//------------------------------// // The Fall of Sepiks Prime - Chapter 3 : Home Coming // Story: Destiny : Twilight Voidwalker // by BackroundVoice //------------------------------// Mountains, rivers, forgotten glens, and the many cities of the Equestira in ruins. Far overrun with Fallen. These are several of the things that passed us by, letting the Jumpship guide us back to the city. … Silence was like a brick wall. Cutting any and all conversation between myself and my Guardian Warlock, Princess Twilight Sparkle… The Princess of Friendship. A name that could be heard in fairy tales all across the city slums and high above the Traveler’s own self-sustaining gravity. Quite ridicules… I knew perfectly well that they existed… Alicorns, that is. Life forms capable of turning colossal tsunamis into mere mist. Forming mountains out of a single tuft of sand. And proving the impossible, possible. Monsters of Chaos, Greed, and Power become minor threats compared to their magic. The records state that there are four Princesses. All of them sisters spanning generations of kingdoms. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, and of course… Princess Twilight. Two Princesses overseeing the Day, and the other the Night. As the other two, ruled the North and South. All four known for their sacrifices and achievements. And all four reported missing the day of the Collapse. Theories differ from unknown deaths to abandoning all of Equestria to it's fate on the final judgment day. All rumors grim in their own right. And many today think of the Collapse was the Alicorn’s fault. And historic research proves that if the four Princesses were present on the day of the Collapse… Much of our history wouldn’t exist. But even after seven-hundred years of war… Some Ponies, Griffins, and Dragons alike, both old and young… Still have hope. Hope that one day… the Princesses will return… And restore Harmony to the galaxy. Bunch of myths and legends if you ask me… Yet… My line of sight turned to Twilight Sparkle… A living breathing Alicorn that I just stumbled upon, was sitting in the pilot’s seat, staring out the window. Watching her beloved Equestria, pass her by through a piece of glass. I had nothing but pity for her. And my pity turned to guilt the more I came to realize the title she held over her head. The Princess of Friendship… I forced and convinced the Princess of Friendship to kill and fight for her life. I turned the most caring Pony in existence into a killing machine. I gave her motive when she needed help, I influenced rage when she asked for answers… My internal spark for feelings was showing. And my Guardian saw these feelings. “Ghost… Are you ok?” she said, concerning me. “I’m fine” “You don’t look fine” “How can you tell?” I asked, and Twilight went quiet for a moment. Thinking of the correct answer to give me. By which I doubted there was one. She was tapping her chin with her hoof while gazing out the window. Obviously in deep thought. And as if she read it off the ground below us, she answered me. “You feel sorry for me… Is that it?” “Perhaps…” I answered. “Well don’t be… I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions” she said, her expression reflecting her headstrong personality. “But you’re a Princess... You shouldn’t have to do stuff like this” I voiced my opinion. But Twilight replied with a shaking head. “I’ve dealt with things far worse than the Fallen” “I know…” I told her. Accidentally revealing that I had prior knowledge of her life and her adventures. “What did you say?” Twilight asked, as I broke eye contact with her. Seconds later, she spun me around. Causing me to spin uncontrollably. Only stopping me when my eye was facing her. Needless to say I was unsteady and dizzy when she finally decided to stop me. “Listen!” she shouted. Staring at me with those big velvet eyes. Gritting her teeth, and glaring perturbed. “I understand your concerned about me” Twilight began “But until you stop thinking about me as a Princess and more as a Friend, that concern of yours isn’t going to help ether of us!” “…” “*Sigh* Look… I don’t know what your history has portrayed me as… But I want you to know that a Princess that needed protection? Is not who I am” “A lot of Ponies will disagree with you” I said. “Then let them…” Twilight replied, sitting back against the left of the cockpit. Crossing her hooves as she waited for me to reply. “But you’re the Princess of Friendship, I shouldn’t have forced you to kill Fallen if you didn’t want to…” “Is Tirek the Terrible in that history of yours?” Twilight asked. “Of course… Your battle with him changed our entire understanding about Alicorn magic” “I tried my best to avoid fighting him… Until he blew up my Library…” Celestia’s Mercy… “Imagine how I felt when you told me Ponyville was