Sonic X & MLP: Skyfallby RockStarMLPChaptersPrologue: GoodbyeChapter 1: Cosmic CrashChapter 2: A New AwakeningPrologue: GoodbyeAuthor's Note THIS IS YOUR ONLY SPOILER WARNING: This prologue details events taken place during the climax of the Metarex Saga of Sonic X. If you haven't seen the saga, or the series in general, stop here and go watch the series before reading on. We'll be getting to Equestria and the ponies starting in the next chapter, so stay tuned! Prologue: Goodbye It had been done. The Sonic Power Cannon fired its last shot, hurling its two chaos-powered hedgehogs at its target. It was the last chance they had to stop the Metarex from destroying the galaxy and everything that dwelled within it. Months and years of conflict between a galaxy and a ruthless force had found the chance to end the ongoing battle for the sake of dozens of planets and their countless inhabitants. This chance, however, did not come without a price. To subdue their enemy and play her part in saving everyone, Cosmo – the one who sought out Sonic and his friends for help – placed herself in the line of fire. Thanks to the abilities of her Seedrian race, she immobilized their foe – Metarex ruler Dark Oak – and allowed the cannon to fire and hit its target. What would follow was a blinding light of Chaos Reaction before dissipating in the golden super auras of Sonic the Hedgehog and Shadow the Hedgehog, surrounding a black mass of energy. All that anyone else could do was watch from the safety of the Blue Typhoon and the Crimson Egg. They were facing the end of a long battle, along with the death of a dear friend. Some stared forward out of respect as the event unfolded, while a few turned their eyes away and cried as they took in the pain. But as for one, a heartbroken fox, he broke apart alone followed the fated gunfire. It took the voice of reason from Dr. Eggman to assure what was to come would save all across the universe, and the assuring plea from Cosmo that it had to be done. However, it couldn’t save the young fox from a shattered heart and soul upon firing the cannon. All he could do was sit in front of his command station, his eyes shut and body wrapped into a ball by his two namesakes. But as all who were watching grieved, they heard Cosmo’s voice echo from the distance before them. “Thank you all for your friendship. Before I met you, I didn't believe in myself. My clan was wiped out by the Metarex. I felt like I was helpless and couldn't do anything to stop them... but because of you, I learned that I didn't have to stand by and watch the Metarex take over. I could do my part to fight back and help restore my clan. I just wanted you to know that I'm happy now because I fulfilled my destiny. Remember, I'll always be with you. “Don't be sad, Tails…” Tails dared to look up as he heard her speak his name. To his surprised, he saw Cosmo standing in front of him, but as a spirit and now back in her younger form. She looked at him with a reassuring smile as her spirit approached him and spoke again. “Whenever you miss me, just look for me right here beside you.” Cosmo kneeled down, placed her hands on Tails’s cheeks and leaned her head towards his. She gave him a kiss before her spirit faded away, leaving the fox to gently smile for a moment before staring back out into space. As he had to process what was happening before, his mind now began to plague him with a new thought: Was that his first kiss? Sonic and Shadow stared down at the remaining source of Cosmo and the Metarex as they heard Cosmo’s voice. When she finished talking, Sonic closed his eyes for a moment. “Goodbye, Cosmo,” were his only thoughts before turning his sight towards Shadow. They knew what needed to be done now, to stop the Metarex once and for all and save the galaxy. They needed to unleash their full power and destroy their foe, and their friend and ally. “CHAOS… “CONTROL!!!” Cosmo sensed the energy unleashed and attacking the remaining life of Dark Oak’s and her own. The last of her life energy began to disappear, and her spirit embraced what was to come. She allowed the energy to take hold and destroy them both. She accepted what was to come next with tear-glistened eyes, an accepting smile, falling pedals, and a fulfilled destiny. “The seeds of my clan will spread through the galaxy and find places to grow. I'm in peace. Now, goodbye…” Following what she called her final words, Cosmo heard yelling from a distance above. She couldn’t make it out entirely, as the sound of white noise began to overtake her hearing as Chaos Control engulfed her. Whatever it was, it didn’t make her feel like there was something more happening, more that she could help with. She fulfilled her destiny to her people, and there was nothing more she could do at this point. Slowly, but surely, her final moments of life began to end as the outer shell of chaos energy started to crack and unleash itself. Her physical form would soon perish, and her spirit would be freed to rest in peace. Her seeds would give her Seedrian clan a new beginning as her people’s martyr was- “CHAOS CONTROL!!!” Cosmo heard that exclamation clearly. Shadow’s voice was immediately recognizable as the hedgehog unleashed another immense amount of chaos energy. This time, however, felt different than the last. The energy she felt wasn’t trying to destroy anything it consumed, nor did she feel her life force fading away anymore. This energy felt… rejuvenating, as if her life force was being revived. This put the once-used martyr of the Seedrian race in surprise as Cosmo sensed this newfound change. She didn’t know what to make of this as her mood shifted from accepting death to confusion. Whatever was going on, Cosmo heard one last voice – Shadow’s voice – call to her before she felt herself disappear from the universe she existed in. “Take this second chance and find your way back.” A single light shined like the brightest star before the joined remnants of the Blue Typhoon and Egg Crimson. Like seeing it at the end of a long tunnel, it was the ships’ crews’ sign that their war against the Metarex was finally over. But the price to be paid for victory seemed to have increased, as there was now two friends and allies missing. It took an observation from Dr. Eggman to deduce that Shadow used Chaos Control to stop time around the explosion, saving everyone within range from harm’s way at Dark Oak’s destruction. As for Shadow’s whereabouts, he could not explain. Shadow the Hedgehog was a powerful being, but still unstable when unleashing his full potential. Virtually anything he set his sight towards when powered up enough was possible, but if not used appropriately, it would cost him everything. The unpredictability of Chaos Control could have removed him from reality itself, or simply send him to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. “Who knows” was the best guess Eggman could make of what happened to Shadow, and the crew aboard the Blue Typhoon could only agree. While the mystery behind Shadow’s disappearance was discussed, Tails made his way outside, standing left to the remnants of the once impressive runway. He stared sadly out at the shining star, all the while his mind was juggling figuring out what that light was and the grief that he eating him alive from the inside out. None of this felt real to him, despite logic telling him differently. All he could do was stare out into space at that one star that shined brighter than any other he’d ever seen. Was it the light left behind by Cosmo? Was it a sign of new hope for peace across the galaxy? Or was it just a shining ball of pure energy? Tails’s train of thought was cut off when he felt the presence of another. He sensed a footstep from behind, and turned around to see a now powered-down friend approaching him. “Sonic?” The way Sonic was walking up to him, Tails didn’t know what to think. Sonic’s expression was firm, his fists clenched together, and his walking pace at his regular speed. The young fox didn’t know what to make of his approaching friend. He felt confused with what was going on right then, and he was scared about what would happen next. By the time Sonic was a few feet away, he stepped back one nervous step at a time and preparing to plea forgiveness from his oldest friend. “I know you’re mad at me, but- I… huh” Sonic grabbed Tails’s hand and handed something to him. “Here, Tails,” he said, handing over what he was holding. He then bowed his head and shut his eyes, looking firm and certain while sounding apologetic. “Sorry. I looked for Cosmo, but this was all I found.” Tails held the item in his hands, staring down at it saddened. “A seed…” A small, white seed was all that was left of Cosmo. It was a piece of her, a piece of what would be a new start to her people. There was nothing else left of Cosmo but what Sonic had handed Tails, and it was the final nail in the coffin for him. He felt his heart shatter what felt like the hundredth time that day, and he started to cry. He stepped forward to Sonic, bowing his head in despair as he let out his heartache and agony. All the hedgehog did was stand in place, not making a move or sound, and allowed his friend to have an emotional breakdown before him. “Oh, Sonic, why did this have to happen?! It’s... just not fair! Now I’ll never see her again. She was... she was my friend! I miss her. She can’t be gone…” As he let his emotions shatter, Tails dropped to his hands and knees in front of Sonic. His body trembled at all the immense pain he was feeling, and he started sobbing. Tears flowed down his face as he tried to let out all the pain he could, but he couldn’t let it all out fast enough. The pain was too much for him to handle as his sobbing turned to painful crying, screams of anguish being unleashed between gasps for air. Neither he nor Sonic could notice the planet eggs stolen by the Metarex began to fly around them, returning to their planets and restore life once again. Aboard the ship, Dr. Eggman ordered his robots to begin replenishing the ships’ energy supplies for repairs and departure. Nothing else mattered. All that Tails could focus on was losing Cosmo, someone very important to him. A special girl that he got to know and find strength from. A special person who he loved and loved him in return. While Sonic stood before him, not moving an inch whatsoever, Tails continued to let out his broken heart in open space. It was all he could do, and at that moment, all he could show how sorry he was to Cosmo. It felt like eons to reality’s minutes, but Tails remained on his hands and knees crying. With the white seed clenched in his hand, he cried in pain and loss of his dearest friend. He cried his heart out for the girl he loved. Chapter 1: Cosmic CrashEquestria shined brightly through another day under Celestia’s sun. Every creature from all corners of their world were enjoying another day of peace and harmony, which was a well-deserved time given the recent events at the School of Friendship. With the acts of Cozy Glow several weeks behind Equestria and a stronger faith in the power of friendship, all were enjoying a time of peace and happiness across the land. One location in particular was especially festive. The castle of Princess Twilight Sparkle was underway with a party celebrating the School of Friendship’s staff’s first completed year of educating its students on the importance of friendship and harmony. Pinkie Pie, Ponyville’s premiere party pony prodigy, had decorated the castle’s throne room, and several rooms adjacent to it, into the central celebratory area as several ponies, and one baby dragon, gathered to celebrate their successful, and eventful, first year. Many stories were shared, delicious treats were tasted, and a fresh wave of optimistic attitude spread itself across the castle like an ocean wave reaching the beach. It was, without question, a festive time to be had. But elsewhere in the castle, the Princess of Friendship herself was still coming to terms with all that had happened over the last year. Standing out on one of the castle balconies, Twilight Sparkle could only bask in the reality that she had just experienced. From the recent Canterlot invasion to her adventure across many new regions, from opening her own school to the near end of all Equestrian magic, the past year was eventful to say the least. Indeed, there was a lot thrown in her direction, and a lot more she chose to face herself, but in the end, she couldn’t help but feel proud, and perhaps a little bit tired. Twilight was thankful for all the success that had come from her efforts, and she was grateful to her wonderful friends, her students, and the faith of her fellow princesses supporting her. Whatever would happen next, she knew she had them all beside them to face the world together and keep Equestria in peace. She was happy for that, but she still had this feeling deep down she couldn’t put a hoof on. “There you are, Twilight.” As she stared out at the Ponyville scenery in the evening glow, Twilight didn’t notice the sound of somepony coming up behind her. She turned around to see Rainbow Dash