Heroes In Eternal Darkness

"Ah yes, the convention!" Steven announced to his friends, Philip and Derek.

All three teens stood outside the large plaza as many people in costumes went around and about. Not wanting to waste anymore time, Steven ushered his friends inside and began to look around and examine his surroundings in awe and excitement.

'At long last, I've finally gone to my very first convention!' Steven thought happily to himself as he enjoyed the sights and the many crowds of cosplayers going around. He and his friends made some new friends as they went around in the convention, getting some pictures with some cosplayers, most of the cosplayers they met are friendly while some are mean, they also saw some cool LARPing groups getting ready for an upcoming event.

After exiting from the men's restroom, both Philip and Derek were already ahead of Steven, chatting about basketball and wrestling while Steven rolled his eyes in amusement.

Steven soon caught sight of an old man at a stall full of strange objects and real looking weapons! But... something about him felt very strange and... calming. As soon as Steven had seen the old man, he suddenly felt intimidated and wanted to run away when the old man's sky blue eyes gazed at him, but he felt an aura of calmness come over him, and he unconsciously began to approach the stall.

Both Philip and Derek looked over their shoulders to see Steven heading towards the old man. They both hurried after their friend and nearly bumped into him once they reached the stall with the old man now smiling as they approached.

"Greetings, my children. What can I do for you today?" the old man asked the three teenagers.

Steven gazed warily at the old man. 'This old man looks very familiar somehow, but I can't recall where I've seen him.' Steven thought as he studied the items in the stall.

"Yes, actually. I'm looking for a pole for a flag my friends and I designed for our Kingdom." Steven replied. He reached into his duffel bag and pulled out a white colored flag he and his friends made together, proudly unfolding it. The flag had a golden crown on top of a winged crucifix and blue crosses. Steven then placed the flag on the counter, and looked nervously at his friends.

The old man took the flag in his hands and studied it, his eyes narrowing slightly. Steven could feel the air tensing as the old man continued to study the flag. Suddenly, the old man.... smiled?

"Ah. So I assume that you and your friends are princes, yes? Then where are your crowns?" the old man asked.

"N-no, we're just simple village boys that want happy lives and to fight evil. Then we became princes because our Magick is far stronger than anybody else from our village." Steven explained.

The old man nodded, gazing down at the flag and closed his eyes. The old man began to speak in a strange language Steven never heard of and the three teenagers watched in awe as a bright golden aura covered the flag for a few minutes before fading away. Having practiced Psionics and Magick since his childhood from very elusive mentors and joined some cults dedicated to Magick of all kinds, Steven was amazed at the power the old man possessed! Clearly this man is not of this world at all!

"It is done." the old man said, opening his eyes. He gently folded the flag and handed it back to the still awestruck teenagers.

"How... how did you do that?" Derek asked in amazement.

"Magic." the old man said with a grin.

"Who are you anyway?" Philip asked in curiosity. He wanted to know how this old man is able to intimidate them and make them behave like little children.

"I am that I am." the old man replied.

As soon as the three teenagers heard this, they couldn't believe what this old man just said.

"Prove it." Philip automatically uttered without thinking. He had encountered many lunatics that claimed to be what this old man is.

The old man stared at all three teenagers in silence and everything froze. The teens felt very alone with the old man as they noticed everyone in the convention is now frozen and oblivious to what had just happened.

"Don't believe anything you see in a movie, a story, or a game." the old man said. He swirled his hands and created a man and a woman, Steven and his friends blushed when the man and woman stood before them completely naked, while both newly created humans looked around in confusion. Both the man and woman looked at each other before smiling and happily walking away holding hands. "No other person or being can do as I've done." the old man said to the stunned teenagers.

All three teenager's eyes widened and they immediately fell to the ground and bowed at the old man's feet. They couldn't believe this at all! What is in the name of Oblivion is the Sky Father doing in this realm?!

'I... I don't believe this at all. I must be dreaming or something!' Steven thought frantically to himself once he and his friends got up from their bow. Deciding to test the old man, Steven stepped forward.

"If... if you are what you say you are, then... I dare you to turn me into my pony OC." Steven challenged. Nobody in the hidden community could achieve such a big - huh?

Steven suddenly felt a small tingle and a bright flash blinded him and his friends. As soon as the flash faded away, Steven looked down at himself to see he... or she, is now an anthro alicorn mare! "Eeek! I'm naked!" Steven squeaked in her new feminine voice, covering herself up.

"Quick, change Steven back! They're going to see us!" Philip warned.

