Warriors of Light

A young woman wearing a light yellow cotton robes walked along a small dirt path. Her light pink hair that shined under the brilliant yellow sun. A soft smile on her lips as the song birds seemed to follow her as she walked along the grassy road. She was following a few caravans that moved between the two hubs known as Canterlot and Manehatten, their carriages loaded with goods. One older man offered her a spot on his carriage, but she gave him a soft small and refused saying she didn't want to burden him or his old horse, He insisted but she walked along side not saying a word.

The glimmering city known as Canterlot shined over a small hill, the city built into a cliff face. The white and blue walls surrounding the city almost glowing under the bright sun. The many tall white towers capped with blue and gold roofs rising up like magic scepters, colorful banners wafting in the breeze from the top of the spires. A large white and gold dome jutted out of the nearby mountainside and loomed over the pristine skyline, a series of smaller towers branched off from the dome and seemed to defy gravity as they hung in open air.

“First time in Canterlot little Missy?” The old asked turning his bearded gaze to the young woman. She meekly nodded as she looked at the cityscape. “Well let me verse you with some history. Hop on up dear. You must be tired from walking all the way.” The girl nodded feeling a dull ache pulse through her legs. As she climbed up and sat down beside the old man cleared his throat and ushered the horse forward. “Well this city was founded by the Arch Magus Celestia over four centuries ago. She chose this spot because it was a perfect spot to be a trade hub. I also heard that there was some magic dew-hickies in the mountain side, but that is just wild rumor. I guess all those fancy nobles got nothing better to do than start rumors.” He laughed loudly slapping a knee, the woman smiled weakly not sharing the same humor. “Any ways, Canterlot grew and became a symbol for the people of Equestria as the common ground to show that everyone is equal. All roads lead to Canterlot is one saying for us traders. So... what brings a young lass like yourself to this great city?” He asked glancing at the young woman as she fidgeted trying to answer him.

“I left my village to find my place.” She replied poking two fingers together. “I had tried doing many jobs but I had no talent for any of them. I had heard that Canterlot was the best place to find anything...” She mumbled looking down at the horse.

“Well that is certainly true. You can find the Thaumaturge Collage near the base of the mountain, weird magic types more interested in books and fire than is healthy. The Temple of the Two, home of Conjurers and Paladins. There is even a Gladiatorial arena on the back side of that dome.” The girl looked shocked at the mention of an arena. “Don't worry deary they are all trained warriors that can be healed up by the local mages. Nobody has been badly hurt in close to fifty years or so.”

“That is good.” She brightened up as the old man smiled.

The pair entered a large golden gate, the statues of heroes lining the interior of the large archway. Guards dressed in gold and white lined the path each eying the carts as they passed. Some with long spears others with sword and shield, one large guard held a behemoth axe as if it was a twig. The sight of the heavily armed soldiers made the woman shiver under their gazes. The large guard seemed to notice the shiver and kept her eye on the butter robed woman. Coming to a three way intersection the carriage stopped causing the distracted woman to nearly fall, she gave a confused look to the old man who smiled to her.

“Up those stairs you will find the Adventurers Guild. They are always looking for people to help out, you may find work with them.” He said pointing to a rounded staircase leading to a pair of large red doors. She quivered at the thoughts of being sent out to kill monsters, the old man seemed to noticed and chuckled. “They have many jobs that can be anywhere from killing monsters to helping with local crops. They just call it the Adventurers Guild because most of the clients are the adventurous types.”

She sighed with relief as she hopped off the carriage. “Thank you sir. I won't forget your kindness.”

“Just one second little miss. I have something to give you.” The old man reached behind and into the carriage.

“I don't need anything you have helped me enough.” She held her hands up in protest, the old man ignored her and held out a small wooden box to her shaking hands.

“Something in these old bones tells me that you will need this.” He pushed the box into her hands, as she took it he nodded. “Think of it as payment for listening to this old coot ramble in your ear.”

“Thank you again. I will treasure it.” She smiled and held the box close to her, waving to the old man as he gave the reigns a light snap and lurched away from the butter robed woman.

She turned to the large building her courage slammed hard in her throat, Her knees began to shake as she put one foot in front of the other. Before she knew it the large doors loomed over her, The large brass handles shimmering in the light. Swallowing a lump in her throat her hand grabbed the handle and pulled. She opened the door a bit and poked her head inside.

