Spirit

Introduction

Solar Chaser wandered cautiously into the Great Hall of Canterlot, paying close attention to every detail of his surroundings. He was flanked on all sides by ponies. The only one he had known before hand was his beautiful mare-friend, Persephone.

There were two Unicorns and Earth Ponies each to the front of them. There was an equal balance of gender as well as race. One unusually large unicorn stallion walked defiantly and boldly to the front. Another unicorn was feminine, blue, had wiry white hair, and her horn crackled with lightning, even though Solar Chaser was not sure it was in use.

A black Earth Pony with a white man stood beside Solar Chaser. He wore metal-rimmed glasses and a belt with two daggers inside. Solar Chaser felt it best not to confront him. Lastly and strangest of all, was a blue Earth Pony with cyan markings all over her body. In her hair was seaweed, and she radiated an aura reminiscent of the Great Ocean surrounding Equestria. Her tail even sort of resembled a fish tail.

They gathered right at the open rotunda. In a glass case at the center was a helmet of gleaming gold, reminiscent of classic Pegasus designs. There was a great silence in the room before Solar Chaser finally decided to break the ice and introduce himself.

“I am Solar Chaser. I come from Cloudsdale and study astronomy at the university.” He placed his arm over Persephone to indicate a relationship. “This is my mare-friend, her name is Persephone. She was surprised we both were alerted to this Great Hall. It must have been destiny.”

“Very well,” the unicorn stallion replied. “I only think it fair we all introduce ourselves. Such an unusual first impression, but we can all make the most of it. I am Flaming Heart from Canterlot.”

“I am Elektra,” the female Unicorn spoke, “from Vanhoover.”

“The name is Shining Sword, from Smokey Mountain” said the black Earth Pony aggressively.

“And my name is Mystic,” the last pony spoke. “You may not believe this, but I am one with the Great Ocean.”

They stared blankly at Mystic. An Earth Pony in water, how absurd. Soon, Solar Chaser broke the silence again. “Well, why are we here? We are all from different backgrounds, and many have never met. That message told of destruction. What destruction? There have been earthquakes, but why contact us?”

His questions were answered by an unseen voice. “Please allow me to explain,” it croaked.

A light blue Pegasus flew towards the helmet at the center. Solar Chaser recognized her as Rainbow Dash. He was awestruck at her athleticism and unusual aesthetics during his time at Cloudsdale University. They had a short conversation, but Solar Chaser wished they had gotten to know each other better. She seemed like a great pony to be friends with.

Rainbow glanced across the room. She showed a slight look of recognition at the two Pegasi, but quickly glanced over the party before donning the helmet. “Many of you may have heard of me before, but I am Rainbow Alexis Dash, Element of Loyalty. I have been assigned to be your guide and provisional leader for this mission.” She donned the helmet as she spoke. “As such, I have been granted the Helmet of Leadership, something Spike made up when I told him I was doing this.”

“We were discussing reasons for being here when you came in,” Persephone said, letting Rainbow Dash know of the situation.

“I was getting there,” Rainbow replied. “You see, around the time Twilight became an Alicorn, we came into contact with a disturbance in the fabric of space-time. A great black presence seeped from the rift. Scientists had no idea what it was, so this mysterious entity was dubbed ‘The Void’.

“The Void is ever growing blackness that feeds on pure energy. Any kind of energy, emotional, physical, spiritual, it consumes. Since everything to some extent radiates energy, the Void has been devouring everything in its path.”

Shining Sword asked, “Then why not just use the Elements?”

“We tried. It just grew stronger as it consumed their power. The Void feeds off of pure energy, so the Elements just made it stronger. But there is hope. Twilight insisted there may be other elements, ones that can counter energy and dissipate the Void. My friends and I wanted to create a team dynamic to equally represent all ponies and be equal to ourselves. I really wish there was an element of Unity, but Twilight figured Loyalty was close enough, so I was set to assemble you guys.

“We determined it would be best to locate ponies from different backgrounds who had come into contact with the Void already. They would have utilized the Void for their own gain. Five ponies were located thanks to our careful observers across the continent, and Spike sent you all letters. I’m sure you read them telling of an incoming disaster, this is it.”

“All well and good,” Flaming Heart said, “but where is the Void now?”

“It is hovering towards the south of Equestria. At the rate it travels, we have approximately twenty-four hours before all of Equestria is swallowed.”

“Alright, enough introduction,” Rainbow finally said. “Our sources indicate the Void is indeed headed for the strongest known source of energy we have, the Crystal Heart. I feel to stop the Void; we need to use the Crystal Heart in some way. It will show us the six new elements we need and energize us to confront it. There is a quick route to the Crystal Empire, but we must hurry. For by dawn tomorrow, the Void hits the Heart.”

They left the tower and made it to the train station. A guard pony stopped Rainbow Dash however. “No more can fit,” he said. “All trains are routed to hit the Crystal Empire as refuge for the Void. Literally everypony in Equestria is on here.”

Rainbow stared down the guard, making sure her Helmet of Leadership caught the light. The guard still did not move.

“Okay,” Rainbow said. “We’ll follow the tracks on foot. Who knows, my friends and I all discovered our elements on foot. Think of this as a bonding exercise.”

They all reluctantly agreed. They started following the train tracks, ready for an incredible journey to begin.