Void walked around in his orbiter inspecting everything that he could. With the internal part of the ship fully repaired, he was finally about the have his consoles and navigation up and running once more. But it would still take quite a while for the mobility of the ship to become available. What was he doing in his orbiter one might ask? Well, he actually snuck out in the middle of the night just to check on things. Even taking Hydroid with him as well. Void walked about the ship as himself though most of the time though.

“Everything is looking good, Ordis. I noticed you got the ship up onto its landing gear as well. Excellent job.”

“Of course,Operator. I am the best ship cephalon in the universe after all.”

Void laughed lightly.

“Technically you are the ONLY cephalon now. But either way.”

As he finally finished looking through the ship, he takes over Hydroid again and starts to make his way to the exit of the ship. Ordis suddenly comes over to coms however.

“Operator, unknown creature seems to be stalking around out there. Please be careful wherever you may be headed.”

Void chuckles lightly and pats his Nikana Prime that rested on his hip, fire radiating from it. A fierce blade indeed should anyone or anything try to do battle with him.

“I will be alright Ordis. But you know I always know you care. And I appreciate it.Truly. I will return within a couple of days. If you need me, just call me.”

“Of course, Operator please return-COVERED IN BLOOD-- safe and sound~.”

Once Void was outside, he walked through the shielding that Ordis had surrounded the ship with. Sure, you could get out of it, but once you were on the outside, Void had to be the one to get another person in. Once he was far enough from his ship, whatever was stalking around outside made it’s presence known by growling and sneaking about. Soon enough it sounded like there was more than one. Void placed his hand on the hilt of his blade, ready to draw at a moment’s notice. Soon enough, timber wolves approached out of the shadows and growled and snarled at Void. All he could do was chuckle lowly and draw his blade, fire licking the air in the process.

“Oh please…”

The timber wolves barked aggressively and leaped towards Void, making their intentions known. Void’s motions were quick and precise, butting through the wood and burning it up in the process of each one, leaving nothing but ash as he cuts through, the trail of fire and energy flowing through the wind like flowing ribbons through the night sky. Once there was none of them left, he twirls the blade a few times and sheaths it slowly until there was a ‘click’ when the guard rested against the scabbard.

“I have faced creatures more powerful than you.”

He said as he began walking once more, heading out of the forest just in time to see the sun rising for the morning to fully start. However, a glowing golden light and a familiar voice caused him to stop once more.

“That was quite impressive, Void. I knew that you were no ordinary child. But your skills with a sword are on par. I cannot wait to see what other skills you have hidden.”

Void’s gaze fell upon the princess. She did not see the glare through Hydroid of course, but she could feel it coming from void.

“I am not a child. Stop calling me that…”

Celestia could hear the irritation in his voice.But he was right. He was definitely not a child. Not anymore after what he has been through. She bows her head and apologizes.

“It is hard to remember that you are a being who is over a millennium and a half years old when they have such a youthful appearance. I did not mean any offense to you.”

Void sighed and shook his head. He turned fully to Celestia with his hand resting on his blade’s hilt. He approaches her with his gaze locked to hers.Once he got close enough he speaks in a low tone of voice, almost sinister and cold.

“I will not be called a child ever again. I am sure that I have seen more carnage than you will ever see in your lifetime, princess. You royal types are all the same. Thinking you are all high and mighty because you run things from the top. You are all greedy and care about self-preservation, just like the Orokin. Maybe you will meet their same fate.”

Celestia stared back in shock as his words. Almost hurt by them as he talked so coldly to her. But in her mind, she was sensing something was rather off about this threat.And her thought was reassured when he began to speak again.

“N-no, she isn’t like the Orokin. Don’t you dare make threats against her. She is letting me stay in her kingdom and trusting me…”

Suddenly Void stumbles out of Hydroid and falls to his knees, grabbing at his head. His eyes start darting around to look for the source of his other words. Sure enough his doppleganger was sitting atop of one the large branches of a big oak tree. It was his exact copy, though the eyes of it were black in the sclera and solid gold in the iris. It gave a soft but all knowing wicked smile to Void and spoke in a nearly demonic tone of voice that echoed.

“Hey kiddo. Long time no see.”

Said the doppelganger as he sits there, kicking his legs lightly. Celestia was also able to see him as well apparently. As he gaze went straight for him as well. She looked between them both and watched as Void got to his feet and stood in front of Celestia as if to protect her.

“What...is that Void?”

“The consequence of my actions…”

He said as he kept his eyes on his copy. He only laughed and stood up from the branch. He disappeared and reappeared in front of Void. He approaches him and tilts his head lightly with a toothy grin.

