Final Fantasy Equestria: New Beginning

Chapter 8

A Taste of Darkness

(Twilight’s Castle)

As Twilight and her friends were busy talking amongst themselves about why the map summoned them and why their cutie marks are all gathered at one place on the map. The White Mage and Warrior make their way into the room that the Elements of Harmony are in. The Warrior began to look around the room as she gave off a small whistle in amazement at what she’s seeing.

“This place reminds me of the Crystal Tower that we ended up exploring with Twilight and the others.”

“The only difference is that there aren’t any booby traps, tower defense systems, or monsters trying to kill us.” The White Mage said as she walked over to Twilight and her friends at the table.

“But if this is Ponyville, why are our cutie marks over there?” Fluttershy asked pointing over to the cluster of cutie marks floating in one area of the map.

“I don’t know. But it seems like the map wants us to find out. The tree, the chest, this castle, and now the map. How can we not follow it?” Twilight said as Rainbow Dash flew over the map to where their cutie marks were gathered.

“You know what? There’s a ton of room for danger and adventure along that route. Count me in!”

“Aw shoot. I reckon you’re right.” Applejack said as Rainbow Dash fist bumped the farm pony with a grin on her face.

“Well I was going to organize my baking sheets with my counterpart, but okay. I’ll join!” Pinkie Pie said as Rarity sighed with a small smile on her face.

“Very well. I guess I can join in on this little adventure as well.” She said before every looked over at Fluttershy.

“Oh...um….maybe I’ll just stay here with my other counterpart?”

“That might be hard for you to do that sugarcube.” The Warrior said as everyone turned their attention towards the doorway and were surprised to see her and the white mage standing there.

“When did you two get here, and how did you get inside Twilight’s home?” Rainbow Dash asked with a raised eyebrow.

“You kinda accidentally left the door to the castle unlocked.” The white mage answered which caused Twilight to blush in embarrassment. “But if you’re wondering why we’re here? Our Twilight wants us to go with you in case we might end up finding our friends.”

“That and in case an Ascian shows up.” The Warrior added. “You girls aren’t that well prepared to fight against something like that. At least with us we can at least try to hold our ground with it.”

“I guess that makes sense and all. But shouldn’t the rest of your friends come along then?” Twilight asked as the white mage shook her head.

“Somepony has to stay here and protect Ponyville if another monster attack like before happens in town. Now that the Ascians are here, this place might be up for being targeted by them.”

“Plus we can handle whatever it is that’s going to happen on ya’lls adventure. So the two of us will be enough.” The Warrior said before smirking and looking over at Fluttershy. “So, are you going with us or not?”

“Oh, um….maybe I’ll just stay here with Spike?” She said before Spike entered the room with a drinking hat and foam finger on his right hand.

“Wait you’re staying here? Awesome! Me and Big Mac have a huge day ahead of us talking hoofball, and trading hoofball cards, and arguing about hoofball states and-”

“On second thought. Maybe I better go along with them. In case they need me.” Fluttershy said as the white mage and warrior chuckled at how she changed her mind so quickly.

“Looks like it’s time for a road trip.” Twilight said as she and the group began to make their way out of the room and off to the friendship express.

“Suit yourself, but he has a Hawk Fetball Rookie card I plan to sweet talk him right into these hot little claws.”

The train slowly stopped upon reaching it’s last destination to where the map was leading Twilight and her friends to. Once the train stopped, the group of ponies walked off from the Friendship Express before taking notice that the train quickly left then in a barren land filled with nothing but rocks, eroded gravel, and boulders. Twilight took a quick look at the map she made before they left as she began to lead the group through to their destination.

“Okay, I have to ask this question.” Rainbow Dash said as she looked over at the warrior and White mage. “How is it that you’re stronger than our AJ and how can your Fluttershy use magic? Pegasi can’t use magic of any kind, yet your Fluttershy can use magic.”

“Really Rainbow Dash?” Applejack said with a deadpan expression on her face. “Not even going to try to be a bit subtle about it?”

