Rising Hope: Birth Of The Transcendents

The wintry plain for a time, provided an atmosphere that accented the voidness of life. Trudging in the stacked snow, varying hoof and footprints formed by the minute, the swirling increase of the blizzard halting everyone's advance. No matter where Jamir looked, snow was everywhere: in his eyes, hands, hair, all around. He could, to a degree make out the shape of Chrysalis to his left and Fluttershy to his right. Ahead, Shining Armour was breaking down the status of the empire.

''We think that something's trying to get into the empire, but we can't be for sure. With Cadence supplying a barrier to shield the empire, i've been out here scouting the arctic for any signs of trouble.''

''What kind of trouble could be out here?'' Rainbow shivered. ''it seems like this 'Sombra' character wouldn't have the guts to try and return with us here- Ommph!'' she took flight, only for her wings to stiffen and drop like a dead weight into the snow.

''Perhaps.'' Frank helped her up. ''but I don't suppose you mean that barrier?'' he pointed to a gleam into the distance, portraying what looked to be the empire. Based on the size, it doesn't appear that the princess of love can maintain her spell for long.

''We should make haste: the cold's getting worse by the minute.'' Jamir blow heat into his hands. ''form a line, they're no telling what could happen out here.''

Going by that, Shining Armour led the group, followed by Twilight, then Applejack, Rarity, Spike on Fluttershy's back, Pinkie, Valiant, Iron and Jamir at the very back with Frank flanking him and Chrysalis in front of him. Keeping a quick pace, the light's intensity grew as the winter storm only worse.

''We don't know the rest of the details, but we do know that-

A massive roar thrummed amongst the blowing winds, turning attention to the massive bog of darkness.

''What is that?!'' Applejack snorted.

''That's...King Sombra! Quick, get inside!'' Shining charged forward, sending a blast of magic to provide some cover. Thinking on his feet, Jamir spun on his heels and focused.

''Darkscale!'' he shouted, Spike and Valiant stopping on a dime. Running towards Jamir, the young drake hopped on top of the charging unicorn who propelled him forward while launching cover fire. Breathing fire into his claws as he flew through the air, he swiped at the darkness, which proved to be somewhat effective. Using his magic to guide him in the air, the two worked in tandem.

''What are you doing? We have to go!'' Twilight pulled on Jamir's sleeve.

''No, you guys get inside, we'll handle this: the same goes for you, Chrysalis.''

''But, I am to stay by your side!'' she argued. ''I-

''Just do it!'' he yelled. ''Valiant, bring Spike back and retreat! Shock-vortex!'' he commanded.

''Roger that!'' Frank turned around, loading his gauntlets with a green cartridge with a lighting bolt. Charging, Jamir leaped to the sky and brought out his wings, enveloping his hands with magic as he drew a circle of powder around the void.

''Rah!'' Shining yelled, his horn struck with the darkness, his horn showing black crystals at the base.

Landing near his friend, Frank slammed his fists to the tundra, a glow emanating as sparks formed at the seams as a field of electricity spawned, trapping the spectre.

''Get Shining and fall back!'' his hands clapped together, producing a concussive wave that knocked Sombra back a few paces.

A low growl left his throat, following that, Jamir made a dash for the light as he zigzagged to avoid the onslaught of magical attacks.

''Come on, hurry up! Hurry up!'' Frank shouted from the heavy winds. Passing by, the view of the empire was breathtaking, drawing a gasp as he looked upon with amazement.

''Whoa.'' the entirety of the empire cast a longing silence over the human as his friends did the same.

''Whoa, so sparkly!'' Pinkie gushed.

''Jamir, Jamir! Are you okay?'' Fluttershy asked, going over his body for any injuries.

''I second that, are you unharmed?'' Chrysalis grew a tad concerned.

''Y-Yea.'' he said, still filled with wonder.

''Shining Armour!'' Twilight gasped. ''your horn!''

''I'm okay.'' he attempted to cast magic, only to have it sputter out with a fizzle.

