Dead Space: Purpose

Isaac walked along the Ponyville streets with the Crusaders, Spike, Derpy, and the Doctor as the Ponies they passed by seemed rather calm today. He glanced over the ones that were looking at him and in turn, they waved at him. He awkwardly returned the gesture with a smile, content that everyone around him didn't want him dead or ripped to shreds or strapped down, ready to be eye-raped.

As they went along, Scootaloo made it known that she was a master at the craft of scooting. She zoomed past and around the group of adults as the young ones watched with excitement. They watched as she launched off of elevated platforms, grind past corners, and even did a flip every now and then. Isaac was genuinely impressed by her mastery of balance and how easily she moved on it, like how he finally grasped how Zero-G worked halfway through Titan Station, or his hacking and weapon-crafting skills.

When the two Ponies in front stopped, Isaac looked at the building that lie before them. The establishment had a wide set of doors in front, with massive Bay windows on either side of it. The walls were covered in a series of vines that snaked up from the foundation of the stone building, and went up to a wooden balcony that arced over the entrance like some kind of nest, with carved railing that pulled together an elegant enough look to make Isaac release a low whistle.

"Wow. What kind of place is this?" he asked.

"It's a new restaurant that opened a few days ago. We thought that the kids might want to try it out." Derpy answered.

Isaac nodded in thought as he approached the doors, but halted when he felt a pang against his boot. He looked down and saw Spike smiling nervously at him.

"Uh, Isaac?"

"Yeah?"

"I, may have forgotten something important to give you when you woke up."

"What is it?"

Spike reached behind him and produced a scroll with an emblem of the Sun on top of a red ribbon that held the parchment in its form.

"It's an emergency teleportation scroll, in case you need to go see Celestia or Twilight about anything."

Isaac took the scroll and stuffed it in his suit, behind the forward compartment.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. Not like I needed to talk to them recently, or anything. Just kinda... hanging around, you know?"

Spike smiled and nodded at him before moving towards the door.

Isaac walked in and saw that the place was almost as well-kept on the inside as the outside. There were benches that had plants running along the back of them, lined up like a regular Mess Hall, and had plastic chairs that were railed to the tables underneath. The tables and chairs were all plentifully colored, ranging from vibrant blues for chairs to greens for the tables. There were two sets of double-doors at the back of the main section, one likely being the kitchen. There were a few tables here and there that were being occupied by either a couple or a family, waited on by Ponies that wore a red shirt and black cap. One of them made their way to the group and smiled as she spoke.

"Hi there! Welcome to the Pony-ville-Grill!" she said with a squeaky voice. "Where would you like to be seated?"

Doctor Whooves approached the mare and answered.

"I think we would like to be seated in the upstairs dining area, please."

The worker got a look of pure fear before shaking her head and coughing nervously.

"Well, uh, the umm... upstairs, is... rented, as of now by a group of, uh, gentlecolts that aren't exactly willing to share their position, as of yet. Ech!"

Isaac shifted to a rather serious and questioning mood as Derpy replied.

"Oh, that's alright then. Can we have a table for... seven by the back then?"

The mare smiled nervously and motioned for them to follow. As they did, Isaac eyed the place, his metallic boots clanging on the stone floor. The other Ponies in the restaurant looked to him for a second before returning to their conversations. When they reached the table, Isaac watched as the rest of his group shimmied behind the curved table in the corner to find a seat on the massive bench. He looked behind him and reached for a chair, which he used to seat himself on the outside of the table.

\\\//////

Celestia paced the dark room end-to-end as she pondered what Fluttershy had said to her. The mare in question was present in the room as well, watching as her benevolent leader stammered about like a common Pony. When she came to a rest, Celestia turned and made her way to Fluttershy.

"Are you sure?" she asked in a tone devoid of all life or happiness.

Fluttershy nodded meekly and Celestia breathed slowly.

"This is very troubling."

"Princess, I'm scared." she sobbed out.

Celestia got close to her and gave her a tight hug, allowing the mare to cry into her coat.

"I know. And you're not the only one."

Fluttershy broke contact and stared up at the Princess.

"But- why? Why does Isaac make Discord afraid? And why did he tell me to stay close to him?"

"Fluttershy," Celestia started, holding the mare in place with her hooves as she looked her in the eyes, "listen to me. Isaac is not to be confused for what he may be carrying. We all carry a great evil inside of us, waiting to get out. For Isaac, however, the evil is far more present. It does not try to change him, it tries to break him. To burn him down and rise from his ashes. It is the kind of evil that even Discord wouldn't mess with, he said so himself. And if what Discord is talking about is true, that... those, ones... are returning, then we have no choice but to wait for this to happen, and brace for the worst. Discord told you that you, are closer to him than anypony else, already, and that one of the first ones they may target, is you."

"But who are they!? Why do they want Isaac!? What do they want!?" she cried out, rivers of tears flowing hot from her face.

"That's not important. What IS, however, is that Isaac stays with you, not Twilight. If you were left without him after Discord leaving your side... I don't want to think about it. Please, just don't think about it."

Fluttershy broke down into another sobbing fit on the ground. Celestia picked her up and gave her another warm hug.

"I'm so sorry, my little Pony. If I could do anything at all to help, I would, believe me. But if I try to interfere, I may start something that only Isaac can solve, before he's ready. Just as he needs to be there for you, you need to understand that you have to be there for him, as well. He needs someone to fall back on. Someone to help him ease the burden, before it tears him down."

Fluttershy continued to cry into her for a moment before finally sighing. They released their embrace and began to sort out how they were to tell the other Elements about their conversation.

\\\//////

Joyous Exaltation moved carefully past the restaurant workers, keeping his gaze on the Unholy One as it ate with his targeted filly. Some of the staff tried to get him to stop, but he held up a pass that showed that he was to be allowed upstairs into the "Private Dining Event". Once they let him pass, he made a quick prayer before ascending the two flights and went through the final set of doors.

On the other side, the tables and props were cleared away to the side, where more of his brethren were seated, deep in meditation for their upcoming blessings. They were all wearing similar robes to him, only slightly bulked with the devices that would grant them eternal salvation, and to cleanse the ones who were wicked below.

To the edge of the balcony was a grey Earth Pony, with deep crimson robes that housed many Divine Symbols, indicating his high profile amongst them. He looked out over the town with a smile as the Pegasus approached. When he reached the base of the heightened platform, he bowed for three seconds before addressing him.

"Minister Truth." he spoke.

"Ah, Exaltation." he replied without having to turn around. "I trust that you are ready for the task at hoof?"

"I am, unquestionably, sir."

"Then why do I sense doubt in you?" Truth deadpanned.

"It's just that the Unholy One is right next to the objective. Are you sure that we may complete our Crusade with it present?"

"Never doubt the power of faith, my brother. For once this is done, we will be one step closer to ascension. You must simply believe."

Exaltation smiled widely and wiped a tear of inspiration from his eye as he bowed once more.

"Bless you, sir."

"Be ready. I must go now. They need me in the Conversion Bureau."

With a flash of a double-helix shape, the Earth Pony Minister was gone again, leaving the worshipers on the floor with the same glowing holy symbol in the center. The rest of his brothers began to chant to it and prayed as Exaltation made his way to the Zealots.

"Zealots, are you ready?"

The Colt-Stallions in question were eagerly nodding their heads, devices in their robes ready to cleanse the non-believers and prepare another for ascension.

"Good. Now, go. Let them see the might of a True Crusade. Convergence is at hand, and we are its harbingers."

With that, the five Zealots tightened their purple robes and galloped downstairs. Ready to die for their cause.