Pals and Ponies

A metallic hiss echoed through the desolate halls as ancient yet clearly technologically advanced doors opened. Stepping into the dimly lit room were two figures. The first, an orange haired young man, his features soft yet determined, clad in intricately crafted tribal-like armor fashioned from scraps of metal salvaged. His emerald green eyes, keen and alert, scanned the surroundings with a mix of caution and wonder.

Beside him trotted a rather peculiar creature, a diminutive and round bipedal being resembling that of a sheep but clearly it was something more. Its fluffy form bounced with each step, emitting a soft bleat every so often that conveyed something akin to excitement.

The sheep-like monster, bounded forward ahead of the man with unrestrained enthusiasm, as if eager to explore the long-forgotten chamber. Its woolly coat brushed against the dusty ground, leaving a trail of hoofprints in its wake with each step it made.

"Don't stray too far Lamball."’

The young man’s voice carried through the silence, soft but with an edge of authority he had to learn in his days of surviving and commanding. Lamball paused mid-bounce, tilting its head back with a curious bleat before hopping back toward him, its round eyes twinkling in the dim light as if it hadn’t a care in the world.

The young man couldn't help but chuckle under his breath as he watched Lamball’s carefree frolic through the eerie chamber. There was something about the little creature’s boundless curiosity that both comforted and worried him, especially in a place like this. Who knew what lay dormant in these ruins?

With his buddy now on a diminishing preverbal leash, they pressed on. The room seemed to stretch on, filled with towering columns of metal and glass, their surfaces coated in years of dust, yet glimmers of light hinted at machinery within that hadn’t yet surrendered to time. Strange symbols were etched into the walls, symbols that the young man couldn’t decipher, though something about them stirred a sense of familiarity he couldn’t place.

Lamball, already having left the man's side, sniffed curiously at one of the nearest consoles, its wool glowing faintly against the light blue glow as it pressed a button with its tiny hoof. A series of low hums and distant clicks echoed in response, and the man tensed, reaching for the bowgun strapped to his back.

When nothing more happened, he breathed a sigh of relief before giving the sheep a deadpan look, "Dang it buddy…What did I just tell you?"

The creature, in response, tilted its head, completely unbothered by his exasperation. If anything, Lamball seemed delighted by the attention, its eyes sparkling as it gave another excited bleat.

Shaking his head, the young man sighed, a resigned smile tugging at the corner of his mouth soon after. He was used to Lamball’s antics by now—no amount of caution would ever truly hold back the creature’s curiosity. The little sheep-like monster had a knack for getting itself into situations, especially when technology was involved. It was as if Lamball saw each strange button and switch as a puzzle to solve, much to his dismay.

"Just… try not to touch anything else, alright?" he said, casting a wary glance at the console as its hum settled, leaving only the flicker of a few dim lights.

Lamball responded with a bob of its fluffy head, though the twinkle in its eyes told him it was a promise the creature didn’t fully intend to keep. It bounced in place, clearly eager to keep exploring, but it at least remained close this time, letting the man take the lead as they ventured deeper into the ancient chamber.

"To think that this was here all this time...I thought I explored nearly everything on this island...but every day it sruprises me more and more," he murmured, glancing around at the forgotten relics. “They have the same glow as the one's above grown but they look different...Maybe even more advanced? And that's saying a lot...”

Lamball, of course, was more interested in the immediate mystery of each flickering light and polished metal surface. The creature hopped ahead, its tiny hooves clicking softly as it nudged at another console, emitting a curious bleat as if trying to communicate with it.

“Lamball,” the young man sighed, his tone a mix of caution and resignation. “I just said not to—”

But before he could finish, the console flickered to life just like the last, responding to Lamball’s touch with a series of holographic displays that hovered in the air. Diagrams, symbols, and what looked like maps blinked into view, casting the room in shades of blue and green. He froze, staring wide-eyed at the display as it cycled through images of machinery, landscapes, and something that looked suspiciously like an intricate schematic of the island he was on itself before it paused on one screen.

His breath caught as he studied the image intricate details. This was no simple schematic; it was a vast, sprawling representation of a world much like his own, yet distinctly foreign. Mountain ranges, rivers, and cities were marked with symbols he didn’t recognize, and, unlike any map he had seen before, there was something almost… alive about it. The holographic landmasses shifted subtly as if reflecting the real-time movement of this mysterious world.

