//------------------------------// // Fighting then learning // Story: Fiend Shifter // by Xinrick //------------------------------// Despite their protests, I ran outside and saw two Fiends, a Dingo, and a Condor. The Dingo was trying to attack ponies inside their home, it’s paws breaking through glass, and the Condor was swooping down, trying to get at running ponies in the street. “The hell are these things doing here?” I panicked, before shaking my head. “No no, don’t panic right now. Gotta focus.” I said before bolting after the Dingo is someone’s home. “Alright...let’s hope for the best…” I muttered while finding the thing quickly and taking a deep breath and charging at it. “Raldo!” I shouted, feeling my body shift into that of the armored lizard about as tall as the Dingo, and even though I felt a lot slower my previous charge let me continue as I slammed my new shield arm into the Fiends side when it wasn’t paying attention. ”Alright asshole, pick on someone your own size.” I thought to myself as I growled a challenge to the Fiend. It rushed in, trying to bite at my shield arm before I bashed it away, the thing slamming onto some nearby potted plants and making a messy and hasty recovery to its feet. I growled again as I stomped on the ground before charging at it again, my movements slow given how bulky and armored I was but given the thing was already injured it probably was slowed down. I rushed in, the beast trying to dodge but limped last minute, getting one last hard bash, an audible crack as it fell over, limp and lifeless. I panted, surprised at how much it took out of me as I saw the thing start to vanish as Pyreflies, magical beings that formed a lot of things in Spira, before it completely vanished. ”Cool…” I thought to myself, glad that that was still a thing instead of there just being a rotting dog corpse here before I shifted back to my human form. “Woof...that hurts…” I grumbled while putting a hand to my head, still feeling that burning sensation but I shook it off and rushed off to find that Condor. It chased a Pony into a shop of sorts, quickly turning to me and using its claws, latching to my head. “Gah! Bitch!” I shouted. “Water Flan!” I shouted, my entire body slipping out of the Condor’s grip as I became a literal flan monster made of water. ”Okay so...how the hell does magic work again?” I thought to myself, really wishing I knew how to do things before going head long into combat as I tried to focus a Water spell towards the Condor. While using this form to dodge and move around rapidly. Moving in this body, I realized I was… It was natural, second nature almost. At least I had that going for me, but the damn spells…  ”Fuck it…” I thought to myself as it decided to dive at me again, only for me to leap onto it and wrap myself around it’s head and trying to crush it instead of me trying to figure out how to cast magic. While my grip wasn’t strong enough, It was slowing down. I was drowning it. After a while the bird finally fell limp. I moved off of it as Pyreflies flew out of the Condor’s body as it vanished into nothing as I changed back into my human form. “Well, that takes care of that.” I said while dusting my hands as I heard the final fantasy ten victory fanfare play out of nowhere. “So… that’s what it’s like when you shift?” I turned, seeing Twilight and the others. “What… what were those forms?” “Um...those were monsters called ‘Fiends’.” I said nervously. “I can apparently shapeshift into them, and...apparently they also exist in this world.” “I have never seen creatures like that, not even in the Everfree Forest.” Fluttershy said. “What were those lights when you...you…” She got quiet. “Those were Pyreflies.” I said. “They’re...kind of hard to explain, but they're basically magical beings that are...I suppose an embodiment of life and memories?” I asked nervously, never really fully understanding the finer details in their symbolism. “Does beating those beasts and letting those Pyr-whatevers go means you can shift into those things too?” Rainbow asked. “Uh…” I blinked. “Maybe? I mean, I could have turned into both of them before I killed them but...I don’t actually know, I just got here like...however long I’ve been passed out ago.” “Just a day really.” Rarity said.  “So what do those Pyr-things do anyway? If they’re magic and memories does freeing them from monsters make your transformations stronger?” Rainbow asked again. “I don’t know, maybe?” I asked with a helpless shrug. “You should know, you leveled up silly.” Pinkie giggled, as I blinked and looked up seeing ‘Level Up’ right above my head. “Seriously?” I pouted at the blatant sign of me leveling up. “How… is that even possible?” Applejack asked. “Maybe whatever magic she and these monsters might share just acts this way… I’d love a chance to study it if you’d be okay with that.” Twilight asked. “Well, I’m going to need to learn magic soon…” I said. “But it better not be anything too weird in the field of study.” “Alright then, come with me then. You can stay in my guest room at the Golden Oaks Library, I’ll have Spike send a letter to the Princesses once we get there. They will have to meet you.” “Hope I’ll make a good first impression.” I said sheepishly, remembering what that Sphere said about the ‘diarchs wanting to forget’ and feeling like my powers might bring back some bad memories. “Oh, by the way, where’s my stuff?” “What stuff?” Twilight asked, and there was a long silence… “The bag I had which held all my stuff…” I took a deep breath. “Please tell me one of you saw a bag and a weird blue sphere thing near it?” I asked, hoping one of them did cause those were literally my only belongings. “Like that one over there?” Pinkie pointed. We all turned towards what looked like a giant pastry made into a building, out by the door and to the left of it, was the blue sphere, and my bag under it. “Yes…” I said slowly while walking over to my stuff and picking it up, checking inside and thankfully my coat and strategy guide were in there as I grabbed the sphere and gently put it in my bag. “Thank god I didn’t lose these…” “How did this get here?” Rarity asked. “Hello there!” Suddenly this...snake...dragon… bear thing popped in front of me. “My my my, such chaos, such an impressive display of power! And here I thought only I could cause damage like that.” “Excuse me, who's the chimera?” I asked nervously, not sure if the thing is friend or foe at this point. “Discord!? What are you doing here, why are you here?” Twilight demanded. “Oh I sensed something not of this world appear, and suddenly so many more started popping up. Of course as a good friend to Fluttershy, and you all through extension, I investigated.” It snapped it’s fingers, a copy of the game falling at my feet, and a guide book. “Imagine my surprise when all this chaos started coming from this little thing, then again, the multiverse is an interesting thing.” “Wait…” I raised my hands in a ‘please stop’ motion. “Excuse me, how much do you just...magically know?” I asked nervously while seeing that indeed...it was a Final Fantasy X game and strategy guide...wait, it was remastered!?! “Lady I am the Lord of Chaos, if it doesn’t make sense in the natural order of the world, I know everything about it. Comes with the territory.” He said, floating around. “Though I have to say… what I learned is… not pleasant. I mean, I’m up for chaos and havoc, but this is disturbing.” “You played through the entire game?” I asked Discord curiously. “No, but I skimmed the guide book. I learned a few things and it seems what I was worried about is true. Before I explain this, tell me, do any of you know exactly how my Chaos magic works?” Discord asked, all the Ponies snaking their heads. “You see, it’s so wild and uncontrollable because my magic is drawn right from the realities within the Multiverse itself, from every one of them at once into my body. As such, moving between them is easy, so long as a body for me is present in each world.” “Wait, so while you were trapped in stone here you…” Twilight asked. “Was free as a bird in another. In any case, mostly, aside from me and a few others, no one can traverse the multiverse without their own powerful magic and such. That being said, there are times when it… breaks.” “What do you mean by...breaking?” I asked nervously. “Well, there are walls in place to keep them from traveling over naturally, but every so often, cracks form, things leak through and normally when the crack self repairs, the things leaked into are returned, sometimes not so much, you’d know this as things ranging from Ghosts, monsters that should not exist like Bigfoot or The Rake and all that, some realities make these cracks to travel the multiverse for a long time before it heals, then there are moments where it breaks, forming a hole. A hole in the multiverse wall between realities doesn’t just leak, it floods monsters, people, and many things between both worlds. If not repaired, the entire wall may shatter, and both realities would merge in a hellfire matching that of the big bang. All life in both as they are would all be killed, and the resulting world to be formed after will evolve as a merge of the two.” “Okay…” I said, my head kind of spinning from that massive info dump. “Where can I get food?” I asked, hoping to bring up this conversation never cause that's'...that’s a lot to take in. We went over to Twilight’s place, where she served tea and Pinkie brought Cupcakes. Once we all sat down Discord spoke again. “In any case, to repair the hole, we need to first figure out who made it. After that, things will return to normal, with the exception for whatever gets fully converted. You see, each reality also structures it’s matter in a unique way, being in another reality can cause a conversion. So long as it’s not too far along, they will be pulled back to where they come from. But, this does provide an opportunity for us so long as the hole is open.” “And this opportunity is?” I asked curiously. “Cause