The Last Human: Chapter I


                                            This Story is from a pastebin from 2015

                                            https://pastebin.com/WJGkLH4Q


                                            ~The Last Human~

                                            [Chapter I]

                                            |The Awakening|

                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVIBbYYzNw8

                                            >It was cold. Desolate and void of any natural feeling. Dark, and unknown to the light which circled around this forsaken tomb. The sun was high in the sky and shed it's gentle warmth, yet you did not feel it. The grass beneath you had begun to grow around your heavy shoes, but you did not feel the pull of the Earth.

                                            >Your eyes were as empty as the expansive ocean. Reflecting light, rather than absorbing it. Your consciousness was locked. Unable to form a single thought. You were a model, a perfect fossil of a proud race that once ruled this earth in absolute. Now you stand here, as an echo of the proud Humans that once walked among the trees and flew among the clouds.

                                            >But the last you would be no longer. It was time for you to awaken. To expel your prison, and go forth into this new world that has saw eons without you.

                                            >For the first time in thousands of years, you saw light beyond the endless dark. For the first time in an epoch, you felt the winds on your face and the air flow into your lungs. The feeling of warmth on your skin and tug of your muscles. And how painful it was.

                                            >You fell to your knees. Coughing up stone and peeling away at the encasing of granite around your face and body. Rock that filled your insides now returned to working organs and functioning systems. Your mind bombarded by a myriad of sudden thoughts. Thoughts of fire, a falling city, and being sealed in your stone coffin. More thoughts pour in as you began to see clearly. The grass beneath you, the other stone works around you. The towering spires that reach into the sky, ready to claim the heavens as there own.

                                            >And the many white and gold four-legged creatures that surrounded you, pointing there sharp spears at you and shouting. Oh the shouting, it gave you a splitting headache.

                                            >You could not stand as they ordered you to. You could not identify yourself as they ordered you to. All you could manage was to look them in the eye and try to comprehend what was transpiring around you.


                                            >The creatures close in on you and tug at your sleeves, pulling you through the grassy fields of this strange world. You revel in the sight of the sun. A spectacle you've missed throughout your slumber. But it is robbed from you as you are dragged inside the white structure that towers, waiting to eclipse the sun you've missed so.

                                            >Can you form a thought now? Are you able to process the last five minutes? Not yet, but you understand that wherever these creatures were taking you, it's to their leader.

                                            >You pass through two gigantic double doors and they throw you to the floor. Your reflexes too slow to catch yourself.

                                            >A voice demand you stand, but like before you, cannot obey. Instead, a strange flat limb grabs the tuft of your hair and hold your head up from the shining floor. In front of you are stairs that lead up to what seems like a throne. And atop the throne sits the most beautiful creature you've ever had the privilege of seeing.

                                            >She was tall, much taller than the other creatures that had taken you prisoner. Her coat was as white as the driven snow and her mane flowed like the enigmatic Aurora Borealis. She was adorned with the finest gold that gleamed like the gates of Heaven itself. And her eyes, they were both empty and full. Emptiness that told the many sorrows and tragedies that hinted at her long life. And full with the marvel she has seen through the expanse of the universe and it's wonders. Her wings, drawn and imposed on the world, her horn spiraling into a perfect point.

                                            >She sat, indifferent. As stone-like as the many statues that dot the garden grounds. She was a piece of living art, a piece of divinity which walked among mortals.

                                            >She opened her mouth to speak, a simple gesture that she managed to execute flawlessly. Her voice sounding like the crackling fire and the harmonics of summer.

                                            >"State your business here, poor beast." She spoke with calm graces. You could tell that she wasn't angry with you, or felt threatened by your alien presence.


                                            >These were the first words you understood. And for the first time in thousands of years, you began to speak. Your voice hard and hoarse and chipped away by the stone you once spent shared existence with.

                                            "I....I can't recall my identity. Or where I come from. All I know is that I have awoken in a strange land with no recollection of my past."

                                            >Your face is pushed to the floor by one of the creature's hooves. Your mind having time to register, you can now see that they seem to be horses.

                                            >"Address the princess with manners, beast!" The strong stallion shouts at you, pulling you by the head to once again gaze upon the princess.

                                            >Her golden plated hoof raised to stay the guards hand and release you. He does so promptly and your head falls to the floor.

                                            >You make an attempt to stand, still weak and fragile. Your knees quaking and arms shaking as you push yourself to your feet.

                                            >She speaks again. This time more affectionate and caring. She offers a smile, welcoming and warm.

                                            >"Well then, what manner of beast might you be? You look to be human."

                                            >In fact, you were. You were a human man. And from what little you can remember, a man of a higher mind.

                                            >You told her how you awoke from stone, and that you were very weak at the moment.

