The Equestrian Chronicles: The Awakening of The Lightby Diokno44ChaptersPrologue Chapter 1-Recruiting and Preparation Chapter 2-The Journey BeginsPrologue Prologue In the beginning, all was strife and darkness. Powerful daemons ravaged the land, and kept the races of Equis inslaved, toiling day and night. When a worker perished, their soul would be collected, and sent to Aetherius, home to the daemon's lord, Messorem Animas, the Reaper of Souls, who would torture their spirits for his own amusment, defile them. The beings of Equis, pony, griffon, minotaur, zebra, camel, they all cried out for a reprieve from their suffering, and their prayers were answered. The Maker, creator of life, Xe sent out Xyr's forces, multitudes of Xyr's soldiers marched upon Aetherius, and slew many of the dread lord's forces. Messorem, the Shadow-Walker, was cast out, into the Void between realities, and all were freed from bondage, The Maker smiled upon Xe's children, and blessed them with the ability to shape the land. To the Pegasi, Xe gave them the ability to control the weather, to the Terra ponies, enhanced strength and an affinity for the land.To the Unicorns, Xe gave them the ability to harness the natural land of the magic through the horn attached to their foreheads. But, Xe's his two greatest gifts to Equis was that any species, even those non-unicorns, would be able to harness magic through conduits, such as staves, and through rigorous training. The second was how our rulers, Queen Celestia and Queen Luna, came to be. Their mother and father, a young Pegasus named Laurel Faustis, and a Unicorn named Solaris, gave their lives to rescue several thousands of souls from the clutches of Messorem, and were given new life, as Alicorns, beings with combined abilties of all three pony races. Xe continues to watch over us, protecting us, guiding us. Maker be praised. ¨Maker be praised." A lone mare whispered, as she quietly shut the Scriptures of the Maker, Vol. 1. Her armor clanked as she placed the book back into her saddlebag. The mare was Twilight Sparkle, former protoge to Queen Celestia, a newly ordained Grand Paladin, and an Alicorn, one that had control of the dusk between night and day. She had been given this gift as a blessing from the Maker, using Celestia as Xe's conduit. She sighed, as she trotted towards the royal throne room, having been summoned previously. But first- ¨Spike, where are you?" Twilight called out. Spykoran Dojzeimonikaan, or Spykoran Learn-Through-Wisdom (In the Dragon tongue), the Younger, grandson of Spykoran the Old, King of the Dragon Clans, had been sent by his grandfather to become a Knight under his old friend Celestia's former apprentice. When they first met, he had preferred to be known as Spike, and had become something of a younger brother to the mare. A rustling of armor announced his presence, as young dragon of fourteen emerged, bowed, and saluted, ¨Yes, Lady Sparkle?¨ He asked, as his mithril mail jingled with each movement, his silver broadsword lay strapped on his back. ¨What is it you require of me?" ¨Queen Celestia has requested us in the throne room." Twilight said, as she began trotting, Spike alongside her, humming an old song from when he was but a hatchling. His family, in the Dracovian city of Feykro Reist (Forest Hearth), had been slaughtered, alongside everyone else, by rampaging Ursa Majors. His egg, the sole survivor of the destruction, by his grandfather and Celestia, who had been entrusted to care for the egg. The guards nodded as the two approached, slowly opening the doors to the grand throne room. Queen Celestia sat on her throne, her gilded gold and silver armor shone in The Maker's sunlight. The throne next to her, Queen Luna's, was vacant, as she slept in the day, and it was not just because she was a vampony. Celestia smiled as her former student, and former ward both approached, and bowed respectfully. "Grand Paladin Twilight, Squire Spykoran, I'm glad you came." Celestia said, her voice ringing out, as she descended the dais so she could be close to the two, as she pulled out five portfolios, and levitated them in front of Twilight and Spike. "Within these folders are dossiers on five ponies who shall join you on the quest I am sending you on, my faithful knight." Her voice then lowered in tone, "And my greatest lover." She winked, "Now, your quest, I believe you're wondering why I have called you, and what your quest is?" Twilight nodded, blushing slightly, as Celestia continued, "After you saved my sister alongside those five mares, it seems fate has interwoven your lives once more. You must band together with them, and head north. A great evil has awoken, one that I thought Equiis would never face again." She sighed, bowing her head, "I am sure you have studied the prophecies?" Celestia asked, raising her head once more, her ethereal rainbow mane flowing in the wind, the colors blending into a sea of light, like the aurora borealis made physical. Twilight placed a hoof to her mouth, she had studied the prophecies written in the scriptures by Saint Starswirl The Bearded, a revered mage, who sacrificed his life saving a covenant of priests from a horde of demons, but his