Reed is an avid spelunker in his free time, but lately the dark things that have plagued him all his life have been growing stronger, and now threaten his daily life.
Reed is an avid spelunker in his free time, but lately the dark things that have plagued him all his life have been growing stronger, and now threaten his daily life.
Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy were walking on the out skirts on Canterlot. Making their way back from a research trip / picnic. The sun was setting and from the mountain side path the view was spectacular. The path widened to an unused road up ahead. The road passed behind a water fall, which gave Canterlot its water, and continued down in to a small stretch of forest before ending at the north gates of Canterlot.
"Oh I do hope it's still too early for any of the wildlife." Twilight said to her companion.
"What do you mean Twilight? I'd like to see a few squirrels,
If that's alright."
"Its fine Fluttershy, but the squirrels isn't what I'm worried about."
They had entered the forest and the fading light made its presence known. Twilight had to light her horn to provide sufficient light to see by. Something sifted off to their left.
"RUN!" Twilight screamed.
And they were galloping as fast as they could to the northern gates. As something growled and crashed after them.
Princess Celestia eagerly waited for Twilight's return. Twilight had come accost a reference to a passage to another world. Although Celestia had also know about the rumored other world she had never had the time to go and investigate for her-self. When Twilight had wrote her about it and guessed that it was in the mountains north of Canterlot. Celestia had invited her to stay and conducted further research. That was three days ago. This morning Twilight had said she was going out to fallow a lead. Celestia told her to bring a friend that was good with animals just in case they ran into something. So now the Princess waited for her student and what she had found out.
Little did she know that the other side would find her student first.
-
Reed was tiered, but happy and excited. The hike up was hard, he had finally reached the cave and had been exploring for the last six hours. There were no stalagmites or stalactites in the cave witch meant that the cave had been made by water flowing through. That was about the extent of Reed’s knowledge. When he had left it was seven in the morning, and he had smashed his watch on a rock weeks ago and hadn't gotten another yet. Judging by his stomach he guess it was about lunch time.
An hour later after eating a boring lunch and exploring more Reed came to a small waterfall, which covered the tunnel in front of him. Running low on water he pulled his empty water bottle and went to fill it, planning to use the water purifier kit after. Two steps from the flow of water he tripped and fell though the waterfall. He landed in the cave’s underground river and was swept away. Slamming in to the walls as the river flowed faster and faster. He fought to keep his head above water catching glimpses of the next approaching waterfall. Reed pulled the climbing axe from his belt and at the last moment was able to stop himself. Holding on tight he felt for any kind of ledge to climb on to. His light barely glowed and he wished he'd done a better job water proofing it. There! The ledge was just at the tips of his fingers. Grunting he pulled himself up by his climbing axe and finally on to the ledge. He lay there for a while, the climbing axe loose in his grasp. When Reed finally recovered he pulled out an emergence yellow glow stick by the light of his dim headlamp. With a crack and a few shakes the tunnel he was now in was bright enough to see in. Not wanting to swim back, not that he could, Reed decided to follow the tunnel which seemed to follow the river. Remembering what his teacher had once told him, ' if you are ever lost find a river or stream and follow it till you find civilization again.' So that's what he did.
About an hour later the tunnel forked. To the right the path continued to follow the river, to the left Reed saw what looked like day light. He went left, eager to see the sky.
-
The sky was beautiful. The sun was setting and there was a soft breeze. The birds sang and the clouds were painted pinks and purples. The tunnel had come out to a ledge and what looked like a forgotten path enclosed by tall trees and brush. He could hear the water fall far to his right hand, was that voices? Two voices a long with two sets of horse hooves wasn't that far off. But the voices sounded off not quite normal. The voices flowed more than they were said. The voices seemed to be coming from farther down the path so Reed move towards them. He couldn't hear what they were saying due to the distance. After a while the sun was almost gone and the forest grew eerily quiet. Shapes and shadows seemed to move of their own accord. Ahead a violet light glowed, his own yellow light barely putting out any to see by. All the shapes seemed to move faster and converge on the violet light.
"Run!" One of the voices scream, and the sound of galloping hooves could be heard. A growls come from every direction and close in quickly. Reed toke off at a full out sprint, and was glad that he placed third in most of his track meets.
Fluttershy and Twilight where galloping as fast as ponies possibly could.
"What are they?" Fluttershy asked.
"What?"
"I said what are they?" Fluttershy asked again a little louder.
"Shadow Nightmares!"
"SHADOW NIGHTMARES!" Fluttershy redoubled her speed.
The shadow nightmares made little sound as they chasten their prey. The only sound was their growls and snarls of hunger. A steady thudding made its way closer to Twilight's and Fluttershy's ears. Their own galloping hooves beating a wild ta-to.
"GO! GO! GO!" A gravelly voice shouted behind them. Twilight shot a burst of red light above them. A moment later a monster picked her and Fluttershy up.
-
At the northern gates of Canterlot Oak Hammer and Night Shield where trading watches with each other.
"Long day?"
"You have no idea." Oak Hammer replied. Night Shield chuckled. A red light shot into the air.
"Uh, Oak it looks like the day just got longer."
"Damn, go get a squad ready I’ll watch till you get back."
"Right!"
"Night, I want them alive this time!"
"We'll get 'em!" Night shouted back, then to himself, "I promise."
Reed push himself to stay ahead of the moving shadows. He had fought to catch the horses only to find that they were ponies, but not like the ponies he knew. These were smaller and brightly colored. Instead of earth tones they were purple and yellow and their manes look like they had been dyed. Another thing was their heads were shaped differently. Bigger eyes and shorter noses.
The shadow were closing in and, judging by the noise, about to eat them. The ponies weren't fast enough, their shorter legs allowing the shadows to gain!
'But I am.' Reed thought.
"GO! GO! GO!" He shouted in hope of scaring them faster. It didn't.
The purple one shot what looked like a flare in to the sky. The Shadow Nightmares backed off a little, but quickly recovered the distance lost. Reed made a snap decision. Drawing even with them he pick them up. Reed found that they were surprisingly light for their size. Screams deafened him. They kicked and bit like mad desperately trying to break his hold. Reed dealt with it, about sixty yards, till he all most dropped the purple one.
"ENOUGH! IT'S ALL READY HARD ENOUGH WITH OUT YOUR WIGGLI-'gasp'!" Reed's shout was cut off by a bolt of magic striking him in the arm. Galloping hooves and more bolts came from ahead. Another bolt hit his leg. Stubbing he dropped both ponies. They galloped past a moment later. Catching himself he looked up at a group of ponies. Then a cold sharpness dug into his left side.
Reed rolled hitting wildly. The Shadow Nightmare fell off as Reed regained his feet. As soon as he was up three more Shadows pounced. Reed jumped back readying a flare and a fighting stance. The sound of galloping hooves and shouts grew more and more distant. Reed would stay and cover their retreat, well at least that's what he planned. His glow stick had long sense gone out and the monsters seemed to shun light. Reed struck the flare alight the red flame hot and bright. Hisses and screams of pain surrounded him. One leaped at him trying to get at him as well as the light. Finally getting a good look at what was attacking him Reed knew he'd have nightmares.
The thing looked half dead and half mutant wolf. Black eye-gore leaked from its eye sockets. Its jaws extended all the way back to the back of the things head. The ears looked like a bats but sharp spikes extended from the top. Its legs were skeletal, wreathed in black flames and tipped with long wicked looking claws. Black spines and flames covered its body. Finally the tail it looked like a long spiked whip, it also was wreathed in black flame in addition to a black liquid that dripped.
Reed ducked and struck out with the flare. The monster danced away, a black cloud like a cloak following.
Three more times others like the first tried. Giving Reed more claw marks.
"Screw this." Hoping the lead he had given the ponies was big enough Reed turned and ran after them.
FlutterShy was tiered. When the beast had finally dropped her she almost froze because she was so scared. Then she saw the city guard and the promise of safety kept her running. Right now she was happy to be inside the city walls and she and Twilight where able to catch their breathe.
"Twilight are you all right?" FlutterShy looked up and saw Princess Celestia.
"Halt that far enough! Hey! I said stop! What the-" One of the guards shouted.
"Get inside the walls! Go! Hurry their not far behind!" Said a voice like gravel.
"What the heck is that thing?!" Another guard shouted.
"MOVE NOW!" The voice roared.
The gates opened swiftly and the two guards entered along with the monster bloodied and tiered. The gates closed as fast as they had opened and the shadow nightmares crashed against the gate seeking a meal, to no avail. The monster leaned on a wall panting he looked ready to pass out. The pack on its back didn't look light either. A few guards surrounded the thing.
"Put your weapons on the ground and stand against the wall."
The monster pull out a knife and put it on the ground. Then stood by the wall, despite the axe hanging off its belt.
"All your weapons." The guard said.
"I don't have any more."
"What about the axe on your belt?"
"Oh that.... That's not... A weapon ...that's a ...climbing tool." The monster said still panting and starting to sway.
"Take it off any way."
The monster took it off when suddenly one of the pack's straps broke. Off balance the beast stumbled to the left towards a few of the guards. Panicked by this sudden movement they struck out. While the guards' aim was wild and didn't hit the monster. The unicorn Sargent's aim was true. Two stunning spells flew from his horn. One hit the monster's exposed side. The second hit pack just in front of it. An electric crack and boom sent the monster into the wall witch he bounced off and was sent flying over the guards and down the street. Towards the princess.
-
Reed hurt, bad. This hurt gave a whole new level of meaning to the word. "Ow." He said, stupidly.
Reed thought he heard voices but the ring in his ears was too loud. Reed opened his eyes to see what happened. A white horse stood on his right while the loud pony that shot him was quietly speaking.
"How rude." He mumbled.
Reed's left side really hurt just then and he tried to hold his right hand to it but he couldn't, something heavy was pinning it to the ground. Reed looked down and saw one of the white horse's hooves on his wrist. Reed looked up to the horse, it was still talking to the loud pony. He looked down at his left side.
".....probably need a doctor." Reed reached for his first aid kit. Where was it again? And why wouldn't his right arm move? Reed looked back to his right. 'Oh that's right stupid horse is standing on it.' Reed thought. Looking back up Reed saw, black?
'What?' Was the last thought he had.
-
FlutterShy saw the thing pass out and it would probably die if it didn't get to a hospital soon.
"Um, excuse me."
Celestia held up a hoof to the Sargent, "yes, FlutterShy?" Celestia asked kindly.
"Eep. Um, the creature could die if, um, it doesn't get, um medical help soon" the last word was said in a squeak.
"Oh, my. FlutterShy could you and Twilight go with it and explain to the palace doctors what happened."
"Oh. O-of course."
"Thank you FlutterShy." With a flash Celestia teleported them to the palace infirmary.
Reed slowly awoke wondering who Princess Celestia was and why he hurt so much. He remembered hurting worse than this last time he was awake... Reed's eyes shot open and all of his memory rushed back. Reed groaned,
"I thought it was all a dream." As he covered his faced with his right hand. The ceiling was a soft yellow, a steady, but slowly increasing, beeping came from his left, a window on his right showed the morning rays of dawn.
"Nurse could you please fetch the doctor."
"Of course princess right away." The trotting of hooves left the room.
Reed put his arm down and sat up a little. Pain ripped through him and he stopped moving. He looked to see who else was in the room. The white horse with wings, a horn and a crown was standing by the window while a pony guard stood by the door. Dressed in full golden armor.
Reed looked down at himself. He had what looked like a quickly made hospital gown witch looked to be made of bed sheets. Reed carefully looked under the gown to look at his left side. Which he couldn't see because of all the bandages. Spots of red were visible, compared to his arm they looked about the same. Now that he looked at himself nothing looked remotely good. Bandages covered most of him, other places looked like they had been sewed up days ago. How long had he been out?
"Seven days. You were asleep for seven day." Reed looked up. The white horse was looking at him.
"Can you truly understand what I am saying?" She asked.
Just then the doctor trotted in clip broad hovering next to him in what looked like faintly glowing mist. He was a pail blue unicorn with yellow mane and tail. He also had glasses and a white lab coat on.
"I'm glade your awake I need to run a few tests and see what we can do for you. Right now we have just given you a patch up with no magic. As we did not know what your reaction to magic would be. Judging from the reports we didn't want to use magic and have you explode. However-"
"Wait, explode?" The doctor look a little surprised at having found out that Reed could understand him.
"Well yes. You exploded when the Sargent Night Shield's stunning spell hit you."
"Excuse me Doctor Quick Stitch," the doctor turned to princess Celestia, "if magic has a bad effect wouldn't an explosion have been the only thing to come out of the Teleportation spell?"
"True, true..."
After the doctor had deemed it safe and ran his tests, he left. Two minutes later Reed was taken to the M.O.R. (Magical Operation Room) to complete his surgery; with minor resistance. Reed once again woke to a steady beeping. Only this time the sun was setting and he didn't hurt. He sighed contentedly and sat up slowly. He looked himself over checking from any injuries. There weren't any, his skin was whole and unmarked by any burns or cuts. Not even a scar from the stitches. This put him in a better mood than when he first awoke. With a small smile he looked around the room. There were four ponies in the room with him. Princess Celestia looking out the window, the golden armored guard guarded, the purple unicorn and yellow pegasus that he had saved were taking a nap in two chairs by the window.
'Does saving them count though? I most likely scared them to death when I picked them up.' Reed thought.
The guard cleared his throat and the princess looked over. Noticing Reed was awake gently woke the two sleeping ponies. Reed looked around and stretched. A bundle of rags, a shoulder bag and a pile of clothes sat in a corner. Reed sat on the edge if the bed. When Reed was about to get up and change in to some clothes when one of the ponies spoke up.
"How do you feel?" Reed stopped.
"....Better.... How are you?" Reed said without turning.
"Oh, um, I'm well. Thank you." The pony squeaked.
Reed again prepared to get out of bed to change in to something more comfortable when again he was stopped. The guard moved slightly, Reed looked at him. The movement had been slight but enough the put the guard in to a battle stance. Reed meet his eyes and slowly got back in bed and sat back. Still looking at the guard Reed started to speak to the ponies he had saved.
"I'm sorry." Reed looked over at the ponies." That I scared you that night, I mean. I just acted ...it’s hard to explain... I had just come out of a dangerous situation... And heard you two talking and then we were being chased and I just acted." Reed said quickly. There was a pause.
"It's okay." The pegasus said quietly.
"Yes, thank you for saving my student and her friend. I am grateful that you were there to help them." The princess said.
"What do you mean by dangerous situation?" Asked the unicorn.
"Nearly drowning in a fast moving river." Reed replied nonchalantly. The unicorns eyes grew wide and the yellow pegasus gasped.
"How did you get out?" Celestia asked.
"The tool that I had on my belt. It's called a climbing axe, it's used to stop the climber's fall or slide down the side of a cliff or mountain."
"How did you find us when you did?" Asked the unicorn.
"When I got out of the cave river I followed a tunnel out into the sun light. I then followed a path down in to the forest, where I heard you two. I started after you to ask directions. When you screamed and started running. It wasn't until I caught up with you did I know that you were ponies."
"But why come after us when you could have ran away and been safe?"
"Because I made a promise to-" Reed's voice broke and he felt the tears slipping out the sides of his eyes. Reed took a moment to pull himself together.
"I'm sorry. You'd think I get over something that happened so long ago. I promised a friend that I would be better." Reed raised his right hand with his pinkie folded down, and recited “To uphold what is right, and protect those targeted by evil." Reed chuckled sadly.
"It's an old promise, but I'll keep it. No excuses."
"It's an old promise, but I'll keep it. No excuses." Princess Celestia knew what he meant about keeping old promises.
"Aug! I’m being rude. I don't think I've properly introduced my-self. My name is Reed."
"I am Twilight Sparkle and this is FlutterShy."
"Lutenent Strong Hammer." The guard said snapping to attention. More pleasantries were exchanged and a few jokes shared. Celestia glanced out of the window.
"You'll have to excuses me, duty calls perhaps we'll see each other time."
"Bye princess." They called as she leave with Lt. Strong Hammer. Suddenly Twilight gasped.
"Oh my gosh. FlutterShy I just remembered that I invited the rest of the girls up to Canterlot for the trip. That said they would be here by sunset. And I said I would meet them there!"
"Oh my."
"I should go! I'll meet you back at the room."
"Okay, bye." FlutterShy said quietly. Twilight then left in a flash of purple light and a shower of sparks to match. After Twilight had left there was a short pause.
"I should be going too. If that's okay."
"Perfectly fine. It was nice meeting you FlutterShy."
"You too." And with that FlutterShy made her way to the door and quietly left Reed alone. Reed sat there for a moment thinking about his new friends, if he could call them that. He got up and finally changed out of the hospital gown. The clothes were soft and a close match to human clothes. He dressed quickly the shirt was a soft pure green and the pants were also soft but made of a thicker material, tan and, thankfully, had pockets. The ponies had even thought to replace his socks and underwear.
"How thoughtful." Reed said. He then looked through the rags which looked to be what was left of his pack and supplies. After salvaging what he could he turned to the shoulder bag.
Next to the bag were his boots, or at least they looked like them, and his jacket. He picked up the jacket inspecting it. It had been in his pack when he had become a lager price of shrapnel. Any damage that it had taken had been repaired. He marveled at the repair-pony's craft. It was a chocolate brown with tan synthetic fur lining the inside. The hood still had his own modifications too. On the back of the hood there was what looked like an open book with a crescent making a bowl at the top and three stars one at each bottom corners. A flame sat at the center of the crescent. The stars were yellow, the outline of the book blue, the flame red, and the crescent a slivery blue.
