//------------------------------// // Guardian // Story: Thing a Day // by Rennoc215 //------------------------------// Thing a Day: Guardian The Everfree forest is a scary place. Monsters of all kinds roam these woods. Chimera's, Changelings, Timberwolves, and Hydras all claim these lands as their home. Night brings even worse terrors, such as shadowkin, the souls of the recently departed who couldn't find their way to the next life. So why did Stars Light found herself wandering these woods, at night, alone? She had this urge to take a walk, sure that's understandable. But now she found herself lost within these dark trees, and the solitude was beginning to get at her. A filly's got to have somepony accompanying her at all times, right? But here she was, alone within these terrifying trees. A bright green flash came from above the canopy, and Star looked up. What was that? she thought, and soon she saw her answer. A single, bright green star was falling. A thought came over her, and she began to say the traditional words when any young filly saw a falling star: "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight..." But as she got to "I wish I may, I wish I might," she couldn't bring herself to finish the traditional wish, as she was rooted to the spot, shocked to see the star had altered it's course, and was now flying straight at her. She felt the need to run, but shock held her hooves in it's petrifying grasp. The star slowly grew larger, drawing ever closer to her, until it came to a complete stop before her. As she looked, she realized this was no star, but in fact a pony. But not quite a pony. It had no real coat, but was a solid electric green, and it's features stood out from the dark woods, as if it had been painted over the scenery, rather than being a part of it. She watched it curiously, as it looked her over with it's sharp yellow eyes. It's eyes narrowed, and it leaned forward, thrusting it's hoof to her chest in a sharp punch. But she felt no impact. Surprised, she looked down, and saw it's hoof resting over her heart, as if gently set there. She looked at this being, who shared the look of surprise, but soon a determined look overcame the vaguely equine features, and it grabbed her by the chest. It turned, and as quickly as it had approached her, it flew away, her in tow. She drug her hooves in the dirt, trying to slow down the terrifying speed, but it seemed that even her innate earth pony strength couldn't overcome this dangerous speed. She looked up and screamed as she saw a tree come flying at her, or rather as she flew right for it, but the being pulled her to the side a split second early. She saw another, and another, yet they were all deftly avoided. But upcoming was something that couldn't be avoided. A cliff's edge approached, and Star clamped her eyes shut. Her screaming reached a crescendo, as the hit the edge, and passed clean over it. There she felt nothing beneath her hooves, yet the feeling of the wind didn't change like she expected. She cracked her eyes open to find that she was flying, or more appropriately being dragged through the sky by this green being. But that wasn't the point. She was being safely propelled through the air, and she found herself enjoying something so unnatural to her kin. She looked over the vast stretches of wood all around her, and it dawned on her how deep she was in the woods. On hoof, she might have never escaped. She looked ahead, and saw something magnificent. A plot of land, like from some bad science-fiction book, rested in the air, suspended by mere nothing. It had to have been magical, but no magical being had lived this deep in the woods before, right? But before she could think about Everfree history, they had arrived at the floating island, and her new found acquaintance dropped her off at the tallest tree, placed in the dead center of the island. Resting on that tree was a strange golden flame, which adorned the top of the tree like a hearths warming eve star decorates the traditional tree. But Star's attention was drawn away from the flickering flame, and brought to the small humming sound within the branches. As she leaned in to get a better look, three, smaller versions of the green spirit came out. Forest sprites, she thought, with a smile. Which means that the green ghost is actually a forest guardian. Wow, and to think I met one! She continued, before laughing at the silly antics of the three sprites dancing about her. She looked to her left, and saw the guardian there, a peaceful look adorning it's flat eyes. She smiled, before the light illuminating the area went out. Stunned, Star looked to her right, and saw a tall, thin, imposing figure looming over her. It had a wicked smile plastered across it's face, and it reached a hoof into the suit coat it wore over it's pale fur. Star braced herself, immediately feeling uncomfortable around this stranger, before he pulled out the golden flame from the top of the tree. He passed it to her, and she watched him suspiciously as she took the unusual gift. She looked at the beautiful flame grasped within her hooves, mesmerized by the deep, rippling beauty of the dancing fire. It wasn't hot to the touch, either. It filled her with a sense of guilt, however, and she realized the playful hum of the sprites was missing. She turned, and saw one of the more energetic ones floundering on the ground, trying desperately to fly about in their happy fashion, and it's smile was gone, replaced by as sad frown. She looked back at the tall figure, and a sense of resolve steeled itself within her. She was a good pony, and would return the light to the heart of these woods. She turned away, and began walking back towards the tree, when she felt an icy hoof drape itself over her shoulder. "Just take it..." whispered a cruel, dark voice, which sounded like the speaker had been gargling knives for centuries. She felt the wind move as something fast approached her, but the cold kept her pinned, looking at this sacred flame. "Wealth beyond your dreams..." The voice continued, and with each word a shiver shot down her spine. "Unlimited power... All within your hooves." The hoof switched sides, and the voice whispered in the other ear. "Do it." But a new voice rang out. One that sounded clean, resolute, and above all, loving. "No!" It cried, and she felt the hoof leave her shoulder. Shaken from her paralysis, she turned to see that the guardian had charged the shadowy figure, and had punched him quite hard in the face. The figure grimaced, before spinning his cane, a spear head emerging from the tip. The guardian narrowed her eyes, before the two leapt at each other. Star watched in horror as the shadowy figure beat the guardian down. "Run," she whispered, before the spear tip entered her heart. In a fit of panic, Star ran away from the horrible scene. A guardian... slain? What can kill a guardian? she asked herself, before freezing. She realized she had ran to one corner of the island, and there was nowhere else to go. Slowly, she turned to face the tall being, who was standing there, spear pointed at her throat. The two stood motionless, the filly and the demon. Slowly, he reached out a hoof, and motioned for her to give him the fire. But if he takes the fire, the forest might die, she realized. She shook her head no, and he frowned. He swung with the spear, and she backed up, out of reach. She smiled triumphantly, before she heard a cracking sound. She looked down to see that the patch of dirt she was standing on was breaking away from the island. With a short scream, she fell. This time, moving rapidly through the air wasn't fun at all, but terrifying. But as her panic reached it's apex, she heard the guardian's voice. "Do not be afraid," It said, voice soft and calming. "Your heart is strong, and that's why I chose you." Star closed her eyes, and melted into the voice. "You can still win this. You are brave. You ventured into a terrifying wood on your own. You are strong. You resisted temptation, even when he offered you everything you ever wanted." A pause cause Star to fear that the guardian may have finally left her, before it whispered one last thing. "You are... A guardian." With those last few words, Star erupted into a column of golden flame, and the demon shielded his eyes, the light blinding him momentarily. He looked over the edge, expecting to see the body of a broken pony, but to his surprise saw nothing. He blinked, before seeing something green shoot at him from the forest below. He pulled back from the edge, and following him was a new guardian, glowing with a righteous vengeance. He blinked again, and the new guardian charged him.