//------------------------------// // Season 3: Episode 2 - Help From Beyond Part 2 // Story: My Little Pony: When Friendship Shimmers - Reboot // by RobtheMorpherPony //------------------------------// "Radiant Hope...that name seems so familiar..." Sunset said. The entire group had just read Sombra's diary. "It should: That was the name of Princess Celestia's first ever student." Twilight said. "Wait, you mean your not her only students ever?" Rainbow Dash asked. "That's just silly. Thing is, I asked Princess Celestia once about Radiant Hope and why she took on a second student so quickly after Radiant Hope. And while she didn't give specifics, I got the impression that Radiant Hope went missing." Twilight said. "What's with ponies going missing under Princess Celestia's watch? First we knew of Sunburst, now we know of Radiant Hope." Applejack said. "But why does Cole want us to know about Radiant Hope?" Sunset asked. "So you can save her." Cole said, showing up out of nowhere again. "She's actually been trapped in the Umbra Realm for the past one thousand years. Time has barely passed for her." "So she's basically still alive in there. We gotta save her." Twilight said. "You'll need this spell." Cole said, tossing a spell over. "Hey, isn't this some kind of evil spirit banishment spell made by Starswirl the Bearded?! How do you have this?!" Twilight exclaimed. "Hmph. All will be revealed shortly." Cole said before he went away again. "Hey but what about..." Sunset said, but as she tried to follow Cole, she stepped on a piece of paper that detailed where to find the Umbra Realm. "How does he keep doing this?!" Sunset exclaimed. "Less headache, more rescue Princess Celestia's first student." Pinkie Pie said. "Planning a party are we?" Serendipity asked. "Yep!" Pinkie Pie said. "Of course Serendipity gets her." Throsten said. The group managed to find the Umbra Realm door. "So, you really think you can pull off that sort of spell on your own?" Sunset asked. "Maybe. But you could help Sunset. This is Starswirl the Bearded after all." Twilight said. "Let's do it." Sunset said, and began casting the spell with Twilight. As soon as they started, a bunch of horrible looking creatures started to try and escape the realm, but a lone unicorn mare managed to get out. "Gah! What the hell?! And they looked so cute up until like three second ago." The unicorn mare said. Night Wing blinked. "Wait, is she...?!" Night Wing exclaimed. Suddenly the realm door began to glow a bright light. "Almost there..." Twilight said before the door suddenly vanished into thin air. "Where'd the door go?!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "I think the spell was supposed to do that." Sunset said. "Phew. Glad I got out of there in time." The mare said. "Oh my gosh! It's Radiant Hope!" Twilight exclaimed. "Oh. Um...how long have I been trapped by those Umbra?" Raident Hope asked. "A thousand years." Sunset said. "Boy, I've got a lot of catching up to do. But uh...that spell you used...did it really get rid of the Umbra?" Radiant Hope asked. "Yep." Twilight said. "Then there's hope." Radiant Hope then rushed ahead. "Where's she going?" Gloria asked. "Let's follow her and find out." Rainbow Dash suggested. "OOoooooo! I'm suddenly sensing a HUGE DOOZY!" Pinkie Pie said. The group soon discovered a unicorn stallion passed out in the snow. He looked like Sombra a little, but not like any of them had seen depicted. "What happaned to Sombra?" Twilight asked. "He was freed from the influence of those Umbra. He's a normal unicorn now." Radiant Hope said. "Hope? How are you here? How am I like this?" Sombra asked. "Shh...does it really matter?" Radiant Hope asked, hugging Sombra. "...Even if I'm not one for mushy stuff, even I have to admit, this is something I can understand wanting to do after trapped in a different realm for a thousand years." Rainbow Dash said. "How did any of you know where to look?" Sombra asked. "They had a little help." Cole suddenly showed up again. "Cole Watterson." Twilight said. "Cole? But that's not possible..." Sombra said. "What do you mean? He's right there." Sunset said. "That can't be Cole...because the real Cole is right here." Sombra said, before he suddenly took out something from under his cape. However, what he took out looked to be Cole Watterson's dead body. "But that's not right. Cole's right here." Rainbow Dash said, but when she went to touch Cole, her hoof passed right through him. "SAY WHAT?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "...He's a ghost. Of course. Now everything makes sense." Twilight said. "There was something I had to do. Some unfinished business." Cole said. "So you guided this direction on purpose. From beyond the grave." Sunset said. "And you did everything that was needed. Now I can finally move on." Cole said. "But first, I should tell you that I left a gift behind: A blank book for writing in hidden in a place full of published books. And as one final parting gift, my final words of wisdom: Mirrors cast reflections, but there is one unique amongst all; a gateway to another world hides a secret, and in that world lies some pony special. Worlds apart one lover may be, but he will give up everything to follow his heart." Cole said. "Remember my words. Or don't. It's your choice." Cole said before he suddenly vanished into a bunch of spirit particles. "...Rest easy, Cole Watterson. I won't forget what you just said." Twilight said. "Even if I have no idea what those words mean."