//------------------------------// // Prelude // Story: Roots of a Heart // by adcoon //------------------------------// Celestia soared gracefully across the dark, starless skies. Her strong wings carried her with only the occasional slow flap towards the gentle red glow of the sunset on the far horizon. Below her the endless oceans and fields flew past in a blur, tiny lights now and then flickering in and out of existence among the rocks and trees. Occasionally she turned her head and let her deep purple eyes follow the lights as they faded away behind her. A sad and gently caring smile graced her regal face. The distance seemed to grow with each passing year, the end-point slowly drifting away with the ages. Descending finally through the cool air, her gold-studded hooves touched down softly upon the vast open courtyard of beautifully patterned cobblestone and impressive carved stone pillars. Her wings folded along her sides as she walked slowly up the long, wide stairs at the foot of the massive iron gates. Her steps on the stone sent loud echoes ringing across the vast open plaza, rebounding off the pillars and grand castle walls. The iron-clad guards along the steps met her with steely, unflinching gazes as the gates opened silently for her. A copper-coated stallion with sleek black mane and noble eyes, dressed in a suit of rare fabrics, stepped out and bowed before the regent. “Your Majesty! You grace us with your presence.“ Celestia smiled regally and gave a simple nod at the golden scroll case hanging from a silk ribbon around her neck. “We are here to personally deliver a message to your lord.” She spoke as if she had said those same words in this very place a thousand times before, which may well have been the simple truth. “It is Our wish to see him,” she added, more firmly and against tradition. The servant gave a bow and began to speak, flawlessly reciting what had no doubt been the standard reply for more ages than he himself could remember. “Our Lord greets you and wants to once again reaffirm his sworn oath to your sister, the young Princess Luna. His Lordship's answer to this year's invitation to the Grand Galloping Gala shall remain the same as last year, and all the years before that, until his oath of loyalty stands fulfilled. It is the hope of Our Lord that you will continue to respect his wishes in this matter.” Celestia listened with patience, her gentle face expressing no great surprise yet hinting at a deeply rooted sadness. “Is that all?” There was a challenge in her voice. It wasn't directed at the greeter. The stallion gave a little nervous cough. “No, Your Highness. I am also to send His Lordship's most heartfelt compliments to your sister on her return to the blessed soils of Equestria, with the hope that she of all will understand his decision. Furthermore, Our Lord extends his regards to the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony, of particular note the young bearer of Loyalty, with hopes of many years of friendship and great deeds ahead.” The servant bowed as he finished. “That is all, Your Highness.” The princess regarded the castle and the large gateway behind the stallion. After a moment she looked around at the scroll case by her side. A shimmering light of gold illuminated it as she pulled out a carefully sealed missive, levitating it elegantly through the air towards the greeter. “Tell your master that We are deeply saddened to hear his reply, especially on this unique and wonderful occasion for us all. Tell him that We hope he will accept and read this invitation regardless, and that it may change his heart. Tell him—” She paused, keeping her regal posture and face despite a barely visible struggle to hold back her feelings. She shook her head as if to shake off a thought. “That will be all, thank you.” The greeter bowed deeply and turned around, disappearing down the richly decorated hall inside with the scroll floating along beside him. Celestia watched him go as the giant gates closed between them. *** “What's that? What's that? What is that?” Dinky Doo came bouncing joyously down the street behind her mother who was carrying a nondescript brown paper bag in her mouth. Derpy had been working late so Dinky had been staying with her half-sister Amethyst Star after school. Dinky and Derpy were now on their way home. “What's in the bag?” Dinky pressed on, eagerly prancing around Derpy to get a better look at the object of her fascination. “Nuffin,” Derpy said innocently, mouth completely full of paper bag. “Muffins?!” The young unicorn's eyes sparkled with delight. Derpy looked mildly panicked at the unicorn's