//------------------------------// // Introduction - A mysterious tale // Story: Wherever the Light Shines: Part 2 // by MLPSolarDash1907 //------------------------------// A pair of orange hooves placed the satchel onto the beaten couch. As she sat, her horn lit with her blue magic and zipped it open, revealing several old scrolls carefully wrapped in plastic. Time to see what these things are all about, she thought. Suddenly, a flash of lightning lit up the hut’s den and a loud boom followed right after, shaking the interior. Doggone it! Mystic thought, looking at the bookshelves to ensure none of their contents fell off. Suddenly, Mystic smelt something. She turned to the cooker over the fire. With an annoyed sigh, she stood up and levitated it off to the side for it to cool. Another flash of lightning and a loud rumble of thunder. The entire interior shook again. Clatters of metal and thuds of books were heard nearby. “Rain! Just go the hay away!” she cried with a facehoof. The storm only responded with another clap of lightning. A groan escaped her lips. She turned to the knives and books that had fallen to the floor, swept them up in her magic, and carefully put them in a box for now. Before Mystic could sit on the couch, she caught glimpse of something glistening on a nightstand. Almost as if it were a force of habit, she turned to see the golden necklace with the sun medallion on the front. She shut her eyes. It felt like a ghost from the past. Memories that seemed so far away of ponies that she cared about went through her mind, and of one particular filly who was like a ray of sunshine to her. She opened her eyes, fond of the memories and grateful for ever meeting them. But... With a sigh, Mystic turned from the necklace and sat down on the couch. All of it’s done and over with, she thought, thinking of those names. Cierra. Meng. Song. Juan. And Sunshine... But everything seemed to blend together and nothing stood out much to her anymore from those good and horrible times. “It is better this way...” she said to herself, assuring herself the way she’s living is the best course. She looked out the window and the lightning has slowed down some. After looking through the scrolls she’d found, she barely found any of them to be interesting. However, there is one more scroll that she hadn’t looked at it. She estimated it about 2,100 years old or so. Unrolling it, she took a look at its contents. It’s like a journal page or something, she thought, somewhat interested. Without any time to lose, she began to read. Flashback – Over 2,100 years ago No! No! No! This can’t be happening to me! I had it all planned out! How could it have gone so wrong?! I should’ve known that things wouldn’t go as smoothly as they did in my mind! As I hide in this cramped space, I need to write this down quick because I’ve been on the run for days, and this beast is relentless. I don’t know why I’m writing this, I don’t think anycreature will find it! I suppose I’m writing to get this out in some form, but how will anycreature find this here?! If they do, they need to know my story! Before I met him, I was lonely, I’ve been a warrior, as best as I could’ve been, and a scavenger for countless years. I went from land to land and seeing all kinds of things. But I found him. He, the Demon at Night, found me and practically raised me in his ways. We were glorious together! We ruled the savannas of Oogundaa! Years after I’d joined him, I found myself disagreeing with him and getting on his bad side, all I have seen in my time that faced against me paled in comparison with his wrath! Honestly! It was horrible! Bodies went flying, flames of fire started as the panicked villagers tried to strike him down! I attacked myself but I was utterly defeated! I managed to escape but I couldn’t let him still be out there! I had to find help! I had to! So, when I recovered, I ushered some help to stop him once and for all! However, I made a huge mistake and he ended up becoming worse! Stupid stupid mistake! With no other options, we had to attack him one way or another. Being a legend for 2,000 years or so, terrorizing Oogundaa’s residents, countless falling victim to him, why did I ever decide to serve him when something could’ve happened to me? Traversing the savannas with fire burning in the distance, prides of lions scouring the land for their own benefits and desires to be the most powerful, bodies of civilians laid all around us, some of us didn’t make it to our destination, but I pushed us on, saying that this beast needs to be destroyed once and for all. We don’t know how long we traveled; the sun began to set, painting the sky an eerie orange glow as smoke billowed into the atmosphere! It was a bleak picture! Suddenly we were ambushed by him! He attacked us from out of nowhere, blending into the shadows as we tried to attack him back. Then he leaped out and began biting into the neck of one of my crew members. “Get out! Run!” I heard him yell. I heard someone attack the beast with an ax but it didn’t make a dent in him. Claws slashed into the other member as the first member screamed in agony. I tripped and saw a huge tannish brown hand coming down toward me, but I managed to recover and kick it away attacking him once again! I pinned him down for a second, and then a sharp pain pierced the side of my torso! Oh, how much the stinging hurt! I screamed as I was thrown into a pile of rocks and felt them impact the back of my head! I had to run. I was more unprepared than I ever thought! I ran as fast as I could on all fours, the savanna now a blur all around me as I ran. I’ve never been so terrified in my whole life. I was a fool to think I could take him on! I don’t know how long I ran for, but I could’ve sworn I heard him getting closer and closer as I ran! Sinister laughter had echoed all throughout the savanna as the night settled, a full moon making the savanna all the more eerie! Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I managed to reach the end of a dense forest and practically flew in there with nothing but pure adrenaline racing through my body! Then all of a sudden, I blacked out. ... I came to sometime later. It’s still night. It could’ve been a few hours or an entire day before I awoke. I don’t know, everything happened so fast. I shivered as I glanced around the blackened forest I’ve been forced to run, nowhere to hide, and all alone. My vision began to get obscured with red and the wound on my torso stung at me like a scorpion’s sting. I patched the wound in my torso up. I stood up on my two legs, quivering from the adrenaline. My fur is matted and covered in sweat. I made my way into a small clearing, the vivid memories of what happened still fresh on my mind! I began to go move faster, and looked over my shoulder every second of the way. Never in my life have I felt so vulnerable and shook up. I heard the growling of animals around me, never heard anything like that before in my life or since then. Some rays of the moon pierced through the trees as I tried to get my bearings. I jumped as an antelope ran through the woods, I saw some owls flying off, and then everything went silent. Dead. Silent. My heart raced through my chest as I picked up the pace, not seeing a log, I tripped over it and tumbled down a hill, falling flat on my face. Suddenly, right behind me, an ominous voice spoke, “Are you lost little puppy?” My heart dropped as my entire body froze with fear! It’s him! I’ve got to get out of here! Standing up on my two legs again, I grabbed a rock, threw it in the direction of the voice and took off again. Laughter echoed throughout the forest and I dared not look back. “The darkness is all around you, you will die tonight, but if not, all darkness in your life will not make you see the light again!” the deep ominous voice shouted. I just kept running faster than a cheetah. ... ... Now, today, a few days have passed since I made my get away. I’ve not seen or heard him anymore. I’m too scared to leave this little hideout. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten anything real in a week. Today, somewhat hastily, I finished what I needed to say. How much I wish I had somecreature to care about and how I had a life and threw it all away to resolve a problem that couldn’t be solved. I’m no better than him. I’m a monster. I don’t deserve forgiveness. I might not make it out of here. To anyone who’s found this I am likely dead and this story will tell how I’ve fallen and now I won’t survive. I only hope that true form of evil can be destroyed. Present day The scroll just ends there. What happened to the author? What is this “Him” that he kept talking about? Mystic sighed in frustration. This scroll seems as if it were a confession to the author himself instead of it being a legitimate confession! she thought. Mystic has seen a couple of those in her travels but this one sounds more ridiculous than all of them combined. As the rain continued to patter, she used her magic to put the scroll aside on top of other scrolls in a similar matter. “All these scrolls from Oogundaa and I still don’t know who or what wrote them,” she said with a tinge of frustration. She’d found who had written scrolls from across the globe but the ones from Oogundaa were anonymous. She’s had several theories but she always reached a dead end! Maybe some mysteries won’t be solved. Mystic knew that for sure but she couldn’t just give up until she had real answers. Sounds conflicting but she’s ambitious in that way. Sighing once again, she walked over to her pot, grabbed a bowl with her magic and a large spoon to scoop her rice out of the pot. She sat on her couch and began thinking. “Well Mystic, you’re hardly getting anywhere with as much work and effort you’re trying to get into,” she mumbled to herself. “There are a lot of mysteries in the world but Oogundaa really sticks out like a sore hoof.” She took a bite of her rice. Her time here wouldn’t last for much longer. She’s got more to discover and study. The Ice Lands near the south pole was filled with legends and mysteries. She’s been considering the trip for a while and plans to go there after she’s finished here. She remembered Sunshine once again. The filly’s innocent smile that melted her heart was the most noted feature about her. She shook her head and began thinking of her newly planned adventure. As she listened to the rain outside, her ear twitch. After a few more seconds, it twitched again. Curious, she shifted both ears in the direction she thought she might’ve heard something A large snap came from outside. She perked up and began listening intently. Two more snaps came, followed by a branch breaking. She put her dinner on the table, grabbed her machete, climbed and the step ladder to the roof. When she reached the roof, she got pelted by rain. Her sharp gaze scanned the dark forest for a possible intruder or predator. It wouldn’t be the first time a creature’s dared to enter her turf. Nothing but the rain made a sound as lightning flashed above her. Then to her right, she saw a four-legged figure trot