The Tale of Isla Nova

Solar and Lunar Blitz

Now…

In the town of New Ponyville, located only 2 miles north of the Capitol Palace of Isla Nova, twin Unicorns were practicing their respected spell types, Fire and Dark. The fire mage, a rebellious pony named Solar Blitz, had heard of P.A.T.H., and convinced his brother, Lunar, to join the cause with him.

“It’s simple really, we join P.A.T.H., overthrow Luna and Artemis, and get a new ruler, a new start for Equestria, and the root of disaster gets banished in the process.” Solar stated, casting a fire spell towards a target. The Unicorn had gotten his mark only 4 years ago, similar to a fireball, and his brother only a day after, a similar mark, only black and purple instead of red and orange.

“What if they fail? The Wielders of The Elements have all taken different sides, y’know.” Lunar replied.

“Yes, but it’s likely they won’t fight much. They’re basically gods, not warlords.” Solar replied.

“Sol, look, I know you-” Lunar was cut off by a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it.” Solar said. “Hello, may I help…”

Solar glanced at the cloaked pony standing before him, out in the dark and the rain.

“Silence Freesoul?”

“Shh. You want the whole town to know I’m here!?” Silence said quietly. “I’ve heard that two twins here are looking for a ‘Job’.  I’m guessing that’s you?”

“Yes sir, I followed the symbols exactly as they read.”

“So, you speak ancient, interesting.”

Sol, you applied for P.A.T.H. already!?  Lunar said in a thought spell.

Yeah, problem? I said I was going to join. The Unicorn replied.

Silence glanced at Lunar.

“You might want to control your thoughts around here, little one. The Keepers know more than you think.”

Solar gave Silence a confused stare.

“How did you?” He began.

“It’s easy to tell when you Unicorns cast those fancy thought spells. Plus…I have my ways.” Silence said. “So, you wanna join us. Well then, you’re gonna have to pass some training.”

“Actually, sir, we’ve been training for a few days now.” Lunar spoke up.

“Hah. You have combat skills, kid, but all that’ll do is get you killed.” Silence replied. “Plus, I don’t just mean fighting. You gotta use your mind, kid.”

“Trust me-”, Solar interjected, but his sentence was finished by Lunar.

“We have.”

“Not that kind of mind power. I mean that you need to make sure they can’t break you. They can’t control your mind. You gotta stay free… or die trying.”

Complicated Improvisations

In the Business District of New Ponyville the three ponies walked through the rat-infested alleyways of the great city. As they approached the main road Silence stopped abruptly and looked around through the rain. Solar and Lunar followed suit, the two stood there for a moment, their jackets catching the pouring rain from the storm.

“Something wrong, sir?” Solar asked, his body steaming slightly through his jacket.

“Look around you foal; these streets were bustling when I entered the city, now they’re empty.”

Solar glanced at the streets, empty of everything, even Keepers, the only shop open was the Clothing store left of the main entrance.

“The Keepers are supposed to patrol these streets all the time, but where are they?” Solar pondered.

“Look, the main gate is closed.” Lunar pointed out.

“It looks like we’ll be breaking and exiting this forsaken plot hole.” Silence said, looking for a control room. “There, that building next to the gate.”

“It’s locked tight, impossible to enter.” Solar said.

“Oh, my young friend…” Silence said taking off his saddlebags. “Nothing is impossible, just simply…Improbable.”

“W-what’s in there, Silence?” Lunar asked.

“A parting gift, from us to them.” Silence said.

Silence opened the bag and pulled out a small device that Solar and Lunar couldn't identify, and slowly walked towards the building. The Pegasus suddenly stopped in his tracks and rolled back towards the alley.

“Roadblock, we gotta hide out till it’s gone.” Silence said angrily. “Know anypony who won’t rat us out?”

“Elusive and Rarity, they wouldn't dare.” Lunar replied.

“Neutralists, well I've been through worse. Come on, we need to get to the other side.” Silence stated.

“Allow me to handle that.” Lunar said stepping towards Silence. “A cloaking spell should work.”

Silence nodded as Lunar lowered his head and aimed at him. Lunar’s horn began to glow with a black aura, which spread to Silence and covered his body; soon the Pegasus had vanished from sight.

“We can teleport over there, but you’ll have to fly, the light will give away your position and null the spell.” Lunar informed.

With that Lunar vanished in a whiff of black smoke, and Solar in a small plume of flame. Silence flew to the other side, careful to stay away from the streetlights, and landed at the back of the shop.

“We’ll need to be careful, getting in there’s the hard part.”  Silence said.

The three stepped to the front of the shop and walked to the door, the nearby streetlight uncloaking Silence. Solar looked around as he approached the door and gasped; the armored, white-clad Keepers had finished the roadblock, and were preparing to begin patrolling the streets again.

“Silence, we need to get inside, now.” Solar said.

“Those Keepers probably have a good idea who we are.” Silence said blankly.

Silence pushed the door open and slowly shut it behind them; he then turned to the counter and flipped a switch, moments later a white stallion with a curly dark violet mane emerged from the basement.

