Dead Space: Purpose

Twilight and Fluttershy were pinned down by the mass of timberwolves that threatened to prey on them, and began to consider what they could do. Twilight observed their surroundings, and took in the notice of how there were no paths out, no places to hide, and that she and Fluttershy were slowly being inched into a corner. She tried to pull out a spell from her memories, but was unable to focus enough to perform any. The seven wolves completed the trap, and the mares were forced against a rock. Without hesitation, they all pounced at once towards the defenseless duo, and left them to brace for the end.

Which never came.

After what felt like years of waiting, Twilight opened her eyes to see the timberwolves all frozen and blue colored for some reason. She then noticed Isaac running towards the two without so much as a warning, and scooped them up and onto his shoulders.

As he ran with them, Twilight looked back and saw the wolves spring back to life as they tackled each other and the rock where the two were pinned. She turned to Isaac’s head and spoke into the side.

“What was that?”

“Stasis. Used to slow down industrial tools to minimize fatalities or to give miners a few more seconds before anything collapses on them. Great for slowing down something that wants you dead, though, right?”

She found herself nodding to his statement and gripped onto his armor even tighter, knowing that he had the power to slow down anything that got in their way. Eventually, they came back to Fluttershy’s cottage and went inside. Isaac kept his gaze on the windows as the two mares he saved caught their breath and steadied their minds.

“So, I take it that we don’t go back in there?”

Fluttershy flew up to his helmet and hugged his neck once again, but this time, Isaac raised one arm to return the gesture to the pegasus, comforting her.

“You’re safe now. It’s okay.” He whispered.

“Thank you.” She replied.

They soon released each other and Isaac de-activated his helmet and set the weapon down onto the table, allowing the two to examine the device as he took a seat on the couch.

Twilight leaned in and studied the marvel of technology and began to talk to Isaac.

“What is that?”

“Plasma Cutter. Designed to be used as a mining tool meant for cutting out dense materials that regular drills would take hours to pierce. I’ve modded this one to have higher power and more capacity, along with faster shots, and an acid coating that can burn through steel like butter.”

“Why would you need that?”

“Let’s just say I’ve got a troubled past, and leave it at that?”

Twilight and Fluttershy looked into his eyes with sadness and nodded slowly, acknowledging the fact that his past is probably more disturbing than he’s letting on. Twilight lifted from her seat and looked to the window as she pondered why this alien had come to their world, and what Celestia had meant about some kind of signal. She turned back to Isaac and Fluttershy and spoke up again.

“I think we should head for-“

Before she could finish her thought, a bright yellow light encompassed the three, and they soon found themselves inside the Library once again. However, the other Elements were in the room, as well as Celestia and Cadance, along with a company of guards that were lined along the walls, eyes kept on Isaac.

Isaac stood up and used Kinesis to bring back his Plasma Cutter, and pulled his helmet back on. Before he could raise it, however, a similar golden aura surrounded the weapon, and threatened to pull it away. Isaac pulled back with all his might as he heard Celestia speak to him.

“Please, relinquish your weapon. We only wish to speak.”

“Then you can let go!”

With one more tug, he snapped the Cutter from the grasp of the aura and held onto it even tighter than before. Celestia gave a mixed look of anger and worry.

“Isaac, listen. I need to find out what’s going on with the Elements of Harmony since your arrival, and why they chose to act up now. Girls, could you please give us some privacy? Guards as well?”

The mares all looked to each other and then nodded to Celestia before filing outside with the rest of the guards. After the door shut, Celestia and Cadance made their way to Isaac as he removed his helmet yet again.

“What do you want?” Isaac asked bluntly.

Celestia sighed deeply as she looked up into his bearded face.

“I feel the evil surging from your mind, and how you’ve been able to control it. Nopony can have that much corruption within themselves without completely wiping out their brain, yet you’ve not only held it off, but have destroyed it entirely at one point. You have a gift, a reason why the Elements of Harmony brought you to us, and I believe that you would find the purpose of your new fate by staying here in Ponyville.”

“Wait, you mean to tell me that there’s a signal that matches the ones in my mind?”

