"Personal Log No. 39

August 3, 2160

Well, tomorrow's the graduation from boot camp, that just adds more to my enthusiasm. There are only about seventy-five out of the one hundred-fifty that joined, that's half of what we started out with. These have to be one of the most finely trained soldiers I could ever ask for, perhaps even the best of the best for the next generation.

It's been three months since I've been to Ponyville, a month longer than I thought it should've been. I told Twilight and her friends a few weeks, more like a few months now. I feel bad that I couldn't get the chance to talk to them, but I made up for it by sending in a letter every few days. They write to me back the instant they receive my letter, telling me about how Rainbow broke her wing or how Twilight broke into the Canterlot Archives.

Even after that I have to stay here in preparations for Shining Armor's Wedding. I'm the Head of Security, and I've been informed that there's been a threat made towards Canterlot, yet we have no idea what that threat may be.

In the mean time I've been making upgrades to my RIG, better armor protection, health and life support upgrades, and fully upgraded my Stasis and Kinesis, as well as some new suits to add to my collection. The engineer ponies down at Canterlot University have yet to understand the technology I'm capable of building, they're so old school.

Anyways, all in all, everything is great. Everypony is happy and that's what matters to me. I can't wait to see the girls again, it's been so long since I've seen them, and it's about time to get out of here.

Major Andrew Hartfield, signing off."

Andrew let out a sigh, placing his hands on his chest as if he's in a coffin, at a funeral home. Yet he was still very much alive, and very tired. He then closed his eyes as he slowly started to fall asleep, he could hear distant crickets, chirping, lulling him to sleep.

Once the graduation ceremony was over, Andrew was ready to take off his formal attire, as it was like wearing a boa constrictor around his torso. He left early at the after party to his room in Canterlot Castle, and into the Suit Kiosk he went. He then climbed inside as the robotic arms locked him into place, the doors closing in front of him. He then came out in his military fatigues, along with the RIG running along the back of his spine and Stasis off to the side. The American Flag patched onto his shoulder, for him to remind himself of where he once came from.

"This should do for now." He mumbled to himself, walking out the door behind him.

Once outside he went towards the dining room, where he was invited to sit down for lunch. He sat in the last empty seat, where to his left was Helena, and to his right was Nick. He looked around and saw that Shining Armor was sitting across from him, next to a Pink Alicorn he was never familiar with.

"Major, I am quite impressed with this batch of Royal Guards, very disciplined." Celestia complimented, Andrew only smirked.

"Think nothing of it Princess, when in times of trouble you want the best."

"Indeed. With Shining Armor's Wedding coming up, I don't know what could be more stressful right now." She replied, taking a bite of her salad, Andrew simply only nodded.

Andrew's eyes veered off to the side, once again looking at the Pink Alicorn. He squinted his eyes and tilted his head, catching her attention.

"Excuse me, may I help you?" She asked, Andrew shook his head.

"Oh... uh... sorry but, I do believe we haven't met before?" He asked, she shook her head.

"Where are my manners? I'm Princess Mi Amore Cadneza, also known as Cadance. I'm Shining Armor's Bride-to-Be, you must be Major Harfield, Shiny's told me all about you." She smiled, Andrew nodded.

"Indeed I am. It's nice to meet you, and this is my team, Helena, Nick, and Jhon." They all waved at her, only to have her smile back at them.

"Andrew, I've noticed that you've been having these nightmares again. May I ask why?" Princess Luna changed the subject, making Andrew go silent. They all stared at him, waiting, waiting for him to say something.

"I thought that killing the Darkness would bring peace to me, and I was incorrect. If I'm right, there should be multiple sources that cause my Dementia." They all looked at him like he was crazy, which in a way he was.

"I don't know how long you can keep this up Major..." Luna trailed off, Andrew only laughed.

"I've been doing this my whole life, I'm sure... I... can handle... it." Andrew faceplanted directly into his plate, luckily it was empty. They all gasped as they rushed over to his side, laying him down on the ground.

"What happened?" Cadance asked, worried.