while all of this wall breaking dog shit is fine...I just want to bring my family back, and this told me how.” I said while bringing up the Sphere, a clear blue ball that looked like a condensed ball of water inside a ring which had very strange markings on it. “While the hole is open, I can make it feel more like what you are accustomed to.” Discord said. “As for your family… Well, I’m sorry but I don’t know where they ended up. You all arrived at once, that I do know, but where you all ended up is still a mystery, one I’m sure I can quickly figure out.” “Well the first and simplest one should be ‘helping a brown spotted foal who loves the moon’...literally no idea who that is, but he sounds like a nice enough kid.” I said honestly, everyone in the room knew exactly who he was. “Is, is she talkn’ bout Pipsqueak?” Applejack asked. “Of course she is silly.” Pinkie said honestly. “What other pony has brown spots on them, and is a massive Luna fan?” “So...who’s Pipsqueak?” I asked curiously. “He’s a colt, younger than my own, and Applejack’s little sister, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. He only moved to Ponyville about… two or so years ago?” Rarity informed. “What does Pip have to do with any of this?” Rainbow asked. “He’s the one that’ll let me save my baby brother.” I said sadly. “Cause...well apparently, the person who sent me here with my powers and stuff decided to...give me quests to get them back, one of which is here, another is up north somewhere...and I have no idea how in the hell the third one’s going to work because as far as I know a Fayth isn’t here.” I explained. “Hmm… Well, I have a theory on that last one.” DIscord said. “But I am unsure. That being said, as I said, so long as the hole between this world and the other is open, I can use my chaos magic to organize it. As much as it pains me to tidy up chaos, I can make things useful for you.” “Thank you.” I nodded. “I’ll need all the help I can get to figure this crap out…” I said while finally taking a bite of the cupcake Pinkie gave me. “Alright then. First off, something simple.” Discord snapped their… bird… talons? I felt an odd tingle in my eyes, suddenly in my vision I saw… is that an HP bar? Mana, a clock… a menu option? This is kinda cool. Oh hey a mini map too! “While not accurate, this isn’t that game so, better to cover RPG hud basics.” DIscord said. “Better to have the basics than having nothing.” I said honestly. “In regards to you all, if you decide to join her take these with you.” Discord gave another snap, seven pairs of goggles appearing before them all, including the small purple dragon Spike. “These will allow you to see what she sees as well as register all who wear them in each others hud as allies.” The others all put them on, in my hud, and theirs, all the others names, HP, MP, and levels were present. I’m at level 3, with Applejack and Rainbow Dash also level three, Twilight Level two, and the others are all level one. “This is amazing!” Twilight said. “Aw yeah! Level three!” Rainbow said. “So’s Anna and I RD.” Applejack said with a laugh. “Cool.” I nodded. “This will be enjoyable...hmm…” I hummed while grabbing my Sphere and turning it on, a menu appearing that listed ‘transformations’, ‘info’, and ‘quests’. “I wonder…” I muttered while going to info. “How can I get new transformations?” I asked the Sphere. My hud lit up. Link Established. A tab under my Menu showed up, titled Stats. Looking at it, I saw it glow then it showed me in more detail than the Sphere does on it’s small surface. Quest list, hints, map locations, list of my shifts. Of which five were apparently available… Upgrade and stats options for all of those, hotkey options… This is useful as all hell. “Sweet.” I said with a smile. “I didn’t think your little action could include my Sphere.” I said to Discord. “I figured it would help, besides, if it breaks the laws of reality then it’s fun by my standards. That being said though, sadly despite all I can do there are still limits to what I can and can’t do.” Discord said, taking a sip of tea… only to drink half of the tea cup itself while the tea remained inside and as if it was within the cup. “I don’t expect you to be able to solve all my problems even if you are a nigh omnipotent god from what you’ve explained.” I said honestly. “The fact Discord can’t do certain things is just surprising and disturbing all at the same time.” Applejack said. “You’re telling me.” Discord grumbled. “Regardless, while you all can fight these monsters, I can’t. Their spills through the hole in the multiverse gives them just a tinge of Chaos Magic, not enough to do anything, but it makes them immune to what I can do. I can bring and place items from this other world around in chests, but can’t actually give them to you upright, they need at least a few moments in a contained space to self stabilize to their new reality. Living things take the spilling easier than inorganic matter.” “I assume it has something to do with