//------------------------------// // New Beginnings // Story: The Sword that is the Scabbard // by Boyzilla //------------------------------// The Sword that is the Scabbard Chapter 2: New Beginnings Pillars of smoke rose into the air, before being slowly breezed away by a refreshing wind which helped distinguish the ash and dust from the burnt remains of buildings and the dead. The great fires of Yanhoover, extinguished after hours of work. Entire groups of ponies taking shelter in a large indoor stadium spared from the destruction due to being made of mostly brick and stone. Lit up with an array of magical lighting as it took in uncountable numbers of survivors, those with skill in medical arts trying their best to comfort the victims. As they mass of survivors huddled up in the large room, overhead on another floor that looked over the entire stadium, a purple unicorn looked over the populace she helped save. "Thank Celestia so many were saved." Twilight Sparkle said with a relieved expression. A few meters to her side, sitting down on a chair, a tall but young man answered differently. "But so many died as well, there should be more, more people that could have been saved." He said, glancing down at the direction of the crowd, his eyes trailing over a young colt that cried tears of joy as he rejoins his family. Yet on another side, a lone filly cries sorrowful for being the last survivor of her own family. Twilight blinked toward his direction, how could this being, Shirou Emiya, care so much for a species not of his own kind. She opened her mouth to speak, "But, we should be happy that these ponies were saved from the fires." He responded immediately, his golden-brown eyes looking into hers, "What makes their lives more important than the ones who died? Why can't everyone be saved, why should some cry for help be saved, while others who do the same burn to death?" She couldn't answer that, Twilight did not know the answer to the questions he gave. She had always known the answers to so many questions given to her by others, yet in a single conversation, Shirou gave her pause. "There is no logic," Shirou continued, "I don't expect you to know the answer. I've asked the question so many times and yet still can't find it." The holder of magic stayed silent for a few minutes, watching the crowd below get treated, yet more and more ponies arrive that outnumber the available doctors and nurses. "Shirou," Twilight began, rolling the foreign name off her tongue. "Yes Master?" He replied. She rose an eyebrow, "Why do you call me Master?" Shirou looked to her in slight surprise, but then began chuckling, "Oh, the irony... Well, to answer you. I am your Servant, you summoned me here and so you are my Master. Do you see three red marks on your..." He paused for a moment, "Hoof?" Shirou finished the sentence. Twilight raised her left hoof, spotting the three strange sword symbols engraved on it. "Yes, what are they?" "They are Command Seals, three absolute orders that can make me, your Servant, do anything of your order. From simple chores to bending space to get me from one place to another in seconds." Shirou answered her, he was having way to much nostalgia of Rin Tohsaka explaining this all to him. "Absolute, as in, completely absolute?!" Twilight said in shock, "I can't do that, that's against sapient rights!" "It seems I got a good Master," Shirou said, pleased that the one who summoned him had a good set of morals. "Just call me Twilight, all my friends do." The unicorn said. "Alright, I like calling you by your name better anyway." The summoned, still alive, human replied. "So, what's going on? From what I heard from Mors in our fight, she was freed from her prison. Who freed her?" He questioned. "That's the million bit question," Twilight said, rubbing her hooves against her temples, "Nopony knows, all at once every single imprisoned villain was freed just days before the Changelings attacked Canterlot. By the time the wedding began, we were spread out trying to defeat them, and so Canterlot was captured... Everything spiraled down from there." Shirou crossed his arms as he went into deep thought, 'This Canterlot sounds a lot like Camelot, probably their capital. If multiple enemies are set lose and causing terror, then every minute I stand here could be another person who couldn't be saved! I have to do something.' The sword user stood up, and began walking toward the door. But he was stopped by Twilight Sparkle as she asked from behind, curious to where he was heading. "Where are you going, Shirou?" "To defeat your villains before more people get hurt." Shirou answeared. "Alone!?" Twilight said in shock, getting off the chair and galloping toward the position in front of Shirou, "Do you even know where you are going? Don't you know how powerful they are? Sombra controls the Crystal Empire, Tirek gorges himself on Equestrian magic, the Changelings feast on our emotions, not to mention the countless others with horrible powers!" "It doesn't mater, if I can save as many as I can, I don't mind dying." Shirou said, a small smile on his face. "What, you can't die!" Twilight said with small hints of anger laced in her voice, "How can you be so suicidal! We may have only recently met, but that's all I need to tell you that you are my friend! And as your friend I won't let you charge in there alone and without a plan!" Shirou attempted to speak in protest, but Twilight Sparkle beat him to it, "I don't care, I won't let you go by yourself. I'll go with you! Together we can find the rest of my friends throughout Equestria and stop the villains together." He sighed, giving up, "Well, I see I can't change your mind. But if it gets tough, please back away, as your Servant it's my duty to protect you." Shirou stated. 