Chapter 4

Neo The Brave and Mighty

The next morning, Neo and his friends got on the Friendship Express on their way to the Crystal Empire, they were looking forward to seeing the Equestria Games. During the ride to the empire, there were various ponies on the train that were going to compete in the Equestria Games.

Rainbow Dash said a few words of inspiration to them, keeping their spirits high. Ponyville was competing against the Wonderbolts in the game, so Rainbow Dash wanted to keep their spirits high. Rainbow Dash was a big fan of the Wonderbolts, but she had to cheer for Ponyville.

During the train ride, Neo played a song with his mind ("Media Control" by The Casualties), his friends listened to the music and they liked it, even though it sounded a little strange and chaotic.

About 15 minutes later, the train arrived at the Crystal Empire. As ponies were getting off the train, Spike was loading everypony's gear onto a cart. As Neo got off the train, the Cutie Mark Crusaders came over to see him. They told him that at the Equestria Games, they will be carrying the Ponyville flag across the field. Applebloom was feeling nervous, but Neo told her not to worry, he told her to just do her best and before she knows it, it will be all over. Applebloom felt better and she thanked him for the advice. Neo gave each of the crusaders a kiss on the head and said he will see them later. They all blushed, then they said goodbye to him and happily trotted off.

Right when Neo was about to walk off, 2 crystal pony royal guards came over to him.

"Neo Anderson?" said the guard.

"Would you please come with us?" said the other guard.

Neo had to obey the guards so he immediately walked with them. They started taking him towards the Crystal Palace. Neo was wondering why the guards were taking him there. As they approached the palace, Princess Cadence and Twilight were standing outside of the castle. The guards walked Neo over to Cadence and Twilight, they stopped when they approached Cadence and Twilight.

As they approached Cadence and Twilight, the guards bowed at them, but one of the guards accidentally tripped Neo.

When Neo fell, Twilight said, "Neo, are you alright?"

The guards helped him get back up on his feet and one of the guards said, "A thousand pardons, O Great and Honorable Neo the Brave and Mighty."

Neo was surprised that they called him that, he said, "What now?"

Princess Cadence smiled and said to the guards, "Thanks for bringing Neo to us."

Neo turned around for a second, then Princess Cadence gently put her hoof around him and said, "Don't worry Neo, we'll have our hoofponies go back for your bags."

She gently moved him towards the palace as her way of asking him to come inside the castle with them. So Neo followed Princess Cadence and Twilight into the Crystal Palace. Neo wasn't sure what was going on, but he kept following them.

They took him to a nice room with a big couch and there was a crystal pony inside the room. Princess Cadence told Neo to have a seat on the couch, make himself comfortable and the crystal pony in the room will get him anything he needs. Right next to the couch was a table with wine glasses on it next to a big bottle of red wine. The crystal pony poured a glass for Neo and Neo sat on the couch and picked up the glass of wine. Neo politely thanked the crystal pony for pouring him the glass of wine and she smiled at him.

As Neo drank his wine, another crystal pony came into the room carrying a big leaf. The crystal pony started waving the leaf over him, keeping him cool and comfortable. Neo drank the wine and he kindly asked the crystal pony to pour him another glass, she poured him another glass and he politely thanked her.

As Neo drank his wine, he said to Twilight, "So the crystal ponies here see me as some kind of hero?"

"Last time you were here, you got the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadance in time to save this entire empire from destruction!" said Twilight.

Princess Cadence said with a smile, "You are known throughout my empire as "Great and Honorable Neo the Brave and Mighty."

"Isn't that awesome?" asked Twilight. "You're a big shot here Neo."

Twilight walked outside onto the balcony and Neo went out there with her. She pointed down and said, "See that, that's you."

Down by the castle was the statue of Neo holding the crystal heart. 3 crystal ponies were down by the statue, admiring it. Neo loved seeing the sites of crystal ponies admiring the statue of him.

Then Princess Cadence came out onto the balcony and said, "This is why we all hope you do us the honor of performing for everypony at the Equestria Games. You will be the first human in the history of the Equestria Games to do so."

Neo smiled and said, "I would be honored to Cadence."

Princess Cadence giggled and she gave him a kiss on his cheek. Neo blushed bright red after she kissed his cheek and Twilight couldn't help but giggle at his blushing.

Princess Cadence also mentioned that she wants Spike to light the torch during the Equestria Games opening ceremony. Twilight had to go get Spike since he was with her friends so she left the room and said she would come back later.

Neo politely asked the 2 crystal ponies to leave so he could have some privacy. Princess Cadence left the room as well and she reminded Neo that if he needs anything, her crystal ponies will attend him. Neo appreciated everything the ponies were doing for him. They were treating him like a king and it was the nicest thing he ever experienced.

While he was alone in the room, Neo danced and sang a Heavy Metal song, ("Blood and Fire" (Out of the Ashes Mix) by Type O Negative). Neo danced around his room as he sang his song. After he sang his song, Neo took a small device out of his pocket, he pushed a button on the device and the device became a TV set with a video game console connected to it.

Neo turned on the TV and played a video game (SNES Super Star Wars). As he played his game, Twilight and Spike came into the room and saw him playing his game. Twilight and Spike sat down next to him and watched him play, they were fascinated by the game and thought he was really good at it.

When night fell, Neo sat on a bed in the room, he was a little nervous about performing at the Equestria Games tomorrow, but he was looking forward to it as well. He was hoping to put on his best performance yet for everypony at the games and he wanted to make himself proud.

End of chapter 4.