body disappeared from its tomb, the lid halfway opened.Many today believe The Maker granted him new life, and that he still walks the world to this day, immortal. "The Reaping of Souls..." Twilight whispered, the Reaping of Souls was the last, and most dreaded of all of Starswirl's prophecies. She shuddered as it, and all the terror that came from reading it, came flooding back into her mind, and her lips. When the Shadow Goddess falls, And Chaos is tamed by Kindess, When the Empire returns and the King is dethroned, Once the fourth Alicorn is crowned, on Sol's eclipse The seal shall break, and the dread lord shall return, All mortal souls shall be reaped, and Creation will burn. "The prophecy is coming true, isn't it milady?" Twilight asked, taking a calming breath, her plate mail clanking. Celestia nodded grimly, a tense frown on her face, "Very well, I will return to Ponyville at once." Celestia pointed to the door to her right, "A chariot awaits you through that door, my dear," She pecked Twilight on the lips, "And may The Maker watch over you both." She said, returning to her throne. "And may Xe watch over you aswell, Celestia." Twilight said, returning the short kiss, bowing. Spike followed her as they exited into a ramp, where two Royal Guards, a ruby red Pegasus with an orange mane, eyes of molten gold, and a Cutie Mark that resembled a soaring eagle, and an older looking Griffon with a scar running from his right eyebrow to the end of his lower eyelid. The two nodded, as they boarded the chariot, and took to the skies, the wind howling. Twilight sat down, and scanned the folios, "Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy, it seems I shall see you again." She said, as the chariot soared the the air, Spike watching the passing scenery. The moon creeped closer to the sun, and a cruel laugh echoed in the minds of every empath throughout time and space....... Author's Note For those of you who don't knowm Messorem Animas means Reaper of Souls in Latin, I chose a name that sounded terrifying, something that would bring dread. To be continued..... Chapter 1-Recruiting and Preparation Chapter 1-Recruiting and Preparation The chariot creaked as it landed on the cool earthen ground. "Thank you gentlestallions, you may return to your posts." Twilight said, as she and Spike descended. The guards gave a quick nod, "Yes milady." as they took off once more, kicking their hind legs as they flew back to Canterlot. Twilight trotted through the town, rereading the dossiers. It seems the five mares she called friends had gained new occupations. Rainbow Spectrum Dash, daughter of the deceased Dame Soaring Skies, and her husband, a Journeystallion in the renowned Fighter's Guild, who had worked as a weather adviser and second in command of Rainbow Industries, which, after multiple poisonous rumors were debunked, was revealed that they did not craft rainbows out of slaughtered foals. After earning enough bits, Rainbow had entered the Order of The Purging Flame, and become one of its most well known Demon Hunters, and had returned to live with her wife, Fluttershy, and their two foals. Fluttershy had discovered how in tune with nature she was, much more so than any Earth Pony, and learned she was gifted with Terramancy, the ability to magically control the elements, flora, and to an extent, fauna, and studied Terramancy in the Arcanis University in Canterlot. She then returned home to care for her animals and her children, Rarity, while still designing clothes and accessories in her family's store, Carousel Emporium, she had followed Fluttershy to the Arcanis University, in order to hone her magical prowess, which she had before only used to locate jewels or for minor levitation and teleportation. She had greatly increased her repertoire of arcane abilities. She and Spike were currently courting. Pinkamena Diane Pie, a baker and adopted daughter of the Cake family, had learned alchemy and illusion crafting from Zecora Mbali Andraste, daughter of a Zebrican Shaman and a Peltic huntress. She had used her abilities, as well as her natural ability to bend reality at her will, in her trade of throwing parties, festivals, and the like. Applejack Maria Apple, of the Apple Clan, had taken up adventuring for the local branch of the Fighter's Guild, was a part time gladiator in the Pony's Ville arena, and an apprentice-level Terramancer. She aided her family on their farm still, occasionally departing to fufill a contract's request. Twilight smiled, placing the dossiers in her saddlebags, the clasps causing a small CLANK to emit from her armor, glad her friends had gotten successful careers, or an additional one. She had sent a sealed letter to each of the six mares, stating she would meet them at the Golden Oaks library, where she would frequent, as it served as a home-away-from-home for the young paladin. Twilight opened the door, Spike beside her, to find Pinkie Pie and the others gathered around a table. A swift group embrace and greetings followed. "Now, I'm sure you five know why I called you here." The five nodded. "Queen Celestia has asked me to gather you, we have to venture to the far north, beyond the Griffon Imperium and the