//------------------------------// // Chapter I: Ticket to Equestria, Now Boarding! // Story: Equestria's Light: A Realm Reborn // by The Warrior Of Darkness //------------------------------// It was nice to be able to go back and forth between the Source and the First, even if he would be journeying alone. Skye looked out at the night over Lakeland, as he began to go back to The Crystarium, so that he could return to his world. He couldn't help admiring the night sky, one that he and his comrades had so fervently brought back to the world's inhabitants, surprise lighting their eyes as they saw the little lights stretch across the sunless sea. As he thought more about this, he recognized that going on even further after they had successfully stopped the torrent of light within him, he still had more questions than answers as he would have liked. Firstly, the seat of the fourteenth. Who had they been? Who were they now? Skye had an idea of who it was, and had decided to keep the stone along with the others with him, but he couldn't shake the feeling off of him that the last stone, bared some connection to him. Each time he looked at it, he couldn't help but feel as if there was something he was forgetting, and it worried him to no lesser degree. He did not want to become like the last of the unsundered, and he didn't have any plans to. Skye snapped out of his stupor, realizing that he had feigned to stop moving while thinking on this. He had saved the world, again! Why were these thoughts evadingly so? Nevertheless, Skye started back up his mount, one of his particular favorites, the SDS Fenrir; or so it was dubbed by Cid. It had randomly appeared within his various inventories one day, and while he had initially thought it might be some trick of the eye, after having the genius inventor check it out, it was perfectly fine. Though, it contained some parts that Cid hadn't recognized, because of this, Cid had painstakingly gone through the effort of detailing every schematic required to make the damn thing. Skye was confidant that that had taken some years off of his life, having to wait as it was "perfected". Soon, Skye could see the oncoming lights of the Crystarium, deciding to stow the vehicle rather than ride it through the city, he continued his quest on foot, coming to the conclusion that it would be better to not cause any alarm to any citizens. He soon saw himself before the Crystal Tower, and as he gave one look over the city in the night, he realized maybe they added a little too much crystal. He smiled at the thought, but he had somewhere to be, and other things to do. No time for lazily watching the night. He walked towards the gates, going inside to where the portal lie, reflecting upon when he had last come through it making way to home. The scions' souls in tow through use of soulcraft means. Though not all thought of Skye this way save one, he wanted to learn more about it. He wanted to learn more about this world and it's history, before the Flood. He figured he should wait on it though, and would learn those questions alongside Y'shtola. He didn't need to be reminded of what she had advised threatened if he did learn knowledge such as that without her. Make no mistake, he may be the Warrior of Light and Darkness but he didn't need nor want to get on her other side. He didn't want to get burned alive by the Mi'qote, not like her last victim. Taking one last breath to clear his mind, he stepped through the portal, feeling the familiar pull of the rift as he was carried on towards the source, or how it should be. Skye felt a swift pain, flaring at his neck, grabbing it in vein, he could feel nothing along it's side, and while doing so, he failed to notice that his path had been redirected, it went further and further out. Soon, the pain proved to be too much, and he fell into a slumber as his path continued onward, into the unknown. Princess Luna did not get to enjoy her nights much like this, being free to roam about the castle grounds, free from the -problems- of the court. She made her way towards the balcony of her room, wanting to at least take comfort in the night before the day began. As she looked into her night sky, she saw every star, woven into the sky by her design. The etchings of constellations as they began their dance throughout the veil of black, it was here that she saw it. Her contentment soon changed to a look of shock, as she saw numerous stars falling through the night, the flaming balls of read and blue going across the land. It was here that she heard a voice call out to her. "Hear... Feel... Think." As quick as the voice came it went, and as she opened her eyes to look out into the night sky, it was as if nothing had happened. Perhaps she needed sleep. Being awake for this long time even after Discord tried to take over Equestria, may have worn her thin. She lingered, looking at the night sky, hoping to hear the voice again, but for naught did she recieve anything but silence. Perhaps it was but a trick of the night, one