Shutter's brown mane whipped and lashed as he sprinted at a speed that made things begin to blur. His breaths became heavy as they galloped out of the woods and back onto the road again. The town of Ponyville came upon them so fast that Shutter nearly smashed into multiple houses as he darted the now empty streets. "I...Hope...She's...Home"
Alex then felt light-headed once again but tried his hardest to stay awake. While in said situation, he saw an image of himself holding his sword high for a second, then snapped back into reality. All of a sudden, he pulled out his sword and raised it up high. "Heal!" He then saw that there were various leaves and flowers flowing around him and Shutter. This made his wounds go away almost instantaneously.
In almost one moment, The blue stallion felt like he was made new. Glancing back while keeping his run, he saw the flowers and leaves. "How did he..." Shaking his head, he saw up ahead there was a large tree that read. "Golden Oaks Library." Shutter said aloud. "That's where we will find the best help around."
Alex was now completely lost. His body was reacting on it's own and now he is suddenly free of any cuts or marks. Was there someone who is controlling him? Whatever the case, he heard Shutter say that this is where they can get help. "So, we're gonna go in a Library for help?" Alex asked, confused at the idea.
"This, my friend, is not an ordinary library." He took his hoof and knocked on the door. "This is The home of her royal highness, and somewhat friend, Princess Twilight."
Oh no...not royalty... Alex thought to himself. What will she think of me? "R-Royalty you say? Hmm...this is quite an honor." Alex said in half truth as he scratched the back of his dark windswept spiky hair.
"Just be yourself. Oh, and try to not get her too excited. She can be somewhat of a spaz case if she finds reason to be one." The door creaked open and a small purple claw pulled it open.
"Hello? Oh Shutter... What do you want?" The little dragon crossed his arms and looked up at the pony with a judgemental stare.
"Spike I need to talk to Twi... Princess Twilight. This is about the possibility of a new species invading." Shutter responded.
Spike’s head leaned around and looked at the human behind Shutter. "What him?"
"Oh! No no no. This is Alex. He's a hero of his own world. Please let us in." Alex felt that comment quite amusing. Not once was he actually considered a hero at home...to the best of his knowledge at least. But he was more concerned about the matter at hand.
He started sweating like a maniac, Great, first ponies, now DRAGONS?! He gave a mental sigh It's gonna be one of those days... "Y-Yeah...I mean no harm, I assure you." Alex said while wiping the sweat off of him.
"See... He's like a Fluttershy." Shutter said grinning.
Spike looked at Alex and slightly nodded. "I can see what you mean. Fine... Come in, but know this Shutter. She is not happy with you."
"I'll take my chances..." He said with a sigh.
"Okay..." Spike opened the door and Shutter went in with his ears down.
Alex wasn't sure what kind of history these two had, but he could tell that it wasn't good considering that this so called "Princess" is unhappy with him. Maybe I could ask him about it later. He thought while observing Shutter’s mood, He looks troubled right now, so I shouldn't bother him. Alex then entered the building and looked around. "So many books..." He says to himself as he studied the area around him.
Shutter looked up and saw that the sun was just about to set. "I guess we better hurry before Celestia goes to bed."
Spike looked to Alex. "So where you from?" He asked with genuine curiosity.
Alex felt like a nerve had just popped...he didn't know about how his old life was. Just his name and why he has the Eternal Harmony. "Well...I'm..." He hesitated finding the right words. "...uh...I'm...I'm from..." Gah! You're losing it! Just think of something! "...I...don't remember." You fool! He only looked down at his sword ...Why...why do I have this?
(Song End)
"Uh Shutter Flash..." Spike looked after the blue pony. "Is he okay?"
"No... the poor guy suffers from memory loss." Shutter said sadly at Alex. "Spike, sorry to be rude, but we really do need Twilight."
"Okay... I'll be right back with her." He walked off and stepped down a flight of stairs.
As Spike was out of Alex's sight, he said "Ooooooohhh! That was a COMPLETELY idiotic move I did!" he gave out a sad sigh and lowered his head...but while looking down, he saw something sparking in his pocket. He took it out to see that it was..."A Love Charm?!" he said out loud.
"But, who gave this to me?...Was it someone close to me?...”
(Press L1 for Instant Dark Side Action.)
Alex grew angry at how his memory was failing. He needed to hit something “Argh! Why can't I remember anything!" Alex said as he started to punch the wall, leaving dents into it.
"How's that helping you, Alex?" Shutter interrupted, "One, you shouldn't hit a tree, unless you're Applejack." He walked up to him and put a hoof on his shoulder. "And two... Don't worry about your memory... We'll find someway to get it back. I promise you." Shutter smiled as he looked at Alex in the eye.
Alex began to calm himself, "...You're right...but, now I remember someone very important to me gave this charm to me...I want to meet this someone so I could keep that promise I made...so I could keep that promise I made..." Alex kept repeating that statement while staring at his chain. Shutter was about to say something else when suddenly a purple aura surrounded him and pulled him and Alex to the center of the room.
The light dissipated and a displeased purple alicorn stepped into view. "Shutter... what are you doing here?" He bowed.