Crystal Empire." She sighed, "I'm not going to lie, this journey will be perilous, and there will be great danger ahead." She took a deep breath, before continuing, "The prophecies state that Messorem is returning." "But Twilight, how could that be? The Maker sealed him away, and locked the barrier between Equiis and Aetherius. How could he enter the mortal realm?" Fluttershy asked, fear in her tone, as her long pink hair blew in the gentle breeze. "Saint Starswirl's prophecies state that, on the next eclipse of Sol, the seal on the Void shall break, and the Reaper of Souls will return." Twilight looked at the five gathered mares, who all showed looks of shock and awe, "A darkness is awakening in the North, perhaps it is Messorem himself. As you know, after the Tree of Harmony took back the Elements, they floated into the sky, and dispersed northward. We have to gather them once more, and stop Messorem's forces." Twilight reached into her mail, and pulled out a glowing crimson jewel on a necklace, "Queen Celestia gave me this when I was knighted, she told me it could detect Harmony magic, it will glow brighter as we get closer to a source." She let the pendent down, "Get your gear ready, we leave on the morrow." The mares nodded, as they quickly left for their homes, to gather supplies, which they brought back in an hour, After some catching-up, the seven departed for the bedrooms, falling asleep, Queen Luna's radiant full moon bathing them in its beautiful light.. Twilight awoke, cracking her neck, as she gently combed her mane, and reverently placed her blessed armor and weapons on her body, her wings ruffling. She made her bedspread, before moving to the shrine to the Maker she had set up, as she moved her hooves in the Sancta Crux, "Factor in nomine in nomine Salvatoris, Ferocibus Animis et." she said the Signum Crucis, "Maker, may Xyr, Xyr Son, and Xyr Spirit watch over us on our quest. May Xe aid us in doing Xyr will, and halting The Dread Lord, Amen." She bowed her head, before raising it slowy, and trotting down the stairs, where the seven were currently eating breakfeast. Rainbow Dash was dressed in the standard Demon Hunter gear, a padded black and gold hood, plated black and gold armor and hoofguards, a bandolier was tied around her waist, where lockpicks, extra bolts, and other small necessities were stored, and her Meteorite crossbow, strapped to her back. Fluttershy sat next to her wife, dressed in a loose forest green hooded robe, a vine-like staff lay by her side, and assorted poultices and elixers. She smiled, "Good morning Twilight." She nodded, placing a slice of peppered steak and olives into her mouth, slowly chewing. "Hello Twilight, how was your sleep, pleasant I take it?" Rarity asked, taking a sip from her weirwood tea. Her outfit was a silver and blood ruby circlet, she wore Spike's fire ruby necklace, and gift from their anniversary , all underneath an ultramarine blue robe with white highlights, a runed band with a small diamond lay on her right forehoof, her wedding ring. "Good morning everypony." Twilight smiled slightly, as she began eating aswell, fried hay, garlic rice, and strips of slightly charred bacon, "Rarity, before we set out, how are Lavender and Emerald Dawn?" Lavender and Emerald were Spike and Rarity's children, they had recently had their second nameday. Spike kept in contract through Dream-Walking, and letters. "They are doing quite well, their honarary aunts, aside from you five, Lyra and Bon Bon are foalsitting them." Rarity smiled, pecking her husband lightly on the cheek. After some small chatting, and a hearty meal, they cleaned their dishes, before Twilight opened the front door, "Before we set out, have you said your farewells to your loved ones?" The five mares nodded solemnly, "Then we shall be off. May The Maker guide us." She intoned, as the mare responded in kind. They each trotted into the rising dawn, and began their journey north, saddlebags, armor, and weaponry rustling in the breeze. Their hooves making imprints on the warm earthen road. Meanwhile, dark clouds began to gather in the air, and the chill on winter filled the bones of every being in existence..... Author's Note Yes, in this story, the ponies are omnivores, please, if you have a problem with this, let me say, IRL, if a bird landed in a horse's mouth, it wouldn't hesitate crunching on some avian flesh. Chapter 2-The Journey BeginsTwilight sneezed, pulled her wolf-skin cloak close to her body, as the early morning winds chilled her armored body. Her companions trotted behind. They had left Pony's Ville over an hour ago, and the lush grass and open sky had swiftly turned to gnarled roots and the sky, which had been bright, was now shaded by the thick awnings that the Everfree Forest's old oaks lifted on their mighty branches, a harsh wind whistled through the trunks. The growls and howls of Timberwolves, and the many beasts that haunted the Everfree sent shivers down their spines. "Night will be falling soon Twilight, don't you think we should set up camp?" Fluttershy asked, shuddering behind her wife, and her flowing pink mane. She whistled a quiet tune to keep herself calm, eyes darting around the