Song for Inlight

by sam_eguene

Rating: teen
Tags: Queen Chrysalis, Adventure, Princess Celestia, Crossover, Opaline, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Death, Alternate Universe, Other, Drama, Original Character, Mystery
Length: 35182

In the world filled with animal-like machines, Inlight Dust needs to uncover the deep secrets of the Faust to find out the truth about her birth, avenge her father and eventually save Equestria from the remnants of Nightmare Moon.

Long time ago, in the lands north to Equestria, in the valley between the mountains, there was a valley. It was a home to the Nora -- religious tribe of many creatures, isolated from the dangerous outside world filled with mad machines. And in that tribe, there was a filly. Inlight Dust, white pegasi filly whose mother abandoned her on her very own birth. Hidden in the Sacred Mountain, she was found by the leaders of the Nora -- High Matriarchs. But instead of a All-Mother gift, they saw the curse of Metal Devil in her, so they had no other choice but to cast it away from the tribe, give it to another outcast -- Duskshine. He nurtured and raised Inlight, until one day she fell into the Old World ruin, where she found a gift from the past -- a small, curious Focus. It showed her many things which were unseen, hidden in the plain sight. And on that same day, she asked her guardian one fatal question: Why was she an outcast.

Since that day, Duskshine trained her for the only way she could re-enter the tribe -- The Proving. It was a ceremony for young creatures who wanted to prove themselves and become young tribe warriors. However, when the day before the Proving came, Duskshine leaves Inlight in hopes of embracing the tribe, and leaving her past behind. Despite their unpleasant goodbye, Inlight follow's her guardian's will of embracing the tribe, meeting a few creatures along the way: Spinning Tiger -- a young adventurous kirin, Silverhoof Sparkle -- a protective Royal Guard, and North Star -- An archaeologist, who bear the same Focus Inlight had. But to mare's surprise, North Star was quick to avoid any contact with her, rising the suspicion of her two-sided nature.

Despite the strange meeting, Inlight participates in the Proving, where she wins just before the others could win. But instead of getting what she always wanted, she ends up being in an unforeseen event, which forever will change fate of her, her friends, and whole Equestria.

Largely inspired by Horizon Zero Dawn

Published 2024-07-25 06:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2025-02-02 13:44:36 UTC

Prologue

Vanishing Voices

Sun has risen over the valley. Snow was being replaced by green of grass and flowers. And after the snowy night, bloomed new life. In the grass, a small group of rabbits just began to wake up, and in the sky, a flock of birds was passing by in the blue sky. Covered with the light of the sun and the veil of the clouds in the distance, sky stood over the land tall as the highest mountain. But suddenly, a large shadow appeared like from nowhere, covering the land with it's massive wings. It was not a bird nor dragon, but something entirely different. Instead of feathers, there were plates of metal, bonded with the dark-orange cables which resembled mussles. It's claws were sharp, like the peak of the Mount Everhoof, ready to tear anyone in half. And near it's beak, where the eyes should have been, the blue, calm light radiated from the tips of the cables, like showing to everyone where this machine looks at.

The Stormbird, that's how hunters called it near the campfires in the stormy nights, passed through the valley, covering with it's shadow everything in it. But the birds weren'r scared of it. Quite the opposite – they flew together as one large flock across the lands beyond. But the Stormbird wasn't the only machine the earth had seen. In the fields below, a herd of machines ran by, closely resembling a pony, but larger, and the blue eye on it's nose. Near them, smaller beast was catching up. With long tail, small body, thin legs and one blue eye on the neck, it catched up with the other machine, passing through the field, and going deeper into the forest, through the trees and bushes. A moments has passed, and a clearing was quiet once again. But not for long, as someone moved out of the bushes, showing herself to the wilds. She had a majestic yellow mane, brown fur, a horn which were the form of a tree branch and a long tail, with some yellow fluff on the tip. The kirin looked around, to check if no machine was close, and then spoke.

"Alright, kids, the clearing is free! Come out now." And after that, a group of small creatures appeared from the bushes: one small changeling, two foals, one filly and one colt, another small filly kirin which looked alot like the elder, and a yound griffon with light-brown fur. All of them wore the clothing made from hide and strings, to protect them of the colds of this land.

"Now," spoke elder kirin "we collect the blueberries and bring them back into this basket" she said softly, and pointed to the basket which she carried on her back. With her orange magic she put the basket on the ground, as others gone to collect the berries they need.

"Take as much as you need, no more no less," clarified yellow-maned kirin "the All-Mother gives us as much food as we need." Everyone nodded their head in understanding, and continiued to collect the berries.

But yet in the distance, covered with grass and bushes, anothed pair of eyes observed the group of creatures. With his cornflower blue eyes, he watched as the foals and the griffon collected blueberries and brought them back to the basket, which was already halfway full. He had a snow white fur, wings of the same color, feathers on tips were colored with flaming orange, like it was caught on fire. The mane was colored with light and dark orange stripes, which mixed together created a beautiful short mane, although a bit messy after climbing arround. His tail was the same colors as the mane, but a little darker and with blue stripe going all the way to the end of his tail. After observing creatures for a little, he decided to do the same thing they were doing: collect the berries and bring them back to the basket. It took a time, but soon he had as much berries as he could carry on his back, and then he trotted his way to the basked. Small changeling was the only one who noticed him before, and looked with confusion at what he was doing. The basket was almost full, and colt's part could fill it to the end. He put his berries in the basket, and then the elder kirin finally saw him. But it wasn't the satisfaction of the finished job that was on her face, no, it was quite the opposite. She once again picked up the basket and with serious tone spoke:

"Kids, come on." She commanded and started to go away from him, which left flame-maned colt stunned as other creatures surprised, but they still followed her. As they were going, a young griffon stopped a little to looked at the colt, who was left alone, looking at him with interest or mockery. But a familiar voice called him from the group.

"Sky Breaker, come on, don't stand arround him!" It broke young griffon from trance, and he quickly came to his group. Even though they were far from him, young colt could still hear what kirin said: "He's an outcast," she explained to the group, "we do not speak, nor stand near them!" she alerted, as they started to go away even further, sometimes looking at the colt's dirrection.
Pegasi foal, meanwhile, looked at the leaving group which he only tried to help, but in turn was rejected and even thrown away. Sadnedd consumed him, and then, it was quickly replaced by anger. Why couldn't he be with the others? Just because he was an outcast? This thought fueled his anger, and after a moment, he started to run. It didn't matter where he was going, he wanted to go as far away from that clearing as possible. He kept running away, even though the tears started to blur his vision, which prevented him from seeing the hole he was going right into. He missed his step, and moment later, he tumbled down and fell into the darkness of the cave.

Darkness.

He felt darkness covering his entire body, along with freezing water he fell into. He quickly swam up to catch some air, and tumbled on the rock, on which he stood up. He looked arround, and saw a dark cave, lightened only by a small hole he fell through. He looked up and called for help, or rather, the only one who could save him right now.

"D-Duskshine? DUSKSHINE!" Foal cried for help, for the only pony who was here for him his entire life. Luckily, he soon heard a familiar grown stallion's voice, and soon, he saw his unicorn head. He had a dark grey fur, with even darker mane and beard. He beared a scar on his right cheeck, and had light green eyes.

"Inlight! Oh, thank godness you're alive!" Duskshine sighed with relief after seeing young colt not harmed. "Don't worry, I'll find another way in the cave." He then lifted his head again, and then looked down at Inlight. "Just stay calm and don't go anywhere, understood?"

Flame-manned pegasi nodded, and then stallion left him to find another way in. A couple of minutes passed, and Inlight, despite his guardian's wish, decided to go further in the cave. He shook with the fear, scared of what he could find inside the cave, but one thing kept his hooves working – simple foal's curiosity. The cave was just large enough to let a small colt through, and he kept going further in.

He kept going through the narrow cave, it's dark walls covering colt by sides. All of a sudden, bats flew by, making high pitched squeaking sound, which deeply scared Inlight. He screamed as well, covering his head with his forelegs and closing his eyes, but bats flew by him, going to where he was going from. He opened one eye a little, and then another, and then fully opened his eyes to look at where he ended up coming.

This was not a natural cave, it's walls were straight, tall, and made out of metal, now covered with lianas and dust. Inside, there were small stairs that led to probably a dining room, with tables and fallen chairs, all dusted and wet from the water leaks. Further in, there were large doors, thick as colt and large as a grown stallion, which were half opened, just enough to let Inlight through. Near the door stood large stalagmite together with a couple smaller ones. And it was at this moment, that Inlight realised, that he was in the..

"Old World ruin!" He said exitedly, and trotted inside even further. He was never in a ruin like that before, mostly because Duskshine forbid him to go in them because of so called 'taboo'. Pegasi colt curiously looked at the interior of the ruin, and then squeezed himself through the half opened door into even larger place.

It was bigger than the room before, it was the form of a rombus, with tables and couches near each other, some intact and others even broken. What interested Inlight the most was the thing that was in the centre of the room, and which was under the sunlight of the hole above. He walked slowly to it, and then realised that the thing he was looking at was a dead pony... atleast the remains of his, because all what's left was his left foreleg and skull, together with the parts of the upper body. Other part was perhaps under a moss because it was in the room too.

"A dead pony..." Inlight said when he came closer to the corpse. He was scared, but he knew the corpse would not come back to life... he thought. A shiny object shined on the side skull, and flame-maned colt spotted it, he came closer, and saw that it was a triangular shape of white, with a line of blue light in the middle. It was blinking periodicaly. A wave of curiosity struck Inlight again, as he leaned his hoof to this mysterious device, taking it from the corpse. The blinking suddenly stopped, and Inlight could examine the thing he was holding in the hoof.

"What is this?", he wondered to himself. It was pure white on the one side, with curved sides, and was mixed with gold and black on the other, now with the sharp sides. Perhaps it was an accesory, or even something beyond his comprehention. The only way to check it was test it. He slowly drawed his right hoof with focus to his head and under the ear, where the dead pony had it too. He leaned device closer... closer.. closer, untill it suddenly attached to his head and made a blue orb of light around Inlight. Surprised, young colt quickly removed it from the head and droped it near him, crawling away from it. He never expected that to happend, he couldn't. After a minute of recovering from the sudden light, he decided to try it again. Pegasi colt stood up once again, slowly walked to the artifact, and picked it up once again, before doing exacly what he did before. Like out of nowhere, he was surrounded with blue orb made out of thin air, like from the light. He was amazed from what he was seeing, and then he spotted as other lights, made of shapes and different shades of blue, appearing all across the room like out of nowhere. When he first fell into a ruin, he never expected to find a device which could give him the ability to see the unseen. Inlight looked arround the room, amazed with all of it. He then decided to look at the corpse which was right in front of him, and when he did, new vision appeared out of thin air. Backing away, flame-maned pegasi looked at the pony made out of thin blue light, as the figure suddenly spoke.

"Do you see what I'm trying to do? Let me adjust this," the figure then lifted his hoof and... waved it. "Hi! Happy birthday, Taveny! Daddy sure does love his now grown stallion! You see, I can't be with you and Grandma Grump but we still can make a birthday party, right?" pony then laughed happily, and a moment later, the recording vanished. To say that Inlight wasn't expecting this would be an understatement. He stood for a brief moment, processing the recording he saw right now. He somehow felt... warmth inside him when he saw this. Like this unknown pony from centuries or even eons ago talked to him like his own son. Inlight chuckled a little, and then broke the silence.

"Again, I want again!" And as he waved his hoof to the right, recording started once again.

"...adjust this... Hi!" Stranger once again waved his hoof, to which Inlight answered too.

"Hi!"

"...Happy birthday, Taveny! Daddy sure does love his now grown stallion! You see, I can't be with you and Grandma Grump right now but we still can make a birthday party, right?" The stallion then laughed, and then, the recording stopped once again.

"Happy birthday Taveny..." Inlight repeated, after the recording vanished into the thin air again, and glyphs of blue light appeared arround him. There were alot of them, most of which he couldn't make sence of. But he found how this magical accesory was called: the Focus. Wandering arround the ruin, he somehow made sence of when to turn on his new 'Focus' whenever he wanted to. But later, he remembered one thing: He had to get oit, he was still in the ruins. Wandering arround, he once again heard the voice of Duskshine, who called Inlight. Young colt followed the voice and later found a hole big enough to get out of the cave. And then, when he once again was on the surface, Duskshine, who was wearing thick fur over his shoulders and hide outfit, together with the machine armor for protection, sat down to his eye level and spoke to him.

"You're alright?" He asked gently, to which Inlight nodded. "You should have watched your step there, Inlight," He looked on his young colt and then saw something under his ear. He pointed his hoof at it and said "What is this?"

Inlight was quick to react and covered his Focus with his hoof.

"Nothing."

"Did you find this down there?" Duskshine asked.

"...no?" Inlight answered, which clearly was a lie.

Dusk Shine was not amused, and lend a hoof to Inlight "Inlight," he said "give me that."

Inlight as an answer shook his head, and Duskshine tried to take the Focus by hoof, but Inlight stepped back "Theese things are cursed! Give me that!" Young colt was stubborn, and still didn't give it to the elder stallion. Duskshine, understanding that this fight would be pointless, gave up and stood up. "Well then..." he spoke once again, "if you will be sneaking out from the home again, atleast I'll teach you how to survive in the wilds."

"Y-you will teach me to hunt!?" Inlight gasped with exitement. He was wishing to be trained for a long time already, but his guardian always said that he was too young for that and he'll teach him once he gets older. But now, he will know how to hunt AND together with his Focus? To think how many things he could do with it! To see the unseen! He would be the best hunter of the Embr-

"I will teach you how to survive, not hunt. That's two different thing-" Duskshine corrected, but it didn't matter, because flame-maned pegasi was already too exited and talked to himself.

Duskshine was annoyed, but made a little smile on his face. So much energy for one colt... that was some miracle. With horn, he picked with his green aura a small bow just size for a colt.

"Here's your bow, Inlight, you know how to shoot, so we'll get straight to the hunting." He gave the bow to Inlight and started to walk away, and Inlight followed him, putting his bow on the back. After some troting they left the forest and entered into the new clearing, from which there was seen a field with machines on it, whatever they were doing with the ground below them. Inlight stood confidently next to the dark-grey unicorn. They stood fo a moment, and when it passed, Duskshine broke the silence by saying

"Well then, what are we waiting for? To the hunt!"

Author's Note

So yeah, if somebody who didn't notice, it's an MLP x Horizon series crossover, which I wanted to write for 4 months already. I first just thought about "What if machines from Zero Dawn/Forbidden West were in MLP universe?" So I started to think how it would work, so I basicaly combined plots of the games and the show with my OCs. Yes, it may be stupid to do that, and yes, I may ne unoriginal because my creativity sometimes suck and other times work. Anyway I wrote this chapter anyway and I'll publish it after 2 others are done
I really hope you enjoyed this fic! I will continiude writing this fanfic and improve my gramar over time.

Chapter 1: Motherless

Motherless

It was midday. The herd of machines stopped near the cliffs which lied tall as the sky. Pony-alike machines hanged they heads low to the ground, as smaller ones walked around, inspecting the site they were in. It was a perfect place to strike, and Duskshine with Inlight watched them in the bushes.

"This is your first lesson today, Inlight, so watch and do as I say." Gray unicorn said to pegasi with white fur, who was by his side in the bushes. Close to them, a lone, one-eyed machine on thin legs passed by, patroling the area.

"See this machine over there?" Duskshine pointed a hoof at it. "Those are called Watchers. Guardians of the herds, and one of the weakest of the machines." Unicorn explained to the foal. "But don't let that fool you. Any machine can kill you, if you won't be careful enough." Inlight nodded after this statement, hearing every word his guardian said and looking at the Watcher, as he scanned the nearby area.

Dark-maned unicorn picked with aura a bunch of small rocks, and passed them to Inlight, silently placing them infront of him.

"Now listen carefuly, Inlight. I'll go forward, near the end of the bushes, and I want you to pick up those rocks and throw them near me. That way the machine will come closer so I would kill it." Duskshine said to the flame-maned pegasi as he began to crouch forward.

"But rocks can hurt machines, right?"

Elder pony turned his head to the foal, thinking with what he should reply next. After a long, awkward pause, he answered.

"...No... no, ofcourse not." He spoke and continiued his way. A moment passed, and Duskshine was in the position, near the edge of the bush, as the Watcher was looking elsewhere. Young pegasi understood what he needed to do, and picking up a medium-sized rock with his mouth, he threw the rock just near the Duskshine.

Just as the loud thud sound was heard, Watcher's head quickly turned back to the spot, turning it's blue lights radiating from it's eye into yellow, signaling that the machine is on the alert. It looked to the right, looked to the left, and looked back at the bushes, starting to move there. And when the machine stopped just near the bushes, Duskshine, with the spear in his aura, jumped out of it and pierced his weapon straight through Watcher's neck. It made a screeching sound for a moment, until it faded out, together with the yellow light of it's eye. When the machine fell and unicorn returned his spear back, he signaled Inlight to come.

Duskshine looked around, if there are any threats near them, but luckily the coast was clear for them, and unicorn with a foal came out of the bushes.

"Not bad. Now check the carcass for some salvage" Duskshine commanded, and Inlight did as he said, looting a part of the carcass. It wasn't easy, but flame-maned pegasi managed to get some things to his guardian, passing everything what he got to him by hooves. Bust Duskshine declined it, and instead took the arrow from his quiver and showed it to the foal.

"I need you to craft me some arrows based on this one," he flew his arrow to the nearby rock and landed it softly, as he picked some sticks for Inlight to craft from. "Combine metal shards from the machine and ridgewood to make some yourself." He told a foal.

Inlight first looked at the metal shards he collected, ridgewood Duskshine gave him, and an arrow he made. He felt an unease that he would do something wrong out of it or he would waste the materials. But gladly, he wasn't alone and Duskshine kneed down near him to comfort the foal.

"Don't worry that you'll fail on your first time, Inlight. Just make the one and I'll see if you made it good, okay?" Duskshine gently spoke, making Inlight feel better. Theese words could gave young pegasi a missing confidence, and he began to make his first arrow. It took a fair ammount of time, but in the end, he finished his arrow along with 8 others. Duskshine inspected each carefuly, each picked up with his green magic. After he placed the last arrow back, he spoke once again.

"Theese are decent arrows, good for firing." Duskshine told his young foal, which, objectively, made him really happy. He picked every arrow he had and put them into the small quiver he was carrying arround with him. And Duskshine couldn't hold his soft smile.

"Just don't get distracted. We still have rest of the heard nearb-" he was cut speaking as he and Inlight heard some noises coming out of the cliffs just above the heard. And just after that, climbing on the rocks, appeared a creature, who looked like a griffon, but had a long mane and tail of a pony, along with ears of one. She was with the light-blue feathers, beak yellow with brown stripe on it, mane of hers was pink with a yellow stripe, just as her tail. And in one talon, she was carrying some kind of object, with a rope which was tied up to her arm. She threw it upwards, and the endside of it was revealed, looking like a hook with wheels attached to it. It flew upwards untill it attached to some stones.

Inlight watched it with amazement in his eyes, while Duskshine was... well, unimpressed.

"What's that hippogriff is even trying to do...?" He asked nobody as he watched how hippogriff, without even opening her wings, sharply flew in the direction of the hook she attached to the rocks. It was no ordinary climbing gear, it was like pulling her where she threw it! She almost reached to the top where she could get there with her talon... until a sound of rope breaking was heard across the ravine, and she, screaming, began to fall.

She quickly opened her wings to atleast minimise the impact damage, but she caught up to the tree branches on the cliffs which tangled her up and made her fall once again. The land was near, and she again managed to open her wings to prevent her from breaking her bones or even more, and she succesfuly managed to land mostly unharmed.

"Ouch..." the only thing she managed to say before she was cut out by the sounds of Watchers coming to her location. She quickly hid behind a rock, hiding from the yellow sigh of the machines. Meanwhile, two outcasts watched from the distance at everything that happened.

"We should go help her!" Exclaimed Inlight, "If we won't help she would be killed by those machines!" Inlight started to move, but elder pony stopped him with his hoof.

"If you go there, you would be killed too. There's too many machines here," he spoke as he examined the territory, where a couple of watchers and herd of pony-like machines walked in the ravine. "And if I alert them, I'll be overrun, so as you. Inlight, we have no other choise but abandon her!"

But Inlight weren't listening to Duskshine, and instead focused on the machines who walked by. Looking at the machines, he got an interesting idea. He tapped under his right ear, where his Focus was, and when he activated it, he saw that machines were now covered with blue lines, together with arrows on the ground, they pointed to one direction, and then to another, almost as they were... machine's path routes! He could see where the machine could go!

"I can see where they go..." Inlight said for Duskshine to hear.

"Boy, are you crazy? You won't get past those machines."

"The Focus shows me where they go!" Young colt explained

"Stop playimg with this toy and let's go before they spot you!"

