TWO DAYS LATER AT CANTERLOT
12: 06 PM
Two days passed after the incident and yet Shard could not feel being alright as he sat on the terrace, hoping for the wind to give him the chance to clear his head. Saving her, the one who abandoned his love for a new, was it really worth it? This question whirled around his mind. He may left her as much as she left him, but his heart bore no hate that he wanted against her. Sighing, he wished that she would remember and maybe learn her mistakes.
As he gazed at the sky, he had been thinking also about his parents. Striving to success even facing his own flesh and blood to kill for the greater good. He had a thought if she and father were still alive since when he was still young, their bodies were never found from their burned home. The others said that they're dead, but he still refused to believe it. When he was still little, he thought his parents were gone for good, but as when he grew up into realizing the reality, he knew that it's not real because he somehow felt them in his heart that they're still living. He had an idea that could give him the chance to search for answers.
It was about moving out, going somewhere outside of Equestria to learn more magic, unravel rumors, and further increasing his stability. He might learn the whereabouts of his parents. He may face complicated odds, but they would not stop him from achieving his goals. He wanted to set out as time was on the essence. He stood up, leaving the terrace then proceeded to the throne room to have his request approved by Celestia. He trotted down the hallway, then onto the two big doors. Pushing them open, he saw her sitting on her throne along with Luna by her side. He slowly walked his way straight to front.
As he was in a few meters away, Celestia raised a hoof, signifying him to stop at his tracks. He did so without hesiatation.
"Is there a matter that you would like to discuss, Shard?"
"Nothing, Princess. I was hoping if you could grant my request."
"A request? What kind of request," she questioned.
"Yes, I want to venture to another land along with my partner," Shard explained.
Celestia raised an eyebrow and asked, "Oh? Why so?"
The colt was getting nervous at this point, but tried to keep calm as he took a deep breath before giving out his reply, "Because I felt like I need to search for more like unravel rumors, learning mystical glyphs, and the possibility of my parent's status."
"I see," Celestia said as she walked over placed a hoof at his shoulder, "You have grown stronger to be a hero for us. And you wish for a challenge in your life. Very well, you may leave and pursue your new adventure. I will ask my guards to set up a ship for you and your friend to sail."
"Thanks, Princess Celestia," he said with a smile.
"Always be a hero to us, Shard. Go now and tell Venang about your new adventure."
At that, the colt left the room as he went straight to the training grounds. At there, he saw Venang in the air practicing her usual routine. Her flame technique and aerial assault. She summoned a few fireballs, throwing at the training dummies. The result caused them to burn into ashes. She then concentrated fire spears and threw the next dummies. The spears passed through and disappeared immediately. After a brief moment, the targets were enlightened in great fire and then exploded into smithereens. There was a smirk on her face as she watched the flames dying out.
Shard was so frightened by her element, he gulped heavily, and hoped not to get in touch with those flames.
The colt shook his head, regaining his composure as he waved a hoof and called out,
"Hey."
She turned around and replied happily, "Oh, hi there, Shard, how are you?"
"Been good enough," he shrugged.
Venang then landed as she walked up to him, "Is there something you want to tell me?"
"Well...." he mumbled as he scratched the back of his neck before continuing, "Would you like to go with me somewhere interesting?"
The bat filly tilted her head in confusion,
"You mean like a date?" she asked.
"What?!" Shard replied as he felt his cheeks starting to blush slightly, "No, something better than just that."
"Oh, another adventure, eh?"
"Yes, but this time, outside of Equestria, " he declared.
This caused Venang to have her eyes grew wide. Like she had never thought of it before.
"I-I don't know," she stammered as she looked down, "I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave."
"Venang," Shard frowned as he placed a hoof at the side of her face, "We are strong companions. We encountered danger before and we can do it again. To further hone our skills, unravel mysteries, and to have great memory to ever have."
The bat filly looked up to him and asked, "Will it be worth it?"
"Of course, Venang. We are team, right?"
She nodded, "Yeah, a team."
"Maybe even a force to be reckon with," Shard joked proudly.
Venang giggled as she kissed him at his cheek, "Okay, let me say goodbye to my parents first."
At that, she began flying out until she's out of scene. Shard transformed into his demonic form as he flew to Ponyville to say goodbye to his friends, maybe even her. It wasn't easy to leave his friends behind that looked like for good, but he had to for the best. He had been thinking of talking to her for the last time. It may not be easy, but it could be worth the shot.
TWO HOURS LATER
Shard was on his way to Sweet Apple Acres. While on the way of walking, he felt his heart in amount of pain after saying goodbyes to his friends. Sweetie Belle did not take it lightly, but soon understand his decision, she hoped the he would return safe and sound. They even had their last kiss, this time at the lips before parting ways. Scootaloo was concerned, but not enough to be dramatic, yet she still cared for him. They did their last hoofbumps before he left with a word, 'Scooty'. The pegasus was still annoyed by that nickname, but soon just chuckled as she got used to it.
As he reached to the house, he questioned himself if it was worth in going back to this farm. Feeling of something to happen badly, should he turn back now while he can? No, he should not wasted this last opportunity. He may left her, but he would still remember. He went to the side and leaned on the wall, carefully not to get noticed by his hoofsteps. He slowly moved to the sideways to find her window. Once he found it, he saw Apple Bloom, doing her homework perhaps or maybe writing more love letters about his new coltfriend. As he continued looking at her, he noticed that she's about to look at her window. He immediately ducked down and held his hooves tight as he heard the window being opened.