"Who's going to see us?" the old man raised an eyebrow.

All three teens looked around the convention, finally realizing that everybody was ignoring them as if they didn't exist at all! Astonished, all three teens turned back to the old man with mixed emotions.

The old man only chuckled and changed Steven back into his original body, much to the teen's disappointment.

"I still don't believe this." Philip said. "What do you even do up there anyway?" he asked.

"What I do is always the same terrible thing. I watch over all the chaos and destruction the humans and demons do to this once beautiful Earth I've created." the old man muttered bitterly. "I even saw the Earth once as my own lovely wife, until... the incident happened." the old man sighed.

"What are you doing here then, Father? Why aren't you in your throne?" Derek inquired.

"This world is doomed, my children. Soon when the time comes... Armageddon will come, and the entire world will be plunged in flames." the old man told the three teens. Then he looked at Steven. "I noticed that you are building a new Kingdom yes? A Kingdom that lives in perfect Harmony and Unity?"

"Yes, yes I am." Steven responded happily.

Then you have my approval, my child." the old man nodded.

"You can make it happen?" Steven asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

With a nod, the old man's eyes glowed and all items in the stall flew towards the three startled teens as they braced themselves. Strangely, the items seem to disappear into them as if going into an expansive inventory of some kind.

"Here." the old man said, a ball of swirling rainbows appeared in his hand. "Touch it. This will awaken your powers."

The three teens hesitantly reached their hands out and touched the ball of energy, only to feel a pleasant feeling run through their entire being. They feel... much better. Powerful even.

Now curious, Steven tests his power out and focused. Fire suddenly swirled around his open palm as he watched in amazement. He looked to see Philip and Derek struggling to stay upright in midair.

"W-what kind of power is that? Can you teach me?" Steven asked in excitement once he recovered from his shock, he was already hopping giddily in his place.

The old man chuckled and  wagged a finger. "You are not yet ready for this kind of power, my boy." Steven's smile deflated and the old man placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "But at least, think positive. Not negative." the old man told the eager teenager. Steven nodded and smiled.

Turning to Philip, the old man said, "You can still prove yourself worthy of bearing this power as well, if you can do good with your magick energy rather than use it to harm others." the old man's gaze became stern and Philip looked away in shame. "But... at least you used it for some good. Try not to harm yourself so much next time." Philip nodded.

"And as for you." the old man turned to Derek with a scowl, the nervous teen began backing away in fear. "Using Black Magic and wanting to become a Demon is a sin punishable by death! I have half a mind to strike you with my hand. But... I'll forgive you. For now." the old man said as his glare softened, Derek sighing in relief.

"So... what do we do now, Father?" Steven inquired.

"Are you willing to make the world a better place?" the old man suddenly asked.

"Yes." the three teens answered.

"Are you willing to challenge Fate and bring Harmony and Unity to the world?" the old man asked again.

"Yes!" the teenagers answered more louder.

"Are you willing to sacrifice yourselves until every last drop of your blood falls to see the world heal and become beautiful once more?" the old man asked.

"YES!!!" the three teenagers roared.

"Then come, my children. I will fulfill what you've always craved for." the old man smiled, motioning for the three teens to follow him outside. Steven saw the stall disappear in the corner of his eye as he and his friends followed the old man outside the convention. They stopped at a park and the old man told them to approach him and close their eyes.

"But wait, are we going somewhere?" Steven asked.

The old man nodded.

"At least let us say goodbye to our Earth Mother." Steven pleaded, kneeling to the ground and caressing it.

The old man sighed, but his eyes softened. "Then go ahead, give love to your mother once more." he said.

Steven, Philip, and Derek let out all their emotions, kissing, praying, thanking, and weeping on the soft grass while the old man watched them. They didn't notice a tear fall from the old man's eyes.

"Are you finished, my children?" the old man asked.

Steven and his friends looked up at the old man and nodded. The old man helped them stand on their feet before instructing them to close their eyes.

They all closed their eyes as the old man's eyes began to glow. There was suddenly a bright flash of light, and everything went white before fading into darkness.

Steven was the first to regain consciousness and stretched.

"Huh. Well that was one great nap." he said. Looking around his surroundings, he spotted Derek and Philip still sleeping right beside him. "Hey, wake up guys. I think we just got drugged and raped." Steven muttered, shaking his friends awake.

"Now who would do such a disgusting deed like that while I'm around?" a young masculine voice asked.

