Two Sun Goddesses

Chapter 6: A Good Explanation

As the trio headed back to the same platform that they came from, Amaterasu and Issun were slightly surprised to see that the group was already awake and fine, chatting away with a familiar tree sprite, Amaterasu stopped in surprise and looked at her, having not seen her for such a long time.

“Sakuya?” Issun called in surprise, Amaterasu barked in excitement and raced over to the group, Sky Light following behind them, looking at the tree sprite with awe.

As the group talked and converged a little, Amaterasu and Issun learned that shortly after Sky Light had left, Sakuya had appeared infront of the six ponies, confused on where they had come from but was brought up to speed by Twilight.

Sakuya smiled at Issun and Amaterasu once the conversation died down “Hello again Amaterasu and Issun, I hope that you’ve been enjoying your time on the Celestial Plain”

Amaterasu barked happily, wagging her tail in response while Issun chuckled “Well, I don’t know what Furball here got into while on the Celestial Plain but we’ve been pretty busy in their world!” he said, bouncing over to Twilight “Heck, even Yami came back recently and started destroying their world!”

Sakuya raised her right hind on her face in surprise “That is a surprise” she admitted to the group “Though, I knew that something was wrong when I noticed that not long ago, Yami’s forces of darkness suddenly started appearing again but disappeared as quickly as they appeared… And I had felt from that moment that the powers between good and evil has shifted considerably, a large portion of darkness now gone as it is now unbalanced”

Twilight took a step forward with uncertainty “But isn’t that good? Since they will be less evil in this world?” she asked, giving Amaterasu a confused glance before looking back at Sakuya.

Sakuya sighed, shaking her head slowly “Yes. But, there must always be a balance between good and evil. And there will be consequences to the other side too… To restore balance.”

Issun stopped bouncing a little, taking her words into consideration before jumping around again as usual “Well, we’ll have to worry about that when the time comes and first things first. Come on guys, we got a Serpent Crystal to find!”

The seven mares nodded, all smiling in determination except for Sky Light, who was giving Issun a strange look, like she was pondering about something before Issun snapped her out of it and forced a determined smile onto her face.

Issun then bounced back over to Amaterasu, who had fallen asleep through out the whole talk, and jumped on top of her head “Hey Ammy! Wake up!” he yelled, stirring up the okami who woke with a yawn. “Come on Ammy, we’re leaving now!”

Amaterasu growled lowly at Issun in annoyance but got up on her paws anyway, looking around the group to see that indeed, they were heading out now.

After saying a quick good bye, and a few questions from Twilight, the group started to descend from the mountain from the portal and the mares asked Sky Light questions about herself.

“So… Sky Light… How did you join the guard?” Fluttershy asked, the shy Pegasus flying right next to Sky Light, the red maned light blue Pegasus, who was flying as well “If you don’t mind me asking” she added in quickly afterward and nervously.

Sky Light looked over gave her a smile to reassure her “I don’t mind at all actually” she said, looking back ahead “To be truthful, I was born into the guard, been training my whole life”

“Wait, how were you in there your whole life?” Rainbow Dash asked in pure surprise “Wouldn’t your parents have gotten mad at you for doing that?”

Sky Light sighed, lowering her head in shame “Well, I was an orphan, found near the barracks of the castle with no one around me” the down pegasus explained “And since no one knew who I was and no one looked for me, I was taken into the guard rather than an orphanage” she continued “I think Celestia probably took pity on me and decided to keep me around… In my own opinion”

Twilight frowned “Im sure Celestia would’ve had a good reason to let you stay” she said, glancing at the others in the group “After all, you’re our friend now, so you don’t have to worry about it”

Sky Light stopped in her tracks, looking at them in confusion “Friends? W-well… I never had a friend before, growing up by myself in Canterlot” she muttered.

Twilight giggled in response “It was the same for me. I didn’t have any friends, or even thought about having one, before I met these five” she smiled, looking toward the other element bearers, who smiled back.

Applejack nodded “After this is done and that Orochi character gets defeated, ya’ll should come over to the barn and have some fun with us” she suggested. “Maybe even for a little get together during this up coming cider season”

Issun, hearing the conversation, bounced over to Applejack from Amaterasu’s back “Hey! Are Ammy and I invited?” he asked her.

She chuckled in response “Of course ya can. I did say that ya’ll can come over”

“Oh. Right” Issun said with a hint of embarrassment as the other mares laughed. Even Amaterasu seemed to have an entertained grin on her face.

“Well, here we are… over at the bottom of the mountain and right at the edge of Kamiki village” Issun said, trying to quickly change the topic as he bounced back over to Amaterasu “We should hurry up and pick up the pace. Normally, it would take around a day to get the Serpant Crystal but one of Ammy’s powers, Mist Warp, can get us there in a flash once we get to that Ultimate Mirror!” he said as Amaterasu looked toward the direction of it.

“Wow! That’s super-duper awesome! I mean, it would be awesome for a lot of ponies if they could just teleport to wherever they want to go right? I mean, it would be so cool to do that instead of running!” Pinkie Pie cheerfully said, bouncing toward the mirror.

Issun laughed lightly “Probably so. It saves time, that’s for sure. But, the only problem is that only Ammy here can use them”

Pinkie then looked a little sadden at the news “Awww… That makes it less fun if you’re not Ammy!”