"Hello, is anypony there?" she called out.
This was it. His chance in telling her his last. What if she had forgotten about him already? Would she still be the same? He couldn't get the answers until he would find it on his own. He sighed heavily as he replied by a whisper,
"I'm here..."
The earth pony looked down to see what suprised her.
"S-Shard..." she stammered, "Is that ya, pardner?"
"It's me, Bloom. Good to see you again," he replied weakly with a smile as he stood up.
"What are ya doing there? Ya should get inside," Apple Bloom said as she took a few steps back to let him in.
Shard did so without hesitation as he entered through the window. He felt the same smell of the room that he used to sleep with her. Favoritism in apples was the obvious scent. The two looked at each other face to face, both in sad expressions.
Apple Bloom broke the silence as she asked, "Ya still mad about me?"
"I was, but not anymore," he replied with a blank expression.
"Ah'm sorry, pardner. Ah never meant ta hurt ya. Ah was blinded by love," she said as she looked down in shame.
"That's fine, Bloom, I forgive you," he paused to get a moment of air before continuing, "I would never be mad at you forever."
"I still have feelings for you in my heart," he added as he pointed out to his chest.
"Listen, I came here to say goodbye," Shard stated, "I'm leaving Equestria and maybe for a long time or forever.
"WHAT?! But Ah said Ah'm sorry! Ah broke up already with mah coltfriend!" she cried.
"I know you are, but this is a situation that I must undertake. A new threat is about to consume this world and only I have the will to stop before it can ever harm anypony. I would protect my loved ones, even you," he stated.
"*sniff* Promise me that ya will be back or at least be okay?" she asked with tears running down her face.
"We may never know, but I promise to be in your heart as always," he reassured as he embraced her.
They remained in that for a few minutes. Like they were once a thing. A united couple. Once and always be.
ONE HOUR LATER
"Time to face the open waters" Shard said as he made his to the door.
"Wait," called out by Apple Bloom as she approached him and gave him two saddlebags.
"What's these for?" he asked.
"For food, silly. Ya might need it ta handle starvation," she replied with a smile.
"Thank you, Apple Bloom, for still caring for me after these years," he said happily.
"Yer welcome, pardner, Ah will always love ya," she replied as she gave a quick peck on his cheek.
After a brief moment, they said in unison, "So long, pardner."
At that, Shard exited the house and closed the door behind him. As he made his exit, he looked up to see a carriage with two royal guards approaching to his position. The carriage then landed as one of the guards said,
"Get in the carriage, Shard, we will escort you to the port."
"Hi, Shard! I reserved a space for you," Venang said as she waved a hoof at him.
He didn't bother to say anything else but giving out a chuckle instead as he went to the carriage, then they flew off up into the sky.
"Got some food for the trip, Venang," he said as he showed to her the saddlebags.
"Let me guess, it was her?" she asked with a smirk.
"You know it," he shrugged, "I have forgiven her now. All is better now."
"Indeed it is," she said as she wrapped a wing around Shard.
MEANWHILE
"Aaaarghhh, not enough," Phan Tom groaned as he conjured up another fire ball.
Phan Tom was at his room, practicing his signature spells and hoping to hone them into stronger version. Sadly, the attempts were but the same results. Still on the same level, not even close to his cousin's stability. His blood rushed through his veins as he conjured one evolved dark fire ball. He threw it to the target dummy, resulting an explosion as the dummy was in black immolation, but still not burned into ashes. The young draconequus growled in frustration as he could not be as strong as Shard.
He wondered of how to be as equal as him or at least have the advantage against him. Having enough strength would make him triumph against him in every single way. However, he knew that his cousin would always search for new abilities and even pinned him down in a matter of seconds. He sighed as he laid down on his bed, putting himself to rest for another day.
"This is it, eh?" Shard asked as he and Venang were now at the port, looking at the ship.
"Tell me about it. Just you and me on this," Venang replied as she was amazed by the beautiful vessel.
"We can do this. I know we can," he assured her confidently.
"Yeah, let's go."
The two then walked straight to the vessel, entering the deck and removing the plank as they began starting it to move. As Shard managed the steering wheel, Venang provided some air to the sails by flapping her wings at their direction until there was enough wind to push the ship forward.
Venang approached him and asked, "So, Shard, where do we go?"
"Hold on, let me check the map," he replied as he took map out from his personal saddle bag, "There is an island nearby which is called the 'Steep Marsh', there is a cave there that was said to be ancient. This could be a start."
"It is a start," she nodded, "How long is our destination to that island?"
"Should take a day. Rest enough for the big suprise," he said with a smile.
"Fair enough. I'm glad that we'll take this adventure together," she said as she rubbed her muzzle at his.
Shard returned it as well, "You know it. This is our story,"
The two were now in the beginning of a new journey. New enemies, challenges, and secrets awaited them in the darkness. They will endure the hardships of being the duo. They will succeed because they're companions, the paladins. This is the beginning of their life.
THE END OF ACT 1