MLP : THE WANDERER

In the hushed echoes of silence, I find myself adrift in an abyss of eternal darkness. Uncertain of my existence, I remain immobilized, unable to move or utter a single word. I don't even know if I'm even alive at this point.

Yearning for oblivion, I crave to forget. Each encounter with those 'things' forces me to confront the pain embedded deep within my heart, a reminder of the comrades I lost. It's exhausting, leaving me yearning for solitude. After grappling with these overwhelming emotions, all I desire is to hide myself in the confines of my room and release the pent-up sorrow through tears.

A chill envelops my form as tears cascade down my cheeks. Despite being taught not to show vulnerability, I ponder if it's not deserved; if shedding tears is a tribute to the ones I've lost.

Abruptly, I find myself descending onto a soft surface, greeted by an intrusion of light. Slowly, I open my eyes to a familiar room, its floor adorned with scattered toys – a whimsical chaos reminiscent of my childhood toys.

Surveying the array of toys, memories flood back. I glance to the right, where a multitude of toys lies in disarray. "Seems I've forgotten how unorganized my room used to be."

I discerned a familiar voice from the left side of my room. As I turned my gaze toward the source there Princess Luna graced my window perch, legs elegantly crossed. She donned a regal ensemble - a navy blue short skirt dress adorned with a black transparent, off-the-shoulder puffy sleeve. Complementing the attire was a darker navy blue underbust corset, beneath which cascaded a series of gracefully folded feathers. These feathers, seamlessly connected, led to a high-low hemline skirt, leaving only her front legs exposed.

"Art thou not taught the virtue of keeping thy room tidy?"

...

"Hello," She waved

Ace kept frozen on his bed, staring wide-eyed at Luna. Meanwhile, Luna, with her arms crossed, stood there looking at Ace, expecting a feedback.

After an awkward silence that seemed to stretch for seconds, Luna decided to break it. "Art thou supposed to say something?"

Ace snapped back to reality, standing up and slowly walking towards Luna. "Princess Luna? Feels like I'm talking to the real deal." He stopped in front of Luna, placing his hand on his chin and examining her entire appearance.

A subtle shade of pink appeared on Luna's face. "Rude," she remarked, lifting her left palm to slap Ace. He swiftly caught her wrist with his right hand, maintaining his gaze.

Luna attempted to pull her arm back, but Ace's grip was firm as a rock. "Release me!" Luna shouted, anger evident on her face.

"My dream managed to make you look even more beautiful," Ace said, releasing Princess Luna's hand and walking back to his bed to sit.

"Unimpressed," Ace transitioned from a sitting to a lying position, gazing at the ceiling with no discernible emotion. "I could have done more."

Luna's anger slowly subsided, and she approached Ace with curiosity. "What art thou talking about?"

Still fixated on the ceiling, Ace replied, "I'm unimpressed with myself, could have done more."

Silence enveloped the room.

"I don't know what the continental might be doing to you right now... Nevermind," Ace took a pillow from beside him and used it to cover his face.

Regret drawn itself on Luna's face, she sat on the bed beside Ace. Luna looked at her own hand and transition to Ace.
"I'm fine Ace, the continental can't involve itself with me and my sister. Plus I had modern English lessons yesterday."

Ace threw the pillow aside and looked at Luna, extremely confused. "Am I really talking to the real Princess herself?"

Now everyone is Confused, Luna looked at ace with his other eyebrow raised. "Are thou really thinking that till now, I'm a fabricated version of your mind?" Luna stood up and looked Infront of Ace her hand glowing in a dark bluish hue.

She closed her left hand and the walls fell down revealing their now in an open grass area by a tree. Ace sat up looking at the surroundings in awe.

"Magnificent." Ace whispered, His attention quickly moved towards Luna. "So your really fine." Ace hastily stood up and ran towards Luna embracing her in a tight hug.

Luna's face turned pink she put her hand on Ace's chest and pushed.
"Release me!"

Realization quickly drew on Ace's face, he instantly released Luna and kneeled down taking interest at the floor with sudden embarrassment. "I-I apologize, I'm just glad that your fine."

Luna looked at him with a bit of surprise, a hint of pink chalked up on her face, she cleared her throat and calm down.
"I'm fine"

Ace smiled at her but something sparked in his mind.

"So. Whenever you enter a dream the dreamer will gain consciousness?"

"Thou are correct."

"Astonishing." Ace whispered to himself but then added. "Records said you appeared at numerous dreams, is your dream walk that advanced?"

Luna sighed and sat next to Ace.

"It's not just a mere dream walk. This gift was gifted upon me by my mother, shall I protect the dreams and give rest those that slumber in my night. An ability that define me entirety."

"Why the somber tone?" Ace asked.

"You see Ace, this gift of mine is terrifying in itself. When I enter a dream I'm Duplicated."

"Duplicated?"

"To protect all dreams, I must split my subconscious into thousands or even millions and enter the dreams that are in a state of nightmare, I face thousands of dreams that one must not see." Luna said her hands mildly trembling. "I'm afraid of my responsibility."