                                            >The princess's face widens in shock. Her body shifting from reserved to intrigued. "You came from the stone? Impossible, that statue has stood in the garden for over two-hundred years. How did you come to be encased in stone?" She stands, gracefully descending her throne, almost as if she were gliding.

                                            >Her guards warn her to not get too close, but you couldn't be a threat, even if you wanted to be.

                                            >"So you are human? How can that be, when humans vanished thousands of years ago?" She asks, pure curiosity written about her face.

                                            >You try to remember, but thinking too hard caused your head to hurt. Only being able to remember little at a time.

                                            "I, can hardly recall myself. You say humans have not existed for years, and I fear you may be right."


                                            >You buckle over, your knees giving out and sending you tumbling into the princess' large wing.

                                            >"You may leave us. I shall look over him and answer whatever questions he may have." She says to the guards who stay their protests. It's obvious they don't trust you, you see this in the way they cautiously back out of the room, eyeing you for any suspicious movements.

                                            >"Now then.." the princess leads you over to the base of the stairs, resting you against the first step  and taking a seat beside you. "Let's start with your name."

                                            >You dig deep into your mind, trying to recall some scrap of information to your identity. But when nothing turns up you hang your head.

                                            "I'm afraid I can't remember name nor word that describes me. All I know is the many years I spent trapped inside the stone."

                                            >Your voice echos around the now empty hall. You finally getting to hear your own voice in a long time.

                                            >"That's alright. It will come to you in time." She pauses, looking you over once more. You were dressed in strange clothes. Robes they seemed like, but not as long and flowing. More shortened and meant for mobility. Goggles hung around your neck from a thin strip of leather. And a belt with many small holsters lay tightly secure around your waist. "My name is of great importance. I am the ruler of the sovereign nation of Equestria. I am Princess Celestia, Harbinger of the Sun." She strikes a dignified pose, one regal and childish. Almost gloating yet as simple as relaying simple information.

                                            "A princess? Harbinger of the Sun? I see there is much about this world I've yet to understand."

                                            >"And yet you may understand in due time, human.  I will give you time to rest, if you so need it."

                                            >You bury your face in your hands. The idea of rest making you antsy.

                                            "I've had enough rest for the both of us, Princess. Right now I wish nothing more than to learn. What happened to my people, so long ago?"

                                            >You ask, both dreading the answer and piqued with unwavering curiosity.


                                            >The princess turns from you. Trying her hardest to recall the old tales she heard when she was much younger. Ancient stories that were older than her.

                                            >"Long ago, your people reigned supreme across the globe. Ancient tomes and books tell the achievements of your civilizations, such feats that we can only hope to obtain. Sadly, there is little to no information about what happened to your kind. But many have theorized. I've heard that there was a great flood. A terrible storm that swept across the planet and demolished every trace of mankind. I've also heard that a great war raged on, ultimately leading in your downfall. That you all left and explored the heavens. There are so many stories. Throughout time, many archaeologists have found remnants of your cities. Fossilized remains and ancient technologies that we can not even begin to understand. But not once did I think I'd actually have the chance to meet a live human."

                                            >You try to think. Digging even deeper into your brain, trying to recall even a shred of a memory. But you can't, it frustrates you. Especially when you yourself have questions about your past.

                                            "How much time has past since then?"

                                            >She turns back to you before tipping her nose in the air to ponder.

                                            >"Countless eons. Not even the very few records we have show any dates or references to any point in time."

                                            "Where did you find me?"

                                            >Once again she looks to the ceiling. Tapping the tip of her chin with a hoof, deep in thought.

                                            >"Now that was a very long time ago. I was very young in those days. I acquired you when I accompanied a young unicorn by the name of Starswirl to a dig site in the Badlands. We believed that we had found remains of your civilization, and we were correct. We came across an empty chamber filled with many abstract devices and instruments. You stood there, solitary. Starswirl and I were ecstatic to find such a well preserved human model that we brought you here to Canterlot without a second thought."


                                            "Badlands?" You sit upright, now knowing where to at least start your search. Should you be allowed to leave.

                                            >A scroll materializes out of thin air. Something you couldn't fathom. Celestia opens it, it revealing to be a map of the strange country you had awakened in. Her hoof points to a patch of desert south of a city known as Appleloosa.

                                            >"The Badlands are a strange and chaotic place. Mile high sand storms and gigantic worms that leap hundreds of feet into the air. But it's where we've found most human artifacts and such."

                                            >She levitates the map to you, you taking it from her magical grasp. The idea of magic being too much for you to handle right now. Analyzing the map, you try to make out any mountain range, any forest, or any river that seemed familiar. But you cannot. You're completely blank.

                                            "Would it be possible for you to take me to the site in which you found me?"

                                            >You ask, desperately hoping that she'll agree. But just as the sudden frown on her face starts to give her declination a guard interrupts and she stands.

