Sunset Knight

As my ship rocketed through the void of the wormhole, I was brought back to the present when a siren went off. Quickly looking down I found an external camera had detected movement from behind and below me. Looking at the camera feed from behind me, I beheld a massive wall that had a bright light shining from the front of it. It was moving toward me at a rapid pace. I looked down at another monitor and saw a group of what appeared to be children running along a floor of some kind. The largest of the group had some skinny kid on his shoulder as he ran, a red-headed girl that was rather well endowed ran in front of him, but at the head of the pack ran a boy that looked suspiciously like me, but with golden hair and blue eyes. I was about to swoop down to help them when a bright gate opened in front of them, and they jumped through it.

I was directed by the Force to keep flying so I did. after another two hours of out flying that strange wall, I came to a new gate, this one had the right feeling to it. After passing through, I found myself back in the vacuum of space looking down on a new world. From a distance, I couldn’t tell anything special about it. It was just another world among the countless others I’d seen in my life. As I drew closer I made a split second decision to throw my cloaking on, I wasn’t sure why, but I felt it was the right thing to do.

After passing through the upper atmosphere, I took note of quite a few avian species. The most dominant of them seemed to be a race of quadrupedal multi-hued animals. After looking them up on a scan, they came up in a search on ancient mythology. Apparently, they were called Pegasi. As I flew around the globe, I took note of a few other species that lived on this world, and most intriguing was the fact that each new species that seemed to have only existed in dead mythology, were sentient. I observed them interacting with each other, and even having what appeared to be full-blown conversations with each other as well.

After circling the planet a few times, I decided to look for a place to land. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself at this point. I wasn’t positive, but I had a feeling that I should stay hidden for now. As I searched, I found what appeared to be a castle in ruins sitting in the middle of the forest. Traveling a reasonable distance from that, I found a clearing just large enough for me to land. I looked over at my scans and determined that I was likely at the heart of the forest. Upon realizing this, I decided to disembark from my ship. Stepping down from the ramp I cast my eyes on the majesty of this place.

Gazing around the clearing, I was amazed at its beauty. It seemed a scene out of a novel. Now after having been alone for a very long time, I had built a habit of talking to myself at times, if for no other excuse than to hear a voice. “Here is where I shall build my temple. This place is filled with the Force.” Taking a seat in a meditative position, I began to think about what it was that I wanted to do. I would need places to train, places to sleep, places to cook. I needed a full complex. But at the same time, I didn’t want to destroy such a wonderful place. My mind returned to my training on the shinobi world, and I thought back to the first Hokage. Lifting my head, my hands began to weave the signs. “Mokuton: Shichūka no Jutsu” {Wood Style: Four-Pillar House Jutsu} The trees in the clearing and the area around began to shift and contort. Smaller trees pressed together and fused into magnificent trees of massive size, there insides turning and moving, forming into places of study, places of meditation, places of rest and training.

I let the Jutsu go wild, forming and changing nature into a form that I deemed usable. These would be the dwellings of those that lived alongside nature. I had no need to destroy or burn. I just needed to create. It took close to three hours for the Jutsu to finish. Here in the center was the grand temple. The tree that comprised it was massive, likely the most enormous tree on this world. The base of the trunk at its widest point must have been more than 200 meters in diameter. The walls were thick, and the roots ran deep. Not even the strongest of hurricane force winds would make this tree sway.

As I gazed up at the massive structure, a name came to me. One that held weight, and power. “I name you Yggdrasil, the world tree.” The forest seemed to grow still as if it agreed with this name. As I gazed up at the massive tree, I felt a presence behind me. I slowly turned to see a small man. Little more than three feet high.

The little man looked up at me. And I gazed into his eyes, feeling countless ages held within. I, even at the age of 227, was still an infant in his eyes. Bringing myself down, I kneeled before him. At this point, he spoke with a deep voice that betrayed his size “Well then, it’s been countless years since a Human has stepped foot here… But at the same time, you don’t feel like just a normal human.” He then looked behind me “Quite a lovely tree that you have grown here. And did I hear you right when you called it Yggdrasil?”

Not sure what to say, I decided that being formal was in my best interest “Yes exalted elder, I have no idea where the name came from. After I had finished it… well, the name just came to me. I am called Vash Terrek, would I have the great honor of knowing your name as well?”

I hoped that I hadn’t overstepped any boundaries by asking. Though He seemed to look through me before answering. “You are a funny fellow aren’t you. Now now, no need to be so formal. After all, I’m just a crazy old man that lives in the forest, coming to meet his neighbor. My name is Mr. Moochick, although many just call me ‘the Moochick.’ Not really sure why though. What brings you to Equestria?”

