"....p."
Amaterasu looks around. There was nothing here... but at the same time, she could feel a presence. What is this... warmth? she wonders to herself. She spins, and is suddenly faced with a mirror. She sees herself. White pony, no mane, markings all along her body to show her holy nature... wait. Her markings weren't right. Rather than red, her markings appeared to be blue. She moved closer to the strange reflection, and it did the same. When she reached her hoof out, it did the same. Something in her memory slowly tried to click into place, a key component, something vital about herself. She knew this image meant something to her. Why does this make me feel sad... and happy? She touched the glass, and her hoof felt warm. She blinked, confused. Her reflection, however, smiled.
"Rather sad, that you still don't remember me," it said to her tauntingly. "Then again, amnesia seems to be a habit of yours... as does hiding." Amaterasu growled unconsciously, though it wasn't from anger so much as annoyance, like this was an old taunt. The reflection chuckled. "It seems my power has somewhat escalated here... though, I still am unable to use it fully. I suppose it is because I am still locked away, as is he, and as is your memories. Memories you locked away yourself, and must reopen if you are to return to your beloved Nippon."
Amaterasu's annoyance turned to shock, as it began to come to her just who this was. The pieces were starting to clock together.
"Wa... p...!"
The dream began to flicker all around her. The blue-marked reflection looked around with a somber expression. "It seems that once again, our time is cut short by fate. I shall see you soon, Amaterasu. It shall be the last time before we truly meet." The reflection gives a small smile, as the mirror begins to crack. "Just know... I love you."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Wake up!" Issun shouts for the millionth time. He'd been screaming in Ammy's ear for some time now, but it was lik screaming at a rock. Tiring, and making him question his purpose in life. "Sheesh, Ammy, you're killing me! You've been out for three days now, and still you don't want to wake up! What could be that important?" He nearly had a heart attack, though, when Amaterasu shot up, fully conscious and taking in her surroundings.
Ammy was lying on a couch made of clouds. She had a blanket on top of her, rainbow colored. Looking around, she noticed she was in another building made from the strange cloud-stones. Memories of what she had seen flooded her mind, and she shook herself to rid the stormy thoughts. She knew death, and she knew pain. She understood darkness... and she was determined to prevent these innocent creatures from understanding it as she had. She was the light, and she would wash away this dark cloud which had arisen.
"Glad to see you're finally up, Mr. Amatersu," says a cyan pony coming down a set of stairs. "Dunno if you remember or not, but I'm Rainbow Dash. Totally rad daredevil pony... and the one you kinda saved." She scratches her rainbow mane embarrassed. "Uh, thanks for that, by the way. While I want to say that I totally could've handled it on my own... but, well, I couldn't." She hangs her head down dejectedly. "While you were asleep, I got a look around Ponyville. I've been hearing how you've been clearing things up. Gotta admit, you're pretty cool, even if you are some weird non-talking earth pony." Ammy shook her head. It felt a bit unusual, getting praised by this pony. She could sense it wasn't something done lightly. She could feel herself blushing under her fur. Issun nudged against her ear, grinning a tiny grin.
"Taking a liking, eh furball?" he jests. "Can't say I'm not interested myself. She's got a certain... attraction to her. Like electricity between us." Ammy opts to ignore this, and gets off of the sofa, shaking herself to get rid of some of the sleep still lingering in her. The thought of sleep made her think back to her dream, but it was already fading away into the mists of her mind. But still, it rang important. Very important. She wasn't allowed more time to think on it though, as Issun began to speak up again. "So, Ammy, I explained some of the situation to our blue friend here, and when she was going around, she managed to dig some more info up for us. Looks like that barrier around the tree we woke up in is weaker, but we still can't get through; however, it seems that we can head towards that creepy forest to save another Element."
"Yeah," Rainbow speaks up. "My friend Fluttershy. If what that little bug-"
"NOT A BUG," Issun says through grit teeth.
"-whatever. If what he said is true, then Fluttershy is in trouble too. Twi may be in trouble, but she's a lot more capable at handling herself. Fluttershy is... well, I hate to say it, but she's kind of a wimp. Love her to pieces, but that mare couldn't put up a fight unless an animal was in trouble."
Amaterasu nodded her thanks. It made sense that she go for the Element in the most danger, as well as in the easier to access location. Without another word, she dashes out. Looking around, everything was much brighter and more vivid. Rainbows sprouted all over, and happily chattering ponies with wings went to and fro with their lives. This was the reason that Amaterasu had the strength to fight against the odds. They were her light to fight the darkness. Their happiness was her happiness, and seeing so much of it added a little more pep to her step. It took her a while to find the door Waka made for her, but when she went through, she was back by the farm, and there was Waka, sitting down on a stump. He turned to her with a twinkle in his closed eyes, something that more than slightly confused her.
"Ah, ma cherie, I see you have succeeded once more in your quest. I am impressed; even here, your power is still mighty. I am glad that you still have such strength in your heart, even if you are not home." He reaches behind his back, then tosses her a rosary. She catches it around her neck, then nearly collapses from the weight. After a moment, she adjusts to it, and examines it. With beads in the shapes of apples, and colored like a Rainbow, she can certainly regard it as the most unusual rosary she'd ever acquired. "That rosary, it's name is Honest Loyalty. Like your glaive, Generous Laughter, it is born from the elements you have saved. That particular one is made from monsieur Tom."