He put it down and turned to his coffee brown hiking boots. They too had been modified made to take impact when he jumped. The pony had also repaired them and had changed out the laces. He then opened the bag after placing the boots next to his jacket. Made of a thicker material than that of his pants and colored a light brown. A lager central pocket a secondary pocket and four small pockets lining the outside made up the bag. A flap buckled over the primary and secondary pockets. A strap made of the same material was attached to the sides of the bag. Reed wondered at its maker, how could a pony create and know about human luggage? He rummaged through the bag looking for some of his more treasured items. He found them all in one of the smaller pockets. After looking through the rest of the bag found a small neck pouch that he had made, it had the same symbol that was on the hood. He placed each of his treasures in to the pouch, tide it shut and hung it around his neck, tucking it under his shirt.
Reed stood and stretched. The last hour he had organized the bag and taken stock of what he had. The list was longer than what he had expected and he was glad that he wouldn't need to replace anything to expensive. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Reed called as he sat on the bed. A deep blue alicorn walked in. Reed continued his stretching.
“So thee are Creature thine Sister spoke of? How art thou feeling?”
"Good evening your majesty, I doth fair well. How doth fair thee?" A guard walked in and toke up a position by the door.
"Good evening sir guard, I trust the going is well?" Reed finished his stretch and turned back to face them and stood. They both looked slightly shocked at his formality that they them-selves only used. Reed smiled, glad for once that his odd greeting was received in more than an odd look. The guard replied first,
"It doth goes well, sir, and you."
"Can't complain, for I am alive and well."
"I am glad for your." Responded the guard. The princess eyed Reed.
"Thee doth speaketh well, we are not used to receiving such a greeting since we have returned."
"It is pleasing to hear my greeting are received well."
"Tell us, how doth thee come by such practice of greeting?"
"It doth be a gift." There was a long pause before all three burst into laughter.
"It... It doth be a...a gift!" The princess laughed all formality gone.
"Truth be told that was the longest conversation I've had in that manner." Reed wheezed, sitting down. Leaving space for the princess to sit as well. She did and the laughter died way.
"You are well versed."
"Thank you. You quite good your-self." There was a short pause. "Uh...was there something I could do for you?"
"Ah, yes. I wished to see what you were like. My sister told me of your waking and suggested that I meet you."
"How kind of her."
"Indeed, I also wished to ask about the symbol's meaning that adorns your jacket and item bag." Reed pulled out the neck pouch. Displaying an identical symbol as to the one on his jacket. He guessed she had seen it when the ponies had salvaged his bag.
"What do you think it means, may I ask?"
"I know not, but if I were to guess I would say each piece has a meaning as does the whole. In short it has many meanings."
"Very good, that is the best description I have yet to hear. You are correct it has many meanings. Would you like to know them all now or should I wait to share it's meaning with your sister as well?"
"We should probably wait. But I would really like to know about the crescent." Reed smiled enjoying the princess's curiosity.
"The crescent of silver blue symbolizes power and truth. In this position it also represents compassion and wisdom."
"Wow, all that in just one symbol?"
"Yep, it also symbolizes clam and cool or clear mind. If you want I could make you both a copy and detail the full meaning."
"I will have to discuss it with my sister after the meeting. Speaking of meetings how did you know there was to be one about thee and this symbol?" Reed grinned mysteriously.
"It's a gift. I'm good at guessing someone's intentions and personality as well as history, favorites, and moods."
"Interesting. Care to guess when the meeting is?"
"Most likely tomorrow night provided that nothing comes up."
"True, very good." There was a short pause and Reed tucked the pouch under his shirt again.
"Well I must be off, the duty of a princess calls."
"Of course, but before you both leave I'd like to know your names."
"Sargent Star Light." Said the guard saluting.
"And I am Luna, Princess of the night."
"It was a pleasure meeting both of you. My name is Reed. May peace be with you forever and always." Reed only hoped that it would as they too wished him well and left.
'For once it would be nice to have peace for real.'
~~
Deep in a pit that was blacker than night and evil not yet see takes its first breath. The shadows move the darkness its-self shifting. Two eyes, the color of a burning night, open.
"Harmony." Says the voice that sounds like a mountain rolling and yet is as quiet as the summer wind. A blade the color of blood is drawn only to be counseled once more. The shadow moves like a thick miasma out of the pit. Colorless except for the occasional sparkle of deepest blue and purple. The host yet unknowing to his future.
Twilight woke with a start. The voice that woke her sounded dark. It had only said one word "harmony." The way it said it sent chills down her spine. Twilight looked around the room all hers friends were still sleeping. Twilight looked out the window, it was just before dawn. Stretching she got ready quietly. Leaving a note she then left the room. Navigating the plaice she left the guest area and when in search of food. Five minutes later Twilight was happily eat glad that she had not forgotten her way around the plaice from her time as a filly. It would be a while before friends woke up. Deciding to watch the princess ease the sun twilight left the dining hall and began to walk to the gardens. As she passed through the medical wing on her way she heard a hushed argument.
"What do you mean I can't go for a walk?"
"I mean that my orders are to not let you wonder off, that includes going for a jog, walk, run, or stroll."
"Fine you can come with me."
"And what leave my post? No way."
"But your orders are to not let me wonder off. If you came with me I wouldn't be wondering, would I?"
"Humph, stupid logic. Fine where did you want to go?"
"Is there a gardens or a place I could openly run?"
"There is a gardens and there is the training fields. There are guards that train this early but not many. And the gardens are better seen in full moonlight or full daylight. Dusk and dawn grey it all out."
"Let's go to the training fields. Then when the sun rises could we look at the gardens?"
"I guess, I've never seen the gardens at sun rise."
"Great! It'll be nice to have company."
The voices moved away and Twilight came around the corner, a sun guard and Reed were walking down the hall. Reed now had on some of the clothes that the royal tailors had made by request of Celestia. In order to replace the damaged ones he had. Except for the brown jacket and boots he had on everything else had been made by the tailors.
Twilight decided to see what Reed was going to do. She'd already see the sun rise in the gardens multiple times and while it was very beautiful her curiosity was always greater. Fallowing the pair Twilight was content to just listen and observe rather than talk and interact she had already done that and now she wanted to analyze Reed from a far. He was similar to ponies but also very different. He stood only on two legs while using his "arms" to do other things. Twilight guessed that his arms were to make up for the lack of magic. As far as she could tell "humans," that's what he said he was, didn't have any substantial amount of magic, if any at all. He also seemed more.... Focused on his emotions and senses. The topic of the conversation had turned to the odd bulky thing around Reed's neck.
"They're headphones, they let me listen to music that is on this." Reed pulled out a small square that glowed on one side. A string connected it to the headphones around Reed's neck.
"It's called an iPod."
"So it's a magical device that lets you listen to music whenever you want?"
"I guess you could say that. It has a battery and needs to be charged every so often."
"How do you charge it? Is it like a mania-battery? Where a unicorn stores magic for later use."
"Kinda, I basically put energy in by using a manual crank charger. Which I prefer to a wall charger."
"Wall charger?"
"Uh, it's another battery that sits in the wall. I just hook up the iPod and it charges."
"Ooh, okay. So what music do you like?" The conversation continued as Reed would have to describe different musics and why he liked them. This was on the rest of the way down to the training field. Twilight fallowing all the way. Only when they reached the training field did Twilight speak up.
"Good morning." She said happily. They both turned the guard looking worried, while Reed looked offhanded.
"G-good morning Ms. Sparkle. What can I do for you?"
"Please call me Twilight, I was just wondering around when I saw Reed.
I was just curious about where you going."
"I was going for a little bit of exercise. Early Dawn here was being my guide. I trust your morning is going well."
"Uh...yes? How are you two?"
"I'm well thank you."
"As am I."
"What kind of exercise?"
"It'll be even better of I showed you"
Reed made his way on to the training field. Early Dawn was right not many gaurdsponies were around. Leaving most of the field open. A runner's track surrounded the entire field. Sparing equipment was scattered around the field, while foot/hoof work and slammers (that's what Reed call the football tackle dummies) were set off to the side. This took up most of the field leaving the rest to by dedicate to push-ups, sit-ups, and suicides (sprinting down field and back). The rest of the guards were scattered throughout the field a total of ten ponies. Reed took off his jacket folded it and set it next to the track. Turning on his iPod he choose a slow start work out playlist titled "castle."
The playlist consisted of one slow beat song, one motivational song, and twelve of one song, ending with a relaxing feel good song. A total of fifteen songs. Adding up to little over an hour of music. Reed removed six of the repeating song cutting the time to just over thirty minutes. Satisfied he started the music, put on his headphones and started to jog.
Twilight watch as Reed began to jog. He started slow, but by the third lap he was running. But he didn't even look tired, heck he wasn't even breathing hard. Two laps later the other guardsponies were watching. The two that were running the track earlier quickly got off two watch as well. Twilight looked at back Reed, he still wasn't slowing, and in fact he was speeding up! A guard pulled out a stop watch and started time Reed. Faster and faster he went leaning into the turns. The guards were gathered around the stop watch quietly muttering. One of the guards seem to change another. Nodding and saying something he removed his armor. Twilight glanced at Reed, as far as she cud tell he still wasn't tiring. She looked back at the guard as he stepped on to the track and began to also run. When Reed came up behind him and was about to pass. The race began.
Reed saw the guard step up and begin to run with him. When he was about to lap him it started. The guard picked up the pace and ran next to him. Reed uncovered one ear.
"Three laps?" He asked.
"Done. See you at the end."
"Done." Recovering his ear he restarted the song by a double click on the pause button. The finish line was at the guard with the stop watch.
-(Start playing "Castle of Glass" by Linkin Park)
The race started as they passed the guards. Reed heard the guitar start as they entered the first turn. Nether giving ground. Mid-way through the second turn the lyric started.
/Take me down to the river bend. Take me down to the fighting end. Wash the poison from of my skin. Show me how to be whole again.
Fly me up on a silver wing. /
They passed the guards. Still even.
/Pass the black where the sirens sing. Warm me up in a nova's glow. And drop me down to the dream below. 'Cause I'm only a crack in this castle of glass. /
They exited the second turn for the second time still even.
'But not for long,' Reed thought. /Hardly anything there for you to see. For you to see. /
As the electric guitar opened up and the drums kick into gear. So did Reed, cutting all stops and throwing it into high gear. Passing the guard and leaving his opponent trailing.
/Bring me home in a blinding dream. Through the secrets that I have seen. Wash the sorrow from off my skin. And show me how to be whole again.
'Cause I'm only a crack, in this castle of glass. Hardly anything there for you to see. For you to see. /
Exiting the first turn he again opened up and started to breathe harder.
/'Cause I'm only a crack, in this castle of glass. Hardly anything else I need to be. 'Cause I'm only a crack in this castle of glass. Hardly anything there for you to see. For you to see. /
He entered the second and final turn as the out-row began, breathing hard as he pushed himself to finish with the song. Not checking where the other racer was. He'd lost too many races doing that.
He finished the turn and the final lyrics sounded.
/For you to see. /
As the song ended and he passed the guards and slowed letting his momentum carry him out of the way.
Twilight's jaw had to be manually closed. Reed had finished the race when the racing guard had exited the first turn of the final lap.
"He could give Rainbow a run for her bits."
"He sure is fast." Early Dawn stated in a similar state of shock and awe.
Reed made his way over to them the headphones around his neck again.
He was breathing hard now, but was soon breathing normally when he reached them.
"Well that was fun."
"When you say exercise you mean it."
Stated Early Dawn.
"How did you get that fast?!" A bewildered Twilight asked.
"I was on the track team for the last few years."
"Was?"
"The school couldn't afford it and we were disbanded last year. But we still run for fun." The guard Reed had raced came up panting.
"For Celestia's sake how did you get that fast?!"
"Ha! You kept good pace with me till the end."
"Yeah, but you’re not even winded!"
"I run like that every day, or at least I try to."
"Geese." The sun started to rise on the horizon.
"Good race, maybe we can do it again some time."
"Maybe."
"Have a good one."
"You too." As they left the training field Twilight thought she heard that terrible voice again, but shock it off as they made their way to the gardens. The gardens were beautiful. Never had Reed see such an assortment of flowers arranged so perfectly. Trees created a tunnel in and out. While bushes framed the paths. Stone benches and bird baths placed only to enhance the natural beauty.
The rising sun painted the sky orange, pink and red. While the colors of night faded. Purples and blues only gave greater color to the sunrise. The light filtered down through the tree tops casting its spell over the garden. Birds sang quietly greeting each other. A fountain splash, making the air cool and moist. Reed took off his jacket and tied it around his waist. The cool air nice on his bare arms. He breathed deeply enjoying the morning and feeling at peace. Memories floated up. Kind happy and peaceful.
Reed remembered when the times he felt this way and while they were few, yet each one was worth it. The time he watched the sunset from the top of a mountain. The time the moon had glistened like a silver coin as he had walked home after a bad date. The time he took his team on a morning run through the woods, the smell of pine and wild flowers. The time he sat by a mountain stream and watched the clouds drift by. And now watching the sunrise in the gardens of the palace. A tear leaked down Reed's face.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar 7
Twilight watched the sun as Celestia eased it into the sky. The air cool and fragrant. She turned to Reed to see his reaction. To her surprise he was crying, a look of sadness, joy and longing in his face. A bird flitted by and his eyes followed it, the look of longing only deepening. He closed his eyes, swallowed, cleared his throat and began to sing. Twilight's heart acted with the melody and soon found that she too was silently crying.
A soft deep voice filled the gardens and all went still. It flowed like a warm bath, and soothed as a cool breeze.
"Here I stand. Before the rising sun.
Here I stand. Before the setting moon.
Take my hand. And begin to move.
Take my hand. And begin anew.
For now I sing my heart for you
To only wish you adieu.
Here I sing. For the open sky.
Here I sing. As daylight flies"
There was quiet for a long time and the sun finished its rise into the sky.
The song though short and moved Twilight. Taking a deep breathe she found her worries were gone, replaced by a sense of calm and contentment.
Reed stretched after a while. The sun had risen and now it was time for breakfast.
"Right, who's hungry?"
Breakfast was quite for Reed as Twilight and Dawn had already eaten. Twilight had left saying that her friends would start to worry if she didn't show up soon. Early Dawn was relieved by another guard and Reed was left to sit in his room. He had acquired some paper and was now busying himself drawing.
There was a nock and the door opened.
"The princesses request your presence." The new guard reported crisply.
"Really, this early?"
"They require your help."
"My help?" Reed got up and swiftly moved to follow the guard.
When they arrived at the throne room Reed could hear shouting from the other side of the large doors. Suddenly the doors were flung open and Reed saw the source of the commotion. A rather pissed looking griffin was escorted from the room.
"Reed please come in." A flustered Celestia said. An equally flustered looking Luna sat next to her.
"We require your help. The next diplomat we do not trust. Given past crimes of his race."
"What do you want me to do?"
"We request your sense of calm and reasoning."
"Of course." Reed moved off to the left as to not be in the way. He had never been in a diplomatic meeting before and hoped he didn't offend anyone by accident.
"Good, send him in." What entered Reed could only describe as a cross between a snake, a wolf's, and a human. The head was that of a wolf's, except for the fangs and eyes. The front half of its body was also a wolf's, and a human's. With fur covered hands. About its waste the body and tail of a snake formed. The dignitary's fur was gray while his scales were a dark green. He stood up right like a human while he slithered into the room like snake. Reed was reminded of the mythical monster Medusa, if Medusa had been part wolf. He wore what looked like a kind of formal armor. A head piece was woven into his neck ruff. Sliver, red and purple bradded together to make it. Reed noticed the purple matched the creature’s silted eyes. He came to a stop in front of the thrones, and saluted, his tail curling around him. The princesses both bowed their heads. Reed not sure what to do just stood at attention and put a relaxed smile on his face.
"Reed I would like you to meet the ambassador from Farkrin, representative of the Sharquen, Quarik Dawk. Quarik this is Reed he is a human."
"And why pray tell is he here? And what is a human? I have never heard of such creates." His voice had a sharp barking hiss to it. Like someone had just kicked a soda can that had sprain a leak.
"Reed is here as a mediator, to help with the treaty. He has a clear mind of either of our races, and harbors no ill will to either of us."
'Oh boy.' Reed thought.
"Very well let us begin. What are your demands?"
By the time the meeting was over Reed was tiered and on edge. The meeting had ended well enough to where war would be avoided and trade would start to open up. Which Reed was so relieved that he didn't cause a war that he nearly jump up and down with happiness, and he would have if he wasn't so tiered.
By now it was about lunch time and the princesses had gone to the dining hall. Not sure where he should go Reed left with the guard and went back to his room. The princesses looked so haggard when they had left Reed almost suggested a royal nap, he sure felt like taking one. Reed was now sitting crossed legged on the bed studying the drawing he had started. Something his coach had said to him once came to mind as he studied the picture he had been drawing, "sleep when you can you may not get to later." The drawing detailed a shadowy figure, holding a sword of deep crimson. Reed loved to draw and found he was quite good at it. He also found that with in his drawings more than once had future events been seen. Although he had never told anyone, for fear of being thought crazy, Reed felt that he could almost draw the future.
A knocking on the door startled him out of his deep thoughts.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar 8
A knocking on the door startled him out of his deep thoughts.
"Uh, yes, come in." Reed looked up to see who had knocked on the door.
"HI I'M PINKIE PIE!" A bouncing pink pony bounded in to the room. She bounced over and started to babble greetings, questions and explanations.
"Wait, Wait, slow down, I got pinkie pie." Reed eased his hand and made a clamming gesture. The pink pony sighed, then started to speak slower than she had, but still quickly.
"Come on, we are waitrons for you. The princesses thought you got lost, so I went to find you. And I thought, "Now Pinky Pie if I got lost where would I go first?" And I said, "of course I would go back to my room so I stopped and ask a guard where you were staying and he told me and I came and knocked on your door." Pinkie Pie said all this in one breathe.
"Now come on every one is wait to eat." Pinkie rapped one hoof around his wrist, which was covered by skin and fur not like a horse's hoof. It was like being grabbed by a fury hand thing. Pinkie began to pull him towards the door.
"Wait, wait let me put my boots on."
