"Daddy!", a small filly unicorn demanded her father's attention. She was a very skilled mage for her age... although her teachers are very concerned that all she knew was offensive magic. She was the very first to gain her cutiemark, which was ring engorged with fire; she basiclly got it before she attended school. (Yea, I guess you can say shes a natural) Her mane was ruby red, and her coat royal purple (although she isn't really royal). She carries her beloved stuffed bear, which holds many secrets that nopony would ever guess, no matter how insane they are. She wore cute pink and purple striped socks, as usual, and her furry pink backpack. She was born with pink coated ears that faded as they progressed into her skull's fur. "Tibbers wants to play again!" she shoved her bear into her father's shoulder, who was sitting in front of his desk, franticlly scouring his papers in search of something.
"Not now Pyranna, tell tibbers that daddy will play with you and him soon, okay?", he quickly said. He had a dark blue coat, and a matching purple and red mane; it was probably where Annie got her colours. Splint's cutiemark was a proud small spark surrounded with stars. His given name was Splint Spark, which Pyranna still wondered what it meant. She then realized that he called her Pyranna; he rarely used her given name, and usually called her Annie. Oblivious, but cautiously, she asked him,
"What are you looking for?"
"Uh," DING, the door bell sounded. He sighed in relief as the pony at the door saved him from revealing the truth to his daughter.
"I'll get it!" Annie announced, which caused her mother, Oxida Spark, to sigh with a smile. She was disappointed that her attempts to reach the door first was ruined. She sported a thoroughly pampered cyan mane, which was striped with darker hues of blue. Her coat was orange, with a cutiemark that was a ring with swirly lines within which represented wind, or some sort. Annie swung open the door with enthusiasm as her good friend Valiant Goodheart, stood awkwardly at her doorstep. He was rarely seen with his true mane and coat showing, but his mane was dark blue, and his coat matched Annie's; it was how they started their first conversation together. He wore his outfit that mimicked a mage in purple, with spikes, topped with a matching wizard hat. "Vally!" she exclaimed,
"Ugh!" ,he reputed, "For the last time Annie, CALL ME VEIGAR!" his voice was very,very,very,very, squeaky and high. He could voice Pinkie Pie for Celestia's sake!
She giggled at his antics, "Okay Veigar!" she winked, causing Veigar to playfully snarl. Her mother ushered them both back in, and provided them with Annie's favourite: apple juice. She left them alone to chat amoungst themselves, and went to check on her husband. He found him frantically running around in his small library. It was a complete mess!
"Splint! What has gotten you so mad?" ,she demanded.
"Uh, can't find my ukulele.", she knew what he was talking about, it was their codeword for the artifact that they possess.
"Just relax hon'! And come join the little ones for play time. I doubt anything is going to happen."
He sighed, "I guess you're right." he stopped in front of her, planting a small kiss on her cheek. "Lets go.", and so, they went to have fun with Annie and her friend. They lived in a slightly isolated area, since her parents are society outcasts. Her father was a skilled warlock, who gleefully trained his daughter and Veigar. His wife, who is also a skilled unicorn, pursued dark arcane knowledge. Although Splint did too, he wasn't as 'enthusiastic' about it. They met Veigar travelling alone, in search of mages to teach him dark magic. They introduce him to the filly waiting at home, Annie, who at first disliked the young traveller. In time, they grew to be eachother's good friend. Veigar always denied not having a home, but it didn't worry Splint much if he survived on his own for a very long time. He would not explain his past to Annie's parents either; they figured it was something that was sensitive.
Annie's parents disliked society mostly because they were training with illegal use of magic; dark magic tends to corrupt one's soul. It proved false if you had an adorably sweet daughter. In time, being isolated also proved to be a very big mistake. Without any attention, a large figure got through the stone wall that lead directly into Annie's parent's bedroom. Noticing that nopony is there, the figure moved on down the hall. He didn't bother making sure nopony would catch him, he could simply slay them if they did. He moved through with no stealth, and began to work around the mess that the warlock has made. He kept the artifact, and Mordekaiser wanted it.