area, watching every bush for a sign of movement. A branch snapped, causing Fluttershy to yelp, hiding now in a dome of vines and earth she had erected around herself and Rainbow, leaving a hole big enough for them to peek through, and for air to flow in. "We'll sleep in here." She said softly, falling asleep, legs wrapped around her wife. "You are correct Fluttershy." Twilight said, as she set up her tent. "Spike, would you kindly start a fire for us?" Spike saluted, as he spat a roaring fire onto a pile of logs, as the flames rose, heating the camp and keeping any creatures away, wary. "Thank you Spike, now, you and Rarity should try to not wake us all up." She chuckled, causing Spike and Rarity to flush crimson, as they all descended into slumber, the crows cawing as they flew off. ____________________________________ Several miles away.... The crunching of dead leaves were the only sound the lone figure made, aside from his weathered charcoal-grey cloak. Under the hooded cloak, he wore scarred mithril mail, under a bit of dark blue-green cloth, his greaves were the made of boiled leather reinforced with metal plates. A bloodied silver blade lay sheathed at his side, a fragment of another was strapped on the other. An ash-coated ebony bow, with steel-tipped arrows, were strapped to his back. Black hoofguards covered each of his four hooves. He had long since buried away his name, under all the pain and grief. He had once been a ranger in the Royal Guard, stationed at Hawke Keep in southern Griffonhala, in Eagle's Roost Canyon. He married his long time lover, Rose Petal, a Unicorn, a healer and scout for the Rangers of The Dawn and Dusk, as they had been known as. He had fathered a son, who they had named Grey Joy, for his light grey coat, and his positive attitude. While Grey had inherited his father's Pegasus abilities, he had gained hism other's ability to focus magic, both his natural Pegasus magic and what he learned, through his hooves as if he were a Unicorn. While Unicorns, Alicorns, and the like can naturally focus magic, any of the races are able to channel it through a foci, from something minute as a crystal or staff, to the extreme, like an organ or through their soul. They had lived a fairly happy life, until one black day. It had been raining for some time, mists blanketing the rocky ground below the keep. Private Dawn Wind, a green-faced Griffon, a former thief, had been relieving himself over the ancient stone walls of the keep, when, as he let out a sigh, a rusty looking arrow, dark green shaft, chipped iron arrowhead, hawk feathers, piercing his neck. He let out a gurgling-scream, as he fell off the ramparts, into a pile of hay over fifty hooves, (The species would base the numbering system on their appendages), below, with a sickening thud. The Rangers had mustered their forces, archers had scaled the wall, peering at the enemy below. An army of goblin raiders wished to cross the pass into the country, and sack every home they came upon. They stormed the keep, their ugly blades, dipped in cockatrice blood. It was a slaughter, the goblins, led by a Griffon known as Skelas Brel-Kral, or Skelas Flesh-Render in the Goblin tongue, swarmed on the Rangers, who, even though they put up a valiant fight, were all slain. He had been held down, forced to watch as Skelas sent his sword into Grey Joy's heart, as he tried to comfort his son, while Grey Joy, then a colt of ten, pleaded for his father's help. Skelas then violated Rose before his eyes, then proceeded to cleave her in two with a cruel smile, walking away after spitting in his face. Enraged, he slew the two bulky goblins holding him, slaying every one of them he could find, until he found his way into Skelas' new "Throne Room", Lord-Commander Davenport's old office. Charging, he took down the two bodyguards, before dueling the Griffon veteran in a frenzy. The battle was fierce, but it was for naught, just as he was to land the fatal blow on the armored Griffon, Skelas' legendary blade, Starfang, embedded itself in his chest, and he felt his life fade, and fell on the stone floor. He awoke on a crumbling watchower, the smell of decay reaching his nostrils as he got up in a flash. He looked down, and saw a battered sword, only a broken portion of the silver blade and the hilt remained. Tears fell from his eyes, as he noticed the inscribed G.J inside a shield, the blade had belong to his son. "How is this possible? I should be dead." He had asked nopony. A disembodied voice, a wraith, which had been bound with him, said he had been banished from death, and they had been cursed and bound as one. He took the blade fragment, and asked how this curse would be broken. The wraith had said that they would have to find the one who laid it on them, Skelas, and end them. Leaping from the tower, he buried his friends and loved ones, giving them a silent memorial. Sheathing the blades, he trotted as fast as he could, listening for any word of Skelas. Rumors had said he was currently in Equestria. As the memories subsided in his subconscious, he heard voices. As he vanished from the corporeal realm, he saw a crackling fire, six tents set in a complete circle around the campfire. He smirked, trotting forward.... ...And unsheathed his blades, smirking.