"I can't let her die, Duskshine!" Colt said before jumping down the small hill into the bush. Duskshine tried to stop him with his hoof, but only thing he managed to catch was Inlight's bow from his back. He was frustrated, but was forced to step back to avoid Watcher's detection, who was passing by. It saw nothing unusual, and continiued it's patrol. Moment later, Inlight emerged from the bush, and now was quietly moving towards fallen hippogriff.

Seeing the path of walking machines was an easy task, but it didn't change the fact that sneaking near them would be easy. He passed them once they were moving to other location, some of them noticed that something was moving, but they stopped looking after a couple of minutes. Meanwhile hippogriff, scared for her life, tried as hard as she could to stay quiet and to not make any loud noice again. Her invention failed, and lead her straight in the middle of the herd of machines, full of machines which could kill her instantly. Fresh tears started to form on her eyes, as she thought that her life would end here. Suddenly, she heard a calling noice, coming from a bush near her. She turned her head, and saw a young colt with mane colored in flames calling her to follow.

"W..who are you?" She whispered after wiping her tears out. She expected a machine to find her, not a foal out of nowhere! Inlight didn't spoke, but he did told her to stay quiet and follow him. Hippogriff, who was a little smaller than Duskshine, obeyed and followed young pegasi through bushes and tropes of machines, amazed by the knowledge of when a Watcher would pass them from a young colt. They passed machine after machine, until they passed the last one and gone far enough from the herd for them to speak normaly. Duskshine wasn't too far away, as he was watching both kids moving stealthy across the bushes and grass. And once they were safe, hippogriff broke the silence.

"Oh, thank you SO much for saving me! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be standing here!" She adressed young colt, who kept being quiet together with Duskshine. Female hippogriff didn't understand why they were quiet, but it was too late to thi-

"SLIVER REEF!" strong male voice was heard not far away, and later, 3 figures appeared: one stallion with golden fur and white mane, paired with blue eyes, a tall male hippogriff of cyan-gray body with brown beak and yellow mane and tail, and a changeling, full dark with purple eyes and shining purple wings.

"Oh sh-" exclaimed young hippogriff untill she was cut off by elder one.

"What were you THINKING when you ran away from home!? Your mother almost went mad when she found out you were gone!" Hippogriff shouted loud at the Sliver Tide, who was standing near him, heads down.

"And you even dare to speak to an OUTCASTS!? Do you even know what Matriarchs will say about this!?" Inlight wanted intervene to defent Sliver Reef, but his mouth was closed by gray hoof of the Duskshine.

"Seal your lips." He told a boy quietly. Hippogriff then took a look at both outcasts, who were standing behind young hippogriff, examining both of them.

"To speak with a hunter, who should not have returned..." He spoke as he was glaring at Duskshine, but then he looked at the colt behind him. "And this thing.. is motherless!" He announced to everyone and at the same time to no one, after which he turned back, and ordered pink-maned hippogriff to follow her, along with other two creatures. Sliver did tried to look at Inlight one last time, but she was quickly put in place by an elder.

Outcasts watched as the group was moving away from them, and when they gone far enough, Inlight finally broke the silence.

"Why..."

Duskshine looked at the foal near him, who continiued.

"Why am I an outcast?"

"Inlight, it is not the time..."

"Yes it is!" Young colt finally snapped and walked away from the gray unicorn. "That has something to do with my mother, right!?" After being called motherless just before your eyes, it was foolish for Duskshine to assume that Inlight won't question it, and after a minute, Duskshine answered.

"It's not for me or you to know, boy. Matriarchs gave you to me when you were only a newborn!"

"So Matriarch knows who was my mother?" That's it. There was no turning back, elder unicorn had to tell him.

"Maybe? Only they know and there is no way for you to find out!" But he had an idea. A dangerous one, but it should work. "Unless..."

"Unless what? Please tell me!"

"But that would be impossible..." Duskshine talked to himself while holding his chin with a hoof, as Inlight tried to get into his view. "It would take years of hard training, and with even that, who know will you make it..."

"What is it?" Flame-maned pegasi exclaimed as he tried to hear what stallion mumbled under his hoof. "How can I find out who was my mother!?"

"T-there is a way to find out, but that's impossible! No one ever tried this before! And it would take years if not decade of training-"

"I don't care!" Inlight told his guardian. Nothing can stop him from finding out about his mother, not even extencive training. "Just tell me what is it!"

"T-he Proving!" Duskshine shouted, not wishing to look at his adoptive son, keeping his head turned from him. "A ritual where young warriors of the tribe become Braves. But the one who will be the first gets a Boon." Elder stallion explained.

"A Boon?"

"Matriarch grants the wish of the one who gets it, anything he will want..." Inlight finally understood. If he could get the Boon on the Proving, he can not only rejoin the tribe, but find out his origins, maybe even who was his mother, and even why she aban- "But that would be near impossible. No child outcast ever participated in the Proving before, I'm not even sure if they'll let you in!"

"Then I'll try!" Duskshine was surprised from the confidence Inlight beared, and finally turned his head to him. "I will find out who she was, no matter what it would take!" He exclaimed proudly, and only thing unicorn could do is look

"Well then... that 'toy' of yours could help you with that." He pointed at Inlight's Focus he recovered earlier that day. After witnessing what that Focus of his could do, he was sure it would help him. Inlight was exited, and he quickly asked

"When would we start training?"

"Tomorrow." Duskshine answered, looking at the sun which started to set over the mountains to the west. "Now... we should go rest." He spoke as colt behind him followed. The training would be intence. But no matter what it would take, how much it will go on, there was seemingly nothing what could've stopped Inlight. But he was not alone, because there was Duskshine with him, and no matter where he will go, he will always follow.

The next day started simple. Pass through the obstacles and pass without using wings. It was hard for colt, but he continiued, day after day. In the light of the sun, Inlight practiced shooting with his bow, climb through the obstacles and use wings during the close combat. Duskshine teached him everything he knew, and not always Inlight succeded, but he always stood up and continiued to fight. He once almost fell from the platform, and Duskshine was quick to lend a hoof for help, but Inlight refused it, and picked up himself.

Swimming, shooting climbing, all while learning to use his new Focus, and history of the land. Duskshine still wasn't happy that young colt spent time with that 'toy' but he later accepted it as valuable tool. Some trainings were at day, but others at night. Under the light of the Mare on the Moon, they fought with spears in their mouths, like they were fighting for their lives. Inlight's shooting became better over time, so did swimming and climbing. But shooting at target practice and a living machine were different things, and when Inlight was almost killed by the attacking Watcher, the arrow passed through his body, taking it's life with it. Inlight looked, and saw his guardian who putted his bow back.

Over time, Inlight fought better. He could shoot right into the target, fight without remorse and use his wings to dodge incoming attacks. Climbing the platforms, he didn't fell like in the previous times, but succesfuly passed through all of them, and when it came for the long jump, Inlight, from the young colt he was all theese years ago,

Became a full grown stallion.

For over a decade he perfected his skills of hunting and survival, together with knowledge about his future-to-be tribe. No cliffs could falter him, no machine could stop him. When the machine attacked, he wasn't standing there like a scared colt he was long time ago, but quickly drawed a bow and pierced the arrow right through his heard, sliding under him and killing it instantly. He looked at the machine, then at the Duskshine, who couldn't even draw the bow before Inlight did. They both shared the look in the eyes, and elder stallion quietly nodded, which made Inlight smile.

He was ready.

Author's Note

Colt Inlight no more, and now to a grown up! But he has yet to pass his last challenge...

Anyway I just wanted to thank anyone who read it to the end, this chapter was tougher for me to make because of rewrites and, well, procrastination.

I just hope mods will allow this..

Interlude 1

Like Time Arround the Arrow

Sun has once again risen across the valley. Machines passed through the fields, life was moving once again. Snow was replaced with the grass and flowers, indicating that Spring begun. On one of the mountains, surrounding the valley, a hut stood among the snow. It was made out of barrels of wood, knotted together to make a place to call home. It was surrounded by targets, resembling tall machines with horns rurved uwards. The birds chirped on the ground, looking for worms in the wet ground.

The sound of doors opening was heard, and hoofsteps coming from inside the house, which caused birds to fly away. Near the entrance, a grown stallion stood. He had white fur, like snow in the morning, with mane and tail colored like the flames of fire, paired with blue stripe on his tail. He breathed full lungs of fresh morning air, and came outside the house. He looked arround, first right, then left with his blue eyes, and then spoke.

"No one's here... Duskshine?" He called for a gray unicorn, but didn't hear the answer. He was gone somewhere, and Inlight didn't like it.

"He said we'll go hunting yesterday... where is he?" Flame-maned stallion asked no one, and proceeded to go past the gates to a small land arround the hut. He made a couple of steps untill he spotted tracks. Hoof tracks, which lead from the gates to the cliff where... huh, Duskshine stood, facing the valley. Inlight frowned, but still proceeded forward to his guardian. With the flap of his wings, he flew up and on the rocks, and he finally stood behind the elder stallion.

"Didn't expect that today's hunting would begin with tracking you down." Inlight broke the silence , which caused Duskshine's ears to turn to him, but not his face. Something was troubling him, and he was sure of it. Were he thinking about the next Proving? To be honest, young stallion still couldn't believe that the event for which he prepared his entire life was 2 days from now. Only 2 days before he could get his answers. But he must think about something else, or rather someone.

"Is something wrong?" Inlight spoke, walking besides him and looking at the valley, at the settlements which were there.

"I just needed to... think about some things." Duskshine quiletly spoke, still looking at the land below.

"You thinking about the Proving, right?" He was worried about it. When he will win it, he will become one with the tribe, and that meant abandoning the pony who raised him.

"No, not about that." Duskshine answered, and turned his head to Inlight. "I'm afraid after all the lessons I've teached you, there was one I failed in doing so."

"Failed lesson, huh?" Curiously said young stallion. It wasn't what he expected, but still he was certain that he was thinking about the Proving too. "And what is it, then?"

"It's not the lesson I can tell for you to learn, Inlight." Duskshine answered. "First, I need you to craft some fire arrows."

Inlight was surprised from the answer, especialy with the task elder stallion gave him.

"Fire arrows? But... why?"

"You will know soon enough. Meet me at the North Mother's Watch when you finished." Duskshine tasked to his adoptive son.

Whatever that task was, that was definetly something more than just the hunt. What threat even need fire arrows to defeat it? Inlight's thoughts wandered across his head, but he still managed to get himself together and say, "Yes, sir." starting his descend to the valley. Flopping his wings, he glided through the air observing the land where he grew up.

Mother's Embrase. The heart of all Nora, the tribe who he had to join. His entire life he lived here, he knew every tree. He never managed to go beyond theese lands. Rumors were told, that beyond the gates lured bandits and machines, remnants of the war from the past. He landed on the grass, snow melting under his hoofs. And he began tracking of his new target for the material needed for fire arrows: Blaze. Fortunately, he knew that the herd of Grazers, tall machines with horns twisted upwards and canisters on their flanks, was somewhere in his area. He activated the device under his ear – the Focus – and began looking for tracks. They weren't easy to find, Inlight had to walk arround a bit, but he eventualy found the right tracks, which lead further into the forest and down the river. Along the way, Inlight had a chance to listen to the sounds of the forest, the feeling of river going through his hooves, the song of birds calling their mates out and the wind passing the trees above. Every moment like this felt like it was the first time, enjoyable, magical.
But enough of relaxation, he had a hunting to do. After passing several trees he finally found his target: a herd of Grazers, paired with Watchers as guards. Inlight ducked and hid in the tall grass, planning his attack on the herd. If he would be detected, he would easily be overrun by machines. Maybe he could take down more dangerous machines first, then take out the Grazers, or...

He looked arroud to find anything he could use to ease his task, and found an old world tower just above the herd, standing still amongst the trees, and the idea came to his mind. Only thing he had to do is sneak close enough to the tower and take it down. Sounds easy.
Inlight was trained to this, pass through the tall grass, trees and bushes, avoiding the sigh of the machines. He was finally near the old tower, and was ready to somehow take it down right on the machines, without alerting them...

He should have thought about it before puttinf his plan into the action.

But it didn't matter, no turning back now, he had to get there and- Inlight immediatly ducked at the sigh of the machine which passed through. It was definetly not here before, coming out of the bushes and scanning the area near the hidden stallion. A couple of second has passed, and Watcher finished looking for the foes, continiuing his path. That was close. Inlight reassured that he was alone again, and came to the base of the tower. If only he could damage the legs hard enough for structure to fall... maybe he could use his spear to break them? Picking it with his mouth, he swinged with full power and hit the leg of the tower, making it shake. Couple of long-tailed machines heard the strike, and turned their heads to the tall structure. Stallion had to hurry, fast. He hit the base once again, which made the tower shake even more and even bend down a bit. This time, tall machines with canisters on their backs started to notice that something wasn't right, and stopped process the land below.

"Almost there..." Inlight spoke before once again hitting the leg of the tower, breaking off a small chunk off it. Tower bended even more, and gravity started to pull it down on the ground. Just on the herd of machines. As the structure fell, some of the Grazers managed to escape the rubble, but not everyone, as they were crushed under the weight of the tower. A moment hass passed, and Inlight walked among the rubble he caused, looking for the thing he was looking for – blaze.

"Now, where are you hiding?" Flame-maned pegasi spoke, trying to find the intact carcass of the Grazer. But he was instead greeted with the rising long-tailed machine, eye filled with red. Watcher jumped from the rumble straight onto Inlight, but pegasi, mastering his dodging skills for a decade, with the flap of his wings avoided being ambushed by a survived Watcher. He pulled out his bow, and put an arrow on it, aiming straight into the Watcher's eye. The machine wasn't standing still, as it charged again for attack with it's full body. Inlight released the arrow, but it passed near the machine. It managed to make a hit on the attacker succesfuly, landing a shot on his foreleg, making it spill with blood. Inlight moment later managed to make some distance between him and machine, grabbing his spear and throwing it just in the direction of the Watcher. Unabled to recover just in time, the machine fell with spear in it's body.

Inlight covered his wound with other hoof. There was not so much blood, but he still needed to heal. The wound wasn't as bad as it seemed, but simple piece of cloth should have worked.

"Well, that takes care of the machines... ngrhh." Inlight struggled to pull the spear out of Watcher, but once he recovered it, he contiued looking for the blaze. After walking arround for a bit, he found just what he needed – couple of Grazers underneath some rubble. He just needed to clean up a bit and blaze was his. It was more simple than taking out the spear, taking some blaze for the fire arrows. He'll make them on the way to the North Mother's Watch, eventualy. Right now, what he needed is to-

"Whoah! And they call me a destructive, just look at that!" Inlight was caught off guard by the new voice right behind him, he didn't even expect anyone to speak to him. What the hay was he thinking. He quickly turned his head in the direction of the voice, and was soon greeted by a stallion, with cyan fur, dark-blue mane and tail. But he was not from the Nora, definetly wasn't. Instead of normal hunter clothes, he wore armor, made of silver, together with the helmet.

"Oh, sorry, my bad! I was just passing through and didn't knew that you were one of those savages!" Stallion exused and started to walk away.

"Well I'm not exacly a part of the tribe..." Inlight tried to explain.

"Wait, you're not? Then who are you? Definetly look like one."

"I'm an outcast, who lives here."

"Outcast, hm..." unknown stallion put a hoof on his chin, squeezing his eyes. "Yeah, I heard something about that. Seems cruel to me."

"Yeah, I know." Inlight answered. The stallion was an outlander, that was for sure. The way he spoke and what armor he was wearing. Where even is his weapon? But it's not like Inlight cared about it, he has a task to do. Pegasi tried to walk away but he was stopped by the cyan-maned earthpony.

"'Cuse me, sir, it may be innapropriate but I need some.. uh... help?" He awkwardly asked with the sleepish smile on his face.

"Mgh, what is it?" Inlight asked with no care in his words. He did not want to help him right now.

"Well, you see, I was part of the recon group which was tasked with delivering a message to the nearby village you call.. uh.."

"Mother's Heart?"

"Yeah! To the Mother's Heart. And since there was a shortage in soldiers I had to go alone, but while I was going I got into some fighting with machines... sometimes received tomatoes from locals, I threw my spear at the Grazers which passed me nearby, I missed and it landed on tree which is pretty HIGH, and now I'm here talking to..." Outlander explained what happened to him, but Inlight had other questions to think about. What message was he delivering? Where is he from? But yet, one step at a time.

"Inlight, Inlight Dust." Inlight spoke

"Inlight? Huh, strange word... anyway, could you help me grab my spear?" Kindly asked stallion.

Inlight stared at him a couple of moments, wondering what he should do next. He could leave, or find out more about him. Curiosity sometimes is a bad thing.

"I will, but... who are you?" Inlight spoke, which made outlander shudder.

"Oh! I'm Private Silverhoof of the Equestrian Standing Army, under the authority of Captain Vigil Arrow!" Silverhoof said proudly. Inlight didn't understood anythinf what he said

"So you are like... Brave? A hunter who protects?" Flame-maned pegasi tried to think of some Nora analogues to anything this outlander said.

"Well, kinda yeah but... I can't say I'm brave..." Silverhoof said, becoming more sad with each word he said. "But you are tehnicaly right!"

"Uh-huh" Inlight said, thinking about the thing he said. So 'Privates' were like Braves of Equestria? Atleast it doesn't sound bad. "And you are from Equestria?"

"That's right. It's to the south-east from here. Long way through the mountains!" Cyan-maned stallion said. "Oh, thank Celestia I survived them..."

"Fine..." Pegasi said. This stallion was suspisious, but he probably won't go back until he got his spear back. Luckily, it was easy to find silver spear stuck in the tree just behind him. And with flap of his wings, he took the spear from the tree and landed just infront of the Silverhoof.

"Oh thank Celestia you helped!" He said as he took his spear. "Thank you!"

"Yeah yeah.. now go before other hunters will find you." Inlight said.

Silverhoof noded, and putting the spear on his back, troted his way out of the wreckage of the old world tower. Inlight was sure he won't survive another day here, but he didn't care.

It was almost an evening, sun started to descend, laying the rays of sunlight on the Embrase. Near the gates outside the valley, there was a small campfire, which left a trail of dark smoke which risen into the sky. Near it, a gray stallion was sitting, looking at the campfire. His black mane was now mixed with the gray manes, indicating his now old age. Hoofsteps were heard nearby, and soon, Inlight showed himself.

"I've got what you need!" Happily exclaimed young stallion, as he sat near his guardian. "I even made a couple of fire arrows with it."

"Good." Duskshine spoke, looking at flame-maned pegasi. "Did you ran into trouble on the way here?"

Inlight looked at his wound, closed with cloack. "Well... it wasn't easy exacly... but it will scar soon enough." He looked at the campfire, which was still on fire. Then, after a minute, he looked at the gates of the Embrase. "What is my task, Duskshine? Why fire arrows?"

"You will learn soon enough." Duskshine answered simply. "Now, we need to rest. We'll go in a nightime, we still got time." Inlight didn't like that. Whatever was bothering him, it was serious. And he knew what was it.

"Listen..." Inlight spoke. "I'm not going to shun you after the Proving."

"But it is against the rules that-" Duskshine tried to say, but was cut short by young stallion.

"It's against the rules, and I don't care!" Pegasi leaned forward, closer to the campfire and his guardian. "We'll go like that: after the Proving I will go to you for a couple of hours, no one will notice. You don't even have to speak to me! Only I will speak and that will be MY crime."

Gray stallion tried to reject Inlight's plan, but he knew he couldn't do it, even if tried. "You... put a lot of thought it it..."

"I had a time to think about it." Flame-maned pegasi said, and looked at the setting sun. "I've got some time... I'll rest."

"Rest easy then, Inlight." Duskshine spoke, as his adoptive son laid down for rest.

Moon light covered the land below, as like Mare on the Moon had laid her eyes on her. The North Mother's Watch stood still, guarding the Embrase with what lied beyond. Two Thestral guards, both with spears and bows, stood still guarding their post, untill infront of them two outcasts came. Duskshine stopped near the gates, and blew the whistle out of his mouth. A high pitched sound played for a moment, and outcasts waited for gates to open. Minute has passed, and Inlight began to question it.

"What are we waiting for exacly?" He questioned Duskshine, trying to not make a look like he was adressing the guards. Duskshine didn't answer, he didn't need to, as the gates were opened a moment after, letting two hunters out of the Embrase. Duskshine nodded to thestrals who stood at the gate, and they nodded back.

"So much for following the law..." Inlight said following Duskshine.

"We did not speak with them, and they did not with us, so no one broke the law. Now hush, as we're outside Mother's Embrase."

Saying that the land beyond the gates was in bad shape would be an understatement, because everything was worse. Ruined huts caught on fire, machine carcases scattered arround the field, and a unknown destroyed machine, not unlike anything Inlight saw before.

"W-what is this machine..?" Inlight looked at the carcass of the large machine, twice as large as any stallion. It had four strong paws, made out of dark metal, and head of it had two sharp blades posing as tooths.