flying towards her, hence not hearing the sound of hoofsteps walking across the crystalline floor. The cyan Pegasus landed herself on the balcony and said “We were wondering where you went. You left the party so long ago it’s after sunset already.” Twilight followed Rainbow’s pointing hoof at the horizon, noticing the sun setting and the few twinkling stars starting to appear. “Sorry, Rainbow Dash. I just needed some time to myself,” Twilight said. “Everything okay?" “Yeah… I’m fine.” Rainbow arched an eyebrow. “You don’t sound so sure about that. Seriously, what’s up?” Twilight let out a small sigh of defeat. “I’m fine, really. I was just thinking about everything from the last year. It was… a lot to look back on. We faced everything thrown our way head-on, and no matter the mistakes or the successes, we always found our way through together. I just never thought it meant dealing with the Storm King or Cozy Glow, or even how Chancellor Neighsay was.” “Well, to be fair, we’ve had to deal with crazy stuff long before them.” “I know, but this time around felt… different.” Twilight paused for a moment, turning her focus back onto the horizon as night continued to start. “When I think of the last year, I find it almost… hard to believe how much we accomplished.” Rainbow strolled up and stood beside her alicorn friend. “What do you mean?” “So many times, we ended up in places or positions that looked as if we had no way out, like no matter what we’d do, we could’ve failed. I know I didn’t exactly help as well as I should have,” Twilight continued, thinking of her own mistakes. But, as the stars began to shine and the moon made its presence, a smile crept on her face. “But thanks to the help of our friendships, we managed to achieve so many things. Making friends with new kingdoms and species, opening the school, helping others… “It’s amazing how much has happened, yet here we are. A new era in Equestria has started, and I share that part with you and all our friends. It’s so much to take in, I can hardly believe it sometimes.” “Yeah, I can get that,” Rainbow Dash said, sharing a smile with her friend as they both looked out at the stars. “We did have a lot happen, but hey, we made it this far with everything that happened LONG before the Storm King. We’ve got a lot to be proud of. You’re the Princess of Friendship, I’m a Wonderbolt, and Pinkie’s-” “A shooting star!” The pegasus mare looked back at her friend, confused at being cut off. “Uh, what?” “Look up! A shooting star!” Twilight pointed a hoof up at the now fully night sky, more accurately towards a star shining brighter than the rest. Anyone who knew her knew of her love for stargazing and any cosmic anomaly that would occur, especially shooting stars. Knowing this, Rainbow Dash grinned and rolled her eyes unsurprised, and then glanced up where the hoof still pointed. “Hey, yeah, there is a shooting star. Isn’t that your good luck charm or something?” “Well… kinda,” Twilight replied, slightly blushing. “I’ve always believed that there’s good luck to anyone who finds a shooting star. When I was little, I would make a wish and hoped that it would come true. I know it seems foalish to still think like that, but sometimes-“ “Hey Twi,” Rainbow interrupted. Twilight turned to her friend. “Yes?” “Does that star look like it’s getting bigger and brighter to you?” Looking back up, Twilight did notice what Rainbow Dash was asking. She was so distracted when talking that she didn’t catch the star’s growing light and size herself. What wonder and amazement she had at first sight turned to confusion. It looked as if the star wasn’t just growing, it was drawing closer to the ground below, a sound starting to be heard as if there was something coming towards them. When she saw that this shooting star was now becoming a falling star, her confusion turned to a growing fear that something bad was about to happen. The bright supposed star quickly came closer and closer to the ground. Despite its brightness, both mares could see its spherical shape with a seemingly magical trail cast behind it. It also appeared to be too far away from Ponyville to be a threat to them, the town or the neighboring areas, but it didn’t make the fear both were feeling any less warranted. Once she managed to calculate an estimated trajectory, Twilight acted. “Get down…” “Wait, what do you-" “GET DOWN!” Twilight grabbed her friend and dived away from the balcony’s edge. Just as the two landed near the entrance back into the castle, the falling star crashed into the earth, landing in a forest area a few miles away from Twilight’s castle and the School of Friendship. When it hit the ground, the impact didn’t cause a strong quake, but one could feel it based on the sound made. When the two mares turned back to look, they were amazed to find the entire area enveloped in a bright dome of light. It held its size for a moment before its bright light pulsated, and the size gradually shrinking. By the time the two were back on their hooves, a pop of magic appeared behind them. Hearing and sensing this, they turned around to see Starlight Glimmer having just appeared. “Twilight, what happened?! We-” Starlight paused, quickly catching the sight of what the two were just witnessing. “Yeah, THAT happened!” Rainbow added. “What is it?!” Starlight asked. Twilight snapped into leadership form and said “No idea, but we have to find out! Let’s regroup with the others and get there quickly!” With her friends gathered, Twilight teleported the group near the sight of the crash. Immediately, the ponies and dragon began to cough at the unsettled dust still in the air. But just a moment after they arrived, the dust began to set on the ground, clearing everyone’s vision and lungs. Once seeing her mane again, Rarity batted it out of any extra dust or dirt that might have stuck around inside. “Alright,” she said, “now that we’re here, what exactly is it we should be looking for?” “Well, whatever it is, it fell out of the bloomin’ sky, so it shouldn’t be gettin’ away,” Applejack replied. Twilight navigated the scene. “Judging by the state of the area, the crash site should be over there!” She pointed a hoof forward towards the site of trees sitting up in angular directions, most likely from the crash. Another telling sign was the group of woodland creatures running away from the trees, immediately seeing Fluttershy and approaching her. Numerous rabbits, birds, squirrels and other inhabitants chirped all at once, and it took the kind pegasus a minute to decipher the chatter. “There seems to be… a bright glow ahead,” Fluttershy said aloud. “It was too bright for the animals to see what exactly it was." Looking out, Twilight saw that the bright dome has shrunk down to a much smaller, seemingly lower state. Whatever was its cause seemed to be down in the ground ahead. “Fluttershy, you and Applejack go and gather all the local critters. Make sure they’re safe and see what else they have to say,” she instructed. She then turned to Starlight and said “Starlight, come with me and we’ll see what this glow is. Rainbow, take everyone else and make sure the area is safe.” “Right!” Rainbow Dash and Starlight said simultaneously, and the groups went off in their respective directions. Twilight and Starlight ran at first, but began to slow their pace as their destination became close. As they progressed, the bright light ahead of them started to dim down. Despite how bright it was, the two managed to navigate closer to its origin with ease, as if their eyes weren’t as affected by the brightness like the light of Celestia’s sun. It was weird; the light was strong, but not blinding to the point of discomforted eyes. Nonetheless, the duo carried on following the condensing sphere of light until they reached a clearing where the bright glow originated. Starlight nearly stumbled over her hooves over a ledge that led down into a pit where the light shined but gradually shrunk. The two had found the crash site, and within moments was the source revealed. The sphere of light emitting from the pit continued to shrink down, revealing no flames or damage to the area other than the crater in the ground and leaned-out trees. Tried as they might, the two ponies couldn’t make out what was in that sphere for a few moments. It only took when the pulsating light began to fade, revealing some form in its center. “Twilight, I’m seeing something,” Starlight said. “So am I,” replied the alicorn princess. “Whatever it is… No, whatever they are, they’re…” Twilight’s sight caught attention of the supposed body in the light. She noticed arms and legs of a more bipedal creature, like a dragon or their friend Capper the Cat, but the overall shape remained a foreign sight. The dark outline in the line had smooth curves and little points, and the overall size made whatever this creature was looked no taller than Twilight, but taller than a standard pony. There were many creatures that existed within and beyond Equestria’s borders, but what Twilight was trying to see now was something very new. After a couple minutes, the pulsating sphere of light continued to close in on itself and fade away. The once black silhouette in its center began to have more colors revealed; white, green, small bands of yellow, little lines of black, and two red buds on the head area. It was now certain that whatever – more so whoever – this was, they were not a known species in Equestrian history. Confirmation only came when the pulsing sphere of light closed in on itself, emitting a small sparkle of energy neither Twilight nor Starlight could recognize as Equestrian magic, and the being within the light was given full display. Whoever she was, she appeared to have green, leafy hair with what one would guess to be off-white skin, wearing an outfit that was white, yellow, and green like her hair. The red rosebuds and yellow bands on their head were given full display, and only a slight display of their face showed the black lines representing a closed eye and mouth. The two ponies darted surprise glares at one-another before Twilight began to quickly descend down to the newfound body. She investigated once her hooves touched the ground and leaned her head down towards that of the strange creature before her. To some relief, despite the small nicks and scratches found around the body, she heard and saw soft breathing come from the body, but the immediate sight of tears around their eyes concerned her. “Twilight, what is it?” Starlight called from above. Using her magic, Twilight gently used her magic to flip the being over onto their back. The being noticed this changed and her body visibly tensed at the change, but not without a tear flowing down their right eye. “T-t-Tails…” Twilight leaned down, using her left leg to support the being’s head as she heard what they were saying. Seeing how faint the voice was and their eyes still shut, Twilight assumed they were dreaming, but given the tears, it looked to me more of a nightmare. After checking to see the breathing to be stable, she turned her back towards her foe-turned-pupil-turned-friend and addressed the matter. “She’s alive, but she needs help! Find the others and make sure everything here is secure. We need to take her back to my castle and fast!” With a swift nod and teleportation spell, Starlight disappeared to find the others and see where they were in their efforts. Twilight returned her focus to the new being before her, and slowly developed a levitation spell around them and lifted the body off the ground. Immediately, their arms clenched into a crest across the chest, their hands laying over what Twilight assumed would be their heart. With a slow and gentle ascent from the crater, the two got out of the crater, but all along the way, tears began to shed more and more from the creature’s eyes. “Sonic… Shadow… “Tails…” The words being mumbled were becoming clearer to Twilight’s understanding, but the pain in the tone grew as well. Upon the last word spoken, the few tears being shed turned into waterfalls as tears streamed down their face. For Twilight, however, the strangest view didn’t come from the tears themselves, but the attempted smile whenever the word “Tails” was uttered. The alicorn took a mental note of the importance of this word – or perhaps, name – as she focused her magic on keeping them safe in her magic. She tried to detect any injuries or damages other than the scuffs across the body, but to her surprise, none could be found. It was upon that realization when the rest of her friends appeared, courtesy of Starlight’s magic, and they all stared in confusion at the being in Twilight’s levitation magic. “What in Equestria? Who is this?” Rarity asked. “I’m not sure, but she needs help,” Twilight replied. “From where? I’ve never seen a creature like that before,” said Fluttershy. Twilight flew slowly out of the crater where her friends were, keeping a careful grip on the being with her magic. All were quiet until her hooves landed gently on the ground again. “For someone who crash-landed into the ground, she looks good to me,” Pinkie Pie observed. “I agree, but she still needs somewhere to rest until she’s ready to wake up. We’ll take her back to the castle. Is the area safe?” “It should be fine,” Applejack replied. “We found the bunch of critters livin’ in the area to go to Fluttershy’s sanctuary to be safe.” “Any each animal I talked to saw what you did. They didn’t have anything more to add,” Fluttershy added. “Then we should be set to go. Starlight, can you teleport everypony back to the castle for me? I’ll fly back separate and carry her there myself.” “Say no more,” Starlight said, and she charged her horn to cast the spell. “Rarity, Fluttershy, there’s an empty bedroom across from mine. Make sure that room’s clean and set up proper. Pinkie, get a pitcher of water and celery soup prepared. Spike, get a first aid kit from one of the bathrooms. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, you two check around Ponyville and see if anyone else saw the crash, and try to explain that there’s nothing to worry about.” “We’re on it!” Rainbow Dash replied. “Are you sure you’ll be fine flying back in the dark by yourself?” Spike asked. Twilight glanced up at the night sky above them, and then back at the unconscious girl. “Luna has the moon shining brightly tonight. I’ll be okay. It’s whoever this is we need to worry about.” “Then let’s get moving,” said Starlight, and the majority of the group gathered around her. With a magical flash, she teleported everyone back to the castle. Twilight waited for the group to disappear back to the castle before leaving the clearing. She would have been able to cast it herself, but given the care she put in her magic floating the newfound being, she didn’t want to risk losing even the slightest control. She also feared that, despite the spell being safe for ponies, it would have a negative consequence for a creature she knew nothing about. Nonetheless, there was a plan in action, and she took off to the sky with the newfound stranger in magical tow. It wasn’t until she reached a comfortable altitude, one that wasn’t too far off the ground but high enough to clear any trees along the way, when she glanced at the being again. Twilight took notice of her mouth making small, near quiet gasps, and her eyes struggling as if having a dream. With each eye struggle, small tears began to form, and every few moments, a small teardrop would fall free, falling to the ground below. Even though she was unconscious, she was indeed fighting through what Twilight would only assume was a nightmare. Twilight could see that it was going to be a long night ahead of them. Nonetheless, she wasted no time in her flight back to her castle. Author's Note I Fell from the sky So don't ask me why I'm feeling so down... Chapter 2: A New AwakeningA gentle knock against door frame sounded in the guest bedroom. Spike was revealed as the knocker as he hovered in with a bag in one of his claws. “Anything happen yet?” “Nothing. She’s still asleep,” Twilight replied from her seat not far from the room’s occupied bed. That was the routine going through the entire night. After discovering the strange female being who crashed into the ground, Twilight, Spike and their friends immediately took action. One of the guest bedrooms, the one closest to Twilight’s personal chambers, was turned into a hospital-esque suite. They treated what injuries they could find with the first aid kit Spike supplied, but as if like magic, her wounds healed as swiftly as the damp washcloth was used to wipe away any potential dirt or dust from the crash site. With little other options, the ponies and dragon placed her in the comfort of the bed and underneath its sheets, where she rested slept for hours since. Twilight volunteered herself to stay by the bedside the entire time since bringing the stranger back to her castle. For most of the night, her friends rotated every hour in pairs to stay beside Twilight and see what would happen. As the night progressed, Twilight insisted her friends to leave things in her hooves and Spike’s claws, and for them to rest until the morning. Given how tired the majority of them felt, they took the offer and used the opportunity to sleep in various places across the castle. It was a long night, and more so uneventful after the event of the crashing being now laying in the bed. Things were mostly quiet, other than the ponies sharing an occasional chat, and the being in the bed barely uttered a whisper after subconsciously finding comfort in her newfound resting place. In the times of silence, however, Twilight’s mind raced with curious thoughts. Who was this creature? Where did she come from, and was it from somewhere beyond Equestria? Was she a friend, or perhaps a foe? Why did she even crash in the first place, let alone survive said crash with little injury? Twilight often dozed off into her thoughts, regardless if she was the only pony in the room or not. She had many thoughts, some concerns, but plenty of curiosity that needed quenching. Without any serious injuries or signs of extreme distress to tend to, all she ended up doing throughout the night was sitting at the bedside of a complete stranger. No, not a stranger. Twilight thought better than that. Whoever this person was, she was not with who she’d consider her own, alone in a place that she would most likely know nothing about. She was lost, perhaps misplaced, from the place she’d call home. It was, again, another trail of thoughts Twilight had about the creature, but the alicorn princess didn’t let go of the feeling she had deep down inside of her; Whoever this is, she needs her help. “Well, no news is good news, I guess,” Spike commented. He stifled a yawn as he hovered in, and then set the bag he was carrying down on the ground next to Twilight’s chair. “Pinkie kept the kitchen going until about an hour ago. She filled two thermoses with celery soup before passing out on the kitchen island, and it’s still warm. One is for you, and the other is for… whoever that is.” “Thanks Spike,” Twilight replied. She used her magic to pull a thermos from the bag. She opened the thermos, using the lid as a cup, and poured some soup into it. Since she hadn’t eaten anything since around the party’s start, the soup was a welcomed meal. As she poured into the cup, she asked “Did you see Starlight on your way up?” “Nope, but I did fly by her room. I overheard somepony murmuring, so I’m guessing she went to sleep a while ago.” “I would hope so. She’s been so busy helping at the school on top of all the magic she did today. She deserves her rest.” “Can’t argue with that.” The little dragon shifted eyes to the being resting in the bed adjacent to them. “I wonder if that’s what they’re sleeping about.” “’Her’. And I don’t know, Spike. We won’t know until she wakes up,” Twilight said, and after a whiff of her soup, she took a drink from her cup. The soup was exactly how she enjoyed it, having a light texture with just enough thickness from the ingredients used, and washed down her throat with warmth and ease. It was a delicacy she never really enjoyed much in the past. In fact, it took a read from a fictional story she once read that inspired to give such a soup a chance for herself. Ever since she and Spike first concocted recipes, Twilight made their own celery soup a go-to meal when in need of one. After a couple more tastes of her late-night meal, Twilight’s eyes turned back to the resting being. With the warm food in her now, she felt a little more alert, and took notice of the silent words from the being’s mouth. Their lips moved like when speaking, but with little to no sound coming out of it. As the two watched on for a few minutes, they managed to read the lips, if not hear the whispered words clear enough. “Help… “Mother… “Tails… “Please… “Don’t be said, Tails…” Twilight and Spike managed to hear the last lip reading quite well. The being was whispering, but still audible enough to hear. This “Tails” they’ve heard several times throughout the night sounded like someone important. Whatever dream she was having, she was very deep into it. Twilight hoped that it was a dream, or more so a pleasant one, instead of a nightmare. Either way, Princess Luna would have it under control from Canterlot, as the dream realm was her domain. “That’s it!” Twilight yelled. Where the being remained deep in sleep, Spike jumped at the sudden outburst with a gasp. “What’s it?” “Spike, I need you to write a letter for me. Princess Luna might be able to help us here.” The little dragon didn’t need a second to connect the dots. After being at Twilight’s side for so many years, his reading of her behavior was sharper than a dragon’s fang. Without a word, he rushed out of the room, only to return a brief time later with a blank scroll in his left claw, and a writing quill in his right. He showed a readied expression as he said “Whenever you’re ready, Twilight.” “Dear Princess Luna, “Several hours ago, just as your night began, there was a phenomenon not too far out of Ponyville. My friends and I soon discovered the body of a person we’ve never seen within or outside Equestria. While she currently rests in my castle, we have noticed her struggling in her sleep. I feel that she’s having a nightmare, or some form of complicated dream. “I ask for your help in this matter as I wish to help this new being however I can. Would you please be able to access their dream and see what they’re going through? I know this is a large task to ask from you, but I am concerned for her well-being and the expressions and murmuring she’s shown me has me very curious. I await what your course of action will be when you have the available time.” “Your Fellow Friend, “Princess Twilight Sparkle” “Twilight… Sparkle!” Spike finished penning Twilight’s letter. Despite the growing need of sleep taking over him, he managed to stayed attentive and wrote every word Twilight had said. He rolled the scroll up, making sure it was secure before using a familiar red ribbon with the golden emblem to tie it. It wasn’t always necessary, especially when Twilight would communicate with the other princesses directly, but it became a habit after she became a princess herself. On the other claw, Spike wouldn’t be Twilight’s number one assistant without being fully prepared no matter the task, so having the ribbons whenever writing a scroll became a new norm for him. After another stifled yawn, Spike proudly presented Twilight the finished scroll. But before he could confirm sending it, he caught sight of the girl asleep in bed. “Twilight…” Spike didn’t see Twilight’s gaze, which were already pointing down at the girl lying in bed. The murmuring seemed to have stopped, but in its place, there were small streams of tears flowing down her cheeks. At first, her face showed a small grin, as if she was content with her crying. However, the smile was short lived as it shifted into a sad frown, and her eyelids trembling gave the clear sign that she was having a bad dream indeed. That sight was enough for Twilight to follow through with her plan. “Spike, send the letter,” she said. With a deep breath and use of his dragon magic, the scroll was engulfed in his green fire breath, turning into a trail of magical smoke as the message was being sent off. Spike let out another yawn, but this one much stronger than the previous two. “What now, Twilight?” “I can tell you’re ready for bed, Spike,” Twilight observed. “Why don’t you go get some sleep? I’ll stay here until somepony else wakes up.” “You mean leave you here all by yourself? That’s not fair to you.” “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. This girl doesn’t seem like a threat to me.” “I don’t want to leave you alone because I’m scared. I just don’t want you to be alone.” “Believe me, Spike, I can handle it,” Twilight assured. With a frown on his face, Spike spread his wings and took flight. “Well if that’s how you want to be…” Without another word, the little dragon flew out of the room and turned left, heading down the corridor towards his bedroom. Twilight watched him go, unable to bring herself to blame him for his behavior. After all, Spike was always there for him since the day he was hatched. She simply took his exit as par for the course, poured more soup into her cup, and enjoyed another drink of it. No matter what would happen next, she hoped that her message to Luna will help provide some sort of help to the matter at hoof. Once more, her train of thought was cut off as she heard the approaching flapping of wings. Turning to the door, she saw Spike return into the room, but this time, he brought a blanket and a sleeping basket in his claws. He set the basket nearby Twilight, and then made herself comfortable in it with the blanket covering him. In a dozy tone, he said “I’ll be sleeping right here tonight. Just wake me up when you need me.” Spike began to yawn once more, but halfway through, he fell asleep right inside the basket. He gently snored as he drifted his mind off to rest. Twilight could easily guess that he would start dreaming about being in a fantasy world of his own imaginations with Rarity, like the numerous ones she’s overheard