//------------------------------// // Doubt // Story: Lightbringer (Rewrite in the works!) // by Solar Firedawn //------------------------------// Morning approached before Solar knew it. He made his way up the stairs and saw Twilight’s bed empty. He notices a note on the nightstand addressed to him. “Morning Solar. I know you don’t actually sleep so I can only hope that you are well rested by sunrise. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Simply gathering my friends so that they can get used to you as a group. Take this time to gather yourself. They are very nice. Well, most of them are. Rainbow Dash might be a bit...brash. She’ll warm up to you eventually. See you soon! Sincerely, Twilight P.S, Feel free to read whatever you want! Just be absolutely sure you put them where you found them. Otherwise, I’ll be having you sorting books for an entire week. Now that I think about it, that probably wouldn’t be a very hard thing for you would it? Anyway, for real this time, see you soon. --- “She seems very excited about her friends meeting me. I really don’t know if I should be flattered, or straight up terrified. Nonsense, I’m just being paranoid, Right?” A look of confusion flashes on his face. Solar laughs to himself. “There you go again, talking to yourself. You old fart”. The library is far different during the day. It’s quiet, but in a peaceful way. Warm rays of the sun bring comfort to the library’s sole resident. Solar makes his way to the front door, taking a deep breath and looks back at the empty library. “To new times ahead. Here goes nothing.” He steps through and shuts the door behind him. *** “Are ya really goin’ ta trust him so fast Twi? This random alicorn of all things just… whatever he did to actually get here, just shows up!” Applejack, wearing her trademark stetson hat, was flabbergasted at the news Twilight brought them. All of them were. A rainbow maned pegasus spoke up. “I disagree with AJ. We haven’t even met him! We always give everypony a chance to prove themselves. Right guys?” “I hope he isn’t a meanie! We have had way too many of those lately!” Said Pinkie, hopping in place as she usually does. Rarity chimed in with her own thoughts.“Well, I am on the fence. We should get to know him more before just openly trusting him. Though by what Twilight has said about him, he seems rather dashing.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Then that settles it.” If you four want to meet him, he’s at the library. Oh and Rarity? Where is Spike?” The white coated unicorn had a look of confusion on her face. “Isn’t he at the library with Solar darling?” Twilight shook her head. She begins to pace back and forth in front of the group.  “No. He wasn’t there when I left. I thought he was still here with you! You know what? Dash? If you don’t mind, can you go and see if you can find Spike?” The rainbow maned pegasus nodded.” You got it Twi. I’ll find the little guy. Don’t worry.” She gives Twilight a half hug and flies up the stairs and out of Rarity’s bedroom window. Twilight turns back to the group. “Alright. You three still want to head back to the library?” The party of four nodded and they made their way out, unaware of the possibility that they were being watched. *** The four strolled through town, ponies going about their business giving them passing glances. Twilight couldn’t keep Spike out of her mind. What if something had happened to him? She didn’t want to think about the worst thing that could happen. She had her friends at least, they have gotten her this far. She allowed a small smile on her face, glad of having such close companions. “Be safe Spike. We’ll find you.” She muttered to herself. They continued their short walk, only to be interrupted by the pink pony bouncing in front of them. “What is it pinkie?” Pinkie pointed a hoof towards somepony at Sugarcube Corner. “Who is that?” She gasped. “NEW PONY!” Pinkie darted off towards the unfortunate target of her fast paced jumping. Twilight and the other three ran after her and yelled her name in unison. But they were too late. “PINKIE!” *** Solar was talking to Mrs. And Mr. Cake only to hear someone yelling at him. “NEW PONY!” Solar’s eyes went wide. “Uh miss?” Pinkie kept charging at him. He slowly started taking a few steps back “You are going a little fast!” He turned tail and ran. “Nope! Not going out like this! Not today!” Mrs. Cake yelled after him. “That is Pinkie Pie! No matter how fast you run she’ll find a way to catch you!” Her and Mr. Cake start to laugh at Solar’s expense. Solar stopped his running to get his bearings. He listened and could barely hear the Cakes’ laughter. Before he knew it he heard a voice behind him. “HI!” Solar shrieked as Pinkie jumped on him and pinned him to the ground. “Pinkie! Off!” Ordered Twilight. Pinkie gets off of Solar with a saddened look on her face. He looks back at her with a slightly angered look.Twilight glares at Solar and motions for him to follow. Solar follows her to the back of Sugarcube Corner. *** I can’t believe him! I told him to stay in the library, yet he can’t even seem to do that. “Just what are you doing here?” “I-” “Is everything ok Miss Sparkle? Is this stallion bothering you?” I look behind me and see three royal guards approaching. I, under no circumstances can let them find out about Solar. Hay! I hardly know anything about him! “Oh no! We are fine! We were just heading back to my library!” The guard looks at me and then Solar. “Alright. If he causes any trouble, I will be forced to take action, Miss Sparkle.” “Understood Sir. Good day!” The guard walks off and I turn my attention to the girls. “Get the rest of the mane 6. We have something to discuss. We’ll be at the library.” They give their brief goodbyes and me and Solar start our walk back home. *** Solar is the first to break the silence. “Want me to teleport us there?” Twilight shoots him an unamused look. