Persona: Radiance

1/2/4225-After School
High Tide

Twilight stretched, as the final bell rang. Her last class had been Advanced Metaphysics. It had been quite an interesting day. In Mythohistory, which also studied the history of the thousand years or so following the Aurora Era, Lyra, who had an odd fascination with wearing an Ancient Roaman Officer's Helmet, while her wife wore what appeared to be a Solar Guard Helmet from 14 BB (Before Banishment). Lyra somehow managed to KO herself with her own helmet, and was lovingly tended to, and scolded by, her wife, who took over the lesson, while Lyra nursed her head with an icepack, whimpering cutely. Whereas, in Advanced Metaphyics, the teacher, Mrs. Harshwhinny Sr. had fallen asleep at her desk, bored as a majority of her students had been, save Twilight.

As she was trotting through the halls, she noticed a familiar young Unicorn mare, and a pale stallion next to her. The mare had an alabaster coat, and a poofy violet mane, her eyes, gazing at the muscular stallion next to her, were deep blue. The stallion was a similar shade of white, with a short, forest green mane. He was a Unicorn, with a pair of silver mechanical wings attached to a harness. She knew both quite well. The stallion was Lord Gold Soul, a member of the Equestrian Council, which aided Celestia and Luna in drafting up new laws or taxes. He was also close to the Princesses, almost like a brother of sorts. His wings, made by Atlas Corp. had been specially ordered so he could go on flights with the Royal Sisters without the need of a strenous levitation spell, or a chariot. The mare next to him was his marefriend, Party Pop, Rarity's daughter, and a freshmare. She was apparently majoring in fashion design, Hoity Toity's class if she recalled.Twilight had only met the mare twice, once a few weeks after she had been born, and another when she was about four. Most wondered how Rarity could retain her youthful appearance, despite having a daughter of twenty years of age. The answer she always gave was that it involved a breathing technique she had picked up while vacationing in Monlan, in Northeast Pasia, and something involving Spike.

Before Twilight could get a word out, a voice called out to them, ¨Hey Gold, P-Pop, wait up." A stallion rushed up to the two. He had a short, black mane and tail, a light brown coat, and eyes the color of fresh blood. His black longcoat swished about him, in fact, he was one of the few ponies around to be fully clothed. Most of the others were either fully nude, as a majority of the ponies were, or partially clothed. Fangs were visible whenever he opened his mouth. She had seen him around Ponyville. From what the Princesses had said, they considered the youthful looking vampony to be an old friend. Luna moreso due to also being a vampony. He rarely spoke of his past, and Twilight never asked, not meaning to pry. His crimson eyes turned to the lavender mare, and a small smile graced his face, "Hey Twilight." He waved. Students meandered about, grabbing things from their lockers or chatting with one another.

"Hey guys." Twilight trotted over, her charcoal coat swishing against her combed fur. "How's my favorite niece?" She smiled, nuzziling Party. "How's that startup going?" She ruffled Party's poofy purple mane.

Party Pop grinned, a light shining in her eyes. "It's going great auntie Twilight!" She bounced on her hooves, ecstatic. "I got some of my friends to help and everything!" She giggled, "And until Auntie Cadence gives birth in..." She checked a specially crafted watch made by a friend of Twilight's, Doctor Whooves. Little was known of the mytserious stallion, outside of the fact he had married the sisters Derpy and Ditzy, after the two had been fused together, and that he was an expert watchsmith, who dabbled in the ancient art of Chronomancy. The watch could tell not only the time, but also the year, month, day, etc, of events. "Two months, four days, seventeen hours, and five minutes from today." She chirped, putting her hoof back to the tiled floor. "I'm your only niece!" She grinned.

Party resembled an Earth Pony, like her motherr Pinkie, but she had the mane and coat color of her mom Rarity. A birth defect had caused her horn to grow inward. Twin earings, enchanted with a slight magic suppresion and control spell, were the only things that allowed her to use her magic, which mainly constituted of basic spells such as levitation, safely. Otherwise, the magic would surge through her brain, and possibly kill her. The only side effect of this was a slight twitch she had gained.

"True as ever Party." Twilight smiled, before shivering. For a second, she had felt a strange shift in the air, and the scent of...fresh ashes pervading her nostrils. She blinked, noticing the trio staring at her. "Its a bit chilly." She said, chuckiling slightly.