Prologue Prologue In the beginning, all was strife and darkness. Powerful daemons ravaged the land, and kept the races of Equis inslaved, toiling day and night. When a worker perished, their soul would be collected, and sent to Aetherius, home to the daemon's lord, Messorem Animas, the Reaper of Souls, who would torture their spirits for his own amusment, defile them. The beings of Equis, pony, griffon, minotaur, zebra, camel, they all cried out for a reprieve from their suffering, and their prayers were answered. The Maker, creator of life, Xe sent out Xyr's forces, multitudes of Xyr's soldiers marched upon Aetherius, and slew many of the dread lord's forces. Messorem, the Shadow-Walker, was cast out, into the Void between realities, and all were freed from bondage, The Maker smiled upon Xe's children, and blessed them with the ability to shape the land. To the Pegasi, Xe gave them the ability to control the weather, to the Terra ponies, enhanced strength and an affinity for the land.To the Unicorns, Xe gave them the ability to harness the natural land of the magic through the horn attached to their foreheads. But, Xe's his two greatest gifts to Equis was that any species, even those non-unicorns, would be able to harness magic through conduits, such as staves, and through rigorous training. The second was how our rulers, Queen Celestia and Queen Luna, came to be. Their mother and father, a young Pegasus named Laurel Faustis, and a Unicorn named Solaris, gave their lives to rescue several thousands of souls from the clutches of Messorem, and were given new life, as Alicorns, beings with combined abilties of all three pony races. Xe continues to watch over us, protecting us, guiding us. Maker be praised. ¨Maker be praised." A lone mare whispered, as she quietly shut the Scriptures of the Maker, Vol. 1. Her armor clanked as she placed the book back into her saddlebag. The mare was Twilight Sparkle, former protoge to Queen Celestia, a newly ordained Grand Paladin, and an Alicorn, one that had control of the dusk between night and day. She had been given this gift as a blessing from the Maker, using Celestia as Xe's conduit. She sighed, as she trotted towards the royal throne room, having been summoned previously. But first- ¨Spike, where are you?" Twilight called out. Spykoran Dojzeimonikaan, or Spykoran Learn-Through-Wisdom (In the Dragon tongue), the Younger, grandson of Spykoran the Old, King of the Dragon Clans, had been sent by his grandfather to become a Knight under his old friend Celestia's former apprentice. When they first met, he had preferred to be known as Spike, and had become something of a younger brother to the mare. A rustling of armor announced his presence, as young dragon of fourteen emerged, bowed, and saluted, ¨Yes, Lady Sparkle?¨ He asked, as his mithril mail jingled with each movement, his silver broadsword lay strapped on his back. ¨What is it you require of me?" ¨Queen Celestia has requested us in the throne room." Twilight said, as she began trotting, Spike alongside her, humming an old song from when he was but a hatchling. His family, in the Dracovian city of Feykro Reist (Forest Hearth), had been slaughtered, alongside everyone else, by rampaging Ursa Majors. His egg, the sole survivor of the destruction, by his grandfather and Celestia, who had been entrusted to care for the egg. The guards nodded as the two approached, slowly opening the doors to the grand throne room. Queen Celestia sat on her throne, her gilded gold and silver armor shone in The Maker's sunlight. The throne next to her, Queen Luna's, was vacant, as she slept in the day, and it was not just because she was a vampony. Celestia smiled as her former student, and former ward both approached, and bowed respectfully. "Grand Paladin Twilight, Squire Spykoran, I'm glad you came." Celestia said, her voice ringing out, as she descended the dais so she could be close to the two, as she pulled out five portfolios, and levitated them in front of Twilight and Spike. "Within these folders are dossiers on five ponies who shall join you on the quest I am sending you on, my faithful knight." Her voice then lowered in tone, "And my greatest lover." She winked, "Now, your quest, I believe you're wondering why I have called you, and what your quest is?" Twilight nodded, blushing slightly, as Celestia continued, "After you saved my sister alongside those five mares, it seems fate has interwoven your lives once more. You must band together with them, and head north. A great evil has awoken, one that I thought Equiis would never face again." She sighed, bowing her head, "I am sure you have studied the prophecies?" Celestia asked, raising her head once more, her ethereal rainbow mane flowing in the wind, the colors blending into a sea of light, like the aurora borealis made physical. Twilight placed a hoof to her mouth, she had studied the prophecies written in the scriptures by Saint Starswirl The Bearded, a revered mage, who sacrificed his life saving a covenant of priests from a horde of demons, but his body disappeared from its tomb, the lid halfway opened.Many today believe