Equestrian Void

Chapter 2: The Journey Begins

Twilight had just been separated from her dear friends, only to wake up in another universe, taking the shape of a human, and being approached by a shadowy figure that bears striking resemblances to herself, only uttering these words: “I art Thou… and Thou art me…"

~~~~~~~~~

“Wha… What are you talking about?..." Stuttered Twilight, “A-are you supposed to be… me?"

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am." Replied Shadow Twilight, “Well, really, I’m your true self."

Twilight stumbles and manages to barely stand up. “My… my true self? What in the hay is that supposed to mean?!" She shouted with what little energy she had remaining from struggling to stand.

Shadow Twilight begins to slowly walk towards the weakened Twilight. “It means that I am your subconscious. Think of me as that little voice in the back of your head that says your true feelings on something."

Twilight begins to back away from her shadow, panting shockingly as she is now starting to grasp the reality of the situation. “So… you’re the… real me?"

Shadow Twilight begins to laugh quietly in an evil, ominous tone. “That’s right, you little smart-ass! I’m you, and you’re me! Isn’t it obvious by now? Well, I guess if your stupid friends weren’t in the way, you could study up even more about what’s going on right now!"

Twilight gasps in fright. “Wh-what?! That’s not how I feel about my friends! You… You’re lying."

Shadow Twilight still continues to laugh. “Oh, come on! Didn’t you hear me the first thousand times?! I’m you, and you’re me! All of those so-called ‘friends' you made are nothing but a bunch of idiotic morons that would abandon you the first chance they got!"

Twilight now stands in a state of shock, now questioning what the shadow was saying. “No… Stop saying things like that…. You… YOU’RE NOT ME!"

What Twilight did not realize was that by saying those three words, she would unleash an unspeakable chaos upon herself…

Just then, Shadow Twilight started to levitate off of the ground, while starting to laugh hysterically. “You have NO idea what you’ve just done! By rejecting your inner self, I have no choice but to MAKE you accept it!"

Shadow Twilight had then transformed into a giant monster in the shape of a crimson, six-winged dragon.

Twilight, now terrified, frantically thinks of what to do. “Wh…. What can I do?! Wait!"

Twilight then tries to extend her arms out towards the dragon, with her hands shaped as if she were trying to cast a spell.

“Come on…. Focus, Twilight!" She whispers to herself, “I have to do something, or else it’s the end…"

Twilight concentrates all of her remaining energy into her hands, hoping that something would happen…

But nothing came out of her hands.

Twilight then looks at her hands, in a confused manner. “What? Wh- what’s going on? Why can I use magic?!"

Twilight then fell to her knees, unable to do anything against what her shadow self has transformed into.

“I… I can’t do anything against it… Is this… really the end for me?..."

“You’re DAMN right it’s the end!" Proclaimed Shadow Twilight, “Now give me your soul!" Shouted Shadow Twilight as she dashed toward Twilight with her mouth gaping open, ready to devour her.

As Shadow Twilight began her charge, normal Twilight slowly raised her head and closed her eyes, filled with tears of remorse. Twilight, with her voice cracking from crying, began to speak. “Everyone… I’m sorry for doing this… I… I’m sorry…"

~~~~~~~~~

Just as Twilight was awaiting for her final moment of life, an unexpected miracle occurred…

Out of nowhere, a voice shouts, “Watch out, lady!"

Twilight quickly opens her eyes to see… a human dashing towards the dragon holding what appears to be a giant sickle!

“You’re not taking this one too, you damn shadow!" Shouted the mystery man as he swung his sickle at the dragon, throwing off of its path towards Twilight and into the ground.

Twilight, still teary-eyed and her voice still cracking, asks the mysterious man, “Wh-Who… Who are you?"

The mysterious man turns to Twilight, with a fierce, yet welcoming expression.

“Me? The name’s Zack. Zachary N. Ryuusei, Second-In-Command of the World Peace Syndicate. Call me Zack for short."

Zack started to walk toward Twilight, with his sickle behind him, as to not show hostility to her, and offered a hand to help her up.

Twilight took Zack’s hand and managed to stand up on her legs, but immediately hung her head down, contemplating what Shadow Twilight was saying.

