New Sun In Town

I woke up and packed all my bags while trying to wipe off my morning grogginess. The strangest thing was a note that I found on my nightstand when I woke up it read "Dear Sun, I understand your deep connection with Solaris but I request you take Selene to the Crystal Empire. This could be a great experience for the both of you sincerely Princess Luna." I raised my eyebrows at the addition of her title in the letter. Typically she left it out, actually all the princesses usually leave it out around me now. But I understand she cares for Selene and I have been uneven with the use of the two. I explained the situation to Solaris and went to the balcony.

I figited with Selene, rolling the necklace around in my hand I could feel my magic melding with the necklace. She is so much different from Solaris there is no warm energy that gave off the essence of a warm summer day. The warm magical essence was replaced by a cool energy much like the night air I enjoy so much. I know I should of picked up on these little things earlier but it never felt like I truly had the chance until now. I held the necklace and began to summon my lunar companion from her sleep.

"Wake up, we need to talk."

"I'm up, I'm up."

"Do you trust me completely?"

"That's a weird question to ask Sun but yes I trust you."

"Good I've just felt your presence during some of my shitty dreams lately."

"So you have felt me there!"

"Yes it was you or Luna and she would of brought it up in someway."

"I'm sorry for snooping but you're rather unique in many ways."

"So I've been told."

"There's so much more but the library of information is locked by a hex on your heart and I can only get tiny bits of information in fragments."

"Are you speaking in metaphors or is there a actual curse suppressing my magic."

"Let me put it like this, have you ever wondered why it takes these terrible things happening to give you more abilities?"

"Just thought that's how it worked."

"No Sun when you were born or sometime soon after there was a powerful containment hex placed on your heart, only strong emotions and physical harm can cause little fissures in the hex letting an ability through."

"How do we break it?"

"Right now we don't. That amount of energy would rip you to shreds if not physically mentally. Think about it, you are a direct descendant of multiple kings from the royal family given the status of gods. Those men moved heaven and earth , waged devastating wars and fought armies single handedly. The last king of the humans Crimson Sun burned half of equestria to the ground before Celestia calmed him down. My point is right now you're capable of dealing with every problem put in front of you until you can manifest a form of the two families there's no need to put so much stress on your body."

"I can't live my life incomplete and being hung up on my limitations is just another thing to throw in the pit with all the suppressed emotions. "

"I know about your previous life style and that's got trouble written all over it."

"And how is that oh wise lunar sword."

"Someone like you isn't put out of reach by accident."

"This must have really been eating at you or something."

"You can't even imagine."

"Well every challenge from this point on we face together."

"Sounds like a plan partner." My black coat flapped in the wind as I stood on the railing of the balcony.

I raised my hand, "Selene blade". The necklace rose from my hand and began to darken the area as it shifted into the blue and black sword. I held the sword examining a tiny change , the blade before it reached the hilt had a tiny blue crescent moon formed. "I like it Selene."

"It's a bonding mark more changes can occur on me and my sister if you work hard enough Sun."

"Why hasn't Solaris told me about any of this?"

"She is afraid of you losing control."

"I'm happy she's looking out for me at least."

"Good way of looking at it Sun." I herd the door of my room open.

"I see I only have to raise one sun today." Followed by a light chuckle.

"Good morning Celestia."

"Good morning to you as well Sun. May I accompany you to the train station."

"Of course I would enjoy your company very much. I'm glad you actually came but I have two favors to ask."

"Okay our ride is ready to go whenever. What do you need of me?"

"First I would like you to keep Solaris with you while I'm gone, it would mean a lot to me if she was with someone she's comfortable with. Secondly there is important information regarding myself and a dangerous magical weapon I left with Eye in her workshop."

"That's all very doable Sun I will get on it as soon as you leave".

"I'm glad. We should get going." My light smile increased as we walked through the castle and towards the carriage waiting to take us away. As we reached the snow white carriage I opened the door and bowed, "Ladies first."

"What a gentleman."

"Why thank you."

One of my hands held Selene's grip and the other her blade as I rested my head on her black blade. The morning air rushed through my hair as I stared off at the slow movement of early morning Canterlot. The city was starting to pull itself from it's deep sleep. Shop keeps were flipping their signs to open, Little colts and fillys were playing on their walk to school. One day little boys and girls will play as freely in open streets with no guard towers or threat of being split from there familys.

Celestia was reading my face as I watched the fillys and colts, "Your going to make happiness possible for everyone I can feel it".

I looked over into her eyes, "Do you really think so?"

"Yes and if a certain group of ponies tries to get rid of you Twilight has a special mirror for you. It's a last resort but I want you to know I'm looking out for you Sun and no matter what you will get your happy ending."

"I know you are Celestia ."We traveled the rest of the way enjoying the ride and the closer we got her face made it obvious she was thinking about something.