Pinkie let Reed put his boots on still bouncing somewhat impatiently.
"Tell you what," Reed said, standing, "in order to make up lost time. I'll race you there." Pinkie eyes widened to bread rolls.
"Yippee!" And she shot off to the dining hall. Reed realized his mistake, he didn't know where the dining hall was. Hurrying outside he asked the guard the way. Five minutes later Reed found Pinkie Pie bouncing outside the dining hall doors.
"What took you so long slow poke?"
"You’re fast Pinkie." Pinkie giggled, "Thanks, I race Dashie all the time."
Before Reed could ask who Dashie was Pinkie Pie pushed the doors open to the dining hall. Where the princess sat at one end and seven other ponies sitting father down. Reed recognized twilight and FlutterShy, but none of the other ponies.
"Oh good, you found him Pinkie Pie. Reed you sit here next to Luna." Princess Celestia said waving to the Night Princess's left. Reed made his way over and sat the chair much like any other he might sit in.
"We had to pull out one of the chairs from the set used for the Minotaur diplomats, seeing as they aren't here today it wasn't a problem."
"Thank you, pony chairs are a little... Hard to sit in for humans." A few of the ponies he didn't know stifled a few giggles. A waiter pony brought out menus and everypony started too deiced on what to order.
The waiter came over to Reed, "As I understand there are some foods humans cannot eat that ponies can."
"Uh, yes."
"Then I will take your ordered directly. While everyone decides."
"Okay," Reed thought for a moment," do you have peanut butter, apples, some bread, carrots and a few grapes?"
"We do."
"Then that is what I would like, please. Could I have the apple sliced and a butter knife brought with the peanut butter?"
"Of course, is that all?"
"Yes, thank you."
"You’re welcome."
The waiter left to take the rest of the orders. Once every pony had ordered, small conversations broke out. Reed watched with mild interest.
"So thou- you had mentioned that you would explain your symbol's meaning to my sister and I." Reed jumped a little at the suddenness of the princess's speech. He turned to face the night princess. Celestia also turned at the night princess's statement.
"Oh yes, Luna told me about your symbol and how you had said you would explain its meaning."
"Ha! You have a symbol. I doubt it, what is it a-"
"Blue Blood that is quiet enough!" Celestia cut the unicorn stallion off. He had a white coat and blond mane.
"Excuse me." All eyes now turn to Reed, "I am quiet interested in what this stallion has to say about something he is ignorant about." The room became silent. All eyes on Blue Blood.
"Well, I-I, um." Blue bloods face flushed red, "who are you calling ignorant. You bald ape!" There was a tense silence that last for a long while.
Reed stood, "Sir I have giving you respect before we met formally. You have disrespected a promise to the dead I have made, and that I find no honor in." Reed turned to the princesses. "I beg for your forgiveness, your majesties. I find myself not fit for company." Reed bowed, the princesses nodded in understanding and Reed left the hall.
-
"Blue Blood you are dismissed to your quarters to think about your actions and to practice the warning that was given to you." Luna's voice quiet and cold as stone in the silence.
"Yes Princess Luna." Blue Blood rose and left his voice downcast and his head bowed.
Twilight watch in silence as Blue Blood left, shock at what had just happened. Not only was Blue Blood silent but he looked thoughtful about what Reed had said. Twilight looked at the others at the table. Like herself it looked as if the others were wondering what warning Luna was talking about.
Twilight waited till Blue Blood had left before asking the question on every one’s mind.
"Um, Princess Luna, what did you mean by the warning Reed have to Blue Blood? I didn't hear Reed's warning." Others nodded and gave sounds of agreement.
"It is an older way of speech. Before the Nightmare, there was more...supple ways of arguing. What might pass as a heated discussion was in truth, if brought to president time, a shouting match, only using tone and wit. This way of speaking made a pony think after, made them consider what was said and the meaning. It also was less directly hurtful." There were nods of understanding.
"But what’d Reed warn Blue Blood about anyhow?" Applejack asked.
"When Reed said, 'and that I find no honor in,' He was commenting on Blue Blood's lack of honor for the promise he made to his dead friend. When someone states a lack of honor, it is a warning that they have offended them and need to learn a lesson from what they just did or it might cause trouble for them." Celestia answered the confused orange mare.
"Ah' still don't get it."
"Basically A.J. Reed told Blue Blood that he was rude and needed to change if he didn't want a beating." Rainbow Dash said flapping her wings with furor.
"Oh my." FlutterShy squeaked.
"Indeed, this Reed fellow of your's, Twilight, sounds quite versatile or well rounded." Rarity said patting FlutterShy's shoulder.
"He sure is full of mysteries." Twilight said thoughtfully looking at the door Reed had left through.
"Agreed." Luna said. At that moment their food came out and no further discussion was made about Reed and Blue Blood.
"Hey where's Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow asked only now noticing the missing pink mare.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar 9
Reed left the room and walked away from the stallion without being rude. He mentally patted him-self on the back. Just before an unreasonable anger over took him, he broke in to a run and flew down the hall. He followed the path out of the castle he learned that morning. He slammed through the doors to the trailing field. Earning him-self a few looks, he didn’t care. Turning he ran to the outside wall and began to run the perimeter other it. He poured all his anger and pain in to his speed and was soon sprinting. Storm clouds moved in, actually pegusi were moving them for a planned rain storm, and the sun was covered. The dim light matched his mood. His anger burn out finally and was replaced by pain and sadness. Reed poured this in to his speed as well and kept going. Tears welled up in his eye and his vison was obscured. He put his head down and ran ever harder. Warm summer rain fell from the clouds and Reed was soon soaked. He kept running. Lighting flashed and thunder rumbled, Reed still ran. Finally Reed’s leg gave out and he fell to his knees. The memory of what happen to his friend flashed through his mind. He lifted his face to the sky and bellowed His pain and grief to the Clouds above, Tear mix with rain running down his face.
-
Twilight the first to find Pinkie, She was standing at the open doors leading to the Training field it was raining. Her mane was flat and she was watching someone. Twilight sent a message to her friend with a flash of magic that she had found Pinkie.
“Pinkie?” Twilight ask tentatively. Pinkie ignored her and just kept watching who ever she was watching. Twilight move to try and see who she was looking at, trying to understand why her friend looked so sad. There was a cry of Pain and Great sadness, and Pinkie Ran out in to the rain. Twilight moved to the Open door, to see where Pinkie went.
Pinkie was galloping to a figure by one of the exterior walls. The thing looked defeated, but that was all Twilight could tell. The Canterlot pegasi had really out did themselves on the storm. Lightning flashed and Twilight cot a glimpse of a soaked Pinkie hugging the downed figure.
"Um, Twilight we can't find Reed, I check him room, but he wasn't there."
Twilight glanced at FlutterShy, she look worried, like one of the animals she care for had gone missing.
Twilight looked out into the rain, where pinkie was hugging a downed figure. Twilight looked closer and with another flash of lightning she was able to figure out who Pinkie was hugging.
"I think I know where he is."
"Really where?" FlutterShy sounded relieve. Twilight pointed with a hoof to the pair in the rain. FlutterShy moved to look where Twilight was pointing.
"Oh my." Pinkie was still hugging the now estimated form of Reed. "What do we do?"
"I don't know." Just then everypony else showed up.
---
Reed felt a pair of hooves wrap around him. A head rested on his shoulder. Wet fur pressing against his neck. Wet mane tickled his face.
"It'll be okay Reed, everyone needs a good cry and hug to make things okay." Reed recognized the Marie's voice even though it was a lot more serious, the was still a hint of muted merriment.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar 10
"Because, I lit the fire."
*Three years ago.
Reed was so happy to be finally be out camping. James and he had been planning this for a while and they were finally able to after a long summer of work and family fun. It was the last week before school started and James would be transferring to a different high school.
"Hey man it's now or never right?"
James had asked Reed.
"Right." And they had left.
Hiking up to a camping sight already picked out. A good clearing next to the edge of a cliff.
Sunset was close when they arrived and Reed volunteered to build a fire for the night.
"D-do we r-really need a fire?" James ask.
"Hey it gets cold up here after dark."
"But we have sleeping bags."
"Gets colder."
"Fine, but no messing with me." So Reed built the fire a nice size big enough to keep them warm but small enough as to not start a forest fire.
After a few hours James seemed a little calmer. Gazing up at the stars a marshmallow cooking over the fire.
The fire popped and crackled, and the night was peaceful. Reed notices James marshmallow was on fire.
"Hey man your on fire."
Reed stated calmly. James freaked.
He jumped up and ran away from the fire dropped to the ground and began to roll frantically.
"Whoa dude stop I mention your marshmallow!" James continued to roll getting closer to the cliff.
"Hey man stop!" Reed jumped up to stop his friend. James got closer to the edge. Reed jumped on him and tried to stop his rolling. James through him off and rolled closer to the cliff babbling about fire.
"NO STOP!" Reed lunged for James trying to grab some part of him. He only managed to grab air as James rolled over the cliff.
*Now
"He rolled off and it was because I used careless words." Reed said horsily.
"But he didn't tell you that he was terrified of fire." Pinkie said now sitting to Reeds left a hoof on the human's back. There was silence between the two for a long while, as the rain slowly stopped.
"Okay Pinkie you win." Reed said sounding relieved and defeated. They stood and walked to their friends that waited at the palace doors.
"I have been told many times that it wasn't my fault, but guess I just needed to hear it from an outside friend."
"Of course we're outside silly!" Pinkie side gaining some of her bounce back, once the moment had pasted. "Why would we be inside?"
Pinkie gasped, "Unless this is really a super duper Si-fi story in which we are in a fake world!" She paused and thought about the idea, "Nah, that's just silly."
They had reached the doors by then and the two sopping wet friends meet their concerned companions at the doors.
"Is everything alright?" Princess Celestia asked. Pinkie looked to Reed.
"Yes and no. You could say that things are getting better."
"How mysterious." The white unicorn said, "I dear say I would like to know more."
"As would we all, I think." Twilight said now curious.
"Agreed, we shall plan a time for tomorrow night." Celestia decreed. A quick glacé and grin was shared between Princess Luna and Reed.
"Shall we finish lunch?" The lunar princess inquired. A murmur of agreement rose from the group and they returned to the dining hall.
The rest of the day was uneventful. After lunch the princesses went back to their duties and the other six mares went to run some errands and other activities. Reed went back to his hospital room and drew his symbol and detailed the full meaning of it.
Drained, Reed lay on the bed and fell asleep.
Else where in Equestria, the darkness prepared to move. It had a long journey ahead of it. And it's unsuspecting host was waiting for it. And thanks to its minions, it knew right where to find the waiting host.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfiction by ShieldStar 11
Reed woke from the nightmare with a jolt. He was covered in sweat and the dream still lingered in him mild.
^
A wall of darkness move accost the land in front of him like a great sand storm. Tendrils of darkness reach out and pulled the mass along. Shadow Nightmares weaved in and out of the darkness. Suddenly he was in a village and the wall of shadows charged in in to the streets. A voice like a rock slide boomed in evil laugher and giggled with the voice of the young and the sound of scraping metal dragged on the gravel of the street.
“You will be my own,” a figure emerged from the darkness, twisted and gruesome. A pair of glowing eyes fix on Reed and boar in to his soul. The figure was humanoid, hands of bone broken and jagged, and a rib cage similarly twisted. The shadows weaved and shifted showing and hiding parts of the mangled body. The figure raised a hand and pointed at Reed. “You will be their dearth.” Reed looked at his feet, there broken and beaten were all his friends. Old and new, young and old, human and pony. Reed fell to his knees, “Nooooo!” he looked up and the face of darkness filled is view.
^
There was a knocking on the door causing Reed to jump again.
"All right in ther'?" Reed got to his feet shakily, and went to open the door. “Thought Ah’ heard all cry out.” Reed cracked the door open, a pony with an orange coat and blonde mane and tail stood there a concerned look on her face. “All weren’t still sleepin’?” Reed open the door a little more.
“Um, yeah. Everything okay? Um…” he recognized her from lunch yesterday, ‘what was her name?’ after his confection to Pinkie Twilight had introduce him to the rest of her friends. “Was it Applejack?”
“That’s right partner. Pinkie asked me to check on all, y’all look like you been sick. Y’all okay?”
“Um, I, uh…” he look and the farmponie’s concerned gaze. “I-I, no I am not okay, but nothing a little jog won’t fix. Uh, let me get ready.” Reed left the door partly open and went to get ready.
“Get ready? Aren’t ya’ ready now?”
“Humans are different than ponies, there are a few thing do to wake up and prepare for the day.” He called from farther in the room.
“Like wha’?” Applejack said skeptical.
“Um, just a few personal things.” AJ stopped, she was about to push the door open.
“Ah’ take your work fur’ it.” She sat back and waited for reed to get ready. The guard on duty offered no conversation, choosing to continue to act like a statue.
Thankfully Reed don’t take long and was soon ready. “Ready?”
“Yep, wha’d y’all mean by a jog?”
“I’ll show you.” They made their way down to the training fields and Reed went to the track, there were no guard today so Reed had the track to himself.
“Is a jog some kin’ of combat routine?” Reed looked at her.
“No, just some running.” The sun had been up for an hour or two and Reed felt ready to start the day. He took out his iPod and pick a playlist. He stretched and got into a starting position. Music started hard and fast and he took off. He sprinted down the stretch of track thinking about the dream. In the center of the track was an obstacle course to simulate hand to hand or hoof to hoof combat. Reed glanced at it and then back to the track. The music picked up and he picked up his pace pushing himself to keep pace with the music. He hit the turn hard and fast, he leaned towards the center and kept going. He was thinking so hard about the dream he didn’t notice the rock in his path. He stepped on it and it rolled. He stumbled in to the field and towards the center of the track. He had so much momentum that he crashed in to the combat simulation part of the obstacle course. The course came to life.
Reed was stopped by heavy bag smashing into him. It spun him around and he got his bearings. He ducked, dodged, weaved, and jumped anything and everything to keep from being touched by the whirlwind of simulated combat. He glanced the guard and Applejack standing just on the outside, concerned looks on their faces. The image of Applejack’s broken body burst into his mind. ‘No.’ The combat machine started to change, the hard limbs and heavy sacks became swiping claws and pouncing foes. ‘No.’ he continued to weave, jump, duck and dodge. Darkness shrouded the outside world, and a pair of Glowing eyes floated around him.
“’you will be their death.’”
“NO! I WILL PROTECT THEM!” the sword swung at him, he ducked under the arm and ripped the sword away from The Darkness. He attacked the horde of shadows, braking limbs, cut enemies for the air, until a circle of destruction was all that was left. Shadows faded, bone turned to splintered wood and down terrors turned to spilled sacks of sand.
Reed blinked, the sun glistened of his sweaty skin. His music slowed and stopped. Reed look around at the destruction dazed. He look at what had been a sword, now it was little more than scrap. Where had he gotten it? Then he remembered Applejack and the guard. He looked around to find them outside the combat ring looking stunted.
“Whoa there partner, let’s put down the sword and get a drink of water.”
“Wha-“ Reed felt tired and then he felt nothing and saw only blackness.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar 12
Reed woke to the sound of hushed voices and the sight of his room’s ceiling.
“Let’s go through this one more time. You and Reed went to the training field for Reed’s morning jog.” Reed shifted to a bit to see who was talking. At the end of the bed all of his new friend stood, minus the Princesses and Early Dawn, deep in discussion.
“Yep, But before we left somethin’ had been eaten at ‘im. Somethin’ he don’t want me knowin’. So Ah let ‘im be. Once we’all got to the track, he begun running. Then what ever ‘t-was eaten at ‘im caused ‘im to trip, were he then stumbled into the combat circle.” Applejack answered Twilight.
“I think we all understand that darling. However were I get confused is the part after.” Rarity interjected.
“Um, I think Reed’s awake now.” They all turned at Fluttershy’s statement. Reed sat up.
“What time is it?” he ask rubbing his sore arm.
“It is just before sunset.” Twilight stepped forward, “are you okay? Can you tell us what happened?”
“Ah told all Twi’, He demolished the Combat Circle then gone and blacked out.” Reed sighed, rubbing his temples.
“There is a lot to tell.” There was a knock on the door before Reed could continue. A guard stepped in.
“The Princesses have requested that Reed be reminded of their appointment at sundown. You are all invited. It is also noted that if Reed is unable to come, due to earlier events the appointment is to be instead held at sunrise. That is all.” The guard said all this standing at attention, she then looked at Reed expectantly.
“Thank you, could you return a message?” She nodded, “Please tell them that I plan on being there.” She nodded again and was about to leave, “Uh, question, where is the meeting taking place?”
“The meeting is to be held in the Princesses Study.”
“Thank you.” And with that the guard left.
“I guess we should let you get ready.” Twilight said sounded a little disappointed.
“Yeah, I’ll be quick, so we can eat before the meeting.” There was a general agreement and the Mares left.
Reed quickly cleaned up, gathered the papers detailing his symbol, and found the mares waiting for him, they all left to eat. After eating the sun was starting to set and they quickly went to the study, Twilight leading the way. When they arrived at the door Twilight knocked.
“Enter.” A faint voice called.
Reed opened the door, slowly to find the room empty. He stepped in and the ponies followed. Through the windows the sun was setting and the moon roes into the sky and stars began to wink. Once the sun was laid to rest and the moon had risen the Princesses came in through an open balcony door.
“Good evening everyone. Shall we begin?” Celestia greeted them warmly. There was a general consent and Celestia floated cushions out for them to sit on, while Luna lit the fireplace.
“Before we discuss thou’s symbol, there is a more pressing matter. Reed we wish to discuss of earlier this day. When thou stumbled into the combat ring’s most advanced practice circle and proceeded to demolish it. While I do not condemn the act, it does raise questions of where thou learn such combat and what caused thou’s outburst at the time.” Luna took her seat after say this and look expectantly at Reed. The other mares sat in a circle, starting with Celestia the order went: Celestia, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow, Reed, and Luna.