in the state that is now because of the Fallen…” “You didn’t think twice about killing them…” “Exactly…” Twilight answered, who was now looking over the Jumpship controls. Wondering what would happen if she pressed a button or two. “Well, can I ask you question?” “Shoot” she said, still peering at the controls. “What do you think of this… All of this. The Fallen, the Collapse, the war, where we are now… what is your opinion?” I asked. Hoping to finally understand her line of thinking. “It’s war… It’s terrible, but it’s war…” She started but paused. Looking out the window again, reading the landscape for another answer. “It’s not a conflict that can be reasoned with… In that sense the Fallen remind me of pure evil… Tirek, Sombra, Nightmare Moon… If this were Discord… I just can’t believe that…” Twilight said, now reflecting a feeling of sadness, stared at the floor, frowning grievously. A moment of silence fell around the Jumpship after she answered. And in that moment, I saw something on the outside of Twilight’s side window. We were flying up North, so of course we would hit snow sooner or later. But that wasn’t what surprised me. Against the window, an icy fog formed on the outside of Twilight’s window. And along the cold glass, words started to be written, as if out of thin air. Oh… How sweet… She really does care Seeing something like that will have you second guessing your sanity. And I just stared at it, watching it fade away from the pounding wind, Twilight Sparkle saw I was staring at something, she turned to look. Finding nothing when she did. “What are you looking at?” she asked. “Nothing!” I panicked, making eye contact with her. Twilight’s head tilted, but she shook her head. Thinking nothing of it. The silence fell again. Engulfing the space of the cockpit, the atmosphere had us holding our breath. But just like the ever freezing ice over the lakes at Old Ponyville, that silence eventually breaks. “Can I ask you a question, Ghost?” asked Twilight Sparkle. Her saying that was out of place, and downright cheesy. But for the sake of a change in atmosphere, I just couldn't help myself but say it. “Shoot…” “What do you think this… The war, the Collapse, everything… What is your opinion?” It didn’t take me long to think up a response… I’ve known where I stood in the universe since the day I first laid my eye on the light of the Traveler. But even with my vast knowledge; nothing could have prepared me for Twilight Sparkle. “I have always had faith, that with the help of the Guardians, we would be able to fend off the Darkness and it’s followers. But deep down… I thought it was all a pointless effort. But now that I’ve seen your determination… The determination of an Element of Harmony… I can finally say… That I have Hope” My words touched my Guardian. She smiled at me, and I saw what I hadn’t seen in a very long time. Friendship. *Beep!* *Beep!* *Beep!* The Jumpship’s GPS flickered and alerted us. Indicating that we had finally reached our destination. The City. The Last City. Tearing through clouds and air the Jumpship seemed to be flying blind. But it was in fact the opposite. Before Twilight had even touched the controls, I had already installed a guidance system to fly us exactly where we needed to fly. “Buckle up Twilight” I advised my Guardian. Grabbing the seatbelt and pulling it across her chest, Twilight barely secured herself before the Jumpship made a sharp turn. Now gripping the seat, Twilight could only look forwards as the Jumpship took us she knew not where. Dodging invisible objects that hid in the fog, the Jumpship nearly flew in every flight pattern imaginable. Spinning through jagged cliffs, hovering just above a murderous landscape of razor sharp rocks, and zooming past avalanche after avalanche. Jumpships truly ruled the skies. After so many flight fearing feats, Twilight couldn’t even close her eyes. Shaking uncontrollably 1ike a scared cat, clinging to the chair for dear life. Which is funny because we haven’t even gotten to the scary part. Hidden just beyond the mist was something. This something was practically unrecognizable, but even Twilight could tell that it was there just behind the mist. She squinted, focusing everything within her eyesight on it. Her eyes suddenly widened, the mist cleared, and nopony could mistake it for anything else other than a wall. “Is that a wall!?” my guardian screamed. Looking at the impossibility of the structure, Twilight couldn’t believe her eyes. A configuration so large that it seemed to have shrunk mountains before it. “It is” I responded, calm and collected. “We’re going to crash!” Twilight said, clinging to her chair tighter than before. “Guardian!” I called out to her, drawing her attention from our otherwise sealed fate. She turned to me, tears welling up, she