//------------------------------// // 1. The Beginning // Story: The Paladins of Light-Prologue // by Cobalt Bristle //------------------------------// A figure stood in the middle of a seemingly empty field. His armor looked black, although it could have actually been any color. It was night, approaching dawn. The ground around this figure was bloodstained, even some pieces of armor and weapons still dotted the ground. A hand reached up and took off its owner's helmet, revealing a weary face underneath. No distinct features stood out on the human, even as the day began to break over the horizon. Sun started shining on its armor, revealing its color. The armor was red, except for the white that bordered the symbol in the middle of his chest plate: crossed swords. "Hey, you all right commander?" A voice sounded behind the commander. "Honestly, I'm not sure. Even though we won, I still have the nagging feeling that there will never be an end," the commander answered, revealing the fact that he was male. As the newcomer was about to continue speaking, the commander held up a hand. "Hear that, recruit?" He asked, his voice a low whisper. The recruit strained his ears, not able to make out any sounds other than the occasional rusting from their camp. Morning had come. "No, sir. You should probably get back to camp. Someone came looking for you the other day. He said that his name was K'rand, and was quite disappointed when he found out that you were out fighting," the recruit informed him. The commander's eyes widened. "K'rand you say? I'd better get going then," he started to walk off but left the recruit with another order. "By the way, I'm putting you in charge, private." He finished, handing a sealed scroll to the stunned soldier. "What has K'rand found this time? One of his stupid theories?" He thought out loud as he walked down the dirt road that led to where he knew K'rand would be. When the commander got close to the destination he was seeking, he was met by an all too familiar face. "Hey, Sandrick. Thought you wouldn't show this time. After all, you've just won a war," the cat-like creature greeted the commander. "What have you got this time? I don't have a lot of time for your stupid theories," Sandrick replied, annoyance evident in his voice. K'rand rolled his eyes and pulled out a device unlike what he had made before. Usually, it's some holograph of his planned design, but this wasn't the case this time. It was actually tangible. He had pulled out a circular object, a few inches in diameter. "What's this?" Sandrick asked, his curiosity piqued. "I thought you'd be interested in this commander. This is a trans-dimensional teleporter," K'rand explained. "Wait, you mean this thing can take people to different dimensions?" Sandrick asked, surprise evident in his voice. "That's exactly what I'm saying. I've already visited a few myself. Some experiences were rather... unpleasant. If you go to a dimension that has a certain native creature, it transforms you upon teleportation," K'rand told him, causing Sandrick to cringe internally. "But why in all of Riyara had you not even thought to create this kind of technology before?" Sandrick asked, his mind still adapting to the development. "Because I couldn't risk them finding out about it," K'rand answered, caution in his voice. "Who's them?"Sandrick asked, now only with mild curiosity. K'rand could be delusional at times. "A new evil has descended upon this world. Its origin is unknown, but I believe that they founded the seven dimensions," K'rand replied, seeming to lose Sandrick's interest even more. "So why did you bring me here?" Sandrick inquired, annoyance returning to his voice. "Because I need your help. Here, you're the only person who has studied light magic. It is the only thing that can combat these... shadows, for lack of a better word. They move around in a mist-like form, but can inhabit the body of any mortal it chooses," K'rand finished, right before something happened. If you didn't have the commander's acute sense of hearing, you might have missed it. "K'rand, we need to go. Now," Sandrick ordered the humanoid. The noise sounded again. The very sound that Sandrick had had enough of. The sound he had caused to happen over and over again since he decided to fight in the military. It was the sound of death, and it came from everywhere. "Very well commander, it's been nice talking with you. I'll take my leave," K'rand informed him, before putting his hand over the object and muttering a word too quiet for Sandrick to hear. Sandrick jumped forward and placed his hand on top of K'rand's, giving him a nod to signify he was coming with him. A brilliant flash of light filled the clearing, one of the last lights that this world would see for a long time. * * * * * * * * * * * * Sandrick woke up with a headache, not to mention his joints. They felt out of place. He tried to