“Well, I am not sure where I learn to fight like that. I have sparred with a wooden sword and have learned how to defend and punch, but…”
“Y-all fought like you’d been in battle for years and like you’d knew a hay a lot more than wha’ all ‘tis sayin’.” Applejack added when Reed hesitated.
“And the cause?” Twilight asked.
“A-a dream, then a vision.”
“Can you describe the Vision and Dream?” Celestia gently prompted.
Reed Cleared his throat, “The visio-, “his voice broke. Swallowing he tried again, but as the vision returned and became clear his throat closed and tears welled in his eye. He shook his head, fighting back the tears and trying to gain control of his emotions.
“No matter, there is another way for all here to see.” Luna soothed. “With thou’s permission, we would relive the past through your mind and memories.” Reed took a deep breath and nodded. “Then we shall Begin.” Luna’s horn Glowed and tendrils of magic reach towards Reed. When they touch his temples and forehead, Luna casts a projecting spell in to the center of the circle. They watched from through Reed’s eyes, and Reed relived the nightmare in greater and more terrible detail.
Once more a wall of darkness moved accost the land in front of him like a great sand storm. Once again tendrils of darkness reach out and pulled the mass along. Shadow Nightmares weaved in and out of the darkness. Reed noticed something new, the Shadow Nightmares chased ponies and every so often attacked and pounce a ponies turn them to shadow. Their scream full of terror and pain. Reed felt a shiver of sharp pain run down his back, but was transfixed by what was in front of him.
The dream switched perspectives suddenly, once again he was in a village and the wall of shadows charged in to the streets. A voice like a rock slide boomed in evil laugher and giggled with the voice of the young; the sound of scraping metal dragged on the gravel of the street. This time Reed smelled blood, ash and the sharp smell of cold bodies.
“You will be my own,” a figure emerged from the darkness, twisted and gruesome. A pair of glowing eyes fix on Reed and board in to him. The figure was humanoid, hands of bone broken and jagged, and a rib cage similarly twisted. The shadows weaved and shifted showing and hiding parts of the mangled body. The figure raised a hand and pointed at Reed. “You will be their dearth.” Reed looked at his feet, there broken and beaten were all his friends. Old and new, young and old, human and pony. Reed fell to his knees, “Nooooo!” he looked up and the face of darkness filled is view. “You cannot save them.” The Dream ended abruptly when a sword of crimson plunged towards Reeds perspective.
The spell ended when the nightmare did, with a sizzle and pop. All were quiet, no one moved. Reed looked around, Luna and Celestia were looking at each other speaking with their eyes. Twilight was processing what she had just seen, pinkie pie’s mane had flattened and she stared wide eyed at were the nightmare had been projected. Fluttershy was hiding behind Rarity who look like she might be sick. Applejack was petting her mane looking pale and Rainbow Dash was backed into a corner white as a sheet, even her mane seemed paler.
Reed looked back at Celestia and Luna who had seemed to agree on something. Their horns began to glow and there was flash of light. Everything return to the way it was before Luna had Projected the nightmare, and so was everyone else waiting expectantly to see the terror lock away in Reed.
“Can you describe the Vision and Dream?” Celestia gently prompted again, ‘play along’ she said in Reed’s mind. Not sure what just happen Reed began again and repeated what was said only moment before.
Again Reed Cleared his throat, “The visio-, “his voice broke again this time on purpose. Swallowing he tried again, but as the vision returned once more and became clear his throat closed and tears welled in his eye again. Even thought he had just seen it before him, in a way the terror he felt was worse this time. He shook his head, fighting back the tears and trying to gain control of his emotions, again, the detail were now forever burned in his mind, the broken bones and twisted limbs, and the dark red stain. This time he couldn’t hold back a few tears, and his heart felt like it might burst.
“No matter, there is another way for all here to see.” Luna soothed again. “With thou’s permission, we would relive the past through your mind and memories.” Reed took a deep breath and nodded again, but he wanted to scream, No, and run away as far and as fast as he could. “Then we shall Begin.” Luna’s horn Glowed and tendrils of magic reach towards Reed. When they touch his temples and forehead, and there was a long pause. Luna scrunch her face in fake concentration. Then her magic dispelled. “We are sorry, but the Dream is locked away too deep for me to access. Thou must have had a truly terrible nightmare to have had your subconscious lock it away.” Luna looked at Reed meaningfully, and said telepathically, ‘we will discuss it once they have left.’
Relieved that he didn’t have to relive it again. Reed continued to play along, “Oh, ok. Now that you mention it I can’t remember what the dream was about.”
“And the vision? Wha’ y’all remember about that?”
“I-I don’t know, what I do remember is fear and then I’m not sure.”
“Fear can do some strange things. Even warp reality to make you think someone you care for is in mortal paroral.” Celestia nodded and she said this.
There was a short pause of silence, before Luna broke it by asking, “Doth thou have the symbol and its meaning?”
Reed jumped a little then stammered, “I-I do, uh, yes here.” He turned to the papers he had brought with him. Reed hands the papers to Luan and Celestia. Celestia and casts a spell on the paper with the picture and the image is displayed floating in the middle.
“I will start from the top and work down. The flame cupped by the crescent moon. The first part of the symbol, the flame means Hope, passion, will, creativity, and anger. The flame also represents a double heart, or a double purpose. One for all to see and the other hidden within the colors of the flame. Orange meaning the bright happy feelings, and still cautious. Red for heritage, luck, power, and prosperity.
The upward facing Crescent moon. While the crescent moon has a few meanings, and even fewer in the upward position. I have come up with a few of my own meanings. The upward position makes a bowl, to hold something. The doubles as the Meaning of offering (as the flame Symbolize the Double heart the Crescent in this way is offering heart or Core/soul.) The crescent moon is a sigh of wonder, Hope, power, and protection. The Coloring of the upward facing crescent moon the silver blue, both connected to water. This silvery blue is the color of ice and the moon on a clear night. Silver is often the color of the moon and while silver does have meaning, here it is a ward against evil. The pale blue is a mix between White and Blue. White meaning life and purity. Blue here means Wisdom and truth. Mix them together and you get pure wisdom, and life’s truth. Also the white has the effect of bleaching the truth as well as fading it. Meaning the truth can either be harsh and clear or faded to a half truth or as close to a lie as truth can get.
The Six Blue line make two objects, a Book and Shield. The Blue as I talked about with the moon means wisdom and intelligence Plus Much more. Refer back to the Crescent moon and the meaning of Blue for more details. A book for me means intelligence and knowledge or well learned. The insides of the book are blank to represents how much more I have to learn and the eagerness to learn. The Shield is the desire to Help and Protect. Empty-ness of the shield represents the opportunities to help and the ability to help anyone, adaptability. The meaning for being the main part of the symbol is that it is my number one goal to protect and learn from all. Also the size of the shield maters because this means how important it is to protect others from harm but to still give truth. This also means the idea of a big heart, or a lot of compassion.
The Three yellow stars represent wonder. Yellow represents: power, authority, the intellect and intuition, goodness, light, life, truth, immortality, endurance, cowardice, and treachery. That said the color Yellow has been a big part of my life. There have been times when I have shown all of yellow’s meaning, however distasteful. The three small stars represent of how little I consider yellow’s meaning to be in my life. While the star shines bright show how much the color is a part of my life. I only figured this out after I had finish the symbol. Funny how the subconscious works. The stars also represent the potential for greatness, (like for anyone there is). The Meaning of there being three is for multiple paths, or talents. Another reason for there to be three is the idea of magic, that shimmer, which translates to the act of inventive, adventurous, and being spontaneous.
So that is what my symbol means. Did you have any questions?”
When Reed had finished his presentation, he was surprised to find only a few in the group look bored, namely Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.
“Fascinating, and you came you with this all by your-self?” Twilight asked.
“Well, Yes. There is a book of symbol and there meanings back home but the symbol is all my creation.” Twilight looked more excited and then Crestfallen.
“When you say back home do you mean back in your world?”
“I do, sadly otherwise I would let you borrow it.” Twilight sighs. And there is a round of light hearted laughter. Then a thought entered Reeds head.
“Um, Princesses is there any way I could buy some cotton cloth, or a way I could work for the material?” Luna and Celestia looked at him curious. “The reason is ask is because…. Well where I come from Humans wear clothes because we don’t have fur. And well I didn’t really pack a lot of clothes when I left home and wound up here. So if there was a way I could get some cotton material and some needle and thread I would be able to make some more clothes from just that.” Celestia nodded thinking.
“Hmm, well I am sure we have some material laying around the palace, as for payment though, hmm…Luna what do you think?”
“I see no reason thou should pay with currency, perhaps thou could apply thine’s skills in training of the guards? However there is one thing thou could do.”
“Of course, what did you have in mind?”
“Keep us informed of your dreams and nightmares. While we are the keeper of the dream realm, thou’s mind could be damaged if we were to enter it not knowing how thou’s differs from that of a pony’s.” Luna looked pointed at Reed and he understood, there was something in the nightmare that had worried the Princesses. But from the reaction of the other mares, to out-right share the nightmare was bad and could cause panic and trauma.
“Yes, of course.”
“Good, as for the training of the guard… we are not sure. We will discuss it with sister and decide in three moons.”
“Luna, you are using the old speech again.” Celestia pointed out.
“Sorry.” There was pause, and Luna giggled and everyone joined in.
After the giggling had subsided Celestia spoke. “Well my little ponies I must rest and judging by the tired eyes I see so do most of you.” At this Fluttershy yawned and quietly excused herself a raised hoof and a small blush. The other mares got to their hooves and said their good nights.
“Reed aren’t you coming?” Twilight asked noticing Reed hadn’t moved.
“You go ahead Twilight I have one more question for the princesses, about the kind of training I would help with, that is if I were to help train the guards.”
“Oh okay, good night then.” And with that Twilight left and closed the door, she felt that something else was going on but couldn’t put her hoof on it. It bothered her all the way back to her room she shared with her friends. As she lay down to sleep Twilight made a mental note to review the meeting and try and figure out what she had missed.
Meanwhile back in the study Luna, Reed and Celestia were in deep conversation.
“But if it is not a subconscious dream then what did I see?” Luna had pulled up a still projection of the Darkness from Reed’s dream and was studying it as they spoke.
“Perhaps a premonition or viewing of possible events? Luna have you seen predictions like this before?”
“Like this? No, but is have seen predictions in dreams.”
“So what’s the difference with my Dream?”
“Power, detail, sound, sent, in short everything. In a pony’s dreams a prediction is rare. When I does accrue they are vague and contain more of impressions. As with yours it is as if we are living it.”
“Luna are you saying Reed’s Dreams are as clear as this room we stand in?”
“In a way, keep in mind that this,” she gesture to the projection, “Is all I have seen. If all your dreams are this real I can’t say.”
“I can, I have in a way a hyper-developed imagination and have, as long as I can remember, had vague dreams until the point just before I wake up. Then it becomes a second life.” There was a long silence as Luna thought on this. Reed took the chance to really look around the study. It was pretty big, a balcony with tall windows, a desk in front of the windows and a desk across from the tall windows. A fireplace took up most of the wall facing the door. In either side of the door was a tall book self, full of books. In the center of the room was a large circular rug depicting the sun and moon in balance, a large number of cushions sat in one corner and a pile of logs in the opposite corner. The walls and ceiling were colored a deep blue with gold filigree the fireplace was white marble and the doors and any other wood was a warm chestnut. The floor was carpeted in a plush maroon with flecks of forest green.
“We, I will have to study more on this matter. Reed as before please keep me and my sister updated on any more Premonitions you have.”
“Of course Princess.”
“Then for now get some rest we can discuss training and clothe tomorrow. I must get my own rest and Luna has night court.”
“Yes of course, Goodnight Princess Celestia, Goodnight Princess Luna.”
When Reed got back to his room, someone was waiting for him.
“Hey, I am your guard for the night. My name is Star Lance.”
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar
13
Star Lance was a unicorn, her coat is a soft gold and her mane and tail are a light purple with a stripe of an equally light blue. Reed notice that her armor was different that the pervious guards. The armor was light and breathable but covered more that the royal guards’ armor did. It almost looked like a pony wetsuit woven with black and silver metal.
“More exactly I am your appointed Dream guard for the next few nights.” Reed opened the door and went inside.
“And what exactly is a Dream guard? I thought Princess Luna said she couldn’t enter my dreams because of the unfamiliarity of my mind.”
“She did, that is why she assigned me, to monitor you dreams. If you are to have a vision of the darkness again I am to view it and wake you if your health becomes at risk.”
“Ah, how are you going to view the dream if you can’t enter my dreams?”
“I will be using the same projection spell Princess Luna used.” Star Lance entered the room after a respectable time for Reed to get ready to sleep.
“How do you know all this?”
“Princess Luna informed me after you had left the Princesses’ study. I then teleported here to you room to meet you before you slept.”
“Teleportation must come in handy.”
“Sometimes but it takes a lot out of a unicorn.”
“Really? Interesting, I wouldn’t have thought it, but now that you say so it makes sense.”
“How so?”
“In order to move from-. It’s really science-y and would take all night to explain fully. In short it takes a lot of energy to undo yourself and redo yourself in another place through time.” Reed said as he climbed on to the bed.
“Close, very close, but as you said it would take time to explain and rest is needed.”
“Heh, no argument here. Goodnight Star Lance”
Reed lay there for a moment, “Star lance, would you mind thinking of a one word name, a climate, and a type of weather?”
“Umm, ok. May I ask why?”
“It’s a way I fall asleep.”
“Ok, uh, Oak, an old forest, and a thunderstorm.”
“Hmm, ok.” Reed closed his eyes and immersed himself in to his own world. Star Lance case her spell and projected Reed’s dreams in a corner. Then she laid down by the window and watched his world unfold.
~~
At first Star Lance saw only disjointed images and heard bits of sounds from the spell that let her experience the dream. Then a scene blurred together, and a forest took shape. Star watch Reed play out a story in his mind’s eye. Saw a human different than Reed take form then the switch to the perspective of the human.
“~once upon a time there was a boy named Oak. Oak was lost in the forest of tears….~” Reed’s voice narrated the story as Oak wondered as attack, wounded, survived, found a town of griffons, healed, was driven out, ran, fell, found dragon, and then the scene started to repeat. As Reed drifted off to sleep. Star marveled at the detail of everything. The dialog, the sounds, the colors, all of it seemed so real. Star felt as if she were watching through an open window. There were some differences in the dragons and griffons than from the ones she knew but then the dreams started.
The since Reed had created faded and was replaced with a cave reed was climbing through and waterfall and fell down the cliff into the river. He resurfaced and was swimming in flowers. Equations of momentum and logic reasoning twisted and swirled in loops. Ideas of problems and solutions flowed as quickly and the river Reed had fallen in. Then shadow like mist swirled in, creating figures clawing at Reed pulling at him. The since changed to the room they were now in a swirling mass looming over Reed in a corner the shadow moving and twisting. Reed sat bolt upright with a cry of alarm.
“Reed what’s wrong? What was that thing?” Reed sat perfectly still, staring at the corner where the figure was. Star Lance looked at the dark corner, there was nothing.
“Star… can you get a light?” Star Lance lit her horn with a spell and filled the room with a warm light of periwinkle. Reed stares hard at the corner and blinks once. Taking a deep breathe Reed exhales and a feeling of calm washes over Star. “The down side of hyper-active-imagination is nightmares are just as real as the good stories.”
“What was that?”
“I never know the shadows move wrong, thing aren’t suppose –“
“No, not the nightmare, I saw that. The thing you did after, the projection of peace.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“When you took a breath and exhaled it felt like a comfort or peace spell. But you don’t have magic.”
“Hum… we’ll have to ask the princesses about it, tomorrow.” And with that Reed lay back down and star saw a kinder story unfold, no narration just a scene of fields a river, a forest, and a mountains in the distance. Star watch the peaceful scene change as Reed drifted off to sleep. She thought she heard a kind of chat repeated over and over, it would change now and then, like somepony or someone reading through a list of poems. She could only make out a few words, but one was repeated over and over. Solus. Solus. Solus. Solus. Then towards the dawn there was a shift, a swirling like the shadows, and everything sharped and became a vision.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfiction by ShieldStar 14
Star watched the vision and recorded it in detail in a gem made for such a purpose.
The chants were gone, only the wind and other ambiance existed in the vision for sound. A battle, a chase, a search for her, a shape looming, reaching for her.
“Little pony little pony it’s not nice to spy on others. I will devour you and your light. But first for you.” The shadowy shape turned to a figure of Reed. Darkness leaking from the spell reaching for his real body. Star cut the spell and jumped on Reed.
“WHAAAAA!” Reed cried out doubling over, “I’m up! I’m up!”
“Sorry the… darkness? Was reaching for you. I had to wake you up.” Star apologized, getting off of Reed.
“The vision?”
“Yes, somehow it reached through the spell, spoke to me and went after you.” Reed looked worried.
“What did it say to you?” Star shuttered
“That it would devour my light and me along with it.”
“Your light!” alarmed Reed got out of the bed, “turn around, quick, I have to check something.”
“Check what? What’s wrong?” star turned on the spot, trying to get a look at her own back.
“Stop, stop, you won’t be able to see it without at least two mirrors. What I am looking for is a mark at the base of the neck” as star stopped, Reed kneeled down and gently moved her mane away from her neck. There just above her armor was an ashy mark. “Star I need you to be very still.”
“Is there a mark?” Star asked worried.
“No there isn’t but I need to protect you from one appearing, hold still. I have to get something from my bag.” Reed knew he lied but right now if Star Lance was to live he had to keep her calm. Opening his bag Reed fished out two smaller bags. That contained mint leaves in one and maple leaves in the other. Going back to Star he knelt again, taking one mint leaf out he offered it to Star. “Here suck on this, but don’t swallow it.” Star picked it up with her magic and placed it in her mouth. Reed took a maple leaf out and placed it over the ashen mark, then laid his hand over the leaf. “Sha-que, sha-que, ink-a rue-sec fen say. Dor-rin th-ean!”(Darkness darkness come on to me. Burn In light!) There was a smell of burning maple leaves and a soft glow. Reed took his hand away and pull the leaf off star’s neck. The mark was gone, transferred to the leaf. “Okay you should be protected from the darkness.”
