Title:           Hunting Hope 18
Author:          EgomaniacalMonkeyMan
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/Ng54G6HK
First Edit:      Wednesday 19th of June 2013 01:45:55 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Wednesday 19th of June 2013 01:45:55 AM CDT

>The castle loomed above as Hope jogged towards it, tendrils of fog threading between her feet and making the path ahead almost invisible.
>She walked carefully, the clatter of hooves the only sound in the unnatural dusk that seemed to fill the air even though minutes ago Hope had stood in full daylight.
>A flutter of wind at her back caused Hope to pause, but after a moment of intent observation, her ears swivelling in every direction cautiously, she continued onwards.
>Only one hurdle now separated her from the grand steps of the ancient castle.
>A rickety rope bridge.
Hah, Hope laughed to herself. Of course there was a rotten old bridge.
How could there not be one more obstacle, or perhaps trap, preventing her from arriving at her destination?
There always was something.
>Her father's dreams of the improvement of thousands of lives.
>Her dreams of archaeology, to be like her hero 'Daring Do' whom anon had laughed about wistfully when he had seen the books and the iconic rugged adventurer on the cover.
>Her mother's plans for her daughter to be accepted into the family, and into ponykind, properly.
Eternally, an obstacle would come up and throw everything askew.
>Anon: builder, inventor, dreamer; caught in a web of deceit and intrigue.
>Lyra: anthropologist, musician, daughter of a wealthy family; exiled and disowned by her own kin.
>Hope: the child of two worlds, raised during the fall of a peaceful neighbour nation, fighting for a place to be accepted; only to be hunted by those she would be allies with.
>Hope sat at the cliff edge, legs dangling through a gap in the ancient bridge, and stared up at the withered castle.
>The castle stared back, offering no comfort or warmth to soothe her troubled spirit.
>Yet, despite the discomfort and sadness, Hope regained her upright stance and crossed the bridge.
>Hope attempted to shake the last of her emotions away, fruitlessly.
This was, for now, home.
Sure. "Home".
 
>Celestia stared at the windows on either side.
>Vivid colors and brilliant light shone through from outside, lighting the entire room with a kaleidoscope of light and powerful solar energy.
>On the walls, the stained glass windows spanned the entire height of the large hallway, from floor to thirty foot ceiling.
>Glorious, angular images adorned them, marking the events of the years with unerring precision, and calling forth long forgotten memories back to her ancient mind.
>This particular window showed an old, purple coated, pink maned wizard.
>He stood atop a grey rock jutting out of the ground, and from his horn shone a brilliant pink and purple light that filled the entire top half of the enormous window.
>Below, imps and monsters withered, obscene expressions on their faces, as they turned back into harmless bunnies and other woodland creatures.
"Alas, Starswirl." Celestia spoke quietly up at the window, as if addressing her old friend in person, "Even your greatest magicks could not keep you among us lonely survivors."
>A single tear threatened to fall from her cheek, but the princess shook her head and it disappeared with a flare of golden energy, her horn glowing with a similar hue.
>Her mane fluttered in the solar breeze as she stared down the endless hallway, rows and rows of windows spanning impossible distance.
>Celestia's horn twinged with energy again, as Philomena appeared in a burst of fire, a letter clamped in her claws.
"Thank you, dear" Celestia heard herself say, as she absent-mindedly scanned the contents, her mind still racing through the ancient halls, thinking of hundreds more lost friends.
>The letter simply read;
>'Urgent. Six Elements of Harmony request audience. Questions regarding mission information and help with compass spell.'
>Celestia smiled outwardly, thanking Philomena and sending her back with the calm order to, "Allow them in, and inform them that I shall arrive shortly"
>However, inside she was caught in turmoil. The letter had torn her completely out of her peaceful thoughts of the past, and sharply back into the cruel world of today.
>The griffins, in open rebellion.
>The ponies, cowed and cowardly as if their spirit had somehow left them, with only a determined few holding the soul and strength their ancestors had flaunted with ease.
>And right in the middle of all this, the Human and his half-breed child.
>He had unbalanced everything, and now she had to set things right.
>At least now 'anon' was no longer stirring up trouble. All that could be done was clean up his mess, and try to make it that the next twenty years weren't as difficult as the past twenty had.
>But 'Hope', the satyr. She was one loose end that refused to be tied.
And peace would never be reached until her string, like those of her own friends, was woven back into the fabric of time, and lost in the past.
>Celestia's eyes shone, as she powered up her horn and teleported to the waiting room, where the six were certain to be waiting for her.
 
 
So, being that this was a bit experimental, I'm extra open to criticism or suggestions.
I also might slightly change some of this in later chapters, as I have already done slightly for previous ones... in a perfect world I would have been writing the exact same story when I started as when I finish, but these things to tend to evolve as they go.
Such is the beast, no?
 
Atanyrate, I hope you enjoyed it, and as always...
Stay Frosty!
 
P.S.
welp. It's shit. sorry guys. Next one will be better.
Info dump? Way too many commas? Very little action or progression? The hell was I thinking.
I won't take it down, but I promise to be better in the future.