Ah, the void once again. That time was fun. Lasted quite a while. Lots of fun adventures. Ones that will be remembered for a long time I would guess. I wonder what is next...
There is a place within and between places. It is known by many names; Limbo, The Void, sometimes even cultural variations on what could be called Heaven or Hell.
Hmm. Already being pulled in. Eager, are we?
This place can't be perceived on a level that mortal minds can comprehend. It can't be said to exist by the definitions of the word, and yet it contains places of ethereal beauty and beings of magnificent power.
Let's see here... rather idyllic world. Ooooh, haven't been a quadruped in a very long time.
This place also contains other beings who rarely spend much time there, because they are the agents of the beings of power, through which they influence the fates of the material realms. These agents enter many worlds through many guises.
Enter new or conjoin I wonder. Ah, there I am. Seems to be a conjoining. Wait... a child?
These agents have one simple mission: to help their new home with its troubles, whatever they may be. Sometimes they do so as the wise hermit giving advice, sometimes as the helpful guide through the wilderness, sometimes as the merchant carrying what the adventurer needs at the time.
Why a child? Whatever; it is already decided. Well, I guess we are stuck with each other for the foreseeable future, little one.
But there are the few times when an agent has to directly guide a world. Where a helping hand will be lost in a crowd. When a voice needs to stand out in the world and guide others. Whatever the circumstances, these times the agents become known as the greatest of individuals.
Ready or not, here I come!
They become known as Heroes.
...
...well damn.
Rain flows along glass and steel towers in the city of Manehatten, forming great waterfalls and soaking the darkened world. Shadows cover the city as massive clouds mask the coming evening. The streets between the colossal buildings have become rivers, parted for a few moments by many galloping hooves and the wheels of dozens of covered carts as the city refuses to stop and rest due to the weather.
In a non-descript alley between two concrete and steel behemoths is a pile of cardboard and discarded wooden planks, looking like nothing more than yet another pile of garbage to those that pass by. Yet within this pile of refuse lays a tiny figure, her bright teal fur and pure black mane nearly indistinguishable from each other due to the mud and dust coating her form. She flutters her wings slightly as she stares out of her home, trying to get comfortable and keep herself from getting too wet.
Her miniscule stomach grumbles against her ribs, making her look about towards the few scraps of food she has stashed, trying to remember her rationing schedule . She sighs as she tries and fails to find an excuse to eat another bit of bread so that her stomach hurts less tonight. Glancing out at the downpour again, she decides to try to rest for the night, laying down in the driest part of her home.
I've barely closed my eyes as I feel a … presence. Eyes quickly open and dart around, looking for what's different.
Out of nowhere I hear an androgynous and slightly weird voice as it says Nothing out there. Look inside.
What? That makes no sense!
I hear my quiet voice say “Who's there?” as I continue looking around.
Only a humble guide. Do not worry, I have no intention or capability to hurt you.
...Okay, this is just plain weird. What's going on?
Something hard to explain in its entirety, but let us just say that you've been chosen for great things little one.
...Is some telepathy spell-using unicorn messing with me? This isn't funny!
No, nothing like that. I have been chosen to guide you, and you have been chosen to be guided. You could say that I am not from around here, although I am in your mind. And I shall remain so until those that chose us deem fit to separate us.
Okay, sign of my eventual descent into insanity, say I believe you. What now?
...I do not know. I am here only to guide you when your path is revealed, not to put you upon that path.
Well, mister 'guide', I need to sleep. I've got what this city calls school tomorrow. If I miss it then I'll get another mark down, and if that happens they'll throw me into the basement for the day.
An interestingly barbaric take on education. When must you be there?
Why do you wanna know? Nevermind, I don't care. Six in the morning.
Then I suggest you lie down and rest.
Whoever this joker is, I guess they have a point. I glare at the falling rain before laying back down in my sleeping spot. As soon as my head settles down on my forelegs I feel consciousness start to slip away. My mind almost reaches panic as the final sparks of consciousness leave me.
It feels like no time at all has passed as my head jerks up and I blearily look around.
Buh-wah? I just...whut? I barely laid down, and then...sleep? Did that bastard cast a spell on me?
Not quite. You needed to sleep, so I helped. It is currently five in the morning by the way, so I would advise you to prepare yourself in whatever way you do so.
I look around, seeing the hints of sunlight along the still-wet concrete. However they did it, this 'guide' seems to have woken me up at just the right time.
Okay, weird but whatever. Let's just get this done.
I grab my flight saddlebags, one of the few things that I have that're decent quality. I already have my books and supplies inside, but I need lunch so I grab a couple slices of bread and put them inside the bags. It's only then that I notice that I'm not hungry at all right now. That stops me for a moment.
I glance down at my stomach in confusion.
You were extremely hungry as you slept, so I used some energy to help. I can not do so very often, so please do not rely on me doing so in the future.
...Um, thanks? How did you... nevermind, just another thing I don't wanna know.
I sense some sort of amusement as the 'guide' simply says I suppose that if you are not curious, I shall not inform you. I may even assume so in the future. We shall see. The amusement is replaced by slight confusion. By the way, what is your name? While I can sense many things about you, I can not feel what you are called.
Depends on who you ask. But you're already in my head, so you'll probably hear me think the real one at some point. My name's Raven.
Nice to meet you Raven. I call myself Naroe. An odd name to you, but I like it.
I shrug at the voice's name and leave my home, looking around at the dirty alley. I lift off and fly towards school, somehow feeling slightly hopeful for the first time in years.