''Mind telling what the fuck that was?'' Frank brushed off a layer of ice from his hair.

''Sombra.'' Shining replied. ''it seems he is actually coming back. We need to head to the palace now.'' he set off to the large structure in the distance.

''So it's really been that bad here?'' Rainbow looked around as they traversed down the pathway.

''Yep, not really a lot of information is given to us, so wild guess are the best we can muster at this point. But I sure am glad the princess sent you all here to help out.''

''So how has Princess Cadence been holding up with maintaining the spell?'' Iron asked with a wondering face.

''Not good, guys, not good: we need to find a way to help the crystal ponies as well as bring love and light back to the empire.''

''Crystal ponies?'' Rarity halted, stars filling her eyes. ''there are crystal ponies?!'' she looked positively ecstatic. ''Oh, *cough* please, continue.''

''True enough: we have heard next to nothing from the citizens: they're too afraid to cooperate with us.'' he gestured to the number of ponies passing by. Anything about them was of nothing related to crystal. Flat and dull coats, lifeless mane and tails, and a look of bewilderment on their faces as they looked at Jamir and Frank with slight fear as they shied away.

''Hey, why're they shying away? We're here to help!'' Frank complained with a slack jaw.

''These ponies have been imprisoned for a thousand years, they would be surprised at the only two humans in Equestria. So no doubt a few strange looks are to be present.'' Jamir figured.

Walking inside the throne room, Princess Cadence sat with a very weak air about. Her coat began to lose its color, her head hung low and bags pilfered her face as a sight visible line of her ribs shown.

''Cadence!'' Twilight called.

Looking up, a slew of energy filled her day as she galloped over to her.

''Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! clap your hooves and do a little shake!'' the two chuckled up a storm.

''Twilight, we need to go and get together one of these days when Equestria's fate doesn't hang in the balance.'' Cadence sounded miserable, and in spite of that: her magic failed for a brief moment, causing the shield to flicker, letting views of the cold arctic fill everyone's eyes.

''Are you okay?''

''I'm afraid not. Cadence has been using her magic spread love and life in the empire, that seems to be what is protecting it, but she can't last much longer. Look at her: she's barely slept, practically eaten nothing and with me patrolling for any signs of trouble, not a lot has been accomplished.'' Shining fought off a mirgane.

''I'm fine.'' Cadence lied through her teeth.

''No, you're not. I hate to thrust all this upon you so sudden but do you think you could talk to some of the ponies here: try and figure out how they survived after Sombra's defeat. A map, book, something we can go on with this.''

''Well, at least let me try to help you Cadence: here.'' Jamir touched his thumbs to the base of her horn while his pinkies lay on her temple.

''And what are you doing now, darling?'' Rarity looked on with curiosity.

''Shh, I need focus.'' he whispered. ''just a little bit more... he grew silent for the longest time, then *snap!* a burst of pure blue light flowed onto Cadence, a low humming emanating from the princess of love for an entire minute before the magic faded, sweat blanketing his face as the intensity of her magic thickened and the barrier strengthened.

''Wow!'' Cadence perked up. ''I feel like a million bits, thank you Jamir, but what did you do?''

''I didn't do much of anything: just stimulated your thalamus to get you perked up, I just tricked your body into thinking its just slept 10 hours which is probably why you feel like you just chugged a barrel of coffee. The effects are only temporary, you have little under about 2 hours before your brain realizes the change and forces you into sleep along with sleep paralysis to protect yourself. There's a simple pressure point underneath at the lower spine that'll get you out of it, but be careful.''

''How did you learn that?'' Pinkie asked. ''I want to do it too!''

''Sorry, Pinks, that took a little... out of me to do just that: it was hard trying to find the right nerves... not to agitate or else I could have triggered some involuntary...nightmares.'' he panted a tad.

''When did you learn such a skill?'' Chrysalis asked.

''From Flashing: turns out she has a few tricks that someone even you like could learn from.''

