Iriemorel Darkeyes the Hopebringer

Iriemorel woke up from her bed, looked out the window, it was sunny, she took a shower and got dressed for her daily run through Equestria. She was no ordinary pony, she had learned to protect herself as her master had taught her; her mastery of the sword had made her peerless.

She never had known her parents; her master would always talk about the moment they had handed her to him

“Always remember where you came from.” He said

“What, a basket from a mother that did not want me?” She replied

When she had aged enough to take in why she was not with her parents all the joy within her had disappeared. She would only ponder about how she be able to find them, to ask them why they left her.

But not only that, what would she do when she found them?

But days like these she did not have time to think of that, her mastery of the sword was not only for herself. She taught recruits the way of the sword, taught them to be strong and fearless. With that, many experienced soldiers were sent to the battle field and had given Equestria a vast variety of land. She was very famous in Equestria, everybody looked up to her, and some feared her. But these things did not cross Iriemorel’s mind, in her mind she knew she was supposed to do these things, not bathe in the glory of them.

When Iriemorel’s run was over she had returned to her home with her master to greet her.

“How are you Iriemorel,” he said “was the run well?”

“It was fine master,” Iriemorel replied, “ran into a messenger and gave me a note" Iriemorel proceeded to unwrap it and reads it, her eyes widen slightly.

“What is it?” her master asked

“I have been summoned by Queen Celestia to speak with her!” Iriemorel said

"Let me se--"

She sprinted out of the door blazing through the city to the castle almost in a flash.

When she makes it she is breathing very heavy.

“Hello master, do you need any assistance for today?” the guard asked, he as well was a student of hers.

“Hello,” Iriemorel replied back, “I am here to speak the Celestia, she had given me this note?”

“Come right in.” the guard opened the door to the castle. Iriemorel walked in but in a hurry, not realizing where she was going looking around for Celestia she ran into somebody.

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” Iriemorel said “I didn’t mean t…”

When she looks at the person’s face she had blushed, his eyes glow green under his hood, and his dark navy blue mane, with spikey ridges that blends into the darkness of his body gloss over the light.
“Must I be dreaming?”

The pegasus responded, “I apologize my lady, I did not see you there, are you alright?”

Iriemorel responded hesitantly, “Yes, I am”

The pegasus helps her up, “Allow me to introduce myself, I am Sir Ulric Captain of a small elite division”

“I… I’m Iriemorel, I have trained many soldiers with the art of the sword” She replied

“Wait,” Ulric said “You mean Iriemorel, the one that taught armies of soldiers that took many lands?”

“Yes, that Iriemorel” she responded

“Half of my army is experienced because of your teaching!” he responded

Iriemorel smiled, she had never known that she had such a huge impact on the community. She was working too hard to ever notice the people that ever appreciated her contributions.

“I am sorry Sir Ulric,” Iriemorel said, “but I must go I have been summoned by Celestia for an unknown reason, so I don't want to keep her waiting.”

“Oh!” Ulric responded, “Well don’t let me keep you! If we ever do meet again, just call me Ulric”

“Ok, Ulric, thank you very much!” as Iriemorel walked away.

She had proceeded where the door to the room where the Princess was at When she had found it she looked at the tall gates, took a deep breath, and walked in. The Queen was sitting at her circular chair, eyes shining like diamonds, it felt as if the sun had given all of its light directly to her.

“Hello Iriemorel, how are you today?” Princess Celestia asked

Iriemorel, in respect, bowed and said “I am doing well my queen and yourself?”

“I am doing good as well,” She responded.

As she stood back up she looked around very amazed by the architecture of the room “This room is much different than the others” Iriemorel said

“Yes,” Princess Celestia said, “it is meant to represent the soldiers that have died in the war. They are acknowledged for their help of rebuilding Equestria, their expansion of land has helped us much.”

Iriemorel looked at the room taking in the information, she felt somewhat peaceful, she felt like she never wanted to leave this place; she wanted to stay here forever.

Queen Celestia said, “But back to other matters, I believe you know the infamous Nightmare Moon.”
“Nightmare Moon,” Iriemorel replied, “Your sister?”