stand up, but he didn't seem to have enough strength in his legs to do so. He then raised his hand to inspect it. He didn't see a hand. Right there, in front of his eyes, was a tan hoof. "K'rand, if this is a joke I'm going to kill you," Sandrick muttered to himself, opening his eyes wider. "You okay, sugarcube?" A female voice told him, prompting him to open his eyes all the way. He couldn't believe what he saw. An orange equine was looking back at him, a look of concern on her face. The first thing his eyes went to was the hat on her head. Since when do horses wear hats? He thought. Her mane and tail were yellow and styled in a, for lack of a better term, ponytail. "I..I think so. Where am I?" Sandrick asked, his voice dry. "Yer on Sweet Apple Acres," she replied, handing him a glass of water. "Never heard of this place before," Sandrick remarked, taking a sip of water and holding off from adding: or talking horses. "So, how'd you manage to find yerself in one of the apple trees?" She asked him. "Before I can explain anything to you, I need to know who you are," Sandrick said, still suspicious. "Ah'm Applejack," She replied. "I'm Commander Sandrick Fiercestorm of the 2nd legion," Sandrick attempted to sound regal, but couldn't quite do it due to the fact that he was still in shock. "Ah ain't heard of no 2nd legion, but ah think ya owe mah an explanation," Applejack said, her green eyes unsettling the commander. "I doubt you'll believe me, as this seems to be a completely different world, but I'll do my best," Sandrick got off the bed and took a swig of water before continuing. "I came from a different world unless this is Riyara," a quick no from Applejack confirmed that K'rand's device had worked. "I came here with someone else. His name is K'rand, but he's most likely not using that name. He built some sort of device that took us here, wherever here is. The only thing I remember about being here was waking up in that bed," Sandrick finished. "Interesting tale ya got there. Not sure if yer telling the truth or delusional, but still interesting," she told him, starting to examine him. For the first time, Sandrick noticed a marking on Applejack's flank. It was three apples. What that was supposed to represent, he didn't know. He was about to ask when Applejack was suddenly shocked about something. "Where's yer cutie mark?" She asked. "Cutie mark? What does that even mean?" Sandrick inquired, but Applejack didn't seem to hear him. "Yer an adult stallion with no cutie mark. What the hay is goin' on?!" She asked, suspiciously staring into his eyes. "Look, I don't know what a cutie mark is, or why my friend took me here. All I know is that my home is probably destroyed, along with those I've spent my entire life beside. I need to find K'rand." With that, Sandrick attempted to leave. He didn't get far. Sandrick tried to trot out the door, but he wasn't used to his new limbs yet. Pulling himself out of the bed was easy, but walking wasn't. He tripped about a foot from where he started. "You don't look that great sugarcube. Maybe ah should take ya to Twilight. If yer telling the truth about this other world mumbo-jumbo, she'll want to hear 'bout it," Applejack told him. Sandrick sighed, defeated. "Fine, I guess I can go talk to this 'Twilight'. If she'd be interested in it, then she might be able to help me get back." "If ah know Twilight, she'll be able to get ya home in no time," she commented, helping him to his hooves. Sandrick nodded, starting to get a hang of walking with four legs. He followed the mare for quite some time. He got some strange looks from the residents of this town, it might have been due to the fact that he didn't have this "cutie mark" that everyone kept talking about. Then again, this is a world of talking equines. I doubt they know anything about my species. Eventually, they came upon a structure that stood out from the rest. If Sandrick didn't know any better, he would've called it a castle. "Well, here's where Twilight lives. Ah'll stay around and see what ah can do to help." When she finished speaking, she reached up and knocked on the giant doors on the castle. Shortly after, a shorter creature pulled the door open. "Hey Applejack!" He greeted, before turning to Sandrick. "Who's this?" He asked. "I'm Sandrick. Applejack said someone named Twilight would be able to help me," Sandrick explained, warily looking at the sharp scaled running down his back. He looked like some sort of drake. "Well if anypony can, it's Twilight. She's in the library with Starlight," Spike told the duo before going inside himself. Sandrick followed Applejack and the drake upstairs and through large, empty corridors. This place was deceptively big. If he didn't have a guide, he would've been lost a long time ago. Eventually, they came upon a door that looked different. Nevermind, it was exactly the same as the rest. However, the drake