Ace slowly acknowledgely shook his head in response. He can't fathom how big of a responsibility princess Luna have, facing nightmares so that her subjects can sleep happily. He took Luna's hand and held it with his, calming Luna down.

"But you have never lose to a nightmare have you? never gave up, and stopped?" Ace said with a soft grin on his face. "Your strong princess, your the only one capable of such thing."

Princess Luna gazed deeply into Ace's enigmatic black eyes, with her own glittering bluish green eyes. Ace, wearing a quizzical expression, observed Luna's half-smile as she took his hand with both of hers. Raising his hand, Luna closed her eyes and began chanting in an ancient tongue, a soft glow emanating from her grasp and intensifying with each passing second.

Ace hissed in discomfort when the light dissipated, pulling back his hand to rub away the lingering sensation. A serene touch on his left cheek made him shift his focus to Luna's right arm, extended gracefully with her hand still resting on his cheek, a subtle grin playing on her lips.

"You are hereby invited to the grand gala."

Confusion crossed Ace's face at the unexpected invitation. Before he could utter a response, Luna gestured with her left hand, index finger extended. She directed it towards Ace's forehead until it made contact, a purple glow enveloping the room.

First Person

I Slowly open my eyes to the soft hues of the rising sun, I found my face pressed against the cold floor. As I lifted myself up, wiping away the remnants of drool, I got on my knees and stretched, savoring the satisfying cracks.

Approaching a nearby mirror, I assessed myself—messed-up hair and a reddened face from the prolonged contact with the floor. Groaning in disappointment, I wiped my face, comforting myself that it was temporary. However, my attention was drawn to a golden triangle on my palm. Focusing on it, I felt a hint of magic, instantly recalling the dream from the previous night.

Clenching my fist, I turned toward the bathroom, undressing completely. Stepping into the shower, I adjusted the water to the colder side, hissing as the shiver-inducing water hit my skin. Grabbing the nearest soap, I shrugged and started with my hair, moving on to my whole body.

After applying cologne and perfume, I faced the mirror again. Rolling up my sleeve to emphasize my tattooed forearm, I picked a new outfit for the day—donning a plain white sleeve, black trousers, and shiny black formal shoes.

"I should visit sugarcube corner to see if they got breakfast options."

OUTSIDE

Stepping out of the hotel, I took a single stride onto the sidewalk, only to be abruptly pushed aside by a girl exclaiming, "Sorry!" She swiftly turned a corner, and as I glanced from her direction, a small crowd of people seemed to be chasing her. Curious, I moved out of their way, watching as they too turned around the corner.

"Weird."

Turning in the opposite direction, I resumed my stroll. After a few steps, an unexpected halt overcame me, and I found myself gazing at the ground in silent regret.

[Third Person]

Hiding in an alleyway, Twilight and Spike, now clad in casual attire, sought refuge behind a dumpster to evade their pursuers both of them gasping for air. Spike wiped his face and sighed in relief. "I-I think we lost them."

Before Twilight could respond, a male voice interrupted. "It seems." The voice came from behind them, and just as they turned to identify the speaker, their bodies glowed with a red hue, rendering them immobile.

"Release us!" Twilight demanded. Outside the alley, a voice hinted that their position had been exposed. Ace snapped his fingers, and suddenly, they found themselves on the rooftop of a nearby building. The red glow faded, allowing Twilight and Spike to regain control of their bodies. Turning around, they faced the stranger who had captured them.

Ace stood before them, arms crossed, his eyes looking down on them as if their now in a world of scolding . Twilight groaned and, with a sudden burst of emotion, exclaimed, "Fine! You want this ticket, then take it!" She dropped the ticket to the ground and leaned against a wall, hugging her knees as muffled sobs escaped her.

"Looks like you two stole something that ain't yours," Ace remarked.

"N-No! We didn't steal this ticket! It was given to us by the princess, but news spread, and here we are," Spike reassured nervously while looking back at Twilight with worry.

"What?" Ace inquired.

Spike glanced back at Ace with confusion. "You don't know? That there on the ground is the ticket to the gala!"

Ace picked it up, examined it, smirked, and handed the ticket back to Spike.

"You don't want it?" Spike questioned with the ticket in his hand.

"Don't need it." Ace replied.

Spike looked at Twilight and rushed to her with the ticket. Ace turned around, walked to a railing, and leaned against it, enjoying the view of the city. Though small, he loved it. He closed his eyes with a soft smile, feeling the breeze caress his skin and the wind's gentle melody in his ears.

After what seemed like a moment, Ace felt a tap on his back. He turned around and looked at the two in front of him.

"Mind introducing yourselves first?" Ace asked.

Twilight took a good look at Ace's face before answering his question. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, and here is... is my adopted little brother, Spike-"

~hey!" >:

"And the reason wh-"

"Cut it. Your brother already explained. I apologize for taking you two here," Ace said, his expression still as blank as ever.

"You haven't introduced yourself yet, mister," Spike said.

"I apologize, Name's Ace."

But then a thousand questions came to Twilight's mind. "Can I ask a few questions before you leave?"

