Luna drew her head from the portal.

She expected an onslaught of some feeling, some pain, some kind of emotion she simply wouldn’t be prepared for. All of the Elements of Harmony before her had experienced such a thing when they drew forth from the Portal of Souls. Tears from their eyes, pain from their muscles, or maybe even as simple as a pain in the head. But they all had felt something.

She felt nothing.

Even as the dark alicorn gently laid the white misted soul over the tiled ground, stepping back to collect herself, she felt no differently now than she did when she first dove into the white device. It wasn’t something she was about to voice many complaints over, but it cause a small seed of doubt to grow in her chest.

Was this misted figure not a soul? Did she draw forth a thing that had never truly lived? Why was she so unharmed but the others experienced pain on varying levels? Perhaps… it was because she was an alicorn? An immortal? Her vision turned to her sister, seeing how the famed Princess of the Sun fared.

She could have fared better.

Sweat shined across her coat, as if Discord had attempted to strike at her during the lunar princess’s brief absence. Pink eyes were wide with fatigue, labored breaths moving through her lips, and alabaster legs shaking as if only moments away from buckling beneath her. No, Princess Celestia did not fare well after her ordeal.

Then why did Luna?

“Are you well, Princess Luna?” The dark alicorn turned her head to see the samurai standing beside her. A hand was present on his blade, the other stretching out, as if to brush against her coat. Her curious eyes met his gaze of concern.

“Yes, but why do you ask?” Luna returned, the curiosity of her lack of pain still at the forefront of her mind. Jack’s gaze fell from her to her sister.

“Because your elder sibling is in pain, many of us feared you would fare much the same.” An honest statement and an honest concern.

“I am well.” She spoke carefully, making sure even as the words left her lips that she truly was of peaceful mind, but especially, of sound body and soul. “Nothing ails me, neither in mind nor body, but what of my sister?” She asked before the samurai could offer words.

“Princess Celestia said that she felt ‘Magical Fatigue,’ though I am unaware of the meaning behind the words.” The lunar princess nodded in understanding. Of course, he wouldn’t know what that was, a being from a realm she had never even dreamed of existing. She, however, was fully aware of the symptoms.

An overheated body temperature coupled with loss of breath and possibly a horn fracture. It only took a quick glance for Luna’s dreaded suspicions to be laid to rest. Celestia’s horn was as straight and sharp now as it was the moment before she entered the white abyss. Speaking of, there were now two new objects in the room.

Just beneath the hooves of both princesses lay white figures draped in mist. Their sizes were little different, and both lay motionless across the stone floor. The mist on either form did not dissipate, and from the looks of it, no pony had begun to free Celestia’s found soul. Instead, several of the Elements surrounded her, asking her if she was alright, tired, needed to rest, and several other pleasantries.

“She will be alright.” Luna spoke the words more to herself than the alabaster garbed man next to her. Regardless, Jack nodded to her words.

“Those were her words to us, though it has done little to stop Ms. Apple and her company from worrying over her.” His words were as true and honest as the cowpony’s own. The lunar mare let out a sigh, returning her sights to the object that lay at her hooves.

Or rather… the figure that lay at her hooves.

“By the sun!” The princess back pedaled away from the figure, wings flared in shock. Jack was by her side in an instant, hand on the hilt of his sword and crouched in preparation to draw. The collective gaze of the warriors and Elements fell on them, only to shift quickly to the form on the ground.

No mist covered the form that Luna had drawn from the Portal of Souls, no dissipating alabaster fog. Instead lay a boy, no doubt barely older than Hiccup. His mane was long and white, hanging to his back and covering his eyes. Odd clothing, even by the standards of the warriors from before, hung against his body, brightly colored and lined with zippers. Nothing about him seemed anything above the ordinary. No weapon on hand, no horrific scar, no oddly shaped appendage, at least to comparison of the warriors that had joined them already.

He seemed… plain.

“Whoa,” Rainbow Dash spoke before any other pony, flying to the boy’s side. “So, the mist just… kinda went away? That happened with the dragon, right?”

“His name is Toothless.”

“Toothless, right, sorry.” the pegasus waved her hoof in the direction of Hiccup, eyes trained far harder on the still form in front of her. She tilted her head as her wings brought her closer and closer to the form. Raising a hoof, she pushed at the strands of hair hanging over his eyes.

“Rainbow!” With an eep of surprise, the cyan mare found herself pulled back once again from the figure on the ground, her tail dragging her across the tiles. She stopped only when her pink eyes fell upon the familiar lavender of the unicorn beside her. “How many times are you going to do that?”

“Do what?” Dash asked Twilight, pink eyes looking back to the still form on the ground. “He’s knocked out, it’s not like I’m bothering him.”

“It’s disrespectful!” The pegasus just sighed under the words of her friend, either too used to it or too bored with the lecture she had received already once before today.

“So that happens often?” Sonic asked, leaning towards the pony closest to him. The mare with orange coat replied back.

“Often ‘nough.”

“Kinda reminds me of some of my friends back home.” He snickered at the memories that surfaced. Applejack gave a nod of her hat.

“Well don’t worry none ‘bout it bein’ borin’ ‘round here.” She gave the hedgehog a bright practiced smile that she so often offered customers in the market place.

“I didn’t think it was going to be.” The cowpony felt him lean in close before he whispered the next part. “But it wouldn’t have been hard to liven the place up if it was.” He gave her another smirk as he finished.

“Yer just like Dash.” Applejack noted with a smile of her own.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Before he could give the orange mare another trademark smile, he felt something bump beside him. A quick glance was all it took for him to realize he had to look a little higher.

“I’m sure Rainbow Dash will appreciate your words Sonic.” Princess Celestia spoke kindly to him, offering a smile far softer than the one he gave her.

“Thanks princess.” The Princess of the Day nodded towards the hedgehog’s words, looking back to the still figure on the ground. His hair was longer than any of the others they had drawn forth, but his appearance showed an age younger than most as well.

“Should we wake the boy now?” The solar ruler turned to see the only woman in the room looking towards the same figure, her blond hair hanging down her back. As long as it was, the boy’s was still greater in length. Celestia forced herself not to shake her head, focusing on such a minute detail.

“Yes, I think it best we do.” Her vision, however, did not turn to her sister, but the figure that still lay at her own hooves. “And yet I cannot take my mind off of what I have conjured.” She heard the armor of the woman beside her clink as she moved closer, regarding the still misted figure beneath them both. Unlike the figure Luna had drawn, the mist clung to Celestia’s draw with no waning effort.

“If you wish, we can clear the mist from this figure.” Teresa spoke in a pitch the Princess of the Day could not say she enjoyed. It was not forced, or pained, or disrespectful in any way. Rather… it sounded haunted, empty. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Oh, she’s just worried Teresa.” The voice drew the vision of both princess and warrior. The subject of the gaze gave a small sound of fright before forcing her pink mane over her eyes. “I-I’m sorry, I-I shouldn’t have spoke, oh, please just forget everything I said.”

“Now now Fluttershy, you have offended no one.” Celestia spoke with a kind voice, reaching down her long neck to gently prod the pegasus’s side. Blue eyes peeked out from beyond the cascading mane. “You were correct though, I am worried for Teresa,” she turned her attention back to the blonde woman as she spoke. “Though I must admit, I have never been forced to travel across dimensions before, let alone through the means by which you were forced to endure.”

“I am not used to this, and I have told you that.” The tone of the voice did not change. “But I am still no threat to you, either of you.” Her gaze shifted from alicorn to pegasus, neither shirking or cowering beneath the gaze of her silver eyes.

“Nevertheless, I extend my aide to you, Teresa.” Celestia spoke again. “But… I am curious of what lies behind the mist of this figure.”

“As am I, your highness.” Gandalf spoke upon approach, staff in his hand used for support. “But I will wait for your decision of action.” The smile was clear on his lips, even through the thick beard upon his chin. The Princess of the Day smiled in return.

“I would like to and do plan to, but I feel it would be best to awaken the boy Luna has brought forth before we reveal this form to the realm. After all, I can think of few ways to convince a disoriented warrior he is among friends if a figure lies still and unmoving on the floor.” She felt a smile pull on her lips as the aged wizard chuckled in tune with her joke.

“A fair point indeed, and wise decision at that.” Teresa nodded in agreement, face as unmoving as before. Any change in demeanor Fluttershy may have had was hidden beneath the blanket of her pink mane.

“You are all so loud.”

All voice ceased.

The white haired boy on the ground stirred.

Slowly his body hunched forward, arms pushing against the tile ground. His legs flexed, pulling them closer to his body. His hand rose to cover his head, fingers grasping at the temples of his skull. The digits slowly circled across the skin, twisting the strands of hair that hung in the way. He let out a breath of air, one of relief to Celestia’s ears.

His hand fell from his face, falling back to the floor. Giving a grunt of force, he pushed himself up, standing to his tallest among the warriors and ponies that surrounded him. Turning, he looked towards them through his hair. No emotion of shock, surprise, or awe overcame him.

Only confusion.

“Where am I?” His tone was even, flat, but not dead. Tired, not apathetic, not uncaring, closer to bored if anything. Celestia gave her head a light shake. Her mind was rambling again. The fatigue of pulling her catch from the Portal must not have worn off quite yet.

