“...Even in the darkest of times one can find the light if they search for it. When you only search for the darkness, that's all you will ever see...”
A gentle, cool breeze rustled the deep midnight blue mane of a young earth pony mare. The bright sunlight warmed her skin beneath her coat, and made the white fur glisten silkily. She was lying on a large wooden bench, a book held between her forelegs. It was a pleasant summer day. Birds were chirping. It wasn't too hot. Not too cold. The weather was perfect for relaxing with a good book. The particular book she was perusing was titled Equestrian Myths and Legends, By Silver Scroll. A favorite of hers since she was a filly.
Canterlot was beautiful this time of year. Well, its beautiful any time of year, but summer was always Destiny's favorite season. The city's residents always decorated according to season. Dignitaries, delegates and ambassadors flooded Canterlot this time of year, and the ponies were doing their best to impress. Large Equestrian banners (Depicting the princesses) hung from the taller buildings. The houses and shops were scrubbed clean, polished. And everypony in town groomed and dressed themselves for visitors. The city was positively posh. Even more than usual.
Many Canterlot ponies wore exquisite dresses and dapper suits. Usually Rarity originals. But some ponies still wore Prim Hemline, and a few bold ponies even wore Polomare. But Destiny was not one of these ponies. She never wore anything except her work uniform, (a simple yellow dress and hat) and while many ponies would do almost anything to work in the Royal Castle, near the Princesses, she found the job rather boring.
Princesses or no, a mare can only clean the same floors and walls so many times before it becomes tedious.
She sighed deeply, closed her book and stowed it in her saddlebags. Stretching leisurely she pulled herself off the bench and started the short trot to the castle. Destiny weaved her way through the pony filled stone streets of the Royal city. She was maybe halfway to the castle when a familiar sight caught her attention. Destiny walked the same path to work every day for nearly three years, and every single day she saw the same person. An old griffon, very old by the wrinkles and molting feathers, sat by the edge of a closed restaurant. He wore a faded and torn cloak. His fur and feathers were the same faded gray as the cloak he wore and his eyes were as well. A tattered square of cardboard was clutched in his talons. It read:
Griffonstone refugee. Please help.
Destiny tried her best to smile sweetly while trying to dig a few bits from her bags. The gold coins dropped from her teeth into a small tin cup with a tink tink! The griffon said nothing, (perhaps he was mute) but a small smile formed on his beak. It had become sort of a ritual for her. For the both of them really. He sat by the road, she gave him a coin or two. Her social life in a nutshell.
“Hang in there,” she told him, and again he smiled without a word. A few coins. A smile in return. They were practical best friends.
Destiny followed the marble streets of Canterlot to its heart. The Royal Castle. The castle stood high above every other building in the capital. Pure white interlaced with brilliant purples and gold filigree secured the castle's place as the most elegant structure in the city. The sight, in Destiny's opinion, was almost ruined by the presence of the Royal Guard. Ponies in armor and holding weapons made what was a very beautiful and welcoming sight rather intimidating.
Destiny wove her way through a large crowd of ponies herding together at the palace gate, and once she reached the Royal Guards at either side she produced a small piece of paper that served as her identification. The stallion nodded and used his horn to open the gate. “Why does she get to go in!?” a mare shouted from the crowd. The guard quickly ushered Destiny inside and whistled. Another half dozen Royal Guards rushed towards the gate and began to press against the crowd with their armored bodies. Several ponies cursed and threw food at the guards but their faces remained blank, even with the extremely vulgar taunting beginning to erupt from the crowd.
Destiny had seen ponies who were desperate to meet the Princesses, especially when Princess Twilight was in Canterlot, bur she'd never seen a crowd so angry. She didn't have long to think it over before she was rushed into the castle by another member of the staff. A servant like her named Proper Etiquette. He was a tall lavender buck with an unusually straight mustache, like he trimmed it with a slide rule. His gray mane was equally uniform. When he stood still, Destiny sometimes mistook him for a statue.
She never even saw him blink.
