The drawings were becoming more abstract and more specific, but Twilight relished in the challenge and how much Violet was learning. Now that she had most of the high-frequency words, she was sharpening her vocabulary, expanding it as much as she could and getting as many specific words as possible. One such word was 'weapon', and she had been quite insistent on learning it. Also among those words were 'monster', 'death', 'kill', 'ghost', 'ally', and 'resurrection'. While this certainly gave Twilight a dull feeling of dread, she hypothesized that Violet would need those words for something. Perhaps she knew that she'd have to talk to the princesses about her origins and intentions. With as sharp as Violet was, that was quite possible.

After today's studies, she was to settle Violet into the library, which would be where she'd stay for the foreseeable future. Princess Luna had replied to her earlier letter with one of her own, informing her that Ponyville was to host Violet following an address to the public. Said public address had Twilight in a panicked mess as usual. From the details in her letter, the princesses planned a simultaneous address, with Celestia in Canterlot dealing with the nobility, and Luna coming to Ponyville. Considering how Nightmare Night went when Luna first came to Ponyville, Twilight was not confident that things would go well.

But, the plans were already in motion. Fliers had been posted on her library's door, as well as on Town Hall and, for some reason, Sugarcube Corner. Odd perhaps, but definitely a strategic place to put it, as the bakery was frequented by almost everypony in town.

It was approaching time to leave the hospital and make their way to the town square, and with each passing minute, Twilight's nerves were intensifying. Even with a simple itinerary of 'show up at three PM,' Twilight could see the worst case scenario of Violet being mobbed before either she or Luna had the chance to act.

"You okay?" Violet asked softly, breaking Twilight from her thoughts.

"Yeah. I have a warning for you," Twilight said.

"Warning?" she asked. "Danger?"

"Yes," Twilight said. "Princess Luna wants to introduce you to Ponyville. I'm afraid ponies will panic and hurt you."

Violet thought carefully for a moment. "All okay," she said. "I ally, not enemy. I prove to all ponies."

Twilight smiled for a moment. "I'm going to teach you something."

"What teach?"

"I'm going to teach you the word 'name'," Twilight said. "Word for you, 'name'."

"Name?" she asked. "My name is {Luna}."

Twilight was only surprised for a moment before she shook it off and nodded. "It's nice to meet you, {Luna}, my name is Twilight Sparkle. Please call me Twilight."

"It's nice to meet you, Twilight," Violet said. "You call me something not {Luna}. What is?"

"We called you Violet Light," Twilight answered. "We didn't know your name, so we gave you one."

Violet smiled. "I like. Please, call me Violet."

The clock struck two, the bells in Ponyville chiming the time for all to hear. Not long after, Nurse Redheart entered the room with a vial of holy water she'd been using to treat the curse Violet had inflicted on herself when defending her and the princesses. She and Violet greeted each other before Redheart took the gauze-scissors and began cutting away the bandages for final inspection. From what Twilight could see, Violet's wounds had healed rather well, all things considered. Only a few stubborn lacerations remained, but those were almost fully healed anyway. As the nurse doused the wounds, they hissed like angry serpents, and Twilight could feel the curse magic dispelling into the air. After that, only those stubborn wounds were wrapped, which thankfully didn't take nearly as long as the previous few days.

"You are free to go, Violet," Redheart said. "Please be more careful."

"Yes, Nurse Redheart," Violet said. "I be careful."

"Keep those on for one more day, okay?" she said. With that, Nurse Redheart left the room, leaving Violet to gather her things. In keeping with the incredible magic she had at her disposal, as soon as everything was packed in her chest, she snapped her fingers, and the chest dissolved into light and disappeared.

From there, Violet pulled the curtain around her and changed into a set of armor, complete with cloak. Though it looked much like the armor Twilight met her in, there were a few key differences. The previous set of armor had seemed battle-worn, and was in desperate tatters long before her curse magic shredded it into scrap. This set, on the other hand, seemed pristine. The lines of the plating were crisp, and even to Twilight's untrained eye, the stitchwork on the more clothlike bits were the work of masterful artisans. The metal gleamed a vivid purple that mimicked the light of Violet's strange magic. If she had to guess, this armor was ceremonial, befitting one like a royal guard.