him murmur in his sleep about before. Regardless of what his dreams were, it was heartfelt to see his dedication go to great lengths once again, all to be the number one assistant he always was. Twilight sat comfortably in her spot, still enjoying her soup as she watched over the resting being, and taking joy in the subtle reminder of what the little dragon was to her. No matter what would happen next, she was glad to have Spike at her side. Cosmo felt her life become full circle as it all flashed before her eyes. From her earliest memories playing on her clan’s space colony to her spirit giving Tails a farewell kiss, her lifetime of love, war, and Seedrian and Mobian families came flooding back. Through the many battles and countless efforts of thwarting Dark Oak, the Metarex were finally being defeated. She fulfilled the destiny of her people, and she embraced the consequences to see it through. “Goodbye…” That was her final word. Her final thought. As she waited for what was next, waiting for death itself, she could only hope that the galaxy would welcome the next generation of Seedrians to sprout. She hoped for a greater future for them than their predecessors, and find peace and love across the galaxy. She kept that hope strong as Chaos Control enveloped her being and cause it to be pulled away. Pulled away. Was this what death felt like? Maybe it was, but at the same time, it didn’t feel like it made sense. Perhaps it was just denial taking over her mind, but she felt something: the rhythm of a heartbeat. Does someone still feel their heart beat in death? Does that steady rhythm carry over to the afterlife, if it actually exists? All those thoughts and more had Cosmo turn from content to confused, her once teary-eyed smiling expression now forming a frown. “Take this second chance and find your way back…” Hearing that broke her trance of accepting death, taking better control over her focus. She recognized that tone, but at the same time, it felt… different. That was Shadow’s voice, she knew that much. His voice became unquestionably recognizable after he invaded the Blue Typhoon and chased after her and Tails, all to kill her and play his part to stop the Metarex. But his message, that’s what drew her focus. A second chance to find her way back? What was she hearing, and what did it mean? Didn’t all of this – including Shadow’s message – already happen? However, it was one thing to hear a message, but another thing to feel it. Once the message was said and made clear to her, Cosmo sensed something new. It was a different presence trying to be the dominant focus in the blinding light of Chaos Control and the aura of her own power. Whatever it was, she used her eyes to try and find its source, but the blinding light of power made seeing anything beyond her physical form impossible. At least, near impossible. There was a new energy she was seeking, one that was unfamiliar to herself, and to her lesser knowledge, it was a new power no one in the galaxy was familiar with. Cosmo’s gaze turned to the hazy glance of a shadow in the distance before her. Whether this mass was close by or far away remained uncertain, as it remained in its spot in the few moments it was visible. Try as she might, Cosmo looked out to make out a shape of what she was seeing, but could only draw to one conclusion: Cosmo could not recognize it. All she could decipher was a waving motion on one side of it, a somewhat slender structure on the other side, and not another detail more. Whatever this shadowy figure was, it was trying to make a stronger presence, as if breaking in through the armored walls of a space colony. But no matter how hard it tried, it failed to break through the seemingly impenetrable barrier. For a moment, she could’ve sworn she heard a new voice calling out to her. It sounded to be coming from the distant… whatever it was. For Cosmo, her hearing was not able to decipher exactly what the echoing yells were trying to say, but she did take in how this distant being was another being, not a thing. But who could this be, and why were they here? Before Cosmo could delve deeper into the subject, the sounds of another cry echoed around her. One that was louder, stronger, and with a tone from the deepest heart she knows. It was the final cry made before her fate was sealed, and as her entire surroundings began to blind her in an intense bright light, she heard Tails’s last cry to her once more. “Cosmo… I LOVE YOU!!!” Those words echoed through Cosmo’s mind as she began to awake. Her eyes slowly opened as consciousness returned to her for what felt like the first time since she was last knocked out, which felt like an eternity in many ways. Shadow was hunting her down across the Blue Typhoon, but Tails did all he could to keep her safe, with the help of their friends of course. She could only awake to the voices of her friends that Dark Oak was using her as a spy with her eyes and ears, sending every sight she saw and sound she heard back to the Metarex and helping to continue their devious plot. But this time, it was different. Her eyes squirmed until her vision came to, and then focused to a crystalline view as she began to feel her body laying down. Her mind had several thoughts jump into her mind. She died to save the galaxy, so how could she “feel” her body? For that matter, how could she have “thoughts” if she was dead as it is? The idea of an afterlife for her clan remained just what she assumed after losing her clan: an afterthought, a faith that there was an afterlife at all. However, she felt compelled to let her body awaken and rise up after resting for who knows how long and to live another day with- Cosmo’s eyes shot wide open and an audible gasp came from her mouth. She felt alive, and feeling like new after having a nice, long rest in bed. That couldn’t have been possible… could it? What she failed to realize was that her sudden awakening caught the attention of another. Her ears didn’t catch the noise of another as she regained her consciousness and slowly but surely raised her head and back up from her resting spot. Upon sitting up right, her eyes focused on her front view, which showed a crystalline wall with a mirror and dresser set in front of it. To her right, a pair of doors were located: one open to reveal a bathroom, and the other being closed, possibly the entrance. Cosmo stared at her surroundings in shock, but not so much to not register everything. However, as her head turned left to her bedside, she saw a completely different sight. Despite traveling across the galaxy and visiting many planets with their various inhabitants, Cosmo’s next sight was confusing. A lavender purple pony with a pair of wings, a horn and a marking on its rear came to her focus next. The pony’s looks were nothing out of the ordinary for Cosmo, given all whom she’s seen along her travels and their appearances. But for that moment, she saw a creature almost acting identical to her as they were trying to regain consciousness and focus much like herself. Both were in shock, but it was the strange being before Cosmo that managed to get the first words out. “You… you’re awake!” The sudden sound of a gasp pulled Twilight out of a gaze and regained consciousness. After she talked to Spike, she agreed to wait a while longer before retiring to her own bed chambers for rest. But rather than awake in the comfort of her bed, the alicorn princess saw that she fell asleep where she sat next to the room’s occupied bed. Her head rested on the edge of the bed as her body remained sitting on the floor, and remained that way from when she passed out, according to her immediate calculations. The only other deduction she could make was the light of the sun shining through the closed windows, showing that the day had started a while ago. After taking a moment to clear her mind and reset herself to the task at hoof, Twilight, had her eyes dart from randomly across the room to the bed next to her. The being in the bed had finally awoken, and she was taking in her surroundings. Twilight took notice of her blue eyes, but other than that, the sight of the being in confused wonder kept her alert. It took a moment before their sights locked onto each other. “You… you’re awake!” The girl stood blankly back as her irises shrank. She looked to be processing what she was just told, and looked to be in disbelief. “I’m… awake?” she said, raising one of her arms and resting her hand across her chest. “Yes,” Twilight replied with an assuring tone. “H-how is that possible?” “I don’t know. You fell out of the sky and crashed into the ground last night. My friends and I found you unconscious a distance from my castle, so we brought you back to let you rest and heal,” Twilight explained. The expression on the girl’s face became confused. She had lived a similar experience before, and now she was reliving it again. “Where is… here? And w-who are you?” she asked with a slightly louder, yet tremoring, voice. “You are at my castle in the town of Ponyville,” replied the alicorn. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. May I please ask what your name is as well?” “I… I don’t know if…” “Do you not remember your name?” “I do, but I…” “Don’t be scared. My friends and I are here to help you.” “Friends?” “Yes. My dearest friends. You can trust us, as we never leave anypony- or, anycreature, when they need a friend to help.” Many thoughts raced across the girl’s mind as the last minute felt like a whole new warzone for her to face. There she was, staring at this sentient lavender pony, a creature she new knew existed. This equine stranger, however, immediately offered her kindness and help. Whatever a “Princess of Friendship” was, it seemed to be on full display, amongst the pony’s physical features she started to notice more notably. Her hesitance was an all too familiar nostalgia trip to how she met her loved one and best friends, but unlike that time, her worries weren’t as hard-focused as they were back then. She clenched her hand across her chest and stared blankly down at her legs, covered under the bedsheets. The thoughts in her brain were racing faster than the blue blur hero that she sought for helped and would become her friend. What exactly was all this? Is it all a delusion into death, or a dream? What was this world she found herself in? Whatever it was she felt confused, worried, and… her heart beating. The hand on her chest felt it before, but now she took full recognition of the feeling. It was her heart beating inside her. Was this a sign of something better? Was she, in fact, alive? Was this what Shadow meant in his message? What exactly happened to her? Where were her friends? Where was “he”? “Are you okay?” Twilight’s voice broke through her thoughts. “I… I… I’m…” “Yes?” “I’m… My name…” the girl raised her head slightly up, turning it to face the pony next to her. “My name is Cosmo.” A pause of silence took place as Cosmo’s eyes glanced around the sunlit, crystalline room again. “You said I was in your ‘castle?’ In… where again?” “Ponyville,” Twilight answered, showing a genuine smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Cosmo. Where are you from?” Cosmo didn’t know how to respond immediately. She didn’t know “where” was the best answer to give. Instead, she had more important questions that surfaced. “Tell me, is your planet safe after the Metarex?” “Huh… Meta…?” “Your planet has its planet egg back, correct?” “…what?” “Did the Blue Typhoon escape?” “A blue typhoon?” Cosmo’s concerns grew and grew as she heard Twilight’s every confused answer. With each question, her whole body clenched, and she felt a strong ache in her heart as her eyes started to glisten. “Do… do you know where Tails is?” The continuously confused Twilight looked back at Cosmo and answered with her own question: “Who is Tails?” That was the sharp pain needing to break down the damn holding Cosmo’s emotions in. No one knew about her galaxy or her friends, or her Tails. With her self-control suddenly disappearing, she broke down crying. She covered her eyes with her hands while sitting upright in her bed, gentle sobs of pain turning into cries of true anguish. She wanted to ask more questions, to call out and find some kind of hope to grasp onto, but her gasps between crying stopped. Twilight watched as Cosmo broke down into her current state. As she watched her crying get louder, she neglected to notice how the sounds started to echo into the castle. A few minutes would follow before the sounds of hooves raced up to the open door as some of Twilight’s friends heard the sounds from where they were resting. Even Spike, a normally sound sleeper, started to awake as some of the other ponies approached. As he did, he joined the others in staring at the awakened and upset girl. “Twilight, what’s wrong with her?” Twilight stood next to the bed, focusing on Cosmo with a sad look. “I wish I knew, Spike,” she replied. There was no talking in the bedroom for a while, despite Twilight’s friends making their way through the door. Instead, they let the mystery girl cry on, patiently waiting to get answers to their questions when she was fine and ready.