“You are in the Kingdom of Equestria.” Princess Luna spoke, trotting forwards towards the boy. She stood only a few fractions of a hoof taller than him, but was taller nonetheless. “I am Princess Luna, the Guardian of the Night.”

She could see the traces of blue beneath his white bangs, regarding her with curiosity. There wasn’t disgust or absence of believability in his gaze. They just watched her, most likely to memorize her details.

“Thank you.”

“That… is it?” Luna twisted her head in curiosity, keeping her gaze centered on the child. He did nothing more than raise a hand to the back of his head, eyes falling to the floor.

“Thank you… your majesty?”

Luna was finding the ability to keep her jaw up harder and harder.

“Is something wrong?” Again, right there! He asked the question so easily. How? The others may have been accepting, but none were so outright unsurprised. Even Jack, who only required a moment of apology, didn’t understand who or what they were. Yet… this boy seemed to know without more than a bit of knowledge that he was in their land. What was he?

“W-I am… confused.” The Luna Princess admitted with a head that nearly sagged. “Are you not… surprised about your whereabouts?”

“Surprised? Yeah, a little, but not really surprised.” He took a small bow towards the monarch, hand below his naval as he did so. “My name is Riku, and I apologize if I intruded upon you in anyway.”

“It is… a pleasure.” Princess Luna spoke again, still walking upon hallowed ground. “So, this is… not new to you?” Luna ventured towards him, trotting ever closer to the curious boy. Though his eyes were concealed mostly by the alabaster strands over his face, the piercing blue of his orbs was unmistakable. He offered the princess his gaze before he spoke a response.

“Honestly no,” his response was as toneless and flat as it was when he first woke up. “This has been happening for… years now I guess. I just usually have more control over it.” If he registered the look of shock upon the face of Luna, he gave no indication otherwise. Instead, he turned from her, head tilted back as his eyes scanned the rafter high above him. “This place reminds me of The King’s Palace.”

“The King?” Riku, turned to new voice, a lavender mare with a curious look in her eyes not far from her own. “You have a monarchy where you live?” He stared at her for just a moment before shaking his head in response. But, he stopped, looking to the side as he did so.

“No… but we sort of do.” The look of bewilderment on Twilight’s face was enough to tell him to elaborate. “I don’t know how much you guys know about the other worlds out there, but I can tell you know more than the average person.” His hand pointed towards the samurai who had greeted him with the dark alicorn, gaze unchanged as he regarded the boy.

“Point is, I know there is more than one world. There’s like, a collection of them. Hundreds of different worlds that each has their own story, the only thing they share is the sky. But, there’s one world that has a larger understanding of the rest of them. The King there, King Mickey, is like a guardian for the other worlds. He is able to find a way to stop things that try to threaten the worlds.” He let out a laugh as he finished his sentence.

“I… must have missed the joke.” The unicorn spoke.

“There wasn’t a joke, just thinking of how ridiculous this must all sound to you.”

“You’re a little outside the ballpark on that one.” Eyes moved to the blue blur standing in the crowd, arms crossed and giving a grin only the ponies could say they recognized. “I mean, look around. These are magical talking ponies, capable of magic and flight, battling something they described as basically god, drawing out people from that portal over there, and you think any story you come up with is going to sound any crazier than what’s already happened to them?”

Princess Celestia, body nearly recovered from her ordeal, nodded her head with a satisfied smile at the hedgehog’s words. As he had spoken before, his words rang the bell of truth with a blunt hammer.

“Point taken.” Riku returned, “It’s just that I’m usually more prepared for this.”

“You mean you can predict your trans-dimensional travel locations and times?” The words silenced Riku quickly. Shaking her head, Twilight tried again. “You know how to do this by yourself?”

“Well, yeah.” He spoke plainly, raising a hand to his eye height. He regarded it like a brand new object. “I mean, it can’t be that much different than what you’ve done, right?”

“I’m afraid it is.” Riku looked to the Princess of the Night again, her face sterner than before. “You described the worlds before as all being within sight of one another, correct?” The white haired boy nodded. “That has changed for us.” Though it was beyond the vision of any pony or warrior present, the boy’s eyebrows rose.

“I don’t really understand what you mean.” Luna looked away for a moment, searching for an answer that would satisfy him. She took in a breath of air before continuing.

“When you say that each of these worlds share the same sky, then I assume that you can see stars, correct?” Again, he nodded simply in response, unsure of where the dark alicorn was going. “Discord, the being of which Sonic mentioned in only passing, demonstrated to us the depths of his powers once more.  Equestria, our kingdom, no longer exists in the plain of existence that many of us know.”

“I really don’t mean to interrupt your highness,” Riku spoke with a small raise of his hand. “But, I’m not getting what you’re trying to say.”

“I mean to say that Discord has taken Equestria from the realm of the living, and moved our entire land into the pathway between the living and dead.” The boy had a face of shock about him, mouth open and hand spreading from his sides, but Luna was not finished. Pointing a hoof at him, she drew what she hoped to be the point home.

“To have come here, Riku, you must have died.”

Where Riku was shocked before, now he was frozen. With his mouth still fallen open, his eyes hardened to sharp glass, staring at the dark alicorn with a gaze she both loathed, but understood.

“Where is Sora?” The question was not what either princess or any pony expected, or understood.

“I’m sorry, but I do not understand.” The Princess of the Night kept her voice neutral as she spoke. Dangerous ground was approaching, and she needed to tread carefully over her words and tone.

“Sora.” He spoke again. “About my height, sharp short brown hair, black clothing, most likely smiling. Ring any bells?” His tone had grown dark quickly, and Luna knew it was would take only one misplaced word to send this boy off now.

Her eyes looked to Celestia, watching the elder alicorn stare at them both. Her pink eyes were hard and focused, wings flared and legs bent. She was prepared should the worst occur. Luna’s eyes, however, fell to the figure at Celestia’s hooves, the other misted figure.

‘That could be Sora’ She noted the possibility, but there were many more possibilities. ‘But telling him such would only create an assurance I cannot guarantee. It would be too temporary to possibly work. I need to calm him down, else I discover in a most unfortunate method as to the tools of his trade and depths of his power.’

“Riku,” Luna spoke carefully. “You are the only one I drew forth from the Portal of Souls. I do not know how you came to be-”

“The Door of Light.” He spoke the words so fast, Luna almost missed them.

“What is the Door of Light?” Riku swallowed, fists clenching as he spoke.

“The Door of Light is a pathway that only the light of the worlds can open up. It is a path created by the hearts of worlds to grant those who pass through it safety, but also guiding them to where they are most needed to be.  It is what King Mickey used to escape Kingdom Hearts, and it is what Sora and I used to escape The World That Never Was.” Luna took a breath before she spoke, but she already knew what she needed to say. It was obvious to her now.

“Is it so hard to believe that you were guided here then?” She let the question hang, letting the boy think over the words as she continued to phrase the point in her head. “Is it so impossible for you to believe that you were called here, and perhaps, he was called elsewhere?” Riku bit his lip.

He understood her point.

“That’s not what we wanted.”

“I can count the number of times fate has worked in the favor of desires with only my four hooves.” The princess let her tone carry a carefully planted seed of anger. If it grew properly, the boy would believe her anger directed at the threads of fate. Should it flourish, he would understand she had fallen victim to those ties before. Riku did not appear to be a boy lacking in knowledge.

One of his hands rose to his head again, rubbing the temples as he had before. He didn’t like it, she didn’t expect him to. But he had to accept it, she needed him to. With deep sigh, he spoke again.

“Why me?” He asked the fruitless question. “What about me is so... cursed by fate?”The Princess of the Night did nothing to conceal the sigh that fell from her lips.

“I do not know, Riku.” Luna spoke in an even tone. “I know just as well the reasoning behind fate’s whims as I do machinations behind life and death.” Princess Luna trotted forward, letting her voice fall back into that of a caring soul, a kindred spirit if possible. “I took no pleasure in pulling you here, but please understand that I, neigh, all of Equestria, needs your aide.”

“With what? Discord? He sounds powerful, but what makes him… well, evil?” Much brasher than before. Then again, he had a perfectly legitimate reason to be. With a sigh of regret, the dark alicorn continued.

“Discord is the embodiment of chaos and disharmony. He is an immortal draconequus, a creature built from the parts of many creatures. Equestria, the kingdom my sister and I rule together, is the symbol of peace and harmony throughout all lands. Discord has attempted multiple times before to overthrow and change this kingdom into his own twisted version of reality. But now… he has crossed lines no pony knew existed. The Portal of Souls,” she motioned with her hoof, “is just one of the creations he has conjured and we need not think hard that there will be more. Already has drawn forth a man closer to a monster. The destruction of this hall was his doing and his doing alone.”

“But you stopped him.”

“No, he stopped him.” Luna’s wing pointed towards the Hero of Time, watching the conversation from a far wall, arms crossed and gaze as sharp as Riku’s own. “His name is Link, and he hails from a land known as Hyrule. In desperation, I used the portal to draw him here, and he saved us from the beast, though nearly at the cost of his own life. But… the creature Discord brought forth was done so with little more than a thought and a few simple actions. If he were to strain himself, to truly break the bonds of reality to dust, we all know there would be little we could do alone.”

