> Lunar Plight - [Displaced]
>  by Netloids Ultimatum
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> [0] - Prelude to Knightfall
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

John Marsh tightened his grip on the RWBY inspired foam Keyblade as the crowd became thicker. An entire two hours crawling through the Orlando Megacon drove him absolutely crazy. Sure, he had his sister with him, but it was her fault in the first place! She knew he couldn't handle crowds, yet she insisted he come today. Of course, if the Rooster Teeth Q&A panel ever got around to opening, it may be worth it. He glanced down to the Keyblade, it's jagged yet futuristic rubber casing a beautiful crimson above the black undertones of the foam blade. He smiled as he read aloud the teeny silver cursive painted onto the base of the blade, just above the guard. "Crescent Rose."

Trudging through the crowd became slightly easier as he felt his sister's hand plant itself on his shoulder, guiding him to an empty hotdog stand. Smiling to the vendor, she ordered two batches of fries, and took John towards an empty table nearby. "Sooooooo...." She began, placing her purse down and stifling laughter towards the absurdly spiked hair their mother had styled for John that very morning. "....how are you liking it?"

The boy glanced down at the fries a waiter had just placed in front of him, frowning.
"It's loud...and....there's a lot of people here, obviously. Kinda a rough setting to throw me into." He answered, tugging the collar of his black shirt. He opted to not put as much effort into a costume as his sister's painstakingly detailed JoJo cosplay, seeing as he'd likely never put himself in a situation like this again. Her outfit could only be described as bright, the teal trenchcoat and matching pants having costed her a small fortune to make. The white shirt beneath the coat however, was a cheap tank top they had purchased at their local shopping center.

"You get used to it, promise." She gave a genuine smile, and tilted her head ever so slightly, finally taking a bite out of her fries. John did the same, quickly scarfing them down. As the two got up to return to the main area, a young woman approached them, her lavender hair swaying as she did so. She held a small basket barely big enough to carry anything she may have purchased. "Excuse me!" The woman called, earning the attention of the Marsh siblings. "Would you like a Totem of Undying?"

"Uhm-"

"Sure!" Connie piped up. "How much?"
The girl smiled, and John's stomach began to twist. 'Must have been something in the food.' He thought, shrugging it off.

"This is spare stock that we've been giving out to Con-Goers the past few months as a promotion for the Minecraft Cave update. Fell free to take one for each of you!" She held two up by small teal clips. They were some sort of metal totem, painted gold with two green slashes representing eyes. The girl clipped one to Connie's purse, and the other to the chain of John's keyblade. John let out a nervous smile, glancing to Connie, who nodded. "Thanks...uh...?"

"Tara."

"Thank you Tara, but we should get going now. It's been a pleasure meeting you."

"Likewise John! Hope to see you again!"
And with that, the girl walked off, leaving the two to continue their time at the con.

'Wait...did she just call me John?'

Connie quickly tore him out of his thoughts as she checked her phone. "The Rooster Teeth panel starts in ten minutes! Let's get going!"

《♤♡◇♧》

The Rooster Teeth panel was uneventful. RWBY Volume 9 would be delayed due to continuity errors on Miles Luna's part, and the rest of the panel consisted of people asking of Yang's new arm could turn into various weapons such as a cannon, a sword, or even a flail. Today was the day John had learned that no, Yang sadly could not turn her arm into a full sized trebuchet. Either way, it was a disappointment. One that Connie herself took the blame for on the car ride home. "I'm sorry you didn't like it...I just wanted us to have fun together. Did you at least enjoy some of the stuff we bought?"
John rolled his eyes again, looking out the passenger window. "It's not that I didn't enjoy it, because I did. It's just...are they normally that crowded?"

"Crowded? That one was dead. Anyways, music?"

"...sure."

Connie fiddled with the stereo, only to receive static fuzz. "Huh. Normally we get signal out here." She turned a knob, pressed a button, then a few more. Still fuzz. John shrugged, and gazed back out the passenger window again. A shadowy figure stood in the grass a few dozen feet away, staring back at him. The boy blinked, and glanced back at the stereo that Connie was still messing with.

"It's okay," He started; "the quiet is nice too."

"No," The girl responded, glancing back to the road ahead of her. "You wanted music, so you'll get music."

"Connie, it's fine-"

"No, I can get it." 

"At least watch the road-!!" 

She jolted up, her eyes meeting the truck straight ahead of her. As she attempted to fix the radio, she had veered into the opposite lane, and directly into the path of a sleep deprived trucker, who just couldn't steer away in time. Connie twisted the wheel to the right, only for the truck to clip the back end of her car, sending it spinning, and eventually tumbling, all too quick to comprehend. John heard screams, whether his own or his sister's, he was unsure. Then a pop, followed by a green flash. As the vehicle finally stopped, wheels up, his vision began to go black.
Another pop and another flash, and he drifted into unconsciousness.

Tara watched from a distance, regret plastered oh so clearly on her face. Turning, she walked off into the night. Everything had been set into motion. "Please, please be worth it..."

《♤♡◇♧》

The Everfree forest was a treacherous place. Untouched by Equestrian magic, and happy to consume any underprepared pony who dared to enter the sprawling forest.

Yet Twilight Sparkle along with her newfound allies had managed to not only find their way to the Castle of the two Sisters, but summon the Elements of Harmony as well, and fight Nightmare Moon head on. Yet here Twilight sat defeated in the throne room of the ancient castle, the larger mare cackling above her and her friends. "And thus, thou art defeated. Face demise, little pony!" The mare's horn glew cobalt as she readied her final spell, one Twilight knew would kill her. She closed her eyes, awaiting for the impact that never came. 
A collection of gasps was heard from behind her, and as she opened her eyes she could only marvel at the heavily armored bipedal figure in front of her. As his girthy sword pushed against the Alicorn's horn and held back it's magic, he looked to Twilight Sparkle. His glowing purple eyes shining through the horned helmet that covered his entire face in a dirty and rusted grey, he let out a scoff. "Only a fool would trust six children with the fate of the world." He stated, his gruff yet booming voice leaving a momentary look of disbelief on the face of Nightmare Moon. "Find cover, Lady Twilight, and take the fractured Elements with you. The princess is on her way."

The armored being faced Nightmare Moon again, pushing her to the ground with his sword. "It's been far to long, Luna." He took a step forward, a chain wrapped over his left shoulder and hanging near the right side of his hip clanking against his armor as he did so.

Nightmare Moon stood again, also taking a step forward, her wings flaring as she sized up her new opponent and readied a spell once more. "Indeed. Treachery shall not be forgiven, Garland!"

The being known as Garland raised his sword as Nightmare Moon fired her magic once again, only for it to circle around him, seperating into several smaller projectiles. The blade of Garland's sword launched itself from the hilt, revealing a ten foot chain connecting the two as he swung it around, absorbing the magical blasts into his weapon. Nightmare Moon ducked under the blade as he did so, launching herself at him as she narrowly avoided the circling chain. She made impact, launching Garland into the retreating ponies who had barely scampered out of the way. Gripping his sword tighter, it began to glow an evershifting color, the dark rainbow aura nearly unnoticeable. Garland climbed back to his feet as the cackling Alicorn approached. "If I cannot defeat you this way, then I'll simply have to-" 

"Enough" Another voice boomed, this one more motherly and welcoming. The two opponents looked towards the entrance to the throne room. There stood Princess Celestia, alongside Twilight and her five friends, all wielding the newly repaired Elements of Harmony. Nightmare Moon's eyes widened at the glow of the Elements, and with a quick flap of her wings, she took to the air through the decaying roof. Celestia took to the skies after her as Garland dropped his sword to the floor, unwrapping the chain on his torso. Spinning it behind him, he tossed one end high towards the dark Alicorn, who failed to notice it flying through the air until it had wrapped around her left wing, seemingly smelting into itself and ensnaring her. She let out a gasp as Garland tugged the chain towards him. Celestia readied a spell of her own, blasting Nightmare Moon back into the throne room, where Garland tugged again. "Now Lady Twilight, fire the Elements of Harmony!"

Snapping out of the state of awe she had found herself in, Twilight closed her eyes, the glow of her and her friend's Elements glaring through her eyeslids. Garland closed his own eyes, feeling slithers of the blast being absorbed into his mighty sword. Then, something different. He felt something was off as the blast stopped. He opened his eyes, expecting the worst, only to find his pony allies staring towards the end of the room, where a sniffle and a sob was heard. Celestia was first to approach, lifting a pony half her size out of the rubble. Garland recognized this pony, and made his own approach as she began to stand. Plunging his sword into the floor beside him, he bowed on one knee, lowering his head. 

"Princess Luna….welcome home."

Celestia cleared her throat, and motioned for the knight to stand. "Sir Garland, as much as I would like to….discuss your presence tonight, I feel it would be best if you took these six brave ponies back to their homes."

Garland crossed his arms, before pulling his sword from the floor and turning to the six ponies behind him. "Let's go."


《♤♡ Several Hours Later ◇♧》

John picked himself up from the cold brick road, only partially aware of his surroundings. "Connie…?" He called; "Hellooooo??"

A cold hand met his shoulder from behind, and a gruff voice whispered into his ear. 
"I'd suggest you keep it down boy. Your presence here will alarm the citizens."