off into the woods. Eyes widening slightly, she stealthily moved to where the figure went. Clutching her machete in her magic, no fear in her eyes, she went on to find the figure. Nocreature should be around here at night like this in the rain. She’s lived in multiple locations across the globe long enough to know that. Stopping for a minute, she listened for more movement in the rain, her coat and mane soaked but it didn’t even fudge her. She heard more movement close by and gazed to her right. She saw the figure once again. Sneaking closer and determined to bring him/her down she has a clear view of a somewhat large figure seeing a lion's mane flowing in the breeze. “A lion?” she whispered in surprise. What was it doing out here? She’d never seen one out this far before. Then, she snapped out of her shock. She lunged forward and stabbed the feline in the back with her machete. He roared and tried swiping his claws at her but she dodged like a pro, striking him once again some material fell out of a satchel he’s carrying. He threw a punch and a kick at Mystic, she barely dodged them both but then she struck him once again with her machete, throwing a punch to his face and then bucking him into a tree! The figure quickly got back up ready for a fight! He lunged at her with great speed and she tackled him with her strength. She punched him three times in the muzzle. He threw Mystic off of himself and ran off into the woods roaring in pain. Slightly dazed, Mystic got back to her hooves. “Come back here!” she shouted. Mystic ran after him but he moved so fast that she lost sight of him. Groaning in anger she cleaned the remaining blood off her machete and went back to where she fought him. She looked down at the stuff he dropped and picked it up in a scoop of magic, thinking it might tell her something about what was going on. Arriving back at her abode, the unicorn dried herself off, put her machete away, sat down in a chair, and examined the objects the figure dropped. The mare levitated some meat. Disgusted, she lightly cringed and tossed it into the fire The next thing she examined is a medallion. It’s made out of pure gold encrusted in it is a lion painted a deep orange-red. A symbol of a figure? “What is this?” she asked herself as she looked at it, never seeing anything like it before. Taking her focus off of it, she looked at a parchment of paper she found as well, unfolding it, revealing a map of a familiar land. She lightly gasped in realization. Looking to the map of Equestria on her wall and to the paper she had it’s confirmed it is a map of Equestria drawn down by pencil or some other writing source. There’s one more piece of paper. She unfolded it recognized it was a map for someone to meet them somewhere in the land of Equestria. Lion medallion, map of Equestria, and a meeting place. she pieced it together and realized the figure she fought must’ve been a lion. A rookie maybe? “I’ve seen lions,” she said, “But I’ve not had a true battle with one. If they’re going to Equestria, they must support whoever’s on this medallion.” She looked up at her machete, next to her recently dried clothes, her belt with pouches in it, and her satchel. “It does sound intriguing,” she said. It could provide new challenges! It could... Mystic’s eyes widened and slapped herself. “Get a grip, Mystic!” she cried. She stood up and shoved the materials aside. “You have plans and no way is a lion going to get me to chase after it!” She turned away and crossed her forelegs. The Ice Lands sound exciting! More exciting than knowing that she actually knows of a potential challenge! But the Ice Lands will test her resilience and ability to survive! Just like... any other place like the rainforests, deserts, mountains, and swamps. Annoyed, she shifted not to look at the materials anymore. “Just don’t consider it. Just don’t consider it,” she said. “I can always walk away.” She was considering it. Equestria is a way off and she’d be gone for a long time. She isn’t a savior. She’s just living her life. Encountering and fighting lions could demonstrate how strong and reliant she is too. And she’s good at planning. But... if she goes out there what does that make her? Mystic slapped herself again. How she hated conflicting thoughts! She turned to grab her dinner again but she caught glimpse of the medallion again. She looked back at her equipment and the thought of a potential invasion crossed her mind. She could evaluate what's going on, and somecreature stepped into her turf! “Come on, this is just ridiculous!” she scolded herself, “Why in the name of all things holy must something cross paths with me?” She began thinking some more about the option to check it out or continue with her Ice Land plans. But even with the tall tales in them, there’s no guarantee she’ll encounter something to test her strength and keep herself up. The lions could do that for her. “Aw come on,” she growled. She sighed and looked at the medallion and maps again. “I guess I’m going to get to the bottom of this.” She felt as if it felt as if it’s something she would be doing despite how unexpected it is. She began eating again and will wait until morning and when the rain calms down. If it didn’t, she’ll leave anyway. As she finished her meal, the mare began making plans to travel to the land of Equestria. Mystic yawned as she stood up from her mothball mattress. She’d spent another late night looking into the mysteries surrounding her. The rain never let up. It appeared relentless. Figures. She grabbed some berries and