuckles. They are not willing to talk.' He concluded as he saw the mare prepare her fists in the distance. Then it occurred to him 'Shit. That owl yesterday must have been sent by one of the townsfolk. Magic is a thing here so having somepony who can talk to animals isn't that far-fetched. They must think I'm one of those possessed ponies...they will try to knock me out as many times as they need to get me back to normal. And since my eye will keep changing...shit. I'll turn to a fucking vegetable before they can *save* me!' He continued as the mob grew closer.

'Okay, calm down and think. There are scrolls back in the library. If I can get there and lock myself in I might have enough time to send Celestia a letter asking for help.' He thought to himself as he allowed an apple to fall underneath the cart. Once the mob approached enough he positioned himself behind the cart (from the mob's point of view) and kneeled down to reach the fruit. 'Please let this work. The only problem will be the blue one.' He thought to himself as he charged his magic.

'I still can't believe we're facing a possessed!' The cyan pegasus thought to herself as they approached. 'Especially when the royal guards left. And to top it all off this guy can hide the one trait that identifies them! This is going to be...AWESOME!' She said once they reached the cart and the stallion hid behind the mobile store.

"Alright, you weirdo!" She started getting in front of the group. "Come out of hiding and face us!"

No response, she, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie stepped closer. Still no sign of any resistance. Closer. Still no response, suddenly the sound of magic activating and the cart flipping over caught them off guard. Using her speed Rainbow created a gust of wind that tossed her friends back while she took up to the sky. Looking over the fallen cart she searched for her target, he was nowhere to be seen. 'What the? He couldn't have gone far, being a unicorn and all. They are very slow.' Rainbow thought to herself looking around, then she saw him bolting away towards the library at a speed that surprised her. His horn was glowing but no visible spell was to be seen which could only mean...

'Damnt it! He must be using doping magic! That's a pegasus regular speed!' Then she remembered that she saw him pulling the cart. If that was the case, he could have been forced to use that magic continuously since he arrived. Which would mean that he could at any moment...'SHIT! We need to stop him before he dies!'

"Get back here!" She shouted as she zoomed on the target. However, as soon as she was about to tackle him he turned around swinging his forearm upwards while summoning a shield. The move came too suddenly for her to react, the shield hit her on the jaw launching her upwards. She did two or three backflips before she managed to stabilize herself. That didn't make sense. The doping magic took time to switch between the enhanced attribute, what he just did was too fast. Not to mention one cannot use other types of magic while using the doping, yet the guy just triggered a shield summon. In a speed, she never saw before.

"That hurt you freak!" The pegasus shot starting her dive once again. This time however what stopped her was a wooden door that was slammed at her face. Then she heard the door locking up from the inside. 'Damn it!' The mare cursed trying to bust the door open, then a switch flipped on the back of her mind. 'The second-floor window!'

'Shit! I'm using all of my luck here!' Aeden thought to himself as he wrote in capital letters 'HELP' In a piece of paper before burning it with the ring. 'Don't dismiss the shield, don't dismiss the shield.' He still couldn't believe that he managed to use his shield as a hydraulic monkey to flip the cart.

*CRASH*

Arden just leaped sideways avoiding a strike from the cyan mare that ended up hitting the solid wood. Even if he never fought his reaction time was on point due to his gaming and constant pranking from his sister that kept tossing stuff at him at random times without warning. People would often get pissed at him for dodging attacks in fighting games and FPS when he was online, so you can get the picture.

'OUCH!' The mare thought to herself as she turned back towards the stallion. 'How in bloody Tartarus does he keep dodging my attacks? I didn't even announce my strike!' She thought to reassume her stance. What she saw was a stallion awkwardly shifting from one stance to another. 'Does he even know what he is doing? No matter, just remember: don't hit him with anything more than 610. Even with doping magic, any strike ten points above the unicorn's strength cap and he will pass out.'

Deciding not to give him room to breathe she attacked. He summoned another shield to defend himself, the force of her blow moved him backward. Then she saw stars after seeing him grab a wood statue that was sitting on a table. her ears were ringing as she heard. "I AM SORRY!" And saw the guy running away to the second floor.

'What the hay?'

'SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!' Arden thought as he jumped from the balcony. 'Okay just keep on the move until Celestia gets the letter and gets here.' The stallion continued on the run until he was tackled by an orange pony that came from an alley. He tried to struggle, but she was way stronger than him.