Steven jumped and looked up at the smiling old man, but he's not old anymore. He is now young around twenty years old, and had large angel wings that shined brighter than any star in the universe.

"Father, what is going on?" Steven asked, trying not to get blinded from the shining light while his sleeping friends groaned from the bright light. "And where are we?"

"You and your friends are where you've always wanted to be. Equestria." the man replied with a smirk.

"Oh." Steven said simply.

"Is this the Everfree Forest?" Steven asked.

The man nodded and looked around. "Indeed, there is a castle not far from here."

Steven looked around in wonder, seeing a tower of a castle above the trees. "Then what must I do with this flag?" he asked.

"You will hold on to that flag. You and your friends will build your Kingdom soon." the man replied.

"Okay." Steven nodded.

"Go ahead and sleep. Tomorrow I'll train all of you." the man told Steven before preparing to fly away but Steven stopped him.

"No, please stay." Steven pleaded. "I... I'm afraid of the dark." he whispered shamefully. The man smiled comfortingly and gently patted the teenager's head.

"Do not worry my boy, I'll always be watching over you and your friends."

Steven nodded and laid down on the soft grass beside his friends. He watched as the man hovered away and disappeared behind a dark cloud blocking the full moon.

"Whelp, it looks like we'll be hoofing it from here on out." Steven told his two sleepy companions as they sleepily nodded in agreement.

As the teenager rolled over to sleep, he felt a soft but familiar feeling between his legs. At first, he ignored it and starting rubbing his crotch on the grass enjoying the tingling feeling.

"Huh? What the heck?" Steven muttered and checked under his jeans, his eyes widened briefly and he chuckled. "Hey. Philip, Derek. Check this out." he shook his two sleeping friends awake, earning groans from them.

"Huh? Check what out?" Philip asked groggily while Derek rubbed his eyes.

"Check under your panties." Steven chuckled.

Both Philip and Derek checked under their jeans, Steven immediately regretted telling them and quickly covered his ears.

"OH MY GOSH! WE'RE NOT CIRCUMCISED ANYMORE!!! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!" both Philip and Derek cheered.

Steven only rolled his eyes in amusement before staring up at the night sky while both Derek and Philip went back to sleep, more happily than ever before.

'Yeah. Tomorrow is going to be a long day indeed.' Steven thought to himself before sleep claimed him.

High up in the cloud, the man chuckled as he stared intently at the dark horizon.

"Tomorrow will be a long day indeed." he muttered.

Three Weeks Later...

After the events at the convention had unfolded, the three teenagers are prepared for their long journey. The Creator taught them everything in order for them to make sure Equestria doesn't fall prey to all the horrible things Humanity has gone through.

It was already morning as the sun was starting to rise on the horizon while a white pigeon stared intently.

The pigeon spread its wings and flew down from the cloud it was perched on before transforming into a man, his golden wings shined brightly along with the rising sun. The man then hovered over towards the three still slumbering teenagers on the soft grass.

The man stopped in front of Steven and placed a hand on the teen's shoulder.

Steven woke up when he felt a hand softly shaking his shoulder. At first he thought it was either Philip or Derek, but when he opened his eyes, it was Father again.

"Wake up son. Today is going to be a long day for you and your friends." the man said.

The teenager nodded and the man helped him up. Steven noticed both his friends starting to wake up while he stretched his limbs.

"I hope you enjoyed your sleep. Are you three okay with sleeping on the grass?" the man asked in concern.

"For three weeks? I really liked sleeping on the grass actually." I responded with a smirk making Father chuckle. I was about to add a comment about Earth Mother but kept my mouth shut.

"Oh, hello Father!" Philip greeted the man happily while Derek yawned.

"Alright my boys, are you ready to go on your journey?" the man asked.

"Yes Father!" the three teens answered happily.

"Good. Remember all the things that I have taught you." the man told the three teenagers. "I've taught you many things. How to befriend all the wild animals, how to control magical energy, and how to not let judgement or anger get the best of you." the three teenagers nodded.

"We'll never forget what you've taught us Father." Steven said thumping his chest, both Philip and Derek voicing their approvals as well.

"That's very good." the man replied with a smile. "You three will have a very long journey ahead of you, so you'll need to hurry along before it's too late."

All three teens nodded and prepared to leave, but the old man stopped them.

The man smiled, making a 'come hither' motion with his hand before holding his arms out. "Now, who wants hugs?"

The man nearly choked when all three teenagers instantly glomped him. He chuckled while Steven and his friends laughed as they hugged him.