“This way Destiny. The Princesses are holding a special meeting with the brass so we'll be preparing the dinner,” he said in his quick, no room for debate voice. “I need you in the dining room preparing the dinnerware with Silver Platter and Lavender. The Princesses have just requested lunch in the meeting room so you have a good amount of time, but that doesn't mean you can slack off!” he said dangerously, pressing his face so close to Destiny's that his bushy mustache ticked her muzzle.
“Of c-course not Proper Etiquette, sir.”
He looked deeply into her eyes for a moment before nodding and saying firmly, though not unkindly, “Off with you!”
Destiny scrambled down the hall into the servants quarters, clambered into her freshly pressed uniform and trotted for the dining hall. Upon entering she was greeted by Lavender and Silver Platter. The former being a lavender mare with matching mane and tail while the latter was a solid gray buck with bright silvery hair done up in an complex curl that seemed to go on forever. Destiny immediately joined the two in scrubbing down every surface in the dining hall. It was a large, affluently decorated room with a single table that could seat maybe a dozen ponies, but today was different. The usual table was swapped for a larger one that could easily seat fifty, while the rest of the room was polished and scrubbed for every trace of dirt.
They hung brand new banners and tapestries on the walls. Replaced the flowers in all the various vases, and set up candles and dinnerware for nearly sixty ponies. One would think that three ponies cleaning a single room would be a fairly quick and easy task, but Destiny and the others were working down to the very last minute before Proper Etiquette burst into the hall, ordered them to groom themselves and change their uniforms, then return to serve the guests.
After a quick wash, and brushing Destiny returned to the hall with a half dozen other servants to begin serving food and drink. The Princesses sat in their usual places, at either end of the large table while dozens of ponies, mostly tall muscular stallions, filled the chairs between. Some wore Royal Guard standard gold armor but a few wore simple red and blue jackets adorned with symbols and pins that represented rank. The group was deep in conversation, and ignored the servants entirely unless asking for something.
“Commander I want your troops arrayed along the northeastern border of the Badlands to move to Appleloosa,” one old buck said to an armored mare. “We need the civilians protected if conflict arises.”
“General, if I may, we need our troops close to the border in case those...insects get anymore ideas.”
Destiny suppressed a shiver as she poured glasses of wine and placed them out to everypony. She remembered the Changeling invasion all too well. The sky filled with monsters raining down fire on the royal city.
“The Changelings are our allies,” The kind but still authoritative voice of Princess Celestia proclaimed from the head of the table. Her amethyst eyes narrowed at the two military ponies despite the gentle smile still fixed upon her muzzle. There was a strange power in the Princess' image, and once again Destiny had to fight the urge to shiver. The military ponies seemed to be fighting the urge themselves as they turned to their meals with chastised expressions.
The night felt infinite to Destiny. Seven courses, wine, and political talk doesn't mix very well. “We need a greater allocation of resources to the Royal Guard if we're going to achieve military readiness by this fall. Prince Shining Armor doubled the military budget in the Crystal Empire after the second changeling insurrection,” A stallion with an impressive amount of medals pinned to his chest told Princess Celestia.
“There is no more room in the budget for additional military spending at this time.” She replied before taking a sip of her wine. “Such an excellent brand. Destiny my dear, could I get a refill?” She rushed to the Princess' side and quickly filled her glass. “Thank you.” Destiny bowed and the Princess continued. “With the economic situation the way it is we need to continue devoting resources to aid programs for my subjects...” One of the military ponies used his magic to wave an empty glass towards Destiny. She quickly gripped the wine bottle in her teeth and started to pour when she felt her left foreleg catch on something.
The bottle shattered on the ground, splashing wine and broken glass all over the floor, table and the pony before her.
“Clumsy fool!” He nearly roared.
“Sorry!” she pulled herself off the floor and rushed to clean up the mess. The room was totally silent and every pair of eyes was on Destiny as she wiped up the wine. Her face an even deeper shade of red than the wine. Proper Etiquette used his magic to collect the glass and cleanse the military pony of the wine. The angry stare that the stallion was giving her didn't come close to matching the cold anger in Etiquette's expression. His face was blank, but Destiny had known him long enough to see past the mask he wore.