"The tribe calls this machine a Sawtooth. They appeared somewhat a decade ago. Killed a lot of young braves as they appeared..."

"And I'm hunting one down?"

"You will know soon enough. Come"

Inlight and Duskshine followed the path, laying through the destroyed homes and machines, together with unfortunate hunters who couldn't make it. To think that all of it made this machine... it was like it was meant to kill, not unlike anything in the Embrase. What kind of machine does that? Along the path there was a body of a Watcher, from which Inlight salvaged a couple of materials which he'll use some day. They walked among the many of trees, climbing a rock which showed the scenery for Inlight to remember.

"An entire Lodge? D-Destroyed by the Sawtooths?" He questioned his mentor, showing visible fear in his voice. Just against what he was fighting?

"You're right." Duskshine stood near the pegasi, looking at the destroyed Lodge.

"B-but how!?" Inlight questioned once again.

"I brought you here not to answer questions, Inlight." Duskshine answered, breaking his look of green eyes from the Lodge, now looking at something in the dark. "But to deal with this." He pointed a hoof in the direction of the forest, trees of which began to shake one by one. Something big was incoming, fast. It made loud noises of a beast, getting louder as the machine came closer. And after the blink of an eye, large machine appeared, even bigger than the tallest Hippogriff. On it's spine it beared two antennas, and on the flank, instead of tail, it had a metal vessel of medium size. The front armor was luckily partialy stipped from the body, but that didn't meant that it was easier to take down. It opened it's mouth, revealing two large sharp tooths, and with a loud scream, which was like metal screeching, it walked near the destroyed lodge.

Inlight was lost. He didn't know what to say. He trained all his life, sure, but taking on an entire machine which looks like it could tear appart the dragon? That was out of hoof.

"This machine was meant to destroy... how do you even kill it?" He questioned Duskshine, who in turn started to walk away.

"That would be for you to decide, Inlight. This is your hunt, and I won't be there for you. Whatever happens, you're on your own." He said disapearing into the darkness of the night. There was no turning back now. Inlight had to fight, or he will meet his end. Fail Duskshine. He would not let that happen. NEVER. And with the wave of his wings, he slid down the rock into the tall grass below.

He looked at the machine. It needed to have a weak spot, with which his Focus could help. He tapped it twice and it activated, forming a orb of blue light around the Inlight and scanning the Sawtooth. It was weak to one thing for sure – fire. That's why Duskshine asked him to make some fire arrows? Anyway, back to the task. He could use some antennas as the weak point... or go straigh into his eyes... perhaps combining theese tactics will help? Inlight had to make his first move, and he slid into the another bush, loading a fire arrow on his bow. Holding with a hoof, he drawed it as strong as he could, aiming straight into the body of a machine. He holded his breath, and released the arrow. It flew fast and straight into the target, exploding on imlact, carching a metal beast on fire. That was his chance! Inlight loaded another arrow on his bow, his eyes full of determination, and he aimed at the antennas on his spine. He landed clear shots on them, revealing him to the Sawtooth, who with loud cry, charged on the pegasi. Flame-maned pony flopped his wings dodging the charging beast, landing near him, and taking his spear into the mouth. Sawtooth was confused, but quickly looked back at the battle-ready pegasi. Making a cry, he attacked using one of his paws to push Inlight. But Inlight was fast enough to dodge to the left and land a shot on one of the Sawtooth eyes. What he didn't expect, however, was other paw which hit hard his body, slamming it into the nearby tree. He did not expect that to happen, the machine was faster than anything he faced before! Standing up, he saw how the fire on the Sawtooth began to ease, going away with black smoke, as the machine tried to understand what gone wrong with it's right eyes. Inlight needed more weaknesses than just catching him on fire! What could he use right now? There were no traps to use! But suddenly Inlight spotted the canister on the belly of the machine, and he had the plan. What if he could hit the canister with fire arrow? It could make a great exolodion which will kill the Sawtooth... theoreticaly. Inlight prepared his fire arrows, dodging the attacks beast of steel thew at him. He just needed to find a right moment... he saw as the cat-like machine stood up on it's backlegs, showing Inlight it's belly, along with the canister. This was it! If he shoot it, he'll win! Inlight drew his arrow, and aimed at the Sawtooth, especialy at his belly. He holded a breath, closed one eye, and released it.

The time went like arround the arrow. Slow as the things what happend around it fast. Fire arrow flew fast, and straight intk the canister of the machine. It penetrated the glass of it, and in a spark, the canister blew up, making a shockwave that threw Inlight and Sawtooth back. Pegasi recovered from this slowly, looking at the direction of the machine, he could see it fall on it's side and releasing all of the light he had left of, leaving nothing but a carcass.

Inlight had defeated the machine.

He walked to the dead machine, as the sun began to rise. He tried to take whatever he could use, especialy the tooth of the Sawtooth from it's jaw. Duskshine stood behind him, crossing his forelegs, and after some time, he finally asked.

"Why did I bring you here?"

Inlight, not wanting to be distracted from salvaging, answered.

"Not to answer questions."

"Inlight..."

Flame-maned pegasi decided to say more detailed answer, to not annoy his adoptive father.

"It was a test. A test of my skills, what I've learned. How I would take down a new machine without any guidance." This should have satisfied him, but to Inlight's surprise, he heard Duskshine saying.

"No. Come, this way."

Inlight was surprised from the answer gray unicorn gave him, and, finishing with his salvage, followed him to the place from which the entire valley was seen.

"This is the Nora hunting lands, Inlight, a lands which you would protect once you'll become a Brave." Inlight looked at the lands and thought about what Duskshine said, but without hesitation, he continiued. "You killed that Sawtooth tonight, but how many do you think it would have killed tomorrow? The purpose of this training was not to test your skills, but to serve purpose bigger that you, Inlight." He placed his gray hoof on Inlight's chest, and looked at his eyes. They both shared the eyesigh, until young stallion broke the silence.

"I understand."

With a aprooving nod, Duskshine and Inlight walked by the same path again, now in the direction of the gates.

Once they were inside, Duskshine spoke once again.

"Today is your last day as an outcast, Inlight. I will go to the hut, and later meet you near Mother's Heart." He said to flame-maned pegasi as he began to walk away but Inlight stopped him.

"I-I can go with you to the home!"

"No, Inlight" gray unicorn refused. "I have some... things to do before I get there, and you need rest. You pulled quite a fight back there."

Duskshine was right. Inlight did fight worthy, and was really tired. He didn't argue, instead, he passed his farewells with unicorn and came to the place where they rested before, resting once again after a fight. Today was the last day of him being an outcast. Tomorow he'll win the Proving, and find out who his mother was, and maybe even why she abandoned him. But, as always, it was one step at a time, and closing his eyes, Inlight rested near the campfire.

Author's Note

Well, uh... this chapter is kinda bigger than others. I didn't even notice that before I finished it. But anyway, thank you for reading!

Chapter 2: The Point of The Feather

In the Heart of the Mother

"Wait, can you repeat again?"

"I swear! I just saw a devil walking in the mountains above!" Stallion with cyan mane and dark blue coat was talking to a green-maned pegasi, both wearing the same silver armor and spear, talking to each other near the Mother's Heart.

"Are you sure you didn't get your brains frozen from all this cold?" Pegasi shivered when the cold wind passed them. They were not prepared for THAT cold weather. "Wish I had that thick fur as those savages have..."

"Ofcourse I didn't!" Silverhoof defended himself. "I swear by Celestia I just saw a dark machine with four sharp legs, and a long arm which lead from it's back!" Cyan-maned earthpony saw as his pegasi companion started to chuckle. "I'm serious!"

"You've been talking abou that for 2 HOURS!" Suddenly green-maned stallion exploded, shouting at Silverhoof. "Why can't I, Private Nature Sky, guard Princess' tent in SILENCE, while NOT listening to some IDIOT?"

Pegasi looked at dark-blue stallion's eyes, like he could have take his soul through him, but then leaned back, rerurning to his post near Princess' tent. Silverhoof looked a him for a moment, and then decides to not continiude their fight. In the centre of the camp, desk stood together with stallion of golden coat and white mane, wearing a golden armor and indicating that he was the captain here, two other guards and a pony, taller than anypony near her, with coat white as the snow, and mane of pink, cyan and yellow, making together a magestic mane. She had a long, sharp horn, together with pair of big, white wings. She wore a golden crown, decorated with dark-blue crystals.

"We sent a word to the Matriarch, we will soon be greeted by them." Said the stallion in golden armor. "But I'm worried that not so many Nora are... ready for our arrival, Princess."

"If Matriarch are willing to let us in on the Proving ceremony, then they will welcome us calmly." Princess Celestia said with softness in her voice. "They know that we came in the right of peace."

She then turned her head to the two other guards near the table, one stallion and one mare.

"Get to the path and inform me about any Nora who is coming to us."

"Yes, your majesty." Two soldiers spoke and left the camp, leaving General and Sun-Alicorn alone, together with two another guards. Celestia sighed and looked up into the sky, towards the sun, thinking about what laid ahead of her.

A couple of hours later...

Inlight walked on the path to the main settlement of the tribe thinking about how he would meet Duskshine after the Proving. In theory, everything had to work well. He will leave at the cover of night, when no one will see. He'll meet him in his house, and it didn't matter if he would speak, Inlight would be the one talking to him and breaking the law. And when the sun will rise, he'll return back the same path as he exited. Everything was figured out, he just needed to come to Mother's Heart.

The path wasn't unnessesary long , flame-maned pegasi just decided to walk slowly, looking around the forest. This was his last day as an outcast. The whole chapter of his life, filled with shunning and deviation, was almost over. Tomorow the Proving will happend, and he will win it... but not now, as he was close to the bridge. And Duskshine was sitting there too, holding some kind of totem in his hoof. Inlight walked near him, and greeted.

"So, I'm here, as promised," He said while moving his look at the settlement infront. Between them and the tribe was a bridge, and even that couldn't help but hear the different voices and noises coming from there. "what should I expect there?"

"Creatures. More than you can ever imagine." Duskshine stood up and stood near Inlight, while looking at the Mother's Heart too. "It might be a little crowded at first, but believe me, soon this would feel like your home."

"I'm not so sure about that..." Inlight mumbled under his breath, listening to the sounds coming from the settlement. They were celebrating something, which could perhaps distract everyone from him? He would not like a big ammount of attention on him, especialy when he's an outcast. But what would happen after?

"Duskshine... do you think they'll accept me?" Duskshine rolled his eyes and answered.

"Inlight, I told you hundrets of times that every foal wh-"

"who were born as an outcast can attend the Proving and are outcast no more, I understand that, it's just..." he looked at a river below, reflecting his distorded image. Pegasi took a deep breath and spoke once again. "Do you think they'll accept me in the tribe? Stop treating me like an outcast?"

Duskshine sighed and put his left hoof on Inlight's shoulder, comforting him. It was understandable why he was worried. He just needed someone to comfort him.

"They will stop treating you as an outcast, sooner or later. Someone could even become friends in you, but remember," he turned his head opposite to settlement, to the wilds of the Embrase. Young stallion did the same. "You'll always have the wilds beside you, in which you were raised." Gray unicorn then turned his head to the Inlight. "But remember – what you must do before it is to embrase the tribe. Make it part of yourself."

Inlight remembered the final lesson Duskshine told him – to serve tribe, is to serve the purpose bigger than yourself. He nodded in understanding, and moved next to the bridge, ready to enter the settlement. He was ready for it, and was about to say goodbye to his guardian.

"I'm ready." He said to himself. "So then, I'll meet you at your house tomorow?" He expected the answer to come right after his question, but several seconds later, it didn't came. He stopped just at the start of the bridge, and turned his head to Duskshine, who didn't even looked at him.

"You will not find me there, Inlight." He quietly said and opened his bag with magic, taking the same totem he was holding minutes ago from his back. He walked towards Inlight, and put the totem on young stallion's hoof. "Take this."

"W-why are you talking like we'll never see each other again...?" Inlight looked at the totem Duskshine gave him, then, on him, who started to walk away from him, not giving answer. But it was not needed, because he understood what his guardian was doing – abandoning him.

"No... no, NO!"

"Inlight you have to-"

"But it doesn't have to be like this!" Young pegasi cutted him out. "I t-told you that will meet up in secret, no one will k-know!" Inlight stopped Duskshine from going any further. "You don't even have to talk! That would be MY crime to comit, just PLEASE don't go!" He hold back his tears from going any further while trying to convince him to not leave. He couldn't just let go of him! He was there for him his entire life, and now he will just dissapear? Duskshine lifted his hoof and turned to Inlight.

"Inlight, this... connection will only hold you back," he explained as calming his adoptive son down. "It is my wish that you would embrase the tribe, making it your own family. I will leave the Embrase, to the place where you wont find me. The totem was the last thing I have to give you." He then walked away by a few steps. "Consider this... my final goodbye."

Inlight could not believe what he was hearing. His whole life he was together with Duskshine, the only pony who was here for him in the darkest days. With him, he didn't felt alone. He remembered all this times he comforted young stallion when nothing was going right, when he saw as he killed his first machine. And the sole pony who raised him was going to leave him. Forever. And he couldn't do anythinf about it. Despair filled Inlight's heart, and soon, it quickly became anger.

"All what I did for you... just for you to leave me..? Like an arrow in a TREE!?" With the wave of his hoof he slamed the totem to the ground, and with bitternes in the voice he continiued. "It is easy to drop worthless things out of your life, is it?"

Duskshine was taken aback from the reaction of a young pegasi, but moment later, he answered. "I understand that I failed you, Inlight... I'm sorry," Dark-maned unicorn started to go away from the pegasi. "I really am." He turned his head and continiued his walk from his adoptive son, never looking back again.

Inlight watched as Duskshine left him, anger leaving his body, and once he entered the woods, he was quick to pick up the Totem again. He couldn't leave it, not after everything. No matter what happened between them, it was the last thinf left from Duskshine, the thing that should have reminded pegasi of him. He tied the totem to his neck, and, wiping his tears, started his walk to the settlement.

He would think about it later, after the Proving, once he'll clear his mind...

Near the gate and walls, made out of logs, two braves were standing with spears, zebra and kirin. They watched as pegasi with mane like flame walked towards them, slowly coming near them. Both braves closed their spears just infront of Inlight, and zebra spoke.

"Turn away and leave, outcast." He said with a strict voice. "Or bleed, your choise." Inlight was stunned for a second, not understanding why wont they let him in for the Proving. They then drew their spears to Inlight, and started to come closer to him, leaving him no other choise but to step back. But gates were opened, in surprise for three individuals, and from inside, an eldery female voice was heard.

"Come on, open it faster, I have a special guest to meet!" all what was heard before gates were fully opened and braves stood back, as behind them stood oddly eldery changeling queen, with robes and accesories of some kind of Nora official. But it was then that Inlight realised – that was High Matriarch!

"Ah, Inlight Dust! It's nice to see you too. Please, come in!" She said and waved to Inlight for him to come in.

"I waited this for a long time... it's been a while since I met you last time! Ah, you've grown so fast..." Changeling matriarch said while examining a newcomer-outcast.

"Wait you... you know me?" Inlight asked in confusion. He didn't knew anyone would recognise him, let alone a High Matriarch.

"Ofcourse I know you, who do you think made a naming ceremony for you?"

Well, now Inlight remembered who she was. Duskshine once told him about his naming ceremony, and Matriarch who was there.

"So your name is, uh.... High Matriarch Syrenna?" He asked in hopes that he named her right, and judging by the smile on her face, he got it right.

"Still remember the name huh?" She chuckled a little and then continiued. "I would like to show you what's in Mother's Heart but yet, I have an Embassy to attend." Even though she said a lot, it didn't answer all of Inlight's questions.

"The Embassy?"

"The Embassy," High Matriarch Syrenna repeated. "with the kingdom to the south – Equestria. It's the first Embassy in a while, and people are not happy. It would have been easier if princess herself didn't come, but I think it's cute for her..."

"The Equestria...?"

"Yeah, from Equestria. You should come there too! Expect vegetables flying. Maybe even rocks..."

Inlight still was confused. "But wh-"

High Matriarch Syrenna suddenly raised his hoof and cut him from talking. "Almost forgot! There's a friend of your's waiting for you too. You'll find her on the way to the meeting. Anyway, I must go!" She started to leave further in the settlement. But Inlight was surprised that he had some 'friend' he didn't had. Exept Duskshine, and even he left him just minuted before...

"But I don't know anyone here!?" He called for Syrenna, on which she chuckled once again.

"Try saying that to her! Enjoy yourself!" Last thing she said before dissapearing into the crowd, leaving Inlight alone with his thoughts.

"What the hay is going on...?" He said out loud for the last time. He was in Mother's Heart, the first place of civilization he entered, and it was loud. Ponies cheered and sang songs together with other creatures. There were everyone – unicorns, pegasi, earthponies, thestrals, griffons, kirins, hippogriffs, changelings and even some yaks he never met before! The city was full of life and celebrarion. Inlight began moving to Embassy meeting, hearing on his way hundrets of different voices arround him. Some creatures sang, some were telling stories by campfire, and some even played different games with each other. Kids were running arround, and elders tried to stop them from making trouble. The city was bigger than he could even imagine, and he kinda started to like it. He passed some houses, untill he heard someone calling him... by name

"Inlight! Inlight!" female voice called him, and after looking arround, flame-maned pegasi found the source of the calling – female hippogriff, taller than him but yet smaller than the adults. He decided to come closer, and spotted her looks – coat of light-blue, mane and tail were pink with yelloe stripe, and her beak was yellow with brown stripe on him. To be said, Inlight was suspicious that he saw her somewhere elsewhere...
He came closer for female hippogriff to talk to him, and she did.

"Inlight... Dust, was it?" She exitedly said his name. "Oh, I waited SO long to meet you again! I couldn't even thank you last time we've met!" She exclaimed with happines in her voice, while Inlight was flattered.

"Do I... do I know you, ma'am?" He asked with sleepish smile, on which hippogriff laughed.

"Oh, I guess you don't remember! Well, don't worry, I do! You saved me from a herd of machines back in the day. It was like... 11 years ago of sorts? I was testing my little invention back there but it didn't go quite as well..."

Theese words awoke in Inlight his memories, and specificaly the day when he saved the hippogriff who was in trouble. He gasped after that thought, as female hippogriff added.

"The name is Sliver Reef, by the way."

"Oh, Sliver Reef!" Inlight exclaimed. "You are that hippogriff who ran away from the home, right?"

"Yeah, I don't really like to remember that moment of the day..." she scratched the back of her head unsertainly. "In the end I didn't make out as a hunter so I became a stitcher-" she suddenly gasped and quickly ran away to the chest full of clothes and armor she made. Inlight tried to look but was interupted by the piece of cloth on his face.

"I also made THIS!" She exclaimed and showed Inlight an outfit, made with cloth and machine parts.

"What is this..?" Inlight asked gently.

"That's armor I made for you! I used my size back when I was little, well, when I was YOUR size." She chuckled a little before continiuing. "I made this for you, as a thanks for.. saving my life."

Inlight was surprised by a gift for him, but he didn't refused it. "Thank you..." he said as he grabbed the outfit in his hooves. He had to try it on. There was a place to change the outfit from his standart robes without armor to robes... with armor. Let's see where that would go...

After a couple of minutes, he walked out from the changing room

The machine parts, which acted as armor, were put on his shoulders, left forearm and left cannon, covering almost completely his left foreleg. The back was armored too, but barrel was covered only by cloth, against the cold. His flank was covered with a little armor and a cloth, which made it look like a short cloak. His legs in the back were protected by machine components too, overall making the armor great for defence. And it was comfortable too, despite his expectations.

"This armor is... really comfortable!" He said looking at the Sliver Reef, who proudly looked at her work. But Inlight had to pay her something in return... or she'll just give him armor for free?

"Don't worry, it's free!" She said like she read his mind, which caught pegasi off guard.

"I-I don't have to pay you?" He asked

"No! I'm giving it you for free! That's the point of the gift!" She looked at him for a couple of seconds, and then realised something. "You didn't have any gifts before, did you?"

Inlight wanted to refuse, to say that he had gifts before... if he wanted to lie. "The outcast life was... hard, and I never had them. Ever." He admitted with sorrow with his voice.

"Well, then... your first gift is from me!" Sliver Reef once again exitedly said, which made Inlight chuckle a little bit. He opened his mouth to say that he'll be leaving, but female hippogriff cutted him. "Yeah yeah, you have to go on the Proving yada yada yada, just know that I'll cheer for your succes." She smiled a little, which made Inlight chuckle.