An elaborate open area room was on the other side decorated in banners of different cities and countries hung from a dome in the center of the ceiling. Four golden pillars held the dome, red painted wooden tables sat at their bases with a few different people talking, sharing a few drinks, and gambling. The far wall was lined with large booths made of heavy wood, one had heavy glass in front of it with a surly looking earthen man handing out a bag as a line of people gave him an item from their hunts. Another held a small elvish woman, her jet black hair pulled up into a bun. Her pale eyes scanned the ledger in front of her.

The robed woman made her way to the elven lady and motioned to get her attention. “Excuse me.” She said quietly getting the clerk to glance up from her book and raise an eyebrow.

“You don't exactly look the adventurous type miss.” The raven haired clerk said with a smirk, the pink haired woman blushed as she fidgeted under her gaze. “What business do you have miss. Hiring an adventurer or applying?”

“I want to work. I don't think I would be very good at the whole adventure thing though.” The woman commented almost shrinking as a pair of large earthen soldiers walked by her, their armor showing signs of damage.“Is there work as a less dangerous job.”

“Write your name here. I can see what we have just a second.” The elven woman said pointing to an open book with a quill nearby, as she turned and moved to a pair of large cabinets behind her. She returned a few seconds later with a small file. “Alright Miss..Fluttershy Firewing. Ah an Angelic, we don't get a whole lot of your kind here.” The pink haired Fluttershy blushed a bit and looked at the elven woman slightly offended. “Don't take it that way. Angelics seem to enjoy the open skies and your floating cities to this place.” She opened her arms wide gesturing to the open room. “It is kind of nice to see a few of you don't have swollen heads.” She gave a soft smile as she handed the file to Fluttershy. “The Mages have requested a 'gopher' for messages to and from the Thaumaturge College and the Temple of the Two. The mage you are to contact a Twilight Sparkle. She is a little... odd. So any questions?”

“It isn't the animal gopher is it?” Fluttershy asked giving a knowing look to the clerk but earning an eye roll.

“I will put it on your file, no clowning or comedy jobs.”

“On my way. Thank you. The College is to the left as I exit correct?” Fluttershy said quickly backing up from the desk as the clerk nodded. Fluttershy gave a weak wave and turned towards the door making a swift but almost silent exit.

Fluttershy sighed as she exited the guild pressing a hand to her heart. Her knees were shivering as the adrenaline of talking to another person for so long wore off. She slowly breathed regaining her composure, thinking about her first job she concentrated on her back as a pair of golden ethereal wings appeared on her back. Giving the new appendages a few flaps and levitating a few feet off the ground she moved to fly down the road to the college, but was stopped by a held up hand from a guard. She looked at the guard and couldn't help but feel like she had saw them before. The guard motioned for Fluttershy to land who did as instructed.

Fluttershy got a good look at the guard the large axe on their back and golden armor jogging her memory, the guard cleared their throat. “Ma'am we have a few rules about flying round here." Pulling a small book from their belt and opening it to a certain page. "No flying with heavy parcels fifty pounds or more. No magics, No open clothing, and no messing with weather systems." Snapping the book shut and returning it to their belt, the guard looked up to Fluttershy. "I saw ya come in bout five minutes or so, was figurin' you wouldn't know.”

“That is very kind of you, but why did I stand out? Don't you guards see hundreds of people come through the gates?” Fluttershy asked landing and standing a half a foot shorter than the guard.

“Well ta be honest. We are told ta look for suspicious folk and one of the tells is they won't look ya in the eyes. Ya did that when ya came in the gate.” The guard said removing the large helmet, a blonde pony tail flopped free, her face was tanned and brought out the small freckles on her cheeks. She leaned her head left and right giving some loud pops causing Fluttershy to slightly cringe. “That helmet is too dang heavy.” The guard smiled at Fluttershy. “Alright now that that is out of the way. Can I ask ya what you are doing in this city.”Fluttershy trembled before looking down to the ground, her voice was mumbled as she spoke into the ground. “Sorry ma'am I didn't catch that.”

“I wanted work, and find my place.” Fluttershy spoke up holding herself close. “I got a job at the Adventurer's Guild and was going to do it when you stopped me.” The guard raised an eyebrow in a surprised look from the smaller woman, Fluttershy meanwhile blushed wildly and almost physically shrunk under the gaze. “I'm sorry. I am just nervous about this and..” The guard cut her off by holding up a hand.

“It is alright partner. I understand, ya were just tryin' ta get by and I was bugging ya worse than horse flies in the summer.” Holding out a hand to the butter clothed woman the guard smiled warmly. “My name is Applejack Apple. I'm sorry for bugging ya like that.”

“Fluttershy Firewing.” Fluttershy mumbled as she took the hand hesitantly. Applejack firmly grabbed the smaller hand and gave it a few shakes, causing Fluttershy to rub her hand as it was returned from the vice like grip.