“What did you do?” star asked taking the mint leaf out.
“Nothing, you had to just suck on the mint leaf for a bit and you are safe.” Reed took the mint leaf and placed it over the mark on the maple there was a flicker of red and the leaves sealed the mark. Star turned around looking confused.
“Really that’s it? A mint leaf keeps the darkness away?”
“Yep, if you remember the taste of the mint leaf, and then imagine what light would taste like.”
“They’re the same!” Star said in awe. “How did you figure this out? I thought this was the first time you dealt with the darkness.”
“Well, this kind of darkness it is, but when I was little I was terrified of the dark, and my Grandma told me what I just told you. So now when I am scare of the dark I just think about the taste of mint and light.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah,” there was a pause, “shouldn’t we report the vision to the princesses?”
“Oh, yes. I will wait for you out side.” When star had left, Reed took the sealed leaves and put them in a carved box. He knew he had to lie to Star Lance for her own safety, that didn’t mean that it felt right, in fact he wished he could tell her the truth, but he also knew the consequences if he did. He readied himself for the day quickly, picked up the box, put in his pocket and meet Star in the hall. “Oh, good. I notified the princesses of the vision, they asked to meet as soon as you were ready.”
“Good, where are we meeting them?”
“In the study, come on.” With that Star trotted towards the study, Reed in tow.
~
“Thank for your report Guardian Star Lance.” Princess Luna looked down fondly at Star Lance, “You are relieved of you duty, get some rest. You will need it for tonight’s shift.”
“Thank you Princess.” Star Lance bowed and left the study. After arriving at the study Star Lance had reported the night’s events and delivered the record gem.
Once Star had left Princess Celestia turned to Reed, “what all happened? You look concerned.”
Reed sigh before he confessed, “I have not been truly honest. When I first had the first dream vision I thought it little more than the regular visions. The darkness has always hunted me but now that I have come to where I suspect the Darkness lives its power is much stronger. As I said before I have only been attack in my dreams and have been given nightmares, but now the darkness can manifest its self through the dreams. I have always been able to an extant see bits of the future, but I never remembered them. When a certain event happened I gained the power to see more and started to remember bits of what I saw.”
“What do you mean ‘A Certain Event’?”
“There was an event in my world when I was Story Making, the way I go to sleep. Anyway there was a bright flash of light at first, but then more flashes came. Some were colored, most were just light. It was late at night and I was the only one up at the time, I went to my window and multiple flashes of light struck me. When I woke up the next morning, nothing I noticed changed. Slowly over time I learned that I had some form of power and began to teach my self how to control it, or tap into it, as it can have a mind of its own, but there are circumstances that have to be met for me to lose control over it.”
“Okay, so is it similar to a unicorns magic?”
“A little? I don’t know much about unicorn magic. My magic, I guess you could call it that, is not really direct. With enough emotion and will I can project and influence the world around me. All that he knows now is from experience. As far as I know no other human has this power normally.”
“Influence in what way? And what do you mean by project?” Luna asked.
“Project, as in project my will in to something, and occasionally someone, but that is a lot harder to do. Influence is the same but less physical and more physical at the same time. Ugh this is hard explain, may I show you?” the princesses nodded, and Reed relaxed, closed his eyes and focused. Breathing in he raised his arms to his chest, arms crossed. He then exhaled sweeping his arms out smoothly palms up. The Princesses saw a barely visible wave of energy expand from Reed. When it touched them the feeling of contentment and peace washed over them. The sisters turned to each other grinning, Reed then took the carved box from his pocket. “This is the other part of my power.” Reed opened the box to show them the sealed leaves. “These are all enchanted, I think that is the right word. The box contains any negative energy and cycles it back in to the sealing leaves. The mint leaf and the maple leaf have both been enchanted, the mint caused total focus on the leaf and leaves those who suck on it unable to remember what happened during the time they sucked on the leaf. The maple leaf has many uses, but depends on the enchantments placed on it. From a sealing trap, to a shield, however all uses for the maple leaf are defensive. Right now the leaves are sealing the darkness that touched Star Lance when it manifested out of the dream. This is why Star didn’t notice the spell I cast to remove it.” The Princess’s looked at each other then back at Reed.
“That is a lot to take in, is there a way to protect the darkness?”
“There is Princess Luna-”
“That is good, how do we protect ourselves?” Celestia gave her sister a reproachful look. “We are sorry for interrupting you, please continue.”
“No worries, there is a way I can shield you from The Darkness. However, the spell is very hard to cast-“the doors to the study banged open and a figure of a pony shrouded in shadow stood there. The darkness pooled on the ground rolling like liquid smoke.
“Now, Now, Now, look what I have found.” the figure slow walked in, “twinkle, twinkle, little star how I long to devour you light.” Reed turned to the figure, “Oooo, glimmer little candle, I will snuff you, and-“
“Sec Ren Fa Rey Sen De Doge Sayg Sev En-Gu. Osh La-Ka Sen Kay Do. Ren Kay-Cow. Dor-rum Skay!” (To I Call You froth from shell and false face. Bring away froth in air. I in-take. Burning void!) Reed cried out, an orb of spinning light collected in Reed’s hands. The Darkness flew from the figure and into the light the sound of rapidly evaporating water screaming from the contact, as the Darkness was burn into nothing. Reed collapsed to the floor hands smoking, as blood dripped from his nose. He looked up to see the figure of Twilight Sparkle lying unconscious on the floor.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfiction by ShieldStar 15
The night before)
Twilight left the study with her friends making her way back to her room. But something bothered her some little nagging twitch at the edge of her memory. She thought back on the meeting they had with Reed. This creature from another world, a world living alone side her own. There had been magical theory on such things but nothing ever recorded, at least from what she knew. But there was something else that bothered her, Reed’s body language and the way he spoke. As if repeating things already said, acting to play a part to spare other’s great danger.
“Girls I catch up with you later, there’s something if forgot I had to look up in the library. I won’t be long.” And without waiting for a response she ran off to the library to get some answers.
Present day)
Twilight lay in one of the palace’s hospital beds, as and Magical doctors ran test after test. So far they were baffled as to what had happened and why Twilight Sparkle would not wake up. Meanwhile back in the princess’s’ study, Reed was being heavily questioned.
“What did you do?!” “How did this happen?!” “What is wrong with her?!” “She was fine last night what happened?!” Celestia’s questions rained down on him like firestorm.
“Thou hath better start talking.” Luna said in the coldest night wind.
“WAIT! Please I don’t know all the answers, but I did save her from a fate worse than death. Right now she is healing, when the darkness attacks and latches on to a host. Is feeds not only on the body but on every part of the being, most heavily on the spirit and life energy. Depending on how long and darkness has been joined with the host depends on if they can be saved. Luckily with Twilight the darkness hadn’t been joined too long to cause any lasting damage, but in order to keep her free and alive I need to be with her! Otherwise there is nothing stopping the darkness from moving back in. Right now she is healing yes, but when healing this kind of damage everything if focused on the healing as before there was a war for her life and the darkness was being fended off. Now she is utterly defenseless against any and all attacks. Have me at sword point if you wish but if you want her to live I need to be there.”
“Very well I shall watch you myself.”
“Quickly then, I must set up wards and help to speed the healing.”
The night before)
Twilight Sparkle sat in the library pouring over volumes of spells, body language and vision, glimpse of posable futures. So far Twilight had only figure out that the body language she’d see indicated that, Reed, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, were very worried, and they were hiding something from her and her friends.
“But that doesn’t make sense, why would they be acting that way. The Princesses are stressed daily, but I’ve never seen them like this. And Reed, well, maybe he was just nervous.” Twilight closed the book, “that’s probably it, I mean it seems logical that a creature from an entire different world meeting with eight other creatures that all know each other… He was just feeling overwhelmed, and based on my analysis so far Human’s seem to have higher emotional and reasoning capacity in place of magic.” Twilight was about to get up to put all the books back and leave when, “But they were all fairly fine with worry levels normal… then they were all freaked out. Like somepony and flicked a switch. What did I miss…” Twilight snatched a spell volume up and started wheeling through the pages with her magic. “That’s it I missed something, or something happened and the Princesses hide it from us…” Twilight stopped, “But why would they need to hide something, unless…” Twilight looked at the page she had stopped on, a spell for detecting and or removing memory spells. “It was something truly terrible.” She Knew this spell Celestia had her learn it incase somepony cast an amnesia spell on her as a prank. Though crime was rare, pranks going too far was not unheard of. “If it was so bad then I shouldn’t remove the spell they cast. But…” Twilight’s curiosity chewed on her brain. “If I look and it is that bad them I can just cast the memory lock again. It couldn’t hurt Right?”
Reed stood over Twilight’s hospital bed hands splayed above her. His gaze lost in focus of complex magic. Celestia watched closely for any signs of danger from Reed, Twilight was like a filly to her, she’d seen her grow up and become a mare. Reed twitched pulling Celestia back to reality, she looked from Twilight to Reed and was alarmed by the effects she saw. Twilight who was shaded from the darkness, was now glowing with color. While Reed seemed to whither, his hair color faded in and out with each heartbeat. His skin became patched with bruises and somewhat transparent. Shadow lifted off of twilight and dance about him, tendrils of energy flowed like water from his hands. Twilight let out a contented sigh, and Reed moved his hands to either side of her head. The energy pooled around his hands like gloves as he gently laid his hands on the sides of her head. There was a pulse of light and the energy dispelled from his hands, Reed stepped back and a little light lifted from twilight’s horn hovered above her then pulsed and faded away. Reed’s eyes closed and he leaned against the wall before sinking to the floor. The shadow still dance about him and his hair was only streaked with red now being mostly silver, he looked like a skeleton draped in clothe. Celestia moved to him but motioned her back.
“I… Need… Light… and… time…” he tried to get up and managed to kneel, “Stay… till she… wakes… but… don’t… wake her.” He slowly stood. “Which… way… to… Garden…s…?”
“I’ll have someone show you to them.” Celestia summoned a guard to show Reed to the Gardens. “Help him to the gardens, and stay with him until he is better.”
“Yes Princess.” The Guard moved to help Reed.
“Wait…” the Guard stopped, “You... most… Not… touch… Darkness.”
“Why?” Celestia and the Guard asked.
“Become… this…” and he gestured to himself. The guard backed up a bit.
“Right then if you will follow me.”
Twilight sat at the table so horrified to the point of the inability to do anything. When she was finally jarred into action by the clock tolling midnight all but one of her candles had gone out. She looked down at the spell book, “I shouldn’t have done that. I-I need to-“
“Do what my dear little pony? As I see it, it is far too late to even scream.” And with that said the candle went out. Twilight spun around lighting her horn but it was too late, the Darkness had already swooped in and soon her light spell flickered and was swallowed, as was the rest of her.
The last and only thing she was aware of was a word being chanted over and over.
Solus Solus Solus Solus Solus Solus …
Reed was sitting in the Palace Gardens, as soon as he had gotten outside into natural sunlight he had felt better. The shadows and slowly burned away and color returned to him. The guard had gotten closer on the way and Reed shooed him back, “I Just look… Better. Darkness… tricky… not safe… yet.”
The Guard had backed up as the continued to the gardens, where reed was now. He sat eyes closed, to any who watched he look as if he were just sitting. But what they couldn’t see was the wisps if shadow lifting from him, as Reed soaked up light and energy from his surroundings. Not enough to be harmful, but enough to slowly purge the shadows and refill his stores of magic. Reed knew it wasn’t truly magic, but it was quicker to just say it was. Besides magic was such a loose term that it could be applied to almost anything that defied explanation. If he had to describe his power it felt more like manipulation of the world around him, like sculpting with him will.
Reed experienced the gardens, he listened to the birds and the fountain, he felt the wind, the sun, and the soft vibrations of the ground, and He smelled the fresh air, the flowers, and the dirt. He did all this just sitting, soaking it all in. he breathed deeply then sighed, he was restored better than before he had healed twilight. Reed opened his eyes to find an audience before him. A few guards, Twilight’s friends, a few palace staff and Princess Luna, all sat around the gardens facing him.
“That was Beautiful!” Fluttershy whispered, there were nods of agreement.
“Where ever did you learn to do that?” Rarity asked in awe. Reed had no idea what they were talking about, all he had done was open his mind to everything in the garden. ‘Oh that.’ Reed realized that he had dropped all his walls and that meant his wards too.
“When I, recharge, my powers leak out and cause things like that to happen.”
“Wow Awesome.” Rainbow whispered. What they had exactly seen Reed would never know, but from what few people had seen/ heard and told him he could make a fair guess.
“So many Colors so peacefully flowing.” Rarity sighed
“And that music so,” Applejack commented.
“Wonderful,” Pinkie smiled and peace.
“Beautiful,” The Princess added.
“Peaceful.” A Guard spoke up. Reed had heard it all before, but this time those who had been around knew the source was him.
“What do you call this experience?” Princess Luna inquired.
“It’s never had a name, but Windspeak has been whispered.”
It’s perfect.” A guard came up and bowed to the princess.
“Princess Celestia Requests all of your presence.” He said to Reed, Princess Luna, and Twilight’s Friends. “Twilight Sparkle has awoken.”
Through the soul of friendship Fan Fiction by ShieldStar 16
Twilight Sparkle felt, great. She looked her around and found that she was in the medical wing of the palace. ‘Why am I here?’ She noticed Princess Celestia staring out the window, she looked, odd.
“Princess?” Twilight asked, her throat a little dry. Celestia slowly turned to look at her. Her Face was terror, from the side Celestia’s face looked normal, but when she face Twilight.
“Yes, MY little pony?” Twilight wanted to scream. “What’s WRONG Twilight?” as Celestia stepped closer Twilight did scream. Celestia only smiled, long sharp teeth glinting, skin cracking and flaking before twilight’s eyes. Thick Black blood started to trickle then poured from the thing’s eyes and mouth. “My Dear faithful student? What is so so sssssooooooo, wrong?” her voice flexed in pitch as she spoke, first monstrously deep, then foalishly high.
Solus Solus Solus solus. The word repeated over and over, echoing from nowhere. Twilight threw herself away from the thing that had once been her princess and teacher, or at least she tried. Clawed hands grabbed her and pull her back to the bed, holding her forcing her to watch the thing slowly, so very slowly step towards her. The eyes were pools of black, but for a prick of light the color of hot metal. The horn had crumbled and the ears had become no more than holes. The skin had decaid to the smallest of torn remnants leaving the muscles exposed and dripping black. The wings had fallen off leaving arms ending in razor sharp spines. “Heh heh heh heh,” it panted, “such nice-.”
It never finished, a searing aura smashed into it. Grabbed it and stuffed it in on its self, it screamed so loud that it felt like Twilight’s ear drums were being use in a march.The aura seemingly pulled a sword from nowhere and slash the vile creature, each cut causing it to become non-corporeal. The thing roared and lunged at the bright aura, and bit it hard on the shoulder, “At Last your MIIINE!!!” With a sharp grunt the aura cut the thing’s head off, and brushed the shadow off its self. Then the aura spoke, but Twilight couldn’t understand anything said, to her is sounded like music, beautiful, warm, colorful, kind, comforting and complicated.Then the aura raised its hand and the thing was burned away in a cold light. The aura turned and faced Twilight.
“Thak sen solus, dow dee forthrum.” And Twilight awoke.
Reed ran after the guard, as he led them back to Twilight’s room. They slowed as they arrived and reed slowly opened the door. Twilight was panting and writhing trying to throw herself off the bed, Princess Celestia’s magic was preventing this though, as she tried to calm the panicked pony.
“Forthrum sec dow, dec doo sen solus faw!” Twilight stopped and relaxed a little, “Princess please release your magic.” Celestia complied and Twilight relaxed a little more. “Thec thow Forthrum?” Twilight nodded and Reed moved to her, “Astown,” Twilight lay back and closed her eyes. Reed placed his hands on her forehead and chest, “Hows-hesh, thec-in dow-gen.” there was a pulse of light and Reed removed his hands. “Twilight? How do you feel?” Reed asked slowly, kneeling next to the bed.
“What is Solus?” she asked. Reed flinched slightly at the question.
“It’s a powerful, dangerous, thing.”
“Why did I keep hearing it?”
“I’m not sure.”
Twilight sighed, “Is it over?”
“Yes.” Twilight opened her eyes and looked around the room, Reed looked too. Princess Celestia stood by the window looking scared, while the other’s stood by the door looking dumfounded.
“Hello everypony, I’m so glad you’re here. I missed you.”
Princess Luna moved to her sister, and laid a wing over her back. “We are also glad that you are better, Twilight Sparkle.”
“I’m confused.” Fluttershy said laying down and covering her head with her fore hooves.The others just nodded.
“What in the hay happened to y’all?” Twilight cringed at AJ’s question and the memories she had unlocked the previous night.
“She learned something she shouldn’t have.” Reed answered, the friends just looked at each other. Reed sighed, “She searched for a thing called Solus.”
“Um, what is it, if you don’t mind, that is.” Fluttershy asked from her place on the floor.
“I do mind,” Reed said gruffly, then checked his tone. “But I will tell you, so you don’t go looking for it on your own. It is safer this way. Solus, is best described in a poem, but the poem only covers the kindest of lairs. Let that be a warning to all not to dig any deeper.” Reed sat and indicated the others should do the same.
“Whoshla,” then he began.
___(poem by Nicholas VanDerSchouw)___
“Solus
What are these beings,
Whose midst I stand?
They look like me,
But are as empty as sand.
I look in their face,
But see not a soul.
I look at her lace,
And know not what she stole.
What is a friend, a person I know?