''Wait, so does that mean you could-

''Yes: but I won't doing that anytime soon.'' even being physically separated from his imaginary friend, he could to a degree know what he's thinking.

''Hmm.'' Twilight contemplated. ''A book...wait, I got it!'' she struck proverbial gold. ''this must be part of my test! I have to find out the information of how to restore the empire and then give that to you! It seems so simple now!''

''Where do we start first?'' the question from the changeling queen.

''Ask ponies what they know, good a place as any. Come on, we should get going: with this many in our group, we should have no problem with finding out what we need to.'' Applejack led the advance.

''Wait up, before you go: be careful you guys: this whole situation just reeks of bad omens.'' Shining warned.

''Don't worry: it's not like I'll let anything happen to my family while yours truly is here. Just make you're keeping a close eye on Cadence, without this protection bubble we may not stand much of a chance.''

Walking outside, the plan of action was to talk to the citizens and gather any information that can help in any way possible.

An hour has passed and no luck has passed with the residents. With various methods and tactics implemented, a few vague answers was given out, only one providing headway.

''I...can't remember much before King Sombra came to power and I don't want to...but maybe the library should have what you're looking for.'' a crystal pony finally spoke after a multitude of fails. Proceeding to the directions given, enough disappointments were hashed out and while some favored using force as an outlet, the point got across at the very least.

''So did anypony find anything else useful to mention?'' Twilight questioned while they regrouped.

''Does it help that I found out the location of a great spa?'' Frank offered which received strange looks from everyone.

''What?'' he argued. ''they even have a hot steam room.'' he said with a pout.

''Anyways.'' Twilight put that to the side. ''it turns out this library should have everything we need. Ha, now that I think about it, this test isn't that...oh my.'' she marvelled at the contents of the massive size. To put in perspective, the first few shelves easily out dwarfs Twilight's collection. ''I-this...there cannot be any words.''

''Oh great, she's in wonderlust mode: hey, but at least she's one of your significant others.'' Frank patted Jamir on the shoulder.

''Can I help you?'' a librarian crystal pony asked with a curious face.

''Hello, ma'am. We were hoping you could tell us how the empire might have defended itself from any outside threats. Do you have any reference materials?'' Twilight recomposed herself.

''Oh, yes we do have that...I think. Then again, do I even work here?'' she walked off.

''We appreciate the lackluster participation miss, not that it helped any.'' Frank groaned.

Using her magic, Twilight began to look through three books at once, everyone else doing their part to help. However, it proved to be a labyrinth of issues as more time was consumed.

''Damn, what do we do now?'' Jamir thought. ''how difficult can it be to find one little book?'' walking at a slow pace, he checked on Twilight's progress as she currently rotated 6 different books around her. The look of mild anger told him of her progress. Turning around from her and leaning on a railing, he sighed and picked a book at random: what the hell could he do, it's not like fate will always be there give a gentle nudge.

''Hey, what the?'' he questioned, the book barely moving. Gripping it with both hands, it slid out like hot glue until it popped free and he went flying back.

''Ooo!'' Twilight gasped, slightly moaning at the provocative form of her lover's face underneath her supple flank.

''Jamir, this is n-not the right place for that! Maybe the t-timing is just right, though. No, Twilight focus! Y-You can~dooo~this l-later.'' she got up and helped him up.

''I am so sorry about that: I didn't mean to! It was the book and I-

''Shh.'' Twilight put a hoof to his lips. ''It's okay, it was an accident. But...I will have to pay you back for that.'' she reached a forehoof to a particular spot on Jamir's body and briefly squeezed with immense pressure.

''N-Noted.'' a blush started to form. ''Wait a minute.'' he looked over to the book he pulled out to the right of Twilight. ''Look.''

''Hey, wait...this is exactly what we need! Guys, come here we've found it!'' Hearing quick footsteps, everyone came over, a expectant look on their faces.

''What did you find?'' Applejack wondered.

''The answer to our problems. Let's head back to the palace.''