“Not exactly. Your’s is special, like some kind of different version, but it’s origin and purpose seem to be the same. It’s been faint, like I mentioned earlier, but it’s been slowly rising in strength ever since the Elements of Harmony were brought back, and it rose greatly upon your arrival, and has been concentrating.”

“Where?”

“I do not yet know. However, I want you to protect the Bearers, the six ponies you’ve already met, until I can locate the source of the signal. I’ve seen how you deal with darkness, and not even I could protect them as well as you could. Please, would you be so kind as to protect my little ponies?”

Isaac began to reflect upon this in his thoughts, considering the danger of a surviving Marker and the consequences that would come when it comes to full power. Knowing full well what lies ahead, Isaac finalizes his decision by extending his right hand towards the Princess, and allows her to place a hoof in it before he shook it.

“Deal. But, when you do find it, I’m in charge of dealing with it.”

“Thank you, Isaac. I knew you were chosen for a reason.”

With that, the Princesses took their leave as their guards flooded into formation, allowing for easier teleportation. They disappeared in a flash of light and were gone before Isaac was tackled by a ferociously fast pink blur. He fell to the ground and gazed upon the being whom he was at the mercy at: Pinkie Pie.

“Uh…”

“Oh my gosh! This is amazing! You’ll get to stay here with us, and we can have a ‘Welcome to Ponyville Clarkey’ PARTY!”

Isaac moved a bit underneath Pinkie’s hooves. She noticed and hopped off his chest, smiling up at him with a nearly blindingly bright smile of excitement. He sat up and looked down upon her as he started.

“Can you just call me Isaac? Also, I don’t think now’s a good time to party. Kinda…”

“Tired?” asked another voice.

Isaac looked up and saw the rest of the mares file into the library, smiling at their new protector. Well, all but one.

“Why do we need a guard? That’s ridiculous! We’re not some little fillies going to school!” Rainbow Dash argued as she flew to the ceiling. Applejack looked to her with a scrunch and retorted.

“Dash, if the Princess says he’s gonna help keep us safe, then we should at least give him a chance. Besides, it’s not like he’s gonna stalk us all the time!”

Rainbow Dash shrugged at this and gave a loud groan of defeat as she landed next to her, eyes focusing to her opposite side.

“Fine. As long as he doesn’t get too over protective, alright Isaac?”

Isaac stood up and nodded to her.

“Sure. Didn’t really plan on keeping watch on all of you at all times, anyways. Just thought that if one of you is ever threatened, hurt, or taken, I’ll be there to help.”

They all nodded at him as the day took it’s toll on them, causing several yawns to escape from them, prompting their inevitable decline into sleep. Twilight perked up her ears and looked to Isaac.

“Isaac, since you’ll need to learn how to fit in here to help us, would you like to stay here where we can share information? It’ll also help the town associate with your presence.”

Isaac pondered the possibility for a few seconds, and nodded.

“Sure. Sounds like a great plan. I can learn about your town while they can learn about me.”

She nodded to him and turned to the rest of the Elements.

“Well, goodnight girls!”

They all waved and said their goodbyes to Twilight and Isaac, as well as Spike, who got a kiss on the head from Rarity. As he… floated… to bed, Twilight turned to Isaac again.

“Well, I’ll show you the guest room, follow me.”

They went up a flight of stairs and stopped at a low wooden door. As it opened, Isaac craned his back to fit through, almost crouching, and saw a slightly smaller bed with lavender sheets and blue pillows. The room was a bit roomy, being about 10x12 at a glance, enough for his armor to be laid down. It also had a bench that he could use to write, thanks to the parchments, quills, and ink bottles that were organized across it. It would be a good place to empty out his RIG and examine the Plasma Cutter, so long as he didn’t accidentally discharge the Acid-Bath attachment. He nodded a bit at the room and started to remove his armor, allowing a white shirt to peek out a bit, as Twilight began to exit the room.

“Well, goodnight Isaac. Hope you sleep well.”

“Thanks, tomorrow’s gonna be a rough day.”

She cocked her head to the side a bit and twitched her left ear downwards.

“Why say that?”

Isaac shrugged as the suit peeled away from his skin, allowing him to breathe easy again.

“I know these things.”