But what makes them different than the rest,
Whose midst I stand.
Who is a family, the ones I know?
What makes a person of gentle hand?
What is a lover, the one I know the best?
Finished in life and here I stand,
Alone in the world,
Amidst the shifting sand.” They sat quietly for a while. Twilight gave a shudder. The other glanced at her with worry.
“But what does it mean?” Rainbow asked.
“It means that to be solus is to be soul less, to have no love.” Twilight said in a trembling voice.
“That’s right, but Solus its self is much more and much worse. For your safety PLEASE do not pursue further knowledge. Solus is a living thing and just by looking for it-“
“It will find you and… and … and.” But twilight couldn’t finish, so great was her terror.
“And devour every aspect of you, slowly killing you. You see Solus was once a kind loving being, but over time, the darkness it fought consumed it. Over millions of years Solus was alone and now, well it is the evilest thing I have meet.” Reed finished. There was a silence for a while as all in the room tried to contemplate such a being. Twilight shivered a little at the memory of the thing she had seen when she had first awoken.
“Twili-, My student, are you sure you are okay?” Princess Celestia ask taking a hesitant step forward.
“Oh Celestia it was so scary!” Twilight cried. The Princess closed the distance and hugged her.
At the far reaches of Equestria an Unnaturally Dark storm front roiled and red lightning cracked the sky, “Mine mine mine at last!” Solus Thundered.
Through the soul of friendship By ShieldStar Chapter 17
The world shook and quaked. Flashes of crimson rent the sky. The pegasi who could slow the storm did, while others did their best to aid in the evacuation. Mayor Breezy Skies was one of these pegasi, “This way eveypony, move quickly but don’t rush!” she shouted above the howling wind. One of the nearby buildings exploded as something flew into it. Ponies screamed and began to run. Breezy Skies flew over to what had once been the local bakery. “Gust what’s going on up there? Why are you down here?” Guster groaned shaking frosting off his feathers.
“Breezy, why aren’t these Ponies evacuated already?”
“I’m trying but most of them are convinced that it is safer to stay inside.”
“By Sombra’s horn! We got to move! It’s all we can do to stop those funnels touching down! I’ll get them to move!” Guster rushed off leaving Breezy Skies where she hovered. Two minutes later a throng of ponies was rushing to her for directions.
“Go toward the mountains they can shield us from the twisters!” she called again and again. The wind howled and the ruddy red light flashed again and again.
“MINE AT LAST! MINE!” A Deep dark disembodied voice said with greed. Then shadows fell from the clouds, landing with boney crunches the Shadows rose and began to chase the fleeing town’s ponies. The whether team streaked down scooping up foals and carrying them to safety. Guster flew back to Breezy Skies, “What are those things?!” She asked. “I don’t know but the town is lost, team Zeta couldn’t stop one of the funnels from touching down! City hall is gone! Breeze you have got to get these ponies high tailing it out of here!” Breezy nodded grimly, she knew it was a dirty trick, but it may be the only thing to save them now. Filling her lungs she screamed, “CHANGELING INVASION!” the crowd screamed in terror and the herd of ponies stampeded, mares scooped up their foals, stallions with combat training moved to the outside to better protect the young and weak. “GUSTER!” Breezy called, “WE’RE LEAVING, GET YOUR FLIERS DOWN AND COVER US FROM ABOVE!” Guster, nodded sharply and soon all the pegasi formed up. The town of Whitetail Woods was soon empty, except for the shadowy forms of nightmarish wolves that prowled the streets.
It had been two days since Twilight’s incident with the entity called Solus. Reed had begun training a small group of guards at the Princess’s request. As result of Solus’s possession of Twilight, Reed had started the next day, instead of the three nights first agreed upon. Reed woke up early every morning since then and led the group on a run around the inside of the palace walls. The Group consisted of a total of nine ponies, three of each pony race. At first the guards had been skeptical that Reed could out run them let alone out last them. Among the group was the guards Reed had raced earlier, his name was Quick Steel. When Reed had first started one guard had asked, “Why Should we listen to you? I don’t even know what you are.” Reed had heard a few murmurs of agreement.
“What I am doesn’t really matter, if you must know I am a human.” They looked at him blankly, “See doesn’t matter. As for why? Because there is something evil coming for me and the princesses asked me to train a few guards. That way when it gets here there will be a few who can protect Canterlot and aid in evacuation.”
“If it’s after you why don’t you just leave?”
“Good point, because This Evil wants everything nice, good and happy, consumed or destroyed. And I am only a means to that end. So even if I did leave, it would eventually find me and ‘get me.’ Then it would come back for all you and Canterlot.” After that they did as he ask, if a little grudgingly at first.
Reed had soon proven to them that he could out pace them and in the days since they had follow his directions without hesitation. However there were more than plenty of questions, when Reed started to teach them what he knew about combat and other momentum based activities.
“Instead of meeting force with force simply deflect the force.”
“What do you mean?” a guard named Steadfast asked.
“Be like water, here, charge me.” The guard charged him and when the guard was about to crash into him Reed dropped low, turned to the side a bit and shoved the guard. The Guard careened off to the side before he stumbled and fell. “That is what I mean, redirect your opponent’s energy away from you, flow with the attack, then you can strike them when they are unbalanced.”
“That’s not very fair.”
“No it isn’t, but the evil won’t be fair either. In addition you have the power to stop them without serious harm.” Similar scenarios followed, and more questions were asked as the guards learned the different types of combat. Over the next few days Reed taught them as best he could, how to subdue another without injury, incapacitate, and with great care, showed them how to injure.
"If this evil is coming to kill all that is good, why aren't you showing us how to kill?" Quick Steel asked one day after a sparring session.Reed waited for the others to finish before answering Quick Steel's question.
"Because of three main reasons, one to show you could be fatal, because I don't know how to translate these human fighting styles into pony fighting styles, and three in a way I already have shown you." the group look at him with a mixture of confusion and understanding.
"What do you mean, you have already shown us?" Steadfast asked.
"I mean if you take what I have already shown you and amplify your movements and aim to strike mortal blows you already know how to fight to kill, but please refrain from doing this unless absolutely necessary." The group nodded, and Reed sent them back to practice with their partners. Reed knew these guards were military, and that they all had training. But he felt responsible, because of what he was teaching was alien to them, at least the styles were. He didn't want them to accidentally use to much force and end up killing someone they were trying to subdue.
Reed had them stop around mid-afternoon and most of the guards sat, almost collapsing to the ground. He had them go to the cafeteria where they got water, and at Reed’s direction, sat at a table away from the other guards not on duty. Reed sat with them, “Okay now that’s it’s been a few days, and you all have a good idea of the styles of I have shown you.Here’s the next part that I can teach you.” For the rest of the day Reed asked them about how they would handle different situations, then gave his answer. As the days went by the princesses had been able to have a tailor come by and look a set of Reed’s clothes, since then the tailor had made Reed three more sets of clothes. Reed offered to pay him once but he had declined, saying, “The princesses ask me of all ponies, the word of that alone has earned me much business. And thanks to you I could even start making clothes for other countries, and other races. No, I must be thanking you for this glorious opportunity!” Reed still felt that he owed the tailor, so when he wasn’t looking Reed slipped a luck charm with real magic, with a note into one of the tailor’s clothe bags.
A new schedule was set up for Reed and his guards in training. In the morning they would run, then spar till noon. After a quick lunch reed would then talk, quiz, have them do puzzles on strategy, and to analyze all angles, view every option, and perhaps most important, how to, and practice resisting Solus’s influence.Reed did this by giving them impossible seniors, and adding twists at the last moment. This often left the guards frustrated, but Reed could see the progress. A few days ago he had stumped all of them, with a cornered hostage situation, and at the last moment had the hostage become the hostile villain, what had stumped them was the fact that the hostage faked their death and trapped the guards in a covered alley slowly filling with, magic resistant, poison gas. The blockage was too heavy to move and they only had thirty seconds to figure it out, there was always the option of surrendering to Solus, but that was the thing never to do. They group had failed the puzzle, “Your lucky this was only a story situation. We’ll try again tomorrow.” And they had got it the day after next.
Reed was in the middle of setting up another story situation when a guard ran up, “The princesses request your presence immediately.”
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by Shield Star 18
The guard led Reed to the princesses’ study where both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were waiting for him, the guard bowed and left. The princesses looked up from the report that they had been reading. “Reed, good you’re here, we were hoping you could take a look at this.” Celestia said levitating the paper over to him. “We thought to send for the elements, but wanted to be sure…” Reed was about to ask about what as he took the report, but as soon as he touched it images flooded in to him and he quickly dropped it in surprise.
“Sorry,” Reed said shaking his head to clear it, and bending to pick up the report, but Luna’s magic beat him to it.
“I have been wondering, can you read our writing?” Reed was taken a back, as he realized that he in fact could not.
“Now that I think about it, no I can’t.” Luna nodded, then read the report out.
“Report, urgent,
Ponies from the newly settled town of whitetail, have recently fled into the seaside town of Tall Tale. Where the refugees reported a storm of unnatural power bringing ruin to their town and a never before seen creatures of shadow that attacked. There were also reports of changelings but these were vague and uncertain. Tall Tale requests a small group of guards be sent to investigate.” There was a pause.
“What are your thoughts? Could this be Solus?” Celestia asked silently worried.
“I think that there is a small chance that it is, but these changelings. Mixed with the storm, perhaps, and most likely, not. Either way is sounds like a problem.”
“You’re probably right, but what if it is?”
“Well the group I’ve been working with would be, in my opinion, best to check it out, may be leave a few here so they can help train the next group? How did you defeat the changelings last time?”
“The rulers of the crystal empire repelled them, but the elements of harmony would have worked if we had not been taken by surprise.”
“Okay, I would send a small group of guards to investigate, and leading from their report, either send the elements against the changelings with additional guards or as many troops and myself to combat the threat of Solus.” The Princesses looked thoughtful for a moment.
“We will think on this, until our decision, you are dismissed.” Reed bowed and left to return to his guards in training. Two days later
Twilight, sat at sugar cube corner listening to pinkie pie tell a group of foals a story.
“Hey twilight, are you okay?” Twilight jumped a little and turned to see spike munching on a cupcake.
“Oh spike, yeah, I’ve just been, well I just can’t,”
“Twilight darling, just go ahead and say it already, clearly your head over hooves of that guard that saved you and Fluttershy when you met Reed.” Rarity said sitting next to twilight sipping from her cup of punch.
“What?! Now that’s not, that’s completely ludicrous. I was thinking about, well Reed.”
“Reed?! Now darling I had no idea you had such interests.”
“Rarity! Please, you’ve got it all wrong. I was thinking about Reed’s magic and what he said about, Solus” Twilight shuddered at the name.
“What’s Solus? And who’s Reed?” Spiked asked.
“Shh, don’t say it so loud Spike. It is pure evil taken form and it’s been chasing after Reed for a long time. Trying to take over his body and destroy everything in its path.”
“But who is he and why him?”
“Reed is a human, and it doesn’t have to be him, except that Reed can with stand ITS presence and not be destroyed in a few hours or days.”
“What do you mean, Not be destroyed in a few days?” Before Twilight could answer a mint colored unicorn mare zoomed up to Twilight.
“You said there was a human here! Where is it!” the mare crashed in to Twilight.
“Lyra!” Twilight exclaimed falling over. “He is in Canterlot, how do you know about humans?” but before Twilight finish her question Lyra was gone.
“That Mare is a random as pinkie when it comes to humans.” Rarity said helping twilight up.
“So what’s special about This Reed again?” spike ask lending a hand.
“When we were in canterlot I was posseted but this evil, but Reed managed to drive it out and contain it. But I would have died it Reed didn’t save me. This thing feed off everything good, then off the life force of its host. For some reason Reed is resistant to it.” Spike let out a burp of magical smoke and a letter formed and dropped in from of the group.Twilight picked it up and read it, her eyes widened the farther she read. “Rarity gather the girls we are need in canterlot right away. Spike send a letter saying we are on our way.”
“What is it Twilight, what’s wrong darling?” “The letter didn’t say, only to come ASAP and bring the elements. Rarity I’ll meet you all at the train station, in fifteen minutes.” Seventeen minutes later the elements and their bearers were speeding their way to Canterlot yet again.
Meanwhile somewhere in between Tall tale and the ruins of Whitetail a small squad of ponies, mostly consisting of the group reed had trained, were investigating the report from a few days ago. Flash Post had sent a report of the ruins and requested that additional guards and the elements be sent. Believing that the destruction was caused by Changelings. Steadfast and a few of the others had gone in to the ruined town earlier that day and had yet to return. Night Watch was looking through a telescope down at the ruins from the ridge they were camped on. The skies above the town had a few dark clouds, but this was most likely from the unchecked whether blowing in from the west. Although Night Watch thought the color of the occasional lightning flash was off, maybe a bit more red than was normal. She made a note of it and continued to scan the town ruins. The storm raged on and nothing significant happened for Night Watch’s shift, her replacement’s shift and soon it was her turn again.
Fifteen minutes in to her shift and through her telescope Night Watch saw a building that was still barely standing collapse revealing a group of shadows. Night Watch couldn’t tell who it was due the thick cloud of dust from the collapse. The shadows move down a side street and out of sight again. Lightning cracked over head as Night Watch made notes of the fallen building. A curl of blue smoke made its way over to Night Watch before forming a message bubble.
“Steadfast reporting in, no sign of any hostels, storm continues to persist, few buildings left standing. End report.” The bubble then popped.
Night Watch formed her own message bubble, “Report received, Night Watch inquiry, are you alright? That building nearly fell on you and your group. End Inquiry.” Night Watch watched her message zoom off in a green trail of smoke. But she didn’t have to wait long before a blue smoke bubble formed.
“Steadfast report and inquiry, we are a little wet but fine. What building? End report and inquiry.” Night Watch snatched up her telescope and pointed it at the fallen building. There was no sign of any movement.
Night Watch formed another bubble, and dropping all formality, “What is your current location? End.” She followed the puff of smoke with her spy glass, down to the town before it turn to the far end of the ruins. Far away from the fallen building.
“Steadfast report, far end of town near the bakery. End report.” Night Watch immediately shot off another bubble.
“Are there any other groups assigned to the ruins? End.”
“Steadfast report, Negative. End report.”The Bubbles zoomed back and forth.
“Night Watch Report, Possible hostels spotted on the far edge of town. Last seen near the now fallen dress maker’s shop. Group was large and employing stealth, recommend extreme caution. End”
“Steadfast Report, Message received, possible movement ahead. Will investigate End-“
“Hostels in bound!”
“Form up!”
“Ambush!”
“Requested reinforcements, hostels are not Changelings. I Repeat Hostels are NOT Changelings! End message!” Before Night Watch could Rush to send reinforcements there was a bone chilling howl. Night Watch Raced to the command tent. “Night Watch reporting in, Recon Group Steadfast is under attack, requested support effective immediately. Hostels reported and not Changelings.” The tent scrabbled to comply, and Flash Post, quickly sent a report to the Princesses. Another Howl tore through the camp and a trail of green smoke zoom to Canterlot.
The Train pulled in to The Tall Tale Station just before sunset and the six friends disembarked. Before finding the small inn, they were told to report to.
“What a quaint little village.” Rarity said as the group unpack the few things they brought. The inn had rooms enough for a small barracks of royal guard. This was achieved by having three rooms that could sleep up to seven each, and a few smaller rooms that slept the normal two to four.
“Ah’ll Say. Hey Twi, Why again did the princess send us all the way out yonder?” Applejack ask.
“We were sent here to befriend and if failing that confront possible Changeling sightings.” Twilight responded.
“Oh my, I do hope befriends works.” Fluttershy worried.
“Don’t worry Flutters, if things gone topsy terby I’ll protect you.” Pinkie pie bounced.
“Yeah, I would love to bash those creeps head’s again.” Rainbow Dash said brashly.
“Remember Rainbow, only if we have to, and besides if things to get stressed we have the elements of harmony, to banish them again.” Twilight said.
“Well ah don’t know ‘bout you all but ah’m gonna hit the hay. That fancy dinner that here train plum tuckered me out.” Applejack said yawning.
“Good idea AJ, we all need to sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow.” Twilight agreed.
“Ahhh but I’m not even the tincey wincey bit slee- *Snore*.” Pinkie pie said bouncing on the bed, before promptly falling asleep. The other chuckled at the pink mare’s antics before they too made their way over to their respective bed and fell asleep. Fluttershy was the last to fall asleep, but before she did she thought she heard a howl in the far distance. But before her mind could wake her up again, she was also fast asleep.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar 19
Reed was overseeing the few guards he was training, that had stayed behind, go through drills and training other guards. It had been two days since the princess had shared the report on Whitetail and Tall Tale. The requested group had gone off and soon after the elements and more troops followed. Star Lance had continued to guard his dreams and thankfully Solus hadn’t shown its deprived ugly face. Reed had been intrigued by star Lance’s reports, Dream were truly fascinating. And getting to hear his dream recounted in detail was truly a treat. He would often remember parts of a dream and miss the profound thing that his subconscious was trying to tell him. This way he got a second look, which’d helped him solved problems he had been stuck on for weeks before. Star Lance was also a great story well, meaning she had so many great ideas for stories and often offered fresh and new perspectives on existing stories. Reed had enjoyed sharing the stories in his head with someone else. And had expressed this to Star Lance one night.
“You should really write some of these down, they are absolutely awe-inspiring, even thrilling!” “You really think so?” Star Lance just gave him a deadpan stare before the both burst out in giggles.
Since then when Reed had a spare moment, he wrote bit and pieces of stories, and planed one day fitting them all together in to a few bigger stories.
Reed’s Attention was pulled back to the guards training when he saw one of the newer guards about to make a deadly mistake. “Hold Positions!” he shouted, and the all the guards stopped mid pose. Reed walked over to the offending guard. “What’s your name solider?” Reed ask in a stern but not unkind voice.
