Centuries ago, an army was waiting outside the castle with their leader named Solid Stone, riding on horseback and approached the castle with the guards protecting it.
The legend of the Purple Nightmares has been told thousands of years. Every generation, the story grows. But at it’s center, there is always one man.
The castle’s defenders fired a barrage of arrows at him, but Stone created an energy barrier and the barrier made the arrows disintegrate on contact because of his secret weapon, the six magical rings on each side of his arm.
Some say he found the rings when an asteroid fell from the sky. Others think it was from a mystical temple. Only Stone himself knew the true origin of the rings. It gave him the powers of a god, made his victims see their worst nightmare, and the gift of eternal life. He could have used them for good. But all he wanted, was power.
Solid Stone fired energy blasts into the ground, launching himself into the air as he used his rings to fight against the castle defenders. A group of defenders with swords charged right at him, but Stone fired an energy blast from his rings, knocking them down all at once. Then Stone knocked down another set of defenders by connecting the rings with an energy chain and using them as a whip, battering his enemies out of the way. Finally, he fired a ball of energy which blew through the opposing army and obliterated the gateway into the castle. After that, the rest of Stone’s army came to his aid and charged right after the castle defenders.
He called his army the Nightmares. Over the centuries, they spread chaos into every corner of the world. They moved in the shadows, toppled governments, and changed the course of history.
In 1996, Stone was in his helicopter as he arrived at his secret headquarters in the mountains of Japan with a book of research in his hand.
He chased money and power for a thousand years. But he still wanted more.
In Stone’s office, Solid Stone was discussing something about what he read in his book to one of his soldiers. Stone told him in Tagalog, “Have you heard the legend of Ma Hō? A hidden village with mythical creatures and ancient magic. Where people practice a martial arts style from the gods. I want to find it.”
He replied in Japanese, “Of course. I'll send a scout team to explore the area, and come back with more information.”
Stone was unimpressed and glared at his soldier, leaving him nervous.
“I want to go now,” Stone demanded in Tagalog.
Minutes later, Stone was in a military vehicle with his men and searched through the forest. However, the trees started to drift together.
“The forest…” One of his men noticed in Japanese. “…is moving?”
Stone and his men looked back at the forest, moving on its own. The driver looked at the front and the forest was closing in one them. He lost control of the car and drove it right off the cliff. Stone opened the door with an energy blast and escaped. There was no turning back for Stone and searched through the forest on his own.
He had nothing left on Earth to conquer. That’s when he came to my home.
Stone stopped and found a woman in purple clothing and a hat, guarding the entrance to Ma Hō.
“Who are you?” Stone asked in Tagalog.
The woman introduced herself in Japanese, “My name is Purple Sky. And who are you wondering around in this forest?”
“My name is Solid Stone. Where is the entrance to Ma Hō?” He said in Tagalog.
She decreed in Japanese, “You are not welcome in my home.”
Stone replied in Tagalog, “You don't know who you're talking to.”
“I don't care who you are. Turn around now and I won't hurt you,” The woman answered in Japanese.
Stone then got into his fighting stance and activated his rings on his arms.
“Is that suppose to scare me?” She asked in Japanese.
The fight ensued as Purple Sky dodged his rings and she threw her hat at him. Stone dodged her hat and Sky got into her fighting stance with the air currents flowing around her. They battled each other and in multiple instances, the two locked eyes onto each other. Then, Stone shot his rings at Sky, but she dodged them and used the air currents to send the rings back. After that, Sky used her magic to manipulate the power of his rings against the owner. Stone was left with shock and confusion as the woman used the rings to knock him down. Sky then used the air currents to save Stone from falling and it landed him on the fountain. The battle was over and the woman disappeared, but Stone smiled after meeting her.
As time passed by, the two fell in love with each other and had two kids: Amethyst Majesty and Sky Strike.
Purple Sky told her child, “That was the time I met your father. He was the last person I thought I'd fall for. But love had other plans. Amethyst, there's much more to know about the legend of the rings, but you'll learn more about it when you're older.”
Amethyst asked her mother in Japanese, “If Dad's rings were so powerful, how did you beat him?”
“Where I come from, we are empowered by the magic of the Great Guardian,” She answered in Japanese and gave him a paper decoration of the Great Guardian, resembling a purple dragon. “When you have the heart of our dragon, you can do some amazing things.”
“Can you still do those things?” Amethyst asked in Japanese.
Purple Sky replied in Japanese, “Unfortunately, no. I left those powers in Ma Hō with our dragon, but what I got in return is so much better.” Amethyst giggled as his mother touched his face. She then gave a gift to him, a blue pendant shaped like an oval. “I want you to have this. Whenever you feel lost, this will help you find your way home. Can you remember that?”
Amethyst looked at his pendant and replied in Japanese, “Okay.”
In the present day, at Canterlot, Amethyst woke up from his bed and looked at the clock in his phone. He sighed, “Okay…”
Amethyst got up and noticed a letter on the side drawer. He took a look at it and the letter was from his sister.
He put the letter away after that and went to exercise, take a shower, get dressed, and eat breakfast before going to work in his part-time job at the comic book store, located at the Canterlot Mall.
Author's Note
- Ma Hō is a parody of Ta Lo from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Plus, it means magic in Japanese.