"Hello!" ,chirped a cheery voice. Morde quickly swung his large mace behind him, regardless of the fact that shes just a useless fil-- He screamed in agony as she blasted a fireball right into his spectral face. He wondered if his armour even protected him. Annie took this chance to observe the giant metal pony: spikey, shiny, and very shiny. He recovered and retaliated with surrounding her with sharp shards of metal. She is protected by a sphere of purple, possibly resembling a dark shield. Oxida's eyes were fuming, determined to slay the metal pony who dared hurt her daughter. Annie was swept behind her parents thanks to her father, so she wouldn't get hurt while they fought the intruder. They advised her with great haste to run. Veigar stood his place to participate in the battle alongside Annie's parents, but as much as Annie did too, she protested and forced him to flee. They never looked back as they hear a sound of crushing bones under metal. Tears rushed from her eyes, completely sogging her whole face with tears; Veigar too.
Meanwhile, back at Splint's library. He kneeled before the crushed body of his wife. Too stunned to retaliate against Mordekaiser, the ghost he feared for his whole life, he bent his head and cried pathetic tears which landed on her bloody coat. She took a massive slam from Morde's spiked mace, before she could even react. It pained him how she died so easily, with no remorse or mentions of regrets. What would he do with Annie now that his beloved was gone. Annie... he repeated the name through his mind countless times. He had to protect her... what he has lived up for... what he was willing to sacrifice himself for. Renewed with new determination, he teleported himself behind the metal apparition, but was hopelessly interrupted from casting an ability when a mace poked through the ground and knocked the wind out of him. Not to mention puncture some holes in his guts. He now laid before Mordekaiser.
"You'll never get away with this." he managed to say with bloody spit.
"Perhaps I shall spare your life, if you were to willingly give me the Tarragon Helm without further resistance." he pressed further with his mace. It was near his head, threatening to give him the same fate as his wife.
"Neve--" Morde squashed his head before he was able to finish that word. He didn't need him anyways. He tapped into his mind, casting out signals to indicate strong reserves of magic... and there he spotted it. Behind a shelf that contained genres of children's books. He assumed it was for his daughter. He smashed the bookshelf, revealing a helmet, the Tarragon Helmet. It was no fake, nor used. The dragon relic was in his grasp... now he needed the other pieces to complete the artifact.
"Shh!" Little StrongHeart hushed her accomplice, Kassadin, who didn't stop. She shot him an angry glare, and tapped his shoulders. "Somepony is following us... I can hear them." she whispered. He halted, and sighed.
"We have no concern of their presence. For if they do not interfere with us, nor shall we interfere with them."
Strongheart protested, so she went to venture herself. In response to her rebellious actions, Kassadin rift walked right in front of her, causing them to collide. Kassadin didn't budge, while Strongheart was on the dirt.
"Whats the big idea?!"
"We must get you back to the others. We need not to waste more time." He didn't need his face expressions to convey fear into Strongheart. But true to her name, she ignored him and chased after the sound from the rustling bush nearby. She stopped in front of the suspected foliage.
"Come out and show yerselves!" she demanded. To her surprise, a walking scarecrow with a scythe stepped out and kept a safe distance from her. Kassadin was at her side, observing the bundle of sticks. "Who are you and what do you want with us?!"
"We were only passing. We don't want any trouble now--", he was clothed in thin rags, stuffed with hay,sticks as his main body frame, and eyes that glowed green. He bore no cutiemark, nor mane.
"We? Who else is there?!" in response, a scared purple filly took cover behind the scarecrow, and another colt huffed out his chest.
"Get lost fool!" said the one in purple spiked clothing with a matching pointed hat.
"Vally!", said the purple filly, "Don't be mean to strangers."
"Thats right Annie, now say you're sorry Valient."
"Me?! Apologize to inferiors?! In another dimension!" he responded, " And my name is Veigar!"
The scarecrow sighed, "Allow me to introduce ourselves; this is Annie; Veigar; and I'm FiddleSticks." Strongheart resisted the sensation to laugh at his name. 'Fiddlesticks', what a fitting name for a talking scarecrow!
"I am Kassadin, and this is Little Strongheart. Pleasure to meet you." Fiddle and Kassadin shared a nod with eachother, instead of the traditional hoofbump.
"Right, now before we part, do you know the nearest city here?", asked Fiddlesticks.
"That would be Canterlot as I assume. Most of the other towns nearby are deserted, evacuated." , Kassadin said with a monotone.