The Maker granted him new life, and that he still walks the world to this day, immortal. "The Reaping of Souls..." Twilight whispered, the Reaping of Souls was the last, and most dreaded of all of Starswirl's prophecies. She shuddered as it, and all the terror that came from reading it, came flooding back into her mind, and her lips. When the Shadow Goddess falls, And Chaos is tamed by Kindess, When the Empire returns and the King is dethroned, Once the fourth Alicorn is crowned, on Sol's eclipse The seal shall break, and the dread lord shall return, All mortal souls shall be reaped, and Creation will burn. "The prophecy is coming true, isn't it milady?" Twilight asked, taking a calming breath, her plate mail clanking. Celestia nodded grimly, a tense frown on her face, "Very well, I will return to Ponyville at once." Celestia pointed to the door to her right, "A chariot awaits you through that door, my dear," She pecked Twilight on the lips, "And may The Maker watch over you both." She said, returning to her throne. "And may Xe watch over you aswell, Celestia." Twilight said, returning the short kiss, bowing. Spike followed her as they exited into a ramp, where two Royal Guards, a ruby red Pegasus with an orange mane, eyes of molten gold, and a Cutie Mark that resembled a soaring eagle, and an older looking Griffon with a scar running from his right eyebrow to the end of his lower eyelid. The two nodded, as they boarded the chariot, and took to the skies, the wind howling. Twilight sat down, and scanned the folios, "Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy, it seems I shall see you again." She said, as the chariot soared the the air, Spike watching the passing scenery. The moon creeped closer to the sun, and a cruel laugh echoed in the minds of every empath throughout time and space....... Author's Note For those of you who don't knowm Messorem Animas means Reaper of Souls in Latin, I chose a name that sounded terrifying, something that would bring dread. To be continued.....
Chapter 1-Recruiting and Preparation Chapter 1-Recruiting and Preparation The chariot creaked as it landed on the cool earthen ground. "Thank you gentlestallions, you may return to your posts." Twilight said, as she and Spike descended. The guards gave a quick nod, "Yes milady." as they took off once more, kicking their hind legs as they flew back to Canterlot. Twilight trotted through the town, rereading the dossiers. It seems the five mares she called friends had gained new occupations. Rainbow Spectrum Dash, daughter of the deceased Dame Soaring Skies, and her husband, a Journeystallion in the renowned Fighter's Guild, who had worked as a weather adviser and second in command of Rainbow Industries, which, after multiple poisonous rumors were debunked, was revealed that they did not craft rainbows out of slaughtered foals. After earning enough bits, Rainbow had entered the Order of The Purging Flame, and become one of its most well known Demon Hunters, and had returned to live with her wife, Fluttershy, and their two foals. Fluttershy had discovered how in tune with nature she was, much more so than any Earth Pony, and learned she was gifted with Terramancy, the ability to magically control the elements, flora, and to an extent, fauna, and studied Terramancy in the Arcanis University in Canterlot. She then returned home to care for her animals and her children, Rarity, while still designing clothes and accessories in her family's store, Carousel Emporium, she had followed Fluttershy to the Arcanis University, in order to hone her magical prowess, which she had before only used to locate jewels or for minor levitation and teleportation. She had greatly increased her repertoire of arcane abilities. She and Spike were currently courting. Pinkamena Diane Pie, a baker and adopted daughter of the Cake family, had learned alchemy and illusion crafting from Zecora Mbali Andraste, daughter of a Zebrican Shaman and a Peltic huntress. She had used her abilities, as well as her natural ability to bend reality at her will, in her trade of throwing parties, festivals, and the like. Applejack Maria Apple, of the Apple Clan, had taken up adventuring for the local branch of the Fighter's Guild, was a part time gladiator in the Pony's Ville arena, and an apprentice-level Terramancer. She aided her family on their farm still, occasionally departing to fufill a contract's request. Twilight smiled, placing the dossiers in her saddlebags, the clasps causing a small CLANK to emit from her armor, glad her friends had gotten successful careers, or an additional one. She had sent a sealed letter to each of the six mares, stating she would meet them at the Golden Oaks library, where she would frequent, as it served as a home-away-from-home for the young paladin. Twilight opened the door, Spike beside her, to find Pinkie Pie and the others gathered around a table. A swift group embrace and greetings followed. "Now, I'm sure you five know why I called you here." The five nodded. "Queen Celestia has asked me to gather you, we have to venture to the far north, beyond the Griffon Imperium and the Crystal Empire." She sighed, "I'm not going to lie, this journey will be