Chapter 1
The Awakening
Hydaelyn.....a vibrant planet blessed by the crystal of light. Amid azure seas, encompassing the westernmost of the five great countries. There lies a realm embraced by goddesses and forged by heroes. Her name….Equestria. The annals of Equestria history chart the rise of a succession of great civilizations, each one enjoying an age of peace- The Solar Eras. To date, all have proven ephemeral. In the year 500 of the sixth and most recent Era, the northern empire of the crystal ponies called the Crystal Empire amassed a great army at the heart of Equestria, seeking dominion over all.
Rising in desperate resistance, the forces of the Equestrian Alliance met their would-be conquerors in the field. Yet even as the battle raged, the lesser moon, Lunastra, was plucked from the heavens though dark magic from King Sombra’s dark empire. From its core emerged the elder primal Bahamut, who unleashed his fury upon the realm. The devastation brought Equestria to its knees, and would’ve bought the end of all life in equestria. But in the midst of devastation, two of Hydaelyn’s chosen warriors of light prevent the destruction of Equestria by sealing away the mad king and elder primal with the assistance from Equestria’s rulers. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
But with all great victories, so do the price of it. In order for the princesses to seal the kings away, they would have to seal away the warriors of light as well. A thousand years have come and gone. The light of life still shines upon Equestria. Equine labors tirelessly to raise themselves from the calamity’s ruin. The land is forever changed, a stranger to them once more. Yet heedless of what lies ahead, Equestria shall still press on, spurred by the promise of peace and prosperity. But even in the period of peace, there will alway be someone or somepony lurking in the shadows to disrupt this peace and cause great chaos once more.
[Year 1500]
(Crystal Empire)
A shrill wind blew by a large force field powered by love placed over a fort. The sound of conflict was muffled by the noise. Outside, the force field, an army of ponies fought against an equally large army consisting of monsters made of ice and dark magics. It was not going well. For every monster taken down, two ponies fell or had to retreat into the force field due to their injuries.
At the edge, many medic ponies and Princess Cadance worked to heal the ponies so they could keep fighting. Even then, ponies still had their limits when it came to magic, stamina, and supplies. If the fighting continued like this, there’d be overrun in a day.
Cadance winced as a small headache made itself clear. Even the alicorn herself was barely holding on, having been holding up the force field for over a day with no sleep. Right now, there were only two things keeping her going.That her husband would return soon with her sister in law and the rest of the Element Bearers. The other thing were the two large opaque crystals in the throne room found by some adventurers in an area close to the Crystal Empire. Any pony could see that there was something in them.
If they watched closely, they could see the dark blurs in the crystals twitching occasionally. What ever was in the crystals were alive.
Cadance could only hope that whatever is inside the crystal could help as them. She was always optimistic about these things and had a really good feeling about them. The only thing they needed were the Elements of Harmony to free them. The bearers themselves were very close friends and were some of the best adventurers in the world.
Twilight Sparkle was a unicorn and master of Arcane magic, mundane and battle. Her summons fought with the ferocity of fifteen regular soldiers. Following right behind her was her little brother figure, Spike the dragon who was trying to be the best monk ever.
Rarity was a Red Mage unicorn, having a general mastery over white and black magic. While not as strong magically as Twilight, she made it up with diversity and her ability to weave magic into the clothes she made.
Rainbow Dash was a pegasus Dragoon, master of speed and spear. Her spear thrusts were rumored to be so fast that the monster would be dead as soon as she looked at them.
Fluttershy was their kind pegasus White Mage, who’s magic could even bring back the recently deceased. Her kindness even stretched to animals, who would run into battle to defend her.
Applejack was one of the strongest earth pony Warriors, her axe shattering boulders as big as a two story building. Aside from this, she had a deep love of apples and always knows how to make apple based foods for any occasion.