Princess Celestia sighed, “Sadly yes… I thought I could trust her again but she had turned back into the monster she once was, now she has become a much greater threat.”

“Why?” Iriemorel said, “I had seen she had went on a long journey to conquer many lands, she had many people that envied her.”

“That’s what she wanted us to think, all of those soldiers with her walked out of those gates,” she pointed out the window where the gate was “and they never came back” Iriemorel looked in shock, there were hundreds of men on that mission, all of them disappeared?

“How could she have carried out such a plan?” she said,

Celestia looked back at her, “I have already sent scouts and they all say the same thing, the army’s helmets, chest plates and such scattered for a few miles no trace of blood, any bodies, or struggle, nothing!”

“That's strange…” Iriemorel said, “But what does this have to do with me?”

“Iriemorel…” She said unpleasantly, “After all 6 ponies as know Twilight Sparkle, Pinkiepie, Rarity, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, and Flutter Shy, have left Equestria to follow their passions, I have been left alone to guide the kingdom. I am asking you, Iriemorel Darkeyes, to eliminate my evil sister and save the kingdom before more harm is done.”

Iriemorel looked at her thinking she was joking, but her expression was far from it. “Are you serious?” Iriemorel said, “With all respect Princess Celestia, there is no way I could defeat Nightmare Moon.”

Celestia looked at her directly in the eye, “Don’t ever limit your skills, limits are only made to be broken”
Iriemorel looked back directly trying to find it in her to swallow this big decision. “Ok, I will defeat Nightmare Moon and save Equestria.”

Celestia had given a very bright smile; it had been a while since had smiled. Her own sister that had given her full assurance that she would be by her side, had once again left her. But not she had hope, she was very sad to see she would have to be rid of her but she knew it was the right choice.

“Now go Iriemorel,” Celestia said, “The fate of Equestria is now in your hands, be prepared for the worst and if you can bring a companion.”

“Ok,” replied Iriemorel, “I will try!”

That same day she went to sleep peacefully, tomorrow was going to be the day she would start to get ready.She had woken up surrounded by smoke, looking around alert unsheathing her sword.

"Wait wha...?" Iriemorel said

Her sword was gone, her hear pounded and she could feel the pulse of her ears. She looked around to see many blood spots on the wall.

"Who is this?!" Iriemorel yelled, “who is responsible for this?!"

Those words echoed across the smoke, and as she said that a black figure formed into the smoke. It was none other than Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon smiled as she can smell fear coming from the pony before her.

"N-Nightmare Moon...?" Iriemorel said, "This is, there's no way you could have gotten into the castle!"

Nightmare Moon just laughed at her, her eyes beating red, glaring at her, she turned her attention to a pony chained against the wall.

Iriemorel's heart dropped as it seemed to be the princess. The fluffy white coat was now stained with blood; her body was covered in scars, and blue and black bruises.

"My my,” Nightmare Moon said, “You were given hope by the princess, hope being the one stopping me dead in my tracks again. Ha! Tis a lie!"

"You let me down Iriemorel, I-I thought you could d-do it," The princess weakly said

Iriemorel's stood there paralyzed, she would never let the princess down, even at death she still wouldn’t let her down.
"Well this is just getting sappy." said Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon used her magic on Princess Celestia’s wings and broken them, the princess screams. Her wings being bent in different places, angle and you can hear the bones crack, grinding together as Nightmare Moon kept twisting. Iriemorel couldn't take it anymore, she started charging at Nightmare Moon, but was only stopped by the roots with claws coming out of the ground, grabbing her ankles and breaking them.

"HAHAHA! You think you could stop me? I've destroyed half of Equestria! And to think some lone mare who is was thought to bring hope to the lands again. It's like your parents abandoning you on the streets, thus symbolizing that you are nothing but a pile of shit!"

Tears built up in the Iriemorel not from the pain that causes her to mope, but the hard reality that Nightmare Moon was given to Iriemorel. She failed to save the Princess and the people of Equestria from the wrath of a pony that was once Luna.
“I-I will s-stop you Nightmare Mo-on!”

She chuckles darkly “Oh, what are you going to do? Crawl over here and head butt me to death? Oh such non-sense coming out of your mouth!”