“So you went asking for help?”

“In a sense, yes.” She raised her hoof to him. “Can you help us? Do you want to help us?”

Riku looked at the crystal clad appendage like a bird would a viper. His breaths were deep, eyes unblinking. He wasn’t a fool at all. He knew any deal he made with royalty would be far spread and well known. He could not break from it, hide from it, or do anything against it.

Then again, what reasons were there for him to even think of such a thing?

Raising his hand again, he grasped her hoof.

“I will help you in any way that I can, your highness.”

“Well that’s a relief!” Riku back pedaled as a large pink object jumped into his vision, bright blue eyes staring only centimeters away from his own. “I mean when I first saw you I was ‘WOW’ but then you were so quiet I was all ‘UH’ but now that you’re here to stay I’m all ‘YAY!’”

“I…uh, what?” The white haired boy took two steps back. Pinkie only took it as an initiative to take two hops more.

“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself.” Still hopping to his height, up and down, The pink pony held out her hoof to the teen. “My name’s Pinkie Pie, and I can’t wait to be friends with you.” By more of instinct than want or need, Riku reached forward and grasp the hoof moving in front of him.

“Riku…” He didn’t have to move his arm to shake her leg, her bouncing took care of it for him. Her mouth opened, doubtlessly to begin another tangent, but stopped. Instead, she stood still on the ground, looking forward with a gaze completely different than before. Instead of bubbly excitement bouncing her blue orbs, her gaze was focused on nothing. Gently though, she began to whisper.

“Ear flop, eye flutter, knee twitch.” With every action she spoke, her body repeated it.

“Wait… wait, what?” If Pinkie Pie heard the boy speaking to her, she didn’t pay it any mind. Instead, her large blue eyes scanned the room, looking past every warrior and pony her eyes fell on. When she stopped, she pointed a hoof outwards, aimed towards a far wall.

“Watch out for opening doors!”

Link blinked.

The grand doors to the hall flew open, crushing him.

The collective gaze fell to the now open doors. Between the two mighty structures stood forms more than just familiar to the ponies in the room. Twilight knew them both better than most.

“Shining! Cadance!”

“Twilight!” Both ponies shouted as they galloped into the room. No sooner than a few hoof falls later did they freeze with wide eyes upon the crowd. The Princess of Love flared her wings. The Captain of the Guard lit his horn, eyes narrowing upon the strangers that littered the crowd.

“Shining Armor.” The voice earned the immediate attention of the alabaster unicorn. “Release your magic at once. There are no spells that need casting here.” His blue eyes scanned the crowd again looking towards every unfamiliar shape that stood within it.

Standing on two legs, holding weapons in their hands or strapped to their backs, and all watching him with gazes that ranged from curious to cautious. The Captain of the Guard released tense breaths with every passing moment, horn remaining lit.

“Sweet heart.” The voice of his wife whispered next to him. “I think you should listen to my aunt.” Their gazes locked, the princess’s kind and caring eyes staring into the militant stare of his own. He released another breath of air. Slowly, the light from the tip of his horn faded away.

“That was not the best way to enter, was it?” Shining Armor asked with as joking of a tone as he could manage. No pony laughed. “Didn’t think so.”

“No, not it wasn’t.” Twilight shook her head as she trotted next to her brother. “But it is good to see you again, and you too Cadance.” She nuzzled her brother, who locked a leg around his younger sister’s form. The pink alicorn joined in, rubbing her cheek against Twilight’s own. “So, um… how did the two of you get here? According to the Princess, you were in Fillydelphia and Manehatten.”

“News of an attack on the castle travels quick.” Shining Armor explained, releasing his younger sister. “Plus, being Captain of the Guard does help. The fastest pegasi in the country got me here as soon as the alarm was raised.”

“The Wonderbolts!” For what was now a third time, Rainbow Dash flew herself close to the newest entrant of the hall. “Oh colt, if you got those guys to fly you here I’m just surprised you didn’t get here faster. I mean seriously, how were you able to handle those kind of speeds? I didn’t think unicorns could handle that kind of stuff.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight practically cried at the brash nature of her pegasus friend, again. She stopped, however, when she heard her brother chuckling above her.

“You’d be surprised what a unicorn is capable of once they go through training for the Royal Guard.” The lavender unicorn didn’t need to look to know that her brother was smiling. “Besides the better story belongs to Cadance. Once she caught wind of what happened, she just up and teleported here.” The pink alicorn at his side smiled as well, eyes half lidded as she looked into his own.

“It’s helpful being a princess.” Was all the response she gave to the silent question that hung in the air. “But, I think there is more to talk about than just how Shining and I got here.”

“Indeed, there is.” Celestia spoke in agreement, but her gaze turned from the Captain of her Guard and niece. “Link, are you alright?”

“Link?” Cadance and Shining spoke in unison.

Their question was answered by the door behind them closing. A small turn of their head and they found a being, appearing little different than the rest of the creatures that were in the hall, garbed in green with a dulled claw over his face. His other appendage was pushed forwards in front of him, doubtlessly to shut the door that once rested on him.

“Tsk, tsk Link.” Pinkie Pie spoke up, bouncing over to the Hylian. “You should never ignore my Pinkie Sense, it’s always right.” The digitized appendage over his face fell low enough to show his gaze to the pink pony standing beneath him. It could very well have put the Stare to shame. “On second thought, I think you’ve learned your lesson.” With that, she dashed back to the group behind her, jumping up the large form of the Super Mutant Fawkes.

“Oh dear, are you alright?” The hero’s vision turned to the alicorn with a coat color scarcely different than that of the pony from before. “I didn’t know you were there. I apologize if the entry of my husband and I caused you any… harm.”

Link regarded her silently, hand slowly falling from his face. There was no mar over his features just as there was no blemish over her own. Her eyes reflected genuine concern for him, betraying no word she spoke regarding his well being. He let a small smile grow on his lips before nodding towards her.

“That’s good.” Cadance released a sigh of relief. “So, your name is Link. Where do you come from?”

“I’m sorry to say he cannot speak, my niece.” Princess Luna spoke, approaching the pair. Shining Armor was not far behind.

“Your majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask, what is going on? Not just him,” His head motioned towards the green clad Hylian. “But all of them!” His hoof waved over the crowd. Each member of the crowd that did not belong to the collective of ponies shifted in some manner. Some stiffened themselves, prepared for the worst of words or actions, reaching for tools or weapons they had on person. Others scratched their heads, knocked their shoes, or didn’t move at all.

“There is quite a lot to explain, isn’t there.” Celestia admitted aloud, eyes also looking over the group collective. “And we haven’t much time to do so at that.”

“Why not?” Princess Cadance asked her aunt, moving to her elder’s side. “Please, what has happened?”

“Have the guards told you nothing?” The question returned a question, but it was one that required little effort to answer.

“No,” the pink alicorn replied with a shake of her mane. “Most have been attending to the injured or securing other sections of Canterlot from attack. All that we know is that a powerful enemy was able to invade the castle and threatened not only you and Aunt Luna, but all of the Elements as well.” The concerned gaze she gave Twilight was both expected and unavoidable.

“Then let me make this clear before anything else.” The warmth Celestia offered  before slowly chilled beneath the weight of her words. “Discord has returned again.”

“What!” Cadance and Shining Armor shouted in unison, shocked and worried eyes looking up towards the Princess of the Sun.

“Yes, and it appears he is far more threatening in his nature than he was before. After he appeared to announce his theft of the Elements of Harmony, he took credit for robbing the night sky of all its stars.”

“Why would he do that?” Shining Armor asked, keeping his tone even as he could. The slightest bob of fear was present, however. Celestia paid it no mind.

“To place us in the plane between the living and the dead.” The gazes of the two ponies stood between awed and horrified. “His reasoning for doing so was both simple and complex. By his own words, he wishes to destroy all of Equestria, but that doing so by his own hand would be part of this… cycle, as he puts it. For every time chaos rises, harmony will fight and triumph. He hopes to break that cycle by bringing in elements that do not belong in our world.”

“You mean like them?” Shining Armor asked again. He did not need to motion with any part of his body to make clear who he was referring to.

“Yes, like them. However, we were the ones to bring them here.” Cadance moved to speak, but her aunt continued. “The device that Discord had created rests over there.” Her hoof pointed towards the billowing cloud of mist, swirling atop the tiled floor of the damaged hall. “Originally, it was blacker than night, and used only twice while in such a state. He used it once to bring forth a man with monstrous strength and capability. Luna then used it, in an act of desperation, to bring forth a warrior of stout courage, whom you have already met.” She looked beyond the pair, to the green clad hero behind them. He waved in recognition.

“So, Aunt Luna used the portal to summon Link to battle this… monster?” Celestia nodded.

“The monster’s name was Kratos, but he was closer to a creature of Tartarus than anything else we have seen before.” Princess Luna spoke in place of her sister. “With Link’s aid, we were able to best him, and send him to the mountains far to the north. However, Discord was quick to remind us that he would be doing more than simply summoning more dangerous creatures into our realm. When he departed, he left his device here. Since then, we have all made use of it. Even Celestia and I.”