All the unicorn managed to do was get his left hand placed in front of her as he tried to block her attacks. Most of them got through, even if they were below his strength level he still felt the damage from the blows accumulating. 'Let's see if lightning strikes twice on the same spot.' He thought to himself as he positioned his free fist on her stomach, the mare was too focused on trying to knock him out with her attacks to notice his move.

Suddenly he made his shield spring into its regular size, with his control over it Arden managed to keep the shield placed on his forearm as a miniature version that made it look like an accessory. That was how he kept summoning it in the blink of an eye. The impact of the shield's expansion tossed the mare off of him and it also made her lose her breath. Arden took this opportunity to scramble away, then as he did it another blow took him by surprise and tossed him to the side.

The attacker this time was Rarity, Arden kept rolling after the first blast. The mare noticed and kept tossing volleys at him, she eventually stopped gasping for air and he took this chance to try and run. A pink blur, however, prevented it by tying him up with a rope without him noticing it.

"You, sir possessed, need to stop hurting my friends!" The pink mare said preparing to attack him. He responded by using his body to slam her.

"What proof you have that I am possessed?!" He cried as he tried to keep his balance and run away, the mare forgot to tie his legs.

"THIS!" Another voice cried out, this time he took a kick to his stomach. The attack tossed him towards a mob that quickly surrounded him and started to beat him up. Rocks, pans, those ponies took whatever they had at hand and started to bash him. Amidst the confusion, he managed to get free of the ropes, but at the cost of having his necklace broken when somepony tried to strangle him so he would pass out. As soon as the accessory broke a headache triggered.

'I won't be able to think straight without the necklace! No choice now! I want to understand!' He thought to himself as the affliction ceased. But the blows from the citizens were taking their toll, he felt his bones starting to crack. Using another shield he forced them to back away slightly. Then he spun his forearm around with the shield activated to force them to back away again.

'We got him cornered now!' The seamstress thought to herself as she finally caught her breath and saw the mob around the fallen stallion. Suddenly, the mob ran away from him screaming, then the seamstress saw the stallion standing up breathing heavily. On his forearm a round blue shield, but what really caught her attention were his eyes. One of them completely taken over by light while the other turned red, the once regular blue iris was now a brilliant blue. 'There it is! Fluttershy was right.'

Suddenly he started running again, but this time he was limping."OH! NO, YOU DON'T!" Shooting another blast Rarity made him fly into the fountain. The stallion came out of the water gasping for air. "How is he still standing?!" Then Rarity saw Applejack pull him out and start a beatdown, this time however she used her legs to lock his arms to the ground. Blow after blow Rarity winced the stallion take them head-on.

One of the blows cut his lip, another made him spit blood. Again and again and again he withstood the attack. Suddenly another voice echoed through the town.

"ENOUGH!"

Above them, she saw the princess descending from the sky rapidly. Princess Celestia used her magic to restrain, much to Rarity's surprise, Applejack! 'What is going on?!' The princess then rushed to the fallen stallion's side and started to check on him.

"What on Equestria's name do you think you're doing?!" The princess shot at the country pony that winced and started to sweat.

"B-b-but princess..." The mare finally managed to say. "...h-h-he is possessed!"

"What on Equestria are you talking about?! He..." Rarity witnessed the princess' eyes widen as she let the mare go and once again turned towards the stallion that was having trouble breathing while he kept his eyes closed. "Arden! Arden open up your eyes!" Then she inspected his neck after a few moments Rarity heard her ask. "Where is your suppressant?! Oh, stars...is this blood?! This is my fault!"

"N-no, it isn't." The stallion finally said, as soon as she heard his voice Rarity saw the princess sigh in relief. "I-It's these dammed eyes. T-They're at fault." He said before coughing up a bit.

"Let me see them!" The princess asked, pulling his head so that it would face her.

"I-I rather not." The unicorn said to the princess as he forced himself to be freed from her grasp, then he moved away dragging himself to the fountain and used it so he could sit. "They already made me scared enough as it is. If I use them now the situation won't improve."

'If I use them? What in Celestia's name is he talking about?'

"Very well," The princess said getting up. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could speak the stallion spoke up again.

"Please don't be angry with them! They're just scared." He said basically pleading. " *cough, cough* They were acting based on the information they had!" Was he...was he intervening in their favor? The ones who put him in that state?

"Are you serious?!" The sun Princess exclaimed. "Look at what they did to you!" The stallion's response was a thumbs up. " *sigh* Very well, Arden." She sad in a soft tone, then she turned towards the crowd of ponies that were gathering around. "Listen, and listen closely! This stallion is not a Possessed!" The princess started.

