While I was busy having a flashback to history class (what the hell, brain?), Silver had stepped in front of us, spreading out his wings. I never noticed how big his wings were before, but they're huge.
"Listen up, buddy. I don't know who you are, or who you're trying to be, but it's not working on me. If that ball thing helps the Skades, then you're not going anywhere with it." He gives Obsidian a glare that can cut through steel.
Apparently, I also never noticed how scary Silver can be.
Obsidian just gives him a mocking smile. "What is this? A little foal trying to play hero?" He laughs, putting the orb behind him. "I've been looking for this for six months, and you're not about to take it from me."
Silver paws the ground. "I wouldn't bet on it."
"Silver. . ." Sky leans in, whispering to him. "This looks like a bad idea. This is coming from the god of bad ideas."
He doesn't turn around.
"I know that you just want to help. Trust me, I do too. Unless helping can get someone else killed, and right now it can."
"I'm on her side." Lou takes a few steps back. "We should probably let the criminal handle this."
"Excuse me?" Sky says as Silver turns around, giving them a frustrated glare.
Razz nods. "I mean, she is magical and all that stuff. She's probably better at kicking ass."
"Guys. . ." Wyn looks around warily. "Don't push him-"
"No, I agree." Obsidian steps in, smirking. "It's doubtful that you could ever lay a scratch on me."
Silver groans as he lifts up his wings. He flies up and shoots toward the Unicorn. Right before he reaches him, Silver is covered in the aura and gets thrown to the ground. I run up to him, Wyn right behind me. Silver sits up and rubs his head. "I'm fine, just a few bruises."
"But I will not hesitate to finish you off."
I turn around to see Obsidian approaching us slowly, his ice eyes gleaming. I stand in front of the brothers. I don't know what I'm doing, or if I'll live past the next few seconds, but I'm not going to stand by and watch their asses get kicked.
"L-listen up, bastard." I let out a deep growl, which usually drives off Daisy, but doesn't seem to shake Obsidian. "I honestly have no idea what's going on, but I know that you have no right to hurt anyone. So I'll give you some advice; stay away from my friends!"
When I'm done talking, my horns light up. All of my anger, and fear, is pointed at Obsidian. A beam of green light shoots out of my horns and hits Obsidian straight in the forehead. It pushes him against the wall. He screams, and then collapses.
. . . Holy shit.
Before we have time to process what is going on, laughter comes from the hallway. A hooded pony comes through.
"Well. . . I didn't expect that."
The pony pushes past Lou and stands over the fallen pony. She pulls down her hood to reveal a Unicorn with a lavender coat and light orange mane. She has an necklace just like Sky's earring. Her horn lights with a yellow glow and a ball of light comes out. It floats in the air for a moment before entering Obsidian's chest.
We don't speak for a few moments before Razz breaks the silence.
"Alright, I got a question." Razz walks towards the mystery Unicorn. "Actually, I got a few. Who are you, what just happened, and are we going to get arrested?"
The Unicorn laughs, shaking her head. "You're confused. That's natural." She speaks with a calm tone. "You see-"
"Okay, HOLD UP!" Lou steps forward and points at me. "Are. . . Are we just going to ignore that Hurricane used magic? And you- You!" She spins around and glares at Silver, who's starting to push himself off the ground. "You complete idiot. You could've been hurt, or killed, or worse!" She hops over him and stares at the Unicorn. "I don't know who the hell you think you are, coming in, doing magic-"
"To be fair," the pony answers, "it is my job." She holds an indifferent expression, as if she's simply discussing the weather. "My name is Lilac Dawn. However, my formal name is-"
"General," Sky gasps before bowing. Razz does the same after a moment's hesitation, and the rest of us follow suit with confused looks. I don't know her, but she sounds important. And dangerous.
Lilac's grin falls from her face. "Oh please, don't do that. I may be in charge, but I'm no more important than any of you. Honestly, you're much more important than me."
"Why's that?" Lou asks, standing up.
Lilac sighs softly. "What I'm about to tell you is a bit. . . Well, life changing."
"Yeah, this entire day has been a bit life changing. We can handle it," I mumble. I suddenly realize that nothing will be the same after today.
The general starts speaking in a hushed voice. "I'm sure that a few of you have heard of the Elements of Harmony."
We all nod. The Elements are hardly ever discussed; all we've been told is that they're old artifacts with dangerous powers. To mention them is practically a taboo. The people around you will start to look uneasy and find excuses to leave the conversation.