Her head hung low she apologized once again and carried the soiled rags to the kitchen. She quickly discarded them and preceded to clean the wine out of her coat. Right in front of the Princesses! Ugh! She thought angrily to herself. Stupid! The two alicorns simply watched while she cleaned the mess she made. Their expressions were strictly neutral. Neither angry or annoyed in any way. This made Destiny even more anxious. She had to stop herself from chewing her hoof. Alright. It'll be fine. It wasn't my fault. It was an accident. Etiquette will understand.
The door to the kitchen opened an hour later. Destiny had used her isolation from the other servants to clean the kitchen as best she could. And when the other servants came into the kitchen they said nothing but they did cast her worried glances. Lavender tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace. Now she knew why.
Destiny had never seen Proper Etiquette angry. The only time she had ever seen his face take on a different expression is when she watched ponies eat sloppily, and last year's Summer Sun Celebration when he got drunk and challenged the Captain of the Royal Guard to hoof fight. For the former he would look disgusted, the latter confident (and intoxicated) now his eyes burned like the sun itself. His fur was bristled, he was gritting his teeth and his face was solid red. When he spoke Destiny wanted to hide in a very, very deep hole and never come out.
“NEVER IN ALL MY LIFE HAVE I SEEN SUCH INCOMPETENCE! YOU MAKE A COMPLETE ASS OUT OF YOURSELF IN FRONT OF NOT ONLY THE PRINCESSES BUT ALSOEVERY MILITARY COMMANDER IN SOUTHERN EQUESTRIA! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?” he roared. The other servants scurried out of the kitchen like rats fleeing a tomcat. Destiny cringed, her eyes on the verge of spilling out tears.
“I-i-it was an accident...I t-tripped,” she managed to mutter before he floated a small piece of pink paper in front of her. It read:
Notice of termination of employment.
Employee Name: Destiny.
As of this moment your service in the Royal Castle of Canterlot is no longer required. You are to collect your possessions from your personal storage area and vacate the premises within twenty four hours or face detention by the Royal Guard.
Have a wonderful day.
Ink Pot. Secretary to Head of Castle Staff: Proper Etiquette.
“I'm...fired..?” Destiny asked. Etiquette nodded coldly and pointed a hoof to the door.
“But...” she began only for Etiquette's cold stare silenced her.
“Out!”
“But it was an accident! Please I need this job!” Destiny pleaded, hot tears pouring from her eyes.
“I have made my decision. Now begone!” He declared, his mustache bristling. His words were absolute and his expression allowed no argument. Closing her muzzle, Destiny turned from Etiquette's stern gaze and sauntered out of the kitchen.
Destiny dragged her hooves with every step she took. One mistake. It was just one mistake! She couldn't believe it. She'd never be able to get a job at the castle again, and once ponies found out about it nopony else in the whole Kingdom of Canterlot would hire her. Destiny felt her ears droop. I should have saved those bits. She kept herself from openly crying as she gathered her few possessions from her locker in the servants quarters. She could have stayed the night at the castle but she couldn't stand it. Destiny trotted through the now very empty streets of Canterlot. Her destination the only place she truly enjoyed. The park.
She passed by the restaurant, half hoping to see the old griffon there but he was nowhere to be found. She sighed, curling up on the very same park bench she sat on that morning. Destiny looked towards the night sky; the full moon glowing brightly above and a beautiful tapestry of stars surrounding it. She briefly wondered if Princess Luna could see her, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Nopony was that powerful...or was she? Destiny heard that some ponies in Equestria worshiped the princesses as goddesses. A practice that Destiny heard the Princesses themselves despised. But if Luna could move the moon and travel through ponies dreams, maybe she could hear a prayer?
“I...I don't know if you can hear me. But I'm sorry about what happened,” she began sheepishly. “I didn't mean to embarrass you. Or your sister. I tried telling Etiquette but he wouldn't listen. Please...please forgive me...” she looked up at the moon, tears pouring from her eyes. She waited. And waited. But there was no response. Destiny covered her face with her forelegs and wept quietly. Shutting out the world entirely. She had no where to go. Her parents died years ago, and Canterlot wasn't exactly known for charity. At the very least she would have to leave the city. Maybe Ponyville or Dodge Junction.
