It has been quite sometime since Void found himself in this new world that he now calls home. And he has made quite a few friends in his time there as well. He has even frown quite attached to Twilight who he had been staying with of all his time when she didn’t have to put up with him at all. But today, that may very well end for her. For today, something will happen that may very well allow Void to be on his own from here on out. Not that he wouldn’t still consider Equestria his new home. But he longs to live among the stars as he always had done.

Void decided it was time to go and check on the status of his ship’s repairs. So he merges with Hydroid once more before making his way out of the library. Before he could make it to the door, Odris’ voice came through the coms of Hydroid. From what Void could tell, Ordis seemed rather excited to have finally gotten ahold of him.

“I have good news, Operator! The orbiter is completely repaired and ready to fly again. I even cleared out the old storage area in the back of the ship to make room for personal living quarters. The segment has already been created and installed. We can finally get off the ground!”

Void’s heart nearly exploded out of joy when Ordis had told him the news. He was about to rush out the door until he thought about something. He remembered Twilight asking if when he got his ship fully operational, that he’d take her with him so she could see how everything worked. And with how much she had done for him, he wouldn’t feel right in denying her that. He speaks to Ordis once more.

“I am going to be bringing a guest aboard. Please do your best to not scare them off huh?”

“I will try not to frighten them with my usual outbursts. I will be waiting for you, Operator.”

Mystogan walks upstairs and into Twilight’s room. It was still early morning and she was sleeping soundly all wrapped up in her blanket. Void walks up to her and gently shakes her, trying his best to wake her up without startling her. She lets out a light moan and slowly opens her eyes as she gazes up at Hydroid. Thankfully she doesn’t scream in terror.

“Mmmh...everything okay, Void? Are you heading out again?”

She asked in a rather adorably sleepy tone. However, his next words would make her perk up as if she just had coffee injected into her veins.

“My ship has been fully repaired and is ready to take flight. I did promise you that I’d take you aboard once it was complete.Do you want to come with me?”

Twilight’s eyes did indeed widen awake and a smile slowly formed on her muzzle. She jumped out of her bed and wasted no time in tossing off her sleep clothes, even right in front of Void who blinked a few times as he saw Twilight naked before she got into her usual outfit. Apparently, she didn’t care at this point, she was beyond excited for this. She jumps next to him and smiles up at him.

“I am ready! Let’s get going!”

“U-uuh...yeah, let’s get going..”

Void was blushing hard from what he had just seen. He was so glad that his was controlling Hydroid and not outside of where she could see his face beet red. Once they made their way outside and towards the area where his ship was, the sun was rising into the sky as the morning full began. And just on cue, Celestia appears before the two of them with a smile on her face.

“Ah, good morning my faithful student, and you as well Void. Are you two heading out somewhere?”

“Yes! Void’s ship is completely repaired and ready to be airborne. He promised he’d show me the inside! I am excited to see just how that behemoth of technology works! I brought my quill and notepad and will write down everything I can!”

Celestia arches a brow as her own curiosity rose. She wanted to see this in action as well. She turns her gaze to Void and smiles down at him. Void could see that she wanted to come along as well just by the look in her eyes. He laughed lightly and shook his head.

“Yes princess, you are welcome to come along as well should you wish. All I ask of you both is that you do not touch anything inside. Understand?”

They both nod in agreement and follow Void as he leads the way to his ship. Twilight and Celestia whispered to one another as they walked down the path. Celestia didn’t admit it, but she was almost as excited as Twilight was to see just what this ship could do. Ponies had airships and zeppelins and such like that. But this was something far more advanced.

“How high do you think it can go, princess?”

“I am not sure my dear. But I imagine it can exceed the high of the highest flying pegasus. Possibly even over the tallest mountain in all of Equestria.”

Void could hear them whispering behind him. He only smiled to himself as their guesses were extremely far off. He was actually glad he was bringing them along with him. Their minds were about to be blown as he planned on taking them all the way out into space, far from the ground of the earth to be sure. Once they reach the ship. Void noticed right away that the ship nearly looked brand new and was sitting fully on its landing gear. Ordis did a wonderful job. But Void didn’t expect anything less of his trusty ship cephalon.