Party looked at her aunt, "Yeaahhh auntie." She said, scratching the back of her head with a hoof. She was about to say something, when Gold prodded her with a hoof. SHe turned her head, smiling, "Yeah Goldie?" She asked.

"Um, I'd hate to break up the friendly chat, but do you feel that?" Gold Soul asked. An icey feeling had crept over the group. A slight breeze whistled through the halls.

Knight looked around, glancing around. "Where is everypony?" He asked, fangs bared. Before, the halls had been practically abuzz with the hsould of hooves, or other such appendages clacking against the tiled floor, the din of friendly chatter, or the squeaking of lockers opening and shutting. Now, save for the group, there wasn't a living soul around. The key word was living, for around them, statues resembeling their classmates lined the halls. Above each, written in a blood-red color, were words. Many of them were derogatory, above one female half-Griffon was the word "Halfbreed Whorse." While others read things such as "Agony", and a few were even in sentences, like "I steal medication from my family pharmacy."

"W-what in Celestia's teats is going on?!" Twilight shouted, sweat pouring down her face. This was wrong, why were they the only ones who weren't statues? Who wrote these words and phrases? What in the name of all that was holy was going on?

The group's attention shifted when they heard a grotesques noise come from deeper down the hall, to their left. Their faces turned, as a figure came into view.It looked like a pony, if the pony had been made of ink. Its coat was as black as night, with violet stripes running across their body. A light blue mask, with a featureless expression, was attached to its "face"

"Hello?" Party Pop asked the new comer, taking a step back. The creature's head sharply turned towards the group. A horrid gurgling sound could be heard, as its body began to shift. Like fresh tar, thick tendrils began emerging from its back. It began to shamble towards them, an eeries giggiling coming from its vicinity.

"I've seen enough Neighponese anime to know where this is going!" Gold said, charging up his horn. The other three glanced at him, eyebrows raised, before turning to the tentacled beast. Knight readied himself, his blades sliding out of their sheathes. He attached them to harnesses attached to his hooves, as the blades crackled with an ethereal energy, a light grey glow radiating from the tempered steel. Seconds passed, as the creature moved towards them. It roared, before lunging at them, its slimy body jiggiling. Twilight's horn began charging up.

Before Gold and the other two could retalitate, the creature seemed to freeze in place. A fiery, pulsating azure aura, ethereal butterflies dancing off her, surrounded Twilight, "Huh?" the lavender mare asked, blinking. Party and Gold had looks of confusion of their faces, but Knight had a small smile on his face, a knowing look in his eyes.

Twilight turned, as a blue card, with an sillohute of a stallion carrying a sack on a stick, floated before her. Knight nodded, "Touch it Twilight, it won't hurt you." Twilight nodded, slamming her hoof into the card. As it shattered, a soothing, female voice resonated in her mind.

I am Thou...

Thou art I...

From the sea of your soul I come...

I who sit behind the Throne of Heaven, the medr!iator of the Make

Twilight gasped, as a figure materiezled before her. He was an imposing silver stallion, his mane the color of copper, appeared. He had thirty-six wings, and eyes on the bottom of his hooves, the back of his head, as well as his face. A white and gold aura surrounded him. Metalllic hoof guards were attached, with a hole for the eye. A white hauberk, with a golden cruxis emblazoned the front, covered his torso. His irises were like minature suns, the color of pure gold, and burning with rigtheous fury. He raised a hoof, as crackling lightning shot forth, striking the tendriled beast in the chest. It howeled, before dissapearing. The stallion nodded to Twilight, and turned into hovering sparks, which rushed into her head. The chill dissipated, as the students returned to their living selves, as if nothing odd had occured nearby.

Twilight felt faint, shifting on her hooves. She turned to Knight, "Y-you knew what to do? What was that? What just happened?" She asked, leaning on her niece for support, sweat pouring down her hot forehead.

Knight sighed, a look of contemplation on his face. "I do, I'll tall you more at my place." He turned, his coat swishing behind him. Slowly, Gold, Party, and Twilight followed the vampony.

This bizzare adventure had just begun. What was that power I unleashed? Twilight thought to herself, her hooves as tired as her mind. Grabbing her bag, they left the university. With the afternoon sun dipping over the horizon, dusk was approaching. Together, they started on their way to Knight's home.