At least, the top half was like that. Violet's leg armor seemed far more like something she'd crafted herself. The stitchwork clashed harshly against the masterful example above it, and the plating was scrapped in favor of the bones of some creature, fastened to the knee and shins. If she looked closely, she could she swear she saw the bones move. The leather of the boots and leggings were dyed to match the purple of the ceremonial armor above, to at least give the illusion that this armor was a complete and coherent set. If Violet was allowed to wear armor like that with the ceremonial set, she must have been in great favor with the leaders of her homeland, perhaps a champion of some kind.

Twilight smiled up to Violet and led the way out of the hospital. Ponies stared at Violet the whole way, even with Twilight escorting her, and she could feel it. Eyes turned, and faces stared in fear of the alien creature. Nurse Redheart stopped them at the door, giving Violet a quick hug and a reassuring smile, and then returned to her duties.

The walk down the hill to Ponyville was dead silent, and Twilight couldn't see movement in town. From her position, she saw the Ponyville Clocktower, hands at two fifty-one. At this pace, they'd be right on time. But that made Twilight feel more anxious. The townsponies were terrible at organizing on their own, except out of fear. The incident with Zecora replayed in her mind. Either this would be a repeat of that, or worse, there'd be a mob.

Upon looking up, it seemed Violet was keenly aware of the tension in the air. Her face was resting in a neutral scowl, and her right hand seemed to twitch, subconsciously reaching for the weapon on her hip before she'd pull it away. She spoke softly to the Shape, its words earning a relieved sigh from Violet before it hid in her cloak once more.

"This... feels wrong..." Violet said. "Danger forward..."

"I hope you're wrong," Twilight replied softly.

The two of them entered town, and still there was no one. Everything was dead silent, with no wind and no birds to even provide ambient white-noise. Violet only seemed a bit twitchier, her left hand physically holding her right away from her weapon. Her eyes scanned the surroundings in set increments, and she began to slowly crouch as she walked, as though trying to minimize her profile.

As they reached the square, they saw Princess Luna arrive, stepping up on a makeshift stage if front of Town Hall.

"Citizens of Ponyville, we come bearing news that will affect the lives of all ponies in this nation. I, Princess Luna, request your attention for this announcement!" the voice of Luna rang out over the crowd of ponies. All eyes were on her. With her eyes, Luna motioned to Twilight and Violet to come around to the back of the stage.

"Before I begin, I must ask that this announcement not be interrupted until its conclusion. Please hold all questions until the end!"

Twilight guided Violet down a few side streets around the square, taking care to stay out of sight.

"As of three weeks ago, the Crown has become aware that we are not alone in the universe. We have been visited by a being from another world beyond our own. Had events surrounding this being's arrival gone differently, this announcement would have been made far sooner."

Twilight arrived backstage with Violet, who was still incredibly fidgety. "It's okay. Breathe," Twilight said calmly, despite her own anxiety running on overdrive.

Violet took a breath, and pulled herself to her full upright posture.

"During our first contact with the being, we discovered three key things. One: this being is as intelligent as any pony! Two: this being does not speak Equestrian! And three: this being is friendly!" Luna continued, the crowd listening to her words. From the looks on their faces, Twilight felt the faintest twinkle of hope that this would go better than expected.

"With these facts in mind, I would like to introduce this visitor from beyond the stars," Luna said, turning back and waving for Violet to join her on stage. Violet took one more deep breath and climbed the stairs up onto the stage, earning shocked gasps from the crowd. Cameras flashed, and a hushed, whispering roar fell over the crowd as newsponies began furiously writing details to publish.

(Recommended Listening)

"Would you like to introduce yourself?" Luna asked softly, away from the microphone. "It's okay if you don't want to."