“You are letting these being make you too soft, kiddo. Soon I will have the right time to fight to take hold of your mind and body if you aren’t careful. Then you will have more than just this world trying to get rid of you. You and I both know that what you said to this...thing you are trying to protect is true enough. Let me take over for a little while. And I can ease your burden. They will all hate you in the end anyway. They will all use you. Just. Like. The Orokin.”

Void’s memories of those awful orders he had carried out rang through his mind over and over. Maybe his copy had a point? Why else would they keep him around and let him run free? What if they had a plan for him to where he would only be a tool? A weapon to do their dirty work? Void shuts his eyes hard and squeezes his hands into fists. The material stretching audibly But his oncoming despair was cut when Celestia wrapped her arms and wings around him in a protective manner, he horns glowing in a threatening manner.

“I don’t know what happened back in your world when you served these..’Orokin’. But I would never EVER think to use Void in such a manner. I don’t know who you are but, I won’t let you take hold of his mind. And whatever this world tries to do to him. He had plenty of friends here already who will help him in any way possible!”

Celestia’s eyes stared daggers at the copycat. As if a mother protecting her child from the evils of the world with her embrace. She presses her forehead against Voids and concentrates hard, her magic flaring up as she begins to calm down Void mind with a warm soothing feeling that runs through his form.

“I won’t let it happen…”

She whispered. The doppelganger slowly disappearing with a chuckle. Leaving a few last words.

“We shall see what the future entails then. Remember. No matter the actions. Good or Bad. There is always consequence. And that could be good or bad as well.”

Once he was gone Celestia slowly removes her wing from around him, and was about to remove his arms from him but he gripes at her clothing and stays close. She notices this and kneels down in front of him with her arms still around him. She could see a bit of doubt still in his eyes as he looks up at her.

“Why though? I don’t understand. You barely even know me. Even Twilight and her friends seem to trust me and I barely know them and they barely know me. I don’t get why you have so much faith in a stranger from a whole other world. And even after what you had just seen…”

Celestia gently cups his jaw in both her hands, a warm and soft gaze meeting his in return. She speaks to him in a soft and caring tone.

“Because. Another being from a different world came to ours and at first, he was here with his brother to try and take our power and world from us. But he grew to care and love the way we lived. And betrayed his own brother to save all of us. If not for that, I, my sister and our subjects may not be here today. So you see, I will not make the same mistake to judge you simply because of what I had seen. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt, Void. As I should have done for him in the first place.”

Void couldn’t help but wonder who she was referring to. But that could wait for another time. All he could do was just step away from her and disappear back inside of Hydroid. He turned away from her.

“I...I need to think.”

And with that, he took off running. Jumping up and leaping from branch to branch to cover more ground. Those words running through his mind over and over from what she had said earlier. All Celestia could do was watch him leave. She felt sympathy for Void. She may not know what it is like to be in a world where you feel you don’t belong. But it certainly wasn’t going to stop her from helping him. Regardless of how she felt however, she would need to let her sister and twilight know of what she had witnessed. While she trusted him, she wanted her student to remain safe.

--Everfree Lake--

Void sat on his heels in front of the water staring into his reflection. The words of his double and the words of Celestia clashing in his mind, one trying to overpower the other. Who should he believe? An entity that has been with him for a long time? Or a ruler who claims to trust him simply because she claims to have learned a lesson long ago? His thought process was interrupted by the sound of a raven cawing to him from his right side. The bird eyed him curiously and started hopping over to him as birds did. It hopped up onto his right leg and stared up at him, making a light grumbling sound as if trying to talk to him. Void was surprised that an animal like a raven would approach him so easily. But it is said if you befriend a raven, they will always come to you when you need someone.

“Hey there. Come to keep me company huh? I think I may have something I could give you..”

He said as he reached for a pocket and dug around in it. Turns out he did have something for the large dark bird. He took out a sugar cookie and crushed it in his grip, then held out the smaller bits to the raven which happily started pecking it from his hand. The raven seemed content with her new friend’s gift and flies up onto his shoulder and affectionately rubs the side of her head against his cheek. He reaches up and lightly scratching under her beak and gives out a light sigh.

“Well, at least I don’t have to worry about you trying to trick me into thinking I am doing good or bad. Thanks for coming to keep me company. I appreciate it. Though you probably can’t understand a word I am saying huh? I need to give you a name...I think I will call you...Lotus. Yeah, that will do nicely.”

The raven seemed very pleased with her new name. Little did Void know that this bird was more than just that. And that she could understand him completely. And that she’d play a rather vital role in his new life here. While the world would start to fight against him, other forces would start fighting alongside him. This was the first of many allies he was to gain.

Author's Note

Here you go all. :)

May the darkness grant you peace.