//------------------------------//
// Guardian of the Light 
// Story: Little Light 
// by InfinitySlayer 
//------------------------------//

GHOST MEMORY LOG 1-3 
ORIGIN POINT: UNKNOWN [>10000 LIGHT YEARS OUTSIDE SOLAR SYSTEM]
RETRIEVED [DATA CORRUPTED]
ENTRY FOLLOWS, GUARDIAN ATTENTION REQUESTED:

I felt a surge of Light, followed by an eternal period of darkness. Then, the Light returned, awakening, enlightening. 

My sensors rebooted, causing an uproar of physical feeling and mental meditation instantaneously. A vivid array of spectacular color danced in my eye, such so that it took a few moments to distinguish each individual object from one another. Swiftly, however, my vision focused, everything becoming crisp and crystallized. 

In the forefront of my vision was the beautiful creature, Fluttershy by name. What an odd name, a marrying of both a verb and an adjective to form one word so full of meaning. Her large eyes clearly expressed high concern as my sensor relays slowly came back online. Those wondrous pupils spoke louder than her words,

"Blue! Are you okay, can you tell me?"

At first, I dismissed the request, assuming that my communication relays were still inoperable. However, I also noticed the profound lack of that debilitating pain that indicated otherwise. I scanned my translation matrix for a suitable reply, my eye focusing into hers,

"Yes...I am okay."

Even though my poorly articulated reply was far from reassuring in my own mind, Fluttershy (I will be using her formal name in this log from now on) seemed to leap for joy. She scooped me up in her warm hooves, analyzing my frame more closely, "Your shell doesn't seem to be damaged anymore, either!"

Pure relief flowed in rivers across my consciousness matrix as my scanners indeed prove her hypothesis. My outer shell looked as it did when I first awoke within the Traveler's Light. My operating power stood at exactly 100 percent, an astounding measurement given the dire circumstances of mere hours ago. 

I engaged my anti-gravity systems to discover that they too were fully functional, "Remarkable. All systems have been restored to full operational capacity." 

Fluttershy's expression grew somewhat confused at my statement. Nonetheless, she still radiated a beautiful smile, an expression imbued with the same power as the sunrise. 

"Thank goodness you're okay. I was starting to get worried. I'm so sorry I couldn't do more, I had no idea what to do to help. I'm just glad that you made it."

The pure, innocent kindness that constantly streams from this astounding creature never ceases to amaze me. I'm sure that a Guardian reading this log would have an even harder time understanding quite what enables anything to act with such generous hospitality. I suppose that I was blessed by the Light to witness such an ultimate example of it in the past. 

"Why I don't quite know how, or much less why, I've managed to recover from my experience in the Vault, I can't thank you enough for rescuing me. Your kindness is rivaled by only one other, creature of Light."

A sincere smile exploded across her features, although her apparent nervousness still hid behind it, "T-thank you. I saw a little light in the distance on my trot home, and there I found you laying in the grass. I couldn't just leave you there, poor thing."

I almost attempted to refute that statement. Of course she could've let me rot. Any other creature, either born from the Darkness or the Light, would have, even if for different reasons. Instead, I thought it better for the City, Guardian, that I ask questions regarding the strange world on which I now reside,

"I would hate to impose, but do you mind if I ask some questions regarding the makeup and nature of this planet and its inhabitants? I would be glad to answer any questions you might have in return."

Fluttershy seemed to shrink slightly in what I assume to be nervousness, uncannily true to her name, I suppose. She hid behind a portion of her own pink mane as she quietly replied, "Of course."

Still maintaining my hovering position, I asked, "First of all, the data I have collected regarding this planet's atmospheric and geological makeup are astounding. No other planet in my solar system of origin is so full of life. Could you then explain exactly where I am.?"

A look of confusion again danced across her features, "You must really not be from around here, little guy. We're currently in Ponyville, which in itself is a part of Equestria."

Take note of the ironic naming of the places of residence, Guardian. Something tells me that his somewhat amusing tomfoolery isn't going to halt anytime soon. Not a lot of originality, but then again, we literally named our last city on Earth The Last City.

She looked at my hovering frame with two saucers for eyes, each full of true empathy. With a voice like cold water, she asked,

"Where are you from, little guy? I'm sure you must have a home somewhere, even if its not in Equestria." 

Memories that I had been attempting to block out for the sake of Fluttershy's innocence came flooding back to me all at once. My Guardian. The Vault. The Vex ambush. Her fall. How much information was I willing to disclose with this yet unidentified creature? I determined it was best to keep it to a minimum, for the City's sake. 

"I come from a different world. Whether or not it exists within this galaxy, or even this universe, is still up for question. All you need to know is that the world from which I was born is not a world you want too see. Perhaps it was beautiful once. No more."

I could've sworn that shimmering tears formed in her eyes as her voice quivered in response, "That sounds awful, Blue. You must've at least had a family of some kind, somepony that we could get you back too?"

The sharp pain of regret and grief tore through my matrix abruptly. I'm still not used to the unwelcome feeling. Most Ghosts only have to feel it once. 

"Not any more. Whatever family I had was consumed by Darkness, the embodiment of evil bent on destroying any sources of Light in the universe. I failed to protect her, Fluttershy. What could I have done? I'm just a floating scrap of metal and widgets, after all."

