//------------------------------// // Chapter I. - Prologue // Story: Lightbringer of the darkness // by Novexx //------------------------------// I was taking a stroll in the a night as I have been doing every day for 12 years now. I have no intention to stay home with my parents. It became too much to bear. I have been on my own for too much time already and I don't know if this living hell will ever end. At least I have one thing that always makes me smile, no matter how depressed I am. My little pony is the only thing that keeps my sanity, it's my only remedy for the pain and misery I have to suffer through. It just makes my heart ache that the world I see in there is far out of my reach. I will never be able to enjoy the happy life they have. No. I'm stuck here forever with an alcoholic father and a drug addicted mother. My life has always been like this since I was a little kid. I can't even remember the last time I was truly happy. All my happy thougths and memories about my family had faded away years ago. Now, all that remain are the gray and blank everydays. When I was young I never imagined that my life would end up like this, but it has. Living on the streets has taught me how to fend for myself and stay out of trouble but you never know what happens next day. You might not even live to see the tomorrow. I thought about all this every day of my life, well... since my father started beating my mother. The problem became worse when I tried to defend my mother from him. What my mother saw that day, she never forgot about it. The look on my face when I attacked my own father, blinded by my rage. I almost killed him that night. At that point, I swore to myself, I'm never going to interfere in their life, nor take part in it. From that point I have been living alone, not caring about them anymore. I still live in my parent's house, but I rarely turn up there before 2 AM. Every day is just the same. I wake up, go to school and when I'm finished there, I hang out in the streets till late night. Alone. Always alone. I never had any real friends. Who I could call friends, turned against me over the years, now I am all by myself. I don't care anymore, I got used to it. But what am I going to do with my life? This can't go on like this forever. I was delved into my own thoughts so deeply, that at first I didn't notice the stranger in the alley to my left. He was covered in a long black cloak and a hood hid his face from the flickering light of the lamp. My instincts kicked in and I turned my attention to him, waiting for an attack, but he didn't move. Instead, he slowly turned to face me, and walked towards my direction. "Isn't it a bit late for a kid like you to be still on the streets?" he asked. "I have been living on the streets for 10 years, you don't have to tell me what I should do. Who are you and what do you want from me?" I asked the hooded stranger as I glared at him. "Oh, I'm just a simple man, you don't have to answer to me if you don't want to," said the stranger while walking towards me. "Then why do you even care about me old man?" "Beacause I know what you want deep in your soul, and I am someone, who can make it come true." As he said this, he raised his hands before himself, and a flickering blackish light appeared between his palms. it became brighter as it expanded, and I was shocked by what I saw inside the circle of light. It was Equestria. Ponyville, Canterlot, all the ponies. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He looked at me again, his eyes shrouded by the shadow of the black hood covering his face. The light between his hands revealed a little part of his face and I saw that he was grinning at me. "I can grant you what you seek, Jack." "How do you know my name? Who are you?" "Let's say I'm a friend to those in need, and keep it that way for now. I see the doubt in your eyes and I can assure you, what you see is the reality. Everything exists Jack. If you can't find something, you are not looking for it in the right place. But with a little help, everyone can find what they seek." This was getting a bit suspicious. Even if I believed my eyes, what's the catch? I don't think anyone would simply help someone for free, and how the hell does he know what I wish for? I couldn't think straight. All I could think of was the portal leading to the land of my dreams, and I had the answer to my questions already. I had to make a deal with this guy to get out of this miserable life once and for all. I just had to. I couldn't bear this lifestyle anymore. "So you say you can actually get me to Equestria?" I asked the man with a suspicious look. "Indeed Jack. As I mentioned before, everything exists, even Equestria. It's only coincidence that you can see a show about the true world itself. However the world you see in the television and the one I can allow you to travel to, might differ in a few things." He stopped smiling and took up a more serious look. "But it is up to you to choose between two lives." I never thought this will happen to me once. I never thought about having an opportunity like this. If this guy asked somebody else,they probably would have thought he was crazy but for me, the possibilities seemed real enough. I didn't have anything more to lose than I already have. I made my decision. "What do you ask of me in return, if I choose to accept your 'offer'?" "Ahh, time will tell that my young friend. I myself do not know the consecquences yet. All I can tell you is that you will have to carry a burden for the rest of your life. A gift of both power and responsibility. I have to warn you though, the portal I can create is one way only. If you decide to travle to Equestria, you will have no means to return. Choose now... but choose wisely." A gift of both power and responsiblity. What could that mean? Looks like I will have to find that out on my own, if I want to leave this life behind, and I'll have no choice but to stay. Do I really want to risk everything? I never thought I will reconsider this again, since this stranger made the offer, but I have made my decision and I will not change my mind. Not this time. This time I have to act. "I have made up my mind, i accept your offer. I have nothing more to lose and I don't care about what the consequences will be." "Oh, I see you're pretty determined, Jack. I like your attitude. Now then, I will perform a short ritual, and then open a full scale portal." The little portal between his palms disappeared and he lowered his left hand. A dark, flame like aura glowed on his right hand, and he channeled it into his middle and index finger. He came closer, still remaining in silence. "After I finish this little ritual, your existence will be deleted from this world, you won't have to worry about your past." "All right. I don't want to remember any of it anyway. I don't care what happens to my past." "Are you ready then?" he asked me while raising his right hand up to my forehead. I sighed and closed my eyes. "Yes." He then touched my forehead with his fingers, and I felt like something was flowing through me, something powerful. After a few seconds he took his hand away from me, and I shook myself a bit as a chill ran down my spine. "That was the strangest feeling I've ever had. Yet, it felt satisfying at the same time." He grinned once more, and and the blackish light appeared again, this time on his left hand. He pointed to the left, and the same kind of portal opened next to him, this time in it's full size. "I guess this is where we part ways Jack. I wish you luck in your new life." "Umm, thanks... I guess." I walked towards the portal but before I could enter Equestria, the stranger turned to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "Oh, and Jack, don't be afraid of your newfound power." He stepped back and turned around, then he walked away, into the black of the night. My newfound power? What does that supposed to mean? Well, I only have one way to find out. I turned to the portal again. I could see Equestria through the shimmering light, and it made me wonder what will happen when I pass through it. It was time for me to finally leave this place once and for all. I slowly raised my hand and tried to touch what was in front of me. My hand passed right through the light with a tingling sensation. I still couldn't believe that I was this close to my dreams. My heart was pounding faster than ever and I slowly walked forward, stepping into the blinding light of the portal. My new life begins, in Equestria...