Crack!! Destiny's head shot upward. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked for the source of the noise. It sounded like somepony stepping on a twig. She looked around but saw nothing. She assumed it was an animal, maybe a squirrel. Crack! Crack! Destiny sat up and looked behind her. She gasped, her eyes widening and her pupils shrinking to pinpricks. Out of the bushes a mass of small black bones rolled toward her. Cracking and snapping the pile of bones grew larger and larger, as if hundreds of small rodents died and fused together into the rough outline of a pony.
She tried to scream, but she couldn't even breathe.
The creature stood up on four mismatched legs and leered down at her. Its eyes glowed like spilled ink in candlelight. Jagged teeth formed from splintered leg bones filled its maw. “Come...” it said. The creature's voice was deep and it echoed with every word. Tendrils of shadow seemed to leak from the gaps in the bones. Billowing around like smoke from a fire. “Come with me...” it said again, stepping toward her. Each step leaving a black smudge on the grass beneath its hooves and claws.
Destiny tried to pull herself from the bench and gallop as fast as she could, but the creature's presence had completely paralyzed her. It walked right up to her. Its face just inches from her own. The creature breath smelled of death. Destiny could see inside its maw, where a seemingly endless black void stared back at her. “Let go. Let go your earthly tether...” its maw opened wide, wide enough to swallow her head. “and become one with Tenebris...”
Destiny finally screamed and dived off the bench. The creature lunged and raked the ground with its clawed forelegs/ leaving deep gouges in the earth that bled acrid smoke into the air. The stars and moon seemed to be blacked out as shadow and smoke surrounded Destiny and the creature. Destiny backpedaled until her tail smacked into a wall. She was trapped. The creature split apart before her eyes, forming into three of the horrid creatures. “Come with us, come with us, come with us,” they chanted as one. Destiny felt her hind-legs give out from under her, her flank dropping to the sidewalk.
“Please! Just go away!” she cringed against the wall, desperately trying to get away, but there was nowhere to go. The creatures lifted their heads and opened their maws, revealing the dark void that hid inside. Destiny cried and curled against the ground, praying that she was just dreaming. The dinner went fine, she's sleeping her room in the servant's quarters. It was just a bad dream. Suddenly, the creatures screeched horridly. Like hooves on a chalk board. Destiny reluctantly looked up and gasped. An orb made of pure golden light floated a few inches in front of her. The creatures backed away, screeching, hissing and cursing vulgarly at the orb. She heard the clopping of hooves coming from her left.
“Come with me."
Author's Note
Hope you guys enjoyed!
Chapter 2: Knights of Old
“...For those who accept the darkness, embrace the demons that live there, the light will always burn. For those who accept the light, and wish to fight the darkness, they must learn to accept it, and travel through it...”
The creatures backed away from the orb. Their skin, (or lack thereof) burned and flaked away in the presence of the light. Destiny's eyes fell upon the pony controlling the sphere. A mare with a purple coat so dark it was almost black, her eyes glowed the same gold as the orb, as did her horn. Her hair was white. Very. Almost translucent. Her gaze was fixed upon the creatures before them; a fierce scowl fixed upon what would have been a cute young face.
“Come with me.” she said again. “It'll be alright.” she held out her left foreleg to Destiny. Destiny looked at the mysterious mare and then at the shadow creatures. Those creatures clearly wanted to harm her. Maybe even kill her. But she had no idea who this mare was. What if she was one of them? With one last glance at the monsters before her she made her decision.
It was an easy choice.
Destiny took the mare's hoof and she was gently pulled to her hooves. “Stay behind me.” she told her. Destiny stepped behind the mare as two more orbs burst from her horn and floated towards the creatures. The monsters hissed even louder, and with one final curse they disappeared into the night. Their shadows faded, and the majesty of the night sky was revealed once again. The orbs likewise vanished, turning to vapor and flowing back into the mare's horn.