"Okay then... until we meet again?" He said his goodbyes to Sliver Reef and continiued his journey to the Proving ceremony, passing crowd of different creatures. On his way, he saw how male yak climbed on the top of the roof. It was... interesting view. Inlight still couldn't deside which he must be facinated by – the roof that holds yak, or yak who climbed there in the first place. He continiued his path and looked how young kids listened to the old legend of the All-Mother, and how she defeated the Metal Devil – entity which wanted to conquer the world. Remains of it still lay on the All-Mother mountain, standing high with it's long metal tentacles going down the valley. Inlight continiued his walk, untill he finally reached his intended destination – the Embassy. He could tell it was it when he saw a huge crowd of different creatures, together with some familiar soldiers. Equestrian soldiers. As he entered the crowd, the Embassy started.

Female hippogriff, who was the same size as Syrenna, started to talk.

"Dear Nora! Today we gathered in this place, to welcome our guests of the south!" She proclaimed, and High Matriarch Syrenna walked on the stage.

"For two years we have been at peace with Equestria! Today is the day of peace, when the ruler of the Equestria herself attends our blessing ceremony for the upcoming Proving! And with her, the message will be spoken to us!" And from behind, the stallion, covered in white robes with golden lines walk infront. He took out the scroll with his magic blue magic, opened it, and, with his noble voice, began to read it for everyone to hear.

"As was written by the her majesty Princess Celestia herself, I carry this message to the trib-" The stallion was cut from his speech by the crowd, which suddenly started to shout at him, and, probably, on ponies from Equestria too. Among the shouts Inlight could hear 'Killers and slavers!', 'Bloodthirsty tyrants!' and 'Get out of our land!'. Some creatures started to even throw tomatoes and rocks on the poor messenger. But soldier behind him took action and went infront of him, trying to stop the fight. He had golden armor, golden coat, together with white mane.

"Faithful Nora hold your fruit! Ay, hold your fr-" he stopped talking to dodge the tomato which flew towards him, but after, he continiued. "fruit..." the crowd stopped throwing tomatoes and rocks at the stallion, as he began to talk. "You don't have to be mad at me, I'm Nora, just like you." This seemed to calm down the crowd even further. "Well, I can agree with you on one thing – Nightmare Moon was a murderous bastard! Yes?" There were some agreements from the crowd. "She raided her lands, even others. We stood our ground, but we lost a lot of warriors. We hated Equestria, we all have! But Nightmare Moon is gone. For almost 2 years! And who do you think stopped her?" The crowd stayed silent, which slightly annoyed the stallion, but he continiued. "Her older sister Princess Celestia!" As he said, he stepped left for the crowd to see.

With coat white as snow, mane of different colors and wings with horn, Celestia glared at the crowd below.

"She did it not because she was some another bloodthirsty alicorn, but because she had to end her sister's crimes!" Stallion continiued, while the Nora started to agree with him. Golden-coat stallion then proceeded to take unicorn in white to the front of the stage again. "This poor pony here reads an offitial apology, written by Princess Celestia herself." Stallion finished his explanation, which looked like calmed down the crowd. Alicorn on the back made a little smile, amused by her commander's charisma.

The stallion in robes continiued to read his really long letter, which soon bored Inlight, as he decided to go straight to the blessing ceremony. For that, he had to somehow pass the crowd of different creatures. Should be easy, right? He passed through ponies, changelings and other creatures, who were carefuly listening to the stallion above them. He almost made it to the end until the device under his ear suddenly turned on.

Inlight was confused for a bit, until he saw what caused his Focus to go off – some kind of signal, which was going from... that outlander pony?

"Why did my Focus picked up that signal... and how?" Flame-maned pegasi wondered, as he decided to investigate the source of the signal. He came closer to an outlander, and saw that she had something under his ear too, which looked like a small triangle, with the blue light in the middle. Was he wearing... a Focus too? Inlight was confused, and at the same time exited. Why that outlander was wearing a Focus? Did he found it in the ruin too? How much he knows about it? A lot of questions loomed in Inlight's head, but he desided to come to him and ask.

"I've never seen anyone wearing a Focus before... where did you find it?" Pegasi asked curiously. The mare who was wearing a focus was an unicorn, who had a grey coat too, with brown mane and tail. She had magenta blue eyes. She at first was surprised by a sudden appearance of the stallion, but then she looked at him more carefuly.

"A Nora? Wearing a Focus?" She put her hoof on her chin, and thought for a couple of moments. "I thought Nora despise tresspassing into the Old World ruins, let alone wearing one of their relics..."

At that statement, Inlight just rolled his eyes.

"And who says I'm like other Nora?"

"Aren't you one..?" She questioned, looking him in the eyes.

"I'm... yet to be part of the tribe. I'm an outcast, to be precise." Inlight answered. Atleast soon he won't tell anyone who he meets that he's an outcast.

"An oucast... yeah, I heard something about that, cruel way for punishment, I'd say. I'm sorry."

"Eh, I'm fine with it." He scratched the back of his head. He was not fine, he still despised being an outcast. But he had to keep it hidden, for now. "I'm Inlight Dust." He decided to introduce himself.

"North Star." The mare simply replied with her name.

When the stallion in robes talked, behind him stood three ponies – one with golden armor, coat and white mane, a tall alicorn with coat pale as snow, and a soldier with silver armor, dark-blue coat and cyan mane.

"You did well with the public, Vigillance." Celestia said to his general in golden armor. The speech was going already long, and Celestia started to get a little annoyed. It should have been easy. Show herself to the tribal nation, watch the blessing and enjoy the party. But something felt off, really off. Maybe it was because of emptiness in her heart, left by banishment of Nightmare Moon, or it was simply not being in Equestria, it worried her.

Vigillance spotted the worried look of Princesses eyes, and got concerned by it.

"Is.. something wrong, your magesty?" He asked gently, which broke Celesria out of her thoughts for a second.

"I-I'm fine, General, thank you." She dismissed him, but the strange feeling was still there. It was more recognisable now. She felt it a long time ago, and what was it...?
Hunger? No, don't think about it. It felt familiar, like something or someone was making an influence in magic... and then Celestia realised one crucial thing. The thing which troubled her ever since the Embassy.

Someone was near. And he was powerful.

She could feel the raw magic flowing from someone in the crowd. She didn't feel it ever since the Luna's banishment. She looked arround, and eyed everycreature in the crowd which was listening to the stallion in the robes. She couldn't just detect where the raw magic came from, especialy in a crowd. She could look for him after the Embassy, but right now, she had to concentrate, or she will lose someone with the strongest raw magic she had ever seen since Luna's banish-

"Would you like some of our Berrytwist, ma'am?" Celestia was cut out from her thought, and when she looked down, a small changeling with the dish full of delicious little cakes, filled with berries. She smiled at the look of that. Who would not accept those small cakes?

Meanwhile, a certain mare and stallion had a fun talk with each other.

"...and then I said to him 'Go to Tartarus where your mother took your from!' And punched him right into his face!" North Star and Inlight Dust both broke gigling about the story North Star was saying.

"That- heh.. that is a creative way to kick someone out of the scene" Inlight said after hearing the end of the story. He did enjoyed time with her, even if that eas a little.

"Yeah, yeah, I kno-"

"Well take a look at that!" Suddenly a male stallion's voice was heard coming from their left and right – from the scene, and familiar looking earthpony with dark blue coat and cyan mane, paired with silver armor walked down from it. North Star closed her face with a hoof while Inlight Dust looked at the stallion more precise.

"Wait a second... Silverhoof?" He recognised the soldier he helped yesterday. And he even survived! That was surprising!

"If it isn't the Inlight Dust himself, together with North Star, right, sister?" He put his hoof over her supposed sister – North Star.

"Silverhoof, shut up." She said under her hoof, and then looked ar him. "You're embarasing me infront of a lot of creatures."

"Oh, sorry!" He immediately put his hoof back. "I didn't meant to embarass you with your new friend here." He poiner his hoof at the pegasi, which was surprised by Silverhoof's statement.

"Inlight is not my friend!" Stated gray-coated mare. "Just because I told him a story about me kicking you flank out of school play doesn't mean he's my friend!"

Inlight chuckled again, as dark-blue stallion stood back.

"Why do you need to keep telling that day to everyone?" He asked quietly his sister, embarrased that someone else knew about that day.

"Answer is easy." She said with a smile. "I despise you." After what she chuckled and looked at Inlight. "And I see you've met my brother before. Then I think you know how much of an idiot he i-" she was cut short by a sudden sound from her focus, followed by a purple light from it, followed by North Star covering it with hoof and bending over with visible pain.

"ARGH."

"Sister!" Silverhoof with concerned look called out her sister, while Inlight stood back, surprised by what happened.

"I'm okay! I'm okay..." North Star stood back, hoof on her face, but now with frightened look on her face.

"What happened?" Inlight asked with concern.

"I-it just... a glitch, yeah, a glitch. With Focus." She answered with sleepish smile like she was hiding something.

"A glitch? I never had one in... ever." He couldn't remember if his Focus could 'glitch', and he had it for 11 years.

"Well maybe yours is in better shape!" She suddenly snapped. "I just remembered that I had to go.. somewhere, yeah!" And she started to walk away, fast.

"Sister? Where are you going?" Silverhoof called her.

"Somewhere else!" North Star called as she walked away from duo of stallions, leaving them alone. Inlight was stunned, and Silveehoof was just surprised. They both looked at her, then at each other, untill dark-blue stallion broke the silence.

"Well, uh... that was strange, right?" He looked at Inlight, and he looked back. They looked at each other for over a minute, until flame-maned pegasi decided to ask Silverhoof one question, breaking the silence.

"Your sister looked... frightened for a second, but I want to ask you about something else?" He aaked, bending his head.

"I'm listening." Cyan-maned earthpony crossed his forelegs and with smug looked at Inlight, who began to talk.

"Back at the start of the Embassy, the crowd called the likes of you 'killers and slavers', what for?" That was intriguing question, on which Inlight wanted an answer. Silver hoof looked at him for a second, then scratched his necl, thinking what should he say.

"Well, uh... umm... you- you never heard about the Moon Raids?" He asked.

"Moon Raids? No, never heard about them, why?" Inlight raised his eyebrow.

Silverhoof sighed, and began to explain what were the Moon Raids. "Well, to explain you what were the Moon Raids I need to explain first all the fuss between the sisters and Derangement... wait you do know what the Derangement means? When machine gone nuts and started to become more dangerous?"

"Dangerous machines... like the Sawtooth?"

"Yeah, like that. They appeared 10 years ago of sorts, but Derangement started long before that. It was 15 or 18 years ago... I don't remember exacly, sorry. Anyway, before that happened hunting was simple – find and kill the machines, thwy would just run away. Only way you could get yourself hurt was by standing infront of them when they were running away. But something changed in them. In a bad way. Now, instead of running away they will come right after you and try to kill you, like mad... machines. Then old machines became more dangerous, then new machines appeared, like Sawtooths you've mentioned... you get the idea."

"Uh-huh," Inlight nodded after hearing all that, but yet something he had to ask again. "But... what it has to do with Moon Raids?"

"Oh, OH, sorry, I just was carried away with Derangement and..." Silverhoof chuckled awkwardly, but then continiued. "Well, what happened in the Moon Raids is a long story, but if saying fast... ponies in Equestria wanted help from Princess Celestia alone, and not from her sister – Princess Luna. Some ponies thought that Derangement was the curse Princess Luna set on Equestria for not respecting her, and they thought that only way to stop it was blood sacrifice. At the time, if I'm not mistaken, Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon-" Silverhoof stopped in the middle of his explanation, when he noticed a confused exprecion on Inlight's face. "Don't ask me, I still don't know how that happened. Something to do with jealousness, they said... anyway, Nightmare Moon overthrew Princess Celestia out of the throne and thus began the Moon Raids. Equestrian lands were raided first, but since that didn't stop the Derangement they decided to raid other lands. But eventualy, our curent princess here found a way to unite all the lands that were raided, and she banished her sister on the moon. That's why there's Mare on the Moon, if you wondered."

He pointed at the rising moon, which indicated that the sun will soon lower beyond the horizon. Both stallions looked at it, and Inlight remembered one thing he had to do.

"Well, the Blessing will start soon, so I should get moving?" He pointed with hoof at the group of young creatures of different races nearby, paired with flying lanterns.

"Yeah yeah, do your Nora thing. And good luck on your 'Proving', whatever that is..." Silverhood waved a hoof and started to walk in the direction her sister went, as Inlight trotted to the Blessing ceremony."

Drums were playing in the distance. A couple of elders came on the blessing to watch it together with their foals. Young creatures stood side by side in four rows, each together with the praying lantern as the gift from their mother. On the right to them, another stage was standing, together with three figures, wearing ceremonial tribe robes. One was changeling, High Matriarch Syrenna, other was kirin, and the last one was Hippogriff, the one who started the Embassy. Inlight walked towards the scene, where Syrenna called young stallion.

"Inlight, take your place there, the praying lantern is yours, over there. I made it for you." She pointed her hoof to the lone flying lantern, with free spot just for Inlight. He made a little smile, and moved to his spot, taking the place.

"Pf, blasphemy..." Was heard from the kirin Matriarch.

"Sisters..." Hippogriff interrupted before anything went out of control. And when all were in place, High Matriarch Sokorra, tall female hippogriff, started their blessing.

"Aspirants! Before you stands the praying lantern, crafted by your mother. In her honor, light it's flame!" After she said that, the whispers of many was heard. Aspitants began to whisper in honor of their mothers, but yet, one was quiet. Inlight wasn't sure what should he say. He never knew his mother, and didn't know should he bless her, as she left him alone with Duskshine. But yet, he decided to do it, no matter who she really was.

"In honor of my mother... who abandoned me at birth, whatever the reason behind it was." He said as he lightened up the lantern, making it slowly float up. After a moment, almost every lantern was lighten up and set to fly in the dark sky of the Embrase, as Matriarch continiued the blessing.

"All-Mother, hear our prayer! What is a child, but a Mother's hope takes flight? A glowing flame, that climbs the air, set free to the wind? Sailing the sky, till' it fades and falls? So, from one to another, passes the chain of love!" Matriarch finished their speech.

Some of the young creatures met their mothers on place, others were going home to them. Inlight stood in place, watching as the lights slowly flew away. No one was waiting for him. No one was, and no one will. He didn't knew his mother, and only pony who was like a family to him abandoned him early. He sighed with sadness, and looking at the lanters for the last time, walked away to the bed-house.

But yet, someone was watching him, despite his belief. A tall pony, who was watching the blessing from the back, together with her soldiers. Celestia noticed who had so much raw magic even before, when Inlight was walking to the blessing place. But all this time, she wondered about him – who was he, and why he had so much raw magic, despite being a pegasi? Maybe it wa inherited... she could ask Syrenna about him. She looks like the one fully accepting him into the tribe. Wonder why is that? As the Aspirants and Inlight walked away, Celestia decided to come to Syrenna, before it was too late.

"High Matriarch Syrenna?" She gently asked elder changeling queen, as she turned her head to her direction.

"Ah! Princess Celestia! I see you watched the blessing. You liked it?" She said with a smile on her face

"Well, yeah, it was... lovely but I want to ask about someone. Pegasi, with mane colored like flame?" She tried to explain how Inlight looked, which Syrenna understood.

"Ah, you want to talk about Inlight Dust, right? The last one to come to the blessing?" She suddenly changed her facial expression, changing to worry. "But why?"

"It's fine I'm just... interested about him, maybe about his mother? Or father? Who are they?" She tried to find out who were they. Inlight's raw magic was definetly inherited from someone powerful... the question is – who?

"Ah, you want to talk about Inlight's parents...?" Her look didn't change, but even more worried her. What was so special abour him? "That would be complicated to explain..." Celestia widened her eyes for a little, and after a moment, asked.

"Complicated? But.. why?"

Author's Note

6k words of chapter:pinkiecrazy:

I even planned to include a scene with Inlight and the contestants but I decided to write an interlude, because this chapter was already long enough.

Anyway, what happened to North Star? Any ideas?

Chapter 3: The Mother's Heart

Interlude: Outcast in the Lodge

Inlight walked across the path to the bed-houses, surrounded by buildings and campfires. Different crearures were returning to their homes, to their families, but Aspirants walked to the bed-houses, to take a final rest before the Proving.

Flame-maned pegasi arrived to the entrance of a tall, wooden building, with the griffon standing on guard. He walked upstairs, and was ready to enter the bed-housebefore...

"Motherless curse." Inlight stopped at the doorway after hearing the words of a griffon. Inlight didn't have enough patience for the end of the day, and simply ignore it? Never.

"What did you just say?" Inlight said without turning his head.

"Find your bed, outcast, and dream about winning the Proving. That's the closest you would get to it." Griffon stood his ground, holding spear by his side. Inlight, in turn, took the deep breath, and slightly turned his head to hunter, enough to see him.

"So this is a bed-house, huh?" Pegasi questioned. "With you on the guard, I figured it was the latrine!" And before griffon could argue even further, Inlight closed the door shut right infront of him. Guard in answer rolled his eyes, stood on his position again, and mumbled under his breath.

"Mgh, foals..."

But yet, problems for Inlight didn't end here.

"Ohh, if it isn't the motherless outcast! Are you lost?" Another griffon, the one with light-brown feathers and brown beak, made a mocking laugh as soon as pegasi outcast entered the bed-house. But Inlight groaned and moved forward, while griffon continiued.

"You really think you can come on the Proving and somehow become a part of the tribe? Or you came to win the Proving?" Griffon again made his mockery laugh, which this time, annoyed not only Inlight.

"Ugh, Sky Breaker, shut up already!" Another aspirant spoke, a blue changeling, which already tried to fall asleep and rest.

"You can say whatever you can, but it wont change that I, Sky Breakee, would win the Proving tomorow, not some outcast from some wilderness!"

Inlight was tired of it, that griffon would no let him normaly rest... or even anyone in the bed-house.

"You know, Sky Breaker," Inlight began to talk. "Even thought I was raised as an outcast, I heard one proverb which is pretty wise – confidence is silent. But yet I don't remember you shutting your beak once."

This studdered Sky Breaker for second but yet, he once again tried to open his mouth, but it was unexpectadly closed by a bright pink aura. Both creatures were confused, and turned their heads to who could possibly close his beak. A kirin with brown fur and yellow mane and tail, with lightened horn, covered in pink aura stood near them and watched with unamused exprecion of the face. She soon let loose of Sky Breaker's beak, and spoke.

"Calmed down, Sky Breaker? Because we all are fed up with your nonsence." She said aggresively, which made light-brown griffon stood back. He frowned, and took his walk to his bed. Kirin then turned her head to Inlight, and made a soft smile on her face.

"Don't mind him there, he always bark but no bite. You must be knew here. I'm Summerwind." Inlight stared at her for a moment, but then streched out his hoof.

"Inlight Dust." He introduced himself.

"No need for formalities, Inlight. We all here contestants. Tomorrow will decide who will win..." she then leaned forward and whispered to Inlight. "Don't say Sky Breaker that that would be me." That both made them giggle for a moment. But then Summerwind began to move to her bed, while speaking to flame-maned pegasi.

"You should rest, by the way." She yawned for a moment. "Might be a good idea..."

Inlight listened to her, and walked to his bed, taking his final rest before the Proving.

Pegasi sat on his bed, looking arrounf as other aspirants already laid for rest. The unease covered his face, as he continiued to look arround him.

"Nervous about the Proving, right?" Inlight turned his head to the Summerwind's voice, which came from pegasi's right. He turned his head to her, as she, with closed eyes, resting on her bed. Inlight didn't knew what should he answer, and stood silent for a moment, slowly turning his head from the kirin. She opened her eyes, and turned her head, looking at the Inlight.

"Never slept in a bed-house before, right?" She guessed, on which pegasi could only nod. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it soon or later."

"This place is... definetly interesting." To kirin's surprise flame-maned pony said.

"Eh, nothing so special, just a bed-house, you'll know later..." she closed her eyes once again, entering the deep sleep. Inlight looked at her for a second, thinking about the upcoming day. Tomorow will be the Proving, and after that – his answers. But not now, he needed to rest ar first. He laid down on a bed, closed his eyes, and left the lodge in silence for the rest of the night...

Author's Note

Interlude done, The Proving next! I sure do hope that nothing bad would happend!

But anyways, thanks for reading my fic!

Chapter 4: Envoys

The Proving

As sun has risen over the Embrase, new snow fell from the sky, covering the land below with sheets of white. The snow storm was coming, and birds flew away hiding in the trees. The tall creature of dark metal and tentacles, which extended to the base of the All-Mother mountain, stood high as always, reminding settlers of the devil which watches over them, waiting for the unknown to them opportunity.

All-Mother mountain was the place not only sacred for the Nora, but also a training ground, where the aspirants will test their skill in the Proving. One of the groups like that walked towards the cliffs of the mountain. It was led by a bearded unicorn, followed by Sky Breaker, female changeling, Inlight Dust, Summerwind, two hippogriffs, another pony and a kirin. As they passed the altar, flame-maned pegasi and brown kirin stopped for a moment, to look at it, as it looked like it wasn't touched by anyone for over a decade.