their Life Force energies?” Twilight asked. “Yes it does, protects them better than something without one.” “Well that’s...quite a bit of info.” I said honestly. “Good to know...so about this Pipsqueak kid.” “I know where he is.” Rainbow spoke up. “Ponyville Orphanage, same as Scootaloo. Seen them hang out when I fly by to pick her up for lunch or just to hang.” “Alright.” I nodded. “Um...is there anything special about the orphanage I should know before going there and being all ‘hey, I got a kid to help for a quest’?” “Well, to enter you need to register as a visitor, and to even head out with one of the foals you also need to register as a big brother or big sister with their youth program. After that you can then talk with said foal, in this case Pip, and then sign the papers.” Rainbow said. “Still don’t know why you don’t just adopt her Rainbow Dash.” Rarity said.  “Look, I love Scootaloo, but… come on, even though I know I’m not mother material. Besides, I don’t make enough money to support myself and a kid.” “Maybe someday Sugar Cube.” Applejack said. “Being a mother, no I’m too young for that...but the big sister thing works.” I said honestly. “I’ve been a big sister for a long time to a little brother, why not another one?” “Cool. To register all you need is to have an address, and an… Equestrian Birth Certificate… Or equivalency Citizenship papers...:” “Uh…” I muttered. “That’s...going to be a bit complicated given I wasn’t born here…” I said while checking my bag, hoping God set me up with at least something to get past this little paperwork hurdle. Nope, just some High potions, Potions, and a… a book? I opened it up, the pages all blank for some reason. Huh… strange. Is this a journal? No, it doesn't look like it would be one. “Well...okay then…” I muttered while also seeing my Strategy guide in there thankfully as well as my coat. “So yeah I’m...gonna have to get stuck with all that paperwork…” I sighed out. “Maybe the Princesses can help you there?” Fluttershy said.  “May I see that book?” Twilight asked, motioning to the blank book. “Oh, sure.” I said while handing her the blank book. “Got an idea why it’s blank?” “No, but I might as well examine it.” Twilight said, taking it in her magic and looking over the pages, while blank to me, maybe not so blank to her. “So how am I going to get some citizen papers? Because...I have no idea how any of that will work.” I said sheepishly. “Like Shy said, the Princesses should be able to help there. In the end though all you’ll need to register is proof of residents for at least two year, proof of marriage, or pay up front a one time fee of over five thousand bits for immediate citizenship.” Applejack said. “And given those options, your only option is the payment, but hardly anypony, save for many the Rich’s, have that kind of cash.” “So off I go to do a lot of odd jobs for money...yay.” I sighed out. “Well...it’s better than nothing I suppose.” “Well, I can’t pay much but the farm always needs work.” Applejack said. “I can pay for some heavy lifting to organize storage at the Boutique.” Rarity said. “I bet the Princesses will pay you for dealing with these monsters.” Rainbow said. “Alright, all of those are good.” I nodded. “Good start...so when are the princesses getting here?” I asked curiously. “I haven’t heard back yet, once I do i’ll let you know once they do.” Twilight said, still looking over the blank book. “Got any clues on the book?” I asked curiously. “There ARE words here, but they are Magic Locked. Only specific events can reveal them. What those events are though I don’t know.” She said, giving the book back to me. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.” “Well...I have a couple of ideas about what it could be but it’s better to wait and see.” I said while taking the book and putting it in my bag. "I'll show you to the guest room. You must be exhausted." Twilight said as she and I got up. Her guest room was just a bit smaller than my old room. A bit smaller than my old room. "Cool." I said while walking over to the bed...and promptly crashing as I hit the stupidly soft bed. I was dreaming. I knew that much. I was… this is… hey this is Zanarkand! Before Sin attacked. Where are all the people? "Hello?" I called out, walking around where I could to find someone.. Nothing. There was no one here at all. The longer I was here, the more I realized, not wind, birds or anything here seemed to move. It was like time froze to keep this place in an eternal image. I found myself walking along a roadway, seeing the edge of this vast city stopped abruptly, a drop into an eternal abyss below was all that awaited off this road's end. "Alright...so maybe the stadium?" I muttered to myself, turning around and heading away from the abyss. The stadium was no different. It looked amazing but overall still empty- Yikes! I halted, a large black and chrome sword barely missing me as it hit the ground an inch in front of me with enough force to embed itself into the ground a