Canterlot

Office of Twilight Sparkle

It was raining. Which was certainly not unusual, yet Twilight Sparkle knew it was out of the ordinary for one reason.

This storm came naturally, and was not created by the Pegasus Ponies. Though it had only been barely a week since The Storm King's attack, many things had changed. Tempest Shadow, or Fizzlepop Berrytwist, had been given the position of Twilight's Personal Guard. Grubber had accepted a position as Celestia/Luna's messenger, and he seemed to enjoy the work. Capper and the Pirates had gone their ways, promising to write when they could. The seaponies were busy working to repair their home.

However, the many scars remained from the attack, and even Twilight Sparkle still had nightmares of the Storm King's attack. Celestia and Luna had advised her that these were natural, and Twilight had to learn to cope with what happened.

Right now, she was standing on the balcony under a magically conjured umbrella, watching lightning flash through the sky and hearing the thunder roar.

"Tartarus…" she cursed, laying her head on the balcony edge. "I was such an idiot…"

"No, you weren't."

Twilight looked to see Fizzlepop approach.

"Hey, Fizz." Twilight said, speaking the shorter nickname she had been given by Pinkie Pie. "I guess you heard me?"

"I did." she replied. "You were not the idiot in this situation, Twilight. If anything, I was."

"Fizz, you made a mistake." Twilight said. "And you learned from it."

"Did I?" she replied. "Or did you forget how the Storm King manipulated me and nearly ruined the whole of Equestria?"

Twilight sighed and gave a low moan.

"I haven't." she replied. "I just wish…"

"Twilight, he's dead." Fizzlepop said, placing her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "He's literally in pieces now. And he won't hurt or threaten anypony or anyone again. Including you."

Twilight smiled a bit.

"Thanks, Fizz. Thanks so much."

They were about to head back inside, when the thunder stopped all of a sudden.

"The storm couldn't have passed so soon…" Fizzle said.

"I didn't." Twilight replied, pointing to a cloud above the plaza. It was glowing with a myriad of colored energy. Before either of them could react, the energy slammed into the ground in a blast of color and brilliant light. As their vision cleared, Twilight and Fizzle flinched and gasped.

A perfect circle had been bored in the plaza floor, revealing a spiraling marble staircase.

"Twilight, did you know that was there?" Fizzle asked.

"No...I didn't." Twilight replied. "Let's go check it out."

As they descended to the plaza, Fizzle took the lead as they descended into the dark.

====

As they spiraled down, Twilight could note several strange things. First, the stairs and walls were cut and shaped by tools, not magic. The edges, though cut expertly, were rough. Next, the marble was too clean, not dirty in the slightest. Finally, each step bore a different symbol.

The first was of two diamonds and two triangles, forming a shield. The next was a pyramid made of slanted lines. The final was a pyramid with a V shape cut out of the top.

"What is this place?" Fizzle asked. "I never seen anything like this before…"

"Neither have I…" Twilight added. "I don't think anypony has."

As the steps ceased and revealed a long hallway, Fizzle took the lead, giving Twilight distance in case she needed to run. As they walked through the hall, Twilight could see the symbols etched on the steps were repeated, until they reached a door marked with a different symbol.

This glyph was of a circle, surrounded by a strange, triangle-like shape. As they approached, the center glowed white, then blue as the door moved aside.

And what a sight greeted them. Inside a massive cavern was a large rock, gray and white. Rainbow-colored energy sparked and thrashed all around, and carved into the stone were words, inscribed in fluent Equish.

====

Where there is Darkness, there is Light…

Where there is Day, there is Night…

From the Titans, steadfast on the walls…

From the Hunters, sounding the war calls…

From the Warlocks, enlightened in their halls…

With the Light, it shall be made clear…

And the Darkness will be rent in their fear…

The Scavengers will be humbled in terror

The Plague will horde in fervor…

The Conquerors will break and fall…

The Collective will shatter their spires tall...

A beacon of hope, a Traveler's beckoning call...

Will bring unto you…Guardians of all….

====

Twilight and Tempest read the words in silence, stunned and completely lost for words.

"...what did I just read?" Twilight asked Fizzle, who merely shook her head.

"I have no clue." Fizzle said. "I mean, whoever carved this must've been demented or something. What does it mean by the Scavengers, Plague, Conquerors, and Collective? What is it talking about?"

"Let's just go." Twilight said. "I think we've seen enough to tell the Princesses."

But as she said that, the door slammed shut with a dull thud. Twilight and Fizzle attempted to combine their magic to force it open, to no success.