She finally made eye contact after the long silence "Hey Sun I think a certain Wonderbolt would enjoy Solaris while your gone if that's okay."

"Yeah that's perfectly fine." I could see she had no desire to go into the reason so I let it be.

The carriage stopped in unison with a large crystal train that hissed to a stop and opened up letting out many crystal empire guards. I unzipped my back pack and snapped my fingers armoring up in seconds, for some reason the black hood from the hoodie didn't turn into under armor and rested over my back plate. I re-zipped my backpack and took it and my duffel bag and slung it over my shoulders.

Jumping from the carriage I turned to Celestia and gave her my most confident grin, "See you soon Celestia."

"See you soon Sun." The carriage pulled away and I made my way to the train, under the eyes of all the crystal guards.

One guard snickered, "You don't see many human night guards in these parts do you guys".

I stopped and laughed looking at the shiny blue unicorn, "You don't see many guards as shiny as the sun around here." To my amazement they all began to laugh.

The ranking officer was a non crystal pony and he chuckled along with the rest of the grunts before reaching to shake my hand which I returned," You're all right Sun. You're going to fit in just fine."

"I'm glad sir."

he chuckled again, "Sir is a bit formal call me Shinning Armor."

"Nice to meet you Shinning Armor."

He turned towards his soldiers, "Time to get this show on the road". All the guards filed in as he turned towards me, "Come on Sun you aren't going to get a seat at the poker table moving that slow." I charged into the train, who doesn't love poker?"

Train Ride

I didn't end up getting a spot at the table but I wasn't too disappointed about it and I resorted to focusing on the mission. I stared at the ancient maps provided by Shining Armor. The castle rested in the center of the empire giving a vantage point to gaze upon everything within the infamous barrier.

I looked to Shinning Armor sitting behind a desk," looks like everything's pretty locked down what is the problem?"

"Well what we believe to be a dark magical presence is giving off energy and we needed a little special forces assistance just in case this blows up to a bigger issue."

"Sounds like a cake walk."

"The thing is Sun it's in a cave outside the barrier."

"A frozen terrible cave exploring cake walk."

"What ever you say Sun."

"Hey Shinning do you think the people and ponies will feel about me?"

"They're going to be ecstatic just wait."

We'll see about that Mr.General Pony. I laid down on the seat and dwelled on the idea of being accepted. Maybe my new homes just 4 hours away. Giving me 4 hours for sleep.

Dream World

The great black waves of a dark ocean slapped against the cliff face. My bare feet and torso are exposed to the elements a pair of shorts my only salvation from nudeness. The cracks of lightning over the dark sea were only audible and hid in the dark clouds moving ever closer.

The great booming voice called to me, "How does it feel to have the truth just a curse away Sun, how does it feel to be incomplete. Kings blood through and through only you can't see it. Your true features hide behind that curse. Letting you hold that thin line of belief that you are normal. You need a push to truly spread your wings and many are gathering for who gets to give you that push.

My feet slowly placed themselves on the edge of the rock face, "This worlds evil will see my fire and become ash allowing the good to begin a new. I am the king of nothing except my will and it shall not be broken by forces working from the shadows!"

"You may think the Sun and Moon your only allies but even they can't understand the origin of mans power."

"And I won't either if you don't stop speaking in riddles."

"Someone not a thousand years young can't truly grasp a riddle."

"Says the crazy voice in my head."

"You will understand in time young king. The white one is coming."

I closed my eyes and leaned off the cliff. "The white one can bite a dick." The dark sea vanished into a bright light as I was pulled to reality.

Crystal Empire

There was a rumble from outside the train, could that be clapping? I looked up at a grinning Cadence.

"Are we there yet?"

"You bet, now get up you sleepy head it's time for celebrating."

"Wha.."

"Just follow me Sun." I lifted myself from the seat and proceeded to comb my hair with my hand as I moved to the train door. I slumped against the door and leaned out. The sea of shiny and non-shiny ponies and humans stretched for what seemed like forever.

I looked back to Cadence, "You didn't."

She smiled ear to ear, "I did."

I'm still in shock as I step onto the crystal chariot, the crowd all the while cheering my name. This can't be real. The sea of faces continued for what seemed like forever. Crystal flowers were thrown from humans and ponies alike. This fever dream is going to end and I'm going to be in a dark cave mining for gems.

I hear the snickering of an amused princess, "You may think it's to good to be true but all my subjects respect you for who you are."

"Thank you Cadence but this is a lot to take in right now."

"Is that bad Sun?"

"No I'm just thinking of my ways to tell the others I'm staying." My joke steered the conversation to unexplored waters.

"You can stay if you want Sun."

"To tell you the truth Cadence the old me might of taken you up on that offer on the spot."

"Then why won't the new you."

