Believing in magic and talking color ponies!
A dense forest full of vibrant tropical plants and the sounds of wildlife as far as the senses can reach. Colors of many hues strategically placed by the artist known as nature greet my eyes. Aromas from the many flora refresh and invigorate my nostrils as I inhale slowly. Closing my eyes, I focus on the many sounds from a bird’s mating call, the creaks of tree bark, and even the wind as it navigates the surroundings.
Sitting with my back against a tree, I meditate on my current situation. After doing that morphing sequence at that booth there was a shift in gravity surrounding me that was followed with a moment of blindness. Once everything calmed down I had woken up in some type of forest that I for sure knew was no way near the Animazement building.
“Alexa is going to kill me when she finds out.” A frown creases my forehead as I remember our last interaction together. Where did she go when she ran off? Does she even know where I am? Opening my eyes to glance around, I come to the theory that I don’t even know where I am. Out of the eighteen years I’ve spent in Raleigh I should know my own city whereabouts. But there is no area with this much dense forestry and tropical elements.
“Well, let’s survey the landscape then.”
Getting up, I dust off my robes and make a mental note of my surroundings. Looking up to the sky I can catch a glimpse of the sun through the gaps in the trees (Maybe if I can find a high enough tree I can get a decent view.) A brief search reveals a tree that stretches high above the branch covering (But how will I get up there?).
“*Bzzts*,” Grabbing the vibrating morpher and flipping it open reveals a display console.
“Hello, welcome to the magicka morphing grid. Please choose a default language?”
Using the circular directional pad I scroll down to the “English” option.
“Would you like to use the default casting language for all spells or just the spells designed for the morphing grid?”
(Okay, this is oddly specific. But if this means what I think it means…) Eyes wide, I choose to keep the ‘Default’ language and finished the setup. After a minute of loading, the setup completed and showed a grid pattern over a blue screen (Now, how to test this out...). Inspecting the morpher closely I find the microphone port needed for my test. Smiling, I activate wand mode and point toward a low hanging branch.
“Time to believe in magic, Ignis bolt!”. As the last syllable was chanted the crystal foci released a speeding stream of fire that burned straight through the branch and toward the sky. I stare through the line of smoke in shock (Okay, so magic is a thing, nice to know. But if I can cast magic, then what about morphing?). As soon as the thought finished I heard a group of screams from my left. Feminine, if my ears are to be trusted.“Well, no training is better than experience.” I say aloud as I run toward the commotion in hope to help as well as find some answers.
______________________________________________________________________
After running toward the voices for about three minutes I finally reach the spot. But what caught me off guard was the fact that the screams of distress were coming from three ponies (Well, distress is distress no matter the species. But I’m definitely not in Raleigh anymore). Scanning the area shows the threat to be a pack of wolves dressed in some kind of wooden armor. The pack was shaped in a crescent arc encapsulating the ponies and directing them towards the vertical mountain base, cutting off any exit.I prepare myself before jumping out of the bushes and in-between the ponies and the armored wolves. This startles both parties, allowing me enough time to morph.
“Magical source mystic force!” I chant as I type in the spell code. A barrier of heat surrounds me, living fire engulfing my body and becoming an armor of arcane cloth.
“Wut ‘n tarnation is that!” one of the ponies yelled in a surprised and surprisingly southern accent.
“Don’t worry, I’m here to help!” I respond as I focus my energy and get into kicking-stance: Back straight. Knees bent. Legs equally distant apart. Guarding the face with left hand and aiming the morpher with the right using wand mode. A few seconds pass before the first wolf lunges toward me aiming at my throat. I slide back and shove the tip of the wand into its maw.
”Ignis Bolt!” the stream of fire incinerating the whole body as well as searing one behind it in half, leaving four others. Glancing quickly at the remaining half of the dead wolf reveals it to actually be made of wood instead of my earlier assumption of it being armor (Oi, magical creature wonderment later, bloodthirsty splinter-tooth’s first!). Looking back to the remaining wolves reveal that instead of standing still like good little bushes they’ve encircled me.