Violet shook her head and leaned into the microphone. "Hello. My name is {Luna}. Please call me Violet. It's nice to meet you."

The crowd only grew louder as the reporters lost their composure, screaming questions up to the princess and Violet.

"SILENCE!" Princess Luna called out, the Royal Canterlot Voice instantly earning the desired effect.

"Violet here is our visitor from beyond the stars. During her time here, she has been working diligently with Princess Twilight Sparkle to learn Equestrian that we may communicate. Towards that end, the Crown has come to the decision that while she learns our language, she shall stay here in Ponyville with Princess Twilight. During her stay here, Violet is to be treated with respect, as one would treat any ambassador to our nation. We shall now take questions!" Luna finished.

The crowd once more devolved into a screaming mess of reporters blurting out their questions.

"SILENCE!" Luna yelled once more, the newsponies clamping their mouths shut. "One at a time. You, with the purple mane!"

"How do you know this alien is friendly?" the reporter called.

"During our first contact with Violet," Luna began, emphasizing the name with a dark scowl, "we met in the Everfree Forest. During that meeting, we were attacked by a pack of more than three-hundred timberwolves, and Violet defended myself, Princess Celestia, and Princess Twilight without hesitation. Such a gesture is unaffected by language barriers. I have great trust in Violet as a friendly being! Next, you, griffon!"

"You say three-hundred timberwolves? How was she able to protect you and survive for herself against such a threat?" the griffon asked.

"The specifics are as of now unknown, and until we crack the language barrier, we are unable to answer with specifics. However, Violet has a type of magic that she was able to use to defend us. Next! You!"

"I don't trust your story! This all seems too convenient! Why did it take three weeks to announce this? How can we be certain this 'Violet' won't bring the rest of her kind down from the sky and destroy us all?"

One by one, fearful comments such as that began to bubble up from the crowd, scared ponies' fear reacting in the confusion into anger. Violet, though she couldn't understand much of the language, could tell that the ponies of the crowd was becoming more and more restless and hostile. Her hands began to fidget, and she pulled her right hand away from her hip.

From her position behind the stage, Twilight could tell that even if Luna used the Royal Canterlot Voice, the crowd was beyond control. "I wish there was a way for Violet to prove she's friendly..." she muttered under her breath.

The effect was immediate. Before Twilight had a chance to realize what she'd said, Violet fell to her knees, clutching her heart as she screamed in pain. The sky pulsed black, and the feeling of dark magic permeated the area. The crowd only got louder as they reacted in fear to Violet's sudden outburst. Meanwhile, Luna looked on in concern as Violet seemed to claw at her armor, the Shape looking in horror, the same way it had when she'd used her curse magic.

"No... no wish...! Why...?" Violet choked out between labored breaths and screams.

The crowd ignited into its more dangerous counterpart, ponies screaming for violence against Violet. Luna tried to bring order to the mob, but it was far too late. Ponies began to rush forwards, trying to climb the stage. Luna cast a barrier on the stage after a rock had been thrown and hit Violet.

Blood dripped from Violet's forehead, the rock having cut the skin with a sharp edge. Immediately, Violet returned to sense, that single hit just enough to break whatever magic had pulsed from her. The Shape shot a beam of light at the wound, and it closed in an instant.

A deafening roar resounded through the town. Silence befell the mob, and they waited, wondering if what they'd heard was real. Even Violet turned to look where the sound had come from. When the roar sounded again, Violet turned to Luna.

"Danger coming! I go!" she said.

"No! I can't let you!" Luna said. "We can't lose you!"

"I go! No time for words!" she insisted, drawing her weapon from her hip. "I kill monster!"

Without waiting for a reply, her weapon exploded, and Luna's barrier shattered like glass. Luna's expression immediately shifted from concern to shocked horror as Violet ran directly towards the source of the sound.

——————————

Prove yourself to these ~ponies~, O kin mine!