“What? It’s an honest question! Can’t I be curious as to how she was able to take down a manticore by herself?”

“Applejack trains a lot as we travel from place to place around Equestria. Fighting powerful monsters and demons pretty much made her the team’s strongest mare in the group. As for how I’m able to use white magic. It’s a bit hard to explain seeing how Twilight and Celestia aren’t here to do the explaining. But it’s pretty much been like that since I was born since my father is the guild leader of the conjurer guild.”

“Conjurer Guild? What is that if you don’t mind me asking?” Twilight asked as she pulled out a quill and paper.

“The conjurer guild is a place where ponies go if they want to walk the path of the white mage. Conjury calls upon the elements of earth, wind, and water and concentrates them to a potency at which spells can be weaved. Through practiced meditation on the essences of creation, conjurers draw forth and absorb aether from their immediate surroundings.”

“So they’re like doctors?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Something like that. But it’s more like we’re able to help heal and cure a pony of certain ailments and injuries.”

“Interesting.” Twilight said as she wrote it down on the paper before looking over at the warrior. “What about you? Are you a knight like the ponies in the royal guards?”

“No, I’m not. Just like with Fluttershy’s path of the white mage. I took up the path of the Warrior.”

“Oh! Like a battle warrior in the comics that Spike and I read from time to time!?” Pinkie said before shoving said comic book in front of the warrior’s face as she grabs it to look it over a bit.

“.....Why is she wearing skimpy armor that looks like it belongs to some pervert’s sex dungeon? How in the twelves is she going to protect herself from attack with nothing but bikini armor?” She asked as she looked over at Pinkie Pie who simply shrugs innocently. The warrior sighs before placing the book to the side of her seat. “No, that’s not accurate. I’ll make my explanation short. Warriors are savage mercenaries born from beastmastery. The tribe of diamond dogs that I learned to become one is located on the northernmost edge of Abalathia's Spine back in Equestria.”

“You took lessons from a bunch of savage brutes?” Rarity asked as the warrior deadpans at the seamstress. “S-Sorry.”

“Just because they’re savages when it come to battle, doesn’t mean they’re like that outside of battle. Do show some respect instead of judging other so quickly without getting to know them.”

“So you’re a mercenary in a way?” Twilight asked.

“Technically yes, but I make up my own rules when it comes to being hired by ponies that need a monster to be killed.”

“Very interesting.” The Alicorn said as she continued to write down the information on the stroll. “How did you two decide to take the paths of becoming a Warrior and White Mage?” She asked as both the warrior and white mage paused as they looked at each other for a moment before looking at Twilight with uneasy expressions on their faces.

“We...prefer not to talk about it.” The warrior said before rubbing the back of her head. “At least not right now.”

“Why not now?” Rarity asked. “We’re going to be walking for a while so it shouldn’t be a problem if you told us why you chose-”

“Applejack said she doesn’t want to talk about it and neither do I for the time being.” The White Mage said interrupting the seamstress mid sentence. “We’ll answer anything else about our world to some degree, but that’s something we’re not comfortable talking about at this time.”

“A-Alright, we won’t press the issue any further until you feel like talking about it. Right girls?” Twilight asked as they nodded in agreement. “My next question is If you don’t mind me asking, but what’s the difference between our princesses and yours? I mean I get the whole armor thing, but what’s the difference in personality wise.”

“Oh, um….well I don’t want to sound rude or disrespectful to your princesses.” The White Mage said while trying to think of a way to not be too harsh with her words. “Um….eh….Applejack could you help me?”

“W-Why are you asking me for? I’m talking about those two battle crazed idiots.” The Warrior said as she quickly looked off to the side trying not to be get involved. The White Mage sighs before looking back at Twilight and the others.

“When outside of fighting, they’re the same as your princesses to some degree...but when it come to battles or sparring with them….they can be….a bit battle lustful at time.”

“More like all the time.” The Warrior added as she rubbed her neck. “Lightly sparring my flank. Luna almost took my head off when she went all out on me.”

