Destination of the Traveler - Guardians of a new Golden Age.

“I am GriffinStorm, Guardian, and servant of The Traveler.” as I stood there, my arm raised in the air pointing at the Traveler. The pendant that I had purchased fell from my armor to the ground in front of Shining Armor. He watched as it fell before quickly lighting his horn and catching it right before I hit the ground.

“Oops, almost lost that. Here you g…” Shining paused as he looked at the pendant, its lustrous glow and seven gems sparkling in the light. Whispering to himself as he gazed at the pendent, “the mark of Harmony will save us.” It was something silly that his sister had started to say for some reason. After Twilight ascended and was left to rule Equestria, she has begun to pick up some of Celestia’s playfulness. He was likely crazy, but this stranger, GriffinStorm, the Guardian had just saved them, and more than that, he had died and come back. He knew what needed to happen, they needed to get to Canterlot, and fast.

Looking up at Griffin, Shining spoke, “Hey, I know that this sounds crazy, but would you be able to come with me? There is somepony that I think you need to meet. As soon as possible.”

Griffin looked at the captain and lowered his arm. Feeling silly for having left it up for so long. “Uh… Sure I guess. Who is it that I need to meet?” I expected that I was going to meet Princess Celestia or Luna, so his answer was surprising.

“My little sister, in fact, Princess Twilight Sparkle ruler of Equestria. If we leave now, we should be able to get back to the city by nightfall.” I looked over at the city and shrugged.

“Neat, you mind if I drive. We should get there quite a bit faster.” Not giving Shining a chance to speak, I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck as I activated the transmat to my dropship. It was a bit crowded in the cockpit, But after shifting Shining around in my lap, I dropped the accelerator and shot forward at full speed. Shining’s head pressed into my chest as we rocketed through the sky.

Peter called from the back, where he was pressed against the back wall of the ship “If I have told you once I have told you a thousand times, you fly too fast!”

I laughed like a maniac as we tore through the sky. I knew for a fact that had I done this before, there is no way that I would have stayed conscious at these speeds. I wasn’t terribly out of shape previously, but I was never in peak condition. Here and now, I could run a marathon and not feel winded. I imagine that Shiny would have been screaming if he managed to catch his breath, the trip that likely would have taken the rest of the day took only a few moments.

As we pulled up over the palace, I scrolled through the options for landing. I found that the only landing option available for transmat was in the center of the courtyard. Shrugging, I hit the confirm button as we were transmitted to the surface. The patrolling soldiers all jumped to attention as an orb appeared from nowhere. It quickly split as a Large bipedal creature with horns appeared from thin air, carrying the Prince Consort of the Crystal Empire under his arm. In an instant, they were surrounded as guards demanded that he release the Prince.

Mildly impressed with their quick response times, I leaned down and gently placed Shining on the ground, patting his back. “Now that wasn’t so bad, now was it. Heck of a lot faster than walking right!” Realizing that I hadn’t removed my helmet once since getting here. Grabbing it quickly, I pulled it off of my head. Shining was a little confused as he looked at my face. Given that his eyes were massive, I was able to catch a glimpse of myself in my reflection.

My once pasty skin and bushy beard were gone. Now I had dark skin and short black hair. I looked almost like a native American. My left eye was milky, even though I could see just fine. I had taken on the looks of my Guardian from the game. For all intents and purposes, I was now my Guardian, in ability and body. Knowing that I was going to have to deal with that soon, I pressed the rising panic down. I just needed to focus on the now, I can leave the freakout and screaming for later.

Shining vomited on the courtyard floor in response to my statement. After coughing and blowing some residual out of his nose, he looked up at me with not quite hate in his eyes, “Do not do that again without warning. EVER! I thought I was going to die up there in that thing. I’m surprised that we didn’t create a sonic rainboom!.”