popped them into her mouth and gazed to her countertop. She’s out of food. An annoyed snort escaped her nostrils, knowing she’ll having to stop by the little village with some food. It’s a rough thirty minutes run from where she is. Then she grabbed a canteen and took several gulps of water before filling it up with water once again. Lighting her horn up she levitated her outfit over. She slipped on her pants and her shirt before she grabbed some potions she personally made. While she stuffed them into her belt, she grabbed a satchel and put more potions in for herself in case she needed them. Then she grabbed the drawing of the meeting place and the Medallion. She locked eyes with the scrolls she recently read, debating for a minute whether she should take them or not. “That scroll...” she whispered. The mysteries surrounding it were interesting. What are the odds of her solving it out in Equestria? “Maybe I can keep it as a reminder,” she said, “I won’t come back until a year later anyway.” She carefully put them into her satchel and made sure they wouldn’t be ruined by her materials in there. She grabbed her machete and stuffed it into its sheath and placed it on her belt. She loaded knives into her belt and she’s ready to go. Mystic caught a glimpse of the golden necklace she’s had her entire life. She frowned. Why did I have this when I woke up? She thought. She couldn’t help but think it's something special as if it belonged to somepony important or if somepony important meant for her to have it. A frown broke out on her face levitated up and pawed at its surface. “Have you ever wondered about love, Mystic?" Sunshine’s voice echoed, "I didn't know if love even existed until I took a shot that it did." She let out an annoyed grunt, put the necklace on she stood up and brushed the thoughts aside. She grabbed some extra clothing before she glanced at the bottom drawer again, thinking about opening it. She frowned before closing her eyes as if remembering something. She hadn’t needed to use these tools on herself in a while but you can never be too careful. She did have a couple with her already and there’s only one in this drawer. A thought came to her and she shuddered. After a minute of consideration, she opened the drawer as her heart skipped several beats revealing the final glowing syringe she’d managed to find. A few minutes later, now wearing her rain cloak, she rolled her boulder to the side and stepped out onto the gloomy, soggy day. She gazed around at the dense trees and she recalls the way the figure went. She began pondering about what she was about to do; she encountered a mysterious figure, potentially a lion, learned there might be some invasion to the land of Equestria. She's heard of the land but never has gone through it much and... She clutched her chest feeling the necklace under her shirt and around her neck. “No time for bethinking,” she muttered, “I’ve got to track down those figures.” She tightened the strap on her satchel and made sure that her stuff is secure. She rolled the stone back to cover her entrance before she took off in the direction the figure went. As she ran, she jumped over a log before gaining more speed. She loved running! The wind in her face, mane and the pure adrenaline. She jumped over a stream and landing over on the other side, not deterred by the water splashing on her hind legs as she continued onwards to her destination. About thirty or so minutes passed before Mystic arrived in the small village. She stopped short of its borders and casually walked in. It’s a very small rustic village with goats and some zebras as civilians. Hardly anyone visited from the outside unless there was a need for supplies, which was very rare. Mystic herself is an outsider to this village but she knows the shopkeeper and she paid no mind to the other zebras. She just wanted some food, get it quickly, and then get out. Tightening her belt containing all her equipment she trotted into town to the marketplace. When she got there, it was bustling with even more civilians. Though the town was mostly isolated from the world the townsfolk were all like one big family. Mystic observed a zebra and goat talking with one another just before a herd of zebra kids ran in front of her. She smirked as she headed to a food stand with all kinds of exotic fruits and veggies run by an elderly zebra. He smiled when he saw her. “Ah, my dear once in a lifetime customer,” he said warmly. “It’s been about a year,” replied Mystic. “It’s always great to see you. What can I get for you?” “Just some rice and food good for quick eating. I am heading out on a journey and I’ll be needing some extra supplies.” “And I trust you’re not getting yourself soaked?” “It’s been raining for the past few days. But I manage.” “Indeed, you do.” He turned to his stand, “I can get you all you need for the right price,” said the zebra, walking to his food stand. “And I’ll bring you your rice.” Mystic nodded as he grabbed a container and some bottles to fill up for her. “Where are you heading to? I know you travel all the time,” he said, turning a knob, filling the bottles with water, “But I’d love to hear what you have to say this time.” “I’m heading to a place that’s inhabited by other ponies, I’ve heard,” replied Mystic getting under the stall’s ceiling and looked at a map held in her magic. “Equestria I believe?” Mystic looked at him with some surprise, “Yes, I am. You know of it?” The elderly zebra chuckled as he placed the bottles and a couple more containers into a traveling