perilous, and there will be great danger ahead." She took a deep breath, before continuing, "The prophecies state that Messorem is returning." "But Twilight, how could that be? The Maker sealed him away, and locked the barrier between Equiis and Aetherius. How could he enter the mortal realm?" Fluttershy asked, fear in her tone, as her long pink hair blew in the gentle breeze. "Saint Starswirl's prophecies state that, on the next eclipse of Sol, the seal on the Void shall break, and the Reaper of Souls will return." Twilight looked at the five gathered mares, who all showed looks of shock and awe, "A darkness is awakening in the North, perhaps it is Messorem himself. As you know, after the Tree of Harmony took back the Elements, they floated into the sky, and dispersed northward. We have to gather them once more, and stop Messorem's forces." Twilight reached into her mail, and pulled out a glowing crimson jewel on a necklace, "Queen Celestia gave me this when I was knighted, she told me it could detect Harmony magic, it will glow brighter as we get closer to a source." She let the pendent down, "Get your gear ready, we leave on the morrow." The mares nodded, as they quickly left for their homes, to gather supplies, which they brought back in an hour, After some catching-up, the seven departed for the bedrooms, falling asleep, Queen Luna's radiant full moon bathing them in its beautiful light.. Twilight awoke, cracking her neck, as she gently combed her mane, and reverently placed her blessed armor and weapons on her body, her wings ruffling. She made her bedspread, before moving to the shrine to the Maker she had set up, as she moved her hooves in the Sancta Crux, "Factor in nomine in nomine Salvatoris, Ferocibus Animis et." she said the Signum Crucis, "Maker, may Xyr, Xyr Son, and Xyr Spirit watch over us on our quest. May Xe aid us in doing Xyr will, and halting The Dread Lord, Amen." She bowed her head, before raising it slowy, and trotting down the stairs, where the seven were currently eating breakfeast. Rainbow Dash was dressed in the standard Demon Hunter gear, a padded black and gold hood, plated black and gold armor and hoofguards, a bandolier was tied around her waist, where lockpicks, extra bolts, and other small necessities were stored, and her Meteorite crossbow, strapped to her back. Fluttershy sat next to her wife, dressed in a loose forest green hooded robe, a vine-like staff lay by her side, and assorted poultices and elixers. She smiled, "Good morning Twilight." She nodded, placing a slice of peppered steak and olives into her mouth, slowly chewing. "Hello Twilight, how was your sleep, pleasant I take it?" Rarity asked, taking a sip from her weirwood tea. Her outfit was a silver and blood ruby circlet, she wore Spike's fire ruby necklace, and gift from their anniversary , all underneath an ultramarine blue robe with white highlights, a runed band with a small diamond lay on her right forehoof, her wedding ring. "Good morning everypony." Twilight smiled slightly, as she began eating aswell, fried hay, garlic rice, and strips of slightly charred bacon, "Rarity, before we set out, how are Lavender and Emerald Dawn?" Lavender and Emerald were Spike and Rarity's children, they had recently had their second nameday. Spike kept in contract through Dream-Walking, and letters. "They are doing quite well, their honarary aunts, aside from you five, Lyra and Bon Bon are foalsitting them." Rarity smiled, pecking her husband lightly on the cheek. After some small chatting, and a hearty meal, they cleaned their dishes, before Twilight opened the front door, "Before we set out, have you said your farewells to your loved ones?" The five mares nodded solemnly, "Then we shall be off. May The Maker guide us." She intoned, as the mare responded in kind. They each trotted into the rising dawn, and began their journey north, saddlebags, armor, and weaponry rustling in the breeze. Their hooves making imprints on the warm earthen road. Meanwhile, dark clouds began to gather in the air, and the chill on winter filled the bones of every being in existence..... Author's Note Yes, in this story, the ponies are omnivores, please, if you have a problem with this, let me say, IRL, if a bird landed in a horse's mouth, it wouldn't hesitate crunching on some avian flesh.
Chapter 2-The Journey BeginsTwilight sneezed, pulled her wolf-skin cloak close to her body, as the early morning winds chilled her armored body. Her companions trotted behind. They had left Pony's Ville over an hour ago, and the lush grass and open sky had swiftly turned to gnarled roots and the sky, which had been bright, was now shaded by the thick awnings that the Everfree Forest's old oaks lifted on their mighty branches, a harsh wind whistled through the trunks. The growls and howls of Timberwolves, and the many beasts that haunted the Everfree sent shivers down their spines. "Night will be falling soon Twilight, don't you think we should set up camp?" Fluttershy asked, shuddering behind her wife, and her flowing pink mane. She whistled a quiet tune to keep herself calm, eyes darting around the area, watching every bush for a sign of movement. A branch snapped, causing