//------------------------------// // A New Adventure // Story: Shooting Star // by Phoenix Nebula //------------------------------// Chapter 4: A New Adventure As the chariot approached Canterlot castle Twilight could see there were allot of guards even more than at her brothers wedding. Once the chariot landed Flash and Twilight stepped off and were escorted inside. They were taken to a set of large bronze double doors. They pushed it open and found Celestia, Luna, and Cadence all siting at a large round table in the center of the room. "Ah, Twilight I'm glad you could make it," Celestia greeted them. "I'm glad I could make it but whats the emergency?" Twilight asked in concern. Twilight sat down at the table and Flash stood by the door."Is there a new threat to Canterlot?" "Not just Canterlot but all of Equestria could be in great danger," Celestia looked serious." I have had a new vision, a vision that could determine the fate of Equestria for all eternity." Celestia paused a second and took a deep breath and sighed." The Black Crystal Heart has awaken." Twilight felt her fear consume her. She had heard stories of the Dark Crystal Heart, but that's all they were was stories. Flash saw the horrified look on Twilight's face, he wanted to comfort her but all he could do was watch. The princesses saw the Flash looking at Twilight with a concerned look o his face. They took note of this but pushed it to the back of there minds'. "You may already know this but," Cadence chimed in." The Dark Crystal Heart or D.C.H, for short, can be used to release Sombra from his frozen prison." "Indeed, but if we were to get the heart first then we could possibly cure him of his insanity." Celestia spoke." The D.C.H was created from the core of a fallen star like the real Crystal Heart, but the D.C.H was used for evil instead of balance. Eventually it was banished to a distant land were it was supposedly in eternal slumber." "B-but what does this have to do with me?" Twilight asked. "Because I saw you along with four others going to retrieve it. Not only that but I predict that you are the only one who can hold the heart with out it corrupting you. Twilight your magic is a perfect balance between dark and light allowing you to harness it." Celestia explained. Twilight's brain tried to register the information that was just dumped on her. She was being chosen to go to a distant land to retrieve an 'evil dark heart' that could destroy all of Equestria as she knew it. Not to mention the danger she would face while there. "Who will be accompanying me?" She asked. "You will be accompanied by your guard Flash Sentry, Zecora, a palace guard known as Blazing Sword, and an inventor by the name of Phoenix," As on cue the doors to the room swung open and three ponies walked in. The first one was a zebra mare Twilight knew as Zecora. Behind her was a gray unicorn guard with a silver colored mane and silver spear on fire as a cutie mark. Next walked in a white unicorn stallion, orange mane and tail with a gold streak through it. He had blue eyes and his cutie mark was a blue phoenix flying out of an orange and brown cloud with small stars. The tree ponies walked in and bowed to the princesses. "Princess Twilight it's a pleasure to meat you, I'm Phoenix," The white stallion said. He then looked up and saw Flash. Phoenix gave him a quizzical look as thought he was studying him. He soon turned his attention back to Twilight. "Now since every pony is hear lets start with some introductions," Celestia said." First you already know Zecora, her knowledge of mythical creatures should help you out greatly on your journey. Next is Blazing Sword,"Celestia gestured to the guard," He is a master at magical weapons, enchantments, and magical combat. Finally is Phoenix but I'll let him explain." Phoenix nodded with a nod and stepped a few feet from the others. "Deactivate EM field!" He called. Suddenly the air around him and a titanium exo-suit. The hole thing covered his body except for his mouth, horn, mane, and tail. His cutie mark shined on the flank of his armor. Twilight's jaw hit the floor as she saw the titanium armor appeared. He gave a slight chuckle at the looks on the faces of the ponies staring at him in aw. Oh I almost forgot, activate flight!" He called again. Suddenly a pair of titanium wings and two thrusts on both side. This time every pony in the room had there jaw on the floor. He burst out laughing. " Ah, that's priceless," He wiped away a tear that fell below his visor. "Ah hem," Celestia cleared her thought causing every pony to focus on her." Now that we got that out of the way lets get down to business." Celestia pulled out a scroll and unrolled it partially revealing a map of Equestria. But she unrolled it the rest of the way revealing a second continent. (not my image) Twilight looked in aw at the map. She had never heard about this land before."Why have I never heard of this land before?" She asked "This land is ancient very old,"Celestia responded." All information of this land has been lost to history." "But then how did you fined this?" Flash piped up. He cringed realizing he wasn't given permission to speak."Oh, sorry princess." "No need,"She smiled."That's a good question one that I should let Phoenix answer." She turned to the titanium pony. He nodded than turned to the others. "I found it. I have an assortment of ancient texts and maps that I have found over my time. This is one of my most valuable items in my collection and is my favorite artifact."He explained." We'll be using this map on our journey to fined the D.C.H." "But do we know were it is?" Twilight asked "I'v been able to trace a dark magic signature coming from the heart of the continent which is were I suspect we will fined it." "But how are we suppose to retrieve it?" Blazing asked."I thought the heart corrupts all who touch it." "Not all..." Phoenix gestured to Twilight and ,for some reason, Flash. "I thought only I could retrieve it?" Twilight questioned "Oh did I gesture to Flash as well? Sorry, yes you are the only one." "I have one more question though," Flash spoke." How long will we be gone?" Celestia pondered on this a moment, she hadn't thought about it yet. "I'd say at least a few weeks, and you'll be leaving in three days," She concluded." I wish the best of luck to all of you." "We will meet in Los Pegasus were we will board my bout and head for the other continent," Phoenix concluded. There was an exchange of looks around the room. Finally every pony nodded and the meeting was adjourned and they all left. Flash and Twilight returned to ponyville, it was quite the whole way back both of them not sure what to say. ------------------- The chariot landed out side the library in ponyville, Flash and Twilight stepped of the chariot and went inside. Flash closed the door and turned around to see Twilight just standing looking down. Suddenly she collapsed and began to hyperventilate. Flash ran over to her and tried to support her. "Twilight are you alright?" He asked in concern. She looked up at him with tears welling up. "No!," She yelled." I'm not okay... I just got back from a parallel universe a few weeks ago, not long after my coronation, I'll be going to a mysterious continent to get a Dark Crystal Heart that only I can retrieve, my friends won't be able to help me, and I'm just scared Flash! I'm scared Flash, and I don't think I can do it I'm not capable." Twilight was now crying uncontrollably. Flash was shocked, she seamed so calm a few seconds ago and now she was having a panic attack. Flash quickly pulled her into a hug to comfort her as he proceeded to stroke her mane. "Twilight that's not true."He scolded a bit. Twilight flinched at it a bit but kept crying." You'v done so meany things before, you even said it your self. You were able to become a princess, go to another dimension and back. You defeated the spirit of chaos, defeated King Sombra, and even Nightmare Moon! You have done more impossible tasks than any one could do in a million years. You have come so far Twilight don't forget that." Flash put her at arms length and continued." You are capable of so much more than you think you are special to me and every one else. Your like a shooting star, you shine so bright that you could brighten the darkest nights. You illuminate the lives of all though's around you." He paused a sec then spoke." You deserve so much more than you have, you always tell your self that you're not all that great but your wrong! You are amazing and don't you forget that ever!" He finished. Twilight couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had gotten praise before but the way Flash said it made her feel different. She never felt this way before. She started to cry again but they went tears of sadness but tiers of joy. Flash made her feel happy really cared about her. She quickly leaned foreword and kissed him on the lips. Flash wasn't expecting it at all but he returned it passionately. When they broke apart Twilight nestled her head into the crook of his neck. "I love you Flash." "I love you to Twily." ---To be Continued---