The Herald

        “True love doesn't need proof.

The eyes told what heart felt.” ― Toba Beta

There was a twinkle in The Herald’s eyes. “Am I not permitted to care for others, those that are like children to me, little one?”

Celestia was shocked. For all her life, she had seen The Herald as merely a messenger to the Aspects, a way for The Creator’s will to be expressed. The Herald had been there when she was created, there to tell her what her name was. In that moment, The Herald had seemed a parent, but she had dismissed that thought as quickly as it came. “What?”

The Herald saw her confusion. “You and your sister are more like The Creator than any of the other Aspects, much easier to relate to. I had hoped...” The Herald trailed off. “But that time is past, and we have much larger things to worry about. Good luck, Celestia.” The Herald’s eyes faded.

If The Herald did not desire to speak, then speak it would not. Celestia sighed, the burden of times past weighing heavier on her shoulders. “Very well, Herald.” She stepped back, the shadows vanishing as her mortal shell wrapped around her mind.

“Lulu?” called Celestia, walking the now moonlit corridors, white light splashing in through the columns of white marble.

A voice called back, from beyond the pillars. “Over here, Tia.”

Celestia turned and smiled at her sister, who was sitting on the soft, springy grass of the garden. No guards walked these halls, for this part of the castle was private. She did not fear being overheard, so she stepped into the garden and sat by her sister. “Apparently, Twilight knew of The Herald, but promised not to say unless somepony asked.”

Luna gasped. “Really? How?”

The Sun Princess took a deep breath, collected her thoughts, and told Twilight’s story.

The truth hurt Luna more than it did Celestia. “So we essentially imprisoned The Herald in the Realm of Shadow by not really trusting or believing in it?”

“Unfortunately, yes. And The Herald isn’t even the emotionless, unknown being we thought. Nopony even gave a thought when we called The Herald an ‘it’, and The Herald even saved Twilight from the Realm of Shadow. But if we no longer fear The Herald, and believe in it... it can enter this world longer, and we need The Herald to win this war.”

Luna sighed sadly. “I hope The Herald can finally step from the shadows and get the honor and respect that it deserves.” Her demeanor changed, the frown turning up into a curious smile. “In fact, I look forward to fighting with The Herald now.”

The Herald’s eyes flared more, illuminating the gold and silver wings again, but also a strange, solid shadow of of a body. “Thank you, little one.”

The Herald’s comment about ‘little one’ had gotten Celestia thinking. How was it that after only one meeting, The Herald became quite attached to Twilight? This, added to The Herald’s cryptic reaction to Twilight’s name: “Element of Magic? Then this meeting was not just chance and magic, little one...”The Herald had referred to her as ‘little one’ before hearing her name, but most likely it was to comfort Twilight.

The puzzle was nearly complete, yet not quite. Frustrated, Celestia stared out at Canterlot, as if waiting for it to answer her.

Then, an answer came.

The Herald could only stay in the world for short periods of time, but if someone wanted The Herald to stay... The Herald would be able to. After all, The Herald was a being of almost pure magic and power...

The puzzle was complete, and in a burst of inspiration, she looked at what she knew about Twilight and The Herald.

Both Twilight and Shining Armor have vast magical fonts... The chances of siblings having that sort of power... Unlike anything seen before...

Emotion-controlled bursts of power, almost like a god’s in properties...

Capable of using Shadow and Dark Magic without any training, and suffers no problems from it... Usually comes from Shadow affinity in blood....

The Herald is a Shadow Being... Wields great power, has huge fonts of Divine, Arcane, and Primal magics... Unlike anything seen before...

All gods can fuel magic with emotions...

Exists in the realm where Shadow magic comes from.... Uses Shadow and Dark Magic with great control and not even the emotional side-effects...

Vast magical fonts... unlike anything before... emotion fueled bursts... like a god’s in properties... using Shadow and Dark Magic without any training... comes from Shadow affinity in blood... The Herald is a Shadow Being... vast magical fonts... emotion fueled magic...Shadow and Dark Magic.. not even the emotional side effects...

“Twilight, if it’s not a problem, can you call your parents here?”

Andre Amazeen:

In writing, it is better to avoid starting paragraphs with the same word multiple times, unless there are a few between them.