"I helped jump start this madness, I have to see it through until i'm dead or actual change happens."

She turned so calm it was almost sad," at least you're dedicated." She moved to the crystal chariot waiting to take us to the castle."Come on Sun we need every hour of day light."I followed and the chariot took off faster than Spitfire after she catches me stealing her 'special' cookies. Everyone threw their hands in the air as we passed. I'm enjoying this a little too much, My arm raised and the dark void formed around my lunar necklace forming the sword. Somehow the crowd got louder with the presence of Selene.

"Yo Selene got anything special for the crowd."

"I've got just the thing." A black fog emitted from the black blade and little white sparks resembling stars followed the chariot all the way to the castle.

Crystal Castle

My boots were among a horde of feet moving towards the war room. Cadence had made her leave shortly after the chariot ride taking my gear with her. Leaving me with Shining armor and the rest of the soldiers going on this mission thundering through the halls.

"Hey Shinning."He gave me a weird look." I can call you that right?"

"Sure its fine, I'm just not used to hearing it from another soldier." Apart of me kind of glowed at the recognition of equal social footing.

"So on a level of 1 to 10 how difficult is this going to be ."

"Well Sun with the shitastic weather outside the dome it will be a minimum of a 5 plus the unseen obstacles bringing it up to a 7 possibly 8."

"Sounds like my kind of party." My stupid grin all most stretched from ear to ear at my own dumb comment.

Our conversation was brought to an end as we all shuffled into the war room. A couple rows of fold able chairs and a magical hologram projector filled the room. I took a seat in the front row as Shining began to address the room.

"To most of you this might seem like another wendigo hunt to the few with a little more brain cells you can tell this mission means a lot more."

A soldier shouted from the back, "how much more are we talking."

Shining's face didn't loose composure as he addressed the comment,"I believe many of you have heard of the Bath Of Sin used by King Sombra to brew up many nasty shits including our little wendigo problem." The shocked expressions filled the room.

one unicorn soldier stood on his seat with a cocky grin, "You should of just told me boss I could of took care of everything and been back by now." The whole room kind of laughed at him.

Shinning chuckled a little, "Yeah Sparky I bet you would of made it at least 5 mins this time outside the dome." The room filled with laughter as the shamed soldier sat down grumbling." Back on task, the suspected location of the bath is a cave we're referring to as Hell's hole. We're expecting heavy resistance all the way so we're doing this by the book no breaking formation for glory kills. Unless any of you have questions switch to your snow suits and pack your gear you're dismissed." Everyone trickled out of the room as I remained in my seat. The room was soon deserted besides me and Shining.

"So Shining what exactly is a wendigo?"

"They are the product of the mixture of dark magic and negative emotions binding with the snow. Typically the stronger the feelings that create the creature the harder it is to take care of them."

"I can see how a place which had a evil dictator that constantly performed ritual sacrifices and random purges would hold onto the negative emotions from the past but what is this Bath of sin?"

"It's supposedly the birth place of sombarian dark magic or better known as the nightmare plague."

"How is it different from the other forms of dark magic?"

"Well the visual characteristics of the user changes when the magic is used. If you look at Sombra's horn its unique because of the nightmare magic present. Also hair color and eyes are prone to change."

"Thanks for all of the information Shinning I'll see you at the edge of the empire."

Leaving the war room my footsteps were all alone in the crystal hall ways. I am so ready to get this over and never go to a cold place again.

Selene who had been awake for most of my conversation with Shining chimed in, "Take this serious Sun the Nightmare plague is very dangerous its classified as a god killer."

"You are uncharacteristically serious Selene, What's up?"

"The magic you are going up against is derived from broken manipulated human magic. I already had a user fall to it's demonic possession before I don't need another."

"Are you talking about Luna?"

"Of course I'm talking about Luna you brick head, It only took a couple cut's from Sombra's cursed blade to turn her into nightmare moon."

"What would happen to me if I was subject to it?"

"Well it would bind with all magic in your body, including magic effected by the hex. Causing three possible things, first the hex could break releasing all of your power most likely throwing you into a unstoppable rage, secondly it could lock all powers of yours stealing your magic, third it spreads like a infection until it kills you, or it could be a little of everything. I'm going to try and limit your exposure the best I can so be careful."

"My middle names careful."

"No It's....."

"Let's just drop it okay, I will be careful."

Edge of the barrier

I looked back to my new comrades standing in there crystal guard armor their faces wrapped for the cold. Me and shinning stood next to each other. My black hood was up and my face was covered by a bandanna and snow googles. "Down the rabbit hole we go."

Shinning looked over, "Down the hole." We stepped out of the barrier.

Author's Note

Welcome to the Free North my readers and get ready for our heroes journey as he continues to try and better understand himself and the hidden power laying just below the surface. The frozen secrets of the Free north may hold some of the answers