They walked to a tall cliff, where the Proving will begin, and light-brown griffon, with smug face, let Inlight be the first one to climb the cliff. "Outcasts first." Was the only thing he said. Inlight really wanted to break his beak one day, but not now, not today, so he did what Sky Breaker asked, and with wings flew up and hung over a rock. Summerwind came after him, then griffon, changeling, and the rest of the aspirants. They climbed the cliff further and further, and griffon, with wave of his wings, almost broke Inlight from his grip from the rock he holded. Pegasi was frustrated by that action, but he then saw determination on Summerwind's face, which was climbing becides him, and which made a small smile when she saw him. Inlight returned the smile, and they continiued to climb up, as the challenge was only begining.

When everyone reached the top of the cliff, they were greeted by a small plain, covered with snow and a bunch of rocks. On one infront of them, a griffon stood, with his left talon raised, signaling that he's about to talk. He turned his head to the aspirants, and Inlight could see his familiar to him face. With spear in his right talon, he beared a scar near his left eye. His feathers were brown, with some spots of black. He had yellow eyes, colored as his beak, which had a couple of scars he got from hunting. But then, Inlight understood why he was so familiar to him – he was the same griff which guarded the bed-house yesterday! Even though it was dark then, he could still see some similarities between griffon on the guard and griffon infront of him.

"Aspirants, listen up! My name is Falcon Claw, secons Aspirant of the War-Chief. Today is your big day! The day where all of you..." He caught his eyes on the Inlight, who looked at him with the smug. "will become Braves. The Proving is made out of TWO stages...!" Falcon Claw continiued as pony with the chest by his side came to the Aspirants, giving everyone their gear. "First stage: you have to kill a machine and get the trophey out of it's carcass. Second stage: bring it following the Path of the Enduring. You'll need to bring the trophey the fastest in order to win." That sounded pretty easy for Inlight, who listened to War-Chief's Aspirant while his wings were tied to his body and he dressed up the climbing horseshoes. "No one here will use their special advantage, every hooved will get the climbing horseshoes, and any winged creature's wings will be tied down. If anyone will see you somehow cheat, or interupt someone else's Proving will be disqualified! So no cheating!" Falcon Claw finished as the last hippogriff was his wings tied down to his body, and when everyone was ready, griffon took a cylinder-alike device from his bag and blew the air in, creating a machine-alike sound. He looked into the unknown direction, turned his head to the Aspirants, and spoke.

"Aspirants! Ready yourselves!" Young creatures did what they were told, and as Falcon Claw stepped down from the rock, he asked Inlight an rhetorical question: "What it would take to take you out of here, outcast?" And before Inlight could answer anything, he heard a loud noises coming from the snowed hill. It was like a bunch of metal was dropping on the snow, coming closer to the Aspirants. It wasn't long before a tall machine with horns curved upwards appeared from the cliff, then another, then two more. In a blink of the eye, Inlight caught himself in the middle the herd, running from the Aspirants in every dirrection. Flame-maned pony quickly picked up his bow, and drew an arrow aiming on the passing grazer. He released it, and arrow flew straight into the Grazer's body, making it fall. After releasing a couple of more arrows, he watched as Grazer's light slowly faded away, and his trophy was waiting. Inlight quickly ran to the carcass, and picked the valid trophey from it. He did it! He got the trophey! With the happy smile on his face he raised the trophey upwards, showing it to the War-Chief Aspirant Falcon Claw. His happines quickly faded, as the trophey he needed to win the Proving suddenly flew off his hooves and shattered just infront of him. He was quick to turn his face behind, and spot Sky Breaker holding a bow, with the same selfish smile on his face.

"HA! Your trophey is shattered, outcast! Looks like you need another!" Suddenly spoke Falcon Claw with a grin on his face, which surprised Inlight at first, but he moved on as he had to hurry, fast. Luckily, there were still other dead Grazers, and some of them had the part he needed! He quickly ran to another carcass. The trophey he needed wat tied down by some cables, but a quick swap with Sawtooth's tooth he got while hunting should have helped. He picked up the trophey, and without hesitation, with determintion on his face, galloped forwart to the Path of the Endured.

Inlight climbed the cliff, and ran forward, but he quickly stopped. He saw as the last kirin ran into the cave, and how Summerwind with Sky Breaker challenged one another for the first place in the race.

"Well, atleast point you can walk, you wouldn't make it." He suddenly heard a stallion's voice next to him, and was greeted by the same pony who was giving everyone items for Proving. Inlight rolled his eyes, and looked for the alternatives , and saw three tall pines which lead to another path below the current one. If he could take that path, he can get to the first place! He just had to get to the other side.

He walked a couple of hoofs back, before other stallion didn't notice, braced himself, and galloped towards the edge of the cliff, as fast as he could! But stallion spotted how Inlight was about to jump on the pines, and with wide eyes, he shouted to him.

"Hey, hey! HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Stallion ran to the edge of the cliff, as Inlight jumped on the next pine, which started to bend down and fall. Flame-maned pegasi was quick to get to the third pine before second could prevent him from going, and using all of his power he could, he jumped from the third pine onto the cliffside, landing succesfuly.

"I-I made it!" Inlight happily exclaimed, looking back at the fallen pines and the stallion, who looked at the scenery with disbelief. But he couldn't stay here for long! He needed to run to the finish. Fast. He began to ran on the cliffside, passing rocks and broken trees. That stallion was right – this path is falling appart. Inlight soon ran into the tall cliff, with some parts of the bridge and a tree, which looked like it could fall at any time. Thinking fast, pegasi hit the tree with his backlegs, breaking it and making it fall, creating a perfect bridge for him. He ran further up, passing the falling rocks and tree branches. The sound of hooves striking rock were soon changed by a metal, as he continiued his path on one of the Metal Devil's arms. He looked to his left, and saw other Aspirants going as fast as they could, he even could see Sky Breaker and Summerwind closing in! He was almost there! They entered another cave, and Inlight jumped off the metal platform and onto the cliff, connecting himself to it by climbing horseshoes. Couple of rocks fell off when he moved his hoof to it, but he quickly attached himself back, climbing as fast as he could. He passed the hole in the cave, from which Aspirants spotted Inlight, and their voices were heard

"Is that the outcast!? On a forbidden trail!?" One of them called out, but it didn't stop flame-maned pegasi from getting onto the cliff, on which there was a zipline which lead straight to the finish line. He once again prepared himself , and hooked onto the zipline, sliding down to the plain and passing all of the Aspirants, up to the two fastest.

Lone female kirin stood among the snow, looking as the future braves of the tribe are runing towards the finish line. Inlight slipped down the zipline, taking a little advantage over Sky Breaker and Summerwind, which followed him close behind. Everyone pulled their best in the final run to the end. Inlight ran as fast as he could, carrying the Grazer trophey in his mouth. At the last couple of hoofs, Inlight stopped moving his hooves and started to break before the finish. Other Aspirants kept up, and he had to place the trophy first! Inlight succeded in stopping just before the finish line, and slammed his trophy on the snow, moment before Summerwind and Sky Breaker's trophies landed on a finish line. Flame-maned pegasi panted from all of the running, and was breathing hardly, as the other Aspirants did. But yet, the short silence was broke by annoying griffon, who was not happy.

"HE DIDN'T WIN!" Sky Breaker screamed, for everyone to hear. "The outcast cheated!"

"An outcast? Win the Proving?" Elder Kirin asked griffon, looking at him with curiosity. She then turned her head to Inlight, and after a moment, she spoke. "Never."

Inlight was devastated by what he heard. All of this, just for him to not win the Proving? He trained his whole life for that moment, made the wilds his home! No one was aa skilled in the wilds as HE was! And now, he lost the only chance to win the Proving, to get the Boon and his answers. He would not know... He would not know who was his mother, or why did she abandoned him. Pegasi's head slowly fell down, untill...

"For he is a Brave now!" Inlight heard what elder kirin said. Did he.... won?

"You did it!" He heard happy Summerwind's voice to his left, as she put her hoof on Inlight's shoulder. A smile made it to his face. He did it. He won.

"And so do all of you, as long as you put the trophey on the altar!" The happy voices of Aspirants, now turned Braves were heard from the back, and Sky Breaker just frowned on all of it. Eldery kirin then began to move closer to the winner of the Proving, while announcing to everyone.

"But it is Inlight Dust, the outcast turned Brave, who is the winner amongst you, and with that, I decl- AAAGH!"

The scream was heard, and the arrow flew right into the eldery kirin's coat. Inlight's heart skipped a beat, as he watched as kirin infront of him fell dead. Several gasps were heard. Some were shocked, others were stunned. Some hippogriff closed her beak with her talons, shocked by the circumstance what happened. One by one, former Apirants quickly turned their heads into the sky, from where the arrow came from, but they soon were greeted by rain of fire falling down on them. An earthpony caugh two arrows before eventualy falling down, and panic begun. Young creatures began to run into the cover, while trying to dodge the arrows which were flying towards them. Inlight saw as one arrow flew towards him, but he was quickly covered and carried away by Summerwind, which got hit in her right foreleg with armor.

"Shit.. SHIT!" Sky Breaker screamed, as he hid behind the big rock together with some contestants, while other half, together with Summerwind and Inlight, hid under another on the other side of the plain.

Group of masked ponies with dark hoods, machine armor and red stripes, armed with bows and arrows, shot on the plain, and on the creatures below. One of them, female pony who was slightly larger than others, had a curved purple horn, and a mask with a silhouette of fire on it, was looking at the attackers.

"Pinpoint the Nora Aspirants until support arrives. Leave no witnesses."

She said as watched as some of the attackers picked the swords with their magic and started moving towards the two rocks.

"We have to get out of this place, NOW!" One of the former Aspirants said as she tried to heal Summerwind's wound. Inlight and another hippogriff tried to see who were shooting arrows. Meanwhile on the other side, Sky Breaker and others tried not get themselves killed.

Some of the attackers with bows and swords started moving in and sliding down the zipline, revealing themselves to Inlight. He looked at them, and in turn took out his bow He then looked past the second rock, and saw a quick pathway down the valley. Soon, the idea came in.

"We need to hold them back so the wounded will escape through that path!" He pointed with hoof at the escape route. "We'll have to hold them back for a moment, so prepare your bows!" Aspirants who heard him took out their bows respectfuly, loading an arrows on them.

"Done!" Earthpony said as he finished fixing brown kirin's wound, and she, scratching her right hoof a little, took out her bow with magic aura.

"SKY BREAKER, YOU WITH US?" She screamed to the other cover, from which light-brown griffon's head appeared.

"I'M WITH YOU!" Was heard from him, which indicated that they needed to strike back.

Inlight aimed his bow on one of the shooters, releasing the arrow and and killing the attacker instantly. Every Aspirant who wasn't severely wounded began to shoot back at the unknow ponies, stopping the shower of arrows they were sending on them. One after another, the attackers fell on the pale snow, shedding their blood on the stones. After a minute, some of the young creatures, including Inlight and Sky Breaker, took out their spears and charged on the attackers with swords, who launched a couple of magic spells on them. Inlight was quick to dodge one of them, as he sliced his spear right through the attacker, making him fall. He turned his head, and with widened eyes saw as one of the hostile ponies were aiming straigh on the Sky Breaker! In situation not like this he would've let the killer fire, but not now, not today. Dropped his spear, and drawed his bow to the attacker, killing him. Sky Breaker saw as the pony behind him fell with life leaving his body, looked back at the Inlight, and with small smile, said.

"Not bad!"

"Thanks... LOOK OUT!" Inlight thanked and saw how new group of enemies arrive, armed with bows and swords. Aspirants on the back began to shoot at the attackers, and they shot back. The one who were caught in the middle of it battled each other, receiving scars and bruises. Sword passed near Inlight's shoulder, scaring it with sharp pain. Flame-maned pegasi almost dropped his spear, but he was quick to counterattack and swing his weapon on the attacker. Summerwind aimed her bow on the attackers, releasing arrow after arrow, each piercing their masks. When the attackers seemed to stop attacking, Sky Breaker saw that as an opportunity, and turning his head to changeling, shouted.

"Opaliscene! Gather wounded and get the hay out of here! Call for anyone for help, NOW!" Changeling seemed to understand what he said, as she gathered up remaining Aspirants and lead them to the pathway down the valley. Little did everyone knew, that this was not the end of the massacre. Tough stallion, masked as others, carried a large mechanical device, with box-like part on one end and long metal rod on the other. He aimed at the Aspirants of the Nora, and pushing the button on the weapon, fired. Those weren't arrows, as the weapon he fired were smaller, faster, and louder than anything young creatures saw. Changeling noticed that they were attacked and cried for help, but was cut short when bullets hit her body, and she fell lifeless. Inlight, Sky Breaker and Summerwind were quick to hide behind the cover, while brown kirin hid under the altar. Both hippogriffs fell short after, and then, in attempt to save his flank, an earthpony too. Rain of fire then moved to the altar, where Summerwind was hiding! She tried to hide but wooden planks couldn't cover her from the bullets, and one after another, they pierced her. Brown kirin cried for help, while trying to move out of cover, hoping to hide behind the rocks. Unfortunately, a scream of pain left her mouth, as she fell on the snow, paired with blood.

"SUMMERWIND!" Sky Breaker shouted and ran out of his cover, trying to bring her to the cover, but he followed the path of kirin, dying after catching himseld under the fire. Meanwhile, Inlight watched as both of the last Aspirants fell on the snow, leaving him alone against everyone. He started to breath heavily, eyes full of horror. Entire group slaughtered by an unknown weapon he never saw, unknown attackerst, thirsty for blood, and unknown signal his Focus was receiving. His heart rate only fastened, as he heard as one of the attackers called for others.

"Last one down! Redmane now left alone! MOVE OUT!" They were now after him.

Unknown masked figure with curved horn watched as attackers moved in to get to the last remaining target. One of the ponies, with coat dark and mask longer than usual, came to her and spoke.

"Commander, target is now alone. Nothing stops us from fufilling the will."

"Good." Female unicorn said, walking away from the scenery, leaving the last four attackers by themselves. One was armed with unknown weapon by his side, two others had bows ready to shoot, and the last one, with long mask, picked up his sword, with electicity running though it, they walked slowly towards the cover Aspirants were using, looking for the remaining pony – Inlight. Snow storm was coming closer, leaving attackers with low visibility, making them cautious even more. Little did they know, that Inlight moved passed them in the cover of the snowstorm, and aimed his bow to take down the biggest of the attackers – the one with the gun. He released the arrow, and it landed right on the killer, piercing his neck. He fell with a loud stump on the ground, and the rest quickly turned their heads in the dirrection of the sound, but they weren't quick to dodge the another attack, prepared by Inlight – him flying with his wings released and spear in hooves right into the coat of the attacker. Another one, taking out his sword, charged right on the Inlight, ready to swing his sword and kill the last Aspirant. But Inlight was quick to notice pony with sword charging at him, and punched his face with hoof with climbing horseshoe, breaking the mask and leaving the trail of blood from the dead killer. Inlight took his spear back into his mouth, and looked arround. He was sure there was the last killer, the one with long mask? He walked a coulple of hoofs away from the body, cautious of the next attack. But yet, how ready he was, he was unprepared of the sword piersing his wing, and electrocuting half of his body. Inlight made a loud scream, and didn't notice how the totem – the one Duskshine gave his when they've last met, lightened with green for a moment. Flame-maned pegasi was pushed off the balance, and he slid back to the big corpse, next to a gun. Killer looked at him, sword ready to make a final blow, and charget right at him. Inlight, meanwhile, saw the gun next to him, and tried to aim it towatds the killer. He managed to aim it despite the pain in his wing, and not looking what he pressed, fired at the attacker, who instantly was killed, falling on his back with mask falling off.

Moment has passed, and Inlight realised he was still alive. He managed to stand up on his hooves, and walk to the last killer, eyes full of curiosity. He saw something on the killer, right under his ear. A wave of memories struck Inlight, as he came even closer. He remembered the day he fell in the Old World ruin, how he wandered in it until he found a corpse with Focus on it, which he took as his. The same feeling as he had then struck him now, as he was seeing what he never expected. With white, triangular shape and purple line, it was under attacker's ear with circle of purple surrounding it. Inlight knew what was that thing. The same thing he had under his ear too.

The attacker had a Focus.

He carefuly picked up the device from the dead body, and looked at it. This pony had a Focus on it? Inlight thought that he was the only one to carry it. Exept for... North Star. Mare from the Blessing ceremont, the one which walked away as soon as something frightened her, and her Focus was colored purple. Could it be...?

Inlight put the attacker's Focus in his pocked, and was ready to run down the Valley until he stumped into the large white unicorn with orange like flame eyes. He had the same uniform as the attackers! Inlight tried to reach his spear but he was quickly picked up by orange magic by his throat, chocking him. Inlight dropped his spear and moved his front hooves to his neck, hoping that that could do ANYTHING, but with no succes. He was chocked not to death, as he noticed he could almost breathe. Large unicorn, with horn lit up, Focus under his ear and Inlight by his throat, walked to the edge of the plain, moving to a cliff. He quietly looked at flame-maned oegasi, as he struggled to breath. When he finally stood on the edge of the plain, he picked up his twisted knife of dark metal, floating it towards Inlight. He, in turn, began to try even more to break off the killer's grip, but none of the attempts were succesful. And as his knife was ready to cut Inlight's throat, he opened his mouth, and spoke.

"Turn your face to the Moon, foal!" Unicorn said, and drew his knife through Inlight's throat, making a wound in his neck. But suddenly, he was stopped as the arrow flew into his shoulder! Unicorn attacked was surprised, and dropped Inlight on the ground, turning his head back to the one who came for help. He had gray coat and dark mane, paired with green eyes. It was none other than...

"D-Duskshine...?" Inlight weakly spoke. His guardian returned to help! He tried to keep his mind working, and not loose his conciousness out of all the pain which pierced his body. He watched as both unicorns battled each other to death, as Duskshine made a scar near attacker's eyes! Attacker swinged his knife upwards, striking from abowe, but it was blocked by Duskshine's spear.

But after a while, attacker managed to break Duskshine's spear, and before he knew it, he had the knife in his coat!

"No...." Inlight reacted weakly, losing his energy every second he tried to stay awake. He watched as Duskshine fell, and attacker, spitting the blood from his mouth, talked through his Focus.

"Take this mountain down! Leave no survivors!" He said, walking away, as the carriage with two other ponies, dressed in killer's uniform, walked into the plain. They left the carriage, and lightened up the rope that was attached to the carriage, and quickly left the scenery.

Plain was covered in silence, broken only by the sound of rope slowly being burned, leading up to the explosives in the carriage. Inlight couldn't even say anything and he was slowly fading into the unconciousness. Suddenly, he heard someone crawling to him, and opening his eyes a little, he saw worried Duskshine, covering his wound with hoof.

"Inlight... Inlight!" He tried to say to his adoptive son, as he embrased him in his hooves. He looked back at the carriage, and saw that fire almost reached the barrels. With that look, he understood what he had to do. Looking back at Inlight, he, with desperation on his face, said his final words to him. "Survive..." After saying that, he pushed Inlight to the edge of the plain, making him fall down from it.

Last thing flame-maned pegasi saw was Duskshine with streched out hoof, looking at him. Before he was caught in the large explodion, covering the entire plain. He looked how fire and smoke flew out of the cliff, and closed his eyes, falling into the dark abyss.

Chapter 5: The Proving

The Nightmare / Cradle of Echoes

Darkness.

Darkness was all what Inlight remembered. He heard the sounds of water falling down the river, hoofsteps of strangers to him, and fainted voices. He remembered how he was carried through some kind of cave, looking at the flat rooftop of the coridor. Faint lights of candles lightened the rooms. He walked through the coridors made out of metal, he saw drawings of pony-like figures, surrounded by young creatures of every kind. He put his hoof to his side, as he saw behind the steel door as kids ran near him, passing through, playing with ponies of metal.

He remembered being a foal. Remembered how he slipped on a rock and fell into a opened cave, going into the abyss. He screamed for help, as he felt the feeling of despair, hitting him like the fastest wind.

He was once again in strange corridor, and he could see the silhouette more accurate. The figure opened it's mouth, speaking in oddly familiar voice of elder changeling.

"He's dying!"

He swam out of the dark water, just after he fell into a cave. Looking arround, he tried to find the place to get out of the water, eyes covered in horror. But yet, he couldn't spot the long, dark arm with pincer on the end come right behind him from the darkness, opening it's metal hand.

He saw the cave, not like he'd been before. Inside there was a dim light, coming closer to him. He saw it, he saw the tree, made out of crystals, and infront of it floated 9 colorfull stones with dark blue being the highest out of all of them. Suddenly, a spark of purple appeared, quickly consuming the dark blue crystal, and then the others, followed by a crystal tree.

"To take him here is BLASPHEMY-!" He heard another voice of old mare, following him too.

"He should be near his mother." last word echoed through the coridor, as Inlight continiued to see what others couldnt.