John jumped forward before he finally bothered to turn around and look to the man. A knight adorned in rusty old armor that had very clearly been a shining silver at one point stood tall with a mighty broadsword somehow sheathed on his back. A horned helmet covered his entire face, and the clear shreds of what was once a decorative royal purple cape pinned to the fronts of his shoulders and hanging just below his shoulder-blades flapped in the winds of the night. John let in a slow breath, as he grasped what he was seeing. "Your…Garland, from the first Final Fantasy, right?"

"First?" The man questioned.

"Uh…yeah."

"I see. Yes, I am Garland, however, I am not a threat to you. I didn't expect to find another human in this world for a very long time... Follow me to my home. I will take care of you until I can safely introduce you to this land's ruler-…ruler's."

John narrowed his eyes at the knight, tightening his fists. "Whoa! Stranger danger, no way! You think I'm gonna fall for this?! Where's my sister?!" A cold metal in his grip suddenly made itself known to the boy, and his mind raced as he glanced down at Crescent Rose. 

"I do not know wherr your sister would be, or if she was even transported with you."

"Bullshit! We were together at the con, then….the crash….where is she?! Tell me before I beat it out of you!"

Garland let out a deep laugh, one that echoed across the night sky even after he stopped. "A key? You mustn't be serious boy. I've no intention of harming you, but even then you will not defeat me with an oversized housekey."

John let out a growl. "Then I'll show you! I'll kick your ass and make you give me Connie back!"

Garland smirked under his helmet, unsheathing his sword. "Do not hold this against me, child."

John charged, swinging his Keyblade to the left as he did so. Garland thrusted his sword into the ground, effortlessly blocking the attack, only for another blow to harmlessly bounce off of his armored torso from the other side. "You are fast, however…" Garland pulled his sword from the ground, and readied another swing. "…you do not have the strength or equipment to even make a scratch in my armor!" Swinging the flat of his sword into the boy, Garland chuckled as he flew through the air and into an alleyway nearby. Hs made his way fo the alley, eyeing the unconscious figure slumped against the now indented wall of someponies brick home. Yet it was all to easy. He shrugged, heaving the boy up.

"Twilight…I can only pray you've made the right choices."




《♤♡Journal Entry #1◇♧》

Name: Garland/Real Name Unknown
Source: Final Fantasy (December 18, 1987)

Garland has been around Equestria for a very long time, and although he holds some sort of connection to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, it seems to be strained. His disappearance four-hundred years after Nightmare Moon's banishment seems to have had some effect on Princess Celestia as well. Garland's sword is capable of absorbing even the strongest of magic, protecting him from magic based opponents very easily. The mystery as to how he knew of Nightmare Moon's return, and where she would be remains just that, a mystery.




Name: John Marsh
Source: [???]

John Marsh has always been an avid lover of flashy fantasy and sci-fi entertainment, even going as far as to handcraft a Keyblade based off of Ruby Rose's (RWBY) own weapon, Crescent Rose. He shuts out the world, opting instead to lose himself in a good book, of even an interesting show. Although his personality is lacking and his social skills are on par with a plastic cup, his fierce loyalty to the few friends he does have makes him a phenomenal ally, and an even better friend.




Name: Connie Marsh
Source: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 

Connie Marsh is a sucker for all things anime, and she isn't afraid to show it. Although we haven't learned much about her, we do know that she was in fact brought to Equestria alongside her brother. We'll update this entry once we find her!




Name: Tara
Source: [REDACTED]

The future can still be changed, that much I've learned. Nothing is set in stone, yet at the end of the day, Chaos always reigns above our world. I will set things right. 

《♤♡◇♧》

Garland sat his teacup down on his small wooden comfortable, placing his helmet back upon his head as hoofsteps echoed through his cabin. "Garlaaaaaaand…? I'm back!"

He let out an annoyed grunt as a smaller purple Alicorn entered the room. His curiosity increased tenfold at the  human figure slumped on her back.
"A little help?"

"Of course Princess Sparkle." Garland grabbed the figure bridal style, taking note of it's punky outfit. It was very clearly a female, adorned in a teal trenchcoat with matching jean pants and white top underneath. Her brown hair was tied into a singular ponytail, and her blue eyes open, yet glazed over. The knight kicked a door open, leading to a long corridor, doors of all shapes and sizes scattered throughout. Reaching a dull brown door his own size, Garland kicked that one open as well. Inside sat two beds, one of which was occupied by the boy with the key. Setting her down into the empty bed, he left the room, raising his hand and casting a star shaped seal upon the door, locking it. Returning to the livingroom of his cabin, he found Princess Twilight Sparkle refilling his teacup, as well as filling one of her own. She took a sip, and passed Garland's own cup to him as he sat down, which he placed to his right. "So…" She began, nervously eyeing the knight. "…now that Princess Luna is back to normal, do we even need the Light Warriors?"

"Yes."

"Nightmare Moon is gone, and now everything should be back to normal. Why would we need them? We can find the Nexus on our own."

Garland sat up, lifting his helmet enough only to sip his drink. Swallowing the hot tea, he placed the cuo back down and let his helmet fall over his mouth once more. "The Light Warriors will ensure things STAY normal. It is just as you predicted all those years ago, Twilight."

"My prediction has been proven inaccurate over and over and ove-"

"But this time you were dead on. All of this was set into motion because the Nexus of Evil escaped unseen, correct? So now we track down the Nexus, and end this hellish loop." Garland stopped, softly gazing into the mare's dark purple eyes. " And once we do, all of this will disappear. You would have had no reason to summon me, and you'd have no reason to hunt down and displace the Light Warriors. Thousands of years of pain, all gone in an instant."

"Garland…the Chaos that the Nexus of Evil brought….I don't think it can be stopped. You weren't there when it ravaged my home and destroyed the future. If we aren't careful, it could happen again."

"Then you've answered your own question. The Light Warriors can defeat the Chaos. Have you found the other two?"

Twilight Sparkle glanced to the floor, a frown evident on her face. "…no…"

"Then keep looking tomorrow. Get some sleep Twilight, and I will keep the children safe."



《♤♡Garland Report #1◇♧》

Twilight has been traversing through the worlds using some sort of mirror. I don't fully understand it, but I suppose I don't need to. My job is to train the Light Warriors and keep them alive long enough to either see the rise of Chaos, or destroy the Nexus of Evil that possessed Princess Luna centuries ago. Whichever comes first, I have faith in Twilight's plan. It was her who taught me how to not only use spells, but to tap into my Mana and develop my own.

That boy recognized who I was, and said "from the first Final Fantasy?". The first? That would imply they made more. I wonder what they would be at now? I wonder….what year it is back home?
So much has happened today, and I haven't even made contact with the Princesses yet.

I can only wonder, once Chaos is defeated will I be returned home, or will I be erased?




《♤♡Secret Report #1◇♧》

Garland is right, the Light Warriors can belp us track down the Nexus of Evil, allowing us to stop the rise of Chaos before it even happens. The Elements of Harmony have been restored, and Nightmare Moon defeated. That makes Chaos less likely to emerge so soon, which will give us more time to prevent the Great Decay.
> [1] - Warm Welcomes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A shake awoke John from the peaceful slumber he had found himself in after his one-sided fight woth Garland. "C'mon, get up!" A voice demanded. A familiar voice, John noted. One that had long brought him comfort. "….Connie…?"

"Yeah, now get up. We gotta out of here."

'Get out of here?' The boy thought, suddenly remembering the events of the past twenty-four hours. "Connie, what happened?" His eyes met her own, and she sighed. "I don't know. I don't think we're dead though, not yet at least."

"Right, let's go." Pulling himself out of bed, John gazed around the dimly lit room they had been put into. An exit was on the wall opposite of their beds, but was sealed off by a glowing purple chain with a lock directly in the middle. "I've already tried everything…" Connie told her brother, glaring at the door. "….but it won't budge."

A chill ran through John's hand as Crescent Rose appeared involuntarily once again.

"Whoa, what-?!"

John pointed the tip of the Keyblade adjacent of the lock, and closed his eyes. He imagined himself in a pitch back void, firing a beam of light upwards into the outline of a keyhole. A screech filled his ears, and his eyes jolted open. Connie could only stare at him, wide eyed, and pointing to the door, babbling incoherently. He looked back to the exit, noting the purple particles of energy fading away from it, and the missing chains. "Let's get out of here."

He ran out of the room, his sister swiftly following.

《♤♡◇♧》 

The royal garden of Canterlot Castle was quite impressive, even by Garland's standards. As he stalked through the bushes and vines of flowers and shrubbery he came across an old statue, one he hadn't seen in centuries. Atop a carefully carved marble platform stood statues of Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and himself, with his statue being placed in the center holding his mighty sword skyward, with Celestia and Luna airborn on his left and right. The paint had long chipped away to reveal the grey stone, and vines had overtaken it to the point where not a soul would be able to make it out. Yet on the marble platform clear as day and untouched by yhe growth was nailed a plaque reading; "The Good Knight, Garland."

Gentle hoofsteps became louder as Princess Celestia approached him from behind, stopping a mere five feet behind him.

He looked upwards towards the statue's depiction of himself again as he chuckled. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
The hoofsteps resumed until Celestia sat down at Garland's left side. Finally, she too looked upwards to the statue. "Indeed, reminiscent of a harder, yet…more fulfilling and less lonely time. Back when the three of us stood together to face the darkness of this world. I still remember the day we found you, fighting off Timberwolves and Manticores for bits in the southern towns. It was a sunny day, much like this one."

"Yes, I remember."

"Why did you leave Garland?"

