//------------------------------// // Choices // Story: Orion // by Crystal Shard //------------------------------// “I think it’s about time you wake up.” a soothing voice said, getting lifeless earth pony to jerk slightly, and slowly open his eyes. “Where am I?” The Colt asked, as he started to get up, but winced in pain, his body felt like it had gone through Tartarus before arriving in this new place, all he could clearly see was Crystal everywhere. “I think it would be better if you remain still for right now, your body is still trying to heal from your last choice.” the voice said, getting the colt to look around slowly. “If you do not remain still the Crystal Nexus won’t be able to heal you properly.” “Well that’s one question answered.” the colt said, as he laid back down. “Now a few others, your voice is comforting, female, and the tone is slightly deeper, and more regal then normal ponies, which tells me that your not a pony.” with that a blue Alicorn walked out from one of the Crystal walls and looked down at the earth pony colt laying on the ground. “Very good, I’m glade to see that your mind is still as sharp as it was before your ordeal, a lesser pony would have been driven mad by what was done to you.” “My Ordeal?" As the colt forced himself to remember the events before arriving where he was, a flash of images came to him getting him to jerk his head up to the Alicorn standing over him. "Equestria!? The princesses are they?” the pony stopped as the Alicorn raised a hoof to calm his fear slightly. “Your actions helped free them and save every pony, as well as a very young Changeling.” with that the pony smiled weakly. “That’s good, their safe.” with that the Alicorn started to walk around the colt and smiled slightly. “I can understand what she see’s in you, actually what each of them sees in you, strong, determined, selfless, and forgiving, many very good attributes.” with that the pony started to blush slightly. “Which is why I brought you here.” “Ma-am not to sound ungrateful for the treatment, but who are you?” with that the Alicorn stopped for a moment, and then smiled softly as she remembered that nether one of them had been introduced yet. “I’m not all that surprised you don’t know my name, You my call me Spectra.” with that the colt smiled slightly. “As you wish.” “Very well, now since I already know your name I’ve no need to ask, but I was wondering if you would like to help me with something, of your choice of course.” with that the colt cocked his head slightly to the right in confusion. “You see little one, I fear a dark cloud is starting to rise in Equestria, and before you say it, yes the royal sisters have defended the kingdom for a long time, and as of late new element barriers have been found, the Crystal Empire has been restored and two more princesses have been put into power.” with that the pony shook his head. “That wasn’t what you where going to say?” “No ma-am I was going to suggest calling up the weather team and getting them to break up the cloud.” with that Spectra blushed slightly, and started to laugh a bit. “I meant an evil is rising.” with that the pony nodded. “You see Celestia has been ruling for a long time, and in the beginning a lot of bad ponies got arrested and locked away, as well as many powerful magic wielders who tried to over throw her during the time of her young sister’s banishment.” Spectra looked at the pony to ensure that he understand what she was saying. “Now over time many ponies found ways to evade the royal eyes, in fact some of them can do it so well that they do it right inside the royal courts.” “Then tell me their names, better yet tell the princesses their names.” “And in that lays the problem, they can not hear me.” “Then tell me the names and I’ll tell them.” “And for that you will need proof of what you say, and they have gotten very good at making things vanish when any pony get’s close to the truth.” “I’m getting confused why are you telling me this if there is no way to stop them?” with that Spectra let out a sign. “Right now we are sitting inside the Crystal Nexus, and I can see hundreds if not a trillion different outcomes for the future, and events have been playing out in away that I fear dark times are coming, innocent foals jailed, the royal sisters slain ether by a monster from their foal hood or a cult that has been working in the shadows for a while now, and soon the seals for those other powerful ponies I have told you about will break and they will be unleashed upon Equestria, but as I said, these are just possible events, possible outcomes.” “I’m not very sure I understand are you trying to tell me these things so I can warn the princesses.” “No, I’m telling you this so you might understand what the favor is I’m about to ask of you.” with that Spectra held out her right fore hoof and an image of an ancient pony knight armor appeared. “In days of old when even Celestia and her sister where still foals there were knights fighting for their respected kingdoms, and these kingdoms were ran by Royals, which have been reduced to Nobles that now preside in the courts.” “Which would explain why a few of them are royal pains in the flank.” Spectra stifled a giggle as she heard the comment. “Well when a knight no longer liked the way his kingdom was being ran he would go rouge or be known as a black knight.” The image of the armor changed colors no longer silver and shinning, but now jet black. The colt looked at the armor and then at Spectra, confused by this new information. “You want me to rise against the royal sisters?” “No, I want you to help them.” “How?” with that the Armor changed still dark but now more sleek with several gem stones on it. “In the days before Sombra a pony by the name of Crystal Edge forged this armor, it is unlike anything in existence, it can withstand a fully charged magical blast of a full grown Alicorn.” Spectra turned and noted that her one pony audience was in shock as he looked at the armor. “I take it you are impressed now?” Spectra asked, as she closed the pony’s mouth lightly with her hoof getting him to nod. “But be warned with this comes a very