“Ordis, lower the barriers and the ramp. I am here.And I have two guests with me.”

“Two? Oh my, the operator is bringing friends over! This is wonderful!”

The barriers lower with a low hum and the ramp that leads inside the ship lowers with the mechanical sound of the lowering hydraulics. Already both Twilight and Celestia were impressed by just those two things. Void makes his way up into the ship on the ramp and looks back at the two hesitating ponies who stood at the foot of the ramp. From what they could see from there, it looked rather….unsettling. All the blinking lights and wires and metal of the inner ship we so different to them.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s just the inside of the ship. Be sure to watch your head as you come in, princess. The last thing we need is to have you get a head injury.”

Celestia did indeed need to lower her head a bit as she and Twilight made their way into the orbiter. The first thing they saw as they walked in was the arsenal where Void stood. He walked out of Hydroid and left him where he always stood when Void wasn’t using him. The inside of the orbiter was black and snow white.Just like his usual color scheme. They also noticed the various weapons that were stocked in the lower part of the ship. Twilight’s eyes grew wide as she looked at the metal marvel. Celestia was just as impressed with what she was seeing as well. Void chuckles lightly and motions them to follow him down into the back of the ship. They first come to the left door which was covered in infestation. Void made sure to give them a stern gaze before speaking to them.

“Under NO circumstances are any of either of you to enter this room. You will not like what you see. This is a room that I have used for one purpose, and that is to rid my frame of any infections that it has gained.”

They looked like they didn’t want any part of that room anyways. Even Twilight inched away from the infestation that seemed to be reaching towards her and her mentor. Void quickly moves on to the middle door which opened up to what appeared to be a wide open room with a large machine that sat in the back center part. As he approached it, the machine moved and opened itself up to reveal a chair of sorts. Though what caught Celestia’s attention was the treelike roots that surrounded the chair and seemed to float behind the whole structure.

“This was what I used to link to my warframe before I regained my true abilities. This is called the somatic link. I would sit here on this device and use the transference energy from within to control Hydroid. But now that I have my abilities. I can use transference and basically ‘possess’ hydroid at will.”

“And this machine cannot be used anymore?”

Asked Twilight as she looked at it as she wrote things down on her little notepad. Void nodded to answer her question. Suddenly Ordis speaks over the ship speakers. This made both Celestia and Twilight jump in surprised.

“Hello, humanoid equines. I am the ship’s cephalon. My name is Ordis. It is a pleasure to meet you both. And what the Operator says is true. We had an incident a while back. But thankfully he can use his void abilities without fail.”

“Where is his speaking from? I cannot see him!”

Shouted Twilight as she looked around frantically. Void puts a hand up to try and calm down the unicorn. Even Celestia was concerned for her star student at this point.

“Twi, easy! He is on the ship! He is part of it! Calm down!”

“Oh and operator, your new living quarters are ready as well. Though...you may want to get some furniture...it is rather bare.”

“Oh right! I need to see this.”

Void started to run towards the exit of the room with Twilight and Celestia not far behind him. Once he gets to the door of the bottom right of the ship, it opens up to reveal a rather spacious room with shelving and plenty of room for furniture and a bed. What he was most excited about was the large window at the other side of the room. He couldn’t wait to gaze out that window once the ship was in the air and more so in space. He even noticed tanks that could be filled with water and fish. He’d definitely have to get those in use.

“Woooow….and just think Twilight, you won’t have to bother with me anymore! Now that I have a place to call my own, I will no longer be a burden to you!”

Twilight’s eyes lowered to the ground and a frown came upon her face as she felt saddened by his words. He really thought of himself as a burden to her? While it is true that he worried her when he was out and having someone else within her home meant that she had to take care of both herself and him. It didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy his company and even the long night he stayed up with her. Void turned to see that saddened expression on Twilight’s face and gives a confused stare in return. He looks up at Celestia and then back at Twilight.

“I...don’t understand. I’d thought you’d be happy to see me finally out on my own after my ship was up and going again.”

Celestia walks over to Twilight and places an arm around the tearing up unicorn/ Void was truly at a loss of words now. What did he say that upset Twilight so much. He looked towards Celestia and blinks a few times.

