Chapter I: The Seven Stars
Prologue: For Twilight Sparkle, her world has forever been changed. First hoof she has experienced the lengths Princess Nightmare Moon is willing to go to ensure her rule. Like an omen watching her from afar, she can feel the regrets of Canterlot upon her, a sign of what she'd failed to realize years before. Now a victim herself, Twilight Sparkle must delve into the history of the world around her, and find the source of the vice that chokes Equestria so strongly. What is the true path to harmony? And what role must she play to find it? Twilight Sparkle knows she must do something, but she also realizes, she could never do it alone.
This place again, it was starting to become far too familiar.
Twilight Sparkle was in a world much unlike their own. It was vacant, deprived, and solemn. It was dark, cavernous, and saddening. Yet here she found herself again, her breathing echoing across the vast emptiness which was this place. She was upon the knees of her rear hooves, slouched as she rested atop the surface of murky water. The depths, impenetrable to her. Eventually, she looked towards the skies. All was silent, as desperation gripped her face. What was she supposed to do? What did the world require of her? Twilight Sparkle was lost, but determined. But even the darkest thought could cripple a pony. She felt that lack of confidence creeping up as her face distorted into one of fear. What ... was she supposed to do? Twilight looked down at her reflection. "What ... What do you want from me?" She looked up, "Why am I in this place again?"
The silence continued, and the winds continued to howl in the background of this world.
Twilight continued looking down at her own reflection. "I understand now. I realize it okay?" She paused, "For so long I ignored everything that was happening around me. I ... I only worried about myself. I didn't see the pain that Nightmare Moon's reign had brought, until I experienced it first hoof. I know now ponies out there, they're not fighting for a perfect future. But ... one that at least reminds us of where we came from. I want to help them, but ... I need a bit more. Nightmare Moon needs to be stopped, before she gets out of control. Before she decides that we're not worth it anymore. I know I'm late but ... please, just ... give me a bit more. Not some random pieces!" She looked up, "Give me something that I can use to help! I can't keep going the way I have. I can't keep trotting blindly." She frowned, as she looked down with wide eyes and tears rolled down absently. "I can't repeat what happened in Canterlot. I can't." She cried out, "Just! G-Give me a path! Please!"
There was still silence, followed by the ceaseless winds which almost came off as their own absent response.
Twilight rose, continuing. "And I promise! I promise!" She glared upwards, "I'll find the correct way."
And suddenly, as if responding to her plea, seven bright stars appeared in the vast endless distance.
Twilight's eyes widened, unable to hide her surprise. She trotted forward observantly. "One ... two ... Seven. Seven Stars." She squinted, raising a brow before looking up and shaking her head. "I, I don't understand."
Then surrounding those stars an outlining appeared as they all remained directly in the center. Tiny fractals of light formed wide jagged shapes, and ultimately all those jagged shapes connected to one another perfectly like a puzzle. There were no straight lines, and the entire overview could be depicted as a large mass.
Now Twilight immediately understood, and she couldn't help but gush out her realization. "A map!" She focused, engraving the image of it into her mind. "The outline is most certainly Equestria's." Twilight felt it, the simultaneous connection, the communication. This world had responded to her, though she didn't understand how. Ever since she'd received this magic from the colt, such moments were rare ... but now possible. The time would come when she knew she'd have to train herself to understand it better but for now she knew one thing ... this magic was alive. A bond to something beyond her grasp, ancient in both existence and power. Yet ... so familiar. She pushed back her intrigue to concentrate, and ultimately to listen. This was a conversation.
Twilight focused now on the stars in the center. They pulsed each with a different color. Yet, some were fading, dying out. Silver, gold, pink, red, orange, green, and violet. Orange was the brightest, whereas violet was the dimmest. Followed by red, silver, pink, gold, and green. Twilight decided to accept this as her order, from dimmest to brightest. She had no clue as to what these stars represented, or where exactly to find them. But it was something ... she knew they were in Equestria. A welling anticipation grew inside her, a dire eagerness.
But just as quickly as it came, now ... the map started to crumble, as all the stars began to fade.
Twilight flinched, worriedly eyeing the sight of this. But despite her worries, a need rose up within her as she cried out once again. "Thank you! I ... I give you my word! My concrete agreement! I will solve this!"
The bright fractals all fell into blackness as the stars all died out, leaving nothing but darkness once again.
Twilight stood there in silence as she continued to eye the same area for a time. "I will..."
Bursting from the water and aggressively latching onto the mare suddenly were pale hooves.
Twilight shrieked, crying out just as violently as she panicked and glanced down at herself.
There, pulling her down into the depths of the water she stood upon were pale grey ponies. Majority bearing black empty eye sockets, bottomless and vacant. Their own desperation mimicking Twilight's as they hungrily pulled at her, wanting her to join them. For now, their words sounded like gargled mutters. Indistinct.