I smiled at the silly little man “I cannot tell you why I came here, for I do not know. I was directed to come by a power above my own. But as for my plans, I am thinking about opening a school here. There is plenty of room available for it, and this place is beautiful. Beyond that, I am interested in the large deposit of crystals that are to be found beneath this tree. If I can manage to find students, they will of be of great importance for them.”

The Moochick stroked his beard. “And what, pray tell, are you looking to teach I wonder?” I opened my mouth to answer when he cut me off “Bah! What does it matter? I know what I need to at this point. You have modified the forest to meet your needs but did so in a way that will only help the forest. I will judge you to be a good neighbor and leave it at that.” He turned to leave and hopped up to sit on his walking stick, the top of which seemed to look large enough to sit on in the first place. He then began to bounce away before I could say anything more.

Standing up to my full height I looked after him before speaking to myself “That was by far, the strangest thing I have ever seen.” I turned back to my project and shrugged “No matter. Now I can begin with the finishing touches.”

After having pulled my supplies from my ship, I began my work. Day in and day out, I pushed myself to complete my strenuous work. I gathered stone with high levels of silica to break into sand that I melted down to form glass for windows. I painted the walls of the room to show the history of the various orders and even my own history. I choose not to edit the past, I left them whole and exposed. Both the Jedi and the Sith have points in history where they caused good, and when they had caused undue pain. My Master had collected all that she could before our last mission.

I generally ignored time as it passed, it was not the first time that I had done so. I had finished my work years ago, but at this point, I had still felt no urgency to leave the forest. That is until a single morning where I felt compelled to make a move. Pulling myself from my meditation, I walked forward to Yggdrasil “I have listened and heard the will of the Force.” I lifted my hand, pulling a single seed from the tree. The seed came to me, cradled in the Force, a promise of a new life.

I began to walk, not sure of the direction, only that I knew that It was the right way to go. Further and further from the heart, I traveled. After two days of constant walking, I came to the edge of the forest, it was here that I had the opportunity to view the locals for the first time since I had come here. There seemed to be a rather large gathering of them at a hillside that looked down on a lush expanse of land. The largest of the group appears to be a large white pony, (I had learned that they were called ponies from the animals in the forest.) Its most distinctive features were its massive wings and horn, but both seemed to pale at the look of its mane and tail, both of which looked to be made of multi-hued plasma.

She appeared to be speaking to the smaller ponies that had some wheeled carts attached to them. A young green pony stood at the head of the group. I drew my Zanpakuto and held it with the blade facing the ground “Bendu, Shroud.” Dropping the sword, it changed into a hooded robe, covering my features. I Ignored the gathering and make my way past them. In a large clearing, I found a beautiful spot. Crouching down I dug a small hole to place the seed in. After covering the hole, I used a simple Jutsu to create a low volume of water. Once this was done I pressed my hand to the ground and focused a bit of my chakra into the seed, forcing it to take root and sprout. As I pulled my hand from the ground a bright green seedling had begun to grow. I continued feeding it chakra until it had managed to grow to the size of at least seven inches, but from this point, it would have to survive on its own.

I moved to stand and brush myself off but froze when I heard someone approaching me from behind. My sudden stop in movement must have alerted the approaching being that I had noticed them because they spoke: “Hello there, might I ask whom you are?”

I kept myself crouched down, but turned to look at the being from under my hood, keeping my face hidden. “I am but a humble hermit, neighbor to the Moochick.” at this point I noticed that it was the large white pony from before, and now that I got a closer look, I was able to tell that it was female. “I have come here for the single purpose of planting this tree. Now that it is done, I must return to my home. It is not yet time for me to be known.”

Her eyes seemed to widen when I mentioned the Moochick. “What do you mean by it is not the time for you to be known.”

I smiled as I activated my rinnegan, a purple mist forming beneath me. I began to fall through before I added at the last moment “As I said, it is not time.” I watched her eyes widen as I disappeared before her. In the next instant, I found myself back in my room in the forest. “Well, that was interesting. Her eyes also held quite a bit of time in them. And it seems like she knows who old man Moochick is.” I chuckled and moved back into the depths of my temple. “I will have to wait and see what happens then.

___________time jump approx 100 years_______________

I woke from my slumber to feel something very wrong. The world was unbalanced, it was the day, but the sun had not risen and the moon held sway. Looking around I spoke “Something is not right. Something has awakened… Something evil. I quickly gathered my things together. My lightsaber and zanpakuto, as well as some trail food. As I was about to leave my room, I looked at a bag sitting next to the door. Inside it held some crystals that I had harvested from the mines beneath Yggdrasil. Sixteen in total. Enough for a total of eight blades. At this point, they were almost worthless crystals, but in time, with the right focus and though, they would become more.