“How bad was it?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“It went from zero to a hundred in less than five minutes. It was even worse when I made Luna bleed.” The Warrior shivered at the bad memories of the fight. “Word of advice, never take them up on their offer to spar with them.”

“Um…noted.” Twilight said with a nervous chuckle before placing the scroll in her saddle bag. “I think that’s enough questions for the time being. Let’s focus on the task at hand and keep on walking girls.” She said as the others nodded in agreement and continued on walking. After a bit of walking, the group soon come across a bridge that lead to the other side of where their destination was as they stopped.

“Guess we’ll have to cross this bridge to get to where the map is leading us?” Applejack asked as the alicorn nodded.

“That’s what the map said that I copied down before we left. It shouldn’t be a problem for us to cross.” She said as the alicorn was about to take a step forward before halting as the white mage spread her wing in front of Twilight. “What’s wrong?”

“You picking something up Fluttershy?” The warrior asked as she placed a hand on her axe.

“Yes, and it’s been following us since this morning.” The white mage said as she turns around and looked behind them. “Show yourself! The others may not be able to sense you, but I can!” Right on cue, a dark gastly portal appeared from behind them as it quickly vanish to reveal an Ascian. Both the white mage and warrior quickly stood in front of Twilight and her friends as they glared down the colt in the black rob and red mask.

“Well aren’t you the interesting one. Hydaelyn picked her champions pretty well if I must say.”

“You must be the Ascian that Celestia was talking about?” Twilight asked as she moved pass the two warriors of light. “Were you the one that sent that monster to attack our town back in Ponyville?”

“And if I was, what do you plan on doing little pony?”

“You jerk! You could’ve killed somepony with that thing!” Rainbow Dash said as she flew over next to Twilight.

“That's the whole reason why I sent it to kill you all...though that was the original plan before your counterparts killed the lesser demon I sent. But nonetheless, I’m just testing the waters with you mortals, mainly Hydaelyn’s champions.” He said aiming a finger at the Warrior and White Mage.

“I don’t know why you’re here and I don’t really care for your reason.” The White Mage said as aether began to glow from the pegasus’s rod as she aims it at the Ascian. “But you best leave this world and it’s ponies. Less you want to be destroyed.” She said as she was about to take a step forwards, only for her counterpart to appear in front of her with her hands out to stop her from advancing.

“W-Wait! Can’t we talk this out?” Fluttershy asked as she looked between her counterpart and the Ascian. “No pony should kill each other, nor hurt each other for whatever reason.”

“Sugarcube I get that you’re not the type to fight and all. But given the fact that this guy attacked your home and is from our world, you can’t reason with somepony that’s from a place of darkness.” The Warrior said as she readies her axe and puts her helmet on with the visor down.

“Now that’s just not fair. You don’t even know if he’s doing it against his will.”

“Fluttershy, darling. I know you mean well but-” Before Rarity could say anything, the white mage place a hand over Rarity’s mouth gently before removing it and looked back at her counterpart.

“If you want to ask him to stop, then go ahead and ask him to do so.” She said which caused everyone minus the Ascian to blink in surprise. There was a moment of silence before Applejack broke the silence by saying something.

“Are you plum crazy!? Princess Celestia….I mean your Princess Celestia said they’re dangerous, and this is the colt that attacked your friend and our town. You want Fluttershy to see if she can reason with him?”

“I’ll let my counterpart have a go and try to persuade him to leave and not attack this world. If she succeeds, then I’ll leave it to her to deal with them. If it doesn’t, then we’ll do things our way.” The white mage said before motioning her counterpart to do her method. The pegasus smiled as she nods and heads over to the Ascian. While the pegasus and the others were paying attention at Fluttershy, The white mage felt her shoulder being tapped on as she looked over at the Warrior to see what she wanted.

“I’m a bit surprised that you would let her do this. You do know what will happen to her right?”

“Yes, I know. But sometimes a little bit of an example is all a pony need to know that some ponies can’t be reasoned with kindness and words….That’s a lesson I had to learn the hard way.” The White Mage said as she gripped the side of her arm. The warrior took notice to her friend gripping her shoulder as she looked over at her counterpart in both worry and caution.