“Who are you?” Destiny asked, watching the light flow back into her horn. The mare turned to face her, revealing a jagged scar across her left eye. Destiny wasn't interested in the scar however; her gaze was fixated on the eyes themselves. Pure, brilliantly sparkling gold filled the iris.
“There is no time for introductions. More will be here soon.” she used her magic to bring the hood of a cloak over her head. “We need to get moving.”
“Wait. What are those things!?” Destiny almost squealed. Her heart was racing, and he legs trembling. The image of those monsters burned into her mind. Every time she blinked she saw them. The mare looked at Destiny with an odd mixture of sympathy and impatience.
“Those 'things' will be back soon, and in greater number. We need to go. I don't want to have to actually fight them with you around.” She began to trot into the night before stopping and adding, “No offense.” she continued her trot and didn't notice that Destiny hadn't followed her for nearly a hundred feet.
“Are you coming?” she asked. Destiny tried to swallow but she couldn't. More of those things were coming and the only pony who could help her would just leave her there? Destiny galloped to catch up with her, her eyes darting in all directions. Searching for any movement. The mare smiled, nodded curtly, then continued trotting. Destiny followed close behind.
Destiny followed the unicorn as she cut through back alleys, went behind houses and avoided the main roads entirely. Destiny had always walked on the main roads, she couldn't see why they weren't taking them now. With those creatures around one would think they should be on the well lit streets. When Destiny voiced her concerns the unicorn dismissed her with, “Trust me. I know what I'm doing.” they wound their way through the city, and then to Destiny's surprise, they left through the main gate of Canterlot and followed the road down the mountain.
“Where are we going?” Destiny asked, stopping in the middle of the road. She was thankful for the mare's help, but she wouldn't take a step further without answers. The unicorn turned to Destiny and raised an eyebrow.
“To see Xavier.” she explained as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
“Who's Xavier?” the mare dug at the ground with a hoof for a moment before answering.
“Xavier is my f...my master. He taught me how to use my magic. How to fight the Tenbr...the creatures you saw. He's the only one who can help you.”
“What do you mean?! I can't just leave the city. I live here! I have a job...” Wait...no I don't. The mare picked up on her hesitation. Stepping forward she took one of Destiny's hooves in her own.
“I know what happened at the castle. I was there.” Destiny winced, she must be one of the Guard ponies. “I saw what happened. It was wrong, but that doesn't matter now. Those creatures you saw? They know you now, and they know you know about them. They won't stop until they find you, and unless you know how to protect yourself they will catch you.” her face turned dark. “And you don't want to know what happens when they do.”
“Why? Why ado they want to hurt me? What are they?” Destiny asked, more confused than before. The mare inhaled deeply. When she spoke her words were even, and final.
“I can't tell you. I have to take you to Xavier. Until I do, I can't say anymore than I already have. Now, are you coming, or are you staying here?” Shaking, Destiny took one final look at Canterlot, the castle where she lived and worked, the park where she spent long hours reading. She even thought of the griffon, hoping that the monsters left the old drake alone. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed many small lights at the main gate. The glowing white eyes of the shadow monsters. Only there weren't the three that attacked her before.
There were dozens. Standing like eldritch statues just waiting for her to get far away from the unicorn that saved her life. And the second she did...
“Is this a dream?” she asked foalishly. Hoping beyond her wildest dream that she was. The mare looked at her sadly, shaking her head.
“I wish it was.”
With one final look at Canterlot, Destiny and the unicorn continued down the mountain. Leaving the city behind.
The climb down the mountain was, harrowing. Shadow creatures. Many dozens of them filled the sides of the road. Raking the ground with their claws. Hissing at the gold orb the mare created to keep them at bay. Destiny watched her the entire time. Her face was serious, her eyes filled with caution. Her expression never wavered, and no hint of fear ever crossed her face. Destiny felt safer with her so near, but she had never been so terrified in her entire life.