'Like I'm one to talk, right, Saber?' The human thought to himself. Twilight nodded, "Alright! I'll try to get some supplies so can we head toward the nearest town, just south of Tall Tale Mountains." "What's its name?" "Seaddle." Shirou Emiya has spent the remainder of the day familiarizing himself with Yanhoover City's spared areas, the fire had taken over a quarter of the entire city, but once the cause of the flames was defeated, quick action from the civilians and local government had drowned out the fiery heat that had engulfed the portion of Yanhoover. The time spent analyzing Yanhoover's infrastructure, technology, and bits of its culture had told him much about the Equestria Nation to him. 'It's very American, but combined with European influence and with the notion of everyday magic made into public. The technology level is not as advanced as Earth's, but it's only a few years behind. However their military, from what I've seen, is very medieval.' Shirou thought as he walked down the pathways, most of the civilians were elsewhere, probably having evacuated deeper into the city due to this part of town being next in what would have been the fire's hunger. He looked back toward the direction of where Twilight was staying, "I should probably get back..." He trailed off before he heard the familiar sound of waves crashing against something. Walking toward the direction of the sound, he found himself on a stone bridge overlooking the vast ocean, it's crystal blue waters sparkling from the shining light of the sun, a gentle breeze traveling through the air and making Shirou's hair wave slightly. He smiled, closing his eyes as he remembered his time with his beloved, "It's funny isn't it, Saber. This very bridge and ocean so similar to that time? I know you can't hear me, but it's like you are so close I could almost touch you." "This world, its different than our own. Yet so much the same. Heh, Rin would flip on how magic is used here, and Ilya would be frantically messing with all the ponies. But I'm separated from them now, until Rin finds some way to drag me back to Earth." Shirou said, the imaginary image of a regal young looking blond girl in blue clothing smiling at him, nodding in agreement to Shirou's words. "I got my own Master, her name is Twilight Sparkle. She's a unicorn of all things, but not a phantasm beast, think more human and mundane. She reaches to my waist, is royal purple, and asks as many questions as Ilya in the short time I've known her." He looked toward her image, the image of his Saber. His voice was stuck in his throat. Maybe it was out of confusion over the insanity around him. No, that wasn't it. Shirou was struck speechless by the overwhelming beauty... of this girl who had appeared before his very eyes. He turned around, the image disappearing, and began walking back toward where Twilight Sparkle resided in Yanhoover City. He will save everyone he can while continuing to try and find his ever waiting Saber. "Shirou, this way! No, not that way, this way!" "Sorry, Twilight, my bad!" The Master and Servant continued down the southern road toward the town of Seaddle, where from there the plan is to restock with proper supplies and then make their way to Las Pegasus. The city named after the flying equines was said to be where Fluttershy, of all ponies, currently resided. "So, this Shy-" "Fluttershy," Twilight corrected Shirou. "Fluttershy, was sent to Las Pegasus because it happened to be one of the last safe areas? If it's safe, why are we heading there and not somewhere else where we could help?" Shirou Emiya questioned, wondering the reason behind it. "Because she's my friend, and also the bearer of Kindness." Twilight answered, continuing her walk alongside the human swordsman. "Kindness? But everyone can exhibit kindness." Shirou replied in confusion. "No, I meant. You see, in Equestria there are six extremely potent magical artifacts called the Elements of Harmony. Each piece represents a trait which is held by the bearer who represents it the most. There is Kindness, Generiousity, Loyalty, Honesty, Laughter, and finally Magic, which is me." "Let me assume that these artifacts are useless without all six together?" Twilight nodded, "You assumed correct!" Shirou then had to ask a simple question, "Then why did all of you part from each other?" Twilight opened her mouth to answer, but then closed it. Her eyes darted to the ground, her expression becoming solemn. Shirou could tell that she didn't wish to talk about it, "Sorry... You can tell me later when you feel better about it." From then onward, the rest of their travels toward the town of Seaddle past with little to no troubles. After a day's journey on foot, they arrived at Seaddle to see it struggling with something. It had a gloomy and hopeless atmosphere, and the reasoning behind it was due to the cause of increased bandit activity due to the chaos within the Equestrian Nation, the bandits had taken over the town's food storage, leaving the civilians to starve for their own gain. "Bandits! But, there haven't been bandits for-" Twilight was cut off. "Haven't been and now are two different things, Twilight. With the chaos occurring, it's no surprise people would get desperate." Shirou answered. "Perhaps we can talk them out of it? We don't have to kill anyone to stop conflicts." "I know! Let me do the talking, I'm the student of Princess Celestia, so perhaps they will believe me more." Twilight answered, and started making her way toward the direction where the ponies of Seaddle stated the bandits were located, Shirou following close behind.