foot, and blast dirt and debre all around the nearby area. "What's Jechts sword doing here?" I panicked. "Glad to see my reputation expands to other realities." The sports star/Guardian himself said, leaping from the top of the stadium to the ground before me, pulling his sword out with ease. "But a better question is, what in the big wide world of Spira are you? Cause human you ain't, but you somehow aren't a Fiend either." "Can I just...fangirl for a moment before answering?" I asked slowly, trying to contain my excitement the best I could. Jecht smirked. "Go on, always nice to meet a fan." So for the next, what I could only guess was five very embarrassing minutes, I fangirled it up to Jecht, one of the coolest characters in my favorite game. Once that was over I told him about my world, God, and how now Fiends are causing chaos in Equestria because of a hole between Equestria and Spira. Or the world Spira is on anyway. "Hmm… if not for personal experience, I'd call you crazy, but I know better. So, you can shift into various Fiends you destroy?" "As far as I know." I shrugged. "I could have turned into the ones I just killed but I'll figure it out." I said simply. "But the better question is...what am I doing here?" "Wish I knew kid. Last thing I remember was fighting Sin, then all of a sudden everything went white, and here I am." ”So...this takes place before Tidus and co beat him?” I thought to myself curiously. “Who was with you in your fight with Sin?” "Braskar and Auron, my friend and fellow guardian of the high summoner. I looked all around this place and didn't find either of them. Saw you walk in here as I was about to take a nap up there." ”Oh dear…” I thought to myself nervously. “Alright, good to know.” I nodded. “Feel any difference after waking up here?” "Other than my wounds were all healed, not really." “Alright.” I nodded. “So many things are happening...and it’s only day one…” "Well, that aside, you got a weapon?" "No, don't really need one when I can just shapeshift." I shrugged. "At least, that's what a person who doesn't care about 'safe than sorry'." "So you're just gonna shapeshift into a fiend for every fight?" "Well I'll need to get better at it, but I'm probably gonna get myself a weapon...just don't know which one cause there's a lot." "Whatever fits, but given you can shape shift, if you can spellcast too, that would be impressive." "I can turn into a Water Flan at the moment so I'm pretty sure I can cast spells...sadly I don't know how." I sighed out. "Hm… have you ever cast magic before?" “Nope.” I shook my head. “Where I come from, magic is more ‘smoke and mirrors’ than actual ‘I literally ignite the air with a snap of my fingers’.” I said honestly. "Ah. I know the issue then."  “And that would be?” I asked curiously. He handed me a small bottle with some kind of greenish blue liquid. "No Mana in your system, so no magic to cast. Drink that Ether, should give you enough for a spell or two." “Well...didn’t think of that.” I said while taking the bottle and popping it open. “Did you know that Flan’s are actually very mobile?” I asked curiously. “And that you can drown something in a Water Flan’s body?” I asked while drinking the Ether. "Heh, seen it enough times." Jecht said. “Cool.” I nodded. “So, what weapon can you teach me if I may ask?” "Hmm…" Jecht thought. He then pulled out a small, decorative stick. "I might get in trouble for this, but here. This is a spare staff the High Summoner gave me to hold onto in case his broke. If your Fiend forms use magic, your hand one might as well too." “Well, let’s hope for the best.” I said while taking the staff. “Thank you.” "Good, now then, a simple spell is a basic fire spell. Most everyone at least learns this spell. To cast it, feel within you anger, fear and hatred. Let it flow into the staff, and when it reaches the tip, aim, and the staff will shoot the fireball out." “Alright, sounds simple enough.” I said while taking a deep breath and raising my staff, feeling my anger, fear and hatred bubbling up as I envisioned that bastard with a tank taking me away from my family. I felt my magic starting to flow through the staff, and when it hit the tip I casted my first Fire spell at a part of the stadium and set it on fire. The fires burned for a while before dying down. "Good. More advanced spells will require studies, but the basics will just require strong emotions." “Cool.” I nodded. “I’m sure this will come in handy, especially in my Flan form.” I said honestly. "So, how did you end up here exactly?" Jecht asked. "You said you ended up in a different world, but not this place? Right?" “Nope, I wound up in a world called Equestria, I just passed out on a bed after fighting some Fiends and...then I got here.” I said honestly. "Hmm. In that case, in all likelihood, we're both dreaming while here. That or you are and I'm stuck here." “Well it wouldn’t be right if you're stuck here...but I have no idea how to get you out of here.” I said honestly. "Well, if we