“Um, excuse mister...Um...Ascian? Would you be so kind as to leave us and our world alone and not hurt anypony?” Fluttershy asked as the Ascian simply stared at the pegasus. “I mean, I’m sure there’s a reason behind why you’re doing this, but surely we can talk this over to come to an agree-” Before she could finish her sentence, she felt the Ascian quickly grab her by the throat and began to feel herself having a hard time breathing.

“Morbid creature. You think using peace will help you when dealing with my kind?” The Ascian asked as he put more pressure around Fluttershy’s neck as she began to choke and her face turning red from the strain of not being able to breath. “Foolish whore of a pegasus. We are beings far beyond your understanding. When I’m done with you, your friends will be next as I snuff the life out of them one by-” Before he could finish his statement, the Ascian felt his arm being cut off by the warrior’s axe as she swung it at the Ascian as Fluttershy fell to the ground gasping for air. Rainbow Dash took this moment to rush over to the gasping pegasus as she quickly picked her up and flew her back over to her friends.

“Fluttershy, take the others over across the bridge while I deal with him.” The Warrior said as she began to crack her knuckles and stood in front of the group.

“You’re planning on fighting him alone aren’t you?” The White Mage asked as she nodded. “A bit risky don’t you think?”

“You’re the only one who can sense their kind right? It’s better to have me stay here to keep him distracted while ya’ll get to where you need to go.”

“No way sugarcube. We’re not going to leave you alone with this monster.” Applejack said as Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, there’s no way we can abandon you with that meanie bo beanie!” Pinkie Pie said as Twilight readied her horn.

“I’ll provide help if need be, but I don’t think I’ll be of much help given how I don’t know how strong this Ascian is. But if you think we’re going to just up and leave you alone, then you got another thing coming. Because we don’t abandon friends!” Twilight said as the warrior looked over at her and her friend. A small smile appeared on her face for a moment before looking back at the Ascian.

“I hate to say this, but we better leave her to deal with the Ascian.” The White Mage said as Twilight and the others looked at her. “Given the fact that you girls have never fought against somepony like this, and the fact none of you are at the same level of combat and magic level as we are. You all would be at risk of getting a limb blown off, or worst.” She looks over at Fluttershy who was starting to breath normally and not coughing as much. “It's best to leave my Applejack to deal with him while we head over to where the map said it needs you six to be.”

“But what about-”

“I have faith in Applejack in being able to stand her ground against somepony like him.” She said before motioning them to walk over to the bridge. “Now go, I’ll cover the rear end so that no stray magic hits us from behind.” Twilight and her friends were a bit hesitant at first, but with a collected sigh they nodded and began to make their way over to the bridge. As they did that, the White Mage looked over at the Warrior as she quickly casted protect and regeneration onto the earth pony. “You better make it back in on piece Applejack.”

“Aw, worried that you’ll miss my blunt and honest personality~?” The Warrior said in a singsong tone. The Pegasus chuckled before shaking her head.

“No, more like you still have a promise to keep to Sunburst about protecting Starlight and the baby.” The Warrior’s eyes widen underneath the visor as she was about to say something to the mage about that. But by the time she turned around to confront her about it, she quickly took to the sky and followed after Twilight and her friends over the bridge.

“That mare really needs to stop eavesdropping on conversations like that.” She said before looking at the Ascian.

“Was it wise to have your healer leave?” The Ascian asked as he tosses over the Warrior’s axe to her as she catches it.

“No, but it’s not like I’ll have a problem dealing with you. You have a mage kinda vibe going on, so it shouldn’t be a problem kicking your flank around this place.”

“Underestimating your opponent will be your downfall champion of Hydaelyn.” He said as a dark colored aether started to form around his hands.

“Really? Because I could say the same thing to you.” She said before a red and orange colored aura surround the Warrior. The two of them glared at each other for a moment before they both started to run towards each other with their weapons and magics at the ready.