"He is a traveler that in the recent days arrived at Canterlot!"

'That much we knew...' Rarity thought to herself as the princess gave that information.

"He comes from another land distant from our own! Therefore there were no registers of his abilities or traits! Upon his arrival, we discovered that he also had a unique magic that we are yet to determine it's nature and full extent!"

'Now we're getting somewhere!' The seamstress thought to herself as her eyes widened. 'Wait...unicorn with unique magic that not even the princess know about?!'

"This magic, however, causes certain changes to him! Namely, his eyes change!"

"Yet that could be just a ruse, Princess!" A stallion shouted from the crowd. "How can you be sure?! Just knock him out!" The same voice shouted, this time however other ponies in the crowd started to follow.

"I am sure because Princess Miamore Cadenza checked him and assured me that he is not a danger to us! Not to mention he can revert the state at will!" The crowd fell silent. "Show them, Arden."

"I-I'll try!" Arden said frowning, after ten seconds he winced and opened his eyes. Rarity saw the stallion's eyes returning to normal just as the princess said. "Damn it."

"What's wrong?" The princess asked getting closer to him.

"Without the necklace, my head won't stop throbbing." The stallion said while he tried to crush his skull with his hands.

"As you can see the change is up to him! But he is yet to control his unique magic and talent! So at my personal request, he agreed to stop his wandering and stay with us so we could learn more about his magic and he could learn how to control it!"

'He was...here at the princess personal request! Oh, my stars just who did we attack?!'

"This town seemed ideal due to its pacific nature! However...due to an error on my part I assumed to be best to keep his ties to me hidden, as well as his talents! But as all of you witnessed it was a grave mistake." Rarity saw the regret o the princess' eyes as she took a glance back at the stallion. "So here is what we know so far about his magic: along with his ability that causes the eye change, he is the only known stallion to be born under the Virgo zodiac."

'T-ties? She seemed really bad for his condition...a-and a male born under the Virgo?! Who is that guy?!'

"We also know that even though he is a unicorn, his strength is well above that of a regular unicorn without the use of doping magic. As well as his resilience. That as far as we evaluated is equivalent to that of an earth-pony." Rarity's eye twitched.

'T-there is only one r-race that can have the traits of other pony races...don't tell me that he is an...an ALICORN?! B-b-but that would m-m-make him...a bloody prince!' Then the seamstress remembered about the ring as her mind went into meltdown. 'I can tell that the ring was enchanted...don't tell me that the ring is hiding his wings?! He never took it off! Fluttershy's animals can attest to that!'

"Therefore he is not a threat to any of you!" The princess finished frowning deeply at them. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'll tend to his wounds."

"Don't trust him, Princess!" A male pegasus shouted from the crowd as he came forth. "There is no guarantee that he didn't use a spell on you or the Princess of love!"

"I'll handle this one Celestia." The fallen unicorn stated as he forced himself to stand once again. Once on his hooves, he limped towards the pegasus, stopping only when he was but a few inches from the pegasus. In that position, Rarity saw the unicorn lock his eyes into the pegasus' eyes. The flyer started to blush and sweat, after a few moments the unicorn formed a vile grin on his muzzle. The unicorn's eyes widened and he finally spoke as he slowly tilted his head. "I was riiiiight..." His voice sent a chill down the seamstress' spine and made the pegasus start to shiver. "I can seeeee you. You sad, saaad impersonator." The pegasus gasped as he moved backward while the unicorn limped forward.

Then the Pegasus' wings disappeared and a weird-looking horn appeared on its head, then it let out a deafening screech. Then it shouted with a female voice "Y-YOU IDIOT!" Then the creature caused a magical explosion that sent the injured stallion flying through the fountain's statue and caused a dust cloud.

Once the dust cloud finally dispersed, Rarity only caught a glimpse of the princess entering the library with the wounded stallion on her arms. 'I want to know more!' She thought to herself as she tailed them silently. The library's door was left unlocked so she slowly walked inside. That's when she started to eavesdrop the conversation that had already started.

"...yes the concept of herds also includes the marriages. As long as all of the participants are okay with it the ceremony can be held." Rarity blushed at that part.

'I think I might have walked in a sort of private conversation.' She thought to herself as she tried to make herself leave, her curiosity, however, took the best of her and made her stay.

"You know I'm just trying to make you forget about this right?" She heard Arden say. "But you're not helping here. It was my fuck up!"

"I-I...still..."