Nightmare Moon grabbed her sword and slowly cut Celestia's wings. Her blood gushing out as screams rattled Iriemorel's ears.

"Iriemorel, the beauty of being insane is that”-she starts to vanish-"all of it is in your head!"

Silence was just in her ears now; nothing but the groans from the now broken down Princess was all she heard. She looked straight into Celestia’s eyes, but to only find sorrow, madness, and the diminishing of faith in her eyes.

"I trusted you..." whispered Celestia

Celestia's words echoed and vanished into a vapor of blood, it smelled nothing but rotten flesh.

Iriemorel screamed jumping up from her bed, “Celestia!!”

She had realized it was just a dream, she began to cry, she had realized she had not taken this as serious as she was supposed to. This nightmare meant something, something far more than she had ever imagined; and at that moment she knew, this was not going to be some simple journey. She needed all six ponies by her side, it didn't seem to look like a army could take Luna down.

She needed to get away from her house, away from the castle, to regain her breath again. That Nightmare was so realistic, so brutally undergoing, that it made her want to end her life. But today wasn't a great day to start off with dark thoughts, she needed to tread water lightly, what she needs is someone to come with her to this journey.

As she walked outside she had took a stroll around in search of anybody to come with her on the journey. Most of them said no out of fear; others said they had a life to live, or a family to feed.

Then she heard “All hail the magnificent Trixie!”

"The Great and Powerfull Trixie has created the best potion for magic users! Drink this and you will become like me!” Trixie said confidently.

That voice, Iriemorel hated that voice. Trixie was an embarrassment to the unicorns, and at times Iriemorel would wish she wasn't a unicorn anymore. It came to the point where Iriemorel wanted to use her sword and end Trixie's life right here, right now.

"Is that the powerful Iriemorel!?" Trixie yelled,

"Shit"

Iriemorel's eyes widened because of how loud Trixie could be. Now today was not a great day to deal with her, and it takes a lot of willpower for Iriemorel not to snap at Trixie. With a reaction she started to trot down the pathway. Iriemorel never realize how fast Trixie was catching up to her, so there for Iriemorel started galloping. She made many turns around Canterlot just to get away from her, but as she started to slow down, out comes Trixie.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie needs to ask a question!” Trixie asked

Iriemorel gave up on running away from her, and then she remembered her Knights code.

“I will help out any pony, regardless of how deadly the task could be” (Rule 27)

“What is your question…?” Iriemorel said bluntly

Trixie smiled dumbly “The Great and Powerful Trixie was wondering if you would like to taste my new potion I’ve been making!?”

“Well...I'm uhh, kinda hydrated at the moment Trixie...”

“Just a tiny sip, it won’t hurt!” Yelled Trixie

Iriemorel sighed, “Ok,” she took the potion and drank it.

Immediately her eyes widen from the disgusted potion she drank. Its taste was like pig shit and mold in a liquefied form.

“Is she trying to kill me!?” Iriemorel thought to herself,

Cause if she was, she did a pretty good job. Then her stomach felt unease, she felt the acids in her go wild. Fluids started to travel up to her throat and almost out of her mouth. Iriemorel swallowed hard, trying to force her vomit down back down again.

“It tastes awful!” Iriemorel said honest,

“That can’t be possible!” Trixie said drinking it, she almost threw up herself but slowly gulped it. “See, i-it tastes a-amazing!

"I am sorry for wasting your time” Iriemorel said, attempting to leave.

But Trixie proceeded to ask her what she was going to do about Luna.

“Why do you ask this question?” Iriemorel asked,

“I am asking for all of Equestria’s citizens so that they can be informed with this situation, can it not be answered?” Trixie asked.

A group of people began listening to their discussion.

Iriemorel sighed, “Luna has turned back to the ways of evil and I am ordered by Princess Celestia to permanently end her.”

Many people in the group gasped, others mumbled to each other in disgust.

“It is not in my code to question my Princess’s orders” Iriemorel said to the crowd, “I must do this.”

“And you need help for such a challenging task do you agree?” Trixie asked,

“No” Iriemorel said kindly, “I do not require any assistance.”