He looked down to the Alicorn, staring into teary eyes. He opened his mouth, but found no words as Celestia rubbed herself against his armor, akin to a cat and it's owner. "Luna's banishment changed you Garland, it changed me too. I hoped together we could create a better world for her to come home to."

"Princess…"

She stared him in the eyes again, wiping away her tears. "Why did you leave?"

Garland kneeled down to a knee, embracing her as he did so. "Had I stayed, things would have gotten far worse. I blame myself for Luna's jealousy, and each day I would cry for her, hoping she would come home. After you abandoned the castle, I took up residency once again, maintaining it until it's reached the unlivable state it resides in today. I left because…"

《♤♡◇♧》

Connie was thrown backwards, the wooden beast pursuing her airborn figure as John rushed in, Keyblade in hand to stop it. Swinging the blade down upon it's left hind leg, it let put a whimper and turned it's attention to it's attacker. Connie landed at the base of a tree, struggling to maintain conciousness as John fought the timberwolf that had jumped them just before they had reached the exit to the forest. The beast raised a claw, aiming to crush the boy under it, only for the Keyblade to strike it's wrist, dismembering it with a mighty crack.

It let out another whimper as it attempted a retreat, only for John to sprint after it, jump up it's back, and hack away at it's neck. As the whimpering died down, the boy made his way to his sister, picking her up over his shoulder. "Almost….there…." The last thing he expected to hear was Tara's voice.

"Unfortunately, I can't allow you to leave the forest. Not yet."

John slowly turned to face the voice, as to not disturb Connie any further. But Tara wasn't there, and a small sized lavender horse, bearing wings and a horn, spoke in her place. "Please, Garland told me about what happened, and I can promise you he means well! Come back with me to the cabin and I'll explain things further."

John's eyes narrowed. 'A talking pony?' His grip on both Connie and the Keyblade tightening. "Garland? He attacked me! Why would I go back there?!"

"Did he attack you, or was it the other way around?"

"Other way aro-?" John thought back to the previous night. Garland had helped him up, and asked him to come to the cabin, but Connie was still missing, and John had thought Garland had took her. And she was at the cabin when they woke up! "Alright, look! I attacked him, but he kidnapped my sister!"

The pony took a step forward, only for John to take a step backwards towards the treeline.

"Garland didn't kidnap her. I found her just inside the forest and brought her home. It was only by coincidence that Garland found you hours beforehand."

"Beforehand?"

The pony took a step forwards again, noting that John didn't take a step back in turn. "Yes, beforehand. Now plea-"

"Why should I trust you?"

The pony hung her, closing her eyes. "I haven't had the opportunity to show you that you can trust me, but I want to change that. I can help both of you find your way home."

"….home?"

《♤♡◇♧》 

The shine of Luna's horn dimmed as darkness filled the sky. The soft glow of her moon shining upon the land, she retreated from her balcony, stalking to her bed only to find a hulking armored figure sitting there, helmet removed, and the shadows of the room obscuring his face. Two lavender orbs blazing through the shadows turned to face her. "I've missed you Luna." 

Laying onto the bed next to him, she placed her head in his lap. "We have missed you too, Sir Garland."

Garland looked through the balcony door, gazing to the shining and proud moon lighting the night sky.
"Celestia couldn't do it justice no matter how hard she tried, you know."

Luna stayed silent as Garland removed his right gauntlet, revealing a scarred pale hand. The hand made it's way to the Princess' mane, slowly stroking it. "Even she agrees. She wept for centuries, awaiting your return."

"…really?"

"Of course. She loves you Luna."

"We are aware, yet cannot possibly see how our sister would-"

The hand made its way to Luna's left ear, stroking and scratching along the way. "Forgive you? Tell me, were you in control?"

"…I don't.…know..."

"I don't believe you were, dear friend. I don't think you were." Beneath the shadows Luna swore she could make out a faint smile. "And neither does she."
Garland grabbed his helmet and gauntlet, donning them once more. He reached for Luna, picking her up and placing her on the middle of her bed. "Rest well Princess. I will be returning to my cabin in the Everfree forest tomorrow morning. I do hope you will see me off."

"Always."

"And remember, you can always stop by for a visit. I never moved."

"We will keep that in mind, noble knight."

Garland made his way to the large double doors leading to the endless maze of corridors that he dreaded traversing. As he opened one to peak out however, he breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Celestia sitting on her hind legs, poorly attempting to cover up her eavesdropping. "Everything alright Princess?"

"Of course Garland. And please, no need to be formal." 

Garland scoffed, walking past her and to the right.

"The guest's quarters are the other way, Garland."

"I knew that." And indeed he did, and hopefully his intentional misdirection would convince Celestia to walk him to his room, saving him hours of frustration. 

"Suuuuuure, I wouldn't doubt my dearest knight."
She said as she walked alongside him. Garland smirked under his helmet as she did so, before finally asking a question that had been bugging him since his visit began. "Your guards, they don't seem the slightest bit fazed by me. Even the old guard's trembled in my presence, thanking Faust they fought by my side. What has happened?"

"Each and every member of the Royal Guard is taught the legend of The Good Knight Garland. All of these ponies, they recognize you, and most strive to achieve the level of strength and honor you have in your millenia of service. Although each and every one gives it their all, the closest any has come is the Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard." She stopped as she reached a stained glass window depicting Garland standing toe to toe with an armored and pitch black unicorn, sword meeting jagged horn as Celestia and Luna rained spells from the sky above.
"Shining Armor used to spend much of his time inspecting this very window, memorizing each and every panel and promising that one day he too would fight alongside us against such threats. Of course, he didn't know who "us" was. I was forced to erase public knowledge of my sister as time went on."

Garland nodded. "Otherwise knowledge of her return would have caused an uproar of fear."

"Exactly. I could not bring myself to rid of…certain memorabilia, however."

The two continued walking, quiet for a time before they finally reached the guest quarters. Garland reached for the knob of a nearby door, twisting it open. "Your company is much appreciated Princess Celestia, but I fear it's time I turn in."

"How I'd love to, but until Luna gets back into the swing of things I promised to take up Night Court when she needs me too."

"Very well then, best of luck."

Garland walked into his room and closed the door, leaving a frowning Celestia on the other side. "It isn't the same without your presence, old friend."

《♤♡◇♧》

John sipped the tea from his cup, staring at the talking pony, who he learned was an Alicorn named Twilight Sparkle. She had been explaining this world to him for the past several hours. It's past, it's physics, and even potential ways home. She followed the last topic up with "It's a bit dangerous, and could take years to figure out."

Finally Twilight spoke again. "This may seem odd, but did you or Connie bring any crystals with you?"
John shook his head, leaving Twilight to follow up. "Alright, and you said that the….Keyblade...was fake before you came here. May I see it?"

The boy summoned Crescent Rose, handing it to the Alicorn. Looking over it closely, she made her way to the keychain, where a metal rose hung, a small and foggy white crystal snuggly placed in the center, emitting a dim light. "Interesting…" The first Light Warrior had been found. "Now, did your sister bring any similar items?"

"I don't know. I don't think so."

"Would you be willing to let me check her? Under your supervision of course."

"Just don't….undress her…"

The two made their way to the living room where Connie slept peacefully on a small couch, light snores filling their ears. Twilight's horn lit up, and from within Connie's breast pocket came a string necklace, it's silver pendent adorned with a similar crystal, yet lacking the dim glow of John's own. "I'll need to alert Garland to this immediately. That's all I need for tonight, so you can go ahead and get some rest."

John nodded and took a seat near the couch. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep content that him and his sister would return home….

Meanwhile Twilight approached the door her own room, just across from Garland's. Opening and walking in, she grabbed a sheet of parchment in her magic, along with a quill and ink.

'Dear Garland
I've confirmed that John is one of our warriors.     His sister though….she has a crystal lacking a glow. I don't remember anything like that and I wanted your input on the matter, seeing as you've never steered me wrong before. Aside from that, has your reunion gone well?'

Twilight dipped her quill back into the ink and brought it back to the parchment.

'I can only hope so. That's all I have to report.
-Princess Twilight Sparkle'

She rolled the parchment into a scroll and sealed it, before setting it aflame in a nearby lantern.

《♤♡◇♧》

Garland awoke from his slumber to the sounds of flame and a light tap on the floor. Leaping out of bed, he prepared an ice spell. Calming down as he finally saw the letter on the floor illuminated by the light of the morning sun, he dissolved the frost building at the tips of his unarmored fingers. 
He reached down for the scroll and opened it, reading over it's contents. A crystal lacking a glow? What an interesting development. He burned the letter with a fire spell, and grabbed his own parchment and quill.



《♤♡Garland Report #2◇♧》

Reunions are a fickle thing. I have been gone centuries, and today I have been reunited with my dearest friends. But something feels off. Either way, I am….content. Twilight has been increasingly paranoid lately, and I understand why. Once we find the other two Light Warriors, we will hunt down the Nexus of Evil and put an end to this cycle of pain.

That's how it was supposed to go. The human girl has a crystal, but it's lacking it's shining glow. That worries me. We'll figure it out. Perhaps I'll join Celestia for breakfast before I go home.