"He's been pulled inside of his mind." Celestia stated.

Luna looked up to her older sister, and she nodded quickly, and silently. As they brought Andrew into an infirmary, they laid him down on the nearby bed. Luna's horn began to glow, and she touched the center of Andrew's forehead. It was finally time to understand what was going on.

"I've been waiting, Andrew." Andrew quickly got back on his feet, looking around for the voice.

"What do you want from me?! Why am I here?!" He asked, getting more and more confused every minute that passed by.

"Listen to me, I'm not the Darkness. I'm trying to help you." Andrew quickly realized that this isn't his average encounter with his usual violent hallucinations, but that didn't mean he could still trust it.

"Why should I trust you?! Why am I here?!" He asked, all the voice did was grunt in frustration.

"Look, all I want you to know is that you're going to die in the days to come. There's a way to prevent that, if you get help from me." Andrew tilted his head.

"How do you know this?" He asked.

"If you let me explain, then I'll tell you. Listen, I'm you."

"I'm sorry, but I don't follow?"

"No, not you you, but I was once. I'm one of your ancestors." Andrew shielded his eyes as it revealed an Alicorn pony, a black coat, black mane with white streaks, and pale, golden eyes.

"Wait a minute, if you're me, then how are you a pony? And an Alicorn at that?" His former self was very intriguing to look at.

"Remember when the Darkness told you that you were descendants of an extinct human race here in Equestria?" He nodded.

"Well, it lied to you. Some humans long ago were accidentally sent into Equestria, just like you. One of them had a child, and that child was me. I was accidentally left in Equestria, and I was adopted by Celestia's mother."

"That still doesn't understand why you're a pony." Andrew deadpanned.

"It's because Princess Celestia's mother turned me into one, to try and erase the history of humans ever existing. Why she did that? She never told me, but Celestia's found you, a descendant of me, in which she thinks she could bring me back." Andrew was severely confused by this, he could barely follow.

"Wait, so Celestia, and you were a thing?" The pony nodded.

"Yes, but I digress. The point is, you're gonna die, and if you get my help, I can save you."

"How? You're dead!" Andrew exclaimed.

"My physical form may be dead, but my energy resides in you. All you need to do is tap that energy, and let me do everything from there." He explained, Andrew put his hand on his chin, thinking.

"What's your name?" Andrew asked, the pony turned back, looking at him.

"Call me... Night Shade. Haven't heard that name in a while." He said.

As Andrew was left there, baffled. Night Shade disappeared into the mist, and no trace of him was left to be found. Andrew started to wake up, and his eyes fluttered open, looking around from a fixed position. Next to his was Luna, sleeping, with her horn glowing as if she was about to cast a spell. She then woke up with an audible gasp, and she looked at Andrew in shock.

"How much do you know Luna?" Andrew asked cautiously, she hesitated before answering.

"Enough to understand what's going on. We need to talk to big sister." Andrew got up and out of bed, getting dressed back into his fatigues.

"Luna, do you know anything about Night Shade?" Andrew asked, she looked at him, nodding.

"Night Shade was always like a brother to me. Even more so towards Tia, as they eventually became a couple. Until The Darkness came, which killed Night Shade. In the process he was able to lock The Darkness away in the ruins you were sent to. After that, Tia found out that he was adopted, and he was actually a human. She looked and looked to find out if he had any siblings, and she took frequent trips to Earth in hopes of bringing him back. Now, she's found you." Andrew's mind was utterly blown, he finally knew why Celestia brought him here.

As they went on over towards Celestia's bedchamber, they were met by Celestia, who was standing there, looking at them. Andrew gulped, and Luna started to become uneasy.

"We know about Night Shade, Princess."

"It's about time I told you a story..."

Author's Notes:

If you're thinking that I'm going to turn them into ponies, then you have another thing coming. Well, I'm considering it, that doesn't mean that I'm going to do it, I may have a vote on it later on. By the way, Night Shade just popped into my mind while writing this, so if you want me to rename him, let me know or give me a suggestion. ~Asian