Two prominent symbols hovered above everything else—a radiant Sun and a crescent Moon, each positioned over different regions. The Sun symbol pulsed warmly, its light illuminating one half of the map, while the Moon cast a cool glow over the other. Together, they seemed to embody a delicate balance, as though each side of the map was in a constant, harmonious cycle with the other.

“And I thought just landing on these islands were wild enough…this…This is a whole new world…” He gasped before turning towards the one beside him. “You think…this might even be your world?!”

Lamball blinked up at him, its wide, round eyes reflecting the soft glow of the holographic display. The creature tilted its head as if pondering the young man’s question, then let out a soft, almost thoughtful bleat. It seemed as intrigued as he was, though its innocent gaze held no answer—only wonder.

The young man crouched beside his woolly companion, running a hand thoughtfully over the console’s edge. “Hehe…guess it wouldn’t be your world exactly if you were born here, huh buddy?” he murmured, glancing between the map and Lamball. "Still…if anything, it might be where your ancestors were born. That, in itself, is a very big discovery, right?”

Lamball leaned into his hand, a soft, pleased rumble escaping from deep within its fluffy form. The man figured his buddy didn't seem to care either way. Though he also knew Lamball was a very, very, simple being. A place to eat and a bed to sleep and you had a friend for life.

Standing up, he blushed his fingers against the console, a faint, distorted voice crackled through the air and catching him off guard, reverberating through the silent chamber like an echo from a forgotten era.

"Yo....it....gain...."

He froze, his heart pounding, and instinctively placed a protective hand over Lamball, who gave a surprised bleat and looked around with wide, startled eyes. The voice continued, wavering in and out, each word wrapped in static and barely discernible.

“...ch… ren… anc… call… ba…”

They waited, both with baited breath. Where thee was no signs of danger, the man would stand before leaning closer to the console, staring at the screen as if flickered. After a small while he worked up the courage to speak, “Who… who’s there?" No answer. "Can you hear me?”

The console flickered once more, and then the distorted voice returned, its tones eerie, fragmented, but undeniably real.

“...return…”

A shiver ran down his spine. The voice carried a weight of ages, an urgency that bypassed the barriers of language and time. It was a plea, a call, but to whom, he couldn’t tell.

“Return…” he repeated, his voice barely audible. He glanced down at Lamball, who blinked up at him, sensing the gravity of the moment but unable to understand its meaning. “What the heck is that supposed to mean…”

The young man’s gaze darted toward the wall beyond the console, where a series of lights flickered to life, casting an eerie glow over the ancient chamber. The lights formed a clear pattern, tracing along the edges of what looked like a doorway—a large, imposing archway etched with strange symbols that pulsed in time with the faint hum of energy building in the room.

He took an instinctive step back, keeping Lamball behind him. The creature gave a curious, if nervous, bleat, its round eyes fixed on the growing mass of energy coalescing in the center of the arch. The air was thick with anticipation, a crackling tension that made the hairs on his arms stand on end. He could feel something powerful gathering within that archway, as if the very room was alive and responding to the voice’s plea for “return.”

The energy in the arch flared, forming a swirling, ethereal portal that pulsed with a spectrum of colors. It shimmered like liquid light, its surface rippling with hues of deep violet, icy blue, and warm gold. The young man felt his heartbeat quicken as he watched the portal solidify, each pulse tugging at him like a magnetic pull, an invitation—or perhaps a summons.

"Return, huh?" He swallowed, looking down at Lamball, who stared at the portal with wide, unblinking eyes. “Well, buddy… looks like we’ve got our answer,” he murmured, voice barely steady. “I think… I think that’s where it wants us to go.”

He couldn’t explain why, but he knew, deep down, that this portal was connected to the voice, to the Sun and Moon symbols, and to the mysteries of this world. It felt like a doorway not only to a new place but also to answers that had been hidden for ages.