"Evacuated?" , the scarecrow wondered outloud. Kassadin looked at him strangely, wondering if he lived under a rock.
"There has been a massive threat to all of Equestria, and the rest of the world. We too are travelling to Canterlot, so if you'd like, we'll talk on our way there."
"Seems convenient. What do ya say Annie? Veigar? Wanna go with them too?"
"The big one is scary.." whimpered Annie, Kassadin reminded her of Mordekaiser, since he wore metallic armour.
"Hah! He doesn't look so tough! I will blast him to smithereens if he dares look at you funny!"
"We'll come Kassadin." Fiddle announced.
The clouds became brighter, indicating that the sun hung above them. Although the sun doesn't shine through, the Shadow Isles seemed a bit brighter.
Yorick stopped in his tracks, and raised a hoof to hush the travelers. He peered around the broken but live trees, as if he sensed someone watching. His assumption was right, but he doubted himself and so he stood still. At last, Quinn offered to scout the area, incase they were actually getting stalked. Before Valor could take off from his companian's back, a casual figure appeared behind a tree. He seemed to have teleported out of no where if he was able to hide behind such a slim tree. He trotted forward then leaned on the closest tree, obviously intending to make himself seen.
"Yorick! Its been so long old friend.", he spoke. He had a casual accent, which Ryze thought to be peculier; everything he has met on this land spoke differently than sophisticated ponies. Or perhaps he is from a town in Equestria.
Yorick snarled, which didn't bother the mysterious pony a bit. "Git lost Twisted Fate! Yer nawthin' but trouble!" he swung his shovel even though he was clear out of range. Twisted Fate responded with a laugh.
"Im not here for you anyways. Tell them ponies behind you that they better back off.", he lifted himself from the tree and covered himself with his cape. "Go back home with your lives while you can." , he glowed brightly and was surrounded in cards. When the cards lifted, they revealed nothing but air. They watched his cards fly into the distance until they weren't visible.
"Lets move on.",said Ryze, "Even if we turn back now, we'll let down millions of lives if we don't bring back the dragon relic."
...
Fools, thought Hecarim.
The crystal vanguard grumbled with annoyance. Pinkie just will not shut up.
"How is it like in there? Celestia says its scary and dangerous! Oh! You never told us what your cutiemark tells us! Its shiny and neat!", she prodded at his flank, causing him to finally give her his attention.
"Stop that at once! I've never been to the void myself; so I wouldn't know.", said Skarner.
"But do tell us of your cutiemark.", Rarity added.
"Fine." he replied after a moment of consideration. He was accompanied by the elements of harmony bearers in the castle courtyard. Usually, it would be flooded with civilians who come from other small towns, but it was lunch time. He wished dearly that somepony would come save him from the grasp of these evil mares. Yet, his answer came.
"EQUESTRIA TO SKARNER!" ,Rainbow Dash shouted. Skarner didn't flinch, but he did move. He moved to sit beside a sculpture that resembled Princess Terra. Apparently, she represented resilience. The sculpture did not include her wings nor her horn, or rather her detailed features, but the cutiemark was very familiar. Most ponies never realized the story behind the sculpture.
"My cutiemark...", he sighed, "I didn't exactly get it the same way you ponies do. Instead of discovering my true talent for my cutiemark, it was forged."
"FORGED?!", Twilight hollered outloud. That term was very distinct to her; forgery in studies would result in expulsion in her school days. (Forgery for example, signing your own permission form, instead of your parents or guardian.) "How dare you forge your own cutiemark! It's not even possible!", despite the fact that Apple Bloom has conducted a brew that allowed her not one, but several cutiemarks. Twilight has attempted the spell to make one's cutiemark appear, but failed.
"You misunderstand me. The Brackerns took form of whatever they wished after they are deemed ready to enhance their soul..."
"Don't worry Skar!", his close friend Igneous assured the nervous wreck. At that time, they were both just wisps attached to a small floating crystal; equivalent to fillies or colts. "You're supposed to be proud of yourself! Everyone always looks forward to the ceremony!"