keen perception. “No, um, awwles … juft awwles.” “Sure, sure … apples.” Dinky winked conspiratorially. Derpy heaved a breath of relief and smiled in satisfaction at her diversion. You're a real sleek con mane, she told herself. “You, um, haf fun to'ay wif your sifter?” Dinky nodded enthusiastically. “She let me help her and mister Karat in the shop, and then she helped me with my magic. She says I'm getting really good with my light spells.” “Weally?” “She says I outshine all the diamonds in the shop!” The little unicorn beamed. “Wanna see?” “Mhmm,” Derpy murmured as she regarded the filly warmly. Dinky closed her eyes in concentration. Her little horn lit up brightly in a dancing display of colored lights like the brilliant sparkle of sunlight playing in gemstones. “See?” she said proudly and looked up at her mother. “You like it?” “Ooh,” Derpy exclaimed, nearly dropping the bag. She caught it in mid-air again and grinned proudly at Dinky. “You're the clevewestest liwwle unicorn ah know!” The filly beamed, and in the excitement her horn flared briefly and lit up the street in a blinding flash. There was a surprised squeak, a loud bump and the sound of the paper bag being crushed under the weight of two ponies. “Nooo …” cried Derpy. “Oh, I'm so, so sorry …” a shy voice said as they stumbled about blindly. “A-are you hurt?” As the light died and all their eyes got used to the darkness again, Derpy found herself sprawled on the ground together with a yellow pegasus. She picked up the sad remains of the paper bag and tried not to cry. “My muffins …” Dinky hurried up to her mom and helped her back up. “I'm sorry, mom! I didn't mean to do that. Are they …” she looked at the muffins in dismay. She had looked forward to a muffin, and so had Derpy no doubt. Still, it wasn't the end of the world. “We can get some new ones, can't we? We'll go back and buy some.” “Mrs. Cake gave me 'em,” Derpy cried sadly. “A special gift, for doing a good job she said.” Fluttershy staggered back on her legs and looked at the two unfortunate ponies with the bag of crushed and dirty muffins between them. “I-I'm SO sorry, I didn't look where I was going,” she said, looking wracked with guilt. “I-I can make it good again. My friends and I were on our way to Sugarcube Corner for, um, dinner. You can come with me, I'm sure Pinkie Pie wouldn't mind letting you in, um, that is, if you want to. I'll tell her it was all my fault with the muffins.” Dinky looked at her mother. Derpy wiped her eyes and looked up at the yellow pegasus with a light of hope in her eyes. “You would do that for us?” Fluttershy smiled at her. “It's the least I could do after bumping into you like that. I'm really, really sorry.” She held out a hoof to Derpy. “I'm, um, Fluttershy.” Derpy brightened up as if nothing had happened. “I'm Derpy, Derpy Hooves. This is my daughter Dinky.” Dinky waved happily as Derpy shook Fluttershy's hoof. “You're a really nice pony, miss Fluttershy,” the gray pegasus said with a faint blush to her cheeks. “Oh, um, thank you, Derpy.” Fluttershy smiled as she lead them down the street towards the bakery where the sounds of a party were already flowing out through the door. “I-I think Pinkie had something silly planned. I think she said something about, um, pirates. Just so you are, um, warned.” *** “Ahoy, me mateys! Bring 'er alongside!” A familiar pink party pony bounded up to greet them as they entered. She wrapped a hoof around each of them as she lead them inside with a grin the size of her head. She was wearing a red bandanna, golden ear rings and a large hat with a big feather prominently featured. The theme of Pinkie's party was clear as day from the outset. What wasn't clear was why, but that was never clear with Pinkie. “Arrr! Ye scurvy dogs, the party's already started.” She slapped a big hat on each of them and stuck a plastic cutlass in their mouths. “Come join me crew an' I fer a round o' grog an' munchies! We're celebratin' some mighty fine booty tonight, ain't it right me hearties?” There was a big “Arrr!” from the other four ponies and one small dragon gathered in the Sugarcube Corner which was decorated in a pirate theme for the occasion, whatever exactly that was. Derpy and Dinky had seen the new unicorn and her friends around Ponyville but never talked to them much, except for Pinkie Pie who was hard not to know when you lived in Ponyville. Pinkie joined in with a mighty “Arrr!” herself and directed Derpy and her daughter towards the table where two places had mysteriously been reserved. Fluttershy trotted behind in shy silence but failed to avoid Pinkie's attention. The pink