《END REPORT》

Garland sat the quill down, gazing to his armor stacked neatly in the corner of the room. Walking to it, he started with the chest area first, then the legs, and finally the helmet. He wrapped the chain over his shoulder and placed his sword in his back. Exiting the guest quarters, he made his way to the dining room, all the while hoping they still held stocks of meat for outsiders and ambassadors.
> [2] - Arrivals & Reveals
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily stumbled out of the shrubbery, adjusting her green wizard hat as she did so. Everything had happened to fast, and even now she had trouble comprehending it. She had attended a con when a woman named Tara had offered her some sort of totem and told her to find Garland, only to be dragged through some sort of portal hours later, the costume she wore seemingly shifting and tightening around her. It was only once she awoke that she realized she had become the goat mage she had been cosplaying; Ralsei. Taking stock of her possessions she had found a small foggy crystal wrapped in her magenta scarf, a dim glow resonating off of it as she held it. 

She had woken up in the woods near a mountainside town, a great castle perched just above it. For hours she sat observing the town, perplexed by the society of multicolor ponies. That's when she decided to make her way towards the town, sticking to the shadows. Her fur increased the heat tremendously, much to her dismay. She made her way towards the castle, taking note of an armored figure standing outside and speaking to two ponies far larger than she had seen previously. The two had both wings and horns, yet Lily payed them no mind as she approached the armored figure, recognizing it as the antagonist of a game she had beaten many times over. "Excuse me….sir?"

The armored figure looked down to the goat girl, who held out the crystal, now glowing brightly.
"Would you happen to know a Tara?"

《♤♡◇♧》

Twilight adjusted the black cloak as she strolled through the Ponyville market. She approached a stand carrying vegetables and fruits, the cobalt pegasus stallion behind it smiling at her. "The usual load, Ms. Lavender?"

"Please?" Twilight levitated a small stack of bits to the shopkeeper, noting that the crystal in her breast pocket was now faintly glowing. "Thanks Blur."

Blur nodded, lifting a harness over Twilight's back, who tightened it around her. The pegasus pushed a medium sized cart piled high with produce over to the cloaked mare, connecting it to the harness.
"All set Ms. Lavender. Anything else?"

"I normally wouldn't ask, but I'm quite busy today. Would you be able to pick up a cake from Sugarcube Corner? Chocolate please, with strawberry frosting?"

Blur nodded, motioning for another approaching mare to order. "I sure can, but it'll have to wait until the day is over. Pa would be awfully upset if I bailed on the stand."

Twilight smiled and nodded, beginning her trek back to the cabin. Nearing the edge of the forest, a voice called out to her. "Excuse me!" A unicorn mare of similar size trotted to her, the baby dragon on her back sending a chill down Twilight's spine. "It's pretty dangerous in there, do you need help getting through?"

Twilight scoffed, looking to the version of her native to this world. "No thank you, I'm fine"

"Are you sure? The Everfree Forest is a bit wild-"

"I appreciate the offer, but I've made my way through this forest hundreds of times."

The baby dragon on the unicorn's back piped uo at this. "Hundreds?!"

"Sure have. I live in this forest. I have for years."

Unicorn Twilight's eyes widened, an idea popping into her head. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to guide us through later on, or perhaps teach us how to navigate it?"

"I'll think about it. I'd better get home though. Goodbye Twilight, goodbye Spike."

The unicorn and dragon let out their goodbyes in unison, Princess Twilight noticing the glow out of the breast picket of her cloak once again. She reached into her cloak, grasping Connie's now shining crystal.
She looked back to the unicorn and dragon that were now several dozen feet away.

"Is Spike…?" She looked back to the crystal, it's glow even stronger despite the two being out of sight at thid point. "But he couldn't be…could he?"

《♤♡◇♧》 

The pegasus' flying the chariot took off once more, leaving Garland and Lily just outside the rubble of the Castle of the Two Sisters. "Come, my cabin is this way."

The two trekked deeper into the forest, walking in silence for what felt like hours. At long last they came across large wooden cabin, clearly in need of repair. A cart and harness lay outside by the door, which was currently wide open. The two entered, finding Twilight placing groceries into one of the cabins storage freezers. 

"Miss Sparkle, I believe I've found ourselves the second confirmed Light Warrior."

Lily stepped forward, holding out the glowing crystal.
Twilight gasped, smiling and bouncing as she did so. "Absolutely wonderful! I happen to have a lead on the third!"

"Oh really?"

Twilight pulled out Connie's crystal, now glowing stronger than ever. "It started after I came across Spike at the edge of the forest."

"Really? And is Spike here?"

"No…? I couldn't bring him back."

"Twilight, come sit in the living room with me. You too Lily." The three made their way to the living room, Garland pouring a cup of tea for each of them.

"The crystal's shine will only be maintained around it's chosen bearer. It's still shining."

"Wait, so-?"

"Twilight, if I didn't know any better, I'd say the crystal has chosen you to be the third Light Warrior."

《♤♡◇♧》

The Keyblade dissapeared from John's hand as the final timberwolf fell lifeless to the ground. For hours him and his sister had scoured the area around the cabin for beasts to fight. Connie had been fighting each one by hand as well, which proved quite a task. The two exchanged glances, as they collapsed tp the ground, exhausted. The air around them heated up, and it wasn't until the two fell that they noticef the area around them darkening. Connie landed on the couch of Garland's cabin, and John on the floor.
Garland stood at the entrance to the kitchen, staring at them. "My apologies. I don't practice teleportation spells often."

Twilight and Lily emerged from the kitchen, each holding a plate of chocolate cake. "Now that everyone is here," Garland began; "I'd like to introduce you all. John has already met Twilight Sparkle and myself, but to keep things in order, I am Garland, and this is my associate Twilight Sparkle. She is to be referred to in public as Ms. Lavender. She is one of four Light Warriors. The other's being John, and Lily." He gestured to the anthropomorphic goat in wizard-like garbs. "Connie is an anomaly. She was brought here despite her unimportance to the grand picture-"

"My sister is plenty important-!"

"-and while she is not a Light Warrior, she will be traveling with us as one temporarily."

Connie raised her hand, and Garland scoffed.
"This is not a schoolhouse girl, you may ask questions freely."

"Uh…where did they get cake?" She asked, gesturing to Twilight and Lily. 

"I'm getting to that. In one weeks time we will journey to Canterlot Castle to meet Princess Celestia and formally get the three-" "Ahem." "-er, four of you set in. Afterwards we will begin a search for a most dangerous being, the Nexus of Evil. We will also search for the fourth Light Warrior, hoping they've already found themselves in this world. Cake is in ths kitchen, and you may each have a slice."

The Marsh siblings rushed to the kitchen, leaving Garland to sigh. "These are the children who are meant to save the universe. Utterly brilliant."

《♤♡◇♧》

The week passed quickly, and soon Garland had found himself stepping onto the platform of Canterlot Station, the four warriors behind him following suit. "Welcome to Canterlot, shining capital of Equestria."

The stroll through the train station was a short one, as Garland held out his hands. His gauntlets pulsed a dull orange light, as a rift slowly formed in front of the five. Stepping through, they found themselves at the gates of the castle, shocking the two guard ponies. "I, Garland of the Everfree Forest, seek an audience with Princess Celestia."

"And the five-"

"Will be coming with me."

The two guards glanced at each other, gulping.
"Understood, Sir Garland. You may enter."
The gates of the castle opened, and the Light Warriors stepped through. One of the guards followed behind, leaving the other alone at the gate.

Once inside, another guard swiftly led them to the throne room where Princess Celestia resided. After the initial shock of the four figures behind him, she smiled, not expecting to see her friend so soon. Celestia dismissed the guards; "Equestria's most trusted ally stands in this room. You are all dismissed. I'll be safe." As the last pony left, so too did Celestia's calm demeanor. "Garland, my dearest friend! You've returned to visit so soon?"

"I only wish the terms of my visit weren't nearly as dire."

The princess stood, slowly stepping down the steps in front of her throne, and towards the group. "Oh? You don't often come to me with your problems."

"Our problems." Twilight tore the cloak off with her magic, staring up at her former mentor with tears building in her eyes. "It's been…so long, Princess Celestia." The princess let out a quick breath, analyzing the purple mare. 

"She is not of our world, Celestia. Your own Twilight Sparkle is currently in Ponyville, squeeing over tickets last I checked,-" "-I didn't-" "-but that's only the start of it." Garland gestured to the three figures behind him, all of whom stood wide eyed as the large Alicorn gazed upon them. 

"What is this, Garland?"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle prophesied millenia ago; Nightmare Moon was just the beginning, for soon followed the Changeling Queen, the God of Chaos, the King of Darkness, and the centaur locked away in the belly of Tartarus. The sudden clutches of conflict Equestria found itself in would bring an even greater threat out of hiding: The Nexus of Evil. It's power would take form in the body of a bipedal winged beast, sucking life from the lands and destroying all who opposed. Four heroes not of our realm would emerge to fight the threat head on; The Light Warriors. Each bearing a crystal, they would defeat the Nexus, restoring the crystals spirit, and rebuilding our home."

Celestia listened closely, her gaze not once leaving Garland. "And these warriors…." She gestured to the three bipedal figures behind him. "…they are the one's you speak of?"

"Two yes, the third Warrior is Twilight herself. We've yet to find the fourth."

"Garland, how long has this been-?"

"Since before the day we met."

《♤♡◇♧》
《-November 2, 1989-》

Leon struggled to keep the books in his arms from falling as he walked through the library of his highschool. Through the rows of books he found a group of twelve hovering around a table. Upon closer inspection one would notice then hovering around sheets of paper, dice, and a box labeled "Dungeons & Dragons".