“Indeed, in fact,” the Princess of the Sun trailed off as she turned from the pair of ponies in front of her. “I think I can show you how one of the souls comes through the portal…”

“Oh, sorry, but that’s already done!”

The ponies and warriors looked to see the pink pony standing over the now mist less form, smile as bright and blissful as it ever was. Fawkes crouched to his knees just behind her, still standing taller than Celestia herself. Any words any warrior or pony had for the pair were killed when they saw the creature beneath them both.

It was a child again, at least by the appearance of height, but one that had doubtlessly seen fights before. A large scar in the shape of an “x” was lain across his chest, muscled but bare. The only clothes to adorn him were thin pieces of fabric over the upper portions of his rear legs and an even thinner red sleeveless jacket about his torso. A wooden substance was also tied to his feet, held in place by small strings that weaved between his toes. But aside from the garb he wore and scars he bore, there was one facet about the thing that none could turn their eyes away from.

The straw hat upon the boy’s head.

It appeared weathered and old, but sturdy as well. It covered most of his head, hiding any mane he may have beneath the thick dry strands. A red loop of fabric hugged the hat tight, separating the dome in the center from the flat lid that surrounded it.

“How odd,” Rarity noted as she looked over his form. “Wearing food as a form of fashion. Though I suppose if one is in abundance over the other, it would make do. And I must say he pulls off the look rather well.”

“Ah’m pretty sure he ain’t wearin it ta eat Rare.” Applejack noted bluntly next to her unicorn friend. “Hay is good fer more than just eatin’.”

“Oh of course it is, but I have never seen it used as an object of fashion before. Why, just imagine if I attempted to use your apples as some sort of gown. It would be ghastly!”

“Um, excuse me?” Both turned to see a robe of gray behind them, leading upwards the olden form of Gandalf. “Is now really the best time to be thinking of… food and clothing?”

“No… No, yer right.” Applejack admitted with a tense sigh. “Call it a bit of a habit ‘tween the two of us.”

“Discussing food?”

“Nah, I mean just talkin’ and rambin’ as a whole. Jus’ somethin’ we do ah guess.”

“Perhaps it would be best if we woke the boy up before speaking more on the subject of food or other delicacies.”

“Ugh.” The straw hat boy muttered. The group collective turned to look at the child on the floor, eyes squeezing shut as the digits of his hands flexed. He was already waking up. His mouth moved without sound, curling, twisting, and opening in shapes that none could recognize. But then slowly, finally, he uttered a simple sentence.

“I’m so hungry.”

Pinkie Pie could not stop herself.

“Hee hee hee hee ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA!!” The mare collapsed to her side, legs shaking with shut eyes as she let loose the barrage of laughter spilling from her lips. Fawkes above her scratched his head at the display, assured she was okay only by the peal of giggling noises she made.

“Uh… are you okay… Pinkie?” The Super Mutant asked, bending low to a knee towards the pink pony.

“I’m fine, but I mean c’mon!” She pointed a pink hoof towards the mutant towering over her, smile as bright as ever. “How many of you guys woke up hungry?” Not a hand rose among the crowd. Instead, eyebrows rose in question. The pink pony didn’t pay them any more mind than she did the gazes of the ponies back in Ponyville. “Oh! Maybe I can make him a ‘Welcome to Equestria’ cake, or maybe some ‘Good Morning’ cupcakes. The twins love those.”

“Pinkie, I don’t know if now is a good time to be making sweets.” The blue eyes of the earth pony found the owner of the voice in a second.

“Why not?” She asked, quickly dashing over to her lavender coated friend. “Is there something wrong with them? I use them for greeting parties, celebration parties, welcome parties, farewell parties, birthday parties, never had them for reborn parties, but this could be my first time!” Her smile was a blissful as ever.

“What are we celebrating?”

“The newest member of our group, duh!” Pinkie Pie turned her attention to the newest addition of the conversation.

“Who’s that?” With a jab of her pink hoof, the earth pony spoke her answer.

“You!” Her flat ended appendage landed on the scarred chest of the boy.

Only then did the rest of the warriors realize he was awake and aware, sitting on the ground with his legs crossed and speaking to the pony in front of him as if it were no different than any other day. The boy, didn’t seem any more confused than Pinkie Pie herself.

“Really? What’s new about me?” A smile began to work its way across his face. His hand rose to brush his forehead, making the straw stitched hat on his head falling backwards to reveal the locks of black hair beneath.

“You’re completely new!”

“All of me?

“All of you!”

“What’s new about that?”

“You’re new here!”

“Where’s here?”

“Equestria!”

“So I’m not… dead?”

Silence reigned through the hall.

The bubbly atmosphere of Pinkie Pie vanished beneath that one question. There were so many things she loved to joke about, turn upside and make into a bright and shining silver lining. But… death… she didn’t know what to do.

“Perhaps I can elaborate on this.” The boy looked up to see the figure of a dark alicorn approaching him, wings flared and eyes narrowed on him. He didn’t seem any more shocked than when he started speaking to the pink earth pony. That is to say, not at all.

“Okay, but I do still get cupcakes and cake?” And just like that, Pinkie Pie’s switch was flipped.

“Oh! Of course! I can make any kind of cake! Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, ice cream, cotton candy, apple cider, moon patty, carrot, cheese, rainbow, sparkle-”

“That is… enough,” Luna spoke gently to the energetic pony, currently bouncing with every flavor she listed. “Once introductions are included, maybe then we can discuss… sweets.” Both boy and pony smiled cheerfully at the news. “But as for now, there are questions that need to be asked.”

“Okay, like what?” The dark haired boy stood to his tallest as he asked the question, eyeline reaching just above the dark monarch. Luna repressed a sigh. She was too used to standing above her subjects not to be surrounded by nearly a dozen foreign creatures that easily towered over her.

“To begin, what is your name?” Princess Luna spoke with the same air of caution that she used with Riku. Both were children in her eyes, but this one seemed far more aloof than the white haired teen.  This teen, however, smiled with a grin that would have split the muscles on her face, should she have tried to match it.

“Me?” He asked again, putting a thumb to his scarred chest. “The name is Monkey D. Luffy, Luffy for short, and I’m going to be King of the Pirates!”

And just like that, all the tension in the room returned. If there was one talent this boy had, it was shifting the atmosphere in the room with a near whimsical speed.

“A pirate?” Luna held no bars in adding a tone of violence in her voice. Pirates were not a common thing in her land, but they were far from a myth. Groups that varied little different than bandits, attacking traders or travelers in open waters or above in the air. Cowards of battle, as she was more used to calling them, ambushing the helpless and running from the strong.

How had her sister, the most noble and dedicated pony in all of Equestria, possibly brought forth a being that wanted to rule these kinds of souls? There had to be a reason, Luna just had to find it.

“Yup! That’s my dream since I was little.” His grin had yet to fall, despite the cautious air that had come with his declaration.

“And why is that? Do you not know the evil deeds pirates are known to commit?” He shook his head, grin never fading.

“Course I do, but why would I want to do those things?” Again, for the third time, in what was easily less than a minute ,the air of the room shifted. From worry towards his death, to caution towards his dream, and now confusion as to its meaning.

“I… don’t understand.” Luna admitted. Luffy smiled before explaining.

“A pirate’s life is one of adventure. Being able to sail the seas and find all different kinds of treasure in the Grand Line. My dream is to find One Piece, the Ultimate Treasure from the Last King of the Pirates. When I have that, I’ll prove to Shanks, to everyone that I am the King of the Pirates.” Several terms evaded knowledge in the mind of the alicorn, but the message was clear as glass.

“So you do not enjoy… the ambush and harm of others?” For the first time, her words caused the boy’s smile to fade.

“Nu uh, no way. “ His crossed over his chest before pushing themselves out to their fullest. “That’s not fun at all. What kind of adventure is it to hurt others? The whole point of having an adventure is discovering the unknown while laughing along the way. If you all you do hurt others, then you’re no longer on an adventure.”

‘Interesting/” The Princess of the Night noted as he spoke. ‘He cares not for the harm of others. Perhaps, but the blessings of Celestia’s Sun, he may wish to help others as well.’

“What if I told you there was a being that wished to harm others, what would you do?”

“Depends, who is it hurting and why is it doing that?” His hand was behind his head, rubbing the short dark locks of hair that rest there.

“Innocents, and because he enjoys it.” Celestia spoke in her sister’s place, walking to her side. Luna spoke nothing against it.

“Then I’d stop him.” Both sisters smiled at the words.

“Do you want us to tell you how you got here, young Luffy?” For the first time, the Straw Hat Captain looked confused. His eyes looked about the room, moving from form to form, wall to wall, and finally, back to the alicorns before him. When his vision rested on them, he nodded.

“This is the kingdom of Equestria. It is a peaceful land ruled by both my sister and I.” Celestia and Luna stood to their tallest at the introductions. The boy’s jaw slightly dropped as he saw the flared wings of both princesses. “I am Princess Celestia, and this is Princess Luna.”

“We have ruled this land for many centuries.” Luna continued. “With a careful eye, we have watched and protected this land for nearly all of our years, guiding it with all our wisdom and knowledge.” He seemed enraptured by her words, staring at them both as a young child would towards a story told by his mother. Celestia continued where her sister ended.