The plain. The same plain where the Proving ended, where the attack happened. Figure stood on the edge of the cliff, and he saw that he had gray coat and dark mane, paired with green eyes. Duskshine slowly turned his head, as the Metal Devil, calling the top of the Sacred mountain his home lightened with color of red, and started to awaken from his sleep. Duskshine looked at Inlight, and pegasi returned glance. For a split second, he saw the figure of a mare, coat colored with white and mane colored with bright pink. She screamed with pain as she looked at the unknown, and Inlight heard Duskshine's worried voice.

"Inlight... I'm so sorry!" He said, before being covered with fire and smoke of the explodion. He saw the dark ocean, rumbling under dark skies of the storm. He saw a tall mountain, with bright light of blue coming from the top. He saw the silhouette of ram, holding the bell, making the devilish laugh. Untill the vision suddenly gone black.

Inlight found himself before the tall door, not unlike anything he'd seen. It was of triangular shape, and made out of machine metal of black. He saw it opened, and dark purple algae came from them, heading to Inlight, ready to cover him with it. He found himself once again on the cliff of the mountain, holded by a killer who murdered Duskshine. For a split moment, Inlight saw him becoming a tall, dark figure with devilish smile. He holded Inlight closer to him, and he heard him speak the phrase with voices of two.

"Turn your face to the Moon, FOAL!"

Inlight opened his eyes and gasped for the air, covered in cold sweat. He stood up from his sleeping position, and covered the wound on his neck with his hoof. It was just a nightmare. Pegasi took a couple of deep breaths, before his mind could properly work. He remembered what happened last time when he was awake, how he saw as Aspirants fell one after another from the arrows of the attackers. He remembered seeing a Focus on one of the attackers, and the pony who nearly killed him. He was stopped just second before he could take away his life by...

"Duskshine..." Inlight quietly spoke with sadness in his voice, eyes wattering up. He was gone. Forever. He would not be near him anymore, or anywhere else. He was dead, giving his life for Inlight's. Inlight burried his face in hooves, quietly sobbing under the light of the candles, put on the tables near him. After a moment, he wipe his tears and tried to stand up from his bed. He moved his body, helping with hooves, to the edge of the bed. Every move he made was followed by pain in his body, like he fell from the cliff straight on the water below.

And from what he last remembered, he did exacly that.

He put his hindlegs on the metal floor, before he realised that he missed something. He quickly raised his hoof to under his ear, and only felt his fur, wet from the sweat.

"Oh nonononono!" Inlight said with worry. His Focus was missing! Was it taken from him when his items were put together? If so, then where? He tried to stand up, but he tipped over and fell onto the cold floor. But that wouldn't stop him. Inlight tried to stand up again, despite the pain in his body, and he succeded, standing up on his hooves. He slowly started to move, while inspecting the place he had slept in. Those were sleeping quaters, as he could say from a couple of beds in this room. Candles, placed everywhere, lit up the room. He was strangely alone, no soul was near him. Inlight continiued to move to the door, entering the coridor, decorated with Nora accesories.

"Why is no one here? Where am I?" Inlight questioned as he turned to walk right, to the other room. On the other side there were metal doors, just as in the Old World ruin. This place is... from the Old World? Then why bring him here? Pegasi questioned himself, looking arround the room, untill he saw his clothes! His armor Sliver Reef gave him and a Focus! Inlight quickly walked to it and picked up his armor outfit, ready to dress up.

It took fair ammount of time, but in the end, the pain slowly faded and Inlight could wear a costume normaly. He put his Focus just under his ear, and immediately turned it on. He looked arround. This place was the Old World ruin, lightened with candles. He looked up, and saw a big source of the signal, bigger than any machine, just like... Metal Devil. If he was under Metal Devil then that meant that he was in the...

"I'm in the Sacred Mountain?" Inlight questioned himself. "But... only Matriarch is allowed here... why bring me here?" He had a lot of questions, and with the wonder and alert, he went further. He still had to find his weapons, and killer's Focus.

He walked through the long, cold corridors, passing stalagtites and stalagmites, coming from the floor and the ceiling. He walked to the left, and came right into the ruin filled with candles, and in the middle of it his weapons were laying! He came closer and picked his bow, spear, arrow quiver and the Focus.

Inlight groaned at the sigh of the killer's Focus, as it was partialy damaged. Couldn't they carry his things atleast gently? Lets just hope that he could read data from it...

"Well now, what can you tell about yourself?" Flame-maned pegasi scanned other Focus, and was greeted by swarm of orange circles, each of them having a cross in it. Almost every file was damages... exept one. Inlight moved the corrupted files with his hoof, and looked at one audiofile – recording. He tappet on it once, and was greeted by familiar large white unicorn with orange eyes, in the same armor as they've met last time. "You..." Inlight said with bitterness, as recording started.

"To all avaliable units, abandon the exavations sites and move to the assighed coordinates. Targer imagining is attached to this message." Recording stopped, and a holograpgic map appeared, which looked like the Embrase. Three red dots were on the base of the mountain, which looked like Sacred Mountain.

"'Target imagining'....?" Inlight asked no one, as he looked at the image with curiosity. The killers planned to attack the Provint, to kill someone from the group... they were after him? But why? And how do they even know about him? He only recently met anyone who was not his guardian! With each question answered two came up, one more confusing than the other... Inlight sighed, and looked again at the datafile he saw. There was another file, attached to the hologram. Inlight raised his hoof to it, and pressed. In an instance the hologram faded, and new one appeared. It was a pegasi wearing an Nora armor, with short mane colored like flame and blue eyes. It was recording of Inlight.

"And who says I'm like other Nor-" The recording stopped mid sentence, but it was enough for Inlight to put the puzzle pieces together.

"They saw me through North Star's Focus..." Inlight remembered how he said those words when met that mysterious mare. That's why she quickly trotted away after her Focus glitch? When she recorded him, it malfunctioned and made her leave? Then why she was so frightened of something? Either way, North Star worked with attackers, and SHE was guilty of the attack. He had to find her, and put an end to her plans! Only how could he do it...?
His train of thoughts stopped as he heard hoofsteps coming from behind him. He froze in place, thinking what he should do. He slowlu raised his hoof, reaching to his bow as the hoofsteps were coming closer. Inlight suddenly quickly turned arround, bow ready to draw, when he saw a familiar eldery changeling – High Matriarch Syrenna.

"Syrenna!?" Flame-maned pegasi surprisingly exclaimed, as Syrenna walked closer, and spoke.

"Inlight! Thank All-Mother you're safe! I was wondering where did you go." She then looked back from where she came from, and waved her hoof to Inlight. "Come now! We need to go quick!" Not even waiting for pegasi, eldery changeling started to go in opposite direction.

"We need to go... b-but to where!?" Inlight questioned. He didn't understood why so much hurry. But his answer came shortly after when Syrenna told him.

"To the place where you were born!"

This made Inlight freeze for a moment. Inlight looked down, shanking his head, eyes full of disbelief. And after a moment, he opened his mouth, and spoke.

"W-WHAT!?"

Flame-maned pegasi and tall changeling queen walked through large hallway, made out of metal and steel. On the sides, it was lightened by small candles, paired with religious emblembs of the tribe.

"A-Am I gonna meet my mother?" Inlight was speaking exitedly, following Syrenna by her side.

"Yes, but it's complicated. Come on." Changeling rolled her eyes and gone in the dirrection of large door, which has a large circle structure in the middle, and small console panel. They walked closer with each step they made, while Inlight continiued to ask questions about his mother, thinking he will meet her soon.

"Does my mother look like me? Or she just has white coat as I do..? Was she a pegasi too? Wait, that's a stupid question..." He continiued talking, untill they reached large doors. Syrenna came closer to the console, but hesitated to open the door, face full of hesitation. Inlight was quick to notice the way changeling felt, and soon he felt suspition in his heart. "Syrenna?" He quietly asked once again.

"You were not born from anycreature, Inlight." That statement struck Inlight surprisingly, while he widened his eyes from shock. And before he could ask what High Matriarch meant, he was hit once again. "The mountain is your mother." Before Inlight could ask even more questions, Syrenna waved a hoof through the console, and in turn, the doors started to open, revealing what was inside.

They were greeted by a enormous room, filled with candles and rugs, along with Nora marks. In the centre, from the centre, one of the tentacles of Metal Devil froze in time, in the middle of getting into the room. The hall it made let the sunlight lighten the room. Behind the Metal-Devil's arm, up by a couple of stairs, stood large doors, made with round and dark metal. On that door were three triangle-shaped lines, one bigger and higher than other.

"What is this place...?" Inlight gasped, observing the room, eyes filled with wonder.

"This, Inlight Dust, is the birthplace of all Nora! The womb of the mountain!" High Matriarch Syrenna exclaimed, her voice echoing through the room. So this was the place from where all of the Nora tribe came from? This place was enormous, and the doors of the womb stood shut. While they were walking to the middle of the room, Syrenna started to speak first.

"Inlight, the massacre at the Proving is not the only bad news for the tribe. The attackers vanished after their slaughter. Our scouts managed to find their camp but not their trails. But there's more-"

"Wait," Inlight suddenly stopped, making Syrenna walk a couple of hooves before stopping and looking back. "How does that is related to where I came from?" He questioned changeling queen, clearly confused about that.

"My thoughts are... with everything!" Syrenna answered, and turned her head to point at the top of the stairs with her hoof. "17 years ago, on a particulary stormy night, we heard cries coming from this room. We came here, and saw you, right there." Inlight looked at where Syrenna was pointing, full of wonder and confusion.

"So... I came from behind the door. From the 'womb'?" He questioned, putting two and two together. He couldn't just appear out of thin air, and he was next the door, so his mother is... behind it. In the womb. That was strange. Why leaving him alone? Why did she made that choise? That doesn't make any sence, that doesn't make ANY sence.

"That's what I always thought!" Syrenna spoke, waking Inlight from his thoughts. "That you were brought here by All-Mother herself! But others... like Jehzaa... thought that you were brought here by someone else – the Metal Devil. The seed from which our tribe will rot appart. We couldn't get into the agreement so... we casted you out. To Duskshine." Syrenna spoke, as Inlight looked at the door infront of them. This was no Godness or Metal Devil, this was created by the Old Ones, not some entities!

"But this isn't a Godness..." Inlight bitterly spoke as he started to climb the stairs up to the door before them.

"Inlight...!"

"That's a door!" Inlight pointed hoof at the door, finishing climbing the stairs, now standing directly before the entrance. He looked at the frustrated changeling, then turned his glaze back to the door. "With creatures inside..." Even denying any Godness or god-like being, this was still strange. Creatures behind a metal door, created by the Old Ones... what did they do there?

Suddenly, the red light started to glow from the triangular lines, and the ray of light lit up and pointed on just before Inlight. The ray started to move up, covering the front part of Inlight. A small interface with small text and picture of pony, looking like him appeared him, while synthetised voice spoke.

"Hold for Identiscan."

Syrenna gasped as she heard the door talk. For her, it was Godness herself speaking down to her heir – Inlight Dust. Meanwhile for flame-maned pegasi, it was quite surprising but he hold still while the red light passed his head, covering him whole. Light faded, and and door continiued to glow red. The silence was interrupted by once again a robotic voice.

"Genetic profile confirmed. Entry- ALERT. OMEGA registry corrupted. Unable to access the facility. Entry unauthorised." And light began to slowly fade. Inlight was stunned, but it quickly changed to frustration.

"No, NO!" He shouted, hoping that his voice could somehow open the door, but unsuccesfuly. Red light faded, telling Inlight that he would not enter the hatch, would not find out who was his mother. "No..." Inlight sat down on the cold floor, while changeling queen came closer, putting her hoof on his shoulder, comforting him. Pegasi's head hanged low, with eyes closed trying to hold his new tears. All of the answers he needed, and they were locked infront of him, away from him. The room went silent once again, leaving pegasi and the changeling in silence.

"Inlight..." Syrenna spoke softly, continiuing to comfort Inlight. "The Godness spoke to you! It knew you like she was the one to give birth to you!"

"Did you not hear...?" Inlight spoke, anger starting to rise in his voice. "It did NOT recognised me!" He didn't want to look at High Matriarch's face. He couldn't, he just wanted to be left alone.

"Because of the corruption!" Syrenna countered Inlight's words. "She said it herself that the womb is corrupted, and clearly if you will heal that corruption she will recognise you." She said her every word with confidence, and assured Inlight that it would work, and he'll succeed. Flame-maned pegasi stood up, finally looking at the changeling queen.

"Then how should I... heal the Godness, may I ask?"

"It can be connected to the killers from the Proving. Their dark essence came on this land corrupting the Godness herself. So if you find them, you can heal it!" Syrenna came up with the plan for Inlight. He had to find the killers, and make them pay. However that shoud've helped, he needed to do this. Sky Breaker, Summerwind... all of the Aspirants.... Duskshine. They took first pony he could call a friend, they took the pony who raised him. And Inlight wantet revenge. "But they left no trail for you to follow... that would be bad." Syrenna mumbled under her nose, while putting her hoof on a chin. "Is there any other lead you can follow, Inlight?"

Theese word awoke Inlight from his thoughts, and Inlight began to think of other alternative ways to get them. He knew North Star is along with them, but where does she even live? Equestria, from what he heard, is a really big place, he wouldn't find her in it! Unless...

"Silverhoof... brother of North Star, the main lead..." Inlight spoke under his nose, thinking even further. He was one of the Equestrian elite warriors, so he would be in their capital. "He lives in Canterlot."

"But that's outside the Nora territory. Becoming an exile right after becoming a Brave...?" Everyone knew that any Nora who leaves his homeland becomes an exile, shunned from the Sacred Land. He looked at Syrenna, eyes full of unsertainty. She looked at him, making her own plan, and after a moment, she made a smile.

"I know just what you need."

Two tall figures, wearing ceremonial tribal robes, stood infront of the entrance to Sacred mountain. One was Hippogriff with dark-blue coat, other was kirin, colored gray and yellow. They looked at the crowd of creatures, coming to All-Mother mountain, to mourn the victims of the slaughter on the Proving. From the cave, two other figures appeared. One was changeling queen in ceremonial robes, and other was flame-maned pegasi, with armor of a Brave.

"Sokorra, Jehzaa! I have to speak to you!" Syrenna declared to her sisters, who both turned their heads, one with blank expretion, and other with frown on her face. "The Godness spoke to Inlight Dust! She tasked him to heal her corruption, but he has to leave the Sacred Land." Changeling queen explained the situation to her sisters, while Inlight stood nearby, looking at the crowd.

"A Seeker?" Female hippogriff spoke. "But there was no Seekers in over a century."

"I know, Sokorra." Syrenna calmly replied. "But we need to make a new exeption, the one which will decide the of the tribe."

"PFH, you want to name this thing a Seeker?" Female kirin said, pointing a hoof on Inlight, saying her words with all the bitterness she could. She then came closer to him, visibly larger than Inlight. "Then let it be! May he go from the Sacred Land and never return!" Jehzaa spoke, and left the scenery into the Sacred mountain, leaving Inlight devastated. Both Matriarchs looked at each other, then, with sympathy, walked to him and put their hooves of his shoulders.

"Inlight Dust, you are given a sacred task to heal our godness and bring justise to ones who passed away at the Proving. And with this task, you are given a Seeker's mark." Syrenna announced, floating a mark with her blue aura of magic, as Sokorra continiued.

"May no boundaries or taboo stop you on achieving your task. May you carry the will of All-Mother, and serve her as truthfull as did the first Braves of the Nora."

"Hereby we announce you the Seeker of the Nora, may you spread the light, when it doesn't shine." Both Matriarchs finished their speech, and Inlight took the Seekers mark. He took a deep breath, and put the mark on his belt. No boundaries now stopped him. He was now free to leave the Sacred Land. And then, he will find the killers and make them pay, all of them.

From now on, he was Inlight Dust, Seeker of the Nora.

Chapter 6: Scars of Old

Force Multiplication

Inlight gave his final farewels to both Matriarchs Syrenna and Sokorra, and moved to the gates of the settlement. Plenty of creatures came to Sacred Mountain, some to pray, some to mourn. Such cruel attack at the Proving left the whole tribe devastated, especialy relatives of the victims. Flame-maned pegasi walked on the path down, passing through the creatures some of which recognised him.

"So the rumors are true? Outcast lives, and now a Seeker?" "It's a blessing that you survived the Proving!" "Already healed the wounds? What wonders did the Godness prepared for him?" Each of the Nora could say something about Inlight, and he wasn't surprised – being the sole survivor of the massacre, and now turned Seeker, it was foolish of him to expect no reaction.

The morning was foggy, aftermath of the rain before. Inlight walked on the wet mud, finally seeing the gates, paired with a couple of buildings and the campfire in the middle. He just had to open the gates and go where he needs too, but he soon heard a familiar voice coming from house nearby.

"Inlight..? INLIGHT!" Female voice called him, and when he turned his head, he was quickly embraced in a hug by a familliar hippogriff.

"You're alive! I was so scared when the smoke came from the place where Proving took place! But you really are alive! Were you in Sacred Mountain? Did you meet the Godness!?"

Inlight mumbled something in Sliver Reef's fur, and she broke the hug, putting her talons on Inlight shoulders, who looked down with sadness on his face. "Is... everything okay..?"

"I'm fine." Inlight lied. He didn't want to think about what happened at the massacre. And he didn't want to stay here for longer. "Look, I'm not going to stay here for long, Sliver Reef." He said taking hippogriff's talons from him.

"You're going away? But why?"

"I'm... sigh I was annointed a Seeker." Inlight didn't remember when he saw someone more exited than Sliver Reef when he said it, perhaps there was no one in the world more happier than her infront of him? Her eyes sparkled and wide smile appeared on her face.

"So you are annointed a SEEKER!?" She exclaimed loudly, which alerted some of the visitors. "That means you can get into the Old World ruins! Amazing!" She then put her talons together and mumbled something quiet, while having a serious expretion on her face. "That means you can..."

"I can uh... do what?" Inlight asked with sleepish smile. He didn't know what she was planning that involved him, and she looked like she wanted some kind of artifact from the Old World? Sliver Reef wondered for a bit, and then talked again.

"That means you can go into the Old World ruins, right? That means you can help me out with one thing!" She then moved to the workbench behind her, on which there was long rope with attached hook and motor. Inlight walked near her, and looked at the little invention.

"What's this?" He asked with curious expretion on his face.

"This is my Pullcaster! Mark two. First one's still stuck on that cliff." Sliver explained. "This is my invention to climb tall cliffs more easy! I made this mostly for the ones who can fly but dad always said:" she then cleared her throat and made her voice deeper. "'Do not play with your stupid inventions!' I mean, I'm trying to just help others!" She sighed for a bit, while Inlight looked at the Pullcaster she made.

"If this your upgrade of previous Pullcaster, then why don't you sell it?" He looked at Sliver, who stared at him with blank expretion.

"I don't 'sell' things that could help others, I just give them away." She explained. "And I don't give away this because... it's not sturdy enough. I tried to make it with other ropes but nothing works.." She then suddenly put her hoof on a Workbench. "But it doesn't really matter!" She finished with a small smile on her face.

Inlight looked at his damaged right wing, and sighed heavily. He'll definetly wont fly for the next couple of months. He could use the help of Pullcaster, if, ofcourse, Sliver Reef would make it hold someone. He looked at the invention of some time, coming up with an upgrade, and then looked at the light-blue hippogriff.

"What if you'd combine the rope with machine cables? They are sturdy and light enough!" He said, taking a hoofful of machine cables from his pouch, putting them onto the workbench. Sliver Reef looked at the table, slowly starting to nod.

"Yeah... yeah that can work!" She exclaimed happily and started working on the upgrade. Inlight waited behind him, taking a look at the closed gates outside. To be honest, he never was comfortable near other creatures. In Mother's Heart or here. Maybe he just felt like he didn't belong here, no one becomes a part of the tribe in 1 day. But soon he'll leave the Embrase, leave his old life. He just wanted to...

"Done!"

Inlight snapped back to reality and looked at Sliver Reef, who with smile on her face was holding Pullcaster now having machine cable as it's base. "More sturdy than before!"

"That... was... fast." Inlight surprisingly admited how fast did hippogriff finished the upgrade. Sliver Reef only chuckled as an answer. "Take it. You helped me make it, and let it serve for you." Flame-maned pegasi didn't want to accept another gift. Uncertainty filled his mind. She already made her an outfir, that was enough! But on the other hoof, he needed the Pullcaster, so he accepted it with a little hesitation. Sliver Reef, spotting this, made a soft smile, and spoke.

"Hey, that's what friends for. To help each other out no matter what!" She stood quiet for a moment, before adding with whisper. "Wait, we ARE friends, right?"

This made both hippogriff and pegasi chuckle. "Yeah, I guess that's what friends for." Inlight agreed, making a soft smile. "Then I'll be going...?"

"Yeah yeah... go wherever you'll need to go. Just stay safe out there, okay?" Sliver Reef said her farewells with soft smile, as Inlight moved to the closed gates. He'll need to ask War Chief here to open them. He had the Seeker mark, so they should let him out. What can possibly go wrong?

