//------------------------------// // Speakers // Story: It Happened Before // by Backburner //------------------------------// Several forms stood facing each other in a room to dark for any creature but a Diamond Dog to see in. The first speaker, as in all their meetings, greeted the others. “How is everypony? It has been a long time since I have last seen my sisters.” “The city of Appleloosa is doing as well as y’all would expect, it’s grown a lot since we were young.” Came the voice of the second speaker. “The Everfree is calmer then you would think. The worst I’ve seen this decade is an increase in the bunny population from all the new grasslands that are slowly popping up.” The third speaker said. A few quick flaps of Pegasus wings could be heard before another voice made itself known. “Cloudsdale and the weather factories are working at peak performance, as you would expect.” “Honestly sister,” came the voice of the fifth speaker. “You never did get over that nasty pride of yours, put your wings away.” Once again the sound of wings could be heard. “Manehatten and Fillydelphia are a bit overcrowded, but nothing I can’t handle.” “I don’t think there are any problems up north, too much snow for anything but sledding and snow ponies.” Sounded the voice of the sixth, and final speaker. “Sisters,” the first speaker said, “I’m glad to hear you all are doing well, but I’m afraid my own report is… significantly less positive than what you have told me.” “Ya never do call us all here for good news do ya?” said the second speaker. “When the letter trickled down to me I knew we’d be in for a mess.” “Don’t tell me you’re having problems in Canterlot,” said the fifth speaker. “We haven’t seen trouble there since the reign of Celestia.” The room took on a sudden silence. In the dark, time passed unnoticed as its inhabitants listened to the echo of that heavy word inside their heads. “I’m sorry, it has been so long… I had forgotten-” “Do not apologize sister,” said the first speaker. “Celestia wielded the Elements of Harmony in a troubled time, it is unfortunate that her sister’s betrayal led to the end of her time with us, but when the time came to step down she did what she knew was right. May we make the same decision when our time comes.” “IF that time comes,” the fourth speaker said, her voice loud and confident. “I doubt any of us would want to hold out against the power the Elements possess. It seems not too long ago we used them to vanquish such mighty foes as Discord and Nightmare Moon.” “Not long ago to us is not the same as not long ago to the world sister.” Came the third voice. “I have seen generation after generation in Ponyville come and go, as you have seen the same in your own respective cities, sisters, we are not the same young mares that preformed these great feats. You know as well as I do how nearly Discord bested us then, should he return I doubt he would have as much trouble.” “We may no longer be young, but you have forgotten the changes we have made for the better.” Said the sixth speaker as she lit her horn. “I didn’t have this when he last challenged us. I’d like to see that big meanie stop us with all the time we’ve had to practice-” “Sisters,” the first speaker’s voice was full of authority as she spoke. Though it was nowhere said she was the head of her co-rulers; her tone was more than enough to draw all attention to her. “Though I’d love to talk further of our past achievements, there is something you must see before anything else can be done. I’m afraid we don’t have much time and what time we do have is quickly going to become useless if we do not act now.” On the floor in the center of the room was a large flat disk that sparked to life as the first speaker finished. Gathering around the circle, the sisters gazed at an image of Canterlot’s sprawling University of Magic. “What’s this thing?” The second speaker asked as she looked in wonder at the display before her. “A recent addition to the palace. This portal allows me to view any moment of the past in any place I desire. It still cannot display the future, but I suspect that will not be a limitation for long. What you are looking at now is the University as it appeared last week, the day I sent you your invitations to join me here.” “That’s nice, but if you wanted us to see your school why didn’t you just send this picture to us?” The sixth speaker said, confused. “Keep looking, and I’ll show you.” As the ponies watched, the picture before them slowly began to change. The sun started to make its way across the sky, and ponies that previously stood still began to move. The still picture had turned into a moving image of that day, slowly showing its progression. After a moment, a monstrous explosion ripped through the top of the University, causing everypony present (excluding the first speaker) to jump. A huge hole was left in the ceiling, and arcs of pink magical energy flickered in and out of being. “What was that!” said the sixth speaker. The picture zoomed in on the hole, as a small pink filly with a light orange mane lay shivering on the floor of what looked to be an auditorium. The unmoving forms of several ponies lay against the walls, their manes and clothes singed. “THAT, was a young filly discovering her potential.” Said the first speaker. “She has an amazing magical prowess, stronger than I’ve ever seen, possibly even stronger than my own. I have taken her as my personal apprentice; she will need much instruction if she is to win against what is to come.” “What exactly is to come?” Said the third speaker. “I do not know, but I suspect if I find out what it is, it will be the last thing I ever do.” “Sister you speak nonsense,” The fifth speaker said, her voice full of worry. “We have seen ten thousand years go by in Equestria, what makes you think we will not live through whatever threat you fear the future holds?” “As you have said my sisters.” The first speaker responded, “we are not the same young mares we were before. When Celestia handed her power to us, when the Elements chose us as their avatars, we were only given these gifts on loan.” A long pause dominated the now dimly lit room, as none of the others wished to give voice to what the first speaker had suggested. After a moment that lasted far shorter then it felt, the first speaker spoke again. “I believe this young filly is the next Element of Magic. We are then, working on borrowed time.” “Are you sure, is there nothing else this could mean?” Said the fourth speaker. “I assure you, if there was anything else this could be I would not have called you all here. Even now I hope I am wrong when I tell you this, but I know I am not. Celestia found me when I was just older than my new student, if we are given triple the time she had to find the other avatars I fear we would still fail in our task. As it stands however, we must devote all our efforts to discovering their new identities.” “How long do you think we have?” the third speaker asked. “I cannot say. All I know is the longer we wait to find them, the weaker we will become. You all remember how Celestia looked in her final days.” The room was briefly silent again. “And where do y’all think we should be looking for these new avatars?” The second speaker said. “I cannot tell you where to look, but I can tell you how you will know when you found them.” A crown once bearing a purple star gem floated to the center of the room surrounded by a magical purple aura. Where the gem once resided, there was now only empty space. “This was what I came upon when I checked the Elements in their chamber. I suspect it has relocated itself to the Everfree where we found it, though I can not be sure.” “Then there is no doubt about it, all we can do now is find the others and wait.” The fifth speaker said. “We do not have the luxury of waiting, we must prepare to help the new Elements in any way we can.” Said the fourth speaker. The sixth speaker looked at the shivering form in the picture. “She’s only a filly,” she said. “So were we.” The first speaker replied, and there was silence.