“Are you all right, ma’am?" Zack said in a calm voice, “You seem shaken up…"

Twilight slowly raised her head to speak back to Zack. “I… I don’t feel that way about my friends… I just don’t… I…" Twilight pupils then shrank in an instant.

Twilight points to behind where Zack is standing.

“Look out!" Shouted Twilight, “That thing’s getting back up!"

Zack quickly turns around, with his sickle in a battle ready stance.

The Dragon that was once Shadow Twilight gets up from off of the ground and charges full force at Zack and Twilight!

As the creature gets closer to Zack and Twilight, Zack’s sickle becomes engulfed in a green flame…

“Bind the threat to save the weak… Kibono Shiru! (Seal of Hope!)" Shouted Zack.

Zack’s sickle then splits apart into three separate parts and quickly binds the dragon to the ground!

Twilight stands in amazement at what she just witnessed. “How… did you do that?!"

Zack turns his head to Twilight, still holding the dragon down with his detached weapon. “Never mind that for now! Right now, you need to accept your true self!"

Twilight then steps back, gasping. “What?! N-no way! I will never accept that… thing!" The dragon starts to move, trying to break free of Zack’s chains.

Zack, struggling to keep the dragon under wraps, quickly shouts to Twilight, “If you don’t, this thing will just keep attacking until you’re dead"

“Until I’m… dead?..." Twilight then begins to think deeply about what course of action she is going to take…

“Ugh! Anytime now, lady!" Shouted Zack, still trying to keep the dragon from escaping.

Twilight had an epiphany, and now knew what she had to do.

Her facial expression had turned serious, and began to walk towards the dragon with the best of her abilities.

She then began to mumble to herself. “If I need to accept that thing if I wanna live, then so be it!"

Twilight stops walking the second she reaches Zack’s distance from the dragon.

“You say you’re the real me, right? Well… fine. I guess, in a way, you… are me."

The dragon grunts in confusion.

“You’re right. There may be times that I question why I made friends… I just treated it as a side assignment from my teacher… and even though they may have flaws, that’s what I like about them."

The dragon then begins to go into a state of panic.

Zack, now able to grasp the dragon under his chains, cheers Twilight on. “Keep going, lady! It’s getting weaker!"

“I may even delve into emotions that I hardly ever use to sometimes find the logic behind my friends' actions, but throughout my lessons, I’ve learned one universal truth: Flaws are what make us unique. And I accept them, despite their flaws! They are dear to me, and that will never, I repeat, NEVER, change! You hear me?!"

Overwhelmed by Twilight’s speech, the dragon lets out a shout of pain, then disintegrates back into its original form.

Now standing in front of Twilight and Zack is the original Shadow Twilight.

“Heh. I’m glad to be the true self of someone who holds their friends so close to herself. I’ll see ya around, girl…"

Suddenly, a white light engulfs Shadow Twilight, then the being disappears, only to have a small card take her place.

“What in the world is this thing?" Questioned Twilight.

Zack walked up to her side and promptly told her, “It’s your Arcana."

“Ar… cana?" Asked Twilight in a puzzled way.

“Think of it this way: It’s a special card that’s a physical representation of your true self. We all have one, even me. Just hold out your hands and let it fall into them."

Twilight follows Zack’s instructions and holds her hands out.

The card then begins to fall into Twilight’s hands, then it shatters, leaving behind glittering white lights.

“Wh-what’s this weird feeling I have right now?" Said Twilight after the card shattered.

The strength to face one’s heart has awakened the potential within you…

Twilight gasped in shock. “I… I can hear a voice inside my head!"

Zack stood beside Twilight and placed a hand on her shoulder and his eyes shut. “Good. Now just listen to what it has to say."

Twilight also closed her eyes and continued to listen to the voice inside her head.

You, chosen one of heart, shall be blessed with thine divine power of The Priestess Arcana.