The night wind was drowned out by the ever present cracking and snapping of small bones as the monsters writhed and contorted into grotesque shapes. Staying just on the edge of the orbs glow. Those who ventured closer would be burned. “It's a very good thing there aren't any stronger ones here.” the mare said thankfully. “The orb wouldn't be able to keep them back, and I'd rather avoid fighting so many alone.” Destiny nodded in agreement, even though the unicorn wasn't looking at her. She couldn't imagine anypony (except maybe the princesses) fighting even one of those things alone.
After several hours they finally reached the base of the mountain. “Alright,” the unicorn said. She stopped and removed a long golden sword from under her cloak. The creatures bristled. Their growling and hissing growing so loud it hurt Destiny's ears. “we can't go any further like this.” Destiny opened her muzzle to ask what she meant when the mare used her magic to swing the sword...at the air. Much to her surprise a slash appeared in the air, opening into a swirling portal of flashing light. This was the final straw.
The shadow creatures lunged despite their flaky skin being scorched off by the combined energy of the orb and the newly formed portal. Destiny screamed, but was silenced by a hoof slap from the unicorn. She was forcibly pushed through the portal while the unicorn cut down any shadow creature that got close with her blade, and blasted them with energy from her horn. Destiny pulled herself off a black marble floor, rubbing her head. The unicorn jumped through the portal, landing roughly next to her. The portal closed, and the unicorn collapsed onto her knees. Destiny watched as many small wounds poured blood onto the floor.
“Oh my gosh!” she pulled the unicorn's cloak off, tore it and began tying pieces over the cuts. She was no expert, but she'd had enough accidents in the kitchen to know how to tie a bandage. The unicorn pushed her aside firmly but not roughly, then stood to her hooves.
“Thanks, but I'm fine,” Destiny began to protest but she was silenced by the glow of the unicorn's eyes. Like the rest of her magic her eyes glowed brilliant gold, as did her wounds as they sealed themselves. “Just a few scratches.” Destiny watched fascinated as the cuts fused back together, leaving flawless skin and coat in their place.
“Wow,” said Destiny, her mouth agape. “That's incredible. Xavier...taught you that?” Whoever this Xavier is, he must be a very powerful unicorn.
“Yes,” the mare said simply. “Now I must take you to him. Follow me.” Without another word she turned and galloped down the marble hall towards a pair of doors flanked by two large pillars belching gold fire. Destiny hesitated before following, but only for a moment. The hall around her was all made of the same ink black marble. There were torches hung at regular intervals all along the walls, but their golden light didn't make the hall any more inviting. It reminded her of the shadow creatures.
“They can't enter this place,” The unicorn told her as if she were reading Destiny's mind. “This is a sacred place. Inviolable. It hurts them to even come near here. Entering would destroy them.” if the fire acts as her magic did Destiny was certain she was right. While this eased her fears a little, she was still nervous about meeting Xavier.
“Who is Xavier?” Destiny asked. The mare sighed.
“I already told you, I can not explain anymore than I already have. You must speak with Xavier,” After a moment. “He will answer all your questions.”
“Why can't you?” Destiny inquired, confused by the mare's willingness to fight monsters while refusing to explain why.
“Because it's not my place,” she said, turning to her with a smug smile. “Now, no more talking.” Destiny silently followed the mare until she reached the doors. When they opened, her jaw dropped. The room inside was not was she was expecting. She hadn't even really known what she was expecting. More black marble maybe? What was actually there was far different.
And far greater.
A massive atrium stood before them. Made of solid white marble with magnificent golden trim. Statues of every creature imaginable were hung on the walls. Dragons, ponies, hippogriffs, griffons and dozens of others Destiny didn't recognize. Two golden griffons stood to either side of the doors, rearing on their hind-legs. A large spiral staircase stood proudly in the center of the atrium. Stretching at least fifty stories before ending at the ceiling. The room was lit by the same golden torches of the black hall. But even with the hundreds of torches the room felt pleasingly cool.
“It's beautiful isn't it?” the mare said. Her voice almost seeping with pride.