Prologue: GoodbyeAuthor's Note THIS IS YOUR ONLY SPOILER WARNING: This prologue details events taken place during the climax of the Metarex Saga of Sonic X. If you haven't seen the saga, or the series in general, stop here and go watch the series before reading on. We'll be getting to Equestria and the ponies starting in the next chapter, so stay tuned! Prologue: Goodbye It had been done. The Sonic Power Cannon fired its last shot, hurling its two chaos-powered hedgehogs at its target. It was the last chance they had to stop the Metarex from destroying the galaxy and everything that dwelled within it. Months and years of conflict between a galaxy and a ruthless force had found the chance to end the ongoing battle for the sake of dozens of planets and their countless inhabitants. This chance, however, did not come without a price. To subdue their enemy and play her part in saving everyone, Cosmo – the one who sought out Sonic and his friends for help – placed herself in the line of fire. Thanks to the abilities of her Seedrian race, she immobilized their foe – Metarex ruler Dark Oak – and allowed the cannon to fire and hit its target. What would follow was a blinding light of Chaos Reaction before dissipating in the golden super auras of Sonic the Hedgehog and Shadow the Hedgehog, surrounding a black mass of energy. All that anyone else could do was watch from the safety of the Blue Typhoon and the Crimson Egg. They were facing the end of a long battle, along with the death of a dear friend. Some stared forward out of respect as the event unfolded, while a few turned their eyes away and cried as they took in the pain. But as for one, a heartbroken fox, he broke apart alone followed the fated gunfire. It took the voice of reason from Dr. Eggman to assure what was to come would save all across the universe, and the assuring plea from Cosmo that it had to be done. However, it couldn’t save the young fox from a shattered heart and soul upon firing the cannon. All he could do was sit in front of his command station, his eyes shut and body wrapped into a ball by his two namesakes. But as all who were watching grieved, they heard Cosmo’s voice echo from the distance before them. “Thank you all for your friendship. Before I met you, I didn't believe in myself. My clan was wiped out by the Metarex. I felt like I was helpless and couldn't do anything to stop them... but because of you, I learned that I didn't have to stand by and watch the Metarex take over. I could do my part to fight back and help restore my clan. I just wanted you to know that I'm happy now because I fulfilled my destiny. Remember, I'll always be with you. “Don't be sad, Tails…” Tails dared to look up as he heard her speak his name. To his surprised, he saw Cosmo standing in front of him, but as a spirit and now back in her younger form. She looked at him with a reassuring smile as her spirit approached him and spoke again. “Whenever you miss me, just look for me right here beside you.” Cosmo kneeled down, placed her hands on Tails’s cheeks and leaned her head towards his. She gave him a kiss before her spirit faded away, leaving the fox to gently smile for a moment before staring back out into space. As he had to process what was happening before, his mind now began to plague him with a new thought: Was that his first kiss? Sonic and Shadow stared down at the remaining source of Cosmo and the Metarex as they heard Cosmo’s voice. When she finished talking, Sonic closed his eyes for a moment. “Goodbye, Cosmo,” were his only thoughts before turning his sight towards Shadow. They knew what needed to be done now, to stop the Metarex once and for all and save the galaxy. They needed to unleash their full power and destroy their foe, and their friend and ally. “CHAOS… “CONTROL!!!” Cosmo sensed the energy unleashed and attacking the remaining life of Dark Oak’s and her own. The last of her life energy began to disappear, and her spirit embraced what was to come. She allowed the energy to take hold and destroy them both. She accepted what was to come next with tear-glistened eyes, an accepting smile, falling pedals, and a fulfilled destiny. “The seeds of my clan will spread through the galaxy and find places to grow. I'm in peace. Now, goodbye…” Following what she called her final words, Cosmo heard yelling from a distance above. She couldn’t make it out entirely, as the sound of white noise began to overtake her hearing as Chaos Control engulfed her. Whatever it was, it didn’t make her feel like there was something more happening, more that she could help with. She fulfilled her destiny to her people, and there was nothing more she could do at this point. Slowly, but surely, her final moments of life began to end as the outer shell of chaos energy started to crack and unleash itself. Her physical form would soon perish, and her spirit would be freed to rest in peace. Her seeds would give her Seedrian clan a new beginning as her people’s martyr was- “CHAOS CONTROL!!!” Cosmo heard that exclamation clearly. Shadow’s voice was immediately recognizable as the hedgehog unleashed another immense amount of chaos energy. This time, however, felt different than the last. The energy she felt wasn’t trying to destroy anything it consumed, nor did she feel her life force fading away anymore. This energy felt… rejuvenating, as if her life force was being revived. This put the once-used martyr of the Seedrian race in surprise as Cosmo sensed this newfound change. She didn’t know what to make of this as her mood shifted from accepting death to confusion. Whatever was going on, Cosmo heard one last voice – Shadow’s voice – call to her before she felt herself disappear from the universe she existed in. “Take this second chance and find your way back.” A single light shined like the brightest star before the joined remnants of the Blue Typhoon and Egg Crimson. Like seeing it at the end of a long tunnel, it was the ships’ crews’ sign that their war against the Metarex was finally over. But the price to be paid for victory seemed to have increased, as there was now two friends and allies missing. It took an observation from Dr. Eggman to deduce that Shadow used Chaos Control to stop time around the explosion, saving everyone within range from harm’s way at Dark Oak’s destruction. As for Shadow’s whereabouts, he could not explain. Shadow the Hedgehog was a powerful being, but still unstable when unleashing his full potential. Virtually anything he set his sight towards when powered up enough was possible, but if not used appropriately, it would cost him everything. The unpredictability of Chaos Control could have removed him from reality itself, or simply send him to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. “Who knows” was the best guess Eggman could make of what happened to Shadow, and the crew aboard the Blue Typhoon could only agree. While the mystery behind Shadow’s disappearance was discussed, Tails made his way outside, standing left to the remnants of the once impressive runway. He stared sadly out at the shining star, all the while his mind was juggling figuring out what that light was and the grief that he eating him alive from the inside out. None of this felt real to him, despite logic telling him differently. All he could do was stare out into space at that one star that shined brighter than any other he’d ever seen. Was it the light left behind by Cosmo? Was it a sign of new hope for peace across the galaxy? Or was it just a shining ball of pure energy? Tails’s train of thought was cut off when he felt the presence of another. He sensed a footstep from behind, and turned around to see a now powered-down friend approaching him. “Sonic?” The way Sonic was walking up to him, Tails didn’t know what to think. Sonic’s expression was firm, his fists clenched together, and his walking pace at his regular speed. The young fox didn’t know what to make of his approaching friend. He felt confused with what was going on right then, and he was scared about what would happen next. By the time Sonic was a few feet away, he stepped back one nervous step at a time and preparing to plea forgiveness from his oldest friend. “I know you’re mad at me, but- I… huh” Sonic grabbed Tails’s hand and handed something to him. “Here, Tails,” he said, handing over what he was holding. He then bowed his head and shut his eyes, looking firm and certain while sounding apologetic. “Sorry. I looked for Cosmo, but this was all I found.” Tails held the item in his hands, staring down at it saddened. “A seed…” A small, white seed was all that was left of Cosmo. It was a piece of her, a piece of what would be a new start to her people. There was nothing else left of Cosmo but what Sonic had handed Tails, and it was the final nail in the coffin for him. He felt his heart shatter what felt like the hundredth time that day, and he started to cry. He stepped forward to Sonic, bowing his head in despair as he let out his heartache and agony. All the hedgehog did was stand in place, not making a move or sound, and allowed his friend to have an emotional breakdown before him. “Oh, Sonic, why did this have to happen?! It’s... just not fair! Now I’ll never see her again. She was... she was my friend! I miss her. She can’t be gone…” As he let his emotions shatter, Tails dropped to his hands and knees in front of Sonic. His body trembled at all the immense pain he was feeling, and he started sobbing. Tears flowed down his face as he tried to let out all the pain he could, but he couldn’t let it all out fast enough. The pain was too much for him to handle as his sobbing turned to painful crying, screams of anguish being unleashed between gasps for air. Neither he nor Sonic could notice the planet eggs stolen by the Metarex began to fly around them, returning to their planets and restore life once again. Aboard the ship, Dr. Eggman ordered his robots to begin replenishing the ships’ energy supplies for repairs and departure. Nothing else mattered. All that Tails could focus on was losing Cosmo, someone very important to him. A special girl that he got to know and find strength from. A special person who he loved and loved him in return. While Sonic stood before him, not moving an inch whatsoever, Tails continued to let out his broken heart in open space. It was all he could do, and at that moment, all he could show how sorry he was to Cosmo. It felt like eons to reality’s minutes, but Tails remained on his hands and knees crying. With the white seed clenched in his hand, he cried in pain and loss of his dearest friend. He cried his heart out for the girl he loved.
Chapter 1: Cosmic CrashEquestria shined brightly through another day under Celestia’s sun. Every creature from all corners of their world were enjoying another day of peace and harmony, which was a well-deserved time given the recent events at the School of Friendship. With the acts of Cozy Glow several weeks behind Equestria and a stronger faith in the power of friendship, all were enjoying a time of peace and happiness across the land. One location in particular was especially festive. The castle of Princess Twilight Sparkle was underway with a party celebrating the School of Friendship’s staff’s first completed year of educating its students on the importance of friendship and harmony. Pinkie Pie, Ponyville’s premiere party pony prodigy, had decorated the castle’s throne room, and several rooms adjacent to it, into the central celebratory area as several ponies, and one baby dragon, gathered to celebrate their successful, and eventful, first year. Many stories were shared, delicious treats were tasted, and a fresh wave of optimistic attitude spread itself across the castle like an ocean wave reaching the beach. It was, without question, a festive time to be had. But elsewhere in the castle, the Princess of Friendship herself was still coming to terms with all that had happened over the last year. Standing out on one of the castle balconies, Twilight Sparkle could only bask in the reality that she had just experienced. From the recent Canterlot invasion to her adventure across many new regions, from opening her own school to the near end of all Equestrian magic, the past year was eventful to say the least. Indeed, there was a lot thrown in her direction, and a lot more she chose to face herself, but in the end, she couldn’t help but feel proud, and perhaps a little bit tired. Twilight was thankful for all the success that had come from her efforts, and she was grateful to her wonderful friends, her students, and the faith of her fellow princesses supporting her. Whatever would happen next, she knew she had them all beside them to face the world together and keep Equestria in peace. She was happy for that, but she still had this feeling deep down she couldn’t put a hoof on. “There you are, Twilight.” As she stared out at the Ponyville scenery in the evening glow, Twilight didn’t notice the sound of somepony coming up behind her. She turned around to see Rainbow Dash flying towards her, hence not hearing the sound of