"Sure"

She opened her purse and took out a note and pen, preparing herself as she looked at Ace with full attention. "Your name is Ace correct? How do you know instant teleportation? Only highly trained magic users know how to use it, or even master it with precision. Are you part of the E.A.R.T? What age did you start learning magic? How old are you?" Questions kept flooding in until Twilight stopped.

"Sorry." Ace popped his neck, lifted his right hand, snapped his fingers, and instantly disappeared, leaving the two alone on the rooftop, staring frozen at the horizon.

"Told ya Twilight, you should stop asking multiple questions at once," Spike nudged with his elbow, almost on the verge of laughing.

But Twilight didn't even respond to Spike's words; she stood stiff, frozen. An eyebrow slowly raised on Spike's face, he waved a hand in front of Twilight, to see no response.

...

*Ding*

The shopkeeper's bell rang as Ace entered through the glass door, finding the place occupied by several customers. Unfazed, he moved forward, taking an empty seat and patiently waiting for a waiter.

Whispers among a group of women at the next table caught Ace's attention. One of them discreetly pointed towards him, alerting her friends.

"Oh my Faust," one of them exclaimed.

As Ace perused the menu, the women couldn't resist capturing the moment, sneaking pictures with their phones. Aware of their attention, Ace looked directly at the camera, prompting the girls to hastily divert their gaze.

A middle-aged woman in a hair net and apron approached Ace with a note and pen, and the girls seized the moment to focus on their phones, eager to post their findings.

(Tattooed Daddy.)
[img]

*click*

"Let's go, we might miss the others." The friend of the girl said, both of them stood up and left.

[First Person]

As I perused the breakfast menu, I noticed the two girls taking pictures of me. Feeling their stare, I was about to address the situation when a middle-aged woman approached with a warm smile.

"Already decided, dear?" she inquired.

Returning the smile, I nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I'd love the choco cup and potato croquettes, and please add a sourdough bread on the side."

After noting down my order, the woman headed back to the kitchen. I relaxed, observing the girls leaving with giggles. Slumping back in my seat, I reflected on the fast passage of time, realizing I was still searching for breakfast in the middle of the day.

Soon enough, my order arrived. The lady placed a plastic tray with my breakfast on the table, cautioning me, "Be careful, it's hot."

With a genuine smile, she left me to enjoy my meal in privacy. I examined the presented food, each item on its own plate. My attention then shifted to the choco cup. I slid my finger into the handle, carefully lifting it up.

.
.
.
[Somewhere]

The room was enveloped in an eerie silence, dominated by a massive circular table where seven figures remained shrouded in darkness. Finally, one of them spoke, breaking the oppressive silence.

"How's Ace?" the heavy voice questioned.

Another figure responded, "Ace, or 445. recent reports say he's been quite active... The latest involves his interaction with Princess Luna's entity."

A paper was sent across the table, landing in front of the one who had asked the question. His eyes glowed with a bluish hue as he read the contents before placing it back on the table.

"An unexpected move from Ace. He's not known for taking matters into his own hands, unless ordered." the heavy voice commented.

Someone else chimed in, "He remains a valuable asset. A talent like him arises once in centuries. In the future, he could still be of use. The real question is, will he remain loyal enough to willingly follow our orders?"

The heavy voice responded grimly, "Ace agreed to the contract. He knows the consequences if he opposes it."

A feminine voice disagreed, "Using the contract to ensure loyalty won't work."

The heavy voice asserted, "In the institution, freedom doesn't come for free, Quiver. One must be willing to do whatever it takes to seize freedom."

Rising from the table, the figure's eyes glowed green, emphasizing, "Even if it means killing everyone you once bonded with." Resuming his seat, the glow in his eyes faded, leaving behind a heavy, contemplative silence in the room. Eventually, he broke it with a chilling statement: "With the contract, fear always works."

The lights in the room illuminated the vast space, with white walls and floor revealing an expansive area. In the center stood a circular table surrounded by seven seats, occupied by figures of various races. One seat, however, stood out – a woman seated with five men behind her, all equipped with night vision goggles and light armor.

The woman looked back, fear creeping onto her face. "W-what is this?"

The source of the heavy voice identified himself as a middle-aged man with white hair. "That there behind you is the 26th sect troops. I also want to address your rogue-like actions from previous days, Quiver."

Fear deepened on the woman's face. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

The man continued speaking. "Selling information to outside forces, making information disappear out of mid air. Your getting out of neck here."

Before the woman could protest, a knife pressed against her throat, silencing her. The man raised his hand to signify his intent to continue.

Tears streamed down the woman's cheeks as she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable. However, what she anticipated did not unfold. Opening her left eye slightly, she saw the man with his hand raised, palm open in the air.

The man behind her hastily retreated, and a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes. The man abruptly closed his hands, and a sickening crack reverberated through the room. Attempting to move her head, she found herself unable to, her vision descending as her neck swung back and forth. The lifeless body slumped onto the floor with a resounding thud.

A person in the room rose, staring at the man in disbelief. "W-why?"

The man met the gaze with an emotionless expression, he simply took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and took a puff.

..

___

This is the end of his draft, The next chapter is my continuation of the story.