I grabbed the bag and tied it to my hip. I decided to move closer to the edge and see if I could discover something about what had happened. Summoning my portal, I stepped through to arrive at the edge of the forest, right where I had come out, just over a hundred years ago. No more was it an empty plane. Looking out I took in the sight of a village. But in the back of the town, I noticed something else. The seed that I had planted so many years ago had grown into an excellent tree. A bit on the small side all things considered, but it was still a beautiful tree. And more than that, it appeared that it had inherited the form of its parent. Seeing as it had a warm glow coming from visible windows.

I took note of a group of six ponies walking toward the edge of the forest. The one at the lead was a purple unicorn, followed by a white unicorn, two pegasus, and two earth ponies. I reached out with the Force to gauge them. But felt as if I should stay back, for now. I drew Bendu and changed it to the cloak form. As the group walked further into the forest, I learned that they were looking for some kind of artifacts of power. Something that would be able to defeat a being known as Nightmare Moon, and end this eternal night. As they walked on a narrow ledge, I took note a dark wisp that pressed into the side of the cliff.

As it disappeared, the cliff began to rumble. The mares acted quickly, but the purple one, not fast enough. I was about to jump out and help before the orange mare beat me to it. I watched them exchange a few words before the purple mare let go and fell into the waiting arms of the pegasi, I made my move at that moment. Using flash step I appeared right behind the orange mare “That was impressive.”

She seemed to stiffen when I spoke. Slowly turning around she looked up at me “W-who are ya?”

I smiled “I am a friend. And I have a gift for you.” I held out two of the crystals. She looked at them with a measured distrust. I smiled back down at her, which now that I think on it a bit more, may have been one of the issues with her being nervous around me, after all from her perspective I was a cloaked giant that was hiding its face “I promise that I mean you no harm. I am simply rewarding your actions. For being a good friend and helping her. All I ask is that you keep these with you. For now, they are simple, brittle and worthless. But who knows, in a few years, maybe they will change. On that day, if they do. Come to the edge of the forest and call my name. Vash.”

She held out her hoof, and I dropped the crystals. As she watched them fall, I formed my portal under my feet and fell with them. Leaving her alone on the hill. I dropped down right where I was before. I watched her put the crystals under the band on her hat and jump down to meet her friends. They spoke for a few moments and continued on their trek.

As they continued down the path, they came upon another challenge, a manticore rushed out to confront them. At first, I was concerned as to why he was doing so. I had spent time with that manticore many times, and he usually was quite shy. Five of the group got ready to fight with the beast, but the timid yellow one was trying to make them stop. As they appeared to gather for a final charge, the yellow mare stood before them and cried for them to stop. They gave her a confused look before she walked right up to the manticore.

He roared once then held out his paw. I took note of the large thorn that was embedded there. Taking the spine in her mouth, the yellow pegasus pulled it out. Now free of its pain, the beast picked her up and began to lick her face. Her friends laughed and moved to continue their journey. She had stayed back for a moment to make sure that he was okay.

I moved in at that moment and spoke once again “Manfried, you are lucky that this mare noticed that thorn, I think that the others would have beaten you into a pulp without her.”

The little mare froze. Deciding that I needed to be gentle with this one, I crouched down to her level first and pulled down my hood. Giving as bright of a smile as I could I continued “Please don’t be afraid my dear. Thank you for helping this fluff ball here. He tends to get a bit grumpy when he is in pain. Yet I still can’t keep him away from those thorn bushes.”

She turned around to face me. She was still terrified, but at least she was looking at me. “Um… well….um…”

I smiled again “don’t think you have to push yourself for me. I wish to give you a gift for helping my friend.” I held out two more crystals and gave her the same explanation that I had before and disappearing as I gave her the crystals. This scene repeated itself three more times this night. Once after the group had begun to fall to fear of the trees and forest, this resulted in the pink one getting her crystals, next came the white one, who first gave her tail to another one of my friends in the forest. Steven was an interesting fellow, but friendly enough. The final time came to the blue one. She had been tempted with something that she had craved, but she held firm to her convictions and did not fall to temptation.

I held back to observe as the events unfolded before me. They made their way to the ruined castle. The purple one showed more skill in magic, and they managed to fire some kind of rainbow beam at a dark mare. Or as they called her Nightmare Moon. They had somehow summoned the artifacts that they had been searching for and now stood around speaking quietly to each other about what they had accomplished. I wanted to step out, but something told me that it was not time just yet.