                                            >"Your majesty! We have received word that beasts are emerging from the Everfree attacking nearby homes!" He stands at attention, his eyes seemingly looking at the roof rather than the princess.

                                            >"Beasts?" she asks.

                                            >"Yes. Giant black beasts with crystals protruding from their backs. They're eyes are as red as fire and teeth as sharp as razors!"

                                            >It was a description that sounded familiar. You're sure you knew it from somewhere, but it'd be useless to think on it now. The princess was already on the move.

                                            "Princess wait. Allow me to come along. I must see these creatures for myself." you call after her.

                                            >Celestia stops, looking over her shoulder to view you slowly dragging your feat in an attempt to walk. A moment passes as she stares you down, her demeanor somewhat changed.

                                            >"Very well Human. I just ask that you do not get in the way." She continues onwards without you. You follow as best you can, slowly regaining your strength


                                            >You stumble after her, the goggles around your neck flopping side to side. Celestia looks back at you occasionally to see if you still follow, her pace slowing so you can catch up. The two of you are accompanied by many guards as you head toward the runway outside.

                                            >The light outside nearly blinds you as you step out onto the large track. A large, golden chariot sits at one end mounted on four strong stallions ready to fly.

                                            "We'll be flying on that?" you ask

                                            >"Well of course. I don't know what wild contraptions you had back in your time, but this is a typical mode of transportation nowadays."

                                            >You climb aboard the lavish chariot and take a seat next to the princess. Pegausi fly over head like a swarm of locus heading south.

                                            >The creaking of the golden wheels and clop clop of the stallion's hooves on stone signal your departure. The chariot flies down the runway before taking to the air to join the swarm heading for the town known simply as Ponyville.

                                            >The wind blows violently through your hair and your face. You fasten your goggles to your eyes, now being able to see more clearly. Looking down below at the passing landscape you can't tell if much has changed or if nothing at all had changed .

                                            >Hopefully your hunch was correct about heading the this 'Everfree' in hopes that you be able to remember something.

                                            >"Human, what may I call you? It's hardly fair for you to know my name and for I to not know yours." Celestia asks you, the question difficult to answer. She sees this in your expression and ponders herself. "Hmmm, how about Anonymous?"

                                            "Anonymous?" you repeat

                                            >She nods at you smiling, her mane hiding parts of her face. "Yes. You could be anyone from an age long ago. You could even be king and neither of us would even know it. I think it fits perfectly."

                                            >You lean forward on the chariot's rim and think. You wouldn't want her to just call you human from now on. And as odd as Anonymous is you can't think of anything else to go by.

                                            "How about Anon?"


                                            >She has another smile at that and nods in agreement.

                                            >It's not long before you can see a small town come into view, surrounded by forests and mountains. It must be Ponyville. You weren't too high in the sky so you could make out the many creatures that now skulked into the quiet town. It made you uneasy.

                                            >"Find a place to land." Celestia commands the four stallions who move in unison. Banking ever which way to find a suitable place to touch ground.

                                            >As you descend, the air grows thicker, slightly more harder to breath. It's filled with monstrous intent and black, wispy tendrils crawl into the sky.

                                            >"Anon, I ask you to stay close to me. There's no telling how dangerous these creatures are." You both dismount, searching the area for any movement. You remove your goggles to get a better look. The lush green forests looked like something out of the realm of fantasy.

                                            "Don't worry Princess, I leave my life in your capable hands....or hooves, rather."

                                            >It'll take sometime for you to get used to the terminology.

                                            >You follow the direction the many pegausi fly overhead beyond the treeline and deeper into the Everfree. The sounds of fighting not too far off.

                                            >"Be ready for anything Anon. Keep your wits about you and you will be fine."

                                            >That was funny to you, considering you hardly had any wit at all right now to rely on. But you agreed all the same.

                                            >Marching through the many bushes and trees you come to a clearing. Many guards and terrible black beasts clash with one another.

                                            >The sight of them is enough to throw out your knees. They looked so familiar, but for some infernal reason you couldn't seem to remember!

                                            >"Anon, do you recognize the creatures?" Celestia asks, perhaps feeling your worry. Around you, some have acknowledge your presence and now moved in for the kill.


                                            >The princess and her guard would have none of it. She rears up on her hind legs, standing even taller than you thought possible. Her perfect figure cutting that of a Goddess of both War and Protection. Her horn glows a magnificent golden aura and the wind swirls around her, she conducts it as if it were the flow of musical battle.

                                            >A concentrated beam of pure sunlight expels from the tip of her alabaster horn and destroys one of the creatures on contact. The sound was ear shattering. Like a thousand Solar Flares in your ears.