"Your majesty. I've come to inform you... about a very serious threat to Ponyville."
Alex only continued to stare into the chain, almost as if he was hypnotised...repeating that phrase over and over again. Then a voice rang into his head that was clearly female, You have my Love Charm and you don't remember my name? Alex felt sorry now for what was going on. He didn't even know that the princess he was so worried to meet was right in front of him. He only sees a silhouette of a girl with long dark hair and deep blue eyes…
"... I told you Twilight... I'm sorry." Shutter lowered his ears towards the floor. "I didn't mean to destroy it... I thought it would... help."
"Just drop it, Shutter." Twilight then looked over to Alex and a small frown formed on her face. "Are you okay?" Alex then looked at her and snapped out of his dream.
"U-Um...Yeah!...just fine!" Alex gave a nervous chuckle. He looked back at his charm for a second and told himself, "Don't worry...I'll remember."
Twilight looked at the charm and her eyes opened up wide. "That charm...I've...seen it once before."
Shutter looked at her and shook his head. "Wait... what?"
Twilight, forgetting the squabble from before, looked at Shutter and nodded. "I've been having that very same charm pop up in my head once or twice,"
"Twilight... Alex has never been here before, how is it that you saw that charm?"
She looked back at Alex and stepped closer. "Alex please... to the best of your abilities please tell me about yourself."
Alex felt uneasy at this sudden event, but continued, "Well...I know for sure that I'm not from here...My full name is Christian Alex Gomez...I'm 16 years of age, from what I can recall, and I was given…” He holds up his sword, “..this by someone...But what really troubles me…” He holds up his charm again, “...is how you know about this...it was given to me by someone I hold dear to me...I even made a promise to her that as long as I hold it, I'll be forever at her side...isn't that right?" He looks up to see the same silhouette of the same girl. He even sees her smile.
Twilight looked at the sword with a collective stare, but then she looked at the charm and felt that she was familiar to it somehow. "Alex... Do you know how you got here?" She asked.
Alex sighed, "No...All I remember is getting this sword and appearing here...Shutter here, found me near a forest and helped me get here."
Twilight looked at Shutter and gave him a small stare. "...He is a good stallion at heart."
Shutter perked up and smiled at her. "Thank you your highness."
"Shutter did you say you encountered the shadow creatures before or after you found Alex?"
"After." He answered.
Twilight tapped her hoof on her chin.
"Those creatures went berserk when I came into the mix, your highness. It must be something to do with this sword." Alex said to Twilight as he examined the sword. "I still wonder why I was chosen to wield this weapon...Or if I'm a hero at all." He said to himself.
Shutter looked at the sword and focused his attention to it. "Alex, may I hold your weapon for a minute?"
Alex looked Shutter confused for a second then looked at the sword hard. "Well...Ok." Alex then walked in front of him.
Shutter could sense the light emanating in the sword as he reached to grab it in his mouth. He brought it back and lightly put it in his hooves to examine.
Twilight looked to Alex and wrapped him inside of her wing. "Alex? Do you have a place to stay?"
Alex seemed uneasy. He didn't want to be a burden to anyone. "Well..." He began, "...No, not really...but I really don't want to be any trouble to you." He politely declined.
"You're no trouble... Right Shutter?" Twilight asked.
His gaze at the blade was unaltered as he was able to pull light out of the blade itself. "No... Not at all."
"You don't mind taking Alex home with you do you?"
At this, Shutter lifted his head and looked at Twilight and then Alex in a prolonged look. "Home...why can't we stay here?"
Twilight nodded to Alex. "He can if he wants to."
Alex now had to choose. He was terrible at decision making. He gave out a stressed sigh while looking down. He closed his eyes an saw an image of what appeared to be a clearing in a forest. Was it the one he was in before? There was something off about it however. Unlike the rest of the forest, this area seemed to be filled with life. The scene was perfect as the stream was flowing, the birds where chirping and the plant life was green. I think I know where this is... Alex thought to himself as he opened his eyes. "Hey...if it's alright, may I stay in that forest I appeared in? I think there is a place there I can stay for the night." He said.
Shutter looked back at the sword and started to form another ribbon of light from it. "That's great idea Alex... go risk your safety in the unprotected elements of the outdoors with no knowledge of your surroundings. May I ask what happens when another wave of those... Nightmarish creatures come for you?" Shutter was almost on edge as he pulled one more ribbon of light. "You need a place to stay." He sternly said with a voice that of a father.
(Press L1 for Instant Dark Side Action.)
This enraged Alex. It also made him remember something else. He then went up to Shutter and looked him straight in the eyes. "LOOK! Why does everyone say that?! I can take care of myself! Since all these strange things keep happening to me, I don't care what anyone says, I'm going out there and staying out there! Who knows?! Maybe I can regain my memory back there too!" He then looks at his charm."Maybe I can even find you..." He then angrily grabbed his sword and gave a run to the door.
Shutter formed a ball out of the light he got from the sword and was about to give chase. "Alex! Alex wait!" Twilight stepped in front of Shutter to stop him.