"Report."

"War-Chief, reports came of an unknown machine breaking through the South Mother's Watch. If rumors are true, then that machine is faster, more agile and more dangerous than our Braves ever encountered before." Young thestral with dark-blue coat spoke to the War-Chief – a brown griffon with a scar on his left eye and yellow beak, same color as his eyes.

"Pff, what difference does it make? If those Braves couldn't take down one machine like Sawtooth, then they should not have become protectors of the land."

"B-But War Chief! That machine wasn't fighting alon-"

"Look at me!" Falcon Claw looked at the thestral Brave and pointed at the scar. "I got that scar from fighting Stalkers near the Devil's Grasp. I got shot near the eastern border, but I didn't give up! You know WHY? I'm a Nora, All-Mother dammit. We never give up." War-Chief monologued to the poor thestral as Inlight climbed the ladder up on the wall and to the duo. He stood behind them, and after a moment cleared the throat, letting thestral and War-Chief know of his presence. Thestral quickly turned his head and yelped at the sigh of the former outcast, and War-Chief just rolled his eyes and look at the herd of Striders near the gates.

"Dismissed." Was all he mumbled as thestral made his way from the War-Chief and a Seeker, leaving them both alone.

"I came to ask you to open the gates." Inlight declared with courage.

"Mph, and since when do I need to fufill the needs of an outcast, M?" Falcon Claw spoke with mocking tone of the voice, while not even looking at Inlight. Seems that not everyone is welcoming to the sole survivor of the Proving, and now-War-Chief Falcon Claw was not an exeption. This was annoying, but Inlight needed the gates to open.

"Since I have become Seeker annointed by High Matriarchs, for the sacred task for the sake of our land." He declared, taking his Seeker's mark by his hoof, and alarminf a couple of Braves near them. Falcon Claw's pupils shrank, as he turned his head to face Inlight. He saw the Seeker's mark, and frowned even harder than before.

"Since when Syrenna gives a Seeker's mark to outcasts?"

"I've stopped being an outcast since yesterday, War Chief, by winning the Proving!" Flame-mane pegasi started to get frustrated by insolen stubborness griff had.

"Oh, is it now? I don't remember anyone else coming from it to confirm this!" Now he's questioning him even being a part of the tribe!? The air arround him felt like it would set on fire, as Braves looked and only watched. Inlight took a deep breath, tryinf to calm himself down and not punch his idiotic face.

"I need those gates open, Falcon Claw! You can still guard this little gate and be ignorant of what's happening outside. Just as incompetent latrine guard you are!" Inling argumented, which caused a couple of Braves to glance at him, some with shock, some with amazement. War-Chief looked him for a moment, like he would attack him at any moment. Falcon Claw made an angry side eye to everyone who was near him, and in the end, groaned.

"Fine. It'll be better without you than with you anyway!"

But suddenly, something was heard from the distance. Something distant was aproaching the gate, and Braves, then flame-maned pegasi and brown griffon looked at what was coming.

"What was that?" Inlight said, alerted. That was probably a machine, large enough to make the trees move on their way. Each tree after another, it shattered it while moving to the gate. Pegasi then turned his head do the herd of machines nearby. If that was a Sawtooth, machines shouldn't have get alerted, as they were of the same kind. But despite of what he thought, the unknown machine came closer, and every machine in the herd – from Watcher to Strider, looked in the direction of the forest, lights turning yellow. That was not an ordinary machine. Every warrior looked at the forest, in hopes to find the machine that was coming in this fog, until...

A large machine jumped from behind the rock, nothing like everyone seen before! Instead of white-gray armor of an ordinary machine, it had black and brown elements. It ran on the four legs each of them sharp as the Sawtooth fang. None of them had the machine cable, but were made out of different parts, connected with hinges. It's one eye glowed angry red, as from the back of the machine appeared long metal arm, with pincer on the end. Inlight recognised that arm, he saw it in... his nightmare? But how? Pegasi couldn't think about it, as some Brave yelped in mix of surprise and horror. "THE DEMON!" He screamed, as the machine moved in the fog, only silhouette was seen.

"RAISE THE ALARM!" War-Chief Falcon Claw screamed, as soon after a horn-like item was blown, signaling of an attack. The machine, meanwhile, started to move to the herd, making Watchers run in hopes to not get slaughtered. Striders, meanwhile, started panicking and gallop arround like mad machines. The demon stopped near them, and fixed himself to the ground as the cylinder-like structure, slightly angeled on the top of it's head, started spinning. From it, six lights, made of purple and black smoke, flew into the machines, making them fall. Purple and black cables soon covered the neck and head of the horse-like machines, as their alerted yellow light was replaced by a dark purple. Machine after a machine, they stood up, like they were now filled with pure anger and rage.

"By the All-Mother... what it's doing to them!?" One of the Braves screamed, shocked to see how the demon covered them with purple. Inlight turned on his Focus, to try to scan the infected machines, and he saw how they started to follow the new machines, like it was...

"Taking control..." he whispered, as he saw how the demon now started to move fast in the direction of the gates, the herd of controled machines following it. Inlight and the others aimed their bows, as other Braves who could use magic started to launch magic bolts on the lead machine. But no matter what flew, was it a magic bolt or an arrow, everything couldn't penetrate the front armor of that unknown machine. When Falcon Claw realised that impact was inevitable, he signaled everyone.

"Brace yourselves!" He screamed as the machine slammed itself into the gates, shaking it with immense force. Soon the corrupted Striders started to attack, trying to destroy the doors inside and slaughter everyone inside. Falcon Claw looked how the machines were behaving, and with anger in his eyes turned his head to Inlight. "Look at what you brought us here, you motherless curse!" And before pegasi could react, he flew down on the wet ground along with other Braves, taking their position. There was no other choise but to join them and strike the machines.

He walked on a wet ground to one of the covers, hearing how War-Chief directing everyone on how to fight the enemy. What was that machine? It was not like anything Inlight seen before. It didn't even looked like it had machine mussles to begin with! And that arm? How could he see it in a nightmare? Inlight shook his head and frowned. He had to prepare for the battle now, he will find answers later. He loaded his bow, and braced himself before machines could break the gates.

An explodion was heard coming from the gates, and the smoke had covered the gates. After a moment, horse-like machines covered with purple cables charged for an attack at the Braves. Some were taken down at the barrage of fire, but others managed to get close enough to strike. The fighting started across the settlement, different creatures with spears and bows were battling mad machines. Inlight released the arrow in one of the Striders which fell on it's side, purple light fading from the body. The demon walked from the gates filled with smoke, and with it's arm it came to attack unsuspecting Braves. But suddenly, it received fire from the Pegasi with mane colored like fire, and it turned it's glaze to him.

"Come on, you big metal brat! Come and get me!" He screamed. The metal demon, in turn charged at him, making it's arm visible and ready to strike. Inlight fired a couple of more arrows at the machine, before charging at him too. He then suddenly slid in the mud and straight under the agile machine, which stopped, and looked back at the attacker. The box-like part on machine's side, colored with white stripes, suddenly opened, and bomb flew from the box, moving towards the pony!

"Oh-!" Inlight exclaimed before rolling back, trying to move as far away from the explosives as possible. A ray of explodions and smoke has risen from the ground, and the demonic machine landed just infront of the smoke. Inlight stood up again, and looked at the machine, which was ready to strike through him with it's arm! But suddenly, arrows flew into the back of the machine, knocking it a couple of steps back. The robot turned it's sight of angry red back, and saw how couple of Braves, who dealt with corrupted machines, and now were firing at the new unknown machine. The metal demon quickly moved forward and attacked the warriors, as Inlight was observing it. He had to scan it, quickly! He turned on his Focus, and managed to scan the machine before it ran away.

"It's weak to fire..." Inlight whispered, as he saw a couple of wood planks, lightened with explodion. He took some arrows, and lightened them with fire, before putting them on the bow and aiming on the agile machine. It was swapping Braves awau with it's long arm, until suddenly, a dark smoke appeared from it's eye. The machine stopped, and a lot of creatures stepped away. Horns of some Braves started to impulse, and one after another, weapons they holded started to fall one after another!

"By the All-Mother, what is going on!?" Someone shouted, as the dark smoke had filled with red dots and flew back to the robot's eye, reactivating it completely. Some Braves yielded, as War-Chief Falcon Claw watched all of it in horror. Inlight saw the perfect opportunity to launch the fire arrows, and released them, making them fly fast towards the target. Projectiles exploded on impact, covering the machine with oil and fire. The machine shook from the fire, and once again turned it's glaze towards Inlight. Inlight, in turn, put his bow to his back and picked the pullcaster, aiming towards the rooftop of the lodge. And as the metal demon was about to strike, flame-maned pegasi leaped into the sky! He pushed back from the edge of the rooftop and landed straight on the machine, which already exinguished fire, between the grenade launcher and corrupting box. Everyone stared at the fight between Seeker and the demon with amazement, together with Sliver Reef, who hid behind the workbench. Even Falcon Claw was surprised how things turned out.

The machine tried to make Inlight Dust fall from it, but pegasi made a grip on one of it's components, holding a spear by his mouth. Metal was hot, but still Inlight had to hold to it for a little longer, because... suddenly, a cylinder-like structure came from underneath the armor, smoke coming from it. This was it! Inlight swinged his spear, and with all of the force he could make hit the heat sink, stucking his spear in the middle of it. But the metal demon quickly struck Inlight with it's spear and dropped him on the ground, away from the machine.

Inlight fell on the mud, while Braves ran from the machine. It turned it's glance to the others, and with angry red light began to move to them. An electric lights were seen from the heat sink. With each step on the mud demon made, it slowed down, light fading one after another. And when it lifted it's sharp leg, it stopped mid-action. A moment had passed, then another. The water has started falling on the wet ground, exinguishing the fire machines made. And after that, the demon tilted to the side, before falling on it's side, angry red light fading from it's eye. The remaining machines were defeated, and the settlement had become silent once again.

The machines were defeated.

Author's Note

I rewrote this chapter 6 goddamn times, and I almost made it to post it. I lost all of my courage for some reason, and couldn't even finish writing.

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, I'll try to post next one earlier. Cya!

Chapter 7: Force Multiplication

Forward to Equestria

Sun was shining in the sky, covering the lands of Equestria with it's rays of light. The morning light of the sun laid it's light on the small pond, water reflecting it into the all directions. Near that pond, there was a desk and the chessboard. Black and white chess pieces were scattered among the board, covered with a tall shadow. White, tall alicorn with crown on her head was sitting on a chair with a pillow near the desk. She was playing the white pieces with silence, deep in her thoughts. But she wasn't playing against anyone. There was no one to duel. Playing both sides of chess was on one hoof challenging, but Celestia didn't mind. She didn't came here to win.

She and her sisters sometimes played chess for fun, Celestia always picked the white pieces, and Luna – black. And almost every time the sun alicorn won. It was long ago, before Luna was corrupted by Nightmare Moon, spreading havoc and devastation across all of Equestria and beyond. All because of her mistake. Mistake she will regret making for a thousand years.

Celestia once again opened her eyes, remembering the day of the battle. When she, with aid of nine Elements of Harmony defeated her sister. The day when she banished her, as the Elements vanished without a trace. Sun princess never found them, nor where did they go. But it didn't matter, not now.

"Your majesty?" She heard the voice behind her, and saw one of her guards in golden armor. "The Court is ready to start." Ah, the Court. The daily listening to nobles complaining. Celestia sighed heavily, and nodded.

"Understood. Thank you." She said quietly, before standing up from her seat. She looked back at the chessboard, seeing the result of her game. Every chess piece fallen, exept two kings, standing near each other. Tie. She turned her head in the direction of her new palace, and started to walk to it, along with her guard. The sun alicorn and the pony dissapeared behind the doors of the castle, leaving the board alone under the sun.

Rain was falling on the wet ground, stopping fire from going any further. Remains of the battle against the demon.

"I need that gate repaired immediately!" Brown griffon shouted as Braves started to salvage machines, heal, or some even came to somehow fix the gates. War-Chief looked at the gates, then turned his head to the outcast-turned-Seeker. "And you! Get the hay out of here before you'll get more curses on us." Inlight looked at him blankly, and Falcon Claw made his way away. Flame-maned pegasi could only roll his eyes.

"And you're welcome." He said with bitterness, and looked at the thing which interested him the most – unknown machine. He came closer to the dead demon, observing it fully. The heat sink was sliced in half, and the spear was sticking from it. Inlight took the spear by his mouth and put it to where is should be, and turned his look to the part of the machine, the one which took control over them. "You took control of theese machines, but how?" He whispered as he tried to rip part of the carcass which looked like dart launcher. He struck his spear between the body and the weapon, and ripped the weapon out, making it show the inside materials to him. He noticed how one of the parts was glowing with orange, like it was damaged. Inlight turned his Focus, and with curiosity picked it up.

"So you are the one who is responsible for this..." He said his thoughts as he read the data from it. "You can override machines but... you're damaged?" Inlight raised his eyebrow as he looked at the override module. It could work, but now it needed more manual connection. That shoudln't have been a problem, he could sneak up on them! He only needed a workbench to attach it to his spear and the job is done!

"I can't believe you took down THE demon itself! A-are you hurt?" Familiar female voice was heard from behind, and Inlight, in turn, sighed and turned his head.

"No, I am not hurt, just... exausted." Inlight said, which seems to have calmed down Sliver Reef.

"Well, if you say so!" Light-blue hippogriff spoke, and looked at the unknown machine, inspecting it precisely. "Did you even see how that machine released that strange smoke? And how it made everyone stop using their magic?"

"Yeah, I saw it. That's not ordinary machine. The way it took control of those machines? It was... unsettling."

"Maybe if we could copy the technology of taking control of the machines, we can use them in our goals!" Sliver Reef put her talon on her beak, thinking about that invention and it's use.

"Well, I have the thing that controls machines but it wont work as it should.." Inlight started speaking, but was quickly stopped by enthusiastic hippogriff looking at him with sparkling eyes.

"You HAVE!?" She exclaimed exitedly. "How can it work!?"

"I'm still looking into it, but I have to, you know, travel beyond the Sacred Land?" He raised an eyebrow, to which Sliver Reef firmly nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, stay safe out there, okay? I'm going to uncover machine's little secrets..." She softly said before looking down and trying to detach the machine lence. Inlight just gave her his farewells and made his way to the workbench. After some time, he managed to install the override module onto the spear, and trotted to the gates, exiting the settlement. He had the long way to pass, first beyond Embrase, next beyond the Sacred Lands. Overriding a machine and riding it should've been easy, but he had to find the herd of machines first. Inlight walked through the trees and further into the forest, untill he saw the herd of Striders. Some of them probably escaped when the demon attacked, and one of them stood just near the bushes. Perfect opportunity to test the module!

Inlight crawled with the spear into the bushes, closer and closer to the horse-like machine. It was now standing just in front of him, flank turned to Inlight. Flame-maned pegasi took his spear into his hooves, and with override module struck the machine. Suddenly, cables of the machine turned bright blue, and circle arround the module appeared! The circle of light soon became blue as the machine became covered in blue cables, just like before. Inlight opened his mouth out of amazement, and walked out of the bushes. The machine didn't attack him! It was now peaceful!

"It worked!" Inlight spoke, a he looked how Strider was standing still near him. Now, he had to try to mount that thing. Flame-maned pegasi prepared to jump on the back of the Strider, eyes full of determination. He jumped up in the air, and landed on the back of the horse machine. The Strider, in turn, didn't even react, and continiued to stand and watch other machines.

"Well now, how should I make you move?" Inlight questioned and decided to punch the machine with his hooves. And by doing that, he made machine run as fast as it could, faster than Inlight ever was before! He screamed as the machine passed a couple of trees and entered the plain on enormous speeds. After a moment, the machine slowed down, letting flame-maned pegasi sit normaly. Well, atleast he understood how to ride the Strider, and it was awesome. Inlight looked arround the plain, and figured that he had to move to the South Mother's Watch to leave the Embrase. Inlight dirrected himself to the south, and traveled onwards, to the gate.

Getting to the gates wasn't hard, but getting throught the gates was a diferent problem. Nora thestrals and zebras were confused by a Seeker riding an All-Mother dang machine, but they let him through. And the next thing Inlight knew, he was in the territory he only saw from a far distance – the land beyond beyond Embrase. Inlight never been here before, but yet, he moved forward, following the trope. The beauties of this land were beyond what Inlight imagined. The plain was divided by a small river passing through, and on the other side there were Grazers, collecting the dirt with their horns. Beyond the plain Inlight could see giant mammoth-like machines passing through the ruin, transporting the resources inside their containers. Duskshine once told him about the mighty Plowtusks, and how they collected the resources with their four tusks, as big as one pony. Deeper into the ruins, a silhouette of a tall machine with a disc as his head was seen, and Inlight could figure out that those were Tallnecks – enormous machines which walked in circles, giving the way to hunters and machines. But for Inlight Dust, it was mark to Equestria, as beyond it and the ruins had to be one of the Equestrian forts, made as border between Equestria and Sacred Land. Inlight, riding the Strider, saw the safe passage into the Old World ruin, and made it into it, passing the river along.

The city of metal, covered in green. A land of the spires, looking up so high, the snow could appear on them even before the winter would start. Inlight passed what looked like an ancient road, filled with grass and unknown structures, perfect for fitting a pony or anyone similar size. He could only imagine how this place looked before it was abandobed. Probably filled with lights and creatures. But they were long dead, and even machines weren't present in the ruins. Flame-maned pegasi slowly made his way to the ancient building, which more or less looked intact.

"Alright, I'm going for now.." he spoke to the Strider as he mounted off the machine. "Don't go anywhere." He didn't know if machine would listen, or even understand him, but yet, he tried his luck. Inlight opened the doors inside the ruin, and immediately was greeted by some panel, and a lot of shelves behind it. Whatever that place was, it looked curious. Flame-maned Seeker turned on his Focus, in case he finds anything about the Old World or anything else, but to his surprise, he was greeted by a swarm of signals, similar to the signal Focus made! Was this some kind of storage room for those devices? Or even sell them? Inlight's blue eyes ran through the shelves, and a lot of Focuses ready to be used by anyone.

It wouldn't be bad to take some in traveling, if something will go wrong.

Inlight made a little smile, and looked through his pack of pouches, to find an empty, round pouch, enough to fit a couple of triangular devices. One by one, he picked the Focuses and collected them into the pouch, filling it pretty fast. Any of them had data on it.

"Must've been erased..." Flame maned pegasi whispered, as he put the last one in pouch, closing it. "Well then, Inlight the 'Delve-runner', it's time to continiude the journey!" He joked to himself, a he left the ruin. Overriden Strider was still there, waiting for him to come. Seems that they'll wait for master's commands, and wont move if not interupted. It was good to know. But no time to think, as Inlight mounted machine once again, and moved onwards to the mountains of Equestria!

In the clouds of the snow, on the path under the stone arch, a Strider with blue cables walked alongside the pegasus with bow and spear on his back and mane and tail colored like a wildfire. Inlight covered his eyes with hoof to avoid getting blinded by the snow, and he slowly walked towards the Equestrian fortress, and going into the lands of Equestria.

Something was off. Sounds of machines were heard from the outline of the walls, which weren't supposed to be there. Inlight's concern grew faster and faster, and he made his way forward, stopping the companion machine. Machines were heard from all of the snow, and what sounded like the battle. That was not good! Inlight trotted forward, untill he saw the shocking scene – the same demon machine from Sacred mountain and two corrupted Watchers were trying to break inside the Equestrian fortress!

"What the hay it is doing here!?" He exclaimed as he took out the bow and loaded fire arrows on it. Good thing he knew how to fight theese things! Pegasi aimed at the demon machine, and released the arrows immediately, making it set on fire. The Watchers immediately spotted the attacker, and charged at him, but Inlight was fast enough to shoot one of the machines, and picked up the spear, ready to fight. The Watcher jumped from the ground on the pegasi, trying to hit him with it's legs. But yet, no matter how hard it tried, it landed on pure snoe, and before the machine knew, it was pierced by the spear.

"Now to the main target!" Flame-maned pegasi turned his head to the machine, which already released it's heat sink and was moving towards him. That was his chance! Inlight took the spear into his hooves and aimed at the upcomming machine. He threw the spear, making it fly towards the demon and on the heat sink. The small explodion occured on the carcass of the machine, stunning it for a moment. Inlight, in turn, made this moment another way to strike, as he loaded his bow and released a couple of arrows into the machine's eye of angry red. The demon suddenly covered itself with spark and flame, falling to his side and making the red light dissapear completely, marking Seeker's victory.

Inlight walked to his spear to pick it up, passing a couple of dead soldiers by. The demon attacked them before they could get inside. Atleast the suffering wasn't long. Flame-maned pegasi picked up the spear, and moved to the gates, untill he heard a voice from the wall.

"You defeated the machines! Oh, Celestia shines upon us!" A male voice of a soldier was heard.