hard burden, I do not know what dangers you will face only ones that you might face, I only know what might happen.” “And if I don’t choose to suit up?” “Then I will put you back where you were when I brought you here, only softly on the ground, and you will be found.” with that the pony looked at the suit and then at an image of the other outcome of the choice. “I would get my desire, to return home.” “You would be welcomed back with open hooves, and treated like a hero.” with that the pony slowly stood up and looked at the two options. “You don’t have to choose right now.” Spectra watched for several moments as the pony looked at the choice to go back and live out his hearts desire, and watched as a happy reunion played out in front of him as his friends and family hugged him. All the while Spectra could feel the cold chill of fear started to creep up between her wings, fearing that her chosen champion would turn his back on the armor she lowered her head and ears just waiting for the moment that he would request to return him home. “You said those events might happen soon correct?” Spectra looked up in shock and then slowly nodded. “Then how am I going to be able to use that armor, I don’t have any special training.” As smile spread across Spectra's face as she looked the pony before her. “Inside the Nexus time can be slowed down or speed up, you will be trained to use the suit.” with that the pony looked at the suit once more. “Hearts desire, or protector of Equestria.” the pony once more looked at his possible future, and smiled faintly seeing everyone he held close to his heart celebrating with him, smiling, and happy, he was happy, he could have what he had wanted for so long, As he took a deep breath he turned and started to walk towards the armor. “I warn you now there is no turning back from this.” with that the colt lowered his head for a few moments, before looking back at Spectra, a smile was on his face but tears ran down it fear and sorrow filled his eyes. “I know, and I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t scared, the truth is I’m terrified, you offer me an unknown future that could be filled with hardships, against everything I’ve ever wanted, at first glance I would be a fool to pass up going back, but if I do go back and the events you described came to pass I would be powerless to stop it, all those happy faces would be lost, and if anything happened to them.” the pony stopped as the words got stuck in his throat, and the tears started to come more freely. “If anything happened to them I could never forgive myself.” “So you will fight for them?” the pony shook his head but kept it lowered. “No, not just for them, if I do this I have to fight for all life, not just for the royal sisters, I have to set right what’s been going on and I have to make sure no innocent life get’s hurt.” “What you are saying might be impossible.” with that the pony looked up at Spectra tears still running down his face, and eyes turning blood shot. “AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO!?! YOU OFFER ME SOMETHING TO SAVE LIVES AND YOU REQUEST I ONLY SAVE ONE SPECIES!” “WATCH YOUR TONE!” Spectra’s royal voice shook the nexus and got the pony before her to look away in shame for his outburst. “I will not turn my back on any living creature that needs my help, even if they were once my enemy.” “But what your saying.” “Is what I’m going to do, if I am hated than let me be hated, but at least lives will be spared.” with that the pony turned and looked at the armor. “I will become what you wish but I will not be tied down to any one kingdom, I will not choose sides just because of the species, and I will do my best not to let my own emotions cloud my judgment. I will fight for all Equestria, I’ll be the defender from the evil that is coming, and the cure for the evil that already resides within it.” with that the colt looked at Spectra who was smiling slightly “So now I suppose we should come up with a name for your new life.” “I know one that will get some attention.” the pony turned and smiled slightly at Spectra. Getting a confused look on her face, as she raise one eyebrow. “And that would be?” “Orion.” “Orion?… As in Orion the hunter?” Spectra thought about this for a few moments, and smiled. “I like it, the hunter of evil.” with that the Spectra nodded and watched as Orion reached up and touched his new armor, only to have it in case him. “Now remember it’ll respond to your thoughts, but I will also be able to help you through the Crystal Nexus.” Orion nodded as the armor's helmet closed around his head, leaving two royal blue Crystal covering his eyes. “This is your last chance to turn back, if you have doubts about giving up everything you’ve known, and those you love.” “I’m not giving them up, I’m just doing what they’ve taught me.” with that Crystal nodded and with a wave of a hoof causing Orion to vanish. “Than let the training begin.” Else where in the Crystal Empire, the Crystal Royal guards walked out from the palace and smiled as they came up to a small group of royal guards clearly under Blue Blood’s command. “We did not get told that Lord Blue Blood was coming today, the princess and prince are inn Canterlot right now.” with that the commander of Blue Blood’s royal guards nodded. “You miss understand, are lord has sent us to aid in protecting the empire, with the princess and prince occupied he felt that it better to have reinforcements after that nasty changeling attack that nearly destroyed Equestria.” with that the commander looked at his troops and motioned for them to break off and start securing the empire. “Allow me to introduce my self, my name is Steel, and I am only here to help my fellow guards pony, once your princess and prince return we’ll leave.” with that Steel leaned close to the Crystal commander. “Between you and me I think my lord is trying to get some brownie points with your princess and his aunts.” with that the Crystal Commander smiled and nodded. “Well then come on Steel let’s go over defenses.” “By all means commander lead the way.” with that Steel followed the crystal commander and smiled slightly