The Spirit

I pick my revolver up from its spot on next to the elevator. Attempting to twirl it around my finger absolutely fails, so I just put it in regularly. I walk into the elevator itself and press the button to go to the basement.

It’s only been a week since I’ve returned. That surge of power from fighting the Emperor seems to have drained me. I don’t shoot as good, I don’t shoot as fast. Seems like it fed off of my skills and speed, I’m definitely lacking in those two compartments compared to before.

I still think I have enough skill for whatever might be through the portal Twilight made.

The elevator doors open, leading to the basement laboratory. Quite a big place now, with space made for the portal to be built. Scientists sit all around, making sure everything runs smoothly. In the middle of them is Twilight Sparkle herself.

I walk through the crowd to her, and stop near her, “So, Twilight, you needed me?”

She nods, “Well, I feel you should be the leader of the squad led through the portal.”

I nod, “Alright. And this portal? Where does it lead?”

She cringes a bit, before putting on a sheepish smile, “Well, you remember whenever I said I needed a scrap of your duster for Rarity?”

I cock an eyebrow from behind my mask, “Yes?”

She looks down slightly, “And you also remember whenever I said I could track your magical energy to Earth?”

I slightly nod, before slamming my hand into my forehead, “Twilight...”

She nods towards the portal, “Through there is Earth, Survivor. We are connecting both worlds. You can visit your family and kind again!” She jumps a little into the air.

I sigh, “Twilight, did I never tell you what happened to Earth? There’s a reason why I don’t want to go back.” I lean down, right in front of her, “Put it simply; everything is dead. Earth burned, Twilight. I am the Survivor for a reason. The only thing there now is the mark of our legacy, cities, monuments, and technology.”

She backs up slightly, before looking down, “I’m sorry, Survivor. I didn’t know. I can close it-“

I interrupt her, “No, no, this still presents and opportunity. If a team could grab the proper things, we could advance your world into a new age.”

She looks right at me, “Well, we have the team. But they don’t know what to get.”

The marching of hooves echoes through the room as ten Royal Guards move through the crowd, before stopping and saluting me, “Sir!”

She at them, “They were hoof-picked by my brother, the best of the best. But they need a leader for the unknown territory.”

I breathe deeply, thinking for a bit, “And that leader would be me. Wouldn’t it?”

She nods, “If you are up to it. Think about all that could be done! From what you’ve told me, this technology is near unheard of!”

I rub my hands over my mask, “You don’t know what you ask of me, Twilight. I still have nightmares about what happened. You don’t know what it’s like to know your entire family is dead. I don’t know if I could bare looking at their corpses.”

Twilight looks away, “You don’t have to, we can send them in and hope they succeed. If you so wish, you can stay behind.”

I shake my head, “No, no, no. I have to do this. To have some closure at the least.”

She smiles, “Your squad waits.”

I look over at the group of ten, “No, they aren’t coming. They haven’t faced these horrors, and I would never subject them to it. They’re too innocent.”

All the guards tilt their heads, still in unity. Twilight does the same, “Then who will go with you?”

I hear a pop from behind me, “Seems like your forgetting about me!”

I turn around, to see Discord there. Twilight voices her opinion, “What makes you think you can go, Discord?”

He slithers around the floor, until he is right next to her, “See, Sparkle, I’ve been there. I saw the death first hand, remember who saved Survivor here? Believe me, that event was horrid, but I can still stand it. These little ponies that call themselves soldiers would faint at the first sight of the skeletons. Plus, Spirit of Chaos and everything. I would like to think I carry more power than these ten, even if I’m weaker on that world.”

I nod, “He’s right Twilight. He’s far better suited for the job than your guards. So, Discord, want to come?”

He nods, and wraps a gas mask around his head, “Ready and willing!”

Twilight sighs, “Fine, if you wish to take him along.” She then activates her magic, and brings some small devices into existence, “Carry these, they’ll make it so we can communicate.”

I take one, and put it into my inner pocket, “How do they do that?”

She smiles at the chance to explain something, “They connect to the magical signature of the owner, me, and of the carrier, you two. With the signatures connected, it allows communication whenever magic is activated near it.”

I nod, “And where exactly are we going to come out?”

She sighs, “Well, I employed help from Zecora on this, so the position is told to us through a riddle. Said you’ll land, ‘where tree and sun shine, limestone mine, where the mouse was really made, and gators within the ‘glade’. Now, I have no idea, but you probably do.”

I nod, “Florida. The Sunshine State with lots of limestone, Disneyland, and a serious problem with alligators within the Everglades. Where I lived, where my family died. Of course it was Florida.”

She reaches out a hoof, “Good luck, Survivor. I hope you can find closure. I will be able to help you as well. Watch Discord out there.”

He leans in, “I’m right here you know.”

I nod, and smile behind my mask, “Come on Discord, off we go.”

We both walk away from Twilight, and towards the glowing white portal. I stop right in front of it, take a deep breath, and walk through.