“I will let ya go Fluttershy. Y'all have a job ta do and I've kept ya long enough. If ya need anything, a place ta stay fer a while don't think anything ta ask. My family owns one of the farms outside the walls, and I would like to make it up to ya, cause I accused ya of bein' suspicious an all.” Applejack chuckled as she placed the golden helmet on her head, turning away and giving a friendly wave. Fluttershy returned the wave but the guard was already turned away returning to her post.

Fluttershy let out a long sigh as her knees shivered. “She was nice.” She smiled as she turned to head to her job. Walking through a few crowded streets of people, salesmen pushing their produce. Fluttershy arrived at the towering building that was the Mage's College. The massive golden runes on the doors matched the rest of the building. Tall gold and obsidian arches loomed overhead giving it a Gothic feel, banners of house sigils hung from a few arches lit by torches of arcane energy. Fluttershy was amazed not noticing a small elven mage approach her.

“Excuse me, Miss.” The mage coughed causing the yellow robed angelic to jump with a startled yelp. “May I ask you what business you have here? I am Bright Spark.” He bowed slightly to the now blushing woman.

“Yes, I...um...was hired by adventurers guild...for a Twilight Sparkle.” Fluttershy stammered as the mage nodded.

“Ah yes. I was told to be expecting someone. Come this way, she is in the East Library.” He smiled heading down a hallway with Fluttershy quietly following. “Not to sound rude. You don't exactly look the adventurous type.”

“I'm not really. I would rather be home, but I need work.” Fluttershy whimpered almost shrinking under the question.

“Understandable. She should be in here. Look for the purple hat.” Bright smiled as he opened a large wooden door. Fluttershy nodded to him and entered giving him a thank you.

The room was tall, twenty foot arched ceilings. Each wall was lined with bookshelves, in the center were tables with towers of books stacked ten or so books high. Fluttershy wondered how many books were in this wing, reminding herself that Bright Spark had said it was the East Library, was there a west? A glimpse of purple made her stop as the top of a pointed hat twitched behind a wall of books.

Moving close let out a quiet 'Excuse me.' The hat stopped moving for a few seconds before moving back into the rhythm. Clearing her throat and pushing out her chest, she spoke a little louder. “Excuse me. I'm looking for a Twilight Sparkle.”

The hat stopped and rose to see a pair of violet eyes peeking over the stack of books. “I am Twilight. May I help you?”

“You requested assistance from the Adventurer's Guild?” Fluttershy asked shrinking as the mage rose in her seat.

“Oh yes! I got distracted by this History of the Races of Terra. Very interesting, that the three races of humans each have unique traits but are all created equal due to our faults.” Twilight smiled as she looked back down at the book, her head suddenly shot up a shocked look on her face. “I was getting distracted again. I need you to deliver a letter to my brother Spike at the Temple of the Two. We normally keep in contact through a magical spell linked with each other, but there has been a lot of interference. As if there is a rise in the aetherical energies. I should look into that it is a curious phenomenon.” Twilight turned to the rather stunned woman. “Oh right. The letter. If you see a tall paladin in white and steel that is my other brother, Shining Armor. He is looking after Spike, you can also give the letter to him to give to Spike.”

Fluttershy walked around the tower of books to get a good look at the mage as she prepared the letter. Medium length purple hair with a stripe of pink, matching the colours of her high collared robes, her pointed ears showing slightly under the wide brimmed hat. Her dark skin make her large purple eyes almost glow as her eyes scanned the lines on the parchment. A small six pointed star shaped scepter was attached to her belt, a small spell book on her other hip.

She held out the slip and gave Fluttershy a soft smile. “I just realized I didn't catch your name.”

Fluttershy blushed and looked to the floor, as she took the letter. “Fluttershy Firewing.”

“Thank you for doing this Miss Firewing. I kind of felt lost without contact with Spike.”

“It is no problem, and Fluttershy is fine no need for formalities.”

“Alright Fluttershy. I will have your reward as soon as you deliver this and will send it to the guild.” Twilight smiled about to sit down but stopped herself. “Are you going to be able to get out of here or do you need help? This place can be a maze some days.”

“I think I can make it. Thank you.” Fluttershy nodded backing away from the mage who smiled and sat down returning to her book.

Fluttershy left silently past Bright Spark who gave her a slight wave. As she exited the building she let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding. Tucking the letter into her bag, she couldn't help but give a smirk. “Well that could have gone a lot worse. This day is looking bright.” Fluttershy giggled as she skipped down the steps of the college.