could cry at any moment. But as her Ghost… And as her friend… It is my job to see that didn’t happen. “Everything is going to be just fine…” I said. Twilight Sparkle looked dumbstruck. As if she had recalled something. Long berried from her previous life. A memory that… Calmed her. Twilight smiled. But tears still welled up and started falling down her face. These were no longer tears of grief or despair. These were tear of happiness. She wiped away her tears. And focused on the wall ahead. If he says everything will be just fine, then I trust him. She probably thought. Holding herself in place as we sped up. Closing the gap between us and the wall within seconds. My Guardian closed her eyes, and prepared for the worst. But I knew all too well about the flight pattern I installed. We were nearly twelve feet from the wall. And even I became worried that the Jumpship had malfunctioned. But another six feet, and the Jumpship corrected itself. Focusing all thrust on the frontward boosters, the Jumpship flew skyward. Scrapping against the wall as full boost was given back to the rear thrusters. Shooting us toward the top of the wall, the Jumpship skidded along the face of the wall until the searching from under us had stopped. Slowly opening her eyes, Twilight saw the Jumpship aimed at the sky. Looking out to a deep blue starlit night. Only to see our vessel look down to what was right in front of us. Just beyond the wall, a city shinning in tune with the rainbow colored blitz of the Northern Lights. A city reflecting brightly of pure diamonds and crystal. And at the center… A snow white sphere. Hovering just over the city, but almost otherwise balancing atop the palace below. “That is the Traveler…” I told Twilight. She looked on in awe. Speechless to the endless pool of life that was mere miles underneath her hooves. But that sight changed as the Jumpship turned right. Pointing us to our destination. A tower, standing alone atop the Wall. “What is that?” Twilight asked. Head tilted and eyes squinting. “The Tower… My home… And… Now it is yours” I said. “Home…” Twilight repeated. Sighing out of relief. It only took a minute to get to the Tower. Steering downward to an open balcony. The Jumpship dropped us off. Teleporting myself and my Guardian from the cockpit to the solid ground before resuming its flight pattern. “Where is it going?” Twilight asked as she followed it in the sky. “To the hanger bay, to be repaired, and ready for our next journey” I answered cheerfully. I didn’t think I would ever be so happy to return here. We both looked around the Tower Plaza. Ponies, Griffins, and Dragons of all kinds could be seen walking about, chatting amongst themselves, doing business with the many merchants, and storing equipment inside their vaults. “So… Now what do we do?” my Guardian asked. Looking to me for an idea. “Well…” I began “The first course of action should be to find a bunk to sleep in. After that we could check the hanger, and see how our ship is doing. And after that… We could hang out here in the Plaza” “Out here? What is there to do?” she asked. Turning left and right for anything of interest. But finding nothing. “Let’s worry about that when we get back…” I said, joyfully laughing as I did. Twilight was unsure about why I laughed, but she’d soon understand. Twilight followed me as I floated through the crowd. Passing by a verity Guardians, both big and small. “Hey…” Twilight began “These Guardians… I’ve seen them before” “And you probably have. All of the Guardians you see before you are creatures who once lived long ago before the Collapse” I explained. “That’s Rose Luck! And Coco Pummel!” She said, pointing out acquaintance after acquaintance. Smiling happily as she did. “And there’s Lyra!” “That Psychopath?” I interjected. And Twilight just stopped. Glaring at me with much disgust. “What?” “Psychopath?” she asked. “Well it’s true” I said, now departing from the path to behind a tree. We were on the right of the one and only Lyra, and her just as insane companion, Bonbon the Bomber. One lying on the bench like a normal Pony. And the other, sitting on the bench with her back hooves on the ground and her front hooves on either side of her. “Loco Lyra is her nickname here at the Tower” I whispered to Twilight, as we both peeked at the two on the bench. “Why do they call her that? That’s so mean…” “They call her that because she is indeed loco. Back when we first attempted to take back the Moon, Lyre and a strike team of Hunters invaded the Hellmouth. After being overrun by the Hive, Loco Lyra held off the Hive so her comrades could escape.” “I guess that is pretty crazy… But is that really the reason?” Twilight asked again. “Oh no… The crazy part is how she did it” I began, spinning a tale known all too well as “The Duel with the