After an hour of climbing the insides of the Canterlot mountain, and an hour spent finding a viable spot to practice thanks to the help of Celestia, we began to start learning the ways of the light. I was somewhat excited on the matter, noting how hard it was to control SIVA on its own before I even considered the idea. But from what Skorri told me, if I became an expert on it, I would be as strong as, if not stronger than, Osiris once I got all the subclasses down.

Since Osiris also happened to still be alive and kicking, in what's essentially a Hive throne realm for the Vex, I decided it was necessary for me to learn the tricks of the light.

So to start off with, Skorri began, You need to learn to control your mind.
A lack of control would also lead to the aligned element going out of control. Technically this means you could go stormtrance right now, but it'd be excruciatingly painful as you'd feel the electricity overwhelming you faster than your enemies.

Essentially, I'd flop like a fish if I didn't control the charge right?

You are partially correct in that, young wolf. However, it's also the light that helps in the charge.
Technically a mortal could wield the powers of stormtrance, but it'd take decades for it to be properly controlled, and most of the benefits of a stormcaller are blocked off beyond the base abilities of a mortal stormcaller. Since this is light-forged, we're working with something entirely different here.

So what we’re doing is self-experimentation? Isn't that, oh I don't know, a bad thing?

If it helps, the naturally-made and light-forged share many similarities, so you don't have to worry about blowing us up. The biggest exception being rifts, but we'll get to that aspect later as it's a very advanced skill for light-forged warlocks to have.

Now, I want you to concentrate on the new energy. Do not pay attention to what will happen, as a lack of focus will cause it to slip away. Following her instruction, I took my mental hold of the energy, the arc energy reacting by giving my body a small but vibrant shock. Now, concentrate on putting arc energy in your preferred hand. Keep holding until you begin to struggle keeping it there, as the charge becomes stronger the more you hold it in the hand. Do not be too gentle or hard on it. Following her instructions, I started forcing the arc energy into my left hand, it vibrating harder and harder as the charge accumulated. Eventually getting to the point where it spasmed a bit, causing me to stop in slight concern of what’s happening.

Is this supposed to happen?

For veteran stormcallers this doesn't happen as it's second nature to charge the grenade, causing a lack of spasm. Since you're new that's generally a sign that you can't hold anymore, which is fairly surprising. Now hold your arm as if you're getting ready to throw a single backhand frisbee. Nodding silently, I moved my left arm into position. As with all grenades, throw as hard as you can to your intended target!

Does this harm me if I throw it at my feet?

Initially yes, but the arc energy will recognize its origin point quickly, so you could stay in it until it dissipates. Though you shouldn't make a habit of doing that, especially in a fight, and most importantly in a fight against Lord Shaxx.

Another one of your iron buddies?

He's not and... just don't okay? Cause if he were here instead of you, he would've destroyed all the caribou, with a bus, and under the span of a day. So dropping ANY grenade near your feet, is the worst possible thing that could happen.

Sounds like bullshit, but okay.

*Last City*
*3PM Terra time*
*Lord Shaxx's sparring room*

"OK, this time you're going down bullhorns! And I'm getting ALL the glimmer back," the exo vanguard hunter that he was all too familiar with exclaimed, a confident smile on his face as if he's finally figured him out. Lord Shaxx simply sighed.

"This is the 450th time you've challenged me Cayde. If you think you've got me figured out, what makes you think I haven't got you figured out?" Lord Shaxx in a extremely bored tone. For Cayde had placed a bet for every time he was supposed to triumph over him, the key word being supposed. As a result, Cayde had lost millions of glimmer and exotic weaponry, attempting to prove that hunters can be better than even the most feared titan in the solar system.

Cayde merely tsked, his smile slightly increasing at the Titan's unwariness of his new trick. "Well it seems as if somebody has still been living in the past!" Cayde then pulled out a vortex grenade, Shaxx merely staring all the while. But instead of throwing the grenade, Cayde then proceeded to devour it, similar to the light forged warlock Ikora Rey, which caused Shaxx to raise an eyebrow underneath the helmet. A second later, the vortex grenade reappeared, though in the form of a bubble around Cayde.

"I found this hunter book regarding old versions of the nightstalker, and would you believe that hunters used to be able to generate a damaging void aura?" Cayde then held his arms out in a challenging fashion. "Come on! Try to hit me now without-" Cayde was promptly cut short by Shaxx's fist hitting the aura, collapsing it and transferring the energy straight onto Shaxx's gauntlet.

Which was already imbued with void.

Cayde suddenly looked several times more nervous than he was first exploring Earth. "We can talk about this right?"

His answer was the gauntlet connecting with his face.

*Present Canterlot*

[color=#e6b91]Well since you're a natural at focus, then I suppose we should get on to gliding.

Are we doing Stormtrance afterwards?

Patience young wolf. Calling the storm is but the next big step of improving your abilities. Learning how to manipulate gravity is your next step... and on top of that I had never called it, so I'm literally going off of very few things here.

Well that's reassuring. Not as if the first time I'll call that, I'll be disintegrated by my own lightning.

If you know any teachers for stormcallers, let me know. Otherwise just take my words for granted, as glide and a riot grenade are the easiest to learn for any warlock.

Riot grenade?

Riot grenade is a guardian phrase for crowd control. The hunters invented it when a group of them tried to steal books from the library. The iron warlocks, as you can imagine, weren't happy when hunters attempted to steal their knowledge. As a result, every single one of them were surrounded by vortex, solar, and pulse grenades within minutes of the heist, and were ordered to drop the books. They never got a chance to mimic some of our most powerful supers.