“But the amazing Trixie has many other…”

“I believe I have done my part to help you, now I am leaving.” Iriemorel says as she walks away, but Trixie still follows her even as they proceed to Iriemorel’s home.

Iriemorel groans, “Ok let me get this straight, specifically what is it you want to do with this information, you know the situation, why do you proceed to follow me?”

“I, The Great and Powerful Trixie, is proud to request if I should join you in this journey” Trixie said loudly with confidence, Iriemorel’s eyes widened, imagining a trip around the world with her. She could not even bear the thought of it.

“I do not think that would be a good idea, it is very dangerous and you will get hurt.” Iriemorel responded,

“Non-sense! My powers are beyond any other! You will run in fear as I show you my powers!” Trixie yelled,

Iriemorel stood there very unsatisfied, “Great… maybe I will think about it and we will see what happens, for now I must go to bed.”

“Do not worry Great Iriemorel,” yelled Trixie as Iriemorel proceeded to walk away, “I will not disappoint you!”

Iriemorel turned around giving a fake smile making it obvious she was being sarcastic, “I will think about it,” Iriemorel said as she opened the door to her house.

“To hell with that logic,” Iriemorel thought herself

“How was your day Iriemorel?” her Master said, he was sweating, he had trained hard, non-stop work was what he was known for.

“It was ok, until I ran into that Trixie girl,” Iriemorel responded,

The master laughed, “What happened?”

“She made me drink a potion and when I drank it I almost threw up, it was disgusting, I honestly could have sworn it could have killed me”

“That girl and her crazy experiments… so any luck to finding companions to bring with you?”

“I said I will think about to Trixie but you already know I will say no” Iriemorel responded,

“Do not be too hasty with decisions; remember the fate of Equestria is within your hands, and even the world.” Her master said, “Besides, those you hate don’t always stay the same, they may change over time.”

Iriemorel looks down and begins to think about it, after a few moments she said, “I will give her a small recommendation for her, but I will look for others as well at the same time.”

The next morning Iriemorel started to resume her search for anyone, anyone but Trixie to come with her. She searched from barracks to even cupcake shops, but everyone here only cared for their lives. Suddenly doubt came across her mind and she began to wondered if she was actually going to save everyone, and if she does have to go with Trixie it will surely be the last days of her life.

Iriemorel walked home, disappointed, tired, and losing hope within her. She knew that the decision she has to make is going to affect her outcome, and if that decision is taking Trixie with her, then fine. Iriemorel sighed on her final thought, she was facing the hard reality that no one wanted to lose their young (or even old) lives. Iriemorel stopped right in front of Trixie's shack/home thing or whatever she called it, and knocked on the wooden door.

Iriemorel herd shuffling behind the door before Trixie busted through the door and fell on top of Iriemorel. Embarrassed from the action and the position that both meres are in, they quickly scrambled to stand on all fours.

“The Great and..uh..powerful Trixie would like to apologize for uhh, for that,” Trixie had said

“It's quite alright... I guess...” Shuddered Iriemoral

Silence filled the air as they both looked away from each other, awkward, and embarrassment, hanged in their minds. Then Trixie was the one who spoke up before Iriemorel could of said of anything.

“Is there...um anything you want from me, oh Great and Powerful Iriemorel?”

“Please, just call me Iriemorel, and came here to inform you that I've taken your offer. Starting tomorrow you'll be my...companion,”

At that very moment Iriemorel regretted living, she of all unicorns has to take this F'ed up mare to save Equestria. On the other hand Trixie was speechless and thrilled about going with the greatest fighter that ever lived.

“Oh my gosh, I-I accept, I'll do anything to help the Great and Powerful Iriemorel save Equestria! With the combine forces of Trixie and Iriemorel nothing can stop US!" Yelled Trixie.

Iriemorel face-hoofed at that statement, but what can she do about it. This was better than nothing and with a little frown she looked at Trixie.

“Good to see that you accepted me, meet me at the train station 7 am sharp, cause if you are late then I'm leaving you,” Iriemorel said,

Trixie only nodded and went back inside, while Iriemorel stood there, she looked up in the night sky to see the stars twinkle, and in the very first time in awhile she smiled. Cause this was a chance to begin at the end, the end becoming a new adventure.