"It wasn't Celestia risking her life down here... Would you open the gates, please?" Inlight shouted to the guard, on which he happily laughed.

"HA! You heard him, colts! Open those gates!" He commanded other soldiers to open the gates, as he looked down to look at their savior coming to the gates. "Where are you going, Nora?"

"To the southwest, to Canterlot!"

"Canterlot, huh? Well you have a long road ahead of you! But looking at how you killed that machine... you'll make it definetly!"

Inlight just rolled his eyes in answer, and looked how the gates started to open for him. This was it, Equestria was just infront of him, opening it's gates before his eyes. So much has happened in the past few days, and whole other world was waiting. The gatea opened fully, and Inlight Dust, outcast turned Seeker, moved forward.

Forward to Equestria.

Author's Note

I somehow made it to posting!

So here is Inlight, ready to explore the new lands and uncover new mysteries of this world. But will he do it alone whole time?:trixieshiftright:

(Yes, Plowtusks ARE my original machines. Basicaly Plowtusk to Tremotusk is like Plowhorn to Grimhorn, but bigger. If you wondered.)

Chapter 8: The City of The Sun

City of the Sun

Inlight Dust moved forward past the opened gates, snowclouds slowly going away. If he could take a closer look, he would've seen pegasi flying and pushing the clouds away, making the sky blue as always. It was the midday, and everypony were doing their jobs. Pegasi with mane like wildfire trotted forward, passing a couple of guards, untill he was suddenly stopped by one of them.

"If you seek the passage beyond Sun's Solace, you nees a registration." Said one of the unicorn guards, appearing before Inlight out of thin air.

"The... registration?" He awkwardly nice, on which guard only rolled his eyes.

"Uncivilized savages... I'll need your name and the goal of visit." Guard said as he lit up his horn and picked up the piece of paper.

"Inlight Dust? I need to... go to the Canterlot?" Inlight said, looking at the guard writing something in the piece of paper.

"Mhm, good." The guard then made the piece of paper dissapear in the air, and turned his head to Inlight. "Welcome to Equestria, Inlight Dust. If you are going to Canterlot, you should resupply. Long road is ahead of you."

That didn't worry Inlight much, since he could control the machines. And he could stand up for himself! But no mattee how skilled he was, he agreed with the stallion. He should resupply. Inlight thanked him for the advice, and parted his way from the guard.

"This seem's to be a nice place to resupply." Inlight spoke to himself when he entered the market. A couple of merchants were there, and not much of folk to bother him. Attention was the not what he wanted the most. White pegasi walked to one of the merchants, who was waiting for anyone to come and trade.

"Come in, come in! Best products for long travel, only in Saphire Maverick!" Blue stallion exclaimed, before turning his head to the Nora. "Ah, hunter from the Savage North! Didn't saw one since the Moon Raids. You've come to trade?"

"Yes, actualy, uh.." Inlight looked at the items Saphire Maverick had to offer. A couple of bows and spears, well made but not better than his. Then there were some pouches, probably filled with provision. That's what he needed. "Can I get... I need some provision, for traveling. Long traveling?"

"Hmm, long traveling you say? I think I have something for that..." Saphire Maverick spoke as he turned his head to find something in the bag. Flame-maned pony, in turn, rolled his eyes, understanding that it would take a long time. Really long time.

But up in the sky, between the clouds, a figure was seen flying. It was slightly larger than a pegasi, and it was moving to the Sun's Solace. Some of soldiers, guarding the gates, spotted the upcoming silhouette, which started to become more clear than before. It was a hippogriff, coat of light-blue and mane of pink with yellow stripe. She was wearing a simple Nora outfit, and had a bow on her back.

"Caution, soldiers! Someone's aproaching." Captain exclaimed, as the hippogriff landed on the snow, not far from the gates. "Who are you, traveler? Why did you come here!?"

"I'm looking for the stallion called Inlight Dust? Pegasi, mane colored like a wildfire? He passed here, isn't he?" Sliver Reef spoke, trying to not shout but at the same time not to be quiet enough.

"Hm, yeah, there was someone like you described. Open the gates!" Captain gave order to the guards, who quickly started to open the gates. Sliver Reef, meanwhile, walked towards the massive wall, passing the dead demon machine. Light-blur hippogriff looked at it with mix of confusion and unsertainty, surprised by the demon being here too. But her thoughts were interupted by the sound of opening gates, and the voices behind them.

Pink-maned hippogriff turned her head back, to look at the Sacred Lands for the last time. She knew what she had to do, and the only pony capable of protecting her beyond the homeland was Inlight, and she could not take second chances. Sliver Reef turned her head back to the gates, and made her way to the gates, and beyond. There was no turning back. Sliver Reef moved forward on the way to the market, but after making a couple of steps, she was stopped by a stallion guard.

"If you seek the passage beyond Sun's Solace, you need a registration."

"The... what?"

"...it deploys a tripwire, but instead of tripwire there is a hot cable?" Inlight asked, inspecting the weaponry Saphire Maverick was giving him.

"Well... no. This majestic Tripcaster which comes all the way from the Mount Aris, and was perfected by the Siren blacksmiths deploys a tripwire which on contact explodes, making the target catch himself on fire!" Blue stallion was explaining, holding a tripcaster decorated with white metal and golden engravings.

"I'm not sure why 20-hoof tall sea creatures would need a simple weaponry." Inlight said with doubt in Saphire's words.

"Well, gh... they somehow turn themselves into a land creatures, like ponies or griffons..." blue stallion answered, putting down the tripcaster near the other weaponry. "Nobody knows how exacly they do this, but I'm sure there some kind magical thingy I don't understand going on." He then stood up and looked at the flame-maned stallion again. "Anyway, is that all?"

"That's all." Inlight spoke, checking his pouches and other things. Those should be enough to get him to Canterlot and beyond. "How much it will cost?"

"Normally it would cost 100 bits, but I dont think you have them, don't you?" Inlight Dust shook his head, and Saphire Maverick continiued. "Well, I can always use metal shards as a payment! It would be... uh, 500 metal shards. Should be the same value as the bits."

Well, he was in luck. All of the machine hunting and salvaging finally repaid flame-maned pegasi. He quickly took out a pouch filled with metal shards, and with quick move of his hoof, landed it on the table between him and merchant.

"Here it is!" Inlight said, before waving his hoof and walking away from the stallion. The job was done, now he had to just-

"HELLO!" A figure suddenly appeared just infront of him, which made pegasi yelp in surprise and unexpected greeting by oddly familiar voice. It took a time for Inlight to recover, but he looked uo soon, and saw...

"S-Sliver Reef!?" He exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yep, that's me!" Light-blue hippogriff introduced herself, making a proud smile on her face. But it quickly turned into a look full of empathy. "You're probably think what am I doing here?"

"Yes I do! What are you doing here!?"

"Calm down! I flew here all the way from Embrase to just talk to you!" Sliver Reef started to defend herself, which made Inlight calm down a little. "Look, I've been thinking about you and how you will find the killers so... I've decided to join you!"

Inlight Dust, meanwhile, made a coupke of blinks out of pure confusion, and statement his hippogriff friend made. "W-what?"

"Don't worry! The Seeker's mark of yours should protect me from exile! I hope..." she pointed at pegasi's mark, while he stared at her with confusion.

"But... why? Why do you need to come with me to Equestria?"

"I..." Sliver Reef closed his beak, thinking for a proper answer. "I want to... I want to prove myself to everyone. Prove that I can be not only a stitcher, but a hunter too! You can't imagine how much I was called out for that. Like I am some sort of failure... I don't want to be like this, Inlight." She spoke, her eyes starting to water. And flame-maned pegasi could only stare at her, biting his lip. He couldn't just tell her to go back, not after... he had to let her go with him.

Inlight sighed heavily, looking down on a brick covered in snow, but then he looked up again. "Fine you can come with me." And before he could react, he was quickly embrased into a tight hug, paired with hippogriff thanking him for his kindness.

"Oooh thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Sliver Reef thanked him, letting him go after a moment. "I cannot be more grateful than ever! Thank you!"

Inlight Dust, now paired with the Sliver Reef, walked through the gates into Equestria. The long journey awaited him, but he was not alone. He didn't know what to think about it, as he don't want to make her upset, nor put her into the danger. But he was sure of one thing – she's with him for a while. For bad or for good it will do.

"So, we are going to the... Canterlot, right? The journey there would take us a couple of days atleast... I think." Sliver Reed was speaking besides him, and she had a point. He couldn't fly because of his temporary injury, and it would take a while for them to get there. But as he was thinking about it, he saw something in the corner of his eye. Looking at it, he saw two horse-like machines standing near each other and inspecting the land. And on that moment, a lightbulb appeared in Inlight's head.

"Actualy... we don't need hooves to get there!"

On the back of the Strider, Inlight rode the machine forward to the east, Sliver Reef somewhat holding up to him. She had a little trouble riding the machine, but still, they rode together. To find their journey!

Duo took their way on the mountainside, going by the well made trail to the city. While going to the Canterlot, Inlight spotted a couple of Metal Devils rising from the ground – one had it's head burried in the mountain and it's arms covering it, other was standing on a hill, like he was going south, before miraculously stopping forever.

Inlight Dust and Sliver Reef traveled on the road, before they made it to the spot of the land from which they saw it – large city made out of white stone, built on the side of the mountain, towering over the land below. A lot of ponies were walking in the small market, just before the gates with tall walls. And on the farthest side, a big castle was seen, indicating where the Princess lived. The view was facinating. Hippogriff's beak fell wide open, while Inlight stared at the city with more amazement than ever. He've never seen a city like that before! But he quickly shook his head, and dismounted off the overriden Strider, commanding his companion to do so too.

"I'll do the talking. I don't think they will listen to... well, you." Inlight said whike they both moved forward to the gates. "No offence."

"None taken!"

The Nora duo walked to the gates, which was filled with soldiers guarding it. Archers were on the walls, while swordstallions were on the ground. Inlight walked forward to one of the guards, and opened his mouth.

"I'm looking for passage in the ci-"

"The city gates are closed due to a recent machine attacks!" One of the soldiers declared out loud, which didn't surprise Inlight for a bit.

"Ngh... I'm looking for a soldier named Silverhoof? The one with silver armor? Dark blue coat?" Pegasi questioned, looking at the guards, who in turn shook their heads while being on their duty. He was about to give up the search and probably get into the city somehow, but then he heard a familiar male voice.

"Sweet Celestia... Inlight Dust!?" He heard from his side, and when he turned his head to the source of the voice, flame-maned pony was greeted by an incoming dark blue coated pony. "You're actualy alive!"

"Silverhoof. It's nice to see you too." Nora Seeker greeted him.

"When the attack on your Proving happened, we've scrambled so fast to get out of the Embrase! I swear they could've eat me alive just by their looks! And now you're alive! But why are you here?" Silverhoof spoke with happiness in his voice, which quickly turned with confusion.

"I'm looking for your sister, North Star. She.." Inlight looked back at the guards, and then made a couple of steps away from them, Silverhoof following him. "She's working with the killers who attacked the Proving."

"H-what!?" Soldier's eyes widened from what he heard. "B-but that's impossible! She can't work for them, she couldn't..."

"Uh, excuse me?" Sliver Reef suddenly spoke, which surprised Silverhoof at first. "I'm Sliver Reef, I'm with Inlight. I just wanted to ask that... how can you be sure that she is not working with them?" She questioned, making the stallion think for a while.

"Well she can't go like thay, she's my sister! With who you rarely even speak.. don't even visited her... oh my Celestia.." he covered his face with his hoof, out of pure confusion being in his brain.

"Is she in this city, Silverhoof?" Inlight questioned.

"No, she went on her delving expedition somewhere a couple of days ago, but I know where she lives..." Silverhoof spoke.

"Can you take us there?" Sliver Reef asked.

"Yes... fine, I will take you there." Silverhoof said, starting to make his way to the gates, followed by a pegasi and a hippogriff. Guards, this time, let them pass through, and opened the view of the inside of the Canterlot for outlanders to see.

The city was filled with white houses standing near each other across the streets, while lots of ponies were walking by. A lot of them were wearing a formal clothes, some were even in chariots. A group of mares passed by, talking about the recent news, and a couple of ponies even glared at the pair of outlanders, following the soldier.

"I think we're getting close... now to the left!" Silverhoof spoke, turning left.

"Well, ponies here are... welcoming." Sliver Reef voiced her thoughts, looking at the staring citizens of Canterlot.

"Well they are not used to seeing outlanders, especialy other creatures, so... oh here we are!" Dark-blue stallion suddenly declared, stopping before the ordinary house, which looked just like other houses.

"So this is her house?" Inlight asked equestian pony. "Have you've been inside?"

"Well... no. She would never let me in." Silverhoof said, trying to open the door, but it was, unsurprisingly, locked. "Uh oh, uh... one moment." He then picked up some kind of ring from his belt, housing a lot of different keys. "It might take a while." He said, starting to look for the right keys. A minute has passed, then another, and another, and another. Silverhoof still couldn't find the right keys. This was starting to annoy Inlight, a lot. "Oh, I think I found them!" He turned his glance on Silverhoof, who seemed to picked the right keys, but after a brief moment, his facial expretion changed. "No, not them..."

That was his final straw. And without thinking twice, Inlight trotted to the doors, puched Silverhoof out of the way, and made a strong punch with his hindlegs, opening them wide open. Sliver Reef looked at it with amusement, while dark-blue stallion stared at it with surprise. "Okay... I think we can go that way. J-just don't break anything inside!" He said as both outlanders walked into the house, along with guard too.

The house was well decorated. The closet was near the main doors, along with some horseshoe pairs. There were paintings on the walls, some of them were North Star's and Silverhoof's together, others were paintings of the different locations of the world. There were also stairs, and near them there was a big rug too.

"Woah." Hippogriff exclaimed looking at the interior. "She has some great house..."

"I'm not sure if I can still trust you, but if your words are true then we should find something that can lead to her." Silverhoof explained, while both Sliver Reef and Inlight Dust walked inside, examining different items. Hippogriff was looking at the different paintings on the walls, while flame-maned pegasi looked in the other side of the house.

"I still don't quite get it... why aren't you and North Star talking or atleast meet each other anymore? You looked... happy together?" Light-blue maned hippogriff asked, while looking at the painting of Silverhoof and a missing pony. In turn, dark-blue pony walked towards help.

"To be honest, I don't know why we stopped talking. Was it when I joined the army, or when she was captured in the Moon Raids, we stopped speaking. I tried once to reason with her but... she never replied."

"Your sister was captured in the Moon Raids?" She looked down to the soldier.

"Yes. Almost lost my mind when they took her. Thank Celestia she survived..." Both if them continued to look at the painting, while Inlight wasn't sitting on one place. He looked though everything, but yet there was no clue. He even thought about going upstairs, and started to go there, but he captured something with the corner of his eye...

He looked doen, and saw a metal panel underneath the rug. "What's that?" Inlight walked towards it, and decided to take the rug away, twisting it away from the floor. And when he finished, he made a new discovery. "Guys? I found something!" He exclaimed, alerting both Sliver Reef and Silverhoof. And when they moved closer, they saw what Inlight found – doors to the basement.

"Well you found her basement, congratulations. But it's over." Silverhoof stated.

"Why?" Sliver Reef asked.

"It's doors made out of clean steel, from the best forges of the whole continent! I would recognise it from anywhere... nothing can break it."

"We'll see about that..." Inlight said, and made his way upstairs, leaving both hiplogriff and the guard alone. Maybe there is something he can use. He walked through the room which looked like a bedroom, with large bed and a small table to the sides. On the opposite side there was some kind of storage room, and a ladder up. That seemed interesting. Climbing the ladder, he looked to what was in the attic, and saw a large box of metal instruments. Heavy, and near the hole which lead directly to the basement doors! And the idea came to Inlight's head.

"So uh... it's okay for me to like, ask things to you?" Sliver Reef asked Silverhoof, both of them standing in the middle of the room.

"I mean you are Inlight's friend, and friend of my friend is... my friend? Or was it about enemies..." he said, putting the hoof to his chin.

"I think it works both ways." She calmly answered.

CRASH!

Both creatures yelped from a surprise, when a loud sound came from behind them. And when they turned their heads, they saw a broken box of metal equipment, together with a metal basement door... or what's left of it. Both of them walked closer, and Silverhoof looked up, seeing happy Inlight, who just opened the door.

"Didn't I say to not break anything!?" He said, but it didn't bother flame-mane pegasi, as the doors were opened.

It didn't took long for him to go down and explore the basement, and when the trio walked down the stone stairs, they were greeted by a rather big room. The walls were made out of stone, and inside there were tables with scrolls. Candles were strangely lit up, probably some magic spell did this when they entered. And looking at the room, flame-maned pegasi, dark-blue stallion and light-blue hippogriff moved forward, to find whatever they could.

"Can't believe I'm breaking into North Star's home... and looking through her things!" Silverhoof spoke to himself while looking at what looked like map of digsites. Sliver Reef, meanwhile, looked through the ton of scrolls and tables, looking for anything valuable. But Inlight was more lucky than others, succesfuly scanning the scrolls and looking through them. His Focus could easily translate the new language for him, which made the process even easier. But while looking through the scrolls, pegasi found some kind of device, not like other things in the room. It looked like a panel with some kind of holographic interface, which had some data on it.

Suddenly, two purple-blue figures appeared, two of them were unicorns. And only one of them, with killer's mask and curved horn, stood above the other in a menacing manner.

"Serve, and you live. Dissobey – and I will personally cut your throat and leave your body for Equestria to see!" Distorded female voice said, coming from underneath the mask, as the other pony, North Star, stared at her, petrified from fear. The datapoint ended here, leaving Inlight in pure disbelief.

"She was threatened... to work with them?" He said quietly. All this time he thought that she was working together with the killers, willingly spying for them. But now? He didn't even know what to think about!

"You found something?" A voice from the back was heard, and when he turned his head, he saw Silverhoof.

"I-"

"I found something!" Sliver Reef suddenly declared, which brought attention of both stallions. Going there, the hippogriff passed some kind of book to Inlight, which he quickly scanned and translated. It was North Star's journal. And that meant that...

"Yes! She wrote about the attack on the Proving. Right... here! And when she will go! Place called... Bison's Steps?" Inlight questioned before the journal was taken from him by Silverhoof. He hold it for a couple of seconds, reading everything in it. And when he stopped, he looked at the ground with disbelief, and... sadness in his eyes.

"All this years... and she does that!?"

"Silverhoof, I don't think she does that willingly. She was threatened." Inlight said, which made both stallion and hippogriff look in shock.

"Threatened!? By the killers!?" Silverhoof exclaimed with shock and anger, as Sliver Reef stood quiet, thinking about it.

"Maybe when she was captive they threatened her?" Hippogriff suddenly spoke. "You said that she was captured in the Moon Raids, right? Maybe the killers encountered her there?" She assumed, which calmed down Silverhoof a little.

"I think we need some air..."

Trio of two outlanders and a guard walked out of the house, closing the doors behind. All of them stayed silent for a while, breathing deeply and processing everything they known of.

"We know where did she go, and she probably has the killers with her too... then we'll go there and save her from theese bastards!" Silverhoof declared, rising his left hoof into the air... before lowering them to his chin. "That might actualy be complicated..."

"What do you mean?" Inlight asked.

"Bison's Steps are in the Bison territory, and they don't like intruders that much. We will clearly need some help and I can get it, if I convince Princess Celestia that it's worth it. But for that I'll need a Nora as a witness and-"

"I can go!" Sliver Reef declared.

"...uh huh. But even if Princess Celestia will get the right ammount of soldiers, it would take a while to get into the Bison territory! Let alone negotiating with them! That would take days to get all of it..."

"And she can be gone soon..." Inlight said, before an idea came to his head. A dangerous one, but effective. "Silverhoof, get a journal to the princess and get some soldiers. I will try to get there first."

"Wait, you will try to defeat the killers all by yourself!?" Silverhoof exclaimed, but was quickly cut off by Sliver Reef.

"Inlight is no ordinary fighter, and he can stand his ground! If he survived the massacre and defeated the demon machines twice, then he surely can defeat them!" Sliver Reef explained, which made Silverhoof agree with Inlight's plan.

"Mgh, okay..." he then turned his head to a Nora Seeker. "But whatever you'll do, don't hurt my sister!"

"Don't worry. I won't." Inlight Dust promised, and started to walk away from the duo. "Stay safe!" He waved his hoof, on which others answered with the same. A long way waited for him, but he knew what he had to do. And no matter what he promised to Silverhoof, he had to interogate North Star, and ask her everything – who the killers were, why they want him dead, who was that large stallion? There was so much to answer, but it seemed that they will come only one after another.

And with those thoughts on mind, Inlight trotted his way to the gates of Canterlot, to start his new, long journey for answers...

Author's Note

Yeah... I rewrited it 7 times, that's why I didn't release it for a long time. I cut entire scenes, rewrited a couple of ones too.

Writing is so... pain.