Salvation's Twilight

Alice walked into the nightclub with Twilight close behind. She stopped just outside the main doors which led further inside and glanced between the pair of meaty, human bouncers standing guard and smiled. "I'm here to see Kry'van."

Twilight looked up at Alice, then to the bouncers, one of whom used a hand to pull his suit collar up and mumbled into it.

"Your pet stays behind," the guy ordered, narrowing his eyes at Twilight, who only glared back.

"Excuse me? I'm not a pet! I wish everyone would stop thinking that," she huffed, frowning up at them.

The man blinked at that, then waved them in. "Fine," he muttered. Within a few seconds, the double doors behind them buzzed and one of the bouncers opened a door for them. The low volume of techno music filled the air, vibrating the pair’s bodies.

Nonetheless, the two of them eased their way into the empty nightclub. The floor held various booths for groups of people to sit and drink, as well as a large dance floor in the center. Off to the side sat chairs and tables on a slightly
raised, wooden, platform with the bar just behind, covered with row upon row of expensive looking bottles.

Sat in one of the booths were two Humans and a Reltoid, a briefcase sat on the table between them. Alice couldn't make out what they were saying but could see bags of powder sat within.

Keeping her expression as neutral as she could, Alice gestured for Twi to follow and walked over towards the booth. Stopping in front, she nodded to Kry'van, an older gentleman sat in the center of two male bodyguards. One was a gruff and grizzled Reltoid and the other a younger human, both wearing the same as Kry'van.

Alice had to guess he was roughly middle aged with a long scar down the right side of his face, stretching from his ear to the corner of his mouth. He wore an expensive tailor-made white shirt, black pinstripe trousers and pointed dress shoes.

"Alice, what a surprise!" the guy said, raising his hands and smiling. "What a fortuitous occasion. What brings you to my little slice of tower?"

Alice couldn't help but feel the corners or her lips curl into a smile. "We were in the neighborhood and thought we'd drop by. I'm sure you've heard the news?" she asked, raising a brow.

Kry'van chuckled. "Of course, I have. How could I not? Reports of a strange beam lighting up the night sky and the tower sending a platoon to storm a home on the fourth floor!" He leaned back and let himself relax, waving his hand. "What I don't understand is what you want from me, or why you think I would help you?"

"Because you know as well as I do that the tower is looking for something powerful, and they won't stop until it's found," she replied. "As you said, they don't just send soldiers out for no reason.”

“And you think that bothers me? We’ve hidden this place from every scanner they have. It’s basically undetectable unless they waltz in here themselves. Either way, why would be they concerned with this place. It’s not like it has anything they
would want.” Kry'van's eyes had drifted down to Twilight, who was standing there watching their conversation silently. "And who do we have here?" he asked, intrigued as he leaned forwards. He let his smile morph into a yellowed and black stained grin.

Twilight felt dirty just from witnessing that grin alone and did her best to return one herself. "Twilight Sparkle, sir,” she said, pushing herself to respond.

"Sir!" he laughed, nudging the two men next to him. His laugh was a deep rumble that rubbed the pair the wrong way. "It called me sir! No one's called me that in years," he continued, laughing louder. The two men on either side of him mimicking him as well and beginning to chuckle, despite not understand what was so funny.

Twi and Alice simply stood there for a second before looking at each other then back at the group, Twilight’s face showing her annoying at being called ‘it’. "We're here to find a specific piece of otherworld tech," Alice interjected, causing Kry'van's demeanor to flip.

He stopped laughing and stared at Alice, eyes narrowing. "And why do you think I should help you, huh? You caused the Enforcers to come to the Burroughs and put the council on high alert. Because of you, people are scared for no reason." The human leaned forward and rapped her fingers against the table, before gestured around him. "So, you fucking tell me why I should give you what you want!"

Alice felt the tension in the room explode around her. Kry'van's bodyguards had quickly slid their hands down to their holsters. She nervously brought a hand up to rub at the back of her neck. "Well, I guess," she began, hoping beyond
hope that Twilight's shield could stop Bolter rounds. "Because you owe me?"

Kry'van couldn't believe he had just heard that come out of her mouth. "Me, owe you?!" he said, rising up and exiting out of the booth to stand in front of Alice. "I don't owe you shit! I allow you to come and go freely. The other members might think you're hot shit, but you're just a scraper that doesn't know her place!" he screamed into the girl's face.

Twilight was taken aback at how quickly his anger blew up and took a step back, watching for any sign from Alice, who had simply looked away. Despite this, Twi could see Alice was trying to keep her cool.

