An Impossible Task
Chapter 1
The Ruin City
One thousand years ago to this day, there stood a grand city towards the south western part of Equestria. What remains there today is the badlands where dragons rule. But before the tragedy, hundreds of colts and mares lived in the prosperous city called Fortuna Evanesce. It had grand architecture, rivaling that of Canterlot. It was almost paradise, a clean and friendly metropolis. No city is without crime, but what did occur wasn't very serious. Families that lived there were usually ones that their ancestors had planted their roots when the city was first erected. It was joyous that fateful day. The Princess and Prince's foal was due to be born...
"She's so beautiful..." The exhausted mother said softly. The mare alicorn cradled a small filly, which was a pale white and had a brick red mane. She took after her mother and was an alicorn herself. The father, a pegasus, said nothing, for he was overcome with emotion. He raised a hoof and stroked his newborn daughter's hair. All ponies in the room admired the miracle resting before them.
But the happiness was not to last. Evil forces had worked around the clock, and conspired to bring down the city's government. A rat fighting against a cat. But an inured animal is at its most dangerous state. And toppling an Alicorn led city was no easy matter. They had planned for months on this day. In strategic locations, bombs had been placed around the metropolis. One happened to be in the hospital the royalty occupied at that tragic day. When the clock struck noon, all went off in unison. Cleverly placed bombs destroyed bridges and exits from the city, trapping its inhabitants inside. The hospital collapsed, and a joyous day became one in infamy. Yet something happened that the anarchist didn't expect. A hidden power inside the foal alicorn was released, and a massive force of energy, fire, and magnetic waves surrounded her. As the ground crumbled away, she fell into the catacombs. The powers enveloped around the foal, and created a protective sphere around her. The same could not be said for the city. Shock waves caused multiple earthquakes, and the city was put in a state of disarray. Buildings collapsed, fountains exploded into a gush of water. The city was left in ruins, and it was said that no one survived. No one, except for the little filly. Her mother didn't even get a chance to name her yet.
XXXX
"So that's how the legend of Fortuna Evanesce goes. And that's why Princess Celestia strongly believes that I should go investigate and try to find this lost foal. But of course, I won't be alone." A purple colored alicorn stood among two other ponies. The two of them were colts, one significantly younger than the other, yet he seemed like he experienced more hardship. The older, an earth pony, had a name tag on him, which stated that he was Shimmering Blade. The other had no name tag.
"Sounds interesting. So Twilight, is it just us coming with you, or are more going to show up?" The younger colt asked. He was oddly changeling colored, but his eyes looked like a normal pony's, yet were green. He had a horn, being a unicorn, and his mane was shoulder length, black with a green outline. Other than the coloring, he seemed pretty much like a normal pony.
"Yes Charon. Just the three of us are investigating this. Or are you not feeling up to it?" Twilight teased. The young colt scoffed.
"You know I'm up for anything. Being stationed at Canterlot bores me, since nothing happens." He replied to the smiling purple pony. The older colt shrugged.
"The only thing that has happened in Canterlot recently was the Changeling attack, and then the day when some unknown enemy ship...plane...thing attacked the city. Those were stressful days." As he mentioned this, Charon stared at the ground. He had a look of sorrow, and closed his eyes.
"I promised to never be like my kin. After what they had done, I'm glad I was rescued. I came a long way, from being a timid 15 year old pony to the confident 18 year old one that I am now." Twilight and Blade stopped to listen to him.
"So far, you haven't succumbed to them. You are strong. That's why I chose you to help. You and Blade are the best defensive ponies that I could find. We leave at sunrise tomorrow. Go and rest up, for we have a big day ahead of us." Twilight finished her briefing. The two colts got up, and left for the door. Charon reached it first, and left without a word. Blade, although, stayed behind.
"Twilight, I was wondering, what's up with Charon? I've never met anypony like him." Blade asked. The mare sighed, and looked into Blade's eyes.
"He isn't a normal pony."
"I know that much."
"Ugh, please don't interrupt. I mean, he is a hybrid. His mother is, how should I put this... Well, she Queen Chrysalis..." As Twilight said this, Blade poked his hoof on the ground.
"Oh, well that's...a bit heavy."