Leon walked up to a boy his age, with slicked back blond hair and a blue letterman jacket. He tapped the boy's shoulder. "Hey, there ya are Leo! Here's a sheet, get your character ready! We've got a few new additions; Jeffrey, Jimmy, Bill, Tara, and Miles."
The four new boy's threw up peace signs or two fingered salutes, while Tara simply smiled. Leon gave the five a thumbs up, before introducing himself. "Hi there, I'm Leo Kassidy, vice president of the school's D&D club. If your here, you either know the game, or want to know it. Ask Terrance here-" He gestured to the blond boy. "-any questions, and get yourselves set up." Having said that, he sat down at a nearby desk, filling out his character sheet. 

"Garland."

《♤♡◇♧》

Celestia's frown was quite evident once Garland revealed his knowledge, but she quickly shook any doubts away. "I don't quite understand why you felt the need to keep this from me…but I will aid in any way I can." In truth, she trusted his judgment. Three thousand years of friendship will do that to a mare after all. Twilight trotted to the princess, looking up to her with tears still in her eyes. "I was the one who insisted we keep it under wraps until the time came. Garland wanted to tell you, but I…."

John spoke next, yet only in the slightest whisper; "I'm so confused." Connie nudged him in the ribs with her elbow, silencing him. Celestia chuckled. "Siblings I assume?" 

"Very much so."

"Either way, I understand why it was done. I can only thank you for informing me now."

Lily piped up at last, an uneasy look on her face as she did so. "If I may ask, what leads do we have?"

"None. Now that Nightmare Moon has been defeated, we wait for the Nexus to strike a second time and hope we can cut it off before it manifests into Chaos." Garland replied, turning back to the girl.

"And if we can't?"

"Then we fight against Chaos head on, with Celestia and Luna evacuating the nation. Only once it is defeated will Equestria bother to rebuild."

"You don't seem so confident in our ability to stop the Nexus of Evil, Sir Garland."

"In truth…I'm not." 

"I can have an airship ready for you by tomorrow. Until then, you may stay here, using the castle's amenities as you see fit. Garland, the library may have some information beneficial to you all. Twilight…I would like to have a word with you."

《♤♡◇♧》

《♤♡Garland Report #3◇♧》

Twilight spent much of tonight with Princess Celestia as the children and I scoured the royal archives. All we found were documents and studies of magical residue left behind by Nightmare Moon after her banishment. These residues seem to have possessive and bonding properties, latching to a host and slowly working their way into the soul and mana reserves, poisoning one's spirit from within. I'll be smuggling some of these studies out of the library before the warriors awaken tomorrow.

Connie, the girl, seems under the weather. I'll have to see to it that we bring a doctor aboard the ship for the voyage.

Twilight seemed a notch happier when she returned to our quarters. I can only wonder what had transpired in the moments her and the princess shared

《♤♡◇♧》

Celestia let out a sigh as Garland and the children left the throneroom. "Twilight, there's much to talk about." She took a step towards the smaller mare, before wrapping her left wing around her. "What happened? In your world?"

"I don't think I can-"

"I understand, but eventually I will need to know these things, so that we can face this threat accordingly." She gave Twilight a small smile. "Care to join me for cake?"
> [3] - Antics (mostly) on the Airship!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The deafening hum of the airship's magical engine assaulted Connie's ears as Kaid, the unicorn pony that Celestia had assigned to the crew for first aid, readjusted the thermometer in her mouth. "A bit high, Ms. Marsh, but you should be fine. Get some rest, and I'll let Sir Garland know that you'll be back in action in a day or two. It's just a fever. Our best action is letting it run it's course."

"Sure thing doc…"

The white unicorn left, his golden mane bouncing as he did so. Making his ways through the halls of the airship, he eventually found himself at the upper deck, where Garland and Twilight sat chatting over tea. "Sir Garland?" The knight turned to the unicorn, before reaching his hand out and materializing a third chair. "Kaid! Come sit, friend!"

"Of course sir." Kaid did as asked, sitting in the newly conjured chair. "Ms. Marsh seems to be running a fever. The best course of action is to let it run it's course."

"Run it's course it shall. Our first goal is to trace the magical residue Nightmare Moon left behind. HIGHWIND!" A brown pegasus sporting a grey vest and aviator goggles peaked up from behind Kaid. "Yes sir?"

"TO PONYVILLE, AND WITH HASTE!"

"Of course sir!"
Highwind bolted off, leaving the three together again. Twilight poured a third cup of tea before speaking. "We can't thank you enough for joining us Kaid."

"It really is my pleasure, I'm honored to be part of something so important." 

Garland chuckled as Twilight passed the cup to Kaid. "Don't get in over your head boy. This is a treacherous journey, one that will dictate the fate of the world." Twilight nodded in agreement, and the three continued to chat.

Meanwhile John stood towards the front of the ship, watching peacefully as the ground miles below blurred past at an almost nauseating speed. Never in a million years would he have expected himself to be in this situation, and only now it dawned on him that this wasn't a dream. What did his parents think? What we're they doing now? He didn't have long to ponder as a fluffy hand tapped his shoulder. "You alright? You seem a tad down."

"How could I not be?" John answered, sighing. "Everything I know and love is gone. I'm stuck here on an airship with ponies, a giant knight, and….Ralsei."

Lily giggled, adjusting her hat. "Would you feel better if I made a bunch of yummy cakes?"

"Garland would more than likely go crazy over you wasting our food supply." He stood straight up, walking towards the entrance to the bowels to the ship. Stopping just shy of the door, he looked upwards to the sunset. Turning back, he headed into the airship. Lily frowned as she watched from the railing of the deck. "I don't understand it either, but…we can only hope it all comes to pass." She peered over the railing again, eyeing the sunset. 

Meanwhile, John ventured further into the bowels of the ship, searching for the room belonging to him and his sister. Pushing a door open, he peered inward, finding a dark room devoid of much decoration aside from a few pictures of the two princesses the group had met the night before, and a few books. "Self help for Royal Guards? Dungeons and Dragons Official Rulebook…Dr. Sweet Hearts' Guide to Confession…? Wha…" A sneeze from the next room over broke him out of his thoughts. Leaving the mysterious room, he quickly made his way to the one next to it, knocking this time.

"Doors open." Connie called out, leaving John to gently open the door. "Hey, you alright?" He asked, sitting on his own bed.

"I'm running a fever, but sure."

"Anything I can get you?"

"Maybe some water?"

The boy got up, leaving the room. Connie groaned, her headache pulsating. A split second image of a dark humanoid figure at the foot of her bed made her jump, her cranium colliding with the top of the bed as she did so. Rapidly examining the room around her, she found no one. Mere seconds later, John re-entered the room with a cup in his hands.
His eyes widened at the sight of his sister's paling face and shaking hands. "Connie..?" Breaking away from her shock, she gazed to her brother, quickly accepting the glass that had been extended to her.
"You alright?" He asked, watching her gulp down the cold water. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Setting the empty cup on her bedside, she took a deep breath. "Maybe I have…"

John shrugged. "Either way, I'm here."

"I know you are. One of few I can always count on."

《♤♡◇♧》

The large griffon smirked as he exited the small town armory. Pulling a bag of bits from beneath his left wing, he chuckled. "To easy. This is getting boring!" Letting out a long sigh, he went on his way.

This was Fefnir, a smalltime crook in the townlike outpost of Kyüle. Not that he had always lived here. 
As he passed a group of unicorn foals he tossed them a few bits, smiling as he did so. A necklace bounced off of his chest with each step, the small crystal pendant hanging off of it pulsating lightly, then stopping. A hum was heard overhead, catching his attention. An airship, about seven miles above the town. And yet he thought nothing of it until he spotted the brightly colored sun emblem plastered on the sails above the ship.

"Guess I won't be bored much longer."

With a mighty flap of his wings he took to the skies, racing towards the ship at breakneck speed. Despite his speed, it was several minutes until he finally caught up, gripping into the wood on the side of the ship, well away from any windows. Slowly crawling up the sides of the airship, he kept an ear out for footsteps. Finally the griffon crawled over the edge and onto the deck, dashing towards the entrance to the bowels of the ship. Sneaking in, he smiled.
"Still all to easy."

《♤♡◇♧》

"Easy or not little griffon, I think you'll find it much harder to escape." Garland cracked his knuckles, and looked to Kaid at his side. "Alert Ms. Lavender we have an intruder."

"Yes Sir Garland!" Kaid scampered off, leaving Garland to enter the ship alone. Holding out his hand, translucent black bars appeared over all entrances to the ship's innards, before dissapearing.
"Yes, much harder."

《♤♡◇♧》

Fefnir stalked through the ship, carefully planning esch step. Peaking through a doorway he found a fluffy bipedal figure adorned in green whipping away at a mixture of batter. At least he found the kitchen.
Sneaking past the door, he failed to notice the figure perk up, tiptoeing behind him.

"Now intruder, I think you've come far enough." Garland's voice boomed, leaving the two to jump.

The griffon whipped his head towards the voice, eyes widening at the sight of the gargantuan armored figure before him.

"You will leave my ship immediately or perish within it. Ultimately, it is your choice."

Lily went into a defensive stance alongside Garland, still holding the bowl of batter in her arms. Fefnir carefully surveyed the situation, before doing what any logical being in his situation would do: Smirk and lower his upper body, preparing to pounce.