Three Princes”. “Successfully distracting the enemy, Loco Lyra led the Hive away from the extraction point by running into one of the Hive’s many temples. But little did she know she had stumbled upon The Sword of Crota. A weapon enchanted by the Darkness that drained away any light it touched. Once wielded by Crota himself, was now awaiting for a new master to satisfy its hunger for Guardian blood. But Lyra found it first. And she used it to fight the Swarm Princes. “A small elite group swordsmen tasked with the duty of guarding the sword fell victim the Loco Lyra’s unpredictable sword fighting style. And with the Princes dead, the sword could no longer exist in this plane of existence. It was one of greatest triumphs over the Hive. But I think holding Crota’s sword for too long had some side effects of old Lyra, because ever since then she’s gained such a large abundance of Hive information that it’s scary. “She has now become the leading force behind our war with the Hive” Finished with my story, I glanced at my Guardian. I knew she had listened, but even so, she seemed, relaxed. From simply staring at the two on the bench out of curiosity, to smiling. Happy to know that they were okay. “Shall we get going?” Twilight said, turning back into the crowd again. I caught up to her, and continued to guide the Princess. We eventually made our way to a set of stairs, surrounded by railing, that led downward into a tunnel. And at the bottom, our path split in two. Leading to two other sets of stairs on either side. I went down one side, and Twilight the other. Assuming that they both led to the same place, Twilight felt at ease walking opposite to myself until we were reunited at the bottom. Walking past a Frame holding a broom, we only had to walk a few feet before entering the Hall of Guardians. A sort of walk of life for Crucible champions and lower ranked Guardians alike. As of right now the hallway was empty, most Guardians were either asleep or still browsing the goods of the vendors upstairs. “Who do we talk to about finding a place to sleep?” Twilight asked, trotting into the hallway as she did. “The Warlock Vanguard would be a good place to start… She would know best where a fellow Warlock like yourself could spend the night” “Will they charge us?” Twilight asked. “Oh no, you’re a Guardian. Everything is provided free of charge… Because Guardians are always on the battlefield. Fighting so the everypony else can spend glimmer to sleep somewhere” I could tell Twilight didn’t like the sound of that. But it is an unsavory truth she’d have to live with. We continued walking, looking about the crates of paperwork and piles of books. A lot of legal work is done in here. Tower funding, Crucible results, and all news and advancements on the war in outer space. Many things change from day to day. But what’s going to happen when they find out about Twilight Sparkle’s return? “T- Twilight…?” said a deep but kind voice. My Guardian and I stopped. Turning around to see who had said that. It was the Crucible Handler. Dropping a stack of papers and books as he stared at my Guardian. He knew her name… Without even asking. I mean… Stranger things have happened. But… For the Crucible Handler to be this surprised is unheard of. Being one of the only living beings to have fought on the front lines and survive the Collapse was enough to get him to the position of Vanguard… He had to prove that he was one of the most capable Guardians alive. And he did. Not to mention his victory over Twilight Gap. As a Dragon, he always walked on his hind legs. Decorated in white and yellow armor, complete with fur shoulder pads, and a helmet with holes on the side, showing off his bright green horns, he truly was one intimidating character. Slowly, the Handler stomped toward my Guardian. Claws stretched out and trembling, he stepped over his paperwork, until he was inches away Twilight. Now leaning on her, the Crucible Handler couldn’t stop himself from weeping. “I thought… I thought…” he quivered, shacking uncontrollably, as Twilight was far from understanding him as I was. “I- I’m sorry… Have we met?” Twilight asked. The Handler looked up at Twilight. Looking into her eyes through his helmet, he stepped back. And lifted his helmet cautiously. Horns slipping through the openings, and his spinal scales flipping up from underneath, he revealed himself to be a handsome gray colored dragon, with lime green scales, and big green eyes. “It’s me, Spike… Your… Your number one assistant…” he said, who seemed to be the happiest Dragon alive. As for Twilight… My guess was as good as any’s. She stepped back, taking in the view of him. Twilight was motionless. Nothing but her eyes moved. You could see it in her eyes… Memories. Memories of a time long since passed. Shifting back