“Welcome to Elusive and Rarity’s clothing shop, how may I…” The pony, Elusive, stopped in the middle of his accented sentence. He looked closely at Silence. “Silence Freesoul?”

“Quiet, do you want the whole town to find me?” Silence whispered harshly. “Look, The Keepers may know we’re here, and if you hide us until they’re gone I won’t mention you if they capture us.”

“Hmm… Fine, but I’m not part of your cause, and I won’t save you if you’re caught.” Elusive replied.

“Yes, yes, we all know the story.” Silence stated. “You and Rarity chose Neutrality.”

Elusive began to talk again, but before he could a loud banging was heard at the shop door.

“They’re here, quickly now, downstairs.” Elusive stated. “Let me handle them.”

As Silence lead Solar and Lunar downstairs Elusive approached the door.

“Hello, Sergeant, may I help you?”  Elusive asked the Keeper.

“Cut the chatter, Elusive, we've reason to believe a fugitive- Silence Freesoul- has entered New Ponyville on a terroristic threat, have you seen him or any signs of him?” The Keeper asked in a deep voice.

“No Sergeant, I've been checking stock all day, I've only just finished.” Elusive said casually. “If I do find anything, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Would you mind if I checked your cellar?”

Elusive shuttered quietly, but then he confirmed the Keeper’s request with a “No, sir. You’re welcome to take a peek around.” The Sergeant turned on a flashlight atop his helm and proceeded to move around the counter to the back of the shop, and opened a wooden latch in the floor. “Quite a place you've got here!” he yelled from the underwater, glass walled cellar.

Silence and the Blitz Twins backed around a corner as the keeper moved towards them. Looking around quickly, Lunar spotted another less notable latch in the floor. He desperately pointed his hoof at it and the other two understood immediately.  Silence opened the latch, allowing the other two in first, and closing it behind him. Just then, the keeper’s shadow passed over the latch.

Silence looked around the lower cellar. It looked more like a mineshaft than anything else. It smelled so musty and it was so humid, but at least he got away from the officer upstairs. After a few seconds he heard the creak of a ladder and the latch on the upper floor closing.

The Keeper shook his head, walked out the front door and walked towards the roadblock, signaling for it to be taken down. Elusive closed the door and walked back to the basement.

“They’re gone, for now,” Elusive told Silence through the lower latch. “You’d better be happy I don’t wield Honesty, otherwise you’d be on your way to the Rainbow Factory, all of you.”

“That’s why they sent Applejack and AJ to Eden. Neither of them can keep their mouths shut about anything, Maggie’s Farm is the perfect place for them.” Silence said.

Elusive grunted.

“Just, get out of my shop before you cause any more trouble.” He said.

As the three left the shop they approached the main gates to find they were opened and unguarded.

“The Keepers must be preparing for their nightly rounds again.” Silence said. “Let’s hurry.”

They began to run through the gates, Silence leading them on the lone road that ran over the water the city stood on. As they passed the Checkpoint a guard glanced out the window and saw them, alerting him to their escape.

“Hear that? Alarms, we’ve been spotted!” Silence said. “Solar, Lunar split off.”

Lunar took his chances and jumped into the water where his dark body couldn't be seen. He swam furiously for the swamp ahead of them.  Solar began to cast a spell that Silence couldn't identify- until the stone bricks on the bridge began to rise into pillars that Solar hopped on, giving him an excellent vantage point. But Silence... Silence walked calmly and coolly over the bridge and towards the swamp. Just as he set hoof off the bridge, one of the keepers ran up behind him, stopping at about ten feet away.

“STOP RIGHT THERE!” he demanded.

Silence just kept walking along. Solar looked back to see what was going on. Right as he turned his head, he saw the Keeper fire a suppression beam into Silence’s back from the tip of his unicorn-horned helmet.

Silence popped his neck and turned around very slowly.

“You really are starting to piss. Me. Off.” Silence said angrily. He raised his right hoof, to the keeper’s amazement, and blocked the beam streaming from the keeper’s helm.  The keeper stared at Silence with a look of shock, completely oblivious of the other two escapees. Silence raised his other hoof, right up to the keeper’s face. In an instant, the keeper’s own weapon turned against him and his helmet exploded, sending him flying into the water.

Silence turned back around to face the swamp and began to walk towards it again. Solar and Lunar watched him in amazement. The other keepers stood on their side of the bridge and didn't dare pursue him.  Just as he stepped across the border of the keeper’s jurisdiction and into the swamp, Solar and Lunar almost immediately swooped to his side.

“Whoa, whoa, what the buck was that?” Solar and Lunar said simultaneously.

“I’ll tell you anything you want to know when we get to my home.” Silence replied quietly. In a few minutes, the trio came up to see a small cabin in the middle of the swamp. They walked off the path to its door. Silence opened it and beckoned the others inside.

“Small place isn't it?” remarked Lunar.

“Oh, there’s more to it than you think.” The Pegasus replied.