The orange mare, which I now understood went by Applejack made a final comment that they represented the qualities of friendship when a gentle voice from the past spoke: “Indeed, you do.”

The white mare that I had met all those years ago appeared in a beam of golden light. Them mares all began to bow to her before the Purple one know as Twilight rushed forward “Princess Celestia!”

My eyes widened, and I muttered to myself “Didn’t know she was a princess. But at least she still looks good for all that time passing.”

The white mare leaned down to nuzzle the smaller mare “Twilight Sparkle, My faithful student. I knew you could do it.” I held back and decided to observe this from the sidelines until my best opportunity came.

Twilight
“But you told me it was all an old pony tale.”

Celestia
“I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return, and I knew it was you that had the magic inside to defeat her. But you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart. Now if only another one will as well. Princess Luna, it has been a 1000 years since I have last seen you like this.” Celestia made her way over to a small blue mare that lie where the Nightmare had been defeated “Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister.” the other mares gasped at this revelation “Will you accept my friendship?”

The air seemed to grow thick with anticipation, no one moved as they waited for her answer. Which she gave by running forward and throwing herself on her apparent big sister as she began to cry and begged for forgiveness.

I decided to make my move and mad my presence known. “This is truly a touching scene. Would you not agree, girls?”

Five of the eight looked at me with wonder, while the other three seemed to be suspicious. AppleJack spoke first “So Y'all weren't just my imagination after all. Where ya.”

I smiled “No Miss AppleJack. I was not.” I turned to the mare I know knew as Princess Celestia “It is good to see you again, though had I known then that you were a princess I would have been more formal in my greeting. Allow me to properly introduce myself this time. I am called Vash Terrek.” I bowed deeply to princess Celestia first, then turned to the other “and to this new face, I feel much sorrow in your heart, your body speaks of a young child, but your eyes hold the ages. A true delight to meet you, Princess Luna. It is an honor.” She seemed to take a step back and put her sister between us.

Celestia looked at me with suspicion for a moment before she remembered our last meeting. As she did so her smile returned “ah yes, I remember you now. You were the one to plant the tree that now is used as the library in Ponyville. The neighbor of the Moochick.” Luna’s eyes shot open at the mention of that crazy old man.

I smiled “yes indeed. I am happy that you remember me. After all, that was just over 100 years ago, and we only met for a moment.”

She smiled at me “well it leaves a rather lasting impression when a strange being suddenly disappears into a purple mist.”

I smirked “yes I do tend to do that from time to time. But that Is neither here nor there. For now is a time for gifts. I have already given five, but I have three more still.” I turned to Twilight first. “Little Twilight Sparkle, I have been watching from the moment that you entered this forest. You have lead your group of friends far, and you have stayed true to your convictions, I give you these two crystals.” I held them out to her, and she took them up in her magic “for now they are clear, fragile and worthless. But given time with you, they may become more. On that day, if they should change, walk into my forest and call out my name. I will come, and then we can begin a new journey of knowledge.”

I turned to the sisters as well and held out two crystals each. “I gift you to both the same as I have given to these six. Keep them with you, and again on the day that they should change, come to my forest and speak my name. I will come.” As they took them from my grasp, I choose this moment to fall through my portal.

_________perpective shift to the ruined castle______

Luna looked up to her sister “S-sister, who was that being? They did not tell us much, but it would seem as if you knew of them?”

Celestia shook her head to clear her mind “at this point you all know as much as I do about him. I met him just over 100 years ago as dear AppleJack’s family first founded Ponyville. He was planting the tree that has become the library and said that it was not yet time for him to reveal himself. At that time he did not give me his name. He just said that he was the neighbor of the Moochick.”

Twilight spoke up next “Princess, who is the Moochick, I’ve never heard of that before.”

Celestia smiled “The Moochick is one of the oldest beings on Equis. Older even than myself. He has existed as long as Equis has. He once had dealings with the ponies that lived in dream valley, tens of thousands of years ago. Apparently, he now resides somewhere in the Everfree forest.”

Rainbow Dash spoke next “Do you think we can trust the dude? He was kinda creepy with how he would appear and disappear all of a sudden.”

AppleJack looked at the group “Ah can’t be certain why, but ah trust him. He weren’t lying when he was speakin to us.”

Celestia nodded “I agree with dear AppleJack. I am not sure what it is that he wants, but I do think he has good intentions.”

________________perspective shift to Vash___________________

I looked around the clearing and decided that at this point I should start to prepare, it would likely take a few years, but I was expecting students. How long would it take them to bond with the crystals? It was entirely possible that they never would. But the Force works in mysterious ways, and even now, after more than 300 years of life, I still was no closer to learning them.