“Crap! I did not expect that!” breathing in, I hoped that my will for protection would be enough. At that thought my power-suit deconstructed and turned into a pillar of howling wind that tore at the wolves surrounding me before re-cloaking my body into the Pink armor (Nature;0 Technicolor Deviant; 6).
Walking over to a nearby tree, I slide down to a sitting position to think over events. That was soon interrupted when I noticed purple (lavender maybe?) unicorn approaching me. Well, half unicorn half pegasus if the purple feathered wings were a clue (What would that be, a pegacorn?).
“Thank you, whoever you may be. My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, and those are my friends Applejack and Rarity” She said pointing to the other two. While the tan one waved, the other seemed to have fainted a while ago. “But, if I may ask, who are you?”
(Hmm, well that is the question.) Since this is a new world there is no recorded history of me. Breathing in, I give Princess Twilight a smile and extend a hand. “You can call me Jhurdan, I guess you could say I’m new to the area.” I said. There is an awkward silence as she just stares at my hand, contemplating my motives. Rolling my eyes, I mimic an up-and-down motion and pointed to her hoof. Her eyes widen in recognition as she extends her hoof and completes the shake (And it seems ponies can blush of embarrassment, guess fur is pretty thin).
“Now, I know you want to interrogate me and all. But I rather we get out of the forest that just sent tree puppies to kill us. Agreed?”
After getting a nod of approval I get up and walk over to the white unicorn I guessed was Rarity (If the brand-marks are anything to go by, Stetson cowgirl over there is Applejack). After picking her up bridal-style I nod to the others and follow them to the exit of the forest. Now to just think of how exactly to explain to them who I am.
Calling, Mystical Ranger!
Animazement. A convention held in my hometown of Raleigh, NC where all your otaku dreams come true. Want to partake in a Q&A with a famous voice actor? Go ahead! Want to buy replica's of popular props from your favorite show/anime? Better bring your wallet! Feel like working months and months on end creating the best cosplay ever that only a small margin of people will ever recognize? Make sure your hydrated! Because a common fact that many cosplayers tend to forget is that no matter what time of day, weather will be the bloody douche it usually is.
This fact is very evident as I stand in what I call the “spot of insanity” in the entrance line. Where I am close enough to see the door, far enough to have to wait a while, and somehow perfectly placed in the way of the sun's murderous rays. Glancing at my pocket-watch reveals it to be 12:30. Nice to know that the sun is at it's highest power level. Thankfully I've been training for this my whole life. Nice to know that all those summers of wearing heavy clothing didn't go to waste. But then a thought crosses my mind that makes me cry on the inside.
“*Sigh*...I have an express pass.”
___________________________________________________
“Pass, Sir?” Asks the clearly bored worker at the Express entrance door. After showing my badge I am allowed entry and step through the doors of arctic salvation.
“Sweet gates of Heaven, bless thine gracious blessings!” I scream aloud, sliding onto my knees with palms above head. The air conditioner near the entrance emitting luscious breezes across my robes.
“Really Jhurdan, you furrgot you had a pass again?” Distracted from my celestial praise, I turn to the owner of the voice. A qt 3.14 by the name of Alexia Nuerns. Yet today she goes by the alias belonging to her visage.
“And a good day to you too, Ms. Fortune. I do apologize for my lateness.” I responded, charm oozing from every sentence. This prompts a roll of hazelnut hue eyes and a slight blush on cute dark caramel dimples. Of course I can marvel at a later time since I am still holding the rocker slide position. Getting up, I brush off my rendition of the Power Ranger wizard robe and follow her towards the first of many booths.
“But, seriously I apologize for earlier. Hope you weren't waiting long?” Shaking her gray hair(Or was it a wig?) she continued glancing around for a booth to visit.
“Nyah, I got here about twenty minutes befurr your praise session.”
“Wow, to slant puns in a row, your really committed to this persona aren't you? Or would it be purrsona?” This of course makes her turn so sharply that her black tail flicks my hand. She give me a small glare.