hoofsteps walking across the crystalline floor. The cyan Pegasus landed herself on the balcony and said “We were wondering where you went. You left the party so long ago it’s after sunset already.” Twilight followed Rainbow’s pointing hoof at the horizon, noticing the sun setting and the few twinkling stars starting to appear. “Sorry, Rainbow Dash. I just needed some time to myself,” Twilight said. “Everything okay?" “Yeah… I’m fine.” Rainbow arched an eyebrow. “You don’t sound so sure about that. Seriously, what’s up?” Twilight let out a small sigh of defeat. “I’m fine, really. I was just thinking about everything from the last year. It was… a lot to look back on. We faced everything thrown our way head-on, and no matter the mistakes or the successes, we always found our way through together. I just never thought it meant dealing with the Storm King or Cozy Glow, or even how Chancellor Neighsay was.” “Well, to be fair, we’ve had to deal with crazy stuff long before them.” “I know, but this time around felt… different.” Twilight paused for a moment, turning her focus back onto the horizon as night continued to start. “When I think of the last year, I find it almost… hard to believe how much we accomplished.” Rainbow strolled up and stood beside her alicorn friend. “What do you mean?” “So many times, we ended up in places or positions that looked as if we had no way out, like no matter what we’d do, we could’ve failed. I know I didn’t exactly help as well as I should have,” Twilight continued, thinking of her own mistakes. But, as the stars began to shine and the moon made its presence, a smile crept on her face. “But thanks to the help of our friendships, we managed to achieve so many things. Making friends with new kingdoms and species, opening the school, helping others… “It’s amazing how much has happened, yet here we are. A new era in Equestria has started, and I share that part with you and all our friends. It’s so much to take in, I can hardly believe it sometimes.” “Yeah, I can get that,” Rainbow Dash said, sharing a smile with her friend as they both looked out at the stars. “We did have a lot happen, but hey, we made it this far with everything that happened LONG before the Storm King. We’ve got a lot to be proud of. You’re the Princess of Friendship, I’m a Wonderbolt, and Pinkie’s-” “A shooting star!” The pegasus mare looked back at her friend, confused at being cut off. “Uh, what?” “Look up! A shooting star!” Twilight pointed a hoof up at the now fully night sky, more accurately towards a star shining brighter than the rest. Anyone who knew her knew of her love for stargazing and any cosmic anomaly that would occur, especially shooting stars. Knowing this, Rainbow Dash grinned and rolled her eyes unsurprised, and then glanced up where the hoof still pointed. “Hey, yeah, there is a shooting star. Isn’t that your good luck charm or something?” “Well… kinda,” Twilight replied, slightly blushing. “I’ve always believed that there’s good luck to anyone who finds a shooting star. When I was little, I would make a wish and hoped that it would come true. I know it seems foalish to still think like that, but sometimes-“ “Hey Twi,” Rainbow interrupted. Twilight turned to her friend. “Yes?” “Does that star look like it’s getting bigger and brighter to you?” Looking back up, Twilight did notice what Rainbow Dash was asking. She was so distracted when talking that she didn’t catch the star’s growing light and size herself. What wonder and amazement she had at first sight turned to confusion. It looked as if the star wasn’t just growing, it was drawing closer to the ground below, a sound starting to be heard as if there was something coming towards them. When she saw that this shooting star was now becoming a falling star, her confusion turned to a growing fear that something bad was about to happen. The bright supposed star quickly came closer and closer to the ground. Despite its brightness, both mares could see its spherical shape with a seemingly magical trail cast behind it. It also appeared to be too far away from Ponyville to be a threat to them, the town or the neighboring areas, but it didn’t make the fear both were feeling any less warranted. Once she managed to calculate an estimated trajectory, Twilight acted. “Get down…” “Wait, what do you-" “GET DOWN!” Twilight grabbed her friend and dived away from the balcony’s edge. Just as the two landed near the entrance back into the castle, the falling star crashed into the earth, landing in a forest area a few miles away from Twilight’s castle and the School of Friendship. When it hit the ground, the impact didn’t cause a strong quake, but one could feel it based on the sound made. When the two mares turned back to look, they were amazed to find the entire area enveloped in a bright dome of light. It held its size for a moment before its bright light pulsated, and the size gradually shrinking. By the time the two were back on their hooves, a pop of magic appeared behind them. Hearing and sensing this, they turned around to see Starlight Glimmer having just appeared. “Twilight, what happened?! We-” Starlight paused, quickly catching the sight of what the two were just witnessing. “Yeah, THAT happened!” Rainbow added. “What is it?!” Starlight asked. Twilight snapped into leadership form and said “No idea, but we have to find out! Let’s regroup with the others and get there quickly!” With her friends gathered, Twilight teleported the group near the sight of the crash. Immediately, the ponies and dragon began to cough at the unsettled dust still in the air. But just a moment after they arrived, the dust began to set on the ground, clearing everyone’s vision and lungs. Once seeing her mane again, Rarity batted it out of any extra dust or dirt that might have stuck around inside. “Alright,” she said, “now that we’re here, what exactly is it we should be looking for?” “Well, whatever it is, it fell out of the bloomin’ sky, so it shouldn’t be gettin’ away,” Applejack replied. Twilight navigated the scene. “Judging by the state of the area, the crash site should be over there!” She pointed a hoof forward towards the site of trees sitting up in angular directions, most likely from the crash. Another telling sign was the group of woodland creatures running away from the trees, immediately seeing Fluttershy and approaching her. Numerous rabbits, birds, squirrels and other inhabitants chirped all at once, and it took the kind pegasus a minute to decipher the chatter. “There seems to be… a bright glow ahead,” Fluttershy said aloud. “It was too bright for the animals to see what exactly it was." Looking out, Twilight saw that the bright dome has shrunk down to a much smaller, seemingly lower state. Whatever was its cause seemed to be down in the ground ahead. “Fluttershy, you and Applejack go and gather all the local critters. Make sure they’re safe and see what else they have to say,” she instructed. She then turned to Starlight and said “Starlight, come with me and we’ll see what this glow is. Rainbow, take everyone else and make sure the area is safe.” “Right!” Rainbow Dash and Starlight said simultaneously, and the groups went off in their respective directions. Twilight and Starlight ran at first, but began to slow their pace as their destination became close. As they progressed, the bright light ahead of them started to dim down. Despite how bright it was, the two managed to navigate closer to its origin with ease, as if their eyes weren’t as affected by the brightness like the light of Celestia’s sun. It was weird; the light was strong, but not blinding to the point of discomforted eyes. Nonetheless, the duo carried on following the condensing sphere of light until they reached a clearing where the bright glow originated. Starlight nearly stumbled over her hooves over a ledge that led down into a pit where the light shined but gradually shrunk. The two had found the crash site, and within moments was the source revealed. The sphere of light emitting from the pit continued to shrink down, revealing no flames or damage to the area other than the crater in the ground and leaned-out trees. Tried as they might, the two ponies couldn’t make out what was in that sphere for a few moments. It only took when the pulsating light began to fade, revealing some form in its center. “Twilight, I’m seeing something,” Starlight said. “So am I,” replied the alicorn princess. “Whatever it is… No, whatever they are, they’re…” Twilight’s sight caught attention of the supposed body in the light. She noticed arms and legs of a more bipedal creature, like a dragon or their friend Capper the Cat, but the overall shape remained a foreign sight. The dark outline in the line had smooth curves and little points, and the overall size made whatever this creature was looked no taller than Twilight, but taller than a standard pony. There were many creatures that existed within and beyond Equestria’s borders, but what Twilight was trying to see now was something very new. After a couple minutes, the pulsating sphere of light continued to close in on itself and fade away. The once black silhouette in its center began to have more colors revealed; white, green, small bands of yellow, little lines of black, and two red buds on the head area. It was now certain that whatever – more so whoever – this was, they were not a known species in Equestrian history. Confirmation only came when the pulsing sphere of light closed in on itself, emitting a small sparkle of energy neither Twilight nor Starlight could recognize as Equestrian magic, and the being within the light was given full display. Whoever she was, she appeared to have green, leafy hair with what one would guess to be off-white skin, wearing an outfit that was white, yellow, and green like her hair. The red rosebuds and yellow bands on their head were given full display, and only a slight display of their face showed the black lines representing a closed eye and mouth. The two ponies darted surprise glares at one-another before Twilight began to quickly descend down to the newfound body. She investigated once her hooves touched the ground and leaned her head down towards that of the strange creature before her. To some relief, despite the small nicks and scratches found around the body, she heard and saw soft breathing come from the body, but the immediate sight of tears around their eyes concerned her. “Twilight, what is it?” Starlight called from above. Using her magic, Twilight gently used her magic to flip the being over onto their back. The being noticed this changed and her body visibly tensed at the change, but not without a tear flowing down their right eye. “T-t-Tails…” Twilight leaned down, using her left leg to support the being’s head as she heard what they were saying. Seeing how faint the voice was and their eyes still shut, Twilight assumed they were dreaming, but given the tears, it looked to me more of a nightmare. After checking to see the breathing to be stable, she turned her back towards her foe-turned-pupil-turned-friend and addressed the matter. “She’s alive, but she needs help! Find the others and make sure everything here is secure. We need to take her back to my castle and fast!” With a swift nod and teleportation spell, Starlight disappeared to find the others and see where they were in their efforts. Twilight returned her focus to the new being before her, and slowly developed a levitation spell around them and lifted the body off the ground. Immediately, their arms clenched into a crest across the chest, their hands laying over what Twilight assumed would be their heart. With a slow and gentle ascent from the crater, the two got out of the crater, but all along the way, tears began to shed more and more from the creature’s eyes. “Sonic… Shadow… “Tails…” The words being mumbled were becoming clearer to Twilight’s understanding, but the pain in the tone grew as well. Upon the last word spoken, the few tears being shed turned into waterfalls as tears streamed down their face. For Twilight, however, the strangest view didn’t come from the tears themselves, but the attempted smile whenever the word “Tails” was uttered. The alicorn took a mental note of the importance of this word – or perhaps, name – as she focused her magic on keeping them safe in her magic. She tried to detect any injuries or damages other than the scuffs across the body, but to her surprise, none could be found. It was upon that realization when the rest of her friends appeared, courtesy of Starlight’s magic, and they all stared in confusion at the being in Twilight’s levitation magic. “What in Equestria? Who is this?” Rarity asked. “I’m not sure, but she needs help,” Twilight replied. “From where? I’ve never seen a creature like that before,” said Fluttershy. Twilight flew slowly out of the crater where her friends were, keeping a careful grip on the being with her magic. All were quiet until her hooves landed gently on the ground again. “For someone who crash-landed into the ground, she looks good to me,” Pinkie Pie observed. “I agree, but she still needs somewhere to rest until she’s ready to wake up. We’ll take her back to the castle. Is the area safe?” “It should be fine,” Applejack replied. “We found the bunch of critters livin’ in the area to go to Fluttershy’s sanctuary to be safe.” “Any each animal I talked to saw what you did. They didn’t have anything more to add,” Fluttershy added. “Then we should be set to go. Starlight, can you teleport everypony back to the castle for me? I’ll fly back separate and carry her there myself.” “Say no more,” Starlight said, and she charged her horn to cast the spell. “Rarity, Fluttershy, there’s an empty bedroom across from mine. Make sure that room’s clean and set up proper. Pinkie, get a pitcher of water and celery soup prepared. Spike, get a first aid kit from one of the bathrooms. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, you two check around Ponyville and see if anyone else saw the crash, and try to explain that there’s nothing to worry about.” “We’re on it!” Rainbow Dash replied. “Are you sure you’ll be fine flying back in the dark by yourself?” Spike asked. Twilight glanced up at the night sky above them, and then back at the unconscious girl. “Luna has the moon shining brightly tonight. I’ll be okay. It’s whoever this is we need to worry about.” “Then let’s get moving,” said Starlight, and the majority of the group gathered around her. With a magical flash, she teleported everyone back to the castle. Twilight waited for the group to disappear back to the castle before leaving the clearing. She would have been able to cast it herself, but given the care she put in her magic floating the newfound being, she didn’t want to risk losing even the slightest control. She also feared that, despite the spell being safe for ponies, it would have a negative consequence for a creature she knew nothing about. Nonetheless, there was a plan in action, and she took off to the sky with the newfound stranger in magical tow. It wasn’t until she reached a comfortable altitude, one that wasn’t too far off the ground but high enough to clear any trees along the way, when she glanced at the being again. Twilight took notice of her mouth making small, near quiet gasps, and her eyes struggling as if having a dream. With each eye struggle, small tears began to form, and every few moments, a small teardrop would fall free, falling to the ground below. Even though she was unconscious, she was indeed fighting through what Twilight would only assume was a nightmare. Twilight could see that it was going to be a long night ahead of them. Nonetheless, she wasted no time in her flight back to her castle. Author's Note I Fell from the sky So don't ask me why I'm feeling so down...
Chapter 2: A New AwakeningA gentle knock against door frame sounded in the guest bedroom. Spike was revealed as the knocker as he hovered in with a bag in one of his claws. “Anything happen yet?” “Nothing. She’s still asleep,” Twilight replied from her seat not far from the room’s occupied bed. That was the routine going through the entire night. After discovering the strange female being who crashed into the ground, Twilight, Spike and their friends immediately took action. One of the guest bedrooms, the one closest to Twilight’s personal chambers, was turned into a hospital-esque suite. They treated what injuries they could find with the first aid kit Spike supplied, but as if like magic, her wounds healed as swiftly as the damp washcloth was used to wipe away any potential dirt or dust from the crash site. With little other options, the ponies and dragon placed her in the comfort of the bed and underneath its sheets, where she rested slept for hours since. Twilight volunteered herself to stay by the bedside the entire time since bringing the stranger back to her castle. For most of the night, her friends rotated every hour in pairs to stay beside Twilight and see what would happen. As the night progressed, Twilight insisted her friends to leave things in her hooves and Spike’s claws, and for them to rest until the morning. Given how tired the majority of them felt, they took the offer and used the opportunity to sleep in various places across the castle. It was a long night, and more so uneventful after the event of the crashing being now laying in the bed. Things were mostly quiet, other than the ponies sharing an occasional chat, and the being in the bed barely uttered a whisper after subconsciously finding comfort in her newfound resting place. In the times of silence, however, Twilight’s mind raced with curious thoughts. Who was this creature? Where did she come from, and was it from somewhere beyond Equestria? Was she a friend, or perhaps a foe? Why did she even crash in the first place, let alone survive said crash with little injury? Twilight often dozed off into her thoughts, regardless if she was the only pony in the room or not. She had many thoughts, some concerns, but plenty of curiosity that needed quenching. Without any serious injuries or signs of extreme distress to tend to, all she ended up doing throughout the night was sitting at the bedside of a complete stranger. No, not a stranger. Twilight thought better than that. Whoever this person was, she was not with who she’d consider her own, alone in a place that she would most likely know nothing about. She was lost, perhaps misplaced, from the place she’d call home. It was, again, another trail of thoughts Twilight had about the creature, but the alicorn princess didn’t let go of the feeling she had deep down inside of her; Whoever this is, she needs her help. “Well, no news is good news, I guess,” Spike commented. He stifled a yawn as he hovered in, and then set the bag he was carrying down on the ground next to Twilight’s chair. “Pinkie kept the kitchen going until about an hour ago. She filled two thermoses with celery soup before passing out on the kitchen island, and it’s still warm. One is for you, and the other is for… whoever that is.” “Thanks Spike,” Twilight replied. She used her magic to pull a thermos from the bag. She opened the thermos, using the lid as a cup, and poured some soup into it. Since she hadn’t eaten anything since around the party’s start, the soup was a welcomed meal. As she poured into the cup, she asked “Did you see Starlight on your way up?” “Nope, but I did fly by her room. I overheard somepony murmuring, so I’m guessing she went to sleep a while ago.” “I would hope so. She’s been so busy helping at the school on top of all the magic she did today. She deserves her rest.” “Can’t argue with that.” The little dragon shifted eyes to the being resting in the bed adjacent to them. “I wonder if that’s what they’re sleeping about.” “’Her’. And I don’t know, Spike. We won’t know until she wakes up,” Twilight said, and after a whiff of her soup, she took a drink from her cup. The soup was exactly how she enjoyed it, having a light texture with just enough thickness from the ingredients used, and washed down her throat with warmth and ease. It was a delicacy she never really enjoyed much in the past. In fact, it took a read from a fictional story she once read that inspired to give such a soup a chance for herself. Ever since she and Spike first concocted recipes, Twilight made their own celery soup a go-to meal when in need of one. After a couple more tastes of her late-night meal, Twilight’s eyes turned back to the resting being. With the warm food in her now, she felt a little more alert, and took notice of the silent words from the being’s mouth. Their lips moved like when speaking, but with little to no sound coming out of it. As the two watched on for a few minutes, they managed to read the lips, if not hear the whispered words clear enough. “Help… “Mother… “Tails… “Please… “Don’t be said, Tails…” Twilight and Spike managed to hear the last lip reading quite well. The being was whispering, but still audible enough to hear. This “Tails” they’ve heard several times throughout the night sounded like someone important. Whatever dream she was having, she was very deep into it. Twilight hoped that it was a dream, or more so a pleasant one, instead of a nightmare. Either way, Princess Luna would have it under control from Canterlot, as the dream realm was her domain. “That’s it!” Twilight yelled. Where the being remained deep in sleep, Spike jumped at the sudden outburst with a gasp. “What’s it?” “Spike, I need you to write a letter for me. Princess Luna might be able to help us here.” The little dragon didn’t need a second to connect the dots. After being at Twilight’s side for so many years, his reading of her behavior was sharper than a dragon’s fang. Without a word, he rushed out of the room, only to return a brief time later with a blank scroll in his left claw, and a writing quill in his right. He showed a readied expression as he said “Whenever you’re ready, Twilight.” “Dear Princess Luna, “Several hours ago, just as your night began, there was a phenomenon not too far out of Ponyville. My friends and I soon discovered the body of a person we’ve never seen within or outside Equestria. While she currently rests in my castle, we have noticed her struggling in her sleep. I feel that she’s having a nightmare, or some form of complicated dream. “I ask for your help in this matter as I wish to help this new being however I can. Would you please be able to access their dream and see what they’re going through? I know this is a large task to ask from you, but I am concerned for her well-being and the expressions and murmuring she’s shown me has me very curious. I await what your course of action will be when you have the available time.” “Your Fellow Friend, “Princess Twilight Sparkle” “Twilight… Sparkle!” Spike finished penning Twilight’s letter. Despite the growing need of sleep taking over him, he managed to stayed attentive and wrote every word Twilight had said. He rolled the scroll up, making sure it was secure before using a familiar red ribbon with the golden emblem to tie it. It wasn’t always necessary, especially when Twilight would communicate with the other princesses directly, but it became a habit after she became a princess herself. On the other claw, Spike wouldn’t be Twilight’s number one assistant without being fully prepared no matter the task, so having the ribbons whenever writing a scroll became a new norm for him. After another stifled yawn, Spike proudly presented Twilight the finished scroll. But before he could confirm sending it, he caught sight of the girl asleep in bed. “Twilight…” Spike didn’t see Twilight’s gaze, which were already pointing down at the girl lying in bed. The murmuring seemed to have stopped, but in its place, there were small streams of tears flowing down her cheeks. At first, her face showed a small grin, as if she was content with her crying. However, the smile was short lived as it shifted into a sad frown, and her eyelids trembling gave the clear sign that she was having a bad dream indeed. That sight was enough for Twilight to follow through with her plan. “Spike, send the letter,” she said. With a deep breath and use of his dragon magic, the scroll was engulfed in his green fire breath, turning into a trail of magical smoke as the message was being sent off. Spike let out another yawn, but this one much stronger than the previous two. “What now, Twilight?” “I can tell you’re ready for bed, Spike,” Twilight observed. “Why don’t you go get some sleep? I’ll stay here until somepony else wakes up.” “You mean leave you here all by yourself? That’s not fair to you.” “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. This girl doesn’t seem like a threat to me.” “I don’t want to leave you alone because I’m scared. I just don’t want you to be alone.” “Believe me, Spike, I can handle it,” Twilight assured. With a frown on his face, Spike spread his wings and took flight. “Well if that’s how you want to be…” Without another word, the little dragon flew out of the room and turned left, heading down the corridor towards his bedroom. Twilight watched him go, unable to bring herself to blame him for his behavior. After all, Spike was always there for him since the day he was hatched. She simply took his exit as par for the course, poured more soup into her cup, and enjoyed another drink of it. No matter what would happen next, she hoped that her message to Luna will help provide some sort of help to the matter at hoof. Once more, her train of thought was cut off as she heard the approaching flapping of wings. Turning to the door, she saw Spike return into the room, but this time, he brought a blanket and a sleeping basket in his claws. He set the basket nearby Twilight, and then made herself comfortable in it with the blanket covering him. In a dozy tone, he said “I’ll be sleeping right here tonight. Just wake me up when you need me.” Spike began to yawn once more, but halfway through, he fell asleep right inside the basket. He gently snored as he drifted his mind off to rest. Twilight could easily guess that he would start dreaming about being in a fantasy world of his own imaginations with Rarity, like the numerous ones she’s overheard him murmur in his sleep about before. Regardless of