Fluttershy to yelp, hiding now in a dome of vines and earth she had erected around herself and Rainbow, leaving a hole big enough for them to peek through, and for air to flow in. "We'll sleep in here." She said softly, falling asleep, legs wrapped around her wife. "You are correct Fluttershy." Twilight said, as she set up her tent. "Spike, would you kindly start a fire for us?" Spike saluted, as he spat a roaring fire onto a pile of logs, as the flames rose, heating the camp and keeping any creatures away, wary. "Thank you Spike, now, you and Rarity should try to not wake us all up." She chuckled, causing Spike and Rarity to flush crimson, as they all descended into slumber, the crows cawing as they flew off. ____________________________________ Several miles away.... The crunching of dead leaves were the only sound the lone figure made, aside from his weathered charcoal-grey cloak. Under the hooded cloak, he wore scarred mithril mail, under a bit of dark blue-green cloth, his greaves were the made of boiled leather reinforced with metal plates. A bloodied silver blade lay sheathed at his side, a fragment of another was strapped on the other. An ash-coated ebony bow, with steel-tipped arrows, were strapped to his back. Black hoofguards covered each of his four hooves. He had long since buried away his name, under all the pain and grief. He had once been a ranger in the Royal Guard, stationed at Hawke Keep in southern Griffonhala, in Eagle's Roost Canyon. He married his long time lover, Rose Petal, a Unicorn, a healer and scout for the Rangers of The Dawn and Dusk, as they had been known as. He had fathered a son, who they had named Grey Joy, for his light grey coat, and his positive attitude. While Grey had inherited his father's Pegasus abilities, he had gained hism other's ability to focus magic, both his natural Pegasus magic and what he learned, through his hooves as if he were a Unicorn. While Unicorns, Alicorns, and the like can naturally focus magic, any of the races are able to channel it through a foci, from something minute as a crystal or staff, to the extreme, like an organ or through their soul. They had lived a fairly happy life, until one black day. It had been raining for some time, mists blanketing the rocky ground below the keep. Private Dawn Wind, a green-faced Griffon, a former thief, had been relieving himself over the ancient stone walls of the keep, when, as he let out a sigh, a rusty looking arrow, dark green shaft, chipped iron arrowhead, hawk feathers, piercing his neck. He let out a gurgling-scream, as he fell off the ramparts, into a pile of hay over fifty hooves, (The species would base the numbering system on their appendages), below, with a sickening thud. The Rangers had mustered their forces, archers had scaled the wall, peering at the enemy below. An army of goblin raiders wished to cross the pass into the country, and sack every home they came upon. They stormed the keep, their ugly blades, dipped in cockatrice blood. It was a slaughter, the goblins, led by a Griffon known as Skelas Brel-Kral, or Skelas Flesh-Render in the Goblin tongue, swarmed on the Rangers, who, even though they put up a valiant fight, were all slain. He had been held down, forced to watch as Skelas sent his sword into Grey Joy's heart, as he tried to comfort his son, while Grey Joy, then a colt of ten, pleaded for his father's help. Skelas then violated Rose before his eyes, then proceeded to cleave her in two with a cruel smile, walking away after spitting in his face. Enraged, he slew the two bulky goblins holding him, slaying every one of them he could find, until he found his way into Skelas' new "Throne Room", Lord-Commander Davenport's old office. Charging, he took down the two bodyguards, before dueling the Griffon veteran in a frenzy. The battle was fierce, but it was for naught, just as he was to land the fatal blow on the armored Griffon, Skelas' legendary blade, Starfang, embedded itself in his chest, and he felt his life fade, and fell on the stone floor. He awoke on a crumbling watchower, the smell of decay reaching his nostrils as he got up in a flash. He looked down, and saw a battered sword, only a broken portion of the silver blade and the hilt remained. Tears fell from his eyes, as he noticed the inscribed G.J inside a shield, the blade had belong to his son. "How is this possible? I should be dead." He had asked nopony. A disembodied voice, a wraith, which had been bound with him, said he had been banished from death, and they had been cursed and bound as one. He took the blade fragment, and asked how this curse would be broken. The wraith had said that they would have to find the one who laid it on them, Skelas, and end them. Leaping from the tower, he buried his friends and loved ones, giving them a silent memorial. Sheathing the blades, he trotted as fast as he could, listening for any word of Skelas. Rumors had said he was currently in Equestria. As the memories subsided in his subconscious, he heard voices. As he vanished from the corporeal realm, he saw a crackling fire, six tents set in a complete circle around the campfire. He smirked, trotting forward.... ...And unsheathed his blades, smirking.