“Well at least I tried to develop a character. But I guess you can only add so much to a character from Power Rangers.” Wow, seems like this is some dangerous territory. I place a hand on her right shoulder.
“Did something happen last night?” She avoids my eyes, confirming my thoughts on the culprit. “What did he do this time?”
Alexia brushes my hand off and power walks ahead. “Cool, meet you up at the Premier room! Bye!” she shouts back. Damn it, why did I corner her like that? She gets enough of that from her parents at home. Berating myself, I wander around the building. Weaving through booths and random bystanders until I come across an interesting little stand located at what seemed the absolute center of the circular complex. Monitoring the stand was a hunchbacked man reminiscent of those witches from the game Bloodborne. Raising his head, he greets me from under the dark hood with an aged, raspy voice.
“Why hello, Traveler, what wares would you be interested in purchasing?”
“Not sure yet...” I respond while glancing over each gizmo on the tabletop. Seems he is a jack of trades when it came to trinkets. Props from almost every fandom were present: Cloud's Buster Sword. Some black plushy cat. Even a katana from that exorcist anime. I go to grab a generic wand that could possibly match my guise when the owner interjects.
“Sir, how would this meet your fancy?” He says as he hands me a wooden case. I open it and am shocked at the contents. A bone-fide replica of the Mystic morpher from the series. The black and gold lining color scheme matching perfectly. The texture feeling like a mixture of metal and a durable plastic. Flipping it open feels smooth and natural. The tip even seems to be made of some type of crystal. I look at this guy, shock clear on my face.
“How much money do you think I have! Not that this is bad, no it's marvelously crafted. But I'm in the $100 range, buddy.”
His eyes squint in thought, “I think I can lower the price to say, that pocket watch of yours?”
Taking the watch out of my pocket I contemplate the deal. The watch with its chestnut-wood base and steel bindings would cost, at the most, $150. Where this morpher could be sold on ebay at the lowest price being $250.
“Are you sure? I've had this for a while now, might need a new battery.”
“Positive, sir. Hadn't had any buyers for a while now.”
Well, if he insist. Unclasping the watch's chain from my robe's belt loop, I hand it too him. I then give him back the case and clip on the morpher to the loop. But as I look up I see him staring at me as if expecting something.
“...What?”
“Why don't you give it a gander?”He says, gesturing towards the morpher.
Well, I was probably going to do it sooner or later. Getting into horse riding stance, I position my hands in the correct formation.
“Magical source, Mystic Force!” I chant as I perform the sequence. Once complete the morpher starts vibrating and emitting a vibrant color from the crystal. A booming voice, seeming to come from all directions quotes a phrase as I feel my being dragged through a void-like abyss.
“Calling, Mystical Ranger!”
____________________________________________________
It is midnight in the land of Equestria. The time for rest for most beings of life. Yet this isn't the case for Princess Luna, ruler of the night, as she monitor's the dreams of the many creatures in the domain of sleep. She had just finished guiding a filly through a nightmare when a powerful magical rift appears in the atmosphere. Exiting from the Domain of Dreams, she focuses her mind to look for the magical disturbance. A warm breeze warns her of a teleport as Princess Celestia, ruler of the day, appears on her right in a defensive stance.
“So it seems I am not the only one who sensed the anomaly. How was your rest sister?” Luna greets.
“Oh, wonderful dear sister, until a certain rift distracted me from the main course. Have you pinpointed it's location?” Celestia asks. After straining for a minute or two, Luna's expression turns from determined to shocked as she turns to Celestia with eyes wide open.
“I wasn't able to pinpoint the location but I can assume the location is somewhere in the Everfree forest.” she spoke uncertainty. This only made Celestia even more nervous.
“And why would you you assume that?”
Gazing out of the balcony entrance toward said forest, Luna said the words that Celestia would never had imagined.
“The magic that caused the rift has the same power and arcane signature as the Tree of Harmony.”