Garland waited patiently (yet not long) for the griffon to attack, thrusting the flat of his sword forward as Fefnir pounced towards him, knocking the  quadruped backwards and following the attack with a heavy fisted right hook. Realizing he stood no chance against the knight, Fefnir rushed past him only to be knocked off course by the batter Lily had launched towards him. Garland let out an audible wheeze, clearly entertained by the girl's impeccable aiming. Fefnir swiftly corrected course, zooming through the halls and out of sight. Lily took off after him, with Garland turning around and walking through the hall in the opposite direction.

John exited his shared room, narrowly avoiding the feathered being that bolted past him and into the engine room. Summoning Crescent Rose and stepping forward, Lily collided with the boy's back, knocking both of them forward. "….ow…" 

"Sorry!" The girl meekly apologized, lifting herself, and then John, up. "It's alright. Let's just find out what that was. It went into the engine room."

Lily nodded and John led the way through the door, traveling deeper into the room. Inside of the engine room was nothing short of amazing, a maze of pistons and gears lining almost everything in a room seemingly bigger than the ship itself, all surrounded by a familiar lavender glow. "Isn't this Twilight's magic?" John questioned, before jumping at the sound of a thump. Behind him he found a large griffon, presumably the flying….thing that had passed him just moments before. With it's left claw, the griffon drew a rapier from beneath it's right wing. "Alright lad-" Fefnir's eyes fixated on the crystal lodged within his Keyblade's chain. "-hand over the crystal in that there keychain! It'll make a fine companion to my own!"

His own? John snuck a glance at the griffon's upper chest, and sure enough a necklace rested. Not just any necklace however, a crystal necklace not unlike the ones Lily, and Twilight possessed. "Well brat, I ain't got all day!" The boy surveyed his surroundings, noticing Lily's absence. Had they split up? The room seemed to expand and clear out, yet John couldn't really tell. Hadn't it always been like this?

The griffon lunged forwards, and John ducked, swinging his Keyblade upwards into Fefnir as he did so. The griffon recovered midair, and grounded himself in front of John, swinging his rapier wildly. Blocking each strike, John concentrated his thoughts. 

In mere seconds, Fefnir had gone from the offensive to the defensive as he narrowly dodged a point blank lightning strike. He circled around John, who's Keyblade lit a dim yellow. Again, lightning emerged from nothingness, this time surrounding the boy and clipping Fefnir's wing. Letting out a scream the griffon lost control, crashing directly into an armored figure. The very same armored figure he had escaped not ten minutes ago.

"As I said, your choice."

《♤♡◇♧》

After strapping the griffon's wings to his body, and being alerted of the crystal he possessed by John, Garland stood against the railing of the airship holding Fefnir by the back claws above the rapidly moving sea of forests and towns. Twilight now held a second crystal around her neck, hiding her laughter at the scene unfolding before her.

Garland shook the griffon lightly, resulting in a scream. "I'll ask you again, who sent you."

"No one! I saw your ship overhead and had planned to ro-VISIT! Yeah, visit!"

Another shake. "ALRIGHT, I WAS GONNA ROB YAH! PLEASE PUT ME DOWN!"

"As you wish."

Garland let go, and the griffon quickly plummeted towards the earth below. Twilight's eyes widened as she rushed fo the edge of the ship. "GARLAND-"
A portal appeared below the griffon just before he met his end, his momentum dying just before he fell through, tumbling into a dimly lit stone cell, the roar of an engine piercing his ears as he fell into unconsciousness. "…I'm gonna….stab that prick…."

《♤♡◇♧》

The sounds of crickets echoed through the night sky hours later, our warriors having finally found themselves on the outskirts of Ponyville.

"I told you I had the situation under control."

"I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO ACTUALLY DROP HIM!"

"He's in a cell in the bowels of the ship! He'll be fine."

"Maybe physically, but that poor griffon is gonna remember that drop for a looooong time."

Garland scoffed, him and Twilight continuing down the ship's exit ramp and into the town, John and Lily following suit. The four passed through the sleeping town unaware of the cloaked figure stalking then nearby. One could faintly spot the blue fur of the stealthy pony as he avoided the streetlights of the town.

"Who was that anyways?" John asked, shivering as a breeze graced the cool night air.

"That-" Twilight began; "-was Fefnir. A smalltime crook that seemingly emerged from nowhere. That isn't a joke either. He has no government records, no traceable bloodline…even Griffonstone can't find anything on him."

"Indeed." Garland commented. "The fact that he also has a crystal concerns me. We've no room for distrust." The group of four was now just outside the Everfree forest, leading the stalking pony to raise an eyebrow. Sure, he had been in the Everfree several times before, but only seldom had he seen anyone brave enough to travel into the forest without a guide. Looking closer, he could just barely make out a lavender hue he knew all to well. "…Ms. Lavender?"

The group continued onwards, stepping foot into the Everfree forest and out of the stalker's sight. "Well…darn. It's gonna be harder to follow them now." Shaking the cloak off, Blur spread his wings, each an impressive five feet. With a single flap, Blur took to the skies above the Everfree. "The only thing of note in the forest is Zecora's hut, aaaaand….Yeah, they've probably got their sights set on the old castle." With mighty strokes of his wings the cobalt pegasus quickly made it to the castle in the forest, landing gently just above the deteriorating throneroom.

《♤♡◇♧》

An hour of trekking the forest was all it took for the party of four to reach the decaying castle. Stepping off of the bridge, Garland stopped his companions.
"We aren't alone."

Twilight's horn blinked her signature glow, and she nodded. "Right. Pegasus above the throne."

"Rainbow Dash, perhaps?"

"I doubt it Garland. Rainbow wouldn't have much reason to be this deep into the forest."

A howl resonated through the area, the group jumping at the sound. "Quickly, into the castle!"
John and Lily rushed fowards the stone structure, Twilight and Garland keeping an eye out behind them as they followed. 

Blur simply chuckled, his smirk turning into a frown as a mass of brown scales rised above the treeline.
"O-oh Faust! I gotta warn Twi!"

A short walk to the throneroom, complimented with John nearly falling through an old wooden staircase on the way, and the four began their search. Pulling a small vial from within her cloak, Twilight approached the throne. "If anything survived the Element's blast, it'll be around this area. Spread out and look." The other three did just that, each pulling out a vial of their own. Hours of overturning each and every stone ensued, finally stopping once Lily let out a tired yell. "I found…something!" Making her way behind the throne, Twilight's boredom turned quickly into excitement. There, barely noticable in the darkness, was a black ooze leaking from the cracks of the floor. Scooping some of the mysterious substance into her vial, Twilight embraced the glass tube with her magic, a faint pop sending it back to the airship.

《♤♡◇♧》

To say Princess Celestia felt peaceful was an understatement. Here in the garden she layed bathing in the beauty of her sister's sky, gazing up at the statue of The Good Knight. What had weeks ago been a bittersweet feeling as she crossed this particular sculpture, now sent butterflies flying wildly through her stomache. She knew how she felt after all, she wasn't a foul. The pitter patter of hooves from behind her caught her interest, and she slowly turned to face her sister. "We've not seen this statue in centuries. We are glad it's been so well preserved."
Luna layed next to her sister, gently nuzzling up against her. "We've missed both of thee dearly."

"We missed you too Luna, we missed you so much."

"So, is this how you spend our nights? Gazing upon the statue of your beloved, admiring his chiseled form in a way you cannot when meeting him in person?"

"Luna-"

"You make it blatantly obvious sister! We've known since the battle against Sombra. We're certain only he hasn't noticed." Celestia sighed, her sister chuckling much to her dismay. "I don't know what to do. I want desperately for him to rule beside us as a prince, but we've only just reunited. What if he doesn't reciprocate my feelings?"

Luna hummed, finally exiting Celestia's personal space. "Perhaps thou could call upon him once his journey to Ponyville is complete? We shall mask the event as a feast, celebrating Garland's return, only for thou to confess at the end of the night."

Celestia's cheeks glew a light pink, as she nodded. "Yes, that could work. I would bring him here to the garden, and confess to him. Your a genius Luna!"

The princess of the night smirked. "We know."
Celestia rolled her eyes, embracing her sister.
"I wonder what he's doing now…"

《♤♡◇♧》

Garland's sword collided with the scaled beast, leaving burn marks with each strike. The brown monster was huge, standing at an astonishing thirty feet, it's two trunklike legs held it's massive orblike body upwards as the four warriors barraged the abomination with unrelenting force. The mighty beast refused to fall, even shrugging off hit after hit of Twilight's alicorn magic from above. It's single red eye placed dead-center in the middle of it's spherical torso winced as the monster flung it's right fist at the knight and knocked him backwards. Lily rushed to his aid as John continuing his own assault on the beast's left leg. "HIGHWIND, GET THE DAMNED SHIP STARTED ALREADY!" Garland commanded, almost toppling the goat-girl over as he stood up again. The monster's eye glew a blinding white as a hot red beam blasted from it, aimed straight towards  the the Keyblade wielder. An armored hand threw the boy backwards, and the beam made contact with Garland's sword only to disappear. The airship hummed once more, slowly lifting off. From above the alicorn's voice called out; "GET TO THE SHIP, I'LL HOLD IT OFF!"

The knight nodded, opening his palm towards the monster. He could feel the heat building within the grip of his metal gloves as he cast a final blast of fire towards the creature. Grabbing Lily and gently throwing her over his shoulder, he rushed to the ship with John following suit. The boarding ramp opened just as Garland came within range of the ship, leaving him to rush up the ramp. With the ship gaining height however, John wasn't so lucky. Putting his all into his lower legs, he sprang upwards from his sprint, narrowly gripping the edge of the ramp. Garland reached out a hand and aided the boy up. "Let's go, we've got to get the cannons focused on that monstrosity and get Sparkle out of there!"