and forth in her mind as she remembered. This hulking soldier, was once a tiny thing. Appearing to have once been so fragile, was now a hardened Veteran. “You- *Sniff* you’ve gotten so big… *Sniff*” Twilight managed to say. The two, overjoyed and shedding tears, embraced each other. Spike picked her up and spun her around overhead, as Twilight comforted her old friend by spreading her wings around him. Enjoying a single moment of pure harmony. I looked to the left of the hallway, spotting a one Arcite 99-40, the Crucible Quartermaster. Sitting at his desk, the Frame rested his head on a hoof, and continued to shack his head disapprovingly. “When did you get back?” asked Lord Spike, setting Twilight down on the floor. “Just today!” Twilight replied, wiping away a tear or two with her wing. “… We to tell the other Vanguards!” Lord Spike declared. “W- Wait!” Twilight called out, attempting to keep pace with Spike. Lord Spike had already made quick work of reaching the Vanguard war room. Simply walking up to the door, he was prompted with a holographic screen stating… Vanguard Meeting in progress, DO NOT DISTURB. Lord Spike sighed and flipped his head back in irritation. “We don’t have time for this!” he said, rearing back, and preparing to punch the door. Twilight wasn’t quick enough to stop him. As before she could even utter a noise, his fist had already rammed the door. Ripping it from the wall, the door glided through the air inside the war room. Falling just short of where the Titan Vanguard sat. Blocking our view of him. The Hunter Vanguard, Captain Spitfire, was shocked and angry. Fire burned in her eyes as she glared at Lord Spike. The Warlock Vanguard, Commander Zecora, paid the Crucible Handler no mind. As she continued to review the papers and books in front of her. “Spike!” Captain Spitfire yelled “Just because the Province of Gun lost the Clan Match, does not give you the right break Tower property!” “Miss Fire,” Commander Zecora began “A plight over a fight would not conjure such might. So don’t be peeved, for there is nothing to grieve. His reasons tend to be sound, although they often bound…” “Zecora, I don’t care what his reasons are… We are planning the strike mission on the Dust Palace, he can wait an hour or two!” the Captain retorted. “Nope! This is way more important than the Dust Palace, no, more important than Rasputin!” Lord Spike announced. And silence grew throughout the room. Spitfire’s jaw had dropped, completely agape. And the same could be said about Zecora. Turned away from her books, she couldn’t help but portray an expression of surprise. “Excuse me?” said a voice from behind the broken door. “Are you saying finding the answers behind the Collapse is Pointless, Spike?” “That Warmind has always been a liability Shiny” Lord Spike had answered. “Says the liability…” the voice returned the comment. So many things were happening at once that Twilight and I could hardly keep up with everypony’s line of thinking. Although, it’s safe to say that Twilight was lost in a maze of questions. Rasputin, the Dust Palace? So many things she was hearing about for the first time. And all of this was being heard from behind Lord Spike’s imposing figure. “Shiny…?” Twilight said slowly. Lord Spike looked over his shoulder, seeing Twilight confused and worried. “So… Let’s see it! Let’s see what’s so important you’d question Rasputin- The voice stopped short, for as the Titan Vanguard stepped out from behind the door, Lord Spike stepped aside. Revealing to the counsel my Guardian. Twilight looked out into the room. Seeing both Commander Zecora and Captain Spitfire, making eye contact with each of them. But the one that really caught her attention, was General Shining Armor, the Titan Vanguard. “Shining?” Twilight finally said. “Twily!” the General shouted out of joy. The two galloped toward one another, colliding and hugging. Such a touching reunion. To think my whole existence had been spent around Twilight’s family and friends. There is indeed a lot I don’t know. My Guardian and the Vanguards around her started talking and chatting. Reconnecting for the first time in seven hundred years. I was out of place, so until she was ready to head to the hanger, I would wait here, in the hall. “Keep her safe for me okay?” Lord Spike told me. His attention still focused on the cheerful Alicorn. “She’s going to change everything… And she’ll need all the help she can get; can you promise me Ghost?” “Y- Yes sir!” I promised. “Good! Now if you’ll excuse me… I have a Bookworm to hug” and with that, Lord Spike ran and leaped, flying through the air for a few milliseconds, only to fall onto Twilight and General Armor, while the other two Vanguards dodged out of his arms reach. Fond memories were made this day, and many others have yet to be made.