The voice in her head screamed, and Luna felt her Light flare. Every part of her body felt as though gravity had increased, squeezing her with the pull of gas giants. Her voice tore against the mob's and she fell to her knees once more. Someone had made a wish. Someone she trusted made a wish, and her Light was trying to grant it.

Her brain worked furiously through the pain to grasp the words she needed.

"~No... no wish...! Why...?~"

She struggled against the pain, trying desperately to move, to get up and run to the danger. If the wish was coming true, something was coming soon. But try as she might, with her Light running rampant, she couldn't move or even ask her Ghost for help.

A rock hit her forehead, and her Light stopped. A simple switch, and the pain of the overflow was gone. Her Ghost healed her, and she looked up, feeling an all-too-familiar chill in the air.

A loud roar, tainted by that very same chill, tore through the town and silenced the mob. A second followed a moment later, closer.

Taken...! How‽ she thought.

She turned to Midnight, the words for what she wanted to say not yet available, but something close enough came to mind. "~Danger coming! I go!~"

Midnight protested, but Luna shook her head.

"~I go! No time for words!~" she insisted, drawing the Ace of Spades from its holster. "~I kill monster!~"

Without waiting for a reply, she levied the weapon against the barrier, a single shot enough to take it down. As she ran, her Ghost put her helmet on, and the familiar warning popped up on the display, accompanied by the Bloodstained Skull:

[Darkness Zone: Resurrection Restricted]

"How did the Taken get here?" her Ghost chirped. "They couldn't have followed us, right?"

"No, Ghost," Luna replied. "Someone made a wish."

"What do you mean?" the Ghost asked.

"Ghost, remember the raid in the Dreaming City?" Luna inquired. "Remember anything about that?"

"Not really, I lost consciousness somehow, like when you let Sagira into my shell," he said, huffing at the second bit. "Still not forgiving you for that."

"Ghost, I'm cursed by the Ahamkara," Luna said gravely.

Before her Ghost could ask what she meant, another roar of whatever creature was approaching tore through the atmosphere, the few clouds in the area shattering like glass and dissipating, leaving the sky clear. A dull rumble could be heard as trees were torn from the ground and the creature moved from within the forest.

Eventually, the ground shifted, and a few meters away from Luna, a large flower sprouted. At first, it looked almost normal: three pink petals with a V-shaped indent at the tip of each petal.

But then the flower washed over in black and ignited in the umbral flames of the Taken. The ground quaked and cracked like dried clay, swelling as the beast pushed against it from underneath. Massive roots thick as tree trunks and writhing with the white glow of Taken hellfire pierced the earth and pulled the creature up. With a mighty push, the creature erupted from the earth. For a moment, dust and falling clods of dirt and tangled roots obscured her vision, but once it settled, Luna could only look on in fear.

A gigantic bulbous plant stood before her on a mass of roots. Five leaves provided a base upon which the bulb, the main body of the plant-monster, stood. And at the very top, she saw that almost-innocent flower, blazing with darkfire at an intensity she'd never seen before. This thing felt like it could rival the power of enemies like Crota or even Oryx himself. She could not afford to underestimate this thing. Her display brought up its name as her Ghost analyzed it: "Taken Mutae, Wished For."

"Ghost, I'm gonna need to swap weapons. I need the Remedy, my solar Ether Nova, and Raze Lighter," Luna said as she put the Ace back in its holster.

"Got it, transmatting," Ghost said.

The Ace faded away, and in its place a new hand cannon was placed. There were holes in the frame, which were filled by strange black octahedrons. Wires connected from the octahedrons to elsewhere on the weapon. On the small of her back, a bare-looking fusion rifle appeared, with similar wires running across its frame. And running diagonal across her back, a two-handed sword formed. The back of the blade was serrated, but the edge was crisp and sharp. An orange crystal at the crossguard shone with fiery solar energy, ready to ignite its target.

"Ghost, stay in my backpack," Luna said.

Author's Note

While in a pony's POV, {brackets} will indicate Guardian Luna's native language.