Finally, there was Pinkie Pie, the most eccentric Bard and earth pony. Her music invigorated her allies and the masses, her arrows shot true, and her baking phenomenally sweet.
All of them were brought together almost three years ago when they discovered that-
Her musings were broken as a tired soldier ran in. “Princess! Prince Shining Armor and the Elements are almost here but… Sombra has appeared on the battlefield!”
Cadance gasped, knowing that Sombra was going after her sister in law and the others. “Quickly!” She looked to the soldiers who were recently healed. “Go to the Elements and help them get to the force field! Make sure Sombra doesn’t capture anyone!”
Her loyal soldiers saluted before running out, heading for what could be their deaths.
Twilight shot a blast of wind magic at a monster, blowing it back as her brother blocked an attack aimed at her back with a magic shield. She sent a grateful smile to Shining Armor as the eight of them slogged through the monster army surrounding the Crystal Empire.
Even as powerful as they were, there was only so much they could do with so many enemies surrounding them. However, the worst was yet to come, as the monsters suddenly stopped and started parting for one single pony. One that Twilight instantly recognized.
“Sombra.” She gasped out.
The evil unicorn smirked as he launched a dark ball of magic at the group that Shining Armor managed to block. “Twily, get to Cadance! I’ll hold him back!”
Twilight nodded before summoning an Amber Carbuncle to help Shining Armor before starting to run after her friends, Applejack knocking back monsters with her axe.
Every pony used their skills to stun or knock back the monsters as they rushed toward the pink half-sphere. Halfway there, they ran into a group of soldiers, who assisted them in getting to the force field, Shining Armor following soon after.
Twilight gasped for air as she laid down on the grass. “T-That….was a close one.”
“You’re telling me.” Rarity said as she motion the summoner to look at her mane. “Just look at what those monsters did to my mane.”
“Now’s not the time to worry about your mane Rarity.” Applejack said as she place her axe onto her left shoulder. “We need to get to the throne room to get whatever it is that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna need to end this battle.”
“Where are we now?” Rainbow Dash asked as she lands next to Twilight and helps her up.
“From what I can tell we’re in the Crystal Empire garden.” Shining Armor said as he pulls out a map of the Crystal Empire. “If we take the path down by the arena, we should be able to reach the throne room.”
“Alright.” Twilight said as brought her book up and prepared a ruin spell. “Once you lower the barrier, we need to make a break for it. Is everypony ready?” The Summoner asked as Shining Armor and the rest nodded yes. “Okay, then let’s go.”
(Crystal Empire Throne Room)
As the door to the throne room burst open, The mane six, Spike, and Shining Armor entered the room as Twilight quickly sealed the door up with her magic. There was pounding against the door as the monsters they had avoided hit the door. Their eyes widen as their attention were now drawn to the two huge rough crystals in the middle of the room.
“Really? These are the things that Princess Cadance thinks will turn the tide of battle? They just look like huge hunks of crystal,” RD said out loud as she flew up to the taller one and poking it. “Are they going to become a large crystal golem?”
“Rainbow Dash, don’t be rude!” Rarity snapped, her magic pulling the pegasus back by some of her armor. “Shining Armor is right here.”
“What? It’s something that could happen.” RD replied, much to the others exasperation.
“Girls, let’s go ahead and use the Elements.” Twilight stopped Pinkie Pie before she could start yapping away. She levitated all the Elements out of her bag, putting them on the corresponding pony.
The gems themselves started glowing as the six ponies started floating up, power and light arcing off them. Spike and Shining Armor covered their eyes as the light grew brighter before two beams of rainbows shot off from the six ponies and struck the crystals, enveloping them.
The light died down and the Element bearers collapsed to the ground, wiped out from using the powerful artifacts. “Did it work?” Applejack asked, looking up first.
Everyone looked to the two crystals, rainbows still surrounding them before their hopes dropped to record bottom as the power faded away.
“It didn’t work!” Rarity gasped, really wishing she had her fainting couch available.