basket, “Oh, I’ve heard of it and ponies so bold. A quite harmonious place all I’ve been told.” He placed the basket on the countertop, “Though I would love to make such a journey, I’m afraid I can’t make the journey concerning my back.” He smiled a bit wider, “Maybe you can tell me about it when you get back?” Mystic nodded, “I will try to remember. I will be gone a while.” “I bid you farewell on your journey, but be careful out there, there can be dangers along the way,” the zebra said as Mystic gave him the bits. Mystic turned around and began trotting out of town. She sighed to herself, “I am counting on danger. It seems like there will be.” With her goal in mind she reached the edge of town and bolted off in the direction of Equestria; a land of ponies, yet she doesn't reside there. “How much of a stranger will I be?” she asked herself. She began wondering what the land might be like, she's heard some good things about it, but it didn't sound all that mysterious. She likes the exotic, the traveling and discovering the world. The rain continued to pour as she went on her way. As the city of Canterlot buzzed with activity of ponies going to work, chatting and playing with one another, one Princess of the Night has just turned in after a long night of fighting off nightmares and making sure ponies slept soundly. She snored gently in her night themed bedroom while her royal hoofshoes laid beside her bedside. However, being a Princess of the Night doesn’t mean she’s safe from her own nightmares or visions. Equestria is surrounded by darkness, closing in fast. Dark figures rise up from the ground as the sky turns a deep orange-red showering the land in an ominous glow. A roar pierced through the heavens as figures attacked a burning Canterlot. Everypony was either trying to fight back or hiding in fear, the military is severely weakened, and the fates of Twilight and her friends are unknown. Ominous red-orange eyes appear in the sky as someone cackled, shaking the entire land. Luna turned to see Celestia fighting off another figure, but before she could do anything, another figure appeared beside her, she turned and saw nothing but slashing claws sliding right into her face. Luna awoke with a large gasp and wide eyes. Frantically looking around, she saw she was in her own bedroom again. Slightly relieved, she took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, placing a hoof to her head. The door opened, revealing one of her Lunar guards, “Is everything okay?” Luna sighed heavily, “No. I’m not okay. I’ve had another one.” “What?” the guard sounded surprised, “That’s the fourth one this month.” “Seems similar to all the other ones,” replied Luna sitting straight up. “Do you want me to get Celestia?” “Yes. Immediately, I grow very concerned of these visions or nightmares,” said Luna, getting out of bed and slipping her black hoofshoes on. As she waited for her sister, she pondered on what could be causing these visions. They seem to come out of nowhere and without warning. Celestia hasn’t had any, maybe she’s been working too hard? No, that can’t be it. Can it? Just then, Celestia entered her room. Luna looked at her concerned older sister with a look of concern of her own. “I had another vision,” said Luna, walking to her sister’s side. “They’re brief, but they depict a gruesome image.” “Oh, dear sister,” Celestia sighed, wrapping a protective wing around Luna, “I know we’ve been through a lot considering the magic draining from our land, but we haven’t spotted any sights of trouble since then.” Luna looked at her sister, “We can’t always spot trouble, danger could come around at any time. Besides, we didn’t suspect a filly, a filly of all things to conspire with the evil Lord Tirek.” Celestia sighed and knew Luna was right, about a week ago, one of Twilight’s former students, Cozy Glow, had been revealed to be draining Equestria of its magic after conspiring with one of the evillest villains of all time. Thanks to Twilight’s students from different cultures and countries, their friendship prevailed and saved their land. “I just want to be prepared,” said Luna, “Maybe it’s work-related or stress.” Celestia looked at her younger sister with a comforting look, “Luna, I assure you, I am doing all I can to make sure this land is safe, as are you, Twilight, and the others. But despite all that’s going on, we will be fine when we stand together.” “I sure hope so, sis. But these visions we should probably let Twilight and the others know.” Celestia shook her head, “They’re too vague and we don’t know much of them. But if they get even worse, we’ll let Twilight and the others know.” Luna pulled back, “Sister, I strongly think we should let them know. They seem to be something of a great darkness and shouldn’t be taken lightly.” “I know, we just need more info. Didn’t you say they only last for a little while?” “About 10 seconds.” Celestia rubbed her chin, thinking, “When we had a vision about Tirek, it was longer than 10 seconds, maybe a minute or longer.” Luna scoffed, “Are you doubting me?” “No, of course not,” replied Celestia, “But we will keep an eye on them for a while.” “Fine.” Luna turned and gazed out the window to the city below, “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.” “I’m trying, Luna, we all are,” said Celestia, nuzzling her sister. Luna returned the nuzzle. While the sisters embraced and looked out onto the busy city below, Luna began thinking of Twilight Sparkle, her best friends, and the current issues that they’re going through concerning the School.