"Okay, I forgive you." The stallion said with a mild laugh before he grunted a little. "Better now?"

Then the seamstress heard another laughter, this time sounded like the princess', then she stated. "You haven't got the slightest bit of sanity, do you?"

"I thought that accepting to that ceremony in four years without any sort of resistance should have made that much clear!" The stallion said in a boastful tone that was followed by the princess' laugh once again.

"I guess you're right. Nopony in a position like yours would have taken that deal on the spot like that." The seamstress kept covering her mouth to prevent herself from gasping. 'A ceremony in four years?! Talking about herds?! A deal between them in a spur of the moment?! Don't tell me those two are engaged or something?! Just who is that stallion?!'

"So how's the preparation's for the big event?" The seamstress almost squealed at that.

"I'm already seeing into it. Rest assured it will be a day to remember. Especially since it will overlap with the Summer Sun Set celebration."

'Oh. My. Stars. They are going to marry at the celebration?!'

"I guess so. I'll be working on my preparations during these years. Then, perhaps, I'll be of use to all you." The stallion said with a different tone from before. "Because as of right now I'm as useful as a punching bag."

"It's isn't your fault that your conditions prevented from learning how to fight." The princess said in his defense. 'A unique stallion from a faraway land with unique abilities and a tragic story? And he is also in a romantic relationship with the princess! This is just too perfect!' Her inner fangirl was screaming while she was beaming at the conversation. "Besides..."

"Now, don't you dare to start mopping again! Ack!" The stallion ordered. "Listen, as proof that I do not hold this against you I'll share one of my favorites letters and favorite song from one of the stories I love the most from where I came from. Only if get that frown off your face." Silence followed for a few moments before he spoke once again. "Okay here it goes."

"Thinking of you, wherever you are.

We pray for our sorrows to end, and hope that our hearts will blend.

Now I will step forward to realize this wish.

And who knows:

starting a new journey may not be so hard,

or maybe it has already begun.

There are many worlds, but they share the same sky —

one sky, one destiny."

'That...that was a beautiful poem...'

"Now, for the song. the song is called simple and clean."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWIiJkXP15I

Once the melody started playing the white unicorn felt her chest tighten. 'This song is...so sad. Yet...it...it...'

"That was a beautiful song, what is the story's name?"

"The name was Kingdom Hearts. I love this story. Heck, I still do."

Silence filled the room after that, then Rarity heard the princess say. "You'll need to keep that arm immobilized for some time. The bones are still fragile even after the healing. As for the rest, it will remain sore for some time but you'll be walking normally as of tomorrow, the arm, on the other hand, will take about two or three days to go back to normal." Then rarity heard the sound of a flame burning coming from the room. "Here is the replacement for your suppressant. I'll have to go now. But I'll instruct Walkyre and Mind to keep guarding you for the night. Okay?"

"Yes, mom." The stallion said. "Ouch! I'm still hurting you know?!"

"I know," The Princess said. "That's exactly why I did it." Silence, then laughter. "Have...have a nice day Arden."

"To you as well Celestia." Once again silence before the sound of a spell being cast echoed through the library. Rarity walked away slowly. Before she heard from behind her. "How much did you hear?" The mare froze in place. "I was told more than once that my hearing is incredibly annoying! So who's there?" Rarity broke into a sprint and got away from that place.

(Later that day)

"Ah still don't like that guy." The country mare said while they shared a few glasses of apple juice inside Sugar Cube Corner. "Ah saw the princess twitching! She was lying about him! Ah, am sure of it!"

"I agree with Aj," The cyan mare said. "No unicorn could run that fast without doping. And if it really is true about him being all weird...then he might as well be an alicorn or some other thing that looks like a pony!"

"I...uh..." The yellow pegasus tried to say. "I think he even scarier than before now..."

"I think he is weird." The pink mare said earning an ironic gaze from all of the other mares. "What? He is! Arden Sila? More like Arden Silly!"

"I...I don't know what to think anymore..." The seamstress finally spoke. "The conversation I overheard suggest that he is VERY close to the Princess..."

"Then Ah suggest that we keep a close eye on the fellow." The country pony proposed. "Just to be sure he doesn't try any funny business."

"I'm with Aj."

"I agree! He is really freaky! Silly, freaky!"

"I...I...I agree."

"I'll do it as well. I am curious about what 'unique' magic he has." The seamstress said trying to imagine what his preparations for the ceremony were and what was he able to do that caught the attention of the Princess. And one question, in particular, was repeating itself in her head: Just who is he?