Issun shrugged at Pinkie’s response “I guess so” he admitted.

“Well then what are we waiting for? Let’s go! Race you there Ammy and AJ!” Rainbow Dash challenged before speeding off.

Applejack smirked as she took off and adjusted her hat “Don’t mind if ah do partner” she called before running after her.

Amaterasu barked excitedly at the challenge before racing toward the mirror too, the other half of the group behind them as they followed in amusement.

Once the whole group reached the origin mirror, the second group of ponies found that the three racers were arguing loudly, save Amaterasu who was barking.

“Ah won that fair and square Rainbow!”

“No, I clearly got here before the two of you!”

“Bark! Bark!”

“Hey guys, I think it’s obvious that Ammy and I won! After all, she does have her Mist technique”

Twilight giggled in amusement as she then took her attention to the strange mirror, taking a step toward it and catching the attention of the racers.

“Oh hey guys” Rainbow Dash smirked “I see that you finally caught up with us”

Rairty huffed “Well, if you can see. There’s a lot of dirt around here and I’d rather not fall and get myself dirty”

Rainbow then rolled her eyes “Whatever you say”

Twilight smiled but then looked over at the Ultimate Mirror. She then took a hesitant step onto the stone platform and looked into the mirror “So how does this work exactly? It looks like any old mirror to me… Besides the stone, on the ground, in front of it” she said as the other mares muttered their agreements.

Issun made a tiny smirk at the comment, unseen because of his size, and jumped off of Amaterasu “Well, first we’ll all have to get on the mirror first, then just let Ammy do her thing”

Sky Light nodded “Alright then” she said, looking around the group, frowning slightly when she only counted five other ponies “Where did Fluttershy go?”

“Over here” a quiet and almost unaudio voice called over to them

The group looked over toward the direction of the shy pegasus’ voice and smiled, seeing her with a few rabbits around her.

“I guess your animal talent works here too huh?” Rainbow Dash smirked, flying a little over to her “Come on! We’re about to go Fluttershy!”

Fluttershy hesitated “Well, I spoke to him and he asked if he could have some food” she responded, pointed a hoof toward one of them.

“Alright then. Lets just hurry up though!” Issun sighed, pulling out some of the herb feed bag that he and Amaterasu had, throwing it over to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy ‘eep’ed in response at the throw but luckily caught it, smiling as she opened it and gave it to the rabbits. Once the rabbits were finished eating, Fluttershy flew over to the group, her smile still on her face “Mr. Moony says thanks for the food” she said as she landed on the platform, where the rest of the group was waiting.

Sky Light chuckled lightly, a smile of amusement forming on her face “You element bearers are pretty interesting” she commented before a small shock taking place of her smile “Not that you were interesting before! I mean that you all have different personali… ah forget it” she sighed, giving up on correcting herself, looking down at the ground in embarrassment.

She then looked up to see what the element bearers’ reactions were. What she saw was that the six other mares had broken out into a fit giggles her rambling, while Issun and Amaterasu just looked entertained as they sat nearby.

Sky Light blushed a little in embarrassment and faced Issun “I think we’re all ready to go now” she spoke for the other mares.

Issun nodded in agreement, a smirk on his face “Heh, come on Ammy, lets just use the mist warp technique to get us to Kusa village now!” Issun suggested strongly.

Amaterasu barked in agreement and a sudden bright and white flash engulfed them. In the next moment once the bright light was gone, the entire group had disappeared.

Once the group had disappeared, a dark pony shaped figure stepped out of the shadows of the night that it was hiding in, having seen the group teleport from the Ultimate Mirror.

A small scowl appeared on it’s face, having caught the sight of Amaterasu along with the other element bearers “So… She has returned to her home world, Nippon... Along with the Elements of Harmony. Well then, seems like we have much work ahead of us my minions” it spoke, turning it’s attention behind it.

Behind the dark figure, were four other similarly dark figures. One, who was larger than the rest, took a step forward “Why didn’t we just go beat them up sir?” a gruff, deep-sounding voice spoke “We shouldn’t let them retrieve that fancy crystal of theirs and fix up Equestria! We worked hard to get Yami along with that agreement of yours!”

The first figure didn’t even glance back at his follower “Because, we are to simply let them have their little fun and their hope that they can succeed in undoing the damages that I have caused. But once they get close enough to use that crystal, we’ll take it from them and smash it before they use it to dispel the barrier… Heh heh heh” he chuckled darkly at the end. “It’ll make things so much more fun when they realize that it is hopeless to resist destruction” he continued.

“Although" The figure paused "since you have doubted me, perhaps you should be the one to take their crystal from them while the rest of us weaken the seal on the chaotic being” he said icily.

The large figure frowned while the other three smirked at their co-worker's punishment “You can count on me to do the job my Lord” he responded "Though, I wish that I can see his return"

The first dark figure nodded in approval before looking at the other minions "The rest of you are to help me dispel the barrier on being's prison. Once the seal is weakened, it'll just take a little bickering and he shall be free" he said as the other figures muttered their agreements.

"Consider it done my Lord" a dark, shadowy, pegasus responded to the leader in a feminine voice "It shall all be done post haste"

The first figure remained silent for awhile before talking "Double time then. Our plans shall not fall"

The group then slowly dissolved into the shadows, heading back into Equestria.