"Sixty years ago, the first Bearers we've had in a thousand years disappeared at the end of the war. No one has seen them since, but historians speculate that they last went to the Tree of Harmony. It is said that the Elements will choose new Bearers, and that will start the final war against the Skades. And, with all that I've seen today," she looks back at the orb, "it seems like they chose you all."
We don't say anything, too wrapped up in our own shock.
". . . How do you know?" Lou whispers.
"This orb is no simple glass ball," Lilac answers. "It was created by a sorcerer to honor an ancient god. The Orb of Ciro hasn't been active in ages, but it spoke when you six entered the room. Obviously, you all hold some divine power within you."
"I still don't like the fact that you were watching us the entire time." Silver glares at Lilac, who just shrugs.
"Not the entire time. I only caught up when you were trying to open the door. You see, I've been tracking Obsidian for awhile now. The Skades got him while out on a mission, and iced him over."
"He doesn't look that cold to me-"
"No, not like that. That's the term we use when Skades have taken control over someone's mind. I released the spell that was on him, so he should be waking up any moment."
As if on cue, Obsidian groans. He sits up, rubbing his head. I feel a pang of guilt when I realize that he probably didn't mean to do anything to us. He examines the room, his eyes widening when they land upon Lilac.
"G-General!" Obsidian stands up, his knees wobbling. "I- what- where are we? Who are they!" He points at us.
Lilac sighs before wrapping her arms around him. I see Sky's eyes widen as Lilac starts speaking. "Obsidian, you were captured on a search and rescue mission. You've been iced-over for nearly six months." She pulls away before continuing. "Your squad. . . your squad's bodies were found in a nearby river. I'm so sorry."
His eyes glaze over. I see his lip tremble before he nods before turning to us. "And them?"
"Well, meet the new Bearers!"
Obsidian gasps and practically falls over himself to get to us. "Oh my goodness- I had no idea- it's such an honor- w-what did I do to you while I was. . ." Obsidian stammers his way through his words, and out of the corner of my eye I see Sky smile sympathetically.
Wyn steps forward. "We're just as confused as you are. Today has been pretty strange for all of us, but you didn't hurt anybody." Silver winces and hides his bruised leg before his brother continues. "This has been great and all, but where do we go from here?" He turns to Lilac, who sighs.
"You see, while you're all Bearers, none of you actually have the Elements. In order to find them, we need to travel to the Tree. For all we know, that could take months, and will probably be very dangerous."
We let her words sink in. Then the room breaks out into chaos.
"No way am I running away for a dumb tree-"
"Dangerous? Like, dying dangerous?"
"But I'm just a spy, not a solider-"
"I'm not smart, but I'm not this idiotic-"
"I'm pretty sure becoming a fugitive would get me grounded-"
Lilac sighs again as she watches us all protest, while Obsidian looks completely overwhelmed. Only Wyn stays silent, thinking to himself.
As we all become silent again, too out of breath to argue, Wyn looks back at us. "I know this all sounds scary, but. . . think of who we could help." His eyes are pleading us not to talk back, and none of us do.
Lilac jumps in. "He's right. This is what'll save everyone. You'll be more than heroes. . . You'll be legends."
We sit there, thinking to ourselves. Then Sky speaks up. "I'll go." She walks up to Wyn and smiles. "Saving the day and kicking ass? Sounds great t-to me." She tries to paint herself as confident, though I hear the tremble in her voice.
Silver walks up beside her. "Same here. Can't let my little brother go without me, can I?" He grabs Wyn and ruffles his mane, Wyn struggling and failing to get away.
Razz looks down and groans. "Well, if I say no I'm going to regret it forever." She glares at Lilac. "But if I die, I'm going to kill you."
The Unicorn smiles. "Fair enough." Then she turns to Lou and I. "What about you two?"
Lou's wings twitch nervously. "Can. . . Can I think about it overnight? Do we have to leave now?"
Lilac shakes her head. "We'll leave tomorrow, and meet at the hill that leads to the forest. And what about you, Hurricane?"
My stomach twists as I silently come up with a list of reasons for and against all this.
Pros: Save the world, get out of town, and possibly make great friends.
Cons: Die trying, and these people might drive me crazy.
"I'll think about it, too. If that's alright."
Lilac nods. "Whatever you need. Everyone get a good night's rest, because tomorrow we change the world."