//------------------------------// // It's time, Mr Francis, is it really that time again? // Story: Livin' The Dream. // by The Joeker //------------------------------// Suddenly I bolted up- Hold on, wasn't I supposed to be dead? After the car crash... and then the explosion in the lab... it seems like I should be gone... but then again, I have no idea where I am. It looks like... Pripyat... Is this my afterlife? wondering a nuclear wasteland...? is this Hell? Purgatory? maybe it's my own interpretation... maybe if I open my mind... There we go. Holy shit... it's... amazing... "Do you like it, Mr. Francis?" came a voice... G-Man... "Indeed." I answered, I noticed I am how I was before the crash... "Good, it is not often someone comes here consciously, they are usually in a state of stasis, but my employers have asked me to talk to you here, directly." he said. "I'm listening." I replied and folded my arms and leaned back slightly. He seemed to crack a smile for a second before returning to his normal serious expression. "There is a world, which I have already given you a taste of, which needs... you... I don't know why and neither do my employers which is unusual, this is a one time offer, you can wander here for possibly eternity or take my hand, take a chance Mr. Francis, take a chance." he smiled, 'take a chance' is what Ste Klegg said to me before my first kill. "Very well." I said and took his hand, if he starts flying around on a carpet and singing 'a whole new world' I'm jumping to my 3rd death. "Excellent choice Mr. Francis, you will not hear from me again." he said as we both vanished from wherever we were... -Meanwhile in Equestria- "News from Northern Equestria! Uh... Your Highness." said a guard as he barged into the throne room. "Yes?" asked the beautiful Sun Princess. "I am simply to tell you that it has returned." he said as he took his helmet off in respect. "Find Princess Cadance and Shining Armor." gasped Princess Celestia. "Yes, Your Highness." "My dearest Twilight, you must come to Canterlot at once..." As Twilight Sparkle approached the two royal sister she 'Ahem' 'd to get their attention, but before either could respond something crashed through the roof between the sisters and Twilight. "I've really gotta stop breaking things, my health insurance doesn't cover 'death by jumping through portal into wall' " I groaned, back in my Cyborg suit, with the visor shut. Everypony looked on with wide eyes. "I am Buzz Lightyear, I come in peace." I said in a deep voice. "W-what?" was all Luna could mumble out. "You don't recognise me? wait! I've got this goddamn visor on." I said and parted it. "You...!" said Celestia in surprise. "Aye, in the flesh! apart from my legs..." I mumbled. "I thought you disappeared!" said Twilight. "I was sent back to my own world... I kinda wish I wasn't." I said and looked at my gloved hands... I allowed a single tear to fall. "Well, to business." said Celestia. "Of course, I'll just sit down." I said. "Trust me, little sister." "You wanted to see me? To give me a test? I brought my own quills and plenty of paper to show my work. Sorry, sorry!" she said and unraveled a scroll which bumped Celestia's foot, I jumped in front of the Princess and rolled it back to her "She's not made of glass you know? you're not made of glass are you?" I asked Celestia half seriously, for all I know ponies are made from cardboard here. "No, and this is a different kind of test, The Crystal Empire has returned." "The Crystal Empire? I'm sorry, I-I thought I'd studied. Ooh. I don't think there's anything in any of my books th–" "Appearing in the arctic north of Equestria after a thousand-year-long disappearance. It is inhabited by Crystal Ponies and tiny ewes, and is described in the Ballad of the Crystal Ponies as having a rich culture and long history, including "the Crystal Kingdom anthem". Local food in the empire includes crystal berries that are used to make sweets and crystal corn." I said without thinking, Twilight was skimming through a book. "I can't find it-" "Before the emergence of Nightmare Moon, the Crystal Empire was taken over by the evil unicorn King Sombra, who turned it into a dark land and enslaved the Crystal Ponies. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna defeated him with their magic, turning him to shadow and imprisoning him in the ice of the arctic north, but not before he placed a curse on the Crystal Empire that caused it to vanish for a thousand years. After it returns, the Crystal Ponies have no memory of their kingdom before King Sombra took over. King Sombra also returns and threatens to invade the empire again, so Shining Armor and Princess Cadance have been sent by Princess Celestia to defend it." I said, I swayed a little as I finished and felt something on my face... blood... from my nose. "What was that? are you ok?" asked Celestia. "Yeah, I have no idea what I even said..." I mumbled. "There isn't anything in my book about that." said Twilight. "There wouldn't be. Few remember it ever existed at all. Even my knowledge of the Empire is limited, he knows more than me." she gestured with her head to me and I bowed. "But what I do know is that it contains a powerful magic. One thousand years ago, King Sombra, a unicorn whose heart was black as night, took over the Crystal Empire." said Celestia and cast a spell to show us. "He was ultimately overthrown, turned to shadow, and banished to the ice of the arctic north." "No offence... but if you turn something to a shadow... it doesn't really help, you could've turned him to... oh I don't know... an ant? that way he wouldn't be able able to come back without getting stepped on." I pointed out. " You have a fair point, but we didn't overthrow him before he was able to put a curse upon the Empire. A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air. If the Empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all of Equestria." she said and made a bright crystal appear and she smiled which I thought looked quite pretty- dammit Baz! concentrate boy! Then a darker image replaced the current one. "If hatred and fear take hold... Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it." she said to Twilight. "You want me to help protect an entire empire?" said Twilight. "Let me call Darth Vader and the Emperor to help with that..." I chuckled, they ignored me and continued, I seemed to be more like my old self here, not the depressed murderer I was before. "It is, as I said, a different kind of test. But one I'm certain you will pass." "How do I begin?" "Try finding the place." I stated. "He is correct, start by joining Princess Cadance and Shining Armor in the Crystal Empire." "My brother is there?" she asked. "He is. And your Ponyville friends will join you there as well. I have every confidence you will succeed. And when you do, I'll know you are ready to move on to the next level of your studies." smiled Celestia as we walked to Princess Luna. "But what if I fail?" "You won't." "But what if–" started Twilight, Luna didn't look happy Twilight was doubting her success. "You won't. But Twilight, in the end, it must be you and you alone who ultimately assists Princess Cadance and Shining Armor in doing what needs to be done to protect the Empire. Do you understand?" "Mm-hmm!" was the reply. "Remember Twilight, our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt, and always remember... An End Has A Start." I said as she nodded, left and the doors shut. Suddenly I was pinned to the wall by a blue aura. "Well, at least you didn't throw me through it this time" I chuckled nervously, she was straining with the energy it took, but still...