that could be resolved with sufficient sleep. Later On, The following Morning Celestia made her way to begin the day as the flaming ball rose to it's proper position through the pull of her magic. A good day indeed, especially since it was just only last week that she had consoled Twilight after the event begrudgingly dubbed: Lesson Zero. She made her way to the dining room, only to feel the pull of magic in the air, and something dense arrive in Equestria, immediately, she took off in alarm towards one of the windows, and saw a comet falling in the sky. It was small, but it had a very dense magic to it. She needed to move swiftly, and so she began to awake her sister, favoring to teleport directly to her. "Luna. Luna you must wake up! An issue has shown itself!" Celestia nearly went into the Royal Canterlot Voice, only to hear the shuffling of sheets as a bleary eyed alicorn sat up in bed. "What do thee mean sister? I do not hope this is one of your schemes again." The midnight alicorn said, reaching her hands out to find a light source, and failing to do so. "No Luna, look!" She grabbed her sister and teleport her and herself towards the window she was looking at previously, the sight of a comet coming down with large quantities of magic seemed to wake her well enough. "We. We must ready at once post-haste! I will ready the guards, It may be wise to get the elements involved despite their recent victory!" There was a resounding pop, before the lunar princess disappeared. Celestia took one look at the comet coming down, a little annoyed that her day would now be spent looking into it. It was going to be a long day. Celestia reached out with her magic, bringing parchment and quill to her as she began to form the letter, giving the details inside, before teleporting it off. Hopefully, by the time they arrive should Twilight and her friends be ready. Twilight paced around the library, along with her friends as they watched her go about her fit. She was very worried, they had just got done with fighting discord just two weeks ago, and now there was another threat? It seemed like Equestria had a knack for attracting trouble. Her pacing was soon stopped by a hand grabbing on to her. "Twilight, I don't think putting a whole into the library floor is going to help at all." This came from Spike, her faithful and loving assistant, that had woken up to make sure that a meal was prepped for her and her friends because of the emergency from Celestia. "Yeah Twi! And besides, we kicked Discord's butt! That means we could just as easily take down the next enemy!" Twilight didn't even need to look in the direction to know it's speaker. Her every loyal friend, Rainbow Dash. She was right of course, but it still didn't help steel her nerves. "While Ah don't exactly agree with how Dash said it, she's right Twi, Ah'm sure it's nothin. Besides, the princesses will be here too!" Applejack said, speaking up to reiterate what her prismatic friend had said earlier. There soon came a knocking on the door, and as Twilight went to open it, she saw both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna with light smiles on their faces. "It's good to see you Princess, well, even if it was just last week!" She beamed, smiling at her mentor with slightly strained effort. Something had been bugging her, but she didn't think it was a problem just yet. She had been having dreams of this giant crystal as of late, and while she couldn't hear it she assumed it could, because each time she simply stood in front of it. Every time, she had tried to reach out to touch it with her hand, but found that it was unusually far away every time. Except for last night. Last night, she was right next to it, so close that she was sure if she reached for it she would finally be able to hear it. "It is good to see you all as well Twilight. Even if it is under unfortunate news. The comet has recently landed, and there are guards there already, if you all are ready, we can leave now." It kind of surprised Twilight the efficiency that some of the guards showed, she guessed that's what it took to be apart of the royal guards. Two alicorns and six ponies stood among the top of the crater as the guards fished a body from the crater. It wore armor that was nearly black, if not for the glint of various blues and purples, and alongside it was a long spear. It would be easy to say this pony was a warrior, but upon them finally removing the helmet, they saw cat-like ears accompanying with grayscale hair, some cascading down while most of it bundled up upon the back. Upon it's neck, a mark that was red before fading to purple, then black. Many questions started to take shape, who was this? What were they? Upon closer inspection, Princess Celestia could see that the armor they wore bore a striking resemblance to dragon hide, perhaps there is more to this tale than meets the eye. Princess Luna was the first to speak after the discovery. "Quickly, we must convene at the castle, while we wait for our... guest to awake."