"Yea, I guess you're right.", said Skarner with glum. They were positioned to the back of the crystal shrine, along with other friends who will receive the same coronation. An audience of Brackern civilians awaited at the opposite side, anxious for the ceremony to start. The grand chief, Solar Wind, showed himself, causing the crowd before him to holler/applaud/cheer. Brackerns of all sizes, minuscule and massive, were quickly hushed as Solar raised a fragment of light. Solar was the only Brackern to not have taken form in a crystal body. His soul was extremely powerful and it did not need a vessel. He can float freely and do whatever he pleased. Known to be a very powerful being, he resonated his ever-bright love and kindness for all beings. He visually appeared as a bright yellow wisp, progressing to a valiant shade of orange from where his aura of light ended. He had no face, nor actual physical substance; he was purely made of energy and light.
"We are gathered here on this traditional, yet momentous occasion. My fellow Brackerns, let us continue on our ceremony that will transform these young Brackerns into what their destiny foretells!", Solar annouced. The crowd once again, roared in cheer. His voice was gentle but loud, distant but amplified. To many Brackerns, it was a very exciting and happy day that they have always looked forward to when they were just like Igneous. To Skarner, it was equivalent as holding the fate of the entire multiverse on his shoulders while hanging onto a thin thread; he was nervous to the core. "May the one who is proudly named Igneous, step onto the centre of the shrine.", he said.
Igneous, who was in front of him, meaning Skarner would be next after him, calmly floated to the centre as Solar commanded. If he had a face, he would be smiling ear-to-ear. Before anything else happened, Skarner allowed himself to get budded by 3 of his also excited friends. He barely had an idea of what he wanted to take form as. Sure he was clever and smart, also adventuristic, but he wasn't prepared for this. He had thought about this day since he has heard about it. They told him that it will be large, every Brackern usually go see it. That it will resonate their true personality, into a physical representation. Such as loyalty may be some kind of canine; the form of a dog was common.
"Now Igneous, do as I say.", said Solar. The little wisp nodded in acknowledgement, prepared for his transformation. "Clear your mind... and think only of happiness.", his instructions caused him to giddily shake. It wasn't meant to happen, but most Brackerns do it when they are really joyful. "Now using your happiness, look further into your mind. What do you see?"
"A... a bright light?", he reacted by straining his mind more, seeing more than just a light. "Its a bit warm... and im in a jungle?"
"Good. Keep looking deeper."
"Uh... something is in the tall grass... a Lancetooth?"(equivalent to a sabretooth, but with long tusks)
"Hm... alright, you can come back to the world now.", the crowd laughed a bit.
"Okay. What now?"
"Now I am going to need your full concentration for a simple question. What do you think the lancetooth represents?"
"Uh... fear and power?"
"Not quite. Keep thinking little one."
He waited a moment to ponder, "Strength and Keenness?". Right then and there, the shrine shined brightly. Everyone shielded their eyes, then slowly recovered to turn their gaze onto Igneous. He turned into a crystal lancetooth with a shiny red, and dark red colour scheme. It resembled the element of fire, along with a body of a lancetooth. The Brackerns erupted in loud and thunderous cheers, making Igneous one very happy crystal cat. One by one, Skarner's fellow peeps went up, Diamondillium turned out to be a bright blue, and a very shiny hornet; Skiver transformed into a crystal butterfly (haha); Sash Reverie became a large whale that was purely magnificent. It had temporarily distracted Skarner's attention for a bit before he was called up.
"May the one who is proudly named Skarner, step into the centre of the shrine.", Solar announced. The nervous wisp regretted showing up. However, he floated bravely to the centre of the shrine. It was distinctly marked as a star, so no one could ever miss it.
"Alright. As usual, do as I say.", Solar spoke loudly, causing Skarner to flinch.
"Eeeyes sir.", he replied with his shakey and high-pitched voice.
"Are you nervous?"
"Only a tad bit.", the crowd gave a small and hearty chuckle.
"Let us proceed, clear your mind.", he tried his best to shut out everything; his nervous thoughts, the witnessing eyes, the silence, the glowing moon that hung above. Solar moved on anyways, "Now, think of your happiest moments.". Skarner didn't have one that he can name off from his memories, so he used the one that was closest to being a very very happy moment in his life; the moment he had met Igneous. "Now, look deeper into your mind... what do you see?"