Twilight couldn't care less about anything they were saying however! All she cared about was getting away! Her heart raced rapidly as she felt now the slimy thickness beneath the surface of this sea, more identifiable to sludge rather than water. Twilight screamed, "W-Wait! Perhaps a different sign would be better!? This is unequivocally unsatisfying! Hey! A-Are you listening!?" Her horn started to glow as she blasted them with magic one by one. "Nay! Nay nay nay!" She clenched her teeth as she stretched her neck upwards as if that'd help prevent her from being pulled down further. She soon closed her eyes and then screamed wildly in fear.
But then suddenly ... everything sounded so clear.
"Fear" , "Scared" , "Scared" , "Scared" , "Fear" , "Fear" , "Fear".
All these ponies repeated the same thing. Scared and fear. They were all scared. Every one of them.
Twilight slowly opened her eyes and peered into those empty sockets. Despite them lacking actual eyes, their expressions embodied doubt, fear, uncertainty, and desperation. Twilight wondered, "A-Are? Are they emotions?" Soon enough, the ponies all let go of the unicorn, eyeing her and muttering the same words as they sunk back into the depths. A tremble ran down Twilight's spine as she pushed upon the surface of the water and climbed atop of it. She had her eyes closed as she'd fully escaped the depths and took a breather. She continued to wonder, before slowly opening her eyes and immediately seeing her reflection again. But her expression went blank as she'd saw herself with empty sockets. Her reflection spoke back to her, "Fear."
Twilight gasped as she immediately rose, waking up atop a large amount of sheets. She held a hoof to her heart as she was sweating profusely. Eventually, after gathering her thoughts and clarity ... she muttered. "Dream ... dream, dream dream. Okay, just a dream Twilight. Noooothing crazy. You're ... you're not crazy." Then her eyes snapped wide, as she paused and realized she was in an unfamiliar location. She glanced around, seeing stacks of hay, along with some stables and a few pitchforks. She now looked upward, noticing a second story to this place and the vacant ceiling shape. "A barn house?" She gripped her sheets, looking ahead in thought. "What am I doing in a barn house?" Twilight soon rose to her four hooves as she also noticed a vacant chair not far from where she slept. She blinked a few times. "I guess ... I better take a look around. Then get out of here."
Twilight once again took some time to identify some objects within. She noticed there was a small chest directly towards her right, rested against the wall. She casually approached it, patting off the caked dust and opening it slowly. Only to find a rat which jumped out at her, which caused her to yelp, falling to her rear. She growled to herself as she recovered, then looked back to the chest. There was nothing but an old receipt. "Nothing..."
As she turned towards the opposing end of the barn house, her thoughts continued to race. The seven stars ... I have to find out what they mean. She paused, I wonder if Moondancer and Mom are okay. Even within her thoughts, her voice choked with sadness as she trotted ahead. S-Smarty Pants ... I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry. She made her way towards one of the stacks of hay, inspecting it with a couple of glances before sighing. "It's hay Twilight ... what were you expecting?" She rolled her eyes casually to herself before turning towards the front.
Twilight huffed as she'd made her way towards the barn door and pushed upon it, only to hear the rattling of chains. Her expression sunk greatly. "Locked ... why am I not surprised?" She muttered, "Does that mean I'm supposed to be a prisoner here?" Twilight looked back towards the center of the barn house as she gathered her thoughts. "I wonder if they know I could just teleport." She paused again as she eyed the bed sheets she slept upon, "Or perhaps, those locks are there to protect me?" Twilight then made her way towards the vacant seat. She eyed its surface, before placing a hoof atop of it. It's pretty warm. I guess I was being watched over.
Twilight blinked a few times as she tried to reflect on what she could remember. The last few moments were a fog, so she closed her eyes to concentrate further. A mare ... and green eyes. Those features stood out.
Rattle rattle rattle. The sound of the clanking locks rang out.
Twilight flinched as she glanced back towards the barn door once again.
A shadow was cast in front of it, somepony was definitely making their way inside.
Twilight poofed, disappearing in a veil of unicorn smoke and reappearing atop the second story.
Clank rattle clank. Then the locks tumbled and fell upon the surface of dirt.
The barn door slowly started to creek open ... before suddenly, it was swung open rapidly.
Twilight's pupils dilated as she felt near blinded by the light of the sun which swarmed in like a wave. She grunted, immediately turning away as she held a hoof to her eyes and tried to recover. She squinted in pain.
"Aaaaw shucks. Now why'd ya have ta go and run away?"
Twilight blinked a few times, soon peaking ever so slightly over the edge of the second story. The light was still bright, but what Twilight saw caused her to become overwhelmed with shock. Within the darkness, the mare whom stood shined bright from the radiance of the sun. Her coat, a beautiful orange. Her yellow mane glistened vibrantly, as did her green eyes. But this is not what stood out to Twilight ... what stood out is what she represented. Twilight's thoughts raced as she debated with the idea she were being too observant. But, there was no denying it. As it currently stood, this mare symbolized a staple on her mind. One of the seven, a bright orange star. But not only that, taking in her features Twilight knew there was no mistaking it. She knew this mare's face, and slowly muttered. "Captain ... Jack?" One of the mares of the renown big three?
Twilight knew she had to engage. But after last time ... what could she possibly expect?