"Haven't you done enough damage as it is?" She said as she blocked the exit, allowing Alex to escape.
"Wha..." Shutter was at a loss for words as he stepped back and sat down with his ears down to the floor. "Please. I'm only trying to help."
"Do us a favor and don't Shutter... It only seems to make things worse." Twilight flapped her wings open and flew after Alex.
Spike, who had been silent for the entire thing, walked to the door and waited with his claw on the handle. Shutter knew that from his disposition that he was now unwelcome to the library and slowly walked out with his head down. Just as he cleared the door, Spike sighed out, "Sorry my friend," He closed the door as he said it.
Heartbroken, Shutter started his trip back to his parents house. He watched as the Alicorn flew high into the night air. "Alex... I'm Sor-" He was interrupted by a strange sound coming from behind him. His ear twitched and his hair stood up again, a feeling that he didn't have quite enough time to unnerve himself from. "No...Not here! Not now!" He turned his head to see that there was five of the creatures, but now they had taken a new form. "P-ponies?!"
Alex was now running from everything. He had enough of anyone telling him he was weak. It's another thing I remember at least. He thought to himself. He was glad that it night so that he would not be spotted. Why did you do that?! the female voice in Alex's head called out to him. You don't just blow off people like that! Maybe I do!...Maybe I'm not even a hero. Yes you are! To me, you're the greatest of heroes!..After all, I am the one who gave you the charm.
Alex started to slow down at the sight of a forest. He wondered ...Are you here?! He asked the girl. I may or may not be...it is how much you believe in me and how much you remember about me that matters if I'll be here or not. He halted in front of the entrance. Go back and help your friend if you want more answers. She said. No! Wait don't go! He shouted in his head. There was only silence for a minute...only for Alex to perk up at the sound of wings flapping.
"Alex!" Twilight swooped downward towards him and landed a little on the clumsily side. "Whoa! Whoa!" She screamed as she tumbled and rolled at him.
He looked back to see Twilight had just had a not so pleasant landing. Don't worry about her, she'll be fine. The voice from before inside said to him. Huh? Leave her... The voice commanded him.
(Press R1 for Instant Light Side Action.)
No! She needs my help! Alex then went over to Twilight with a more calmer tone. "Are you ok, your highness?" Alex asked while offering a hand. Pathetic fool... Who are you?! There was only silence after. Alex decided to drop it. He was more concerned with the princess’s condition.
Twilight smiled even in her pain as she took his offer up. "Thank you Alex. Still haven't gotten used to the landings just yet." She said with a blush of embarrassment. Alex was slightly confused at how she couldn't land properly, but decided he should probably not question it. After all, she is the princess.
"Your majesty, if you don't mind me asking, why did you come back for me? I said that I was fine on my own...Also...where is Shutter?" Alex asked as he looked back to see that Shutter did not follow him like he expected him to.
Twilight looked at him and sighed. "Shutter is a good heart, but he's got a way to complicate things sometimes." Her wings slowly rose up in her thoughts of him. "Like when he decides he would like to step into the middle of a relationship that was perfectly fine!" She then looked at her wings and lightly grunted as she took her hoof to force them down. "I came back for you, because I sense something of great importance in you Alex. The whole mystery of your charm and these creatures, they all can't be a coincidence. As my best friend Pinkie Pie taught me, ‘You're here for a reason and I know we can find that answer together.’ If one thing that Shutter was right about, it's that you are in an unknown area, and without a proper guide you can be hurt badly."
(Song End)
Alex grew angry once again, "Grrrr! Not you too! Look I appreciate the fact that you say I'm of importance, but like I said before, I don't need help!"
At that exact moment, black liquid started to surround them. Shadows in the shape of ponies started to form. "Leave me alone!" Alex yelled as he struck down a shadow. He then fell on his behind and lowered his head. He glared at his sword angrily.
(Press L1 for Instant Dark Side Action.)
"What's going on?!" He then threw his sword away. When it the ground, it started to sparkle and it disappeared. Alex was relieved...only for it to reappear in his hand.
Twilight looked at him and then sighed. "A destiny that you didn't choose for." She spun around and lit her horn brightly as a force field grew out pushing the creatures outward. "Alex is there anyway to talk to them?"
Alex only sighed, "Not that I know of...I'm sorry your majesty...If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be dealing with these things." Alex got back up and lowered his head. Tears could be seen falling down his face to the ground. "I think they want me, and no one but me...These voices keep lingering inside my head...This is just too much for me...heh, some hero I am..."
Twilight then did a blast of energy that sent the dark ponies flying far. "Don't say that, now come on back to..." She stops as she gasps with horror.
Alex was taken back by the sudden gasp. He perked up and looked back at Twilight. "What? What's the matter? Are you alright?" He asks worried.
She pointed to the warm glowing lights and multiple columns of smoke. "Ponyville!"
Alex's eyes grew wide at the sight. He looked back his sword and nodded to himself. Maybe this will help me understand... He then started running toward Ponyville. He looked behind and yelled, "C'mon, hurry your majesty! I'm probably gonna need your help!"