pulled the door open and motioned for the ponies to go first. The pony Sandrick assumed was Twilight looked up from the book she was reading, her face lighting up when she saw Applejack. "Hey Applejack," she greeted, prompting another pony in the room to look up. Sandrick went unnoticed for all of 2 seconds. He noticed that while Applejack looked similar to the ponies he was familiar with back home, Twilight was far from it. She was slightly taller than him, and had a horn and wings. "So who are you?" Twilight asked, jolting Sandrick from his thoughts. He bit back the response he would give back on Riyara and went for something more simple. "Sandrick Fiercestorm," he stated, the blandest answer he could come up with. "Interesting. I know just about everypony in Ponyville, but I've never seen you before. New in town?" Twilight asked. "You could say that," Sandrick replied. The other pony, who Sandrick assumed was the Starlight that the drake mentioned, trotted over. "Twilight, he doesn't seem to remember being in Equestria at all before today. He says he's from another world. What do ya make of that?" Applejack asked, getting Twilight's attention immediately. "Another world? Interesting, I've been to another world, but I was able to get back. Are you stuck here?" Twilight asked. Sandrick nodded, then Twilight continued. "I'm afraid I don't have anything that would help you get home, not without channeling some energy through a gateway. Without any information about this other world, I can't construct one right away," Twilight finished, her rant coming to an end. "I don't need another method of getting home. If I can find my friend, he can get me home. He's the reason I'm here," He explained. "Um, Twilight?" The drake asked her. "Yes, Spike?" She replied, a neutral expression on her face. "He doesn't have a cutie mark," Spike told her, his voice evidently shocked. "Seriously, what even is a cutie mark? I keep hearing it over and over again, but I don't understand what it is," Sandrick vented. This time, Starlight spoke up. "A cutie mark is what defines a pony's purpose in life. What their talent that makes them unique is," she elaborated. "Sounds important to you equines, but I really don't care. My place is not in this world. I just need to find K'rand and get out of here." When Sandrick finished speaking, a wheezing pony came into the library. It was hard to make out many details, other than her gold armor. He walked over to Twilight and handed her some sort of container. It had no evident way of opening it, no keyhole, and no hinges. It was unlike anything Sandrick had ever seen. Twilight seemed less confused about the box and why she was having it given to her. "Why have you given me a magic sealed box?" She asked the messenger. "Captain Lighthoof found it on the corpse of a cutie-markless stallion. I was directed to send it to you immediately," she reported. "To me? Why?" Twilight asked, not knowing what two stallions without cutie marks could mean. "Because of a note found on the body. It is enclosed with the only other thing found on it." When she finished, she saluted and galloped out of the room. Twilight looked at Starlight, Applejack, Spike, and Sandrick and lit up her horn. When the light faded, the box had opened. Inside was a certain circular object and a piece of paper with evident writing on it. Twilight glanced at the note and looked up at the group. "It's from somepony who addresses himself as K'rand," she paused and looked at Sandrick. "It's addressed to you," she finished. "To me?" Sandrick reached out, shakily, and received the paper from Twilight. Out loud, Sandrick read: To the finder of this note: You needn't know why my death has come. Only that it did. Please deliver this letter to a member of royalty in Ponyville. I believe there is one there. Take anything on my body and deliver it. I've magic locked this letter so only one may see what the rest of what it says: Sandrick Fiercestorm. At this point, Sandrick looked up, revealing that a few tears had fallen. Even though K'rand had been annoying, he meant a lot to Sandrick. He was one of the few people back on Riyara that actually treated him as a normal person and not a leader. Sandrick then looked back to the letter. This part he decided not to read out loud. To Sandrick Fiercestorm: If you receive this message then I would be surprised if I could be alive to tell you so. I know there is one dignitary in Ponyville, but the chances of it reaching her, or you for that matter, is very slim. If you are reading this then I have four things to tell you. ⦁ One: Thanks for putting up with my ridiculous theories about, well, everything. Without you, I would've given up on them before today. ⦁ Two: How I died. As I write this, my mind is slowly being corrupted by the same evil that is now clouding Riyara. From what it's been trying to tell me to do, it has obvious evil