“However, a dark being exists to fight against our harmony. He is the embodiment of chaos and disharmony, a thing that enjoys only seeing the destruction of our peace. He twists the minds of others into becoming what they most hate, turning ponies that love one another into the worst of enemies, or forcing ponies of unbreakable wills into submission through doubt.” Luna spoke next.

“This monster has returned to our land, a third time now since his first defeat. However, instead of merely attempting to twist our land, he has spoken his desire to destroy it. He aimed to do so through the aid of others from lands and worlds far beyond our own.” Her dark hoof motioned towards the Portal of Souls, swirling with the same ethereal mist as ever. “That is the device he used.” Luffy’s gaze rested on the swirling mass for a bit longer than curious glance, perhaps to memorize its features. Celestia spoke when he was finished.

“Everypony here has used that portal now, aside from my niece and nephew-in-law,” Her wing motioned towards Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, who both bowed in turn towards Luffy. With a smile of his own, he did the same, both arms straight at his side. “The many different beings here all came through that device, which we have now named the Portal of Souls, yourself included.” His head nodded in understanding, straw hat bouncing on the back of his head.

“This being is called Discord, and he no longer aims to twist our land, but to destroy it, and all the beings that live within it. By his own admission, he hopes to do so through the use of others, and not his own hooves.”

“That sounds bad.” His simplicity was already becoming legendary, even among the warriors and ponies already within the hall.

“Yes… quite bad. But, that is why you are here.” Celestia spoke softly. “We are not prepared to face this enemy alone, and I have drawn you here personally to aid us.” It carried a different meaning when she spoke it, but a millennia of practice had earned the alicorn the ability to twist words. It was not an act that ever earned her pride, but it was something used in necessity. The more this pirate believed he was personally called to help, the greater his emotion would likely be to offer aid.

Her caution was unneeded.

“Sure, I can help!” He practically cheered with outstretched arms as he spoke, earning  sigh from the solar ruler as she heard the words. “I just have one question.” He raised a digit as he spoke.

“And that would be?” Celestia doubted he would ask for anything she could readily offer, but denying requests was not a method used by any kingdom to earn or keep allies in times of battle and war.

“Do you have anything to eat? I’m starving.” There was nothing else that needed to be said to earn laughter from the ponies, and a few warriors, who stood in the room. A chorus of chuckles and laughter filled the broken hall. “What? I’m serious here.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Princess Celestia spoke with a bright smile, one she was only too happy to wear. “But perhaps you could wait until all ceremonies are finished. This hasn’t exactly been a… usual day.” From his manner of speaking, the alabaster alicorn expected something more from him, a foalish argument perhaps that he was hungry now. Instead, he raised his finger again.

“Alright, but can I ask another question?” The Princess of the Day nodded her head in compliance. “Are they going to use the portal now?”

Luna and Celestia were not the only two to turn to the bearer of the voice. The eyes of many fell on the aloof pirate, pointing towards the pink alicorn and alabaster stallion with as blissful a smile as any soul could possess. The ponies in question, however, were caught surprised.

“I-I… didn’t think of it.” The Princess of the Day phrased carefully, letting the idea work through her own mind. Truthfully, she had not thought of it. It had seemed more appropriate that she would perform the deed the last. There was no logic behind such a thought. Just… a feeling.

“Does that mean they can’t? Cause I wanna see what happens.”

“I’m a bit curious myself.” The same teen from before spoke up, white hair waving as he walked the short distance to the group. “We’re the only two here now who haven’t seen the portal used, and from the way everyone here is talking-”

“Everypony here is the correct phrasing.”

“Sorry, whatever, how everypony here is talking, only ponies can use the portal. So, it would have to be Shining and Cadance who would use the Portal of Souls. Sorry again if I spoke your name’s wrong. It’s all still new to me.” He held his hand out towards the pair. The pink alicorn smiled kindly to him.

“Please don’t worry about it. I actually prefer being called just Cadance. As for Shining…” The stallion looked between the pair with a still careful gaze. His posture alone made it more than clear he was not used to trusting others so quickly, let alone in the presence of royalty. “Well, that name is usually reserved for those closest to him.”

“Oh,” Riku put a hand behind his head, scratching at the base of the long white strands of hair. His hidden gaze fell on the unicorn again, who looked to him with no shrinking amount of caution. “Sorry, I guess the correct title would be Captain Armor?”

Again, the alabaster unicorn said nothing in return. However, his gaze slowly softened under the vision of the boy’s hidden blue eyes. He was foreign and he was new to this land. But the royalty trusted him and he appeared to be no threat. Now was not the time to bite the hooves…. hands of allies. With Discord’s return, they would need help. And, if the Princesses of Night and Day themselves had brought forth these beings, who was he to say otherwise. Shining Armor sighed deeply, gaze aimed at the ground before rising to make contact with the boy again.

“Shining Armor will do.” He held out his hoof the boy. With a subtle smile, Riku took hold of it.

“So, does that mean you’re going to use that thing now?” Eyes turned again to the Straw Hat Pirate, looking among them with blissful ignorance.

“You really have a one track mind, don’t you?” Riku’s question carried insult in the words alone, his tone more playful than demeaning. Luffy smiled back in response.

“What else is there to worry about now?” Princess Celestia could not help herself. She began to laugh, feminine and high as one would expect from the immortal ruler of all of Equestria. Gazes that looked to her were filled with only minor curiosity.

“I must admit, you have a point Luffy.” Celestia’s laughter ceased as her muzzle rested in a pleasant, relaxed, smile. “What is there to worry about now but what is before us. We shouldn’t worry of what will be or what can be, only what is right now.” The smile on Luffy’s face would have rivaled Pinkie’s own, splitting nearly across all his features.

“Then, you do wish for us to use the portal, your majesty?” Shining Armor’s voice earned the attention of the alabaster alicorn. Her smile never faded nor faltered.

“Only if you wish to Captain.” His gaze shifted around the room with the words, moving from the royalty he served, the little sister he protected, and the device that that was behind the sudden… influx of warriors. Celestia spoke on. “I have forced nor ordered no pony to use the Portal of Souls thus far. All have done so out of their own curiosity or will. In honestly, I would wish for you to, but I will not order nor demand you to. It is not something that is to be done lightly.”

“I… understand.” He spoke the words carefully to his liege, gaze shifting from her to the many bi-pedal creatures around the ruined hall. “It’s just… this is not something I expected to be asked to do.”

“I would be more shocked than I was during Discord’s return if you were.” Both Captain and princess laughed lightly at the joke. It eased the tension, as was its intention.

“Maybe I can go first.” Shining Armor’s head nearly whipped to see the gaze of his wife, looking nervously between himself and her aunt. He was not the only one to express shock at the suggestion.

“Niece,” Princess Luna began, sapphire eyes looking upon the pink alicorn. “Are… you sure you wish to attempt this?” A shaking head was the response offered before words were spoken.

“Honestly, no, but I know that we need more help. I was there when Discord returned a second time. I don’t know if luck is the word I want to use for not being there for the first, but now it sounds like what he’s planning is far worse than anything he attempted earlier.” She bit her lip, gaze focusing on her beloved. “I know that besting the master of chaos and disharmony will require more than just a bit of luck, and if I can help in any way I can, then I will. If that means taking the same risk that everypony here as already done, I think I can manage that.”

“Spoken like a true princess of Equestria.” Princess Celestia spoke with unconcealed pride. Any blush the alicorn may have had was hidden beneath her pink coat. “Then you wish to attempt the use of the portal first?”

“I do.”

“Then let me be clear on its use.” The tone of the alicorn fell from proud to cautious and careful. “The device of Discord’s design relies heavily upon the emotion and thoughts you are keeping. We have altered it to reflect what you currently think and feel, as opposed to how he crafted it, which drew the opposite of what you wished to experience.” She let out a sigh before continuing.

“When you reach into the Portal of Souls, be assured that you have nothing short of a peaceful mind, else you may risk drawing a soul none would wish to see. But do not worry, and do not fret. You must merely hold close the memories of events you think fondly of, and I am sure you have many to draw from.” The twinkle in her eyes were unavoidably casted towards the Captain of her guard. He either did not notice it or did well to hide his feelings of it.

“Alright.” The pink alicorn spoke, nodding her head in understanding, absorbing the information her aunt spoke to her. “Yes, alright, I… I can do that.”

“I never had any doubts.” The tone again turned from cautious to confident, at a speed only one with practiced centuries of the art could perform. Cadance smiled at her aunt’s words. With a turn from the small group, she approached the swirling mass atop the broken tiled floor.

‘Peace of mind, happy thoughts, pleasant memories.’ The Princess of Love recited the verse in her head, speaking the phrase with every step that her hooves took. ‘Something that brings me happiness. Something that relaxes me. This shouldn’t be this hard to think of.’ Her trotting ceased as the pink alicorn stood before the Portal of Souls.

Princess Cadance let her tongue play with the roof of her mouth, swallowing on nothing. She was a princess, practiced and poised. From a young age, she was taught to hide her emotions from the public eye, else some form of scandal grow out of it.

It was a difficult thing to learn, as it would be for any child, but the young maiden of love had learned small ways to keep herself from showing too much. Playing with things others couldn’t see was just one of them. There was, however always one that saw through her thin disguise.