Okay, where can he begin? Darkness and faint light penetration was all he could see. Seeing that Skarner was struggling, Solar gave him motivation. "Come on Skarner! Exalt on your true feelings.", doing a mental shrug, he forced his mind to dive deeper towards the very faint light. It became brighter, but barely blinding. As he zoned in on the light, he finds a small piece of crystal.
"A crystal fragment.", claimed Skarner.
"Now look deeper into that crystal... what do you see now?", Skarner strained to look further, but surprisingly, his mind obeyed. Now peering into the crystal, he finds a reflection of a faded triangle. It had some designs in the middle, and it was purple. He ventured further anyways. The triangle became clearer, and focused into an image of a shield. The shield had crystals covering the front side, complimenting it's secondary shade of royal purple. The markings that it had, spelt Vanguard in ancient Brackern language. He quietly thanked his teacher for giving him lessons on such an old language.
"A purple and cyan shield.", said Skarner.
"Now, you can stop and refocus your mind. Tell me... what would such an image represent?"
It was obvious, "Tenacity and Security?", he managed to say before he was engulfed by the sudden but friendly tendrils of magic that shot out from the hinges of the shrine. He was blinded by a scorching white light, which later became soft purple. He felt a very soothing, but tense sensation throughout his whole body. He panicked, wondering if the ceremony could go wrong, especially when he was in a position such as this! Finally, everything calmed down, but instead of uplifting cheers from the crowd, they stayed silent, casting confusing glances.
Skarner looked upon himself to see that he was such a pony thing! He had a smooth coat,hooves, and not to mention a shiny tail. Overall, he was purple.
"Why are you a small horse?", someone said in the crowd.
"I believe the proper term is pony.", said another.
"Hes very shiny."
"Doesn't really look like a protector to me."
Solar Wind stepped forward and hushed the murmurs.
"Now now, let us congratulate Skarner! The crystal pony!", the crowd gave him loud praises and inspirative clapping.
"... so then as a crystal pony, i had my cutiemark from there. It was hardly something to gawk about. It was the very same crystal that I saw during the ceremony. It represents my never dying energy, that I will never stop protecting my friends and people."
Applejack whistled, "Whoowey! Hows that for ah cutiemark story huh."
"You said it Aj. Can't compare to mine though.", said Rainbow Dash.
"Hehe! That was a super-awesome-fun story!", Pinkie interjected then hopped in front of Skarner. She came to a halt in midair as she realizes. "Did you have no friends back then?", she spoke in a very soft voice that matched Fluttershy's.
"I did have friends. No one hated me and I hated no one."
"Really? Didn't sound like it.", she sneered her right eye closer to Skarner, examining his reaction.
"Really. Although Igneous was the only Brackern I spent my time with."
"You lie!", declared Pinkiepie, causing Applejack to perk up her ears.
"Fine... another Brackern was quite special to me too."
"Tell me..." she hissed,
"Rather not."
"Tellmetellmetellme!"
"Pinkie, thats enough.", Twilight stepped in to stop the crazy mare's antics. "Im also curious to know about 'Solar Wind'. I saw his name mentioned in a few of my books, but they never explained anything more than his abilities. Also, weren't you the grand chief of the Brackerns at one point too?"
"I'd rather not talk about what happened to Solar Wind before I became chief. Solar Wind has been known to travel space and air, correct?"
Twilight nodded, "And that he held many secrets that remain untouched."
"That is false. He had no secrets."
Twilight only gave him a confused look.
"He offered them to our community publicly. Most aren't exactly secrets anymore, such as the basic knowledge of magic energy, the principles of teleportation, or the formation of minerals and rocks. Whereas his other discoveries were unused and proved to be unfit for modern day.", remarked Skarner.
"Oh! Can you tell me all about it later?"
"When the world isn't hanging in a balance." he smiled.
"Oh! I forgot to ask you!" Pinkie emerged from behind. "What do you want for your birthday?!"
"Peace."
"Something else? Because the author has already planned that.", she said. Everypony looked at her with weird glances. "Do I really have to explain?"
"Yes.", they all demanded in unison. Luckily, Pinkie was saved by a rather timid stallion.
"Hey Skarner!", greeted Luio. "Was wondering if you have a power crystal!"
"What in the world for?" he replied.
"My amazing plan."