I stopped myself. Was I, a mechanical Ghost, venting my feelings on an organic life-form? This was probably out of protocol in some way. Regardless, Fluttershy remained genuinely interested in my predicament, those same cool tears of empathy still hanging in her eyes, 

"Now I'm sure none of that is true. I may not know what you are or where you're from, but I do know that every creature has a purpose, and is uniquely designed to fulfill that purpose." 

I almost chuckled at that. I certainly hadn't fulfilled my purpose, letting my Guardian down in such a horrible fashion. Or maybe I have fulfilled my purpose as a disposable instrument, as my Guardian had in the end.

Snapping myself out of my shameful stupor, I refocused on my current purpose. While I was of little use to anything directly, I believed that I could still assist you, Guardian, and by extension, The City, by sending information on this planet's organisms and general composition. Little did I know that such a simple desire would lead to such a major discovery. 

Drawing closer to the shy creature, I inquired, "Fluttershy, I hate to intrude, but would you mind if I scanned your composition and energy matrix? I am at least hoping that this data reaches my homeland. If I'm lucky, then they'll be able to act upon it."

Fluttershy seemed to blush in tender shyness as she reluctantly agreed. I suppose that it is quite unusual on this world to abruptly scan things, much more be scanned. 

Readying my data receivers, I activated my primary organic scanner. A grid of green light waked over Fluttershy's nervous frame, swiftly moving in a linear motion to retrieve as much data as possible. After a few moments, my scanners automatically deactivated and a display with all relevant data rose to the forefront of my vision. Most of it was relatively monotonous and expected. Molecular composition is very similar to a humans: carbon based and reliant on a strong presence of water. However, two significant readings caught my attention.

One: this creature, and most likely the rest of her kind, possess a magic not yet identified by even the most powerful Warlocks of the City. I'll leave y'all an attachment with the exact readings. Try to make as much sense out of it as you can. 

Two: the Light concentration readings are off the charts. It's definitely the Traveler's Light, no question. Along with that, the frequency of that Light exactly matches the frequency of the Light occurring within myself. This type of reading only occurs between one form of bond. 

The bond between a Guardian and her Ghost. 

It took a few moments for it all to settle in. I hovered in silence, pondering the significance of this data. Either my scanners were going haywire, or this innocent creature was a Guardian, more importantly, my Guardian, imbued with the same Light all Guardians share. This should be physically impossible, as I am sure you are aware. We aren't even in any close proximity to the Traveler, whose Light can only extend so far outside the solar system. More than that, a Ghost selects its Guardian from the dead, not the living. Such an event has never occurred in documented history. 

Even more, no Ghost has ever taken on more than one Guardian. I should have disintigrated into basic Light long ago. This bond between Fluttershy, my Guardian, as it seems, must be the thing keeping me alive. 

I felt a surge of emotion suddenly crash through me. No person could ever replace my old Guardian, not even this pure creature. The bond I forged with her was eternal, inseparable, even unto death. I thought I would be swiftly joining her in the Halls of Iron. What right does this Fluttershy have to abolish that bond and replace it? She is still a stranger to me, an unknown creature in an unknown world!

I forced myself to calm down. My rapid, shaking movements and long period of silence were negatively effecting the poor, innocent creature quivering before my eye. She didn't-doesn't deserve any mistreatment. She doesn't deserve the iron weight and curse that comes with Guardianship. She doesn't deserve to face the Darkness. She doesn't deserve to perish in the same fate as my old Guardian. 

No, I thought. This world doesn't deserve it. No world deserves the fate the Darkness brought to the billions who perished in fire and death. Yet, here I am. Judging from the intercepted Vex transmission, it seems that my attempt to disable the device has failed. The Darkness will inevitably follow me into this world of Light and corrupt it just like mine. 

A scene, a memory, flashes before my consciousness. I hover next to my Guardian, above the dead bodies of five courageous souls who had fallen to the Darkness. The brutish, bulging frames of hundreds of perished Cabal war mongerers lay scattered upon the rust red dust of the dead plains of Mars. A strong wind kicks up the loose, blood coated soil, quickly spreading over the fallen Guardians, burying them into oblivion. 

I turn to my Guardian. Her resolve is iron, and her outward countenance shows it. Deep down, however, I know that she feels as broken as I. 

"It's times like these that make me forget the grand illusions of the City," I said dryly. 

She nodded in recognition, "Indeed. The lives of these Guardians forever will be remembered, but for what were they truly worth?"

"I'm not sure I can tell you. All I know is that they died fighting for a cause much bigger then them. I hope they found peace in that."

My Guardian removes her helmet, revealing her beautiful and strong facial structure. Her eyes are a shimmering blue, like the ice of the Arctic tundra. She looks directly into my sad blue eye and says,

"The cause is much bigger than any of us. The cause is the heartbeat of every soul residing in the City. The cause is the hundreds and thousands of millions who surrendered their lives for those of others. The cause is the hope of a better tomorrow, a belief that one day, the Light, however small, will break through the Darkness."

I returned to reality. Fluttershy stood confused and slightly alarmed. I looked directly into her ice blue eyes, and said,

"I am your Ghost, and you are my Guardian. Fate ordained that we should be the protectorates of this world, shining beacons against the Darkness that will otherwise consume it. Where you go, there I will follow. What you do, that I will perform. Your Light shall be mine, and my Light shall be yours."

"Wait-my what will be yours? Slow down Blue, what are you talking about?"

I shook myself, "Sorry, Fluttershy. I got caught in the heat of the moment. I'm sure what I just said didn't make much sense, so let me start from the beginning."

END LOG