"So... you asked us to get you a rock... so you could make furball here a new weapon?" Issun whistles, impressed. "I guess I pegged you wrong."
"It seems the Poncle is not quite as stupid as he always seems to appear," Waka says in a bored tone.
"Ok, I redact my statement. You're still an annoying jerk!"
"Either way, I still have a prophecy for you both." Waka takes a moment to clear his throat. "A heart of light, now cold and black. Where is the Fluttershyness? I don't see it there, but it surely is. It can be hard to tell friend from foe. You should probably count the shadows." Waka finishes with a pose. "Not bad, no?"
"...you still suck at prophecies." Issun snickers while Waka glares daggers at him.
"Amaterasu! Surely you do not agree with this...." He stops when he notices Amaterasu is happily snoozing away. He bonks her on the head. "Stay awake mon amie! You are so rude sometimes!"
Amaterasu wakes with a jolt, knocking Waka into the tree where his head tilts around. Ammy scoots away, then starts galloping towards where she was told Fluttershy resided.
~~~~~~~~~~
Fluttershy's cottage was empty. Empty in the sense that nopony stayed in it. Amaterasu looked around, confused. There appeared to be signs of life: a bowl with a spoon in it, a chair left out, an oven left open as if something were going in or out; but it was so... devoid of everything. It nearly spooked her to death when something tapped her flank. She spun around, and saw that it was simply a bunny... but it looked rather sad.
"Yo, little bunny dude," Issun says from Ammy's ear. "What do you want?" The bunny starts to point back to the town, and makes a shooing motion. Issun grumbles. "Want us to leave? Well, sorry, but that ain't exactly the most possible thing at the moment. We kinda have an important mission. Saving the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy, is top priority right now."
At Fluttershy's name, the bunny's eyes widen. He shakes his head and arms. Something freaked him out, a lot. He tried to hop off, but Ammy placed her hoof on its tail and held it in place.
"So, Ammy, you noticed that our little friend here is acting suspicious too? Surprised you didn't fall asleep." Issun hops off of the goddess and onto the Bunny, right on his nose. "Now listen, and you listen good. We wanna know what you know about this Fluttershy pony, and we wanna know now. We're trying to help her and this entire country, and you're standing in the way of that."
The bunny blinks, then hangs his head down. He hops back towards the cottage, but rather than go in, he starts to sweep around it. He waves his arm, gesturing them to follow. The duo take no time to follow along. Following the white rabbit, they notice how things look rather... bleak. What may have once been a well-maintained area looked claimed by nature now. Tendrils of black roots ruled over the back yard, and the nearby forest, which appeared to be their destination, looked rather terrifying. By all rights, they probably should have stopped heading towards it by now.
"Uh... furball?" Issun says, making both Amaterasu and the bunny look to him. "Not you, silly rabbit. Anyways, this place is giving me some major bad vibes. It isn't just dark magic in there, it's ancient nature magic. Really messed up ancient nature magic. It's seriously messing with me." Amaterasu shared his sentiments. This forest wasn't simply a forest. No, there lurked something in it... something old, barely contained. She knew that once she entered, it wouldn't be her alone who controlled her fate. No, this forest would judge her as well. It may have existed in this world of ponies, but it didn't belong to it, and the presence of her world had only made it stronger. The bunny hopped to the entrance, and stood perfectly still... aside from the shivering.
Amaterasu came to a pause behind him, and looked around. Why was he standing still? 'This bothers me...' she thought to herself.
"I see you found my bunny, Angel. Thank you for that."
Ammy nearly leaped out of her markings. She turned and was faced with an adorable yellow mare with wings, and a fluffy pink mane. She gave Amaterasu a smile, then walked around her to Angel, and picks him up. Angel does his best not to scream silently. He struggled to break free, but the pony only hugged tighter. He finally gave in, and she ceased hugging so tightly. Her attention turned back to Amaterasu.
"I thank you again for finding him. My name is Fluttershy. May I ask your name?" Amaterasu blinks. This pony was Fluttershy? THE Fluttershy? The Element they needed to save, and who Rainbow Dash called a "wimp?" This pony seemed completely at ease in front of this creepy forest, and had apparently had no issues at all with creeping up on her. There was also the fact that, though she said Angel belonged to her, he looked like he was scared half to death. Even Issun was burying himself in her fur to be a little further from Fluttershy.
"T-T-This is Amaterasu," Issun manages to stutter out. "A-A-And I'm Issun. W-We're her to save you." Fluttershy laughs at his comment, her mane flowing wildly as she tosses her head back.
"That is quite kind of you, but as you notice, I don't exactly need saving. I'm feeling fine. But, so you don't feel like your efforts are wasted, how's about you join me for some tea?" She points into the forest. "I've been staying in some more... 'interesting' accommodations as of late."
She walks off, and for a moment, Amaterasu could swear her tail seemed... weird.