intent. After this letter is finished, I will have to kill myself. It is the only way to prevent the evil from spreading. Their leader does not exist in this dimensional plane. It exists in another, where it is already succeeding in subduing those brave enough to stand against it. ⦁ Three: How to activate the trans-dimensional teleporter. It's simple, really. All you have to do is put one of your appendages over it and say the name of the dimension. DO NOT GO BACK TO RIAYARA! There will be nothing you know left. Not only that, they may manage to take your mind, and I do not want you suffering the same fate as me. These are the rest of the dimensions: Equestria(where you are now), Equestria Alternate(has humanoids), Siikara, Kelosia, Kirldan, and Earth. I would not recommend going to the last dimension on this list until you have already gathered followers from the others. People on Earth can be, well, strange. Kirldan is a friendly enough place, once you get past the fact the main ruler is literally the devil. Siikara is home to several different species of sentient, predatory felines and canines. Kelosia is home to several different types of sentient animals. Equestria is a world filled with talking ponies. Need I say more? The alternate version of Equestria has humanoid equivalents of most of the ponies in Equestria. Just know that Equestria, Siikara, and Kelosia will change you into one of the inhabitants. ⦁ Four: Your mission. I know it seems odd that someone like me would be giving you a mission, but it's true. You must form a band of warriors to combat darkness, wherever it may arise. There is an ancient prophecy that I won't be able to explain or write down with my rapidly declining time, but know that you must take soldiers from each of the worlds, Riyara excluded. If not for the innocents, do it for me. You were a paladin back on Riyara, take it upon yourself to teach others how to use this unique type of magic. I tried to get you to, but you refused. You MUST do this in order to succeed. You will never see the same me alive again. The enemy can take the shape of anyone it has been near, do not let them fool you. You may find some of my counterparts in the other dimensions you go to, but they will not know who you are. I'm running short on time but just know one thing: I will always be with you. The letter ended there, some blood stains on the bottom of it. Sandrick looked up, seeing his vision had gone cloudy from the tears. Wiping them away with the back of his hoof, he saw that the rest of the group was intently watching him, Applejack being the only one not about three feet from him. She was leaning against the closed door. With a shaky voice, Sandrick found the strength to speak. "I know what I need to do now. I must do what I have been holding off for years. I must finally reveal the secrets of the paladin to the worlds, starting with Equestria," he explained. "What in the hay are you talking 'bout?" Applejack inquired, evidently confused. "A paladin is a warrior who uses the power of light magic to aid in healing and combat. As a paladin, I swore an oath to protect the innocent from the reign of evil and will die doing so. Even K'rand was not a paladin, but he did just that. I will make sure the death of my friend was not in vain. Twilight, you seem to be in charge here. Can you send a message out to the town?" Sandrick asked, his explanation seeming to confuse half of the audience and inspire the other half. "I can, but I doubt anypony will show. If you're considered an adult and have no cutie mark, that would send off alarms in anypony's head. If I wasn't a science-based pony, I might not have listened to you. By the way, I believe this belongs to you," Twilight agreed, giving the small teleporter to Sandrick. "Thanks, er, what's your title?" Sandrick asked, not wanting to upset one of the only peo, uh, ponies he could afford to trust in this dark time. "Princess, but I prefer not to be called that way. I'm not too much different from a normal pony," Twilight replied. "Maybe not, but respect is a moral I stand behind. I shall see you soon, Princess Twilight." Sandrick then saluted and trotted out the door. "Er, maybe much sooner than I had wanted. Where's the exit door in this place?" Sandrick asked. "Ah'll show him out Twilight. Ah need ta get goin' anyway," Applejack offered. Applejack waved goodbye to the ponies in the library, then went to lead Sandrick out. "Thanks," Sandrick said. "Yer welcome. Ya actually seem like a decent pony. Ah suppose yer not a pony where yer from though," Applejack commented. "No, I was a human. Someone who had caused death so much he could hear the sound of it. Here, I actually have a chance to start over," Sandrick remarked. "It's fine sugarcube. Ah won't judge ya on yer past," Applejack comforted. The duo walked in silence to the exit doors. They gave a small goodbye and parted ways.