Now grounded once again, Twilight blasted the creature with her own magic, the glowing lavender beam searing through and severing the monster's right arm. "That'll teach you-!!" The sounds of cannonfire startled the princess, leaving her to hastily dodge a stomp from the scaled beast.
A blazing cannonball made contact with the scaled figure's torse, tearing through it in a ghastly and grotesque manner as the blood and guts of the creature blasted out from behind it. In all her years, even those spent on the run, she had never seen a creature stumble upon such a horrendous fate. She felt her stomach twist, and a burning sensation rising up her throat. Lurching forward, she could only let it out.

Garland breathed a sigh of relief from aboard the airship, simply grateful his- arguably -best friend would live to see another day.

《♤♡◇♧》

Twilight Sparkle enjoyed many things. She enjoyed those things even more when her friend's were involved. What she didn't enjoy, even with her newfound friends, was waking up late in the night to the sound of her door being pounded on by an obnoxious blue pegasus. Yet here she was, the sun barely rising over the plains in the distance as she and Blur stood outside the Everfree Forest. 

"There was something big in there Twilight! Something that wasn't even normal by Everfree standards!" 

Twilight sighed, Blur's hyperactive nature rivaling that of Pinkie Pie. "Alright, where was it?"

The pegasus began to trot in place, before phasing into a full on sprint and running circles around Twilight as she slowly drifted back into sleep, awaiting an answer. "RIGHT ASIDE THE CASTLE OF THE TWO SISTERS!" The unicorn jumped, Blur's sudden shout bringing her back to the land of the awake at full force.

"Fine, lead the way…."

《♤♡◇♧》

Highwind whistled a tune as he operated the ship, making sense of the endless array of buttons, knobs, and levers that graced the control panel. "The Princess has requested our presence at the castle-" The knight had ordered; "'-bring us there, and make haste my friend!"

The pegasus shivered with glee. The legendary knight had called him friend! Did he really think of the pilot as a friend? Highwind thought back to his foulhood, and his desire to become a part of the guard just like his father before him. It wasn't until after the initial training that Highwind had learned about The Good Knight and sought to make his father proud, modeling his philosophy after Garland's own. 

Then the pilot frowned, remembering the turning point in his upbringing. Having passed (most of) the guard's exams with flying colors, he had received a letter from his mother. "Your father is ill High-Wee, please come home." Ignoring the silly nickname he had hated so much, he took his leave from the guard and journeyed home. As he trotted through the door carrying a bittersweet smile on the way in, his mother delivered the news. "He only just passed…he was asking for you, just moments ago…"

He had been to late. To late to see his father for the last time, to late to comfort his mother, and worst of all; too late to make his father proud. He stayed until the funeral, broken at the thought of not only his own failure, but the loss of his father. His best friend. Sticking around afterwards to care for his mother, Highwind dropped out of the academy, opting instead to become an airship pilot. It brought home the bits, keeping him and his mother fed. 

But it never satisfied him. Sure, Celestia had loaded him and his mother up with bits after he had signed the deal to aid Garland and Ms. Lavender, but it wasn't fulfilling. The pegasus stopped whistling, letting out a sigh and a tear as the lights of Canterlot  came into view.

He had a job to do, and Faust-be-damned if he didn't smile and nod as he did it.

"I'm gonna make you proud someday dad…"
> [4] - Rapid Escalation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Osirus shivered, the elderly griffon watching the battle from within one of the old castle's many watchtowers. He grinned as the fiery ball of lead shredded through the Earth Devil's single eye, it's innards blasting backwards through it's body.

"A marvelous show I must admit…." He whispered; "…but this is child's play compared to the tasks ahead. Laserbeak, follow them while I ready Der Riese. Stalk them. Report back to me."

The griffon rose from the watchtower, blasting into the night sky at an unfathomable speed. After his disappearance, a small and dragon-like creature emerged from within the shadows. Its body a pitch black, and the webbing between his wings and claws a crimson red, the stalker's eyes glew a menacing yellow. Shouting a screech of pure anger, the being jumped from the tower, gliding towards the airship. Latching onto it's underbelly, he clawed his was to the rear, opening the emergency hatch located at the rear belly of the ship. Opening it, he climbed into a larger yet empty room. In the room he spotted a ventilation shaft. Opening the grate blocking the shaft, he climbed in. The grate shut with a gentle click as Laserbeak crept the the ventilation system, finding himself at a forking path. To the left hs could hear the heavy breaths of a young girl, her wheezing picking at his curiosity he decided to go that way. Finding another grate, he gazed through the bars, eyes dimming as he did so, only to find another bipedal figure dressed in teal staring at the foot of the bed terrified. Observing the being for a moment, Laserbeak laughed internally. 'She's horrified of something that isn't even there…'

Ignoring the female for the time being, Laserbeak continued to the left, finding another grate barring him from the room of his main target: the knight. Peering through the grate he found Garland, as well as the cloaked alicorn from before engaged in a pleasant conversation over tea. The alicorn stood on a stool, with Garland relaxed on his bed.

"I don't know Twilight. She's a princess! Not only is she a princess, but she's the very embodiment of the sun! Princess Celestia is a symbol of hope, guidance and freedom!" He took a sip from his teacup, his face blocked by shadow. "And I'm just her knight…There's no way she'd ever consider courting me. Plus she's, well…busy all the time. A thousand years ago she had the same duties, but the populace wasn't nearly as reliant on her as they are now. If Pony McPonyo walked in a millenia ago-"

"I was there Garland, remember? I lived through all of that. My observations make it clear that Princess Celestia has been hopelessly in love with you for centuries. Just take the chance!" Laserbeak scoffed silently. Love was irrelevant to his mission. Continuing onward, he left the two behind.

The knight sat his teacup down, sighing. "I can't afford to fuck something like this up Twi. I just can't…"

"Leon-"

"Once all this is over, I just want to disappear. I'll find a nice home in the countryside and start a farm. Maybe I'll become an author! Do you know how many stories from my world I could ponify and introduce to Equestria?" He chuckled. "It's not that I even want to disappear. I just…want this conflict to be over." 

Twilight left her stool, approaching the knight. Hopping onto his bed, she rested her head on his chest. "We finally have the key to ending over two thousand years of pain. You can calm down now Leon. You can sow the seeds of your future now. What do you want the most?"

A momentary silence followed, Garland thinking heavily. "I want to wake up each morning with her by my side, our children running through the halls of the castle joyously. Such a silly dream should never be held close. Biology wouldn't allow it anyways." 

Twilight sighed, hopping down from the bed. Approaching the exit, she turned back one more time. "Just…try. Please." And with that the mare left, leaving Garland alone with his thoughts.

《♤♡◇♧》

Connie grit her teeth and climbed out of her bed, glaring at the pulsating figure. "Alright you fucker, I'm putting an end to this." She took a step towards it pulling a small knife out of her breastpocket. 
The figure mocked a motion of interest, spreading it's arms wide and taunting her to take another step. 

"I can't beat your ass without getting closer."

The figure rushed forward, it's blurlike movements knocking the knife out of her hand and pushing her to the floor. Rushing her again, the figure came within inches of her before dissapearing. "This is….getting old." Fatigue setting in once again, she faded into unconsciousness just as the door opened. Kaid sighed, lifting her back into the bed. Grabbing the thermometer from her bedside table, he gently placed it under her tongue. "96.7 degrees? It shouldn't be gone so soon." Reseting it, he placed it under her tongue again only to receive the same results. "How…peculiar."

《♤♡◇♧》

Laserbeak perched himself upon the mast's lookout tower, eyeing the stoic pilot. For hours all the pegasus did was twiddle with a knob here, press a button there, and turn the ship's wheel ever so slightly. Laserbeak settled into his perch as the lights of Canterlot grew near, the sun slowly rising higher the closer the city became. Eventually the ship closed in on the castle, the early morning sun shining upon the ship in a comfortable glow. Touching down upon the castle's landing strip Highwind let out a sigh, unaware of Laserbeak's prying eyes. 

Naturally, Garland and Twilight were the first of the bunch up and moving, their morning/evening/night/whenever-they-felt-like-it ritual of chatting over tea being discarded for the time being as they made their way into the castle. The next to awake, hours later, was Connie, who leapt out of bed with a smile. After a few bad nightmares and a lot of water she had finally recovered from her fever and was ready to get back into the game. Entering the kitchen she began cracking eggs and whipping up batter, slowly turning it into a delicious breakfast over the next few minutes. The scent of food reached John and Lily, leaving then to wake up last. As the two stumbled into the kitchen they smiled, with John approaching his sister for a hug that she happily accepted. "Pancakes and scrambles eggs. Eat up." 

She didn't have to speak twice as the two scarfed down their own plates of the food. After devouring her meal Lily piped up. "So, we've never actually talked have we?"

"Guess not."

"Nonetheless, I appreciate the meal. Garland and Twilight have probably already greeted the princess. We should get going as well!"