“Nervous, honey?” The pink alicorn almost jumped when she heard the voice behind her. She didn’t need to turn to know who was talking.

“A little, I admit.” She spoke with a smile betraying the chills she felt within. “It’s an everyday thing to go to some town or city and meet the crowd, but it really isn’t normal to go to different… well, universe.” He chuckled lightly, she knew he would.

“Well I can’t blame you there.”

“Were you planning on blaming something else on me?” She smiled with the words, defusing any threatening nature they may have. She wasn’t ready for the words he spoke back.

“Only getting me excited every time I have to trot behind your-” His words silenced and muffled beneath the strands, her magic surrounding his muzzle.

“Careful dear,” Cadance whispered to her stallion. “That kind of talk is better left for else where.” She risked a glance behind her. She didn’t enjoy what she saw.

While the pony she had sitted for was blushing worse than the pink pony’s mane, the rest of the warriors and beings around her were shifting with discomfort, alternating from hiding their bare faces with indiscrete gestures of their claws or turning away altogether. The only two alien forms to continue watching the pair were the boy with the straw hat, the one she had witnessed being awoken, and the only woman among them as well, face more emotionless than the depths of a changeling’s soul. Cadance shivered again.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. Again.” Shining Armor spoke again, hoof against her side. It instantly brought her warmth through her coat, calming the jittery nerves not far beneath. “But let’s be serious now. Are you having trouble focusing?”

“Two points for the stallion in blue.” The princess hoped to have a joking tone, but it was too forced to carry any weight. Fortunately, Shining Armor wasn’t the captain of the Guard for his magic alone. Carrying the work of others was a guard’s duty.

“Hey, c’mon.” He spoke in the same warm tone he used only with her, shameless about the contact they shared with one another. She didn’t speak a word against it. “I’ve seen you do the impossible day in and day out. You’ve never given up in anything and you definitely don’t back down from challenges.” Every word he spoke made her smile wider and brighter.

“That’s why I love you Cadance. And, that’s why I know you can do this.”

‘There never was any doubt, was there?’ The Princess of Love smiled to herself, looking from her beloved husband to the Portal of Souls. ‘For all that I am, and all that I can do, my peace of mind rests with him.’ She giggled softly, realizing the cliché tone and phrasing of the words.

She didn’t mind, she couldn’t mind. It was that kind of cliché wording, that almost groan worthy idiom that made up the connection between so many kinds of love. It began with awkward introductions, small things ponies tried to avoid, but fell into readily to prove to another the depths of their emotions.

To Shining Armor and herself, it was no different. Breaking out of her shell of offering love to others and accepting the love from another was an action she wholly considered impossible in her younger years. But it took those corny introductions from the brother of the foal she sat for to form a crack in that belief.

Approaching her with flowers, offering chocolate, and even citting quotations from Shakesmare. Even now it brought a smile to her features. Watching the Captain of Guard fumble over himself for her was… yes awkward, but so much more than that. It was funny, comforting, and most importantly, new.

It was a kind of love she had never had. One that brought her not just happiness or joy, but peace. Not to give love, or nurture love, but to accept love, to be in love.

She let the emotion overtake her. Trotting till she was at the portal’s edge, she descended into the alabaster mist.

Begin

“Cazzo!”

He cursed lightly to himself, hanging off the edge of the ship. His grip was loose against the damp wood of the boat, nothing beneath him but Spanish waters. A guard passed by the railings above him, the light and fire of the torch ghosting over his hidden form. Wisely, he remained silent.

The guard slowly moved back towards him, eyes out on the calm water of the sea. So far, he remained unnoticed over the ship’s side, the light revealing nothing of his currently vulnerable form. The heat of the flame came closer and closer, the guard no doubt moving to stand at the boat’s edge. Dangerous.

As expected, the flame of the guard’s torch could be seen just above him, hovering over the side of the ship as the guard stared outwards to the sea. The man clinging to the ship’s side watched the guard carefully, memorizing his details.

He wore a full metal helm, covering any features that would be easy to recognize. The torch was held high above his head, his other hand doubtlessly resting on a sheathed sword. He could see nothing below the chest line, but what he did see were thick red lines across a white cloth backdrop. That detail was all it took to convince the man over the ship that the guard was not an innocent life.

He pulled himself up as fast as he could reaching outwards with his hand. The guard momentarily backpedaled, stunned and shocked the man’s sudden appearance. Any voice or cry he would have normally made was silenced as the man’s hand clenched itself over his neck.

His hidden blade entered without any resistance.

Red liquid slowly pooled onto his hand, the guard slumping as his life gave way. As the man had done many times before, he wrapped his fingers on the guard’s uniform, pulling him over the ship’s edge. He let the man hang still for a moment above the water before dropping him into the calm sea. The splash he made was light and small, enough to be forgotten by any other guards.

He couldn’t wait here any longer.

He lifted himself up over the edge as quietly as his form would allow. Aside from the small gangling of his tools, he made not a sound. Another Templar guard stood across the boat from him, facing outwards towards the water. His hand instinctively reached back to grab his crossbow, but stopped. He saw only one guard, but there were doubtlessly more. Silence and masking his presence were what he had to do now.

He remained crouched low to the ground, moving as swiftly as his weighted gear and aged muscles would allow in silence. The pacing was slow, but it was a safer risk to linger too long than to make too much sound. One risked a glance, the other investigation.

Behind a stack of crates he found a spot unobserved, one that risked no idle glances or curious gazes. As swiftly as before, he claimed the spot his own, settling between the wooden boxes out of sight. He heard nothing close to a guard’s call or wondering words.

For a moment he could rest, but only a moment. The guards did not know he was here, let alone that he was on their ship at all. A breath of air left his lungs in the form of a sigh, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose as he calmed his nerves.

Once more he cursed the effects of his age. His movements were slower, muscles weaker, and mind slightly duller, though no man or woman would call him anything less than sharp. He depended too much on his instincts and talents in the past to serve him well now. Now, he only survived from patience and practice.

His breath stilled as he heard one of the Templar’s approaching, metal boots clicking against the hard wood of the deck. The guard wasn’t close enough to him to be a threat, but he couldn’t move while he was so close. However… neither could he afford to stay in one place too long.

He reached towards his back in tandem with the guard’s footsteps, hiding his noise beneath the Templar’s shifting armor. The guard stood by the side of the crates he hid within; he had successfully drawn the weapon of his choosing. A crossbow, a silent killer from great lengths.

He held the notched bow just in front of himself, careful and decisive about its aim. He took in a silent breath. His hand grabbed the side of a crate, flexing as hard as he could to spin himself from the hiding place. The arrow flew from his bow without a sound, and impacted the man’s neck without a grunt.

He was beside the falling guard before he impacted the deck. Quickly carrying him back to the location he had just hid within. As noiseless as possible, the body was placed in the small alcove of the crates, out of sight, and now out of mind.

The entire encounter had taken only a few blinks of his eyes.

That made two Templars, two guards, fewer on the deck of the ship for him to worry about. There was still little way for him to tell how many were left. The bodies may have been out of sight, but if continued to wait and strike, it would only be a matter of time before one Templar began to suspect, and then the search for him would begin. Worse, if a wise man led these men, they more than likely board boats and burn the ship down. His strikes had to remain at a minimum now.

He leaned out from the crates, looking quickly around the deck. There was only one other guard, but he would doubtlessly realize he was alone soon enough. If it remained that way, an alert of some kind would be given. If he killed him, however, then the next Templar to come up to the deck would realize the danger on their ship.

The solution, he had to leave the top deck.

His eyes found a door at the bow, beneath a set of railings that let to the observation deck. He had not grown on ships, but he knew the room well.

The captain’s quarters.

Just as swiftly as he had before, he made for the door, slipping inside with as much noise as a mouse scurrying across the basement floor.

Many things in the captain’s quarters caught his eyes. The documents along the center table, the cabinets along either wall. A bed that appeared fit for royalty. A few gold statues were easily identified across a couple of platforms as well. Not to mention the floor he stood on offered more room than even the storage quarters when emptied. Whoever the captain of this ship was, he traveled in luxury.

He let his eyes fall on the documents on the table, looking for anything that could be of interest. They held dates and times past both long ago to mere weeks, names he did not recognize, and a few in a language he could not understand. Among them all, however, there was one object, one parchment of paper that his eyes could not sway from.

It was the Queen of Spain, Queen Catalina, drawn with a red “x” over her head.

Queen Catalina was no one he had ever met. She was as important to him as a deer from the woods. But it was this deer that brought him onto the ship. The queen was to be assassinated, that he was able to hear from more than one drunkard in the streets. But, from the lips of many citizens, he heard them speak of this queen’s honesty, loyalty, and desire to help the people. The reasoning for the Templar’s killing her was beyond his knowledge, he only knew two very important details.

The first: The Templars were to kill her with a tool he was not familiar with, by means not even he could achieve. It was no sword or spear they were to skewer her body with nor any kind of poison he had ever seen. From what the Templars spoke of before, it was an item not far different from the Apple of Eden he left in the care of his friend Leonardo. The second detail?