"Great, we're locked in." Twilight said. "How long will it be before we suffocate from lack of oxygen?"

"Judging by the size of the cavern, we have a while." Fizzle said. "...Do you feel that?"

"Feel what?" Twilight asked. Fizzle looked towards the stone with the carving, and shuddered.

"I felt like...something had touched me. I got goosebumps all of a sudden." Fizzle said.

"Same." Twilight said, feeling prickling on her spine. "What's going on?"

Then, Twilight saw the stone began to fall apart. As they sprinted over to it, the rock disintegrated, leaving something behind.

It was a small, white object. Twilight then saw it was the exact same shape as the rune on the door. Twilight picked the object up, and to her shock, there was a faint blue glow coming from its eye. Twilight gently touched it with her charged horn, and the glow became stronger and stronger.

Before it glowed brightly, and it began to float into the air. The spines separated, revealing a glowing blue orb, before they reattached. Then, it fell to the ground, and the grinding of stone signalled the door was open. Twilight and Fizzle were about to leave, when they heard a voice.

"Uh...that hurt."

They stopped, spun around, and to their shock, the object was floating once more. And it was speaking fluent Equish. As the two ponies approached, it shook itself into a seemingly alert position.

"Impossible…" the orb murmured. "The Light left me, I shouldn't be active right now…"

Then it turned and saw the two ponies looking at it with fear. Twilight and Fizzle yelped in fright…

And the orb began to laugh. Their shouts ceased as Twilight and Fizzle heard the orb roar with laughter.

"Silly, silly me!" the orb's hearty, masculine voice chuckled. "I should've figured someone would wake me up."

"Who are you?" Twilight asked, Fizzle eyeing the orb with suspicion as she reached out, pushing Twilight back.

"Well, that's quite complicated." the orb said. "I don't have a name, per see, but I call myself Nolan. I'm a Ghost, born of the Traveler's Light. Who are you?"

"I'm Twilight Sparkle. That's Fizzle." Twilight said.

"It's nice to meet you, Twilight and Fizzle." Nolan replied. "I suppose you'll want to learn about where I come from, and the Traveler? But, I think that can wait."

"Why?" Twilight asked. The orb motioned to the door, where equine-shaped shadows could be seen descending the stairs.

"We've got company." Nolan said. Soon, the Elements, Celestia and Luna appeared in front of them, all eyeing the surroundings, Nolan, Twilight, and Fizzle with shock, curiosity, and wonder.

"Twilight?" Celestia asked, walking forward. "What is this place?"

"I'm not sure." Twilight said. "I mean, it's a long story."

"Indeed." Nolan said, appearing. "I'll you'd be so kind to let me, I can explain. As I've told Fizzle and Twilight here, my name is Nolan. I am a Ghost of the Traveler. Prepare to have your mind blown."

====

As the Ghost took the ponies back up the staircase, Twilight asked Nolan what the symbols on the steps were.

"Those are sigils, actually." Nolan said. "Each one symbolizing one class of Guardian."

"Guardian?" Luna asked.

"The Guardians are the protectors of the Traveler, and wielders of the Light." Nolan said. "There are three kinds. This one here…"

Nolan pointed to the shield-like one.

"...represents the Titan. Titans are the steadfast walls of the Traveler. They represent strength and power."

Next, Nolan pointed to the triangle.

"This one is for the Hunter. Hunters are the lone predators of the Traveler. They represent discipline and agility."

Finally, Nolan pointed to the pyramid.

"Last, but certainly not least, is the Warlock. They are the arcane students of the Traveler. They represent knowledge and intellect."

Nolan nodded approvingly before speaking.

"Ghosts such as myself bond with a Guardian, and we serve as their guide and companion." he said. "I still have to find mine."

"How long have you looked?" Rarity asked. Nolan chuckled and looked at her.

"Centuries." he replied. "I have spent my entire life searching for my Guardian. And when I do find him or her, I will know. Every Ghost does when they find their partner."

As the Ponies took that statement in, they reached the top of the stairs, and into the sunlight. The storm had passed, and pewter clouds swirled in the early morning sky. Twilight could see a crowd had gathered, managed by the Solar Guards. Celestia beckoned them away towards the courtyard.

====

As everypony made themselves comfortable, Nolan looked around with a approving nod.

"Nice place you've got here." he said. "Alright, we'll start from the beginning…"

Author's Note

Yep, a new story!

And next time-The Prologue for the Guardians of Earth.