what his dreams were, it was heartfelt to see his dedication go to great lengths once again, all to be the number one assistant he always was. Twilight sat comfortably in her spot, still enjoying her soup as she watched over the resting being, and taking joy in the subtle reminder of what the little dragon was to her. No matter what would happen next, she was glad to have Spike at her side. Cosmo felt her life become full circle as it all flashed before her eyes. From her earliest memories playing on her clan’s space colony to her spirit giving Tails a farewell kiss, her lifetime of love, war, and Seedrian and Mobian families came flooding back. Through the many battles and countless efforts of thwarting Dark Oak, the Metarex were finally being defeated. She fulfilled the destiny of her people, and she embraced the consequences to see it through. “Goodbye…” That was her final word. Her final thought. As she waited for what was next, waiting for death itself, she could only hope that the galaxy would welcome the next generation of Seedrians to sprout. She hoped for a greater future for them than their predecessors, and find peace and love across the galaxy. She kept that hope strong as Chaos Control enveloped her being and cause it to be pulled away. Pulled away. Was this what death felt like? Maybe it was, but at the same time, it didn’t feel like it made sense. Perhaps it was just denial taking over her mind, but she felt something: the rhythm of a heartbeat. Does someone still feel their heart beat in death? Does that steady rhythm carry over to the afterlife, if it actually exists? All those thoughts and more had Cosmo turn from content to confused, her once teary-eyed smiling expression now forming a frown. “Take this second chance and find your way back…” Hearing that broke her trance of accepting death, taking better control over her focus. She recognized that tone, but at the same time, it felt… different. That was Shadow’s voice, she knew that much. His voice became unquestionably recognizable after he invaded the Blue Typhoon and chased after her and Tails, all to kill her and play his part to stop the Metarex. But his message, that’s what drew her focus. A second chance to find her way back? What was she hearing, and what did it mean? Didn’t all of this – including Shadow’s message – already happen? However, it was one thing to hear a message, but another thing to feel it. Once the message was said and made clear to her, Cosmo sensed something new. It was a different presence trying to be the dominant focus in the blinding light of Chaos Control and the aura of her own power. Whatever it was, she used her eyes to try and find its source, but the blinding light of power made seeing anything beyond her physical form impossible. At least, near impossible. There was a new energy she was seeking, one that was unfamiliar to herself, and to her lesser knowledge, it was a new power no one in the galaxy was familiar with. Cosmo’s gaze turned to the hazy glance of a shadow in the distance before her. Whether this mass was close by or far away remained uncertain, as it remained in its spot in the few moments it was visible. Try as she might, Cosmo looked out to make out a shape of what she was seeing, but could only draw to one conclusion: Cosmo could not recognize it. All she could decipher was a waving motion on one side of it, a somewhat slender structure on the other side, and not another detail more. Whatever this shadowy figure was, it was trying to make a stronger presence, as if breaking in through the armored walls of a space colony. But no matter how hard it tried, it failed to break through the seemingly impenetrable barrier. For a moment, she could’ve sworn she heard a new voice calling out to her. It sounded to be coming from the distant… whatever it was. For Cosmo, her hearing was not able to decipher exactly what the echoing yells were trying to say, but she did take in how this distant being was another being, not a thing. But who could this be, and why were they here? Before Cosmo could delve deeper into the subject, the sounds of another cry echoed around her. One that was louder, stronger, and with a tone from the deepest heart she knows. It was the final cry made before her fate was sealed, and as her entire surroundings began to blind her in an intense bright light, she heard Tails’s last cry to her once more. “Cosmo… I LOVE YOU!!!” Those words echoed through Cosmo’s mind as she began to awake. Her eyes slowly opened as consciousness returned to her for what felt like the first time since she was last knocked out, which felt like an eternity in many ways. Shadow was hunting her down across the Blue Typhoon, but Tails did all he could to keep her safe, with the help of their friends of course. She could only awake to the voices of her friends that Dark Oak was using her as a spy with her eyes and ears, sending every sight she saw and sound she heard back to the Metarex and helping to continue their devious plot. But this time, it was different. Her eyes squirmed until her vision came to, and then focused to a crystalline view as she began to feel her body laying down. Her mind had several thoughts jump into her mind. She died to save the galaxy, so how could she “feel” her body? For that matter, how could she have “thoughts” if she was dead as it is? The idea of an afterlife for her clan remained just what she assumed after losing her clan: an afterthought, a faith that there was an afterlife at all. However, she felt compelled to let her body awaken and rise up after resting for who knows how long and to live another day with- Cosmo’s eyes shot wide open and an audible gasp came from her mouth. She felt alive, and feeling like new after having a nice, long rest in bed. That couldn’t have been possible… could it? What she failed to realize was that her sudden awakening caught the attention of another. Her ears didn’t catch the noise of another as she regained her consciousness and slowly but surely raised her head and back up from her resting spot. Upon sitting up right, her eyes focused on her front view, which showed a crystalline wall with a mirror and dresser set in front of it. To her right, a pair of doors were located: one open to reveal a bathroom, and the other being closed, possibly the entrance. Cosmo stared at her surroundings in shock, but not so much to not register everything. However, as her head turned left to her bedside, she saw a completely different sight. Despite traveling across the galaxy and visiting many planets with their various inhabitants, Cosmo’s next sight was confusing. A lavender purple pony with a pair of wings, a horn and a marking on its rear came to her focus next. The pony’s looks were nothing out of the ordinary for Cosmo, given all whom she’s seen along her travels and their appearances. But for that moment, she saw a creature almost acting identical to her as they were trying to regain consciousness and focus much like herself. Both were in shock, but it was the strange being before Cosmo that managed to get the first words out. “You… you’re awake!” The sudden sound of a gasp pulled Twilight out of a gaze and regained consciousness. After she talked to Spike, she agreed to wait a while longer before retiring to her own bed chambers for rest. But rather than awake in the comfort of her bed, the alicorn princess saw that she fell asleep where she sat next to the room’s occupied bed. Her head rested on the edge of the bed as her body remained sitting on the floor, and remained that way from when she passed out, according to her immediate calculations. The only other deduction she could make was the light of the sun shining through the closed windows, showing that the day had started a while ago. After taking a moment to clear her mind and reset herself to the task at hoof, Twilight, had her eyes dart from randomly across the room to the bed next to her. The being in the bed had finally awoken, and she was taking in her surroundings. Twilight took notice of her blue eyes, but other than that, the sight of the being in confused wonder kept her alert. It took a moment before their sights locked onto each other. “You… you’re awake!” The girl stood blankly back as her irises shrank. She looked to be processing what she was just told, and looked to be in disbelief. “I’m… awake?” she said, raising one of her arms and resting her hand across her chest. “Yes,” Twilight replied with an assuring tone. “H-how is that possible?” “I don’t know. You fell out of the sky and crashed into the ground last night. My friends and I found you unconscious a distance from my castle, so we brought you back to let you rest and heal,” Twilight explained. The expression on the girl’s face became confused. She had lived a similar experience before, and now she was reliving it again. “Where is… here? And w-who are you?” she asked with a slightly louder, yet tremoring, voice. “You are at my castle in the town of Ponyville,” replied the alicorn. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. May I please ask what your name is as well?” “I… I don’t know if…” “Do you not remember your name?” “I do, but I…” “Don’t be scared. My friends and I are here to help you.” “Friends?” “Yes. My dearest friends. You can trust us, as we never leave anypony- or, anycreature, when they need a friend to help.” Many thoughts raced across the girl’s mind as the last minute felt like a whole new warzone for her to face. There she was, staring at this sentient lavender pony, a creature she new knew existed. This equine stranger, however, immediately offered her kindness and help. Whatever a “Princess of Friendship” was, it seemed to be on full display, amongst the pony’s physical features she started to notice more notably. Her hesitance was an all too familiar nostalgia trip to how she met her loved one and best friends, but unlike that time, her worries weren’t as hard-focused as they were back then. She clenched her hand across her chest and stared blankly down at her legs, covered under the bedsheets. The thoughts in her brain were racing faster than the blue blur hero that she sought for helped and would become her friend. What exactly was all this? Is it all a delusion into death, or a dream? What was this world she found herself in? Whatever it was she felt confused, worried, and… her heart beating. The hand on her chest felt it before, but now she took full recognition of the feeling. It was her heart beating inside her. Was this a sign of something better? Was she, in fact, alive? Was this what Shadow meant in his message? What exactly happened to her? Where were her friends? Where was “he”? “Are you okay?” Twilight’s voice broke through her thoughts. “I… I… I’m…” “Yes?” “I’m… My name…” the girl raised her head slightly up, turning it to face the pony next to her. “My name is Cosmo.” A pause of silence took place as Cosmo’s eyes glanced around the sunlit, crystalline room again. “You said I was in your ‘castle?’ In… where again?” “Ponyville,” Twilight answered, showing a genuine smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Cosmo. Where are you from?” Cosmo didn’t know how to respond immediately. She didn’t know “where” was the best answer to give. Instead, she had more important questions that surfaced. “Tell me, is your planet safe after the Metarex?” “Huh… Meta…?” “Your planet has its planet egg back, correct?” “…what?” “Did the Blue Typhoon escape?” “A blue typhoon?” Cosmo’s concerns grew and grew as she heard Twilight’s every confused answer. With each question, her whole body clenched, and she felt a strong ache in her heart as her eyes started to glisten. “Do… do you know where Tails is?” The continuously confused Twilight looked back at Cosmo and answered with her own question: “Who is Tails?” That was the sharp pain needing to break down the damn holding Cosmo’s emotions in. No one knew about her galaxy or her friends, or her Tails. With her self-control suddenly disappearing, she broke down crying. She covered her eyes with her hands while sitting upright in her bed, gentle sobs of pain turning into cries of true anguish. She wanted to ask more questions, to call out and find some kind of hope to grasp onto, but her gasps between crying stopped. Twilight watched as Cosmo broke down into her current state. As she watched her crying get louder, she neglected to notice how the sounds started to echo into the castle. A few minutes would follow before the sounds of hooves raced up to the open door as some of Twilight’s friends heard the sounds from where they were resting. Even Spike, a normally sound sleeper, started to awake as some of the other ponies approached. As he did, he joined the others in staring at the awakened and upset girl. “Twilight, what’s wrong with her?” Twilight stood next to the bed, focusing on Cosmo with a sad look. “I wish I knew, Spike,” she replied. There was no talking in the bedroom for a while, despite Twilight’s friends making their way through the door. Instead, they let the mystery girl cry on, patiently waiting to get answers to their questions when she was fine and ready.