Smirking at the idea, I responded, “Nope, no rainboom, but I know we were going past Mach 2 in that thing. So if not for the dampeners and some kind of golden age tech, I would have caused a massive sonic boom.” Grinning at my own explanation that I had just pulled out of my ass, I continued, “So shall we meet the princess then!”

Muttering to himself, Shining called for the guards to stand down and to let them through to see Princess Twilight. I was sure that I heard him mutter ‘The mark of harmony with save us all she says, better be right about this. Nearly kills me with some kind of flying machine, I hate flying.’

I smiled and held back a laugh as we walked through the marble halls. As we went deeper in, I began to notice the mosaics in the glass of the massive windows. Fantastic images of the history of their race. As we moved closer to the throne, looked up at the pieces that depicted Twilight meeting her friends and defeating Nightmare Moon. As well as all of their other achievements, however, not long after what I had seen as the last of the show, The Traveler made its appearance.

I didn’t have much time to take in the sights as I was addressed by the Mare of the hour. “I am Princess Twilight Sparkle. You seem to have been rather invested in the mosaics as My brother told me of your interaction with him. I must extend to you my gratitude that you came to his aid. I’ve grown to be rather attached to him and would be rather put out if I were to lose him. And I don’t think Flurry or Cadence would be too happy with his absence.”

I was taken aback by the way that she spoke. This was not a mare that was new to this position. The idea that she carries herself if very reminiscent of Princess Celestia, but Luna’s playfulness was more exposed as well. She was in perfect balance with what the prior rulers expressed in themselves. Shaking my head, I responded, “It was a pleasure to aid him. I have long fought the Fallen, and it would be a cold day on Mercury before I let them have their way with a world.” She looked somewhat confused with my analogy, not surprising since she didn’t know what Mercury was.

Clearing her throat, she continues, “Yes. Well then. From what my brother says, you addressed the enemy combatant as if you knew them. Would you be able to clarify as to what happened?”

Taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I gave my tale. “To tell you the truth, I have no idea how I ended up on this planet. I had been making a Jumpdrive through deep space when I hit some kind of cosmic turbulence. The next thing I knew, I was lying in some forest with my Ghost waking me up to tell me that he had discovered transmissions from a fallen platoon. After getting my bearings, I speed off to the location. That was when I met your brother. We fought together and won. Not much more to say than that.” I shrugged at the end.

Princess Twilight looked at me with a critical eye, “Really? Nothing more? Not even going to mention the part where you appeared to have been killed. Nore even the part where your head was crushed into pulp beneath the foot of your enemy. What about the magic that you used to defeat him. Or even the destructive weapons that you used.

Shrugging, I respond, “I live, I die, I live again. That is the life of a Guardian. We fight to protect, following the tradition of our forebears to protect mankind and the Traveler. This is a duty that we have held since Lord Salidin formed the Iron Lords all those centuries ago.”

Twilight looked interested when I mentioned the Traveler, and she proved her interest in her next question. “What is this Traveler that you speak of anyway.”

I smile as I point up, “The Traveler rests above your fair city this very moment. It has chosen this place as its next home. As such, you’re stuck with me. I go where the Traveler goes, and I protect what it deems worthy of protecting. If it’s here, then that means that you have been chosen. Tell me, how long has it been here?”

Twilight looks at me with curiosity before answering me “It appeared four hundred years ago. Approximately twenty years into my rein as the sole monarch of this nation.”

I nodded in agreeance, thinking back on the lore of Density. Looking around the halls of the palace, I began to notice little things here and there. Technology that had been incorporated here and there. Earbuds in the ears of the Guards, strange antenna in the corners of the room, electric lights even. It had begun. Technology was advancing at breakneck speeds. Still, four hundred years was too long for technology to have developed this slowly. I guess if they never discovered alien ruins to give them a jump start like humanity had. That would explain how it has only made it to this point. Besides, why focus on science at all if magic was more versatile.

Looking back at Shining, I noticed the light Greying in his mane for the first time. “Just as a question, before it landed here, what was the average life span of one of your citizens?”