“Priestess… Arcana?" Mumbled Twilight in confusion. “What does it all mean?"

~~~~~~~~~

Zack began to take off his large overcoat, with his eyes still closed. “I’ll explain what it all means later, but here." Zack handed his jacket to Twilight. “Cover yourself with this and follow me."

Twilight opened her eyes and looked at Zack with confusion. “Why are you giving me your coat?"

Zack, now beginning to blush a little, said to Twilight, in a somewhat sheepish voice, “Because… you’re not… wearing..."

Twilight cupped one hand around her ear. “Speak up! I can’t hear you."

“I’M TRYING TO SAY YOU’RE NAKED!" Shouted Zack with his eyes still closed and his head hanging down.

“Naked?" Wondered Twilight. “What does that mean? Where I come from, we don’t wear clothing unless it’s a special occasion. Or unless it's from Rarity"

Zack’s nose started to bleed a bit. “Oh, for the love of-" Mumbled Zack, “Just put the damn coat on!"

Twilight, sighing with a bit of disappointment, decided to cover herself with Zack’s jacket.

“There, is that better?" Said the now covered Twilight.

Zack slowly raised his head, wiping the blood off from underneath his nose in the process, and opened his eyes.

“Much better. Forgive me, but the battlefield is the least place I expect to see a naked lady, so sorry if I seemed a little hostile."

“But, wait a second…" Started Twilight, “What about just a while ago when you were fighting that dragon thing?! How come you didn’t shy away from me then?!"

“In a fight, the battle itself is the only thing a fighter must focus on if they want to live." Said Zack very seriously to Twilight. “I can’t get distracted by something as trivial as a woman’s naked body."

Twilight, now feeling a bit of regret, decided that she needed to get back on track to the topic at hand. “Oh, I-I’m sorry for asking. Anyway, can you explain to me just what in the hay is going on here?!"

Zack crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and slightly lowered his head. “I would. If only you’d tell me your name first."

“My name is Twilight. Twilight Sparkle."

Zack’s eyes suddenly opened up wide. “Excuse me?" He said in confusion.

Twilight repeated herself, only in a louder tone. “Twilight Sparkle! My name is Twilight Sparkle!"

Zack began to look up and give Twilight a surprised look. “Twilight… Sparkle… Why does that name seem familiar?" He mumbled to himself. “I’ve got to consult the chief on this one."

“Um, hello? Mr. Zack? Are you okay?" Questioned Twilight.

Zack shook his head in a quick manner. “It’s nothing to worry about. Anyway, I’ll tell you everything on the way to HQ."

Zack then places two fingers in his mouth and lets out a loud whistle.

The ground suddenly starts to shake violently. So much that Twilight is having trouble keeping her footing.

“W-W-Whoa! What’s going on?! An Earthquake?!" Shouted Twilight in a panicked voice.

Zack turned to her and let out a small chuckle. “Earthquake? Please. It’s just our ride."

Suddenly, as if in perfect synch with Zack’s comment, a giant machine came out of the ground behind him and transformed into a mechanized battle-ready robot in mere seconds.

“Th-that’s the vehicle we’re taking?" Stuttered Twilight.

The pilot’s hatch to the mech opened revealing a pink pony with a blonde mane and a flower in her ear.

Twilight gasped in shock. “You! You’re the pony I saw earlier!"

Zack raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Pony?" He turned to the mech. “Oh, you mean Rosebud? It’s no ‘pony' as you call it. That thing’s an android."

“An… Android? As in a machine with life-like qualities" Twilight asked, still in shock.

“Yep. That’s the kind." Zack stated. “The Chief at the WPS made it himself. We asked him about the look and he just told us that the idea came to him in a vision."

“Anyway, come on!" Said Zack, walking toward the mech, motioning for Twilight to follow. “We got a long trip ahead, so I’ll answer your question on the way there."

The mech lowered itself and created a staircase to two seats behind the Android Pony in the pilot’s seat.

Twilight quickly followed behind Zack, boarding the mech and sitting in the seat next to him.

The hatch then quickly closed.

A robotic voice then came out of nowhere.

“Destination?"

Twilight was surprised and jumped a little in her seat. “Where did that voice come from?!"

Zack chuckled a little. “Relax, it’s just the Android. Or the ‘pony' if you wanna call it that."

“Rosebud! World Peace Syndicate HQ!"

“Confirmed, Master Zack." Said Rosebud in a monotonous tone.

Rosebud then shifted both of her hooves forward and started moving the mech, now on their way to the headquarters that Zack spoke of.

Zack turned to Twilight. “So, you want the whole story, now that we got time?"