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” He notices her horn. “Oh. Stupid question.” Twilight stops and Solar keeps walking only to notice she isn’t next to him. She wants to get to the bottom of all this. “Why do you keep doing that?” “Doing what? Walking?” He asks, knowing the real answer. “NO! That! Acting like everything is fine! Here you are! A bucking ALICORN, and you are just strutting around Ponyville as if nothing is amiss!” Twilight takes a deep breath to calm herself. “I am sorry. Didn’t mean to raise my voice, but I NEED to know. What is it you are hiding?” Solar bows his head and looks at Twilight, silently pleading for her to stop asking. “Twilight. Some things should never be known. If they ever see the light of day, lives can be changed. I will be very blunt with you Twilight.” He shut his eyes and returned to the body of an alicorn. “You don’t want to know what this soul is hiding.” He spread his wings, ready to take off. Twilight didn’t know what to feel. She felt...empty. Something isn’t right. “Solar, think about what you are doing!” Solar looked around him. Many ponies were gathering around in shock at the spectacle. “Oh no. No no no. This isn’t happening.” He looked back at Twilight. “I’m sorry.” And with that, he sped off into the clouds, and out of sight. The crowd of ponies looked to Twilight, hoping for an answer. A mare with a scroll for a cutie mark approached Twilight. “Twilight. You know who needs to hear about this” Twilight nodded solemnly. “Yes Mayor, I know. We all do. It’s just something I haven’t thought of possibly happening.” The mayor nods and addresses the ponies around her and Twilight. “Alright. Show’s over. I’ll be working closely with Twilight to be sure everything is fine.” That being said, the crowd begins to disperse. The Mayor turns to Twilight. “What is going on Miss Sparkle? Who was that?” Twilight scoffs. “Follow me” She and the Mayor finish the walk to the library and head inside. Twilight offers the mayor tea but the Mayor politely declines and they sit across from each other. “So, Mayor. I know you have many questions so ask away. No point in hiding it any longer. What do you want to know?” The mayor sat in thought for a few moments before she spoke up. “Who was that?” A simple question really. Twilight was expecting this to come up. “That was Solar Firedawn, Mayor. He says that he is a Lightbringer.” The Mayor sat confused. “Light-bringer?” Twilight nodded. “A being that protects any planet that needs protection. When he first came here, he said he was here because he believes that our world may be in danger. He never did say what however. Another thing worth mentioning…” The mayor leaned in a bit. “What is worth mentioning?” Twilight’s brow begins to sweat. Should she tell the Mayor that Solar can impersonate others? After a few moments she makes her decision. “You need to promise what I am about to tell you stays in this room. Between us.” The Mayor’s eyes narrowed. “What is it Twilight?” Twilight sweats a bit more. What is the worst that can happen? “Solar can shapeshift.” There it is. All the tension Twilight felt suddenly dissipated. She was relieved, but the storm may have yet to come. The Mayor didn’t say anything. She wasn’t angry but she obviously had nothing to be happy about. Neutral was the best way to describe it. “May I ask a question Twilight?” Twilight exhaled. If only a little bit. “What is it, Mayor?” The Mayor looked at the floor of the library and let out a soft sigh. “Do you trust him, Twilight?” Does Twilight trust him? They had known each other for a day and some change at the most. He hasn’t necessarily acted hostile…yet. But he hasn’t acted otherwise either. If there is one thing she already learned about Solar is that nothing is black & white with him. Something she doesn’t really believe. Until now. “I want to Mayor. I really do. It’s just that we don’t know each other. Really at all.” The Mayor’s posture straightened. Her eyes narrowed further almost to pinpricks. “I can expect that letter will be written to the Princesses correct?” Twilight nodded. “Soon Mayor. Very soon.” Twilight knew it had to be done. Regardless of what may happen to Solar directly. For whatever reason, she had a feeling he could probably outrun if not overpower both of the Princesses should he need to. She had to be very careful with this. The situation was undeniably delicate. The Mayor got up and shook Twilight’s hoof and left the library. “Good day Twilight.” Twilight sat alone, the silence deafening. She can hear the crickets and the rest of the night’s ambience echoing around. A startling thought crossed her mind. “SPIKE!” *** Spike was surrounded in darkness. He couldn’t see anything. He felt concrete on his back. He got on his feet and looked around. It seemed he was in a cave, water dripping around him. A distant waterfall can be heard but not seen. He starts walking forwards. It’s the only thing he can do. He keeps walking until he bumps into something, or what he discovered when he looked up, somepony right in front of him. The pony cast a light spell and Spike was able to see the charcoal black stallion from the side. “So-Solar?” Spike was terrified. Who was this? What is going on? He can hear a menacing guttural chuckle coming from the stallion. When he spoke, his voice reverberated off the cave’s walls. “No little dragon.” The stallion slowly turned his head towards Spike, grining. “Not Solar. Rather an abandoned unwanted side of him.” Solar was motionless, Too terrified to move. “Who are you?” The stallion grinned even more, revealing pearly white teeth. “You’ll find out soon. For now, RUN.” Spike didn’t need to be told twice. He ran deep into the cave as fast as his little legs could ever possibly hope to carry him. He can hear the stallion’s laughter as if he was right behind him. He stopped running when the laughing ceased. “Twilight, where are you?”