Her eyes began to sparkle as she looked at him “They were around two hundred for somepony in good health.”

Smirking, I responded, “That should be closer to Six hundred from this point on. The Traveler gives much, extended life, greater knowledge. The list goes on.” I smiled at the ponies that had gathered in the throne room, I only had knowledge of the Golden age of humanity though lore that could be found in the game and though speculation. To think that I might be able to see in person what could come from one was thrilling. “Congratulations, Princess, your Golden Age is just beginning. Things will continue to improve as time goes on, I imagine that even now, old anger between nations have begun to ebb away.”

She smiles as she nodded, “You are correct. Even during the Rule of my mentor Princess Celestia and her sister Princess Luna, we did not know such peace.”

Nodding in agreement, I began to frown as I thought back to what had happened and what Shing had said. “It makes one wonder why a Princess would suddenly begin to use a saying like ‘the mark of harmony will save us’ wouldn’t you agree?”

Twilight smiled at me in turn, “You don’t seem to miss much. Do you.”

Smirking, I responded, “It was kind of obvious, and I have learned to listen. Add in the fact that you seem to have a Fallen infestation, and I see a trend. So tell me, Princess, how can I help?”

Twilight seemed to be taken aback at the sudden offer, “Just like that? No request for something in return? Just tell you what to do and sit back?”

I nodded before Peter cut in for me, “That is kind of what he does. You should be impressed that he is speaking to you at all. It took him eight years to start talking to the Vanguard, and even then, that took the murder of one of their own to prompt it.”

Holding my hand up, I motioned to silence my Ghost. “That’s enough, Peter, They don’t care about my past right now.” Looking at the Princess, I continued, “I have always been a man of action. Tell me what needs to be done, and I will get it taken care of. One of the benefits of being a guardian is that I can try as many times as it takes to get it done.”

As we had been discussing this, I had missed that the room had grown quiet. Before this, there had been general whispering behind and around us, castle staff, guards, and even a few nobles that had been in attendance have been whispering to each other throughout the entire meeting so far. But something had happened that had prompted them to grow silent.

Twilight seemed to look over my shoulder before jumping up and rushing around me, “Celestia! Luna! You’re back from your trip!” practically throwing herself onto the other two mares in a hug, I was struck with how adorable it was to watch. As Princess Twilight seemed to get lost in the moment of seeing the other two mares, I took note that they had been accompanied by what appeared to be two animals.

Celestia was accompanied by her phoenix Philomina, and Luna appeared to have Tiberius the opossum with her as well. I had stood back to observe for a moment when I noticed that both Philomina and Tiberius had a distinct shimmer to them. I could imagine that to most, it would just appear to look like they were exceptionally well taken care of. But I noticed that it seemed too… Electrical for that.

Deciding to just say screw it and take a chance. I made my way around the ponies. I noticed that the guard’s eyes followed me the entire time, as did Princess Luna’s. I slowly and calmly walked up to Celestia’s side, right where her phoenix sat upon her back, leaning down, I spoke, “That is an interesting shell that you found there. Any chance you can tell me where you got it?”

The phoenix’s eyes widened and its beak opened with surprise as I continued, this time at full volume so that I could be heard “I must admit, I’ve never seen a ghost shell that takes the form of a phoenix,” then turning to look at Luna and Tiberius “or an opossum for that matter.”

At that moment, Philomina and Tiberius looked at each other and nodded before a shimmer took them over. Where the phoenix and opossum once sat, now floated two ghosts. Speaking up in a refined tone, Philomina spoke as Twilight had been rendered speechless after the reveal. “I guess there was no way that we were going to hide from the Guardian that took out Gaul, are we. Hello GriffinStorm, we’ve never met, but most ghosts that spent even a cursory amount of time in The Last City would know who you are. I guess we have some explaining to do, don’t we.”

Nodding to them, “I agree, when did you get here?”

Celestia spoke up in return “Before we continue, would it be alright if we were to go somewhere more private?” Looking at Twilight, “is the sitting room in the west wing still in use, Princess?”