“What...did I say wrong…? I thought she’d be happy. She has completed the order you gave her after all.”

Celestia shakes her head gently and takes Twilight’s cheeks into her hands.She wipes away the unicorn’s tears and speaks to ehr in a gentle tone.

“Did you not tell him, Twilight? Communication is key in any kind of relationship my dear. How is he supposed to know what is on your mind when you do not let him know what it is? You can see he is at a loss for words on why you are so upset. Go tell him.”

Twilight looked over at Void and approached him. She placed her right hand on her upper arms and began to speak.

“You are right. It was an order. And I was mainly nice to you at first so I could get on your good side so I could study you and your warframe. But….”

She starts to tear up more.

“That’s not how I feel anymore! With how much time you have stayed with me and the late nights you have helped me with. And especially the time you spend with me when you really didn’t have to. I grew to like you as a real friend. And to hear you call yourself a burden on me. It hurts…”

Void reached up and placed a hand on Twilight’s cheek gently. A soft smile coming across his face as he gently rubs his thumb against it.

“Listen to me, Twilight. I have enjoyed staying with you. But I know you have yourself to worry about. And it’s not like I wouldn’t come visit you or anything. But now that I have my own home here in the ship. I can be out of the way for everyone and none of you would have to worry. Besides, out in the stars is where I belong. I spend the majority of my childhood on a ship, then in a cryogenic sleep for over a thousand years on a moon. Hy change what I am used to? You will still see me daily. I promise. And if it makes you feel any better, I feel like I have gotten close to you as well, Twi. You are a smart, caring and a wonderful mare who is blessed to have so many friends and a wonderful mentor like you do. And if you ever want to come visit me, I’d be happy to come and get you. Or even the others for that fact. I am sure they’d want to experience the view I am about to show you and the princess. Now, no more tears, Bookworm. I am not going anywhere.”

Void reached up and wrapped his arms around Twilight in a gentle hug. Twilight sniffled lightly and wraps her own arms around him in a bit more of a tighter squeeze than he did, though.

“It’s all going to be alright, Twi. I am not mad at you. Though I do wish you told me how you felt sooner. We could have been circling the planet by now, silly girl.”

Celestia watched how Void consoled the mare. He was gentle and kind. And the way he spoke to her was as if he were definitely as old as he is. Though stuck in the form of adolescence, he was more mature than she was lead to believe upon her first impression of him. He was absolutely nothing like a child.

“Now then, shall we get this ship in the air? I am going to show you that this ship surpasses any flying device you possess here in this world. Ordis, begin lift off.”

“Understood, Operator. Firing up the engines.”

The sound of the roar of the multiple thrusters from the back of the ship echo throughout its frame.The ship shakes a bit which made both Twilight and Celestia nearly fall off balance. The ship began lifting into the air as Void walked up the ramp onto the bridge. He had gotten used to the ship moving about like this after all.

“You two better come up here if you want to see the lift off. And hold onto something. First-time flyers really aren’t good at maintaining balance.”

Both mare took his advice and held onto the consoles that were on the left and right side of the bridge of the ship. With a loud ‘BOOM’, the ship took flight as the thrusters adjusted from vertical to horizontal flight, taking off into the sky like it was nothing. Void stood there watching as the sky changed from it’s light blue to a dark one, then eventually the blackness of space. The ride was now a completely smooth and shake-free cruise as the ship seemed to have stopped in orbit of the planet. Void looks back to see the two mares holding on for dear life with their eyes shut tightly. He couldn’t help but laugh at this and walked over to them.

“You thought that was something, just wait till the descent back. That’s gonna be a blast for you. But you very well can’t see what it wish to show you with your eyes closed.”

They both slowly open their eyes and look out the front window of the ship. What they saw was absolutely beautiful. Their planet was miles and miles away from them. Never have they seen such a wonderful sight. And Celestia stared at the sun with awe. Never had she been so close to the very thing she raises and sets every day. Their eyes were as wide as saucers and their jaws nearly hit the floor.

“By the sun...literally! And where you are from, others like you possess the kind of technology?!”