"How dare you come into my place and say I owe you!" Kry'van continued. "Who helped you when you had no place to go? Living in the streets. I saw that you could do magic and still kept it a secret! Do you know how much the tower would pay for you? I would be running the entire Under-Burroughs if I sold you." With each point, he pushed his finger against Alice's shoulder. "You know what, if anything, you owe me," he said, reaching up and brushing his stubby fingers over her hair as his anger subsided. "I'm sure we could forget all about this little transgression of you'd come and work here. I'm always in need o-"

He was quickly cut off with a fist striking the side of his face, blinding him as a small flash of light exploded in his vision.

Twilight's eyes widened as she saw that, then her gaze flicked to the bodyguards who pulled out their chunky firearms and began to unload towards Alice's body.

The rounds impacted the shield, and stopped, just like Twilight said they would, but still knocked Alice off her feet once the secondary charge detonated in a blinding flash of light! She was pushed back a couple of feet and crashed through some table and chairs, with the guards still firing their magazines at her!

Twilight screamed and scrambled towards some cover near the back exit while their attention wasn't on her. Finding herself cut off from Alice, Twilight hunkered down and prayed to Celestia her new friend was still alive! She assumed these were the guns Alice had warned her about, but that sheer power was unbelievable.

Alice let out a painful groan as she laid there on the floor, her chest and stomach hurting. She brought her hands and felt herself, finding bits of shrapnel laying harmlessly across her body, but no blood or holes, just the start of two large
bruises, one on her left breast and the other dead center on her stomach.

She winced as bolter rounds continued to impact around her, detonating and showering her and her with debris. Rolling over, she crawled behind the table that was providing her with cover and looked around for Twilight to see her being shot at by the bouncers that were from outside. She cried out as she felt a white hot pain in her arm and saw that a jagged piece of metal had embedded itself from where a round had impacted and splintered a nearby chair.

Reaching over with a quivering hand, she hesitantly began to slide the metal out of her arm, letting out painful whimpers while blood dribbled down her arm to pool beneath her. 'The shield is failing,' she thought, still dazed and confused from the blow. Alice moved her bloodied hands down to the table's neck and heaved it up. She used one hand to steady it as she began to rush towards the bodyguards, pieces of the metal table denting and cracking as she gained on them!

In front of one of the bodyguards, Alice thrust the table forwards as he jumped out of the way. She just about clipped his legs, causing him to tumble to the floor and losing grip of his weapon. It clattered to the ground between them. Seeing an
opportunity, she dove for it, grabbing the gun's grip and yanking it away from him.

She aimed the gun at the bodyguard, hot anger flashing in front of her eyes as she watched him cover his face in terror. Her finger closed upon the trigger, finding only the 'click' of an empty magazine. Blinking in confusion, she realised what she had nearly allowed herself to do and felt the guilt well up inside her. She wasn’t willing to kill.

Feeling another impact, Alice cried out and fell forwards once it detonated. She could barely feel her legs after the that but was relieved the shield was still active to keep her alive.

Turning to the terrified human, she got up and cracked him across the face with the grip of the bolter, before crawling into cover as the Reltoid that was shooting at her reloaded his gun.

***

Plenty of thoughts passed through Twilight's mind as the pushed over one of the tables and ducked behind it, narrowly avoiding a blast of shrapnel. One was how stupid it was to follow Alice into this nightclub, and another was how lucky she was to be an Alicorn!

Above her, the table splintered and shattered apart as bolter rounds impacted and detonated, scouring her fur clean from the heat. Screaming out for Alice, Twilight frantically searched around for her companion, growing desperately
short on cover!

The mare cried out in shock as a bolter round hit the table, bounced off and landed next to her. The next thing Twilight could see was a blinding flash, then Alice bending down with her face bloodied and bruised. She felt herself being picked
up, the smell of burning and magic caught in the back of her throat as well as a deafening ringing in her ears, while her consciousness faded back to darkness.

***

Twilight was once again floating in an endless void, the pain in her body just a mere afterthought now. Looking around, she saw nothing but the inky blackness and curled up. She gripped her tail and stroked it slowly. "Am I finally
dead?" she wondered, mumbling to herself.

"I should hope not, dear Twilight!" a voice called out, one that Twilight recognised.

"Luna, is that you?!" Twi asked, looking around frantically. She found a glow coming from below, one that was nearing her quicker and quicker until a bed was pushed up under her. The mare could see herself laying in the bed, wing
bandaged up haphazardly with Alice asleep on the floor beside it.

Twilight turned around to see Luna materialise, her form flickering in and out quickly. The older alicorn looked ragged and tired. She had developed bags under her eyes and had forgone her usual preening. "Twilight, it is a relief to finally contact you!" she said, closing the gap for a hug and falling through Twilight.