Twilight turned to Zack and nodded. “Yes. I want to know everything. Starting with what that thing that proclaimed it was my 'true self.'"

Zack let out a big sigh. “Sadly, that thing wasn’t kidding. What you saw, and what I held back, was the physical manifestation of your true feelings. Only certain people are capable of facing their true selves. There are only two ways to go about dealing with those: Either accept it or deny it."

“What would happen if you denied it?" Asked Twilight.

Zack motioned a finger across his neck. “It would kill you. Plain and simple."

Twilight swallowed in fear out of what could’ve happened if Zack hadn’t shown up when he did...

“So what was the whole deal with the… ‘Priestess' thing?"

“Ah, here comes the fun part." Proclaimed Zack. “After accepting your true self, your shadow will turn into something called a Tarot Card. On that card will be something called an Arcana, which will grant you magnificent abilities. There are 22 major arcana, and there’ll be one of them on the Tarot Card you got. Try bringing it up."

“How?" Questioned Twilight.

Zack sat up from his chair. “Hold out your hand like you’re receiving something from someone and focus. Concentrate and call out to your inner being to bring it out…"

Twilight held out her hand, sighed, and began to focus. Suddenly, bright white lights started to come from her hand, and then the lights turned into a card… The card just slowly floated in Twilight’s hand and rotated at an angle…

“I-I did it…" Twilight said in amazement.

“Ah, The Priestess. That’s a rare one." Said Zack as he leaned closer to Twilight to observe the tarot card.

“What’s ‘The Priestess' supposed to mean?" Asked Twilight.

Zack pulled himself back into his seat to explain. “To sum it up, The Priestess is number 2 of the Arcanas and signifies the quest for inner knowledge in ones self."

“Quest for inner knowledge, huh?" Said Twilight.

She sat there, staring at the card in her hand, and began to think to herself.

“What abilities were given to me from this? And more importantly, can I use it to find my friends?..."

Twilight makes the card disappear, then turns toward Zack. “So what’s your… Arcana?"

“Mine?" Zack sat up and held out his hand. Sure enough, there were bright white lights in his hand, then a card emerged from the lights and floated down to his hand. “Mine’s number 1, The Magician."

“The Magician? Meaning you can use magic?" Asked Twilight in a confused manner.

“Hell, far from it, Twi." Chuckled Zack, “The Magician just means I like to take action the second I can. It also represents Immaturity."

Twilight giggled a bit. “At least it’s right about that."

Zack blushed and quickly turned opposite of Twilight. “Sh-shut up! Jeez…"

After Twilight finished giggling, she turned back into a serious mood.

“So, now that I know more about this power, what the hay is going on in this world?"

Zack’s expression suddenly turned dark. “You really want to know?"

“Tell me. I want to help in any way I can." Twilight said with a stern look on her face.

Zack let out a huge sigh and prepared for a long speech.

“Twilight, right now, we are at war. And by we, I mean the entire World Peace Syndicate."

Twilight gasped. “With who?"

“The enemy force we’re fighting against call themselves the ABB. I have no clue what it stands for; You can ask the chief when we get back to the base. At first, it just started as small things: Crude remarks against our team members, petty thievery, etc. But then, at one point, they crossed the line..."

Twilight grew curious now. “How did they do that?"

“By mass murdering our members. 112 in total."

Twilight, almost immediately after hearing that, cupped her hands around her mouth in shock.

“Yeah. It was pretty messed up. At that point, the ABB had officially declared war on us. We had no choice but to retaliate." Zack let out a depressing sigh. “We’ve been fighting for over 3 years now… When will the damn carnage end..."

Zack hung his head in sadness, while clenching his fists tightly.

“That’s why… That’s why I decided to fight. I want to help end this madness as soon as possible, and stop those bastards from hurting anyone else! But I can’t do it alone…"

Twilight gently placed her hands over Zack’s fists.

“You’re not alone. You have me to help you now" She said confidently, with a smile on her face.

Zack looked back up from his depression and smiled.

“Thanks, Twilight…"

From that point forward, Zack and Twilight awaited their arrival to the World Peace Syndicate HQ in the mech piloted by the android/pony, Rosebud. What will be awaiting Twilight at the base, and is she sure that she can trust the people there? One thing is for sure: She is indebted to Zack for saving her life, so she must endure whatever lies ahead of her in this war against clashing ideals….