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” His lips pulled themselves into a smile as he let the familiar phrase slip from his lips. Perhaps she was in the way of Cesare Borgia. Maybe she knew of the Templar threat. All that he knew was that the Templars wished her dead, and he wished the Templars gone. So the queen, by knowledge or not, was someone he aimed to protect.

His eyes looked forward as he heard the guards marching down the stairs, just behind the door he had shut. It was not locked. If he locked it, they would know something was wrong. Quickly, he took to a window grasping at the frame as his body jumped through the hole. The door opened the moment his body was hidden from view.

“The queen’s guards are more loyal than we have originally anticipated.” One of the men spoke as he entered the room. “They accepted neither gold nor power when we offered it. One of our men lost a finger in the scuffle that came afterwards.” Silence followed for a time, ended by a fist impacting the wooden table. They were angry. Good.

“A setback to be sure,” a new voice spoke, far deeper and older than the first. “But do not think this means we have no options remaining to us.” He could feel the calm settle over the group beyond his vision.

“I did not say we will have difficulty killing her, I said we would have difficulty reaching her. If we were to kill her in the open as other have done to kings and queens in the past, we would only open ourselves up to unneeded loose ends.” They were wiser than he liked to be, but that did not mean he wasn’t prepared.

“Do not worry, we will find something by tomorrow’s end, I’m sure.” The deeper voice spoke. “What concerns me now is our tool.” The calm turned into a chill. “Cesare gave very specific instructions for it. We cannot allow any others to come close to it.”

“How could they?” A third voice spoke, easily the youngest among the three. “Those fools are all too busy walking on the upper decks or sleeping in their quarters. They are restricted from this room.” It was always the youngest that gave away the details. He himself was little different once.

“Be that as it may, I still wish to ensure we have it in proper condition. There would be no greater way to make fools of ourselves and the power of the Borgia if we attempt to kill the queen with nothing in hand.” Their feet moved uneasily against the floor. He could feel the vibrations through his hands. No… it wasn’t their feet. They were moving something far heavier across the floor. Was it the cabinets? The dressers? A secret floor door? It was impossible for him to tell, and looking now would only guarantee his capture.

The noises continued for a moment, scraping wood against wood and wood followed dulled slams of lifted objects falling to the floor. It wasn’t a dresser then, that would not require so much force, and table could be kicked over by a single man. It was the bed then. They were moving the bed on the floor.

A light click reached his ears. There was a door beneath the bed. That was also good to know. His fingers growing numb, however, and it wouldn’t be long before he would need to let go. Hopefully, by then, they would be gone.

“So that’s it?” The first voice to speak spoke again. He sounded unimpressed, his voice carrying no pause or heightening in tone.

“Do not be a fool.” The third man responded harshly to the former. “This is a tool gifted to us by Cesare himself. Should the invasion fail, we will be able to secure the whole of Spain for the Borgia.” Ezio swallowed the instinct to click his tongue.

He had to act now. His prize was in the open and the three highest ranking Templars in one room. This was something every instinct he had told him to take. Should he wait any longer, the opportunity may slip by.

He released his hold with his right hand, moving it the cross bow draped across his back. His left arm flexed with all the strength years of training had brought to his aging form. As silent as a leaf in the wind, he lifted himself back through the window of the ship, quickly taking note of what little had changed in the room.

The three men stood where the bed once lay, said object now pushed to a far wall and turned onto its side. Between the three of them was a chest held in the hands of what looked to be the youngest. It was simple, ordinary, and easy for the human eye to pass over. But for his eyes, colored gold with the detail of an eagle’s gaze saw an object as valuable as the Apple of Eden.

Two of the men faced away from him, looking at the chest with eyes he couldn’t see. The third man, looking down at the chest, looked up to see the man clothed in white appear through the window. His curious eyes opened wide, mouth opening to scream, but before he could make any noise, his life was cut short by the trigger of the man’s crossbow.

The two other Templars gave gasps of surprise as their comrade fell, arrow jetting from his eye. The box was dropped to the ship’s floor as both turned towards the man they hadn’t seen, hands to their blades, preparing for a duel. But duel was not what occurred. The mysterious man as already between them crossbow unstrung and no swords in his hands.

His blades were attached to his wrists.

Before the two remaining Templars could draw their blades, he was between them raising himself to his fullest. Extending his arms outwards, he let his blades slide into each man.

They’re lives ended soundlessly.

“Bene.”

They fell to the deck with less sound than the moving bed. He would be fine. His eyes fell now on the chest they held between them. The chest was shut, whether that be from the scuffle he had caused or it had not been opened at all, it mattered little. This was the prize he needed to secure the safety of the queen, and another defeat for the Borgia.

“Now, let’s see what you really are.” He spoke with both hands upon the chest, eyeing the mysterious relic with a careful eye. He had more than simple firsthand experience with tools of ancient power. The Apple of Eden was something to fear. Whatever this object was capable of, he had to be wary.

With a small amount of force, Ezio Auditore lifted the chest open.

He swiftly left the world behind.

End

Shining Armor wasn’t used to what he was feeling. He had felt it before, he knew that, but not nearly what could be called often. He often felt love, happiness, security, and strength. Now… he felt none of those things. Right now he felt what did walking up the aisle with Cadance, after Chrysalis was properly done away with. It felt similar to that of applying for school in the Royal Guard. He had felt is it so little, so ill frequently, he barely knew what to call it. It was only because of his frequent conversations with Twilight that he had an idea for what it was, as she felt it often enough.

He was nervous.

This was not a plan he had spent the better part of several weeks preparing, or a reexamination of his already superior shield casting spells. No, this was something he was given no preparation, no foresight, and worst of all, no experience.

Shining Armor coughed against the white sleeve of his coat. His eyes wandered to the pink form of his wife, head still gone within the white abyss. It was easy to offer her aide, simple to reassure the mare he was willing to dedicate his entire life to, but it wasn’t as easy to do that for himself.

‘Peace of mind.’ He reminded himself, establishing the state he had to enter before he could use the device. ‘Having no fear or worries about negative consequences or events.’ with the stoic tone of his voice, he sounded like his little sister, reciting vocabulary terms in her room as she studied her hardest for an upcoming test.

‘You are not the first to do this.’ He let the words wash through his mind. ‘Twily, the princesses, and all of the Elements have each used this… thing. You are older, more experienced. You should know what gives you a peace of mind.’ He should, he knew that, but he didn’t.

A forced sigh pushed itself through his throat, brow furrowing as he thought hard on the subject at hoof. If there was one thing he knew above all else, aside from how to breath, it was that a peace of mind was not something a member of the Royal Guard could deserve to have. If he allowed himself to think that threats were not to come, that peace was all encompassing and prevalent, then dangers far and wide would descend upon Canterlot.

It should be easy to remember what brings him a peace of mind. But he didn’t know. Not at all.

“Shining, are you okay.” The alabaster stallion shook his head once before turning towards the owner of the voice. His little sister was trotting up to him, lavender eyes looking up at him curiously. She always did have a questioning gaze, no matter what he was doing.

“Sort of,” he answered honestly. “Just…” The unicorn bit his lower lip. “I really don’t know how to focus on this.”

“You don’t know how to focus?” Twilight raised her pitch with the words, letting the question hang with an air of sarcasm he couldn’t ignore.

“Alright, not focus, but… I don’t know what to call it, getting myself relaxed I guess. That’s usually what Cadance helps me with.” His hoof motioned towards the alicorn mare still deep within the portal, reaching for a prize no pony knew of yet. “This is serious stuff Twily, and I have never been told to relax before going on guard duty.”

“Well, believe me when I say you aren’t the first to be a little more than nervous about this.” The young unicorn began standing side by side with her older brother. “We’ve all had to think long and hard about ourselves before we used this. It’s easy to see what we enjoy in our lives, but it’s hard for us to remember why we do it.”

“Usually ponies would say it is to be happy.” Shining mumbled next to his sister, lowering his head to match her height. She giggled softly before answering him.

“And they’d be right, but not completely.” Twilight put a hoof to her chest as she continued to speak. “I enjoy learning Shining.” He really did have to work to suppress a chuckle. “But that doesn’t really bring me peace of mind.” This time, he was unsuccessful. The young mare raised her nose at the noise, but continued nonetheless.

“But the reason why I learn is to impress the princess, to make her happy. The more I learn, the more I know, the prouder she is of me.” The Captain of the Guard couldn’t stop himself from giving his liege a quick glance. She was conversing with the old wizard that had spoken to him before, Gandalf. “Whenever I read her letters, listen to her speak, I really do feel better about myself. Now…” She let her words drift off, forcing the alabaster stallion to look back down on her. “Why do you do all that you do, Shining?”

Another good question, but this time, he knew the answer in a heartbeat.

“Thanks sis.” He spoke honestly, giving his younger sibling a hug across the neck. She felt him nuzzle beneath his coat. Slowly, he released her, a subtle clue she instantly recognized. Twilight slowly trotted backwards, allowing Shining Armor a moment of solitude before the Portal of Souls.

‘Why I do this, huh?’ He was not lying to himself before when he thought of the remark. He knew full well what he does all this for. Why he was the Captain of the Royal Guard, why he enjoyed protecting ponies of all races, ages, and personalities, and why security was more important than anything else.