                                            >You recover yourself, trying to recognize the beasts that now attempted to claim your life. They were gigantic and black. Though they seemed to be made of shadow rather than actual organic matter. Rough, jagged crystals protruded from their backs like spines. And their eyes were as red as burning hot steel. And giant tendril-like wings. Their wicked, toothy smiles invited you to your own death. Truly these were beings from a child's nightmares.

                                            >But yet, you could name them. It suddenly clicked in your head. You've seen these creatures before. Long, long ago.

                                            >"They are the Angels... I know them, and they are the Angels!"

                                            >You're suddenly overcome with an immeasurable amount of fear. Though you were well protected, you wanted to run and hide away. Away from their snarling fangs and away from their soul piercing gazes.

                                            >"Angels?" Celestia says to herself. Trying to think. Where had she heard that name before. But her concentration elsewhere lowers her guard.

                                            >Beneath you, a pool of shadow emerges around you. An Angel leaping out and grabbing you in it's mouth and stampeding away.

                                            >That fear is replaced with desperation and you hit the beast on it's shadowy hide. The Angel carries you through the battle, streaks of sunlight whistling by you in an attempt to rescue you. But all seems to be lost as you disappear behind the foliage.


                                            >You shout and curse at the beast. Commanding that it releases you. Suddenly, it throws you from its jaws and onto the hard ground. You find yourself surrounded by the Angels. They circle around you, sniffing the air and eyeing you.

                                            >They stand in a perfect circle around you. Seemingly too afraid to draw nearer. You don't know what to make of it. All you can do is hope for a way out. The Angels stagger back and forth, antsy and impatient.

                                            "What do you want with me? If you wish to kill me then be done with it! Don't toy with me!"

                                            >You try to assert an air of confidence, but you can hardly believe it yourself. Your legs could give out at any moment.

                                            >They continue to stare. Waiting.

                                            >Just then, a shooting pain goes through your head. It feels like a butcher driving a cleaver right through your skull.

                                            //You have awaken...?\\

                                            >A voice? Where was it coming from? It was so loud, and seemed to be coming from everywhere.

                                            "Who's there? Show yourself, don't hide from me!"

                                            >The voice chuckles, mocking you.

                                            //We will show ourselves in time.....Now that you have awoke, there is no stopping the work of fate. We will meet, in due time.\\

                                            >The voice was extremely loud, you try to cover your ears. Hoping to at least quiet it down somewhat. The Angels around you watch on in what seems like awe.

                                            "Who are you..?" you ask, dreading the answer, as it will undoubtedly be something of a higher power.

                                            //We? That will also be answered in time. For now, we seek only to help you. And to give you one simple instruction. Make for Ishtar. The gateway to the ancient lands. There you will find your first clue.\\

                                            >Under your foot a glowing circle expands outward. Runes dancing around it's edges. Inside, you can see an image clearly. A gate, leading into a land that had been barren for eons.

                                            "My first clue?"

                                            >You speak into the air, hoping for an answer to be returned. But it doesn't come. The air grows silent and the runic circle disappears beneath you.


                                            >Around you, the Angels slowly creep away into the ground. Sinking downwards until they become nothing but shadows and disappear.

                                            >The shooting pain in your head is gone. Returning your shaken mind to it's more or less original state.

                                            >A strange light emits from a pouch attached to your belt. You do away with the strap and retrieve the item. A circular stone work with a square hole in the center. Runes and other archaic language dot the sides. It gleams slightly, and pulls you towards the south.

                                            >You think to yourself, what could it possibly mean?

                                            >But the sudden sound of shattering glass interrupts your thoughts as you see Celestia and her guards approach you.

                                            >"Anon, what happened? The beasts suddenly disappeared. There was a barrier and we couldn't reach you. Are you alright?" She looks you over. Searching for any damage to your person.

                                            "Yes. I...I'm fine. Princess, do you have any knowledge of a place called the Ishtar?"

                                            >Celestia's ears perk up and she inches closer.

                                            >"The Ishtar? Why yes, it's the only way to enter the Badlands. Why? Do you remember something?" She says, now noticing the peculiar object you hold in your hands.

                                            "No Princess I can't say I do. But while I was held here, I heard a voice. It told me that I was to head to the Ishtar if I wanted to find a clue about who I was."

                                            >You try to think hard about what it means. But just as before you can't find anything. Placing the stone back in your pouch you make your way back to the chariot with Celestia.

                                            >Today would give you a lot to think about. The Ishtar. That voice and the angels. And for what reason why you were trapped in stone? You feel your only way to find answers was to journey to the Ishtar like the voice said.

                                            >Over the ride back you fill Celestia in on every detail. All except the stone. You feel it was to be kept guarded and protected from all others.

                                            >You both decide it was an issue left for tomorrow. And with that, you both turn in for bed. Waiting for what tomorrow brings.