John spoke through his food, much to his sister's dismay; "Juchletusfinsh"

《♤♡◇♧》

Laserbeak growled at the painting, eyeing the depiction of the knight in the bulky cobalt armor stroking the dragon on his shoulder. A plaque below it read; "Soundwave, Unsung Hero." A secret indeed, but not a well kept one. After all, Laserbeak stood perched atop the railing of Celestia's balcony, peering into the room and eyeing the painting freely. Having enough, he dropped from the balcony, transitioning into a dive before extending his wings and pulling himself upward. He eyed his old friends Garland and Celestia walking through the garden, smiling and laughing. "-the party itself begins shortly! I'm amazed you came on such short notice." 

"Well, when a princess summons you, you oblige."

A party? How interesting. Diving again, this time for a statue in the garden, Laserbeak perched himself just out of sight atop a statue of a familiar mishmash of bodyparts. 'How interesting. Weren't you and your master rather…dead?' Laserbeak screeched at the statue, only now realizing which one he had actually landed on. 'Wasn't his name….Shockwave? Wait-no, that's another Decepticon. My mistake.' "SKREEEEEEEE!!' 'It's not my fault that he got crystalized in the blast. If anything, it's his own-" Discord began to ramble, Laserbeak drowning him out as the dragon's stomache turned. Smiling, the spy got an idea.
'YOU FILTHY BIRD, I'LL GET YOU FOR THA-'

Laserbeak let out laughlike sounds as he flew away, turning back only for a second to graze one of Discord's horns with a pink beam of energy emerging from his throat.

《♤♡◇♧》

Osirus grinned at the slender figure suspended by wires before him in the blindingly white chamber. Adorned in a metallic grey armor, the bipedal figure turned his gaze to the Griffon, who spoke. "Laserbeak has alerted me of a party at the castle. A welcoming celebration for your old friend Garland. You and I are going to crash the party."

The figure let out a low growl, the black slab of glass that was his face doing little to reflect his emotions.
"Negative. Laserbeak ultimately follows my neural command." Osirus smiled, pressing a button. Sparks built up around the suspended figure, who silently writhed in pain. "You are under MY command Soundwave. Do not forget that." The griffon left, an airlock door shutting behind him and blending back into the white walls of the room.

Looking to the door, Soundwave's face lit with the blueprint of his ancient cobalt armor. "Laserbeak, commence operation - Espionage. Ravage, eject. Commence operation - Agitation." The blueprint dissapeared, the vitals of Osirus taking it's place. "Rumble, Frenzy, eject. Operation - Diversion."

《♤♡◇♧》

Laserbeak observed the party carefully, Garland within his sights at all times. Osirus and his master would be arriving shortly to deal with the knight and his warriors, that much the miniature dragon knew. What he didn't expect however was Soundwave's next order; approaching Garland with a warning.
Laserbeak waited patiently for an opportunity to arise. Meanwhile Celestia's patience was wearing thin as the party goers took their time greeting Garland, begging for autographs and stories; Which he obliged to. Four hours into the festivities her patience broke completely. Approaching the knight from behind and rubbing against his side, she whispered to him: "Follow me." Doing so Garland was led to a balcony, and Laserbeak took his chance. 

"You've only just returned, but I feel-GAH!" Celestia screamed in shock as the miniature dragon perched itself upon the railing. "Sir Garland-" He began; "-I come with a warning, not a threat. Within the coming hours the castle will be attacked. My master see's it fit to warn you."

The familiar being finally registering, Garland stood baffled. "Laserbeak?" The dragon gave an affirmative hum. "Then Soundwave-"

"Is alive! Imprisoned beneath the sea!"

"We must send a search party at once Garland! I'll round up-"

"NEGATIVE. IT WAS YOUR INACTION THAT LED TO HIS IMPRISONMENT!" Garland flinched at this, Laserbeak flying off into the night. Celestia went back inside, leaving Garland alone with his thoughts.
"If Soundwave is alive, then…" Garland followed the princess, gathering the four warriors and his thoughts along the way. "The sample is to be dropped off at the science division's research facility. Twilight will deliver it, and keep an eye on it at all times. The rest of us will be upping security." John nodded; "Okay, but what exactly is happening here? We've barely been here and we're part of another fight?"

"Your entire existence in this world will be a fight, boy. You will have no chance for reprieve. No chance for self reflection, and almost no chance for growth. You will be forced to fight like your life depends on it."

《♤♡◇♧》

Fefnir bounced the rubber ball off of the cell wall, catching it lazily once again. He was hungry, dehydrated, and most importantly; bored.
Placing the ball down, he sighed. "…I really wish I'd have just stayed home." A rumble shook the airship, and Fefnir perked up. Another rumble, this one much  more violent. Climbing onto all fours, he took a peek out of the cell. Finding no one he positioned himself into the spacing between the bars. Squeezing through, he quickly took flight towards a set of nearby stairs, only for the ship to rumble again, this time knocking him off balance. "Whatever's happening, this is my chance to get out no strings attached!" Regaining his course, he flew up the stairs with little trouble, coming straight into the ever-shifting engine room. As of now it was smaller, and conveniently had a door placed on the other side...until he tried approaching it, at which point it began to rotate around the room clockwise. "Alright…" Flying counter-clockwise he grasped the handle, only for the door to speed up. "Uh oh."

Fumbling with the doorknob, Fefnir tore it open, zooming into it before the door sped up any more. Landing in front of the crew bedrooms, he narrowly avoided a pale blue piston smashing into his face by barrelrolling straight into a wall and crashing. "Hey Frenzy, it looks like we got ourselves a bite!"

Fefnir picked himself up to face his attacker, only to be met with two pony sized bipedal figures seemingly made of metal. The nearest one was a shade of blue, with a light purple trim and arms forming some kind of piston device on each end. He spoke to his ally again, a black being with a red trim. "You go meet up with the rest of the group now that the main attack has started. I'll deal with this pipsqueak."

His ally, presumably Frenzy, responded with a growl. "Not happenin' Rumble. I wanna get my hands dirty for once!"

Surveying his surroundings as the two began to bicker, Fefnir found nothing of interest. He'd have to face one of them head on in order to escape.

"Jus' shut up! If we work together we'll take him out quicker, then we can get outta here!"

"Yeah, good idea Frenzy!"

Or two of them. Fefnir lowered into a pouncing position, snarling. "You know, messing with the nest is never good for your health!"

《♤♡◇♧》

"Leon Kassidy. I'm here to see John and Connie Marsh." The 42 year old man scratched his head, the receptionist passing him a piece of paper. "Room 358. Third floor. Sign here please." Doing so, Leon adjusted his leather jacket. It was colder than he expected today. 

Taking the elevator to the third floor, he bounced his knee in anxiousness. Did he have the right year? Was he to early, or to late? The elevator dinged, the doors opening ever so slowly. Swiftly making his way down the halls, he counted down the numbers.

"361…360…359…358--" Stopping to look through the door he found his answer. He was just in time. Opening the door slowly and slipping in, he approached the bed on the left side of the room, quickly glancing at the right and averting his gaze. On the left was John, hooked up to various machines and life support systems Leon wouldn't have been able to name off if he'd wanted to. He pulled a coin out of his jacket pocket, a coin adorned on one side with six shining stars, and on the other side four glowing crystals.

"I don't know if you can hear me John, but you have to hold strong. In the darkest hour, the stoic knight thus prophesied; The devastation of a kingdom was only the beginning. The power of the God's is surely neverending. Four, not one or two or three. When all hope is lost Ragnarok will be the key."

Leon smiled, bittersweet feelings returning to him.
"I don't know how far into this nightmare you are, but I'm here for you now. I'll be here until you wake up John."
> [4.5] - It All Began With A Shooting Star
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A night like no other, truly a sight to behold. These thoughts raced through the mind of Princess Luna as she decorated the skies for the citizens of her kingdom to enjoy. Tonight a shower of falling stars would grace the land, allowing the ponies of Equestria to enjoy her gift up close. 

The clear skies allowed the pale gaze of the moon to carve into the pitch black darkness, lighting the land in a more subtle manner than her sister ever could. She watched as the stars began to fall. She ordered ten to descend, and counted carefully as not to overdue her gift.

One fell, and then another, and another until she had reached the last one. She had spread them out far so that ponies all across the countryside could enjoy them. Then an eleventh fell. She commanded it to stop, and yet it refused as it's beautiful blue trail transforming into a fiery red. This was not one of her stars, she realized, and with a mighty flap of her wings she took to the night skies.

The ponies below gasped in awe at the sight above them. They could just faintly make out their beloved Princess of the Night above them. A young colt cried out in amazement, cheering zealously for the loving princess above. Luna, however, had a much more pressing matter to deal with. She zoomed after the star, only now realizing how far she had traveled from the castle. Finally landing in a rather large field, the star left a trail tearing through the dirt as the fire around it died down. 

The Princess cautiously made her way to the star, only realizing now how the glow of the moon reflected off of it. "Thou is no star of ours."

A bipedal suit of armor lay spread out at the end of the trail, shining silver adorned in a subtle gold trim with a purple cape draped over it's shoulders, with a foot and a half long horn protruding from each side of it's helmet. It's large silver gauntlets each had five digits, and the sides facing outwards housed decorative sapphires held in place by a gold trimming. The helmet's eyes began shining a bright yellow in the night's darkness, and the armor began to move ever so slightly. Reaching for it's helmet, the figure removed it ever so slowly, and Luna could make out a confused expression on it's peculiar face. It's face was unlike anything she had ever seen, being devoid of fur aside from a brown patch covering the top of it's head. It's eyes were tiny, and it's nose was triangular and far shorter than a ponies snout.

"Uh…..howdy?"