Pulling back, she grumbled under her breath and sat down in front of the mare. "I forgot myself, Twilight," Luna said.

Twilight gasped at the sensation of Luna passing through her and shuddered. "I've missed you too, Luna," Twilight could see that Luna's mane didn't have the same shine it usually did.

Despite the obvious tiredness in Luna's voice, her lips were in a warm, caring smile. "It has been an ordeal to find you. We've spent this last week in the dream realm trying to find you."

"The past week?!" Twi said, looking worried. "I think it's been that long," she muttered, unsure of herself. Climbing off the bed, she looked and paced around.

"Twilight what happened?" Luna asked, taking stock of the creature sleeping on the floor, before turning her gaze upon Twilight once more. "and, where are you? You're not in our universe anymore." Luna followed Twi's pacing around the room, looking worried.

"What happened?" she asked, shaking her head and stopping for a second. "I got drunk, that's what happened. I always make stupid decisions when I'm drunk, especially with magic." Letting out a huff, she returned to her pacing and explained how she had arrived in Salvation.

"Well, that explains this thing," Luna mumbled, looking down to Alice once again. "Your parents will be relieved to know that you are okay. Mentally, at least. Equestria too." Luna rose up and walked over to stand in front of Twilight. "You are strong, Twilight. Never forget that. You are an Alicorn; able to weather any storm." At this, Luna took a breath to steady herself. "Come back to us quickly Twilight." she leaned down and despite not being able to touch, still nuzzled the purple mare, which was eagerly reciprocated. "Well try and visit when we can, but there's some kind of interference, in addition to the distance. We're having to burn up our stars for this. We'll try to find the source when we have time."

Twilight's shock was written on her face. "What?! Why would you do that!" she asked. "Ponies deserve to see your night."

Luna's smile grew warmer upon hearing that. "No, they deserve to have you back, Twilight. My sky can be remade, and the magic can be restored but you are my friend and I will not lose you." With that, Luna's form flickered out for a second then back in. "My time is ending here. We'll try and help once-"

Twilight was left there as Luna's form cut out, leaving her alone in her dream. It was eerily quiet, the dreamscape void from the normally subtle noises that would help ease its occupant.

"How interesting, it seems we have a new magic user in salvation," a voice spoke up, as if echoing from everywhere at once. "With such a strange and unique form as well. This is a truly marvelous night."

Twilight gasped upon seeing the corner of the room begin to crack, as if the very wood and brick had turned to glass and began to ooze darkness. "Who are you?!" Twilight shouted, wings flaring in display.

"Feisty. And curious. You ask, 'who are you', not 'what are you'," the being said, the shadows coalescing into a long, slender humanoid which hunched over. It was swamped in robes which covered the majority of its body and let its hood hang over its head. He raised a shaking, bony hand and pointed towards her. "I have no need for names, Eternal,” it said, stepping forwards and forcing Twilight back with its imposing presence. "The others have not found you, that much is certain. So, I propose a trade"

Twi frowned in confusion at everything she was hearing. "I have questions first!" she asked, folding her wings closed. She couldn’t really sense any hostile intent behind the creature’s words, yet she couldn’t help but felt that it wasn’t telling her everything.

"Of course, you would be a fool if you didn't," it replied, pulling back its finger into its inky form.

"If you have no name, when what are you?" Twi began, eyes roaming the being’s form, not managing to see much other than a bone here and there. "What is an 'eternal'? And what do I have that you would want?"

The thing let out a raspy, choked laugh. "I am, we are, an Eternal. But I have been around far longer, judging by the state your body is in," it said, gesturing to the bed. "As for what I want. What does everyone want? Power." With a twitch of its hand, a miniature copy of the city was laid upon the floor. "I want power to look over my Citizens. The other Eternals
bicker and fight while their people die. But with you as an ally, I can take charge and start to help them."

Twilight had a million questions race through her mind the second this thing had said she was Eternal. Of course, she knew better than to instantly trust information she was told, but stored it down on her mental notepad, for later research. Upon seeing the map, Twilight marvelled at simply how big the city was, it was at least four times as large as manehattan! "Why should I trust you? You invade the privacy of my own dream and ask for my help!"

"You have no reason to," it replied, placing a hand on, what Twilight assumed to be, its chest. "But I know the way home, back to your own universe," he revealed, leaning down towards Twilight. "I'll start you on your journey, if you promise to help me when the time comes."

"When will that be?" Twi asked, her ears having perked up at hearing that he could get her back home. “How will I know?”