Celestia asked in astonishment. Even she had never dreamed of making it to the stars. Twilight was especially excited by what she was seeing. Void suddenly heard Ordis speak over to ship’s coms.

“Operator...you will not believe this! We are going an incoming coms! And it’s..from The Lotus! But I….I don’t know how!”

Void’s heart beat heavily for a moment as he eyes widen in shock. How in the hell was she getting through between worlds?! That should be impossible! Void gulps heavily and nods. If this was really the Lotus…

“P-put her through.O-Ordis…”

There was a bit of noise interference at first, but then he heard it. The voice of the one being that cared for him and protected him all those years while he slept. The only one he could ever see as his mother other than Margulis.

“Tenno? Tenno, are you there? Please speak to me, my child!”

It was. It was really her. Void was quiet for a moment, but he soon spoke up.

“Lotus...”

“Oh thank the stars! You are alright. I have been worried about you for months ever since I had lost connection with you. Where are you? My connection with you is stable now, but somehow I cannot sense you in the universe...at all.”

“I..I am in a totally different world. A different universe. What I do not understand is how this is possible that you are speaking with me now…”

“I...cannot say for sure myself. But if you are indeed in another world, then it may be possible to bring you back. I want you back home...back home to where I know I can keep you safe. You fellow tenno need you.”

Celestia walks up beside Void and places a hand on his shoulder gently.

“I am afraid that there will be no returning to his world for him. And he very well knows that. I don’t know who you are. But if you were so worried about him. Why didn’t you do anything to help him in the first place? If you considered yourself his mother, you should have done all you could to make sure he stayed where he belonged.”

“Tenno, who are these alien beings? What do they mean that you cannot return home? Are they holding you against your will?”

Void looks up at Celestia, then back to Lotus. He shakes his head lightly.

“No, I am here because there is no way to get me back home. They do not possess the means nor the technology. I am...afraid I will never return to you and my fellow tenno. And she is right. During that whole entire scuffle with the corpus and grineer ships….you did not lift a finger to help or send other tenno my way. So I took a chance and went into the wormhole. And now I am here. I either accepted death at their hands or I take a risk and hope that I came out on the other side alive. I am not going to hold that against you Lotus. I still love you and miss you. But what’s done is done. I will never return to see you again, nor will i ever see another of my kind.”

“Tenno...I..”

“He is now under the care and protection of beings who will make sure that he is aided when he needs it the most and will always be at his side. And that will never change.”

Celestia was seriously upset at Lotus right now. The fact that someone that Void called ‘mother’, someone he trusted and needed in his time of crisis didn’t help. It didn’t sit well at all. Void, however, placed a hand on Celestia’s to reassure her it was alright. His gaze then turns back to Lotus once more.

:I will continue to look to you for guidance and help. But understand I will never ever return. It’s just how it is. Besides…”

He looks over at Twilight who now stood at his side then looked up at Celestia and gave a smile.

“I am here with others now who will always be here for me, just as I will with them. Just know I will be alright. And you won’t have to worry about me, mother.”

The coms went silent for a moment, but to Void, it felt like an eternity. But then Lotus spoke once more.

“Whoever you are, my child seems to have put his trust in you. Don’t you dare stab him in the back. If I ever find out that you did. So help me, I will find a way to get him back to me. And I will make your life miserable. Please stay safe… my child, my sweet Ryuji.”

The coms drop after that name was spoken. Once he heard it, however, his eyes widen and his head starts to hurt. He places his hands on his head and crouches down in pain as a headache racks over him. It felt like by hearing that name, something opened up inside of him, but he wasn’t sure of what. He just knows that it hurt.

“My name...is Ryuji...I remember now… I…”

He falls to his knees and hands as his vision goes blurry. Both Twilight and Celestia kneel down and offer him support on their shoulders. This was definitely going to cause trouble down the road for both him and Equestria. As the name had unlocked something that the Lotus needed to keep secret. But in a unknowing world that could be full of threats, she wanted him to be well protected. And all this will indeed, change the flow of how things will play out in this world now that he is here.

Author's Note

Oh boy, mam Tia and mama Lotus already at each other's throats. How will this impact the future now that Ryuji knows his real name now? You will all have to wait!

May the darkness grant you peace.