both are dreaming this, mind if I try something?" “Sure.” I nodded. “Go right ahead.” "Okay…  God's this will suck." Jecht said, standing as black lightning flowed from his arms, concentrating into his hands as he threw them and the lightning up to the sky. Then he grabbed me. Looking up, I saw the lightning coming right back down at us… oh shit. "Gah!" I yelled, waking back up in the bed. It was night and all was dark. “Couldn’t have woken me up the next day?” I grumbled while getting up and stretching. “So that was...a thing...wonder why I went there…” As I was stretching I felt something on the bed… the staff Jecht gave me. How did this get here? “Huh...that’s weird.” I said while picking up the staff. “Well...it’s better than nothing I suppose.” I muttered while leaving my room to see how late it was and if anyone else was awake. I saw the little Drake Spike up and about, the smell of cooking eggs and… bacon. Yum… “Thank god for actual meat…” I muttered while heading towards the kitchen. “Little early to be making breakfast huh?” "Huh. Oh, morning. The smell isn't bothering you is it?" Spike asked as he flipped the bacon. “How dare you assume the holy food that is Bacon would bother me.” I said jokingly. “I am an Omnivore after all.” "Oh? Really? That's so cool. I'm a carnivore, but I grew up on an Omnivore diet. I gotta have some kind of meat. So I cook mine early morning and late at night so Twilight doesn't catch the smell. One whiff of this and she'll be hurling dinner from last night. Only ponies that can stomach the smell, and taste are the Princesses and Pegasus ponies. Pegasus do normally have fish for wing and feather health but can stomach other meats." "Cool. So mind if I ask to have some eggs and bacon as well? I'll owe ya." I said as my stomach growled. "Sure, and don't worry about it. Princess Celestia sends me a delivery every week, most of the time there are some left over, but if you need to eat meat also, I'm sure when she comes over today I can ask her for more so you can eat too." “Thank you.” I said happily. “I haven’t had bacon in a while...and the smell of it is just wonderful.” After a while Spike gave me a plate heavy on the bacon and a large omelet stuffed with cheese, mushrooms, onions, Belle peppers and thin sliced fried potatoes. Needless to say, it was amazing. Food here tastes way better than back home. Guess industrial farming and all that crap aren't things here. Or at least, they are but can keep the flavor of all the food. Once Spike and I ate and finished he began his daily chores and I read through a book on basic Magic Spike said I could use for study. While these were meant for Unicorns with my staff. I should be able to use them also. Only question is, if Ethers are how I restore my Mana, where can I get more? “So uh...how do Unicorns collect magic?” I asked Spike. “Given Twilight might have rambled about it to herself given she looks like the kind of person...er, pony.” "Unicorns naturally make magic in their bodies, the same way you eat to get energy. Why do you ask?" Spike asked, the Drake sweeping the lobby floor. “Well, one of my transformations can use magic and...apparently so can I.” I said honestly while raising my staff. “That’s why I got this magically.” "Huh. And you can't make magic naturally?" I checked my MP gage. Still on low even after eating… so no… damn. “Nope...and apparently even sleeping didn’t give me any which that’s the one thing I expected to give me mana…” I frowned. "Huh… oh, Zecora, a zebra that lives in the Everfree, brews potions out of magic and such to cast spells. Maybe she can get you some, or teach you how." “Cool...and where is the Everfree?” I asked curiously. "Just outside of town. Fluttershy's cottage is nearby, so she can take you along the path to Zecora's hut." “Alright.” I nodded. As I was looking through the book, some time had passed and there was a knock at the door. Opening it, I saw Spike lead two gigantic women into the room. The first, coat as white as rarity and tall enough to stretch her arms and touch the roof. Her hair looked like a rainbow and it was moving in a non-existent wind. The other, shorter, but a good foot, was a fairly dark blue color, hair like the night sky and also blew in non-existent wind. "Are you Anna?" The taller of the two asked. I blinked at the two big women...in more ways than one. “Damn…” "Is… that a yes?" The shorter one asked. "Yes." Spike spoke up. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, this is Anna." “It’s nice to meet you both.” I shook my head. “Sorry you’re just...both big…” I said, pouting again as I felt slightly underwhelmed with my own looks at this point. "We are alicorns, when you embody all three races of pony in one, much about the physical body changes to fit the power you hold inside." Celestia said. We all took a seat. "Now then, Twilight's note informed me of a lot. But I wish to confirm." Celestia asked many questions, all of which I answered as they largely retained to me, my abilities, and the fiends.  "Now Discord was all 'hole in reality' thing...but it kind of feels like you've been through this before." I said honestly. "I would be lying if I said otherwise." Celestia said with a sigh. "Cracks, yes, a hole, no. That is new." "Well have you dealt with my certain brand of trouble?" I asked curiously. The fiends and the like?" "Little, we believe." Luna said. "Some of these monsters were seen back two thousand years ago. Back when my sister and I were entering our teenage years physically. Alicorns live long lives, and age slower physically as a result. Physically, my sister and I are in our mid thirties and late twenties respectively, but that is just the physical age." "Excuse me, did you just say two thousand?" I asked in shock. "Dragons being that old? Sure, they are literally magic incarnate if Dungeons and Dragons is to be believed…" I started. “And Discord makes sense cause he said he’s basically an omnipotent god.” "Yes. Back then sealing the cracks, it either took a few hours to repair, and all not from this world return to where they belong." Celestia said. "Each time it was either people or monsters. Those cracks were caused by… something, but we never learned what or who caused them. But we do know this hole is made by that same being." “Hmm...that is interesting…” I hummed, thinking about who might have caused this if it wasn’t God...but given that Fiends were involved and more FFX stuff I could only guess it was one thing. "All in all, these monsters, while troublesome, have been dealt with. However In the time of Harmony since then the guard has grown rather soft sadly. So you will be our first, and last line of attack and defense until we can get them all properly trained." "And thankfully, we have something that still works." Luna said, giving me a map. Opening it, it showed all the lands of this world. "Discord made this for us back when these first began appearing. Whenever a crack appears, it's location will appear." “Well...this is gonna be my side quest while I do my main quests…” I hummed. “Also jeez...dragons, yaks, griffons, zebra’s, what other races are there?” "Deer, Antilope, Changelings, Hippogriffs, Sea Ponies, and many more." Luna added. “Quite a diverse world you have here…” I said honestly. “So if cracks ever appear, will I have transportation or will I have to run there?” "We are working on that. For now though it seems they are all centering around Ponyville, but according to the map, there is one in the Dragon Lands, one in the Badlands, and two in the Everfree… and, of course." Celestia used her magic, opening the map. The locations all showed where the cracks… and far, far south, was a large sized, at least on the map, hole. The hole between these worlds. “Well...that’s a problem.” I said nervously. “Didn’t think this problem was...that big…” "Fixing a hole if this size will require a lot of help. Anna, we ask you, as Princesses of a Nation in a time of Crisis, will you use your power to help and train our soldiers to defend our Homeland?" Celestia asked. "We have more than enough in terms of resources to aid you how we can." Luna added. “My main quest is rescuing my family. If you want anyone to train your soldiers, that would be my dad...but I’m not a soldier, I’m just an eighteen year old girl with magic powers and image issues.” I said sheepishly. “But I’ll try to help as best I can with all the minor things till then...sorry…” I sighed out. "If it is a family you seek we can help best." Luna said. "My sister can send words throughout the kingdom, and I can search the realm of sleep for any of your origin. Do you have any ideas where they may be?" Luna asked me. “Locked behind quests.” I said. “My little brother is hidden behind the quest ‘Help a brown spotted orphan who loves the moon’, my dad’s hidden behind ‘Stop the Shadow Plaguing the North’, and my mother is hidden behind ‘Pray to the Faythe hidden under the Mountain’...and given all the mountain ranges I saw on the map that could take forever.” Celestia seemed to think things over, while Luna looked at me a tad confused. "Brown spotted orphan? Does thou mean young Pipsqueak?" She asked. "That little foal is always dreaming of nightmare nights, when I show up and scare the foals. He is a sweet child… wait, he is an orphan?" “I guess?” I said nervously. “I don’t know, but what I do know is that I need to do a bunch of paperwork to be seen as a Citizen of Equestria to be his ‘big sister’ from what Rainbow Dash told me about.” "Well we can help you skip all that fairly easily in one of two ways." Celestia said. “How so?” I asked curiously. “What, is one the way’s adopting me or something?” I joked. "Well, yes but given your age we can't adopt you like a child. It would have to be through marriage to a noble"  "There other is also by marriage but to us, and that would sadly earn you enemies within many of the noble houses. The prior option sounds better in all honesty." Luna said. "But, given Pipsqueak is a