“Yes...it is.” Destiny was entranced. This place, wherever and whatever it was, put all of Canterlot to shame. It took Destiny almost a minute to realize that the unicorn continued on without her. Snapping back to reality she galloped to catch up to her. They went to the staircase and began their ascent. The stairs seemed to go on forever. By the time they were a quarter of the way up Destiny was panting hard, she had a stitch in her side and she felt like she was going to pass out. The unicorn however didn't look tired at all. As if this were just a walk in the park.
Destiny threw her foreleg on the rail and tried to steady herself. The unicorn turned back to her seeing her distress. Her eyes widened. “Oh crap! I'm sorry, I'm not used to traveling through here with outsiders,” She removed her sword from its sheath and slashed at the air, creating another portal. “This will take us right to the top.” Destiny held in a curse. She wasn't about to insult the pony who just saved her life. It's an honest mistake. Forgetting you can teleport... She thought bitterly. The unicorn gave her some water, which she drank greedily, then helped her through the portal.
The room she now found herself in had the same theme as the atrium but much smaller. A single room connected to the staircase with a pair of large golden doors at the other end. Just like the entrance to the atrium the door was flanked by griffon statues. “Xavier waits beyond the gate,” The unicorn said cryptically. “He will answer all your questions.” She turned to leave but Destiny stood in her path.
“Can I just ask you one thing?” The unicorn raised an eyebrow, but nodded her consent.
“What's your name?” The mare smiled warmly.
“My name is Violet.” Without another word she walked around Destiny and descended the spiraling staircase. Destiny watched as her tail disappeared before turning back to the doors. Xavier was in the room beyond those doors. The pony that wanted to see her. She thought about how only mere hours ago she was in Canterlot, catering to the monarchs and elite of the country. It felt so surreal being in the middle of some kind of temple. She didn't even want to think about the creatures that were stalking the streets of Canterlot. Destiny felt a pang of guilt. Who knew how many other ponies those creatures could be hurting right now. Maybe that's where Violet went? To help more ponies like she had helped her?
The doors opened, interrupting her thoughts. Bright light poured from inside, bathing her in warmth. Enter.She didn't hear the words with her ears. It felt more like they were spoken in her mind. Enter, Destiny. We have much to discuss. The words were powerful. They made her want to gallop straight in without a thought. But she restrained herself. “Why should I?” she said out loud. Because you want answers. I can provide them. “Xavier?” she asked quietly.
Come into the light, Destiny. Without another thought she walked through the doors, and into the unknown.
The light felt, good. Very good. It warmed her entire body, relaxed muscles Destiny didn't even know were tense. The fatigue she felt from the stairs was gone, replaced by an almost giddy energy. Her fear had melted away and all that remained was curiosity. She walked, seemingly on only light, for what felt like a long time; but she couldn't be sure. It was hard to tell. There seemed to only be light in every direction. It was a magnificent light. Unlike the moon, surrounded by darkness. Not like the sun either. It didn't hurt her eyes to stare into the light around her.
You're almost there.
Destiny sped up her pace. The voice, Xavier, sounded closer now. Very close. She forced herself into a gallop and soon found herself in a familiar place. The light around her transformed into the park she spent so many lazy days in. Everything was the same. The flowers, the bushes. Even the fountain of Princess Celestia stood in the center, surrounded by several benches. And sitting on one of those benches was the old griffon. He wasn't gold though. He was really there; everything from his shabby old cloak to his shabby gray body. He held a cane in his right fore-paw. When she approached, he turned to her.
“Hello, Destiny,” she had never heard him speak before. She always assumed that he couldn't, or if he did it would be raspy. Labored. But his voice was strong. Not youthful, he sounded maybe forty years old. There was a strange power to it. Almost as if it compelled her to listen. “How are you feeling?” he asked casually.
“What are you doing here?” Destiny asked, confused by his presence but also relieved to see a familiar face. As odd as it was. The griffon leaned back on the bench, stretching leisurely. He waved his paw and a platter with a tea pot and two cups appeared before him and hung in the air.
“Would you like a drink?” After a moment's thought she nodded. He passed her a cup and she repeated her question. Taking a sip he said, “Ah. Excellent tea. I must thank Violet for recommending the brand,” he turned to her. “As to your question, I am here because this is my home. My name is Xavier and I am the master of this place. I've been watching you for some time.”