That seemed to knock her from her shock as she answered, “Y-yes! Um, let’s get moving, then shall we.” With a burst of light, we found ourselves now standing in a cozy sitting room. The overstuffed chairs sat around a table that was already set with refreshments. Twilight motioned to the chairs as we all chose somewhere to sit.

Choosing to just get to the meat and potatoes of the matter, I spoke: “How long has it been since your first resurrection?”

Celestia grimaced as she looked at her one time pupil, “It has been more than two thousand years since that day.” Looking at her sister as they placed their hooves in each other reach. “We don’t remember what happened before then. All we remember is waking up to our ghosts. They told us that we had been chosen to be guardians of this world. Given new life to help all we could.”

Nodding “That is normal. In the history of the Guardians, it has become taboo to look into who you were before. I know of only two that looked into the past, but I am glad that they did.” Waiving off the rest of my thoughts, I continued. “In any event, the issue that I see here is that with The Traveler choosing this place, you have both been given an amazing gift and a potential curse. As you have seen, the Fallen can be quite a headache.” The Princess, her brother, and her old mentor all nodded in agreeance. “The issue isn’t them, I can deal with them, and with a full fireteam, we can push them back quite fully. The real issue is that if they found this world…” I got a faraway look in my eyes, thinking about it.

The Traveler had been awoken by myself through my actions in Sol. And with its awakening, the Hive grew bolder and came at us with greater force. This world seemed to be suffused with its light. It was a glowing beacon drawing the darkness closer. “The Fallen finding this place reveals that It can be found. And there are much worse things out there than the Fallen.”

Shaking my head in a futile effort to clear my mind, I decided to change the subject to the two new/not new guardians. “So Celestia, Luna, what disciplines have you studied? Sentinel, Striker, Dawnblade, Voidwalker, Arstrider? Maybe the Gunslinger?”

The two of them looked at me in confusion before Tiberius spoke up. Surprisingly he sounded quite a bit like Dany Devito, and I found myself instantly liking the Ghost. “Sorry to disappoint, but neither of them has ever learned the disciplines. From personal observation, I would say that Celestia fits the Sunbreaker archetype, and I would think that Luna fits the Nightstalker. But without teachers, I don’t know how we will be able to help.”

I had to admit that this could be a problem. I had both Titan and Hunter characters, and I was reasonably good at both of those subclasses. Still, without being able to use them, I didn’t know how we were going to deal with this. That was right up to the point that Peter chose to speak, “Don’t worry about that, my Guardian has studied all of the disciplines, they can help us out with this, no problem.

I looked at my Ghost and asked: “What do you mean I have studied all of the Disciplines?”

I didn’t know a ball of light could roll its eye. Still, Peter managed to do it when he responds, “Listen, Griffin, I realize that we never discuss it, but when you do that whole, change of body thing and morph into a different guardian. You really think I wouldn’t notice you turning into an Awoken or an Exo. Those are such mighty drastic changes.”

I looked at him with amazement in my eyes, “You mean you were aware of that happening, and you never once choose to speak up or call me out on it? How many others knew about that?!”

The ponies in the room were all confused as I spoke to Peter, not sure what was going on. Peter responded, “Even the Vanguard knew. A random new guardian shows up with all of your equipment and with your Ghost treating them as if they were you. After a while, it was just written off as something unique to you. You were still loyal to the Tower, and you fought three times as hard and anyone else to bring peace and protect. If you didn’t want to talk about it, we weren’t going to question it. Although the thing that threw off the rest of the Vanguard was that you kept changing genders when you did that.”

The entire room when silent when Peter said that, and it was at that moment that I realized that my other two characters were an Awoken female and an Exo female. For me to teach Celestia and Luna the disciplines, I was going to have to switch to them, which means that I was going to have to turn into a woman. At least twice. Looking around at the gathered ponies and ghosts, “Well… shit.”