“Bronze Spear, sir!”
“Alright, Bronze Spear, tell me way I stopped you.” The guard was silent for a moment.
“I’m not sure sir.”
“At least you honest. I stopped you, because of this.” And Reed gently moved the guard’s strike lower and his leading hoof back. “Now why did I move you as I did?”
“Because I had it wrong?”
“Yes and no. If you were trying to subdue someone, as we are practicing to, yes you had it wrong. If we were in a true fight to the death your opponent you be quiet dead. Please make sure your form is right before you strike, until you know it better than walking and eating else tragedy will strike for you. That goes for everyone!” Reed called to the group. “Now Bronze Spear I want you to hold that position until everyone has finished this set. Then you and your partner will take it slow. Remember we would rather learn it slow then-“
“To learn it too fast and fail!” the group said in unison.
“Good continue, and remember if you need help there is no shame in asking.” Reed move among the guards watching for any more mistakes and helping when asked.
Lunch came around and Reed dismissed the group. Reed as well and got some lunch and sat under a tree to eat. Ti wasn’t long before a few guards came and joined him.
“Sir, why do you sit out here and eat?” Reed looked up to see Bronze Spear was who had asked.
“There’s no need to call me sir outside of training. I’m not part of the guard. As for your question.
I like to feel the life of all the different living things and they help me in many ways.”
“How’s that?” this time a guard named Front Line asked
“Well there are many ways they help. To name a few, they help me relax, they help my magic, they help me think when I am troubled, and when I am weak they help me live.”
“They help you live?” this one to Reed’s surprise came from Star Lance who was normally nocturnal.
“Yeah. You may not know this but when I helped save Twilight Sparkle, I used a lot of magic and magic needs energy. But before when I expect the darkness from her, that used a lot of my magical energy. So when I healed her I didn’t have much left in magical energies. So I had to use my life energies, which was why I was affect so badly when I finished.”
“So when you went to ‘recharge’ you were also refilling your life force?” Bronze Spear asked.
“That’s Right.” “Wow” this got a chuckle from the group, before a wisp of green smoke zipped above them.
Not long after lunch, while Reed was giving instructions to the guards, about splitting into groups to learn about strategy. Another guard rushed over to him.
“The Princesses Request you presence as soon as possible.” the guard said standing at attention.
“Alright, give me one moment and we will be on our way.” Reed called one of the guards that was helping to train the newer ones. Reed told him the plan and gave him instructions on how to carry it out. “Alright lead the way.” Reed said to the guard that was waiting to take him to the princesses.
They soon arrived in the throne room, and the door opened to reveal a flurry of activity. At the head of the storm was Celestia issuing orders, like a captain at the head of a large pirate ship. The guard rushed in and told the princess of Reed’s arrival. Celestia nodded.
“You all have your orders! Fulfill them to your best of your ability. I need that train ready within the hour! Dismissed.” The Room dispersed, as guards and castle staff moved to obey the princess’ wishes.“Reed, thank you for coming so quickly. I have just received a Report that the attack was not by the Changelings. However that said we don’t know who or what is behind the attack. As a precaution I would like to send more guards and I would like you to go with them just in case.”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“Exactly.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Grab what you need, magical or otherwise.” Reed nodded, and was about to leave when Celestia spoke again. “Reed, I know you haven’t been here long and that we can hardly be called friends, but could you, could you please watch out for the elements?”
“Of course I will, and I would like to think we are friends.” Reed said with a smile and a bow, before he left the throne room to pack. As he walk the guard that had shown him to the throne room trotted up next to him.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened?”
“The elements are in danger and I am needed to help protect them.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Um, yes actually that is something, can you bring a good spear and a good sword to the train station for me? I have a feeling I will have need of them.” the guard rushed off to gather the requested items. Reed went to his room where he had been staying for the last few weeks. Reed looked over his equipment quickly, gathering items of magic and protection. Reed made sure to grab his jacket and pouch that held the mint leaves and other items for drawing out and sealing Solus from the host. Reed was about to leave when Star Lance burst in to the room.
“Reed, is it true? Is it Solus?” Reed turned to star lancer, forgetting the box of sealing he was going to grab.
“It is true that the changelings are not the attacker, but we do not know for sure who is.”
“Could it be Solus?”
“It could, but know way in knowing until I get there.” Reed said as he picked up his supplies and equipment and walked out of the room with star close behind the box of sealing lay forgotten in the bedside table. Star Lancer went back to Reed’s room after Reed had left on the train. She wasn’t sure why she had come back, today was her day off and she should be spending it away from the castle. Star huffed and turned to leave when a little carved box sitting of the bed side table caught her eye.
Reed was on the train racing to Tall Tail along with about fifty guards. None of the guards Reed knew except in passing and few that had spoken with him about training regiments. Reed was looking at the spears and swords the guard he had asked brought to the train station, there was total of four weapons, two of each type.For the two the spears one was shorter than the other, the longer of the two had a longer and wider blade, while the swords were very different. Both were the use of ponies to be held in their mouth, one was much longer and bigger and had a double edged, while the other was shorter and thinner. Reed focused on the two swords and pick up each one and tested its weight. Deciding on the larger of the two Reed focused his magic, and willed the handle and hilt of the blade in to a more fitting shape.The hilt formed with the handle to form a hand and a half sword. He sat back and inspected his work, Reed was astonished by on strong his magic was here. Back home the most he could will were things that already wanting to change to his will, and even then the results were poor at that.
Reed picked up the sword and gently move it about, it felt good and it fit well in his hands. Putting the sword away Reed turned his attention to the spears and remaining sword. The longer of the two spears, about eight feet, was more flexible and looked more for throwing, reed set that one aside and set the two remaining weapons next to each other. Reed again focused his magic and directed the two weapons to fuse in to one.The two eagerly jumped to together. The sword melting and interweaving with the wooden haft of the spear and lengthening the blade at the end. The pummel flowed down to the butt of the spear, reforming and reinforcing the end, while the wrapping used on the handle snaked itself around the haft. When the two finished forming the result was that of a sword spear with metal woven and wrapped in and around the once wooden haft, while the blade was longer and had a slight wave to it. Reed set the newly formed sword spear down along with the hand and a half sword.
Reed’s stomach growled, from the use of magic. Reed found something to eat out of his pack and then closed his eyes to rest until they got to their destination. The quiet babble of conversation and the click clack of the wheels the last thing he remembered.
In the distance storm clouds swirled and red lightning flashed. As a dark presence watched the little train move towards it. The ponies that had defended the next turn had escaped, but it wasn’t worried, the host was coming and soon it the darkness would consume the host and bringing ruin to the world. Dark laughter rolled like thunder across the land.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by ShieldStar 20
Fluttershy woke with a start as thunder crashed in to the town of Tall Tail. It was raining outside and the sun had only just risen. Fluttershy looked around to see if anyone else was awake. Applejack was just leaving for breakfast and waved at the shy mare before quietly leaving the room. Fluttershy stretched and quietly got out of bed, and move to get ready.
~
Rubbing sleep from her eyes Fluttershy left the room they shared. Quietly shutting the door Fluttershy trotted down the hall and toward the dining room. Where she found Applejack munching on some wheatcakes. Serving herself a few Fluttershy sat next to her friend.
“How’d ya sleep sugar cube?”
“Oh it was nice, there was a…foreboding feeling I had before I fell asleep though. Not that I’m complaining. I just thought I would…” Applejack nodded and finished chewing.
“You too huh? Ah Kept on toss’en and turn’en all night, and this here storm ain’t help’en none either.” They ate in companionable silence for a while. Once they were done they thanked the cooks and sat by the fire, waiting for their friends to wake up. The train pulled into the wet rainy station, thunder boomed overhead and the group of guards and Reed quietly unloaded from the train. Once they were unloaded the train raced away back the way it had come. The group then loaded their gear into a few carts and headed for the camp to meet up with the commanding authorities.
“Are you sure Star Lance?”
“Yes Princess Luna, I only wish I had noticed it when we left the room.” Star Lance and Princess Luna stood looking at an intricately carved wooden box. It was the box that Reed had forgotten on the bedside table when Star had burst in while he was packing.
“But why is it so important?”
“I think he called it the box of sealing. And that it was used to seal Solus.”
“Then if it truly is this important and if Reed truly is going to face that abomination then we must get this to him post haste. I will have a carriage readied and the fastest guards fly you there with this box.” “Yes Princess.” Star Lance Bowed and lifting the box into her saddlebag she quietly left to dawn her armor and get ready to depart.
Steadfast waited for the medical pony to finish rewrapping his bandages. That said, that didn’t mean that there wasn’t casualties. Steadfast’s group had been attacked by what he could only describe as Shadow animals. Wolves, bears, ponies, deer, and few smaller creatures, all surrounded by shadow and looking like corpses, bits of bone and glowing red eyes winking in the poor light of the storm. The shadows had seemed to swallow those who had died, a short scream before they fell to the ground. Steadfast shook his head to clear it, out of the ten guards in his squad only four others had survived, in total half his squad was swallowed by the darkness.
“Steadfast sir! Reports of from the recovery recon group have come in.” Steadfast nodded for the guard to continue. “The bodies of Ash Shield, Brisk Wind, Fury Hooves, Hard Light, and Golden Helm could not be found. In addition, Recovery lost two of its own, Blaze Spear and Quick Tourniquet.”
“Will that be all?”
“Yes sir!” “Dismissed, get some rest.” The guard saluted and left, Steadfast sighed and got up to make his own report and to write letters of condolence. Seven, Seven dead ponies under his command, dead by shadows no less. Steadfast stopped and let the rain run down his face, tears flowing freely. He gazed out to the ruins. Where red lightning flashed and illuminated the figures of shadow clad beasts and ponies alike.
Fluttershy followed the rest of the girls and their escort to the guard camp. It was still raining and despite Rainbow’s attempts to clear some of the weather the clouds simply flowed around the rainbow pegasus. So now they cantered along in relative silence, rain dripped off Rarity’s umbrella, and Twilights shield, which she had stretched over Fluttershy and herself. Applejack had to tip her hat more than once to spill the water from her brim. Pinkie Pie Happily hopped along splashing in puddles, much to Rarity’s chagrin. Rainbow Dash had kept trying to clear the clouds, but finally gave up and joined Twilight and Fluttershy under the shield.
“Twilight, do you think Spike will be alright?” Fluttershy asked. “Of course Fluttershy, Spike has learned from his passed experiences and is more than capable for taking care of the pets and watching over the library, and Angle bunny is good at taking care of your animal friends.” Fluttershy nodded and they soon arrived at the camp Red lightning flashing over the ruins of Whitetail.
Reed had listened to the reports of what had happened to Steadfast’s group and offered his condolences and praised the guard on doing what he could to save the rest of his squad.Reed was now studying the maps of the ruins that had been collected by the recon groups before Steadfast’s ambush. There was a slight commotion, and Reed looked up. The Elements of harmony had just arrived and were heading for the edge of the camp to use the elements themselves. Reed followed them to the edge and be held the ruins with his own eyes. The shadow seemed to be massing in the center of town square and red lightning continuously struck the roiling mass of darkness. A single shadow started to form and grow upwards, forming a towering human-esk figure. The shadows moved, the darkness its-self shifting. Two eyes, the color of a burning night, opened.
"Harmony." Says the voice that sounded like a mountain rolling and yet is as quiet as the summer wind. It drew a blade the color of blood and the shadow moved like a thick miasma out of the center of the square. Colorless except for the occasional sparkle of deepest blue and purple, and Red lightning crashing down around it.
“Solus.” Reed said with all the finality of a death sentence.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by Shield Star 21
Star Lance had left that night the chariot being pulled by the two fastest guards Princess Luna could find. At first Star had declined the chariot, “I insist, two of the fastest guards shall pull it, and should there be battle upon your arrival you shan’t be exhausted from your travels. A unicorn couldn’t teleport you because they would be unable to maintain the level of magic to teleport you and themselves that distance without causing magical burn out or worse.”The two guards were preparing to land in the square of Tall Tail. Below in the square was another guard waiting for he to land. The chariot touched down with a slight bump. Star hopped off and cantered over to the waiting guard.
“Star Lance, I was told you have an important package.”
“I do, we would have sent it by magic but there was a counter spell on the box.” The guard nodded.
“Then we must be quick, when I left the thing had just started its assault.” With that Star followed the guard out of the town. The two guards that had pulled the chariot through the air, pulled the chariot out of the way, and went to the inn for a much needed rest.
Reed leaned over the table studying the maps of the ruins that had been collected by the recon groups before Steadfast’s ambush. A murmur hummed through the tent, the Elements of Harmony had just arrived. Reed left the tent and greeted them, before they were all lead to the edge of the camp to use the elements themselves. As they approached the hill overlooking the ruins of whitetail town reed noticed the movement of many shadows. The storm made it hard to see but, the shadows seemed to be massing in the center of the town square. Red lightning continuously struck the roiling mass of darkness. The concussive rolls of thunder could be felt with each impact. The shadows twisted and merged, a single shadow grow upwards, forming a towering bipedal figure. The shadows moved, the darkness its-self shifting. Two eyes, the color of a burning night, opened.
"Harmony." Said a voice that sounded like a mountain rumble but was as quiet as the summer breeze. It drew a blade the color of burnt crimson and the shadow moved like a thick miasma slowly towards Reed and his friends. Colorless except for the occasional sparkle of deepest blue and purple, and Red lightning crashing down around it.Where the lightning struck figures of the shadow nightmares clawing from the ground.
“Solus.” Reed grimly confirmed what they all feared. This ancient foe had followed him here. As if the world it infected wasn’t enough. As if the torture and pain it thrived on couldn’t fill its thirst.
“I Told You Would Be Mine. And You Refused Me. I Told You To Give In, And You Refused Me. Now I Will Take Everything You Hold Dear And Take You By Force. You Are Mine.” The very air rippled, the stones cracking under the power of the voice. Many of the ponies knelt covering their sensitive ears. Fluttershy was shaking so bad behind Applejack that the farm-pony struggled to stay in one spot. The rest of the elements weren’t much better, but they stood their ground.
Reed stepped forward, “you will never win,”
“Spare me the heroic speeches, you and I both know I very well could win.”
“Then why do you hesitate?”
“Um, Reed maybe we shouldn’t antagonize the big scary shadow?” Rarity called.
“Oh, don’t you play the naive card on me, we know how powerful you are.”
Star followed the guard down the road at a gallop. “Where are we going? Surely the threat hasn’t gotten this close to Tall Tail.”
“No we would have evacuated the town if it had.No we are going to our base of operations. From there the designated unicorns will teleport us to our forward base of operations the elements only when through this morning and the human moved up a day before that.”
Has there been any word on the situation?”
“No word yet, all reconnaissance stopped after the ambushes.” The two soon arrive in the large camp ponies in guard armor practicing drills and doing equipment checks. They cantered to a stop outside a command tent, just in time for the lead of the Magical transportation division to exit. “Captain Portal, we have arrive with a top priority package to be delivered to the forward base of operations. Can you arrange transport?”
“Under who’s orders?”
Star stepped forward, “I am under the orders of Princess Luna herself, to deliver a key asset to combating the entity known as Solus.” Star Lance took out the scroll The Princess had given her before she had left. The captain read over the orders and gave them back to star.
“Right this way, I will have my unicorn ready for transport via teleportation.”
~
“Oh, don’t you play the naive card on me, we know how powerful you are.” Star stubble for the teleport, but quickly regain her footing and galloped off to find Reed.
“It only depends on if you are willing to use that power,” Reed shrank back, “Use it Reed, Let me in, let your true power show, Un-“
“No.” Solus stopped, “I will never lose control and ravage the world with my power. I won’t be you.” Solus lunged forward at Reed. The mass of shadow crash down like a tsunami if darkness.
“Girls now!” the other five jumped into position at twilight’s words. The elements around their necks glowing with power. A shield formed in front of the cascading wall of darkness. The immense mass slammed into the shield, the darkness rippling and writhing like smoke and water. Twilight opened glowing her eyes, as the rays of a rainbow shot forth from the element of magic. The rainbow struck the darkness burning it away, cracks of light began to form with in the darkness.The cracks grew and expanded pure light pouring forth from them. The form of Solus stumbled back falling to its knees, the light of the rainbow unrelenting. Solus lifted its head a silence scream as the light consumed it, the shadows crumbling like sand filtering through an hour glass.
As the light of harmony receded, the element bearers returned to the ground. Reed squinted hard into the swirling dust, eyes still dazzled from the light of harmony.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by Shield Star 22
Star Lance galloped through the camp, when the looming shadow of Solus rushed down. A flash of light and the rainbow light of the elements of harmony burst forth. The shadows cracking with light. The cracks grew and expanded pure light pouring forth from them. The form of Solus stumbled back falling to its knees, the light of the rainbow unrelenting. Solus lifted its head a silence scream as the light consumed it, the shadows crumbling like sand filtering through an hour glass.
As the light of harmony receded, the element bearers returned to the ground. Reed squinted hard into the swirling dust, eyes still dazzled from the light of harmony.A Spear of darkness shot out and impaled Reed. It burned like acidic ice as Reed cried out, Dark laughter slinked from the settling dust. Huge glowing red eyes loomed out of the dust the cloud. A hand as big as a house shot forward, slamming and pinning Reed to the ground. It began to crush Reed, the sharp bone and rotted flesh it was comprised of slowly lifted its prey into the air.
“RUN! RUN AS FAR AND AS FAST AS YOU CAN!” Solus’ hollow laugh boomed, like thunder. “Do you really think they can escape me? What foolish wisp of hope, do you truly delude yourself with? HAHAHA, YOU, ARE, MINE!” the giant hand pulled Reed into the darkness as Solus Spoke, soon there was nothing left, but a reaching hand. Soon even that vanished with a soft ripple. The world rocked and hundreds of corpses clawed from the ground each shrouded in dark fog.