“It should have worked, right?” Fluttershy asked, before eeping as the doors broke open.
Everyone looked away from the crystals as they turned their attention at the monsters busting through the doors and swarmed around them. No one noticed the hair line cracks forming on the crystals.
Shining Armor quickly cast a small force field to protect them. “We need to get out of here!” He cried out, seeing more and more monsters coming in.
“We can’t use magic! The Elements have drained us!” Twilight exclaimed, taking out a book.
“I guess this will be our final stand then.” Applejack said as she got her axe ready along with Rainbow Dash taking her side with her spear out.
Pinkie Pie took out her bow, her smile gone as she had a cartoonish growl on her face.
Rarity unsheathed her rapier with a flourish as Fluttershy got her staff ready.
Twilight looked to her friends and family, Shining Armor taking his own spear out as well and Spike getting ready to fight. Twilight smiled, “Yeah. Let’s go out with a bang then!”
“Well said! Flare!” a male voice rang out, surprising everyone, even the monsters.
Then a huge fireball just suddenly appeared in the middle of the monsters, killing most of them and damaging the others that were close or survived.
“Who?” Twilight turned back towards the crystals, seeing the shorter one fall apart as a being that stood like Spike and was as tall as the baby dragon, yet didn’t have scales dropped to the floor.
The short being had a bright yellow wizard's hat and sky blue robes and carried a glowing staff that just pulsed with power. She could see his face and part of his hair as well, with big red eyes and teal scruffy hair. His face actually had some purple stripy designs and his nose was brown. He also had long pointed ears that were brown on the end as well.
The being smirked before speaking aloud to the other crystal that was falling apart. “Yo, Ruby. You going to get out of there or am I going to have to be the singular hero again?”
“Yeah, yeah, give me a second.” Ruby said as busted out of her crystal imprisonment, much to the astonishment of the ponies at her appearance. “I was just having the nicest dream.”
Ruby herself looked like the shorter one but much taller. She had bright white eyes on black with chin length hair that was a deep purple with white ends and stripes, the hair partially covering her left eyes. She also had black horns that poked forward to either side of her lips. She also had black scales on her cheeks and neck. As she moved, the ponies could see a black draconic tail as well.
She also had weird garb on with a coat with blue long sleeves, white shoulders and a black chest and a grey undershirt. Over it came a greatsword belt and her hands had grey fingerless gloves. She was also wearing tall boots that were white in the front and grey everywhere else. They came up to halfway up her thigh. Under her black short skirt was black tights. Over her skirt was a brown belt partially hidden under the coat with two satchels attached. On her back was a huge greatsword that faded from black at the hilt to white at the tip.
“Well then, we’re not really dreaming now, Ruby.” The short one spoke up, casting a quick shield spell that seemed to negate the attack of the monster that tried to sneak up behind him. “This is very real. So, are you going to get those kinks out from however long we were sleeping?”
“Depends.” Ruby said as she yawned. “What’s going on anyway?”
“I have no idea but it seems like some ponies need some help.” The short being whacked the monster on the head with his staff before blowing it up with a small fire ball. “But we’re the heroes. Saving others is what we do.”
“Fair point.” The Dark Knight said as she drew out her sword and fired a ball of darkness at a monster heading towards Fluttershy from behind.
The pegasus eeped before looking back and almost fainting.
“Who are you two? What are you two?” Rainbow Dash demanded.
The short being smiled, launching a bolt of ice at the biggest group of the monsters. “I am Rorolao Rerelao, Master Black Mage, Goldsmith, and Miner.” He bowed slightly.
“Ruby Kalahan, Dark Knight, Machinist, Blacksmith, and….well that’s pretty much it.” Ruby said as she parried away one of the monsters attack and counters with a vertical slash.
“And we’re the Warriors of Light.” Rorolao said with pride as he froze a lot of the monsters around him with Blizzard 2.