"That it is. But his father is JetFire, the legendary pony Spartan."
"You mean those super soldier ponies?" Blade raised an eyebrow to what Twilight was saying.
"Yes. His father, JetFire, was originally a human, though Princess Celestia turned into a pegesus upon his request. So, Charon is a Human/Changeling/Unicorn mix. I have no idea how he became a unicorn since his father wasn't one. I guess it's just genetics. But that's only part of his story. I'll let him tell you the rest whenever he's ready."
XXXX
Night had fallen long ago. Charon sat down in his room, lost in his thoughts.
"A lot has happened these few years." He said to himself, fiddling with a quill. A roll of parchment paper rested before him, and a bottle of ink beside it. Charon, now aware that it was becoming increasingly late at night, began to write a letter.
Dear Octavia,
I've been doing well in Canterlot. The city life is alright, but I long for the air of Ponyville. I've been sent on a mission, due to its level I cannot say where, but its nowhere cozy. Hope you, dad, and ShadowFire are doing well.
Love,
Charon
He rolled up the letter, stamped, and set it on a bedside table along with the quill and ink.
"I'll send it tomorrow." He said as the pony laid back on his bed. Charon glanced outside his window, and saw the night sky twinkling in a friendly manner. "Good night, Luna." And a few seconds later, his mind drifted off into a slumber.
XXXX
If the badlands weren't ominous enough during the day, it was without a doubt scary as hell at night. No one lived there, or ever dreamed of. The night blanketed the badlands with pitch black silk. Darkness took on a new meaning here. But something stirred in the night. A sliver of light, only about an inch wide and 6 feet tall spontaneously appeared. It widened with length, becoming what looked like a tear in the fabric of time space. When it reached its potential width, two shadows appeared. Soon the shadows gained features, color, and shape. The two exited the rift completely, and then the portal disappeared. One was taller than the other. The taller looked like a human, with long, white hair tied back into a ponytail. The shorter one was a Lucario. He had fallen to the ground, causing the human to jump to his aid.
"Lu? Are you alright?" He said, lightly shaking the Pokemon. He stirred, and looks at the human.
"I think I'll be fine, Max. Just feels like I left my stomach back at the forest." As Lu spoke, an automated female voice sounded from Max.
"~Systems check. Scanning all systems...Defensive, check...Life support, check...hydraulics system, check...Structural integrity, check. All systems up and running at 100%.~"
"Thank you, computer. What is our location?" Max asked.
"~Locating position now.......scans show that we are on the largest continent of this planet, in the southeastern side.~"
"Can you identify what planet we're on?"
"~Scanning database.....there are no collective data of this planet whatsoever~."
"Damn, it's the same as last time." Max said.
"Last time?" Lu asked.
"When I showed up in your world. It had never been reached by anyone until recently, so it was uncharted and unknown."
"Well, instead of just standing here like fools, why don't we find out where we are?"
"FOOL! That's sounds like a excellent plan." A sword the Pokemon had on a belt turned into bright light, and a strange, short creature dressed in all white, with a top hat and can, appeared by Lu's side.
"Glad to see you too, Excalibur. What is your opinion?" Lu asked the weapon.
"Fool! My opinion is quite obvious."
"You agree with trying to find out where we are?" Max prompted.
"Precisely. It seems like this young man is the only one that's not a fool. For now, that is." Then, as quickly as he appeared, the weapon returned to the sheath on Lu's side. The Pokemon sighed.
"I don't see why I had to wield him."
"Because," inferred Max, " you are the "chosen one" spoken of from that old prophecy."
"Yea, yea, I know. It was a rhetorical question you heap of scrap metal."
"Alright, mange pelt, let's be on our way. I just hope the whole planet doesn't look as desolate as this place." And, the two began to walk northward, as the sun decided to make the sky gain a pinkish hue.
XXXX
Morning seemed to have come faster than night had. A royal guard had entered Charon's room, nudging his hoof.
"Sir? You need to wake. Princess Twilight requests your presence for her journey." He said in a stern voice.
"Yea, yea, she told me yesterday." Charon complained as he slid out of bed. He did a quick inventory check, and threw on his saddle bag. The guard waited for him to approach the door, then as Charon left, he closed it and accompanied him to the courtyard where Twilight and Blade had already gathered.