"You'll know, trust me," he said, reaching out his hand towards Twilight, the grey and scoured bone looking frosty and uninviting to the mare’s eyes.

Twilight hesitated as she stared at the hand. On one hoof Alice was helping her, but despite being a nice person and someone that seemed to care, Twi didn't think that she'd actually have the means to get her home. Yet, something told her to believe in her new friend. The mare took a step back and shook her head. “I’ll have to think about it,” she replied, giving a glare at the powerful being.

The being huffed and pulled his hand back. “That human can barely help herself, let alone an Eternal. Mortals are so short-sighted. She will end up killing you,” it hissed, turning away from the mare. “We’ll talk when I’m needed,” he finished, before filling Twilight’s dream with darkness that oozed out of every brick, and metal beam.

Twilight cried out as she tumbled down and ever deeper into the void, flipping head over rump as she nearly lost her non-existent lunch. Closing her eyes, Twilight groaned out as she felt herself hit her bed.

***

Twilight awoke with a gasp; her breathing having spiked. She looked around and found herself in the same room, empty of any other being aside from herself and Alice.

Alice's hand gripped the bed to pull herself up. "Good morning, Twi," she mumbled, stretching and letting out a yawn, at least until she winced at the pain coursing through her body. “Fuck, this is going to be a long day.”

Twilight could feel that most of the feathers on her right side had been burnt away, along with some numbness. “What happened?” she asked, rubbing a hoof over her eyes and adding her own yawn. “I remember an explosion.”

Alice shakily rose to her feet and hobbled over to the bath, all the while grumbling to herself. “Yeah,” she grunted, sitting down on the edge, “You were knocked unconscious.” She turned on the bath, letting it fill up before looking over to Twilight. “I guess I believe you about crashing through a mountain. You’re stupidly resistant,” she said, chuckling.

Twilight could see that Alice wasn’t in a great way. She had a hastily bandaged arm and held her stomach tight, wincing with every breath. “Alice, what happened?” she asked, her voice turning more forceful.

The human looked into the water, then closed her eyes as she sighed. “Most of it was a blur, but your shield worked, for a time.” Alice opened her eyes but kept gazing into the rising water. “I got one of them down, but once you were knocked out, the rest went for me,” she began to explain, reaching down to swish the water and gasping in pain. “I was shot. Your shield saved me, but it still hurt like a bitch,” she groaned, reaching for her shirt and weakly pulling it off to dump it on the ground.

In addition to her bruised and cut face, Alice had two deep red bruises that almost spanned the width of her torso. One covered her entire stomach, and another covered her chest. “Don’t worry, they’re hurt worse than they look,” she joked, quickly coughing in pain for that.

Twilight winced as she climbed out of bed and ran over to Alice, staring at the bruises with concern. “That’s,” she said, unable to think of the words.

“Really, Twilight. It’s okay,” she grunted, having to lean over to turn the water off. “Now, get in and I’ll wash you,” she ordered, to which Twilight backed off a step and shook her head.

“No. You’re hurt more than me, you get in,” Twi retorted, frowning. “I’m not an invalid either. I can wash myself, but you can’t!” The mare’s magic tenderly pulled Alice up, unzipped her pants and pulled them down, leaving the Human standing there naked.

Not particularly wanting to deal with this on top of earlier, Alice sighed and said, “Fine.” She turned around and inhaled sharply as she pulled a let up and over, then the other. Sinking into the tub, she found her muscles relax and the strain fade away. Alice felt like she could have simply stayed here forever and give up on everything else in life. Closing her eyes, she said, “I’m sorry.”

Twilight watched, noting the various cuts and scrapes along Alice’s legs and arms, as well as a few uncovered shrapnel wounds that she didn’t bandage over. “Sorry? What for?” Twilight asked, moving over to the tub’s side and resting her head on the rim. The Human looked to be in a sorry state, which could only pull on her heartstrings.

“For getting you hurt. I’m supposed to be getting you home. I agreed for the wrong reasons and I didn’t think my actions through. We both nearly died because of it.” Alice sunk deeper into the water, down until her mouth was covered, a thousand-yard stare covering her eyes.

“I know,” was all Twilight replied with, reaching over and stroking the Human’s hair with a hoof. She couldn’t really stay mad at Alice, especially since she had saved the two of them, even if she did cause this. The image of Fluttershy flashed through her mind, telling her to be kinder to the poor Human as everypony makes mistakes. ‘If my friends can’t be here, I guess I’ll have to try and do as they would do,’ she reckoned, smiling. “Well, let’s get you washed, shall we?”