“Its…a good thing I packed the others inside storage…and brought along some emergency supplies…” He looked towards Lamball. “Something tells me…this isn’t going to be just a simple one and done exploration…Right, buddy?”

~~~

Twilight Sparkle stirred from her slumber in the middle of the night, sitting up as self felt...something? At least her horn did. The purple pony princess placed a hoof against the purple bony parturition from her forehead, gently rubbing it as it tingled with energy. She furrowed her brow in confusion, the tingling sensation in her horn intensifying as she tried to make sense of the strange energy coursing through her. She cast a wary glance around her dimly lit bedroom, the familiar surroundings offering no explanation for the mysterious sensation that had just washed over her.

With a soft sigh, Twilight pushed aside the covers and swung her hooves over the edge of the bed, her mind racing with questions.

“What the hey was that? It’s been a while since I felt a magical surge like that…”

As she stood up and stretched her wings, the young alicorn made her way to the window, her horn glowing softly as she peered out into the night. The moon hung high in the sky, casting its gentle glow over the sleeping town of Ponyville, but aside from the usual sights and sounds of the night, there was nothing out of the ordinary.

Frowning slightly, Twilight turned away from the window and made her way to her desk, her hooves echoing softly against the Crystal floor. She lit a candle with her magic, bathing the room in a warm, flickering light as she settled down to ponder the strange occurrence. With a quill held in her magical aura, she began to jot down her thoughts and observations, the tingling sensation in her horn, while dull now, serving as a constant reminder of the strange energy that had awakened her in the middle of the night.

As she wrote, Twilight couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of her mind. The sudden surge of magic felt too deliberate to be a mere coincidence, and yet...maybe it was nothing? Maybe it was just a passing anomaly, a burst of magic that held no deeper significance. A side effect of her becoming an alicorn. Despite such words from her inner mind, Twilight knew better than to dismiss such occurrences without investigation. After all, her previous experiences had taught her that even the most seemingly insignificant events could hold great importance.

As Twilight continued to ponder, she heard a soft knock on her door. Startled, she set down her quill and turned her attention to the entrance of her study. "Come in," she called out, her voice tinged with curiosity.

The door creaked open slowly, revealing Spike, her faithful dragon assistant. He glanced at the candle-lit room, his eyes filled with concern. "Twilight, are you alright? Was coming from the restroom and saw that your light was on. I know for a fact that today isn't your all night study session day so...wanted to check up on you."

Twilight offered Spike a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Spike, just had a little surge in my magic. Nothing to worry about." She gestured to the parchment and quill on her desk. "Decided to jot down some notes about it."

The little dragon raised an eyebrow, his concern evident in his emerald eyes. "Are you sure you're okay, Twilight? You seem...unsettled."

Twilight sighed softly, her gaze drifting back to the window where the moon still hung high in the sky. "It's nothing, Spike. Really. Guessing I'm Just...adjusting to being an alicorn, I suppose. Sometimes my magic acts up unexpectedly." She offered him a reassuring smile. "But I'm sure it's nothing serious. Probably just a passing anomaly."

Spike nodded, though he still looked unconvinced. "Well, if you say so, Twilight. But you know you can always talk to me if something's bothering you, right?"

Twilight's smile softened, touched by Spike's concern. "I know, Spike, and I appreciate it. But really, I'm fine. Just need to get used to this whole alicorn thing, that's all."

Spike nodded again, his expression easing as he took her words to heart. "Alright, if you say so. Just don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything, okay?" He smirked as he pointed towards the hallway. "I'm down the hall, ya know."

"I know Spike." Twilight chuckled softly. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you." She watched as Spike turned to leave, his footsteps fading into the distance. Once alone again, Twilight turned her attention back to the notes on her desk, but the unease she had felt earlier still lingered.

"Geeze...I might just be overreacting...but..." She shook her head. "Ugh...I'm too tired for all of this." Looking upwards at her horn, the tingle sensation was already gone, and the mare was already feeling sleep wanting to kick back in. With a sigh, Twilight decided to trust her instincts and get some rest. Maybe in the morning, she would be able to make better sense of the strange surge of magic. She blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness, and climbed back into her bed.

Closing her eyes, she sunk into the soft sheets of her bed, a smile of content forming on her face as she felt herself drift back into slumber. "Maybe...tomorrow will just be a normal day like any other."