pony grabbed the yellow pegasus and slapped a hat on her head. “Now, c'mere me bucksome beauty! No runnin' off like that!” Fluttershy squeaked a little, then giggled at the crazy party pony. There was a loud protest as a rainbow-maned pegasus jumped up on the table, pointing her cutlass at Pinkie. “ 'Ey! That's me lass ye're holdin' there, ye pink scallywag!” “Ya hah hah hah harrr! The captain takes what the captain likes,” Pinkie laughed dramatically while Fluttershy squeaked in her grasp. “And she gives nothin' back!” The rainbow pegasus held out a hoof to the orange earth pony seated to her right. “First mate, gimme yar rope!” “Ay!” The pony gave one nod, pulled a rope out from under the table and threw it to the pegasus. “Mutiny!” Pinkie crowed and raised her hooves to fight. “Come at me, cur!” Derpy and Dinky watched in amazement at the blur of colors. The pegasus was upon Pinkie in the blink of an eye, and before anypony knew it the captain was dangling above the table, tied up like a freshly caught fish. The pegasus landed next to Fluttershy and picked up Pinkie's wide, feathered hat. She put it on with a flourish. “Take me lass, will ya? Not on my watch!” There were cheers from around the table as Fluttershy and the new captain took their seats next to each other. Derpy and Dinky sat down on the other side of the table. “Welcome aboard, me new hearties. I be yer captain, the dread Rainbowbeard, the Blazin' Buckaneer and legendary Scourge of the Celestial Seas.” She tipped her hat before raising her tankard of grog at the ponies around her. “An' this 'ere,” she pointed the tankard to her right, “be me lass, miss Fluttershy, the bucksomest gall ever to set a sail upon the bright blue ocean!” “Yar …” Fluttershy said quietly, smiling timidly by the captain's side. The tankard moved clockwise around the table, pointing at the orange earth pony who had provided the rope. “First mate and grogmeister, Apple Blackjack!” Applejack gave a hearty “YAR!” and poured them a jug of grog each. “Welcome aboard the Flyin' Seahorse! Just returned from a glorious plunder of ye royal coffers, with a booty to be sung about fer ages to come!” “Yarr! The one and only aerial hippocampus!” The purple unicorn who now lived in the library grinned widely next to Applejack and swung her mug in the air, spraying the table with grog. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, pointing her tankard at the unicorn. “Ay, the one and only. Our navigator and drivelswigger, Twilight Sparkle, is that.” The tankard passed by Derpy and Dinky to the fair, purple-maned unicorn on their other side. “And lastly but neigh leastly, our gunner and fair figurehead miss Rarity the Purple Corsair with her faithful powder monkey, Spike the Dragon” “Well met,” said the unicorn, the most elaborately and fashionably dressed of all the ponies around the table. “Yo!” Spike the powder monkey saluted them with a raised tankard and a toothy grin. “Yo ho!” They all chimed in, mugs of grog clashing in the middle of the table. “Ya cur, ya forgot me!” Pinkie said from her dangling position above the table. Rainbow Dash gave a dismissive nod up at Pinkie Pie. “Oh yeah, and … Pinkie the Parrot.” “Me shoulder be achy,” said the pink pony to nopony in general. “Anypony seen me Gummy? Old gator Gummy will get momma free he will!” “Don't mind 'er, she talks more'n she thinks,” Rainbow Dash said and threw a cupcake to Pinkie. It was dutifully grabbed and gobbled down. “So tell us yar names, me friends.” Dinky swung her plastic cutlass in the air. “Freebooter Dinky Doubloon, at yer service!” “An' I be Derpy Jones, Bread Raider of the Golden Sea,” Derpy said and grimly impaled a muffin on her plastic sword. She held up the golden-brown treasure. “What's this boot ye be celebratin'?” Rainbow Dash reached down under the table and pulled out a small treasure chest. With a grin she slammed it down on the table in front of her, sending cups and baked goods jumping. “Behold, me hearties!” She flipped the chest open to reveal seven golden tickets. “Straight from ye royal coffers, seven golden tickets, one fer each o' the seas and the reason fer our little party this night. Arrr!” Derpy and Dinky gazed wide-eyed upon the golden treasure. “Oooh!” As did everypony else. Rainbow Dash snapped the chest shut again. “Enough gazin', ye scurvy dogs! It be time fer a song an' a jig, yarrr!” The pegasus jumped up on the treasure chest, standing on her hind legs and raising her tankard of grog high into the air. “Sing, dance, me lasses … and lad.” She grinned at the powder monkey. “Party like there be no tomorrow!” As Rainbow Dash danced