"Hey there, sleepy head. You rest well?" Blade asked. Charon glared at him.
"I'm not a morning person. I would rather be awake at night."
"Maybe you should have stayed in bed."
"Maybe you should have stayed in asshole school."
"Alright, you two. It's time to go." Twilight said, stepping in between them. Royal guards followed the three until they reached the city gates. With curt nods and a few salutes, they parted ways. Twilight led them, Blade to her right, and Charon to her left. They didn't speak for a good hour, with Twilight reading a map and the two on guard. They stopped as a raging river blocked their path.
"Aww, how are we all supposed to cross it?" Twilight said with exasperation. As she pulled out a book of spells from her saddle bag, Charon walked up to a tree. He lifted up a hoof and put it on the trunk. Closing his eyes, he concentrated.
"Ex muto atque alterius." When he muttered these words, the tree began to twist and fold. It then lost its form, and became several wooden planks. They rushed over to the river, and formed a sudden bridge complete with rails. Twilight stopped in her search and stared in awe.
"Wow, Charon, I think you might be better at magic than I am!" She exclaimed.
"Nah, it was just a simple spell. I'm no miracle worker." With the river obstacle out of the way, the ponies' quest could continue.
XXXX
After two day's travel, the majestic forest the three passed through had come to an end. Trees had become less, and the grass began to wane. Soon only rock ground was left. They had officially entered the Badlands. In the distance, the outline of a city was visible, being the only significant landmark in the entire area.
"I assume that's our destination?" Blade asked. Twilight nodded her head.
"Yes. Lets hurry, night is falling. I don want to be out in the open in the dark here." Twilight said as the three walked further into the badlands. Not too far away, the telltale sound of falling rocks echoed throughout the desolate place.
"Twilight? Did you hear that?" Charon asked he alicorn. She nodded in confirmation. Shimmering Blade stared in the direction of the sound.
"Is there a reason why you asked us to join you other than protect you from monsters, ma'am?" Blade asked.
"Yes, there is actually. Rumor has it that there are power hungry ponies searching for powers lost in the ruins. They sort of control the badlands, what the dragons don't occupy that is. And an alicorn would be a prime target to kidnap or assassinate. They dispose our rule, and hope to overthrow us." Charon yawned.
"Well I'm glad to know that there is more to the fact of you taking us than just keep monsters at bay." They all decided that it was best to be quiet for now since they were traveling into unknown territory.
XXXX
"Damn it, are you trying to let them know we're stalking them?" A dark looking colt snapped at another.
"Sorry! I'm no good at stealth." The other said in a hushed voice. The two watched the travelers pass by.
"One of them is an alicorn. She'd fetch a pretty price if we manage to get our hands on her." The first said. The other scoffed.
"Yeah, if those two weren't with her. I fear we'd have a hard time kidnapping her with them around."
"So, we'll just have to find a way to separate them." The dark duo turned from the travelers and disappeared into the darkness.
XXXX
The night had nearly fallen again. A dark, dank cave opening loomed against the violet sky, with two bipedal figures standing outside it.
"Should we go in?" Max asked Lu. The lucario shrugged.
"I know not. Should we ask-"
"Don't ask Excalibur. Let's just go inside and see where it takes us." He quickly said. Almost seconds after they entered, the darkness was overwhelming. Max kept hitting his head on low spires and kicking rocks. "Damn it, this hurts. Computer, night vision please."
"~Night vision engaged. Set to automatically disengaged when sufficient light is detected.~" It reported back to him.
"Thanks. Lu, are you seeing good?"
"Of course I am, I'm canine. Inherit night vision." Something caught Lu's eye, and he stopped walking. Max noticed him.
"Something wrong?"
"Yea...look at the wall here. These something inscribed on here." They both examined the wall.
"It looks like some sort of language. I can't say that I know it." Max said.
"What about your computer?"
"It's a long shot, but it's worth a try. Computer, scan these inscribed letters."
"~Scanning.....scanning.....scanning.....negative. No records in my database are relevant to the letters shown.~"
"Damn. Only thing to do is continue through this cave. It continues to intrigue me." Lu said. They continued through the quiet cave, with the silence broken only by their footsteps.