“You've been watching me?..” Destiny asked, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. To her surprise the old drake laughed. It was a nice laugh; full of joy and warmth.
“That sounds far more creepy than I intended it to. But yes, I have been watching you. For quite a few years actually. Ever since the orphanage,” Destiny shuddered. She hated thinking of that place. Xavier seemed to read her mind, (Destiny began to wonder if he could. He did speak to her in her mind) because he tactfully changed the subject. “You've been on your own for some time. You've felt alone. Like you didn't belong anywhere,” Destiny nodded solemnly. “All of us have. At least, all who live here. The mare you met, her name is Violet, and before she came here she was an orphan in Vanhoover. Her parents were killed when she was very young.
“One night, I came to the orphanage and offered her a home. She accepted and today she is a proud mare,” he raised his talons, pride pouring off of him. “She could have stayed in that orphanage. Maybe been adopted. Maybe grew up there and struck out on her own. Instead, she joined our family. She joined the Templar.”
“Templar?” Destiny interrupted. Instead of being irritated, like Destiny thought he would, his eyes shined with excitement.
“The Templar is me. It is Violet. And it is many others. The Templar gives a home to the downtrodden, to the lonely and to the scared. We are the knights of the old world. We stand together, as brothers and sisters against the darkness that hides in the shadows of our world, and the darkness that lives within our very hearts,” he extended his left fore-paw to her. “You saw the Tenebri in the streets of Canterlot. Those are what we fight. Nothing can stand against them except the Templar. Not the Royal Guard. Not the Princesses. Not even Princess Twilight and the Elements of Harmony. They are only harmed by our magic. Nothing else can stop them.”
“Why do you want me!?” Destiny asked, terrified by the very thought of facing those things again. “I'm a servant! I wash dishes, I cook and clean! I'm not a fighter, I can't even use magic! I'm an earth pony!” Again, Xavier laughed.
“And I'm a griffon. I have no horn, yet I can use the magic of the Templar. All sentient beings possess magic. Unicorns just have an easier time of accessing it. Makes quite a few of them overconfident, actually,” her rubbed his beak thoughtfully. “No matter. I can teach you everything you need to know and more. Join with me, be a part of something greater than you ever imagined.” he held out his fore-paw again. Destiny looked into the griffon's old gray eyes, her mind racing a mile a minute. Violet told her that it was either come with her or the creatures...these Tenebri would kill her. Was she telling the truth? Would Xavier just throw her out to the Tenebri?
“What if I don't want to join the Templar? What if I just want to go back to Canterlot?” Xavier's eyes lost their shine, his face curling into a sad frown.
“Then that it your choice. I will erase your memory of this place, the Tenebri and all that has happened this day. I will have the same done to the ponies at the castle. You will have your job back, and you'll never know any of this happened.” Destiny's jaw dropped. Just like that? She could have her life back just like that? It seemed too easy.
“What about the Tenebri? Won't they still come after me?” the griffon shook his head.
“With the proper rituals I can place spells on you that keep them from recognizing you. They are numerous, but very stupid. I'll also be watching you, making sure you stay safe.” Destiny looked into his eyes. She saw the conviction, the strength he held behind those eyes. She believed that if she said no, he wouldn't question it. She could be back at the castle, cleaning up after royalty. Dull, but safe. But then she thought about Violet. The pony who stood stoically against monsters that nearly had Destiny peeing herself. She was so brave. There was a part of Destiny that wanted to be brave too. That wanted to be...accepted. It was just like Xavier said, she always felt alone.
In her entire life Destiny never felt like she mattered. As if she could just disappear one day and nopony would notice. That nopony would care. That's what happened at the castle. One broken bottle of wine and she was bucked to the curb. The princesses were supposed to be kind, but they let Etiquette fire her in a heartbeat. What do I really have to go back to?
Nothing. She thought resolutely.
“Alright,” she said, taking his paw with a hoof. “I'll do it.”
Author's Note
Hey Guys. Hope you're enjoying the story. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.