foal and an orphan…" there was a flash of Blue, Luna was gone now and Celestia just gave a laugh. “What’s so funny?” I asked curiously. “I mean, I think Luna figured out how to get past all of this stuff but still.” "Nothing, it's just Luna likely just left to adopt Pipsqueak. She has wanted a foal of her own for as long as we have been of age, but most of the time laws and tribal bias of the past kept her from that dream. Modern Equestria however is much more open to what was once taboo. Though if Pipsqueak is the foal of which you speak, how does that little foal hold the key to your own brother?" Celestia pondered. “No idea...either symbolic, helping someone I would treat as a little brother to get my little brother back, or because their similar being they both like adventure, swords, and other things.” I shrugged. “I haven’t met Pipsqueak so I wouldn’t know…” "Hmm… interesting. Also, I feel maybe given these events to transpire, I feel a possible third option is available. Not quite adoption, but earning your place in Equestria."  “How so?” I asked curiously. "Well, Luna will be adopting Pipsqueak as her son, likely letting him reside within Ponyville to stay with his friends, and likely with Twilight as she is a Princess, more than likely Luna will go through the hassle of running between Ponyville and Canterlot for her duties, as a Princess and as a Mother. If we take you on as a guard, tasked with Pipsqueak's protection as well as Twilight's, a few of these Fiend attacks will earn you a noble ranking and by extension full Equestrian citizenship. Once you are a noble my sister and I, the crown can take you under as a Princess, but as a niece. It's a lot more steps but over all better image and goal wise for the both of us. Young Pipsqueak holds the key to your brother, and as your family is returned to you they will also be brought in as princes and Princesses because of your biological relation." “Thank you.” I said thankfully. “It means...so much to hear that.” "Glad you think so. But, one thing is of question to me. You mentioned a Faith under a mountain. Is a Faith a person or deity?" “Okay so this ‘faith’ is different.” I said. “First it’s spelled with a ‘y’ instead of an ‘i’. And second of all...a Fayth is kind of concerning given that...at least from how I learned it, you need to put a willing soul into a statue of power, and certain people can...do a trail to awaken said spirit to bring up an Aeon, a powerful creature that’s based on the soul and how the statue is made.” I explained nervously. "Hmm… this statue, what does it look like?" "It can look different, but it would be a humanoid torso with whatever extra bits are on it based on what the soul is going to be shaped into, and it's covered in a see through material that's pretty strong...doubt it's glass given its supposed to house that thing." "Hmmm there were many objects to fall through the cracks back all those many years ago. Most to all are kept under storage deep within Canterlot's mountain. Perhaps this Fayth you need is somewhere in there? It has been over two thousand years however, so the way there is likely dangerous." "Okay cool. That'll be for later." I nodded, feeling a lot better knowing where mom was. "But do you know what Shadow is plaguing the north?" "Hmm… the only thing I can think of is King Sombra, but he was defeated and banished to the ether a year ago. But, with these Fiends appearing, perhaps their energy might revive some form of lingering remnants of him. I'll have to send word to my niece Cadence then. She's the Princess of the Crystal Empire, the kingdom Sombra took over and enslaved under his tyrannical rule. Thanks to her and my student Twilight and her friends, the Empire is once again a thriving nation, their flag flying alongside Equestria's." "Cool." I nodded. "Good to know there's more help around...let's just hope it all works out…" "One can only hope." Celestia sighed. "That being said, is there anything we can help you with at the moment? The guard paperwork will take a day after Luna adopts Pipsqueak, is there anything you require at the moment?" "Um...how much meat do you send Spike? Cause I'm a natural omnivore by race so...just want to make sure Spike isn't losing out on food." I said, Celestia seeing I cared a lot about being a good guest. "Spike consumes an average of forty to fifty pounds of meat weekly. You are an Omnivore race? Hm, well in that case to tide you both over, then when your family returns, I can double it for now and if more is needed as time goes on I can increase the amount." "Thank you princess." I nodded. "I owe you...massively." "Think nothing of it. To have an ace up our selves in a sudden time of Crisis is an invaluable strike of luck and good fate. I just hope by the end of this Crisis we can look forward to a long, well deserved rest period." "We can only hope for the best…" I sighed out.  "But I'll make sure to end whatever big problems are happening to give people that break." To be continued...