Wait a second, you're telling me that you warlocks intentionally stopped them? Aren't you supposed to help each other fight the darkness?

See, this is why you should've listened to my history lessons. If you heard the stories of the warlords, specifically the horrible tale of Ronache, the worst of all hunters. She who sought the power of the voidwalkers, and had thousands serving under her will because of the knowledge she gained. It was because of Timur that we managed to slip past the defenses, and slay the warlord for good.

So everybody got electrocuted?

A sigh escaped me, but it wasn't my own.

I swear, I don't know why Rasputin thought you were good as a warlock.

I rolled my eyes, simply continuing to train whatever I could train with her.

*Crystal Empire Catacombs 12AM 12/10/1596*

It was a somber night in the Crystal Empire. A civil unrest had befallen the city, with some either making evacuations, or trying to keep whatever peace had remained.

Such was the case of two elite guards, Fredek and Larue, the last sons of Dainn. Since his death, they'd tried to keep the local populace from descending into pure madness. Both had bagged eyes, signs of the relentless vigil they tried so hard to hold.

They walked into the deepest parts of the catacombs with a single goal in mind, for a whisper in the air said their goal was the Empire's only hope. Many from the local towns and cities had stepped into the war, most of which also came from the Empire itself. As the tides of war became more and more apparent on the victor, those who had joined to fight became deserters, only caring for the refugees and doing whatever they could. Many times the brothers had to bring their blades upon the expected traitors; though they didn't do it without hesitation.

They sympathized with the traitors, fear evident in their eyes due to what the infected had done to their comrades, all while the equestrians watched on with smiles on their face. Little did the brothers know what they'd unleash, and whether or not it'd work out better in the end.

The whispers said that this goal, this item they were looking for, would provide a powerful monster once given the energy needed. Powerful enough to have a last chance, at a victory that'd inspire others to take on this monster, or what they thought was a grim ending for all of Equus as a whole. The whispers told them that if they were desperate enough, they would never look off the path, lest they lose it and start their trek from the beginning.

They walked for what felt like hours on end, nothing changing, no windows to look out and see where they were in the castle, not even a single trace of magic being evident. Pure darkness was the only thing that accompanied them.

Then they heard jail bars being shaken, pained moans heard from the sides. They didn't look away from the path, knowing the consequence of what'd happen if they did. They walked on, unwavering will paving way to salvation.

Time continued to pass, nothing changing in the slightest as they walked. Like an animation left to loop, going on until time's end. The brothers dared not to think if they were deceived, not after the lengths they went through to have this chance.

Eventually, they came upon a cell. It was no ordinary cell, evident by the rusted steel bars, and the dripping water. In the middle of the room laid a horn. The horn of King Sombra. A menacing aura swirled around the horn, eager to escape from its confines to corrupt the newcomers, though the owner within didn't let it. For they'd braved his trial of will.

A psychic force then invaded their minds, though they showed no resistance to his attempt to communicate. Ahhhh, newcomers. Who are you to have undergone this treacherous journey, just to free an ancient foe of Equestria? Surely the textbooks have told you the consequences of coming here? the voice spoke, curiosity evident.

"Harmony itself has sent us, King Sombra," they said in unison.

Sombra snarled. What does that pathetic excuse of a god want of me? Because other than my immediate annihilation from actually worthy foes, I see no reason for her to send a couple of mere mortals my way.

"Equestria itself has had its balance compromised. For you see, our father Dainn-" Larue was cut off by Sombra.

I already know of this. The darkness had already told me of what happened. Explain your reasoning for pulling me from my confines.

"We were getting to that." Fredek answered, mildly irritated. "After the Fall of Equestria, a meteor hit the Everfree Forest. Out of it came a-"

A meteor? Then I suppose the prophet of judgement has arrived.

"Prophet?" Larue had, showing genuine concern.

It has been foretold that during the war of concordance, upon the defeat of the prophet, he will return in greater power. He will judge Equestria in its current state. Should it find the world unworthy, he will destroy the world to remake it anew.

As if sensing their curiosity, the voice went on. The war of concordance was a very ancient war, long forgotten by the world. It was where all of ponykind sided with draconequi, attempting to get rid of the prophet who was currently in the process of wiping out the dragons and draconequi. It was a long, bloody war, with many deaths of ponykind, and the permanent endangerment of draconequi, but eventually the prophet was overwhelmed. He limped away from our planet, regaining his strength, and promising an evaluation of not just ponykind, but the world itself. From what you already described, it sounds as if he made his return.

A dreadful silence fell between the three.

"...Is there still a way to stop him? At least cure those infected?" Larue asked.

Infected? Well, there's no knowledge about the abilities of the prophet, but chances are that's not one of the prophet's abilities. It would’ve have been recorded if such was the case.

A sigh of relief came from the two brothers. These infected however, they sent you to me for getting a cure? This must be a troubling disease indeed.

"Not exactly. Though this disease emanated from the meteor itself, twisting our minds to work under its will."

A reproductive parasite. Many of such have tried to destroy Equestria, one almost coming close by infecting the moon itself. He chuckled. I warned Harmony a long time ago that if they didn't remove them immediately, this would eventually happen. My crystals will be more than enough to snuff out this infection, since they're already able to destroy any pre-existing diseases. Figures that ponykind would come to me in desperation.

Suddenly, the wind began to suck in all the darkness within the catacombs, along with any trapped souls who had failed the journey. The darkness swirled, twisted, shaped itself into its owner's form.

"I am back, Equestria," King Sombra said. "And this time my master plan to kill the prophet will finally come to fruition."

Author's Note

Editor:Vutava