atop the treasure chest, the others broke into song and cheers. My wings aching, sky breaking, hail on the deck And the airship's one squall away from ending a wreck Storm or pony, don't know who's the tougher’a ride, We fight while the earth ponies all cower inside The storm's flashing, ship's dashing, gasbag's alight And the unicorns all just stare on in fright We've got the sky on our shoulders, never ask how It'll be the storm or the pegasi who break here and now Clouds kicking, hooves slipping, wind in our manes We've seen this before and we'll see this again, A dance with skyfire is good for the soul, It's a suicide run, but we'll give it our all The storm's smashing, ship's crashing, falls from the sky, This is what comes along with intention to fly, Icarus' landing would be repeated once more, At least if the Weather Team didn't even the score The rain's lashing, sky's thrashing, screaming like Hell, The skyship's in flames where its corpse newly fell, We rescued the crew, an eye for an eye, When we promised their safety we did not lie. My wings aching, sky breaking, hail on the deck And the airship's now a big burning wreck Storm or pony, don't know who's the tougher’a ride, Come hell or high water, we'll never hide. *** “They're not really together-together, you know. They're just old friends.” Derpy blushed as she realized she had been watching Fluttershy dancing with the dashing rainbow-maned pegasus. They seemed almost made for each other. She looked up at Pinkie who was still dangling above the table and now looking down at her with a knowing grin. “Ask her for a dance,” the pink pony suggested. “She won't say no, trust me!” “Um, I wasn't …” Derpy began, feeling flustered. Pinkie giggled and snaked herself free of the ropes. It was fascinating to watch. She dangled briefly by one leg before plopping down next to Derpy, turning in the air like a cat. “Come on, I ain't born yesterday, silly filly! You've barely touched the muffins all night. You rarely leave muffins on the table, Derps.” “Do you think she'd like me too?” Derpy ventured the question as Pinkie was the only one there to hear it. All the others were having fun on the dance floor. “I have no idea,” Pinkie said cheerfully and nudged the pegasus. “But you could find out, you know. Go talk to her, ask her for a dance, oooh, and you could accompany her to the gala! That'd be romantic, wouldn't you think?” Derpy looked dismayed. “But I've no ticket.” “You can still go talk to her.” Pinkie didn't skip a beat. “Hey, Fluttershy!” Derpy waved her hooves to stop Pinkie, but it was too late. There was no stopping Pinkie. Fluttershy stopped and looked up as Pinkie pushed Derpy out on the floor towards her. “Oh, hi Derpy. Would you, um, like to dance?” Fluttershy asked innocently, not showing any sign of finding the situation unusual. Pinkie was busy distracting Rainbow Dash as Derpy looked over her shoulder. She turned back and nodded slowly at Fluttershy. As the other pegasus led her out on the dance floor she could see Pinkie making gestures at her, possibly meant to be helpful, but all she could think to do was keep track of her hooves. If only she could say something. Maybe she could ask for a ticket like the ones in the treasure chest. They danced in silence. Derpy never did ask any of the questions on her mind. *** From the high tower of the castle of Canterlot, Luna could see far across the lands of Equestria. Above her the moon shone down upon the castle and the lands below where the last few ponies were now making their way up the path to the Gala. An hour ago the line had been stretching out for miles, or so it seemed. The night was new and the gala was getting under way. For Luna it was the first gala in a thousand years. She had been looking forward to it, more than anything. Celestia had assured her that he would show up. “He can't say no to you,” she had said. “I gave him your letter with the invitation.” Luna had been hopeful. She had watched the ponies as they arrived at the gala all night, her eyes scanning the horizon for a carriage, or a lone traveler. He would be there … he would never let her down. The last pony disappeared through the gates below. Luna watched the distance. An hour passed in silence. The cold wind blew her mane and ruffled her dress. She had sat for hours earlier while the servants styled her mane and ensured her dress was perfect. It had to be just perfect for tonight. Another hour passed. Finally she slipped back inside and trudged down the empty corridors of the castle to her lonely room. It should have been her best night ever. It should have been magical.