‘Because unless I do it myself, I can’t be sure it’s been done right.’ The idea filled his body, remembering every action he had done over his still youthful lifetime. Protecting his little sister, repairing damage around the house, leading his fellow troops through the academy, and organizing the entire Equestrian defense system, everything was done, at least in part, by his hoof.

‘Then this isn’t any different, is it?”

With a sound mind, and a sound body, Shining Armor let himself enter that rare state of peace.

And as his wife drew herself from the Portal of Souls, Shining Armor entered.

Begin

“Are you sure about this Bruce?” The man in gold asked, hand held outward towards the dark suited man. “Nothing is forcing you to make this decision.”

The dark suited man moved about the cavern they both currently resided in. He moved with focused eyes and sure feet, letting his hands dance across control panels and tools the man in gold did not recognize. Glass screens flash and flickered with data and progress bars, slowly filling as the man continued his work, unflinching.

“I understand the risks involved.” He answered back. He didn’t stop his movements to offer eye contact to the man he spoke with. Instead, he continued to disconnect wires, package important objects, delete encrypted files, and outfit the suit he wore. The man in gold continued to watch him move through the room that resembled so well a lair.

“I do not think you ignorant towards the risks of harm that may befall you. I merely question your knowledge of the situation.” He watched as Bruce moved large panels of wiring against a far wall of the cave, neither grunting nor breath in duress despite the impressive size of the objects.

“You told me all that you knew.”

“But is that enough for you?”

Now he stopped, looking towards the figure with a helm of gold, cape of blue, and ankh large across his chest.

“As you said, the universal ties holding the fabric of reality together are slowly dissipating into the void of space.” Bruce spoke the fact like a citation from a book, a detail he memorized twice over before preparing for an important exam. “You have traced the dying Ley Lines to another dimension. Travel to said dimension is impossible for you due to your binding to this universe, however, you traced the Ley Lines to the first objects to develop failing connections, and you found me before all else.”

“If I were the Flash, I might have a joke to make.” The man spoke on, paying the small remark no mind.”

“So you have come to me with the request that I help you. Other than this, you know nothing.”

“Precisely, and that is where my concern for you lies.” The man in gold swept his arm sideways as he spoke. The man he addressed let the cape he wore drape over his form, revealing only the smallest amount of skin beneath the dark cowl over his head. “You are acting blindly, something I have never attributed to you before.”

“You came to me, Dr. Fate. If you thought someone else was more capable you would have gone to them.” He spoke in a flat tone, eyes narrowing at the master sorcerer.

“I would, but just because you are the most capable does not mean you are the best suited.” Beneath the helm, he heard the man give a sigh. “This is not a trial or test you can hope to learn or grow from, this is a judgment upon your very soul, your very being.” Bruce’s response was instantaneous.

“I’ve had those before.”

“Bruce,” Dr. Fate began again, patiently. “My concern does not lay with your lack of conviction, for I know you have more than any other soul on Earth. But, I have seen how you approach the impossible, how you will court death before allowing others to aid you. For this to work, for you to succeed, you will need the aid of all those you find by your side, bearable or not.”

“I have worked with individuals of nearly every personality you can imagine. I’ll adapt.” He turned around again, facing the largest computer screen in his cave. “Aside from that, I do not intend to travel unprepared, not as long as I have a choice.” A hand appeared from beneath his cloak, reaching outwards to press on a button Dr. Fate could not identify from his distance away. He was only able to witness, and marvel, at the result.

Slowly, almost unnoticeably, faint specks of light began to grow outward from the computer screen. It sparked like candle fire and spread just as fast. But as the light grew, so too did its form so briefly it appeared as flames, but now was far more recognized as grids, patterns, neon blue lights that started to surround the computer screen with increasing speed.

The man in black stepped backwards allowing the third dimensional force to encapsulate more and more of the objects. It contacted a box of supplies Dr. Fate saw the man stack earlier, surrounding them in the glowing field. It spread like circuit wires across the floor and up the walls, grabbing at the lights overhead and the panels below.

The man in gold stepped back as the light began to twist in the air, breaking from the straight celled pattern it held before. It bent, curled, aiming for a familiar shape within the cave. A plane, no, a jet of color no different than the shadows. It was slowly surrounded in the same light, grasping a growing around it with speed that only seemed to increase the larger it grew.

For a moment, a just a moment, the sorcerer wondered if this was why the man was so calm. That no matter what occurred to the universe, to the Ley Lines, that his material objects would be safe. It was concern that was too human for him to have, and one that was quickly settled.

The man in the dark garb raised his hand from this cape, holding a device Dr. Fate did not recognize. His gloved hand pushed a button, and in perfect sync, the lights stopped moving.

The grid was held in place in the air, glowing the neon blue, but no longer grasping for more objects to collect. Without waiting for ceremony, the man pressed another button, and the light show began again.

Every line and box of every cell slowly receded backwards, tracing the path they just endured. Like water seeping upstream, all lines traversed back towards the computer screen, no longer faltering or slowing. The show was impressive, and the sorcerer would be far from honest to claim otherwise, but something else held his attention. It wasn’t the show itself, though it was a result of it. It was the objects, all the objects, the neon grids had collected.

They were disappearing.

In sync with the recession of the lines, the objects began to fade from existence. Entire blocks of steel and boxes of gadgets fading into nothingness as the computer’s screen neon lights left their form. Like a child’s spirit towards a departing parent, the physical material objects descended into a nothingness Dr. Fate could not follow.

As the lights died, and the room emptied, the man in gold spoke only a single word in response.

“Impressive.”

“Advanced trans-dimensional storage programming.” The dark suited man explained, hand retreating back into the blanket of his jacket, not even caring to marvel at the deed he had just done. “I acquired it during the League’s last encounter with Brainiac.”

“You trust it’s use, knowing from what means you acquired it?” Dr. Fate knew the answer to the question without asking it.

“Would I be using it otherwise?” He spoke with the rare air sarcasm, lost beneath his stoic voice. “Besides, only the fool throws away the tools of his enemy. A wise man learns from enemies that nearly bested him.” Touché. The man in the gold helm gave a bow of his head in acknowledgement.

“I take back what I said earlier.” He spoke in a tone unchanged from the stoic voice from before. “You are more prepared than any other individual I would ever be able to find. I am glad it is you the Ley Lines call to, Batman.”

“Don’t get me wrong.” The dark knight spoke as he approached the man with the golden helm. “I have no idea what I am walking into here. If anyone else had told me this was happening, or even possible, I wouldn’t even listen to them.” His face remained flat and emotionless as his voice. “I’m out of my element on this.”

“Then why do you continue to agree so earnestly with it?” The mystic doctor questioned, crossing his arms as he stood before the master detective. Batman did not move in response to the words or gesture.

“Because I have to.” He spoke the answer as simply as he had before. “But, let me be clear. I don’t believe in fate.” And now the man in gold did not move in response to the obvious jab.

“Then you have only succeeded in forcing me to reword my question.”

“You told me that the Ley Lines are being severed across the universe, that I am at the epicenter of it.”

“You are.” The doctor nodded slowly.

“Then I have to fix it. Not because of any high calling or godly power, but because I am the only one who can.” Now the doctor shook his head.

“Many would call that fate, Bruce.”

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t.”

The two stood face to face with one another, neither blinking or moving apart. Dr. Fate’s arms were in front of him, crossed above his golden ankh, and flexing under the tension and gaze. Batman continued to stare through the slits of the golden helm of the sorcerer, his body remaining hidden beneath the large cape wrapped over his form.

Dr. Fate sighed, perhaps in defeat.

“It matters not to me, and clearly not to you.” He turned from the Batman, walking towards a barren ledge in the dark cavern. “All that concerns me now is the fate of this world, and by consequence, all life in the universe. My faith has been placed in you Bruce to carry out this deed, in my steed, where I cannot go.” He raised his hand forward palm out towards the empty air. Golden helm facing the dark knight, he questioned.

“Are you prepared?” The man in black did not hesitate.

“I am.”

“So be it.”

A ball of purple gathered in the sorcerer’s outstretched hand, hanging in the air for a moment before levitating forwards. For every inch of air it ventured, it grew in size. Wider, taller, and larger, the lavender orb moved forward. When it was the size of a man, it started to swirl, golden hues collecting in its spirals. It stopped just before a cliff’s edge.

“I will close this gate once you are through.” He spoke simply, tensely to the dark knight. “I cannot risk whatever is causing this mayhem to possibly enter this universe.”

“I understand.” Batman walked past the golden clad man, moving closer towards the mystical gateway. But then stopped, suddenly, abruptly.

He stood before it; the portal conjured by Dr. Fate, swirling with a massless substance and churning with strength no computer of his could quantify. Magic was never something he had an interest in, but he never denied the power it had or what is was capable of.

Now though… he would have to depend on it more than he ever had before.

“Dr. Fate.” He called behind him, turning so the black cowl concealing his features showed only the whites of his eyes. “Protect Gotham while I’m gone.”

“Bruce, as you are risking your life for the fate of existence, so too will I in defending your home. You have my oath and word.” The man in the golden helm bowed lowly, arm across his chest. The man shrouded in darkness nodded once more before facing the portal. Conviction strong in his mind, body, and soul, he moved forward into the ethereal device.

Batman descended into a familiar darkness.

End

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