//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Spirits of Mana // by Camlio //------------------------------// I do not own the rights to My Little Pony Friendship is magic or the Mana Series games. Please Support the official releases. Taking a moment to process the youth's words Twilight was trying to figure out exactly what a Knight of Mana was, while she was doing this Luna stared at the phantom that had appeared behind Ferrik. "Ferrik I don't mean to alarm you but, there seems to be an apparition floating behind you." At Luna's words the phantom revealed itself to the three. "Oh... I'm sorry, I'm the spirit of Dreams and Lunar magic..." The soft voice of the spirit trailed off much like a certain butterscotch colored pegasus Luna had met a while back. "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear your name. Could you please repeat it?" Luna inquired as Twilight gazed on when Ferrik sighed. "Princess Luna, Twilight Sparkle, May I introduce the Mana spirit of Moon. Luna." As he said this the phantom faded into existence revealing a small fairy child holding a pearl floating in a winged harness that glowed like the full moon. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be asleep yet her voice carried on. "A pleasure to meet you both." She said softly, her voice being carried from her sleep through the pearl she held. Twilight looked between the two Lunas for a few seconds before giggling which earned her a concerned look from the princess of the Moon. "What is so funny Twilight Sparkle? I don't believe anypony here has said a joke?" She then looked to Ferrik who merely shook his head with a smile. "There wasn't a joke My lady. The reason she's laughing may be that the word Luna is another word to describe Moon and so far everypony she's met with that name has been tied to it in some way. Am I correct?" Ferrik asked which earned a nod from the Unicorn as she gathered her composure again. "Ah yes before I forget, Spirit of the Moon. Since there is a higher authority involved in the Lunar magic in this realm I need you to stay with the Princess. Is that alright?" The fairy child managed a week nod to Ferrik's question before her pearl glowed once more. "To avoid confusion please call me Moonstone for the time being Princess. It is my honor to serve you." At those words the spirit floated around Luna in three circles before vanishing into her giving Luna a brief glow. "W-What just happened?" Luna and Twilight asked with worried looks towards Ferrik. "Oh right, Moonstone has lent her powers to you, I'll let her explain it though." At that both Luna and Twilight looked confused before Moonstone appeared before them once more although now chained to Luna's horn like a magical leash. "You see Princess we spirits are made from magic itself and in turn it comes from us. We have no physical forms due to this and can grant larger amounts of our powers by binding ourselves to those we wish to grant power too. This is called a Blessing. We can Bless as many beings as we wish but, our powers are limited by individual." Ferrik points to the chain displays how a faint pulse of energy flows from Moonstone to Luna every few minutes. "In order to exist alongside those who use magic the Spirits grant us their powers. This is the essence of the blessing. But, I really need to ask a question of you Princess. Is there anypony amongst your subjects with the power to speak with animals? Perhaps even understand them?" Twilight and Princess Luna share a knowing glance then nod. -MANA- "Okay Angel Bunny, it's time for lunch." A Butterscotch pegasus mare with a pink rose mane and tail spoke softly to a small white rabbit as she laid a carrot out for it. Only for it to be rejected by said rabbit. "Oh Angel Bunny... what will I ever do with you?" She asked not expecting an answer and was extremely surprised when she got one. "Maybe if ya stopped giving me Raw carrots we wouldn't have issues like this now would we Fluttershy?" The Rabbit placed his paws over is mouth at the resulting squeak from Fluttershy. "Wow... she looked like she just heard me talk... wait... She heard me talk?!" At this outburst a phantom shaped like a woman made from a palm tree appeared over the unconscious mare. "I see she does posses my blessing. Strange... I wouldn't have expected any being from here to actually have the Forest Speak skill." At this the spirit faded into existence. Revealing the spirit of Nature and Healing, Dryad. *Knock-Knock* "Fluttershy? It's me, Twilight! Are you alright?" At the sound of the unicorn's voice Fluttershy stood up and dashed for the door hiding behind her lavender unicorn friend as she entered. "Oh Twilight I'm scared... there is a strange lady in my house and I could hear what my animals said and eeep!" She turned to see Ferrik walk into the house and tried to make herself invisible behind Princess Luna who she just noticed enter her much larger stature making this particularly easy. "Sorry, I forgot to introduce you. Fluttershy this is Ferrik he's a human knight who is in the bearer of the Mana Sword." Ferrik nodded at Twilight's description and bowed to the Pegasus. "Terribly sorry about frightening you but, may I ask what this 'Strange lady' looked like?" After he said that the tree-like woman floated into view. "Ah young Master Ferrik. It's a pleasure to see you again. I was just checking up on this young lady to confirm if she had naturally earned my blessing and to my surprise she had." The Tree spirit said with a smile which earned a blank stare from the three ponies present. "She has the blessing of Forest Speak? I guess you must have awakened it fully and that's what scared her." He said to which Dryad nodded. "You see Dryad is the Spirit of Nature and Healing, Fluttershy must embody her skills so well that she had earned a partial portion of her powers. When Dryad sensed this she came to give her the rest... Am I correct?" Dryad nodded before performing the Binding process with Fluttershy who glowed for a moment before passing out as the adrenaline faded.