Star saw the Elements of harmony blast the wall of Darkness, and she slowed a bit as the shadows cracked and dissolved. ‘Did it work?’ Star continued to slow, when suddenly there was a cry and shadows exploded up and loomed out of the dust cloud. “Ahaha, did you really think your pretty colors and warm feeling could harm me?” Star redoubled her gallop, practically flying at the huge shadows. “RUN! RUN AS FAR AND AS FAST AS YOU CAN!” Souls’ hollow laugh boomed, like thunder.
“Do you really think they can escape me? What foolish wisp of hope, do you truly delude yourself with? HAHAHA, YOU, ARE, MINE!”As she crested the ridge she saw Reed’s hand vanish into Solus.
“NOOOOoooAAAARRHHHHHH!” Star screamed as she charged in a battle cry already ripping from her throat. The Ground shook and the dead rose, Star didn’t stop, she bulled through, jump over, dove under. Her lunar guard’s blade spinning like a top about her.
“AHAHA! What is this?” Solus crowed in delight, “You want him back, Soo much? By all means, come on in.” and the shadows too swallowed Star Lance.
There Was a Flash of pure Light and Solus Froze, however the dead rushed the living.
~>Inside Solus
Reed floated in nothing but pain. Senses of his friends dieing, horribly continued to play before him, Applejack tried to buck at a skeletal bear, only for a skeletal wolf to bite her throat. Twilight was chased down by a hoard of decomposing snakes each leaping on her back before she finally stopped twitching. Pinkie dodged swipes from the bear that had attacked Applejack, when too late her pinkie sense warned her from below and monstrous rotted badger sprung.Claws ripped up and in, Rainbow Dash dove a second too late to save her pink friend. Suddenly a boney bear claw broke and mangled a wing and a pack of rotted rats swarmed her as she crashed to the ground. Fluttershy tried begging with the dead animals, but one of the missing royal guards barreled into her, trampling her. Rarity and a few guards fended off the attacking dead for a moment but a bolder crushed the group, a white leg struggling for a moment more before shuttering and lay still, blood slowly staining the pure coat. Others died and Reed thought he saw Star Lance Charge only to be gored in the neck, by a missing guard. Again and again he saw them die, and others die, and more and more die, the nice doctor, the strange cook, his father, his mother, his grandparents, if he knew them they died in horrible ways again, and again, and again. “AAAARRRRHHHHHHHHhhhhhh?” a bright light appeared out of nowhere, and yet if reed had to say it appeared from behind him. “Where the hay am I now?” the visions of death faded as Reed turned towards the light. “Reed? Is that you? About time it feels like I’ve been running through this cursed thing for hours.”
Star charged through the inkiness of Solus as it enveloped her. It was decidedly uncomfortable, cold and hot, wet and sticky, thick like dirty fog. Star lit her horn to see Reed laying upon the ground before her, still and grey. But he was too grey not even his closes had color. Star charged passed dragging her sword through the fake. On and on she charged and over and over she came across Reed dead, but each time the illusion proved a vital flaw. After what felt like an hour of running Star Stopped and flared her light spell. “Enough of this! Where is he!?”
“HAHAHA You Think I Would Just Give Him Too You, Little Tiny Pony? No He Is Mine And He Is Dead. Give Up.”
“Never, if you won’t give him back then I will take him from you!” Star Lance Reared up kicking.
“But Which One Of Us Is The Real One?” Out of the inky fog ten Reeds slunk in to her light. “HAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA.” They chuckled darkly to themselves.
Star slammed into the ground a wave of light cascading away from where she struck. The False images of Reed hissed as they dissolved, and Star Again charged forward. But the illusions soon changed, instead of reed already being dead more and more often Reed was dying and calling out for her. Star flinched at first when she galloped to them only for them to lash out with a boney claw. Now Star concentrated a beam of light on the dying causing them to hiss and dissolve. On and on she ran in till she came to a large stone rotunda. “Reed! Reed! Answer Me Please Where Are You!?”
The sound of malicious laughter echoed and rebounded around the rotunda. “I’m here!” Reed called from off to the left. “NO, I’m Here!” again Reed Called this time from the right. “No it’s lying, I’m here!” “Liar, I’m Down Here!” “Star Please, I’m Right Here!” over and over the calls of reed became more and more desperate and numerus.
“Stop It! Please Stop It! why are you doing this!? Stop!” Star’s Light flickered and shrank as she collapsed to the cold stone floor tears in her eyes. The Calls Stopped, the air tight with the anticipation of someone about to win. Star Lance Sobbed, as her light shrank to illuminate only her. Something flickered out of the corner of her eye, and she turned. A ghostly figure of yellow light was kneeling next to her, it looked like reed. It reached out and touched her horn. ‘Remember my touch, remember my soul, feel my heart, and see your goal.’ And her light winked out.
The Darkness Rushed in only to be held barely back by the light of the figure. Star heard sobs, and pleading for it to stop, “don’t hurt them, hurt me instead, Please No, NO, Noooooooo, nonono…” The yellow figure slowly pointed and to a small yellow light winking not far off. ‘Remember my light, and feel your soul, go forth and achieve your goal.’ Star Lance rose to her hooves, and ignited her horn the light exploding like a flare in oil, “REED! I’M COMING! AAAAAAARRRRHHHHHHHHHH!”As Star charged once more. A forest of trees appearing before her, then blistering cold tundra, until finally she was in what seemed like an endless maze of a burnt out house. But she never lost that tiny yellow light.
Twilight blasted another rotting corpse with magic, doing her best to fend off the hoard of dead. The huge figure of Solus crouched frozen, light and shadow marbled every part of it. Twilight wasn’t sure what had happened to stop it, but for the moment she was concerned with holding back the hoard while her friends got far enough away.
Wisps of shadow shot out for the towering figure, quickly followed and vaporized by bolts of light. The guards focused of keeping the shadowy hoard contained, but it was a battle they were quickly losing. For a hundredth of a second multiple wisps of shadow shot out and curled away. The light sparked and crackled catching most of the wisps in a beam. Another beam lashed down at the shadowy hoard melting the shadows that gave the corpses life.
“Star Lance, How did you Get here?”
“I Saw you get grabbed, I came to get you out of hear.”
“You’re not real, I saw you die.”
“Saw me Die? As if I-“
“Why are you doing this to me?!” Reed screamed into the darkness.
“Who the hay are you talking to?”
Leave hear out of this Solus!” Star took a step back.
“Solus? Solus! You Think I Am Solus?! After I charged screaming into this black hearted thing? After I saw you! Dead before me! After again and again I ran to your body only for it to be a fake!? After I Charged on and on through the dark with only your fake corpse to tease me? “
“Star-
“Even when you came out of the dark begging for help, dying always dying! NO! I am not the black Evil thing called SOLUS! I almost Gave up! Almost gave in! But You!” Star Reared and slammed the ground with her front hooves, a wave of light crashing around Reed. “You came to me when I begged, Begged! And Every single one of you was a lie! ‘Remember my touch, remember my soul, feel my heart, and see your goal.’ That’s what the yellow figure said! That’s what you said!”
“I-I, ‘Remember my light, and feel your soul, go forth and achieve your goal.’ I remember saying those words when I Cleansed Solus from you. Star it is You!” The two hugged briefly.
“Come on we have to get out of here, what did you mean when you said you ‘Cleansed Solus’ from me?”Star asked as she turned back the way she had come at a brisk trot.
“It was when this whole mess started, you had just started viewing my dreams and watching out for Solus.”
“I think I remember, there was that one time when Solus tried to get at me.” They were already making their way through the Burnt house, and soon star saw the cold icy tundra bordering the lush forest.
“It did get to you, the slightest contact with Solus is enough to give it a way in, where it can really start to do damage. There are signs of a person being infected with Solus… any way I saw one of these signs and knew I had to act. When I cleans someone from Solus I ended up leaving a trace of my aura, soul, being, whatever you want to call it behind.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Star stopped, “we are going nowhere.”
“Huh?”
“We keep running through this stone rotunda and entering another just like it.”
Reed growled in frustration, “Solus is manipulating the space to trap us. We need a guiding light or some other line out of here.” Reed looked around for a way out.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Reed sighed, “I didn’t tell you because it was too dangerous for you to know you had contact with Solus. Why? Because if someone who does not know how to properly guard against Solus and has the chance to repeatedly encounter Solus, the best way to protect them is to place a ward and never mention it to them.”
“But… why?”
“Because by giving them knowledge of Solus counteracts the ward to hide them. Solus finds hosts and victims by sensing the fear directed, or really any emotion or thought, at it. Thus rendering the ward useless.”
“Okay. So how do we get out of here?”
“You Will Never Escape Me! Because Sweet ReedWon’t Use His Power.”
“You could always let us go.” Star shot.
“HAHAHA, And Lose Such A Delectable Morsel As You? Never!”
“Reed any ideas?”
“Star how did you get here?”
“I Charge forward mostly, but that doesn’t seem to be working.”
“No, it doesn’t. What else, did you use a spell or..?”
“Just my light spell, sometimes I charged it up or focused it.”
“I See.” Reed put a hand to his chin, thinking.
“Why can’t you use your power?”
“Because, by manifesting my power Solus can drink it up. It’s like turning on a water tap and drinking from it. But maybe…”
“Maybe what?”
“You Think I Would Just Let You Rest And Think? Heh Heh.” “Come on we have to move. Put as much power as you can in to you light spell.” The two charged once more in to the shadowy arch, Star poring power in to her light spell.
Twilight took another step back and the hoard of dead continued to batter against the shield sheet ha the other unicorns where casting. A crack started to form in front of her and she redoubled her spell. The light and shadow behind the hoard continued to spark and clash. The form of Solus still hadn’t moved since the unicorn guard had charged in. a few other guards had tried to go in after her but the sheer number of corpses had driven them back.
‘Twi---- Twili—t, pleas- Twilight! Ca- you –ear me? If –ou –an, --ease, fo-us on –end-ng –n m-y -ur-‘s t-uch. We-eed –ou as – g-id-ng li-ht, pl-as- -wili-ht –ocus.’
Twilight blinked, and looked around, the sound of the hoard and battel had all gone very quiet. Rarity was speaking to her but she couldn’t hear her friend. Rarity brushed her sweaty frazzled mane away from her eyes and gestured in front of Twilight. Twilight turned to see a spider web of cracks had formed in her part of the shield. Twilight ramped up her spell’s power and the cracks quickly mended. What had that been, it had sounded like Reed, but distorted- REED! Her epiphany almost caused her to lose her hold on her spell.What had he said to focus on? His touch? Twilight thought about when Reed had saved her from Solus. What had he done? She remembered the horrible fake Celestia, and the bright yellow light. The Light, is that what he meant? His aura’s touch? She remembered it’s kind warm glow, and the feeling that everything was going to be okay right then, that no matter what happened that everything would turn out okay.
There was a flash of blinding light and a beam of yellow shot forth from her horn piercing through the hoard and into the swirling mass of light and dark of Solus.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by Shield Star 23
A beam of yellow light came shooting out of the surrounding darkness it's warm glow pierce the vail of shadow like warm sunbeams. The void filled air shook around them as Solus shrieked in pain and rage. Reed spread his arms wide as if to give the beam a warm hug. It struck him in the chest and his aura flared bright. Solus's shadows retreating in the intense flash of light and power. Star shielded her eyes from the light and was soon blinking in the overly bright light of the storm. They had made it out of Solus! The roiling mass of shadows billowed and squirmed behind them. All the shadow risen dead crumpled to the ground some disintegrating entirely; as the dark power was sucked back into the roiling mass on shadow.
Reed turned to face the looming mass. "NOW it is my turn!" Reed raised his arms to his chest, slamming his fists against his Breast before flinging his hands towards Solus, fingers splayed.
“Come, come darkness unto me.
Let my light set you free.”
The roiling mass started to spin and funnel toward Reed's out stretched hands. The auric light also spinning in a cone towards the dark mist.
“Come, come darkness unto me.
Let my light finally let you see.”
The light coming off of Reed was like a small sun, if it weren't for the rain no one could have look at the sight directly. The rain caught and refracted the light, causing the landscape to sparkle and dance. The powerful yellow beam revitalized, and healed the damage and wounds of all it touched.
“Come, come Darkness unto me.
Let the light me heal thee.”
Now the roiling shadows were swirling in to a compact orb between Reed's hands. Solus screamed and raged, spears of darkness shot out, only to be stopped by arcs of yellow light, before being funneled back in.
“Come, come darkness unto me.
Let me seal you so others can be.”
"Twilight! Ready the elements in case this doesn't work." Reed shouted over his shoulder over the cries of Solus and the cracks of lightning. "In case what doesn't work? The elements didn't work before!" Twilight shouted back, trying to gather her friends and pick their way through the scattered remains of the horde. "They'll work trust me!" The roiling mass of shadows was almost gone now a small form could be seen in what was left of the dark mist. The spinning cone of light sped up and the arcs of lightning writhed, striking all around the small figure.
An arc of red lightning shot from the figure at Reed but was meet with an arc of yellow. A second arc of red shot past exploding harmlessly on the dirt. “Stop Fighting Solus! Let Me Help You!” a scream of pain and rage was all that was given in reply. Solus charged the blood red eye locked, hand gripping a blood red sword, point aimed for Reeds heart. “come in, and rest.” Reed whispered.
The point of the sword struck its mark. There was a great sucking sound like a huge plug had been pulled from an equally large tub. There was a moment before the sword slide into Reed and kept sliding. It did not however, slide out the other side.
Solus tried to let go backpedaling hard, but it was too late. With a might whoosh and a KRACK of yellow Lightning. Solus, the sword, and all the Darkness that Reed had gathered in his hands, was sucked in to Reed’s Chest.
With a mighty BOOM, the sky was split with sunlight. The storm dissipated leaving only a few cloud to lazily drip rain on the land.
Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by Shield Star 24: To the Stars
There was a long silence, only the soft patter of rain disturbed the air.
"Did it work?" Reed turned to see it was Fluttershy who had spoken. The other five friends where not far behind her. "Not yet." Reed said starting to shake.
Star trotted closer to Reed, digging through her saddle bags. "This is why I came you forgot this in your room." Star said distractedly. After a moment Star pulled out a small wooden box with carved designs of sealing. Reed's veins were starting to become visible as dark lines spread from his heart. The shaking was getting worse and Reed fell to a knee. Fluttershy started to rush forward with her friends and Star. "No!" Reed said quickly waving them back. “get ready to use the elements. Star quick the box."
Star floated the box into Reed's out stretched hand. Reed gripped it hard and focused his aura around it.
"From darkness to light and from light to darkness. I move the mass of evil to this vessel." The dark road map that was showing his veins traveled down his arm and into his hands. Before, like ink seeping from a sponge, the darkness that was Solus spilled from Reed's hands and into the open box. The craved designs began to glow like burning embers. Solus flowed from Reed, on and on, and despite its small size the box never over flowed. The designs glowed hotter and hotter. Starting from the dull glow of embers to the cherry red of hot metal, until they were the iridescent orange of melted iron.
Though Solus was being poured in to the box of sealing Reed was still shaking. He started to loss balance but was quickly stabilized by a small shoulder.
---Star Lance---
On and on the process went, the lines of black flowing and twisting down Reed's arms and into his hand, before being consumed by the box.
Star looked away from the box, at Reed. Blood leaked from his eyes and nose. A fearsome snarl was fixed in place as he concentrated on the box. His skin was sallow and grey, though arcs of yellow energy still jumped across his skin.
A drop of darkness fell from his arm, only to be caught by a few of the arcs and pulled back.
"How can I help?" Star whispered concernedly.
"Keep me up right and believe that this will work." Reed growled as three more drops jumped and were caught.
Star leaned in harder careful not to push him over, and focused on Reed. She focused not on the fact that this was killing him but on the fact that he would be able to seal Solus and they would make it through this.
Despite all her trust and belief a drop escaped. Then another and another. Reed was shaking so hard by now that his head was bouncing, but his eyes never left the box. Star dug her hooves in and did her best to keep Reed stable and to catch the drops with her magic.
"Twilight now." Star barely caught the whisper as it was weak and jerky.
"Twilight the elements! Use them now!" Star screamed.
"Buy you and Reed-!" Reed's hands, which until this point had been steady and firm started to shake as well.
"NOW!" There was a flash of multicolored light, a sense of flying then nothing but that little glowing box and the darkness flowing in to it.
---Twilight---
"Now!" Twilight sparkle, applejack, rainbow dash, Fluttershy, rarity, and pinkie pie, all regretted what they had to do. The elements fired the rainbow if harmony at Star lance and Reed. It enveloped them before pinching them in to the sky. A sonic boom bursting from the column of light, the arcs of light rippled out but soon dissipated.
Fluttershy began to cry, Pinkie Pie's mane fell flat and straightened. Rarity rubbed Fluttershy's back struggling not to cry herself. Applejack covered her face with her Stetson. Rainbow sunk to the ground, wings limp at her sides, a look of pain and anger on her face. Twilight sat tears in her eyes, guilt and grief chewing up her insides.
Twilight's eyes darted across the sky as if searching for answers.
"But they'll be back, right? Reed said he wouldn't leave without a going away party." Pink Pie sniffed hopefully.
"Yes. Yes! Yes, they have to come back! The elements of harmony can only banish what is out of harmony. Therefore once Solus is sealed..." Fluttershy stopped crying and looked up at Twilight.
"Then they will come back."
The others looked at her then at each other. They all looked at the sky, colored a bright hopeful blue, with its few clouds. A smile pulled at Twilight’s lips as relief soothed her. Yes, Reed and Star Lance would return. But how long until then?
"Um Twilight? The others are heading back to the inn. Do you want me to wait for you?" Twilight turned to look at Fluttershy.
"That's okay Fluttershy, I was just thinking how this all started."
They shared a smile before turning to join the others.
"Twilight?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think the princesses will let us give Reed and Star Lance a window?" Twilight laughed putting a fore leg over the yellow pegasus’s shoulders.
