//------------------------------// // The Trials begin // Story: Survival // by Doctah WAAwee //------------------------------// When Lyra reached the group, her face was of pure happiness and intensity. She took a deep breath and was about to talk, but Twilight silenced her by turning her lips into zippers. "Okay, Lyra, I know you're happy and all that but we need to keep this quite. Now i'm going to release the spell, can I count on you to not scream your horn off?" The mint green unicorn nodded her head vigorously. Twilight released the spell. Lyra took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. "Okay, first thing I want to say... I told you so." Lyra was trying REALLY hard to contain her enthusiasm. Her body was quivering and shaking, and she was biting her lip. Twilight sighed. "Before you explode, i'll put a soundproofing spell around us" Twilight said. She did so and prepared for the verbal bombardment that was about to come... her actions weren't wasted. Lyra cleared her throat. "I TOLD YOU SO!!!!! I. BUCKING. TOLD. YOU. SO!!!!! YEAHHHHH! WHAT'S GOOD NOW!? EVERYONE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY FOR BELIEVING THEY EXIST! WELL LOOK NOW!" Twilight, or the group didn't say anything. Wise words looked on in amusement and Sanatore had a look of suspicion, and worry. "GOT NOTHING TO SAY HUH!? YEAHHHH! BUCK YEAH YOU DON'T!" Lyra stood up on her hindlegs... and proceeded to do a pelvic thrust. "UHHH!" She went on all fours again and took a deep breath. "Okay, i'm done." "...Now that you got that out of your system, back to the matter at hoof-" Both Lyra and Pinkie interrupted her at the same time. "Hand" They both said. They looked at each other, and smiled. "Nice!" They both hoof bumped. Twilight face hoofed. "Ugh, fine. The matter at hand. We have to bring him to the hospital without anypony noticing him, we can't use magic to cloak him because we don't know how that would effect him, so here's the plan. Wise words, you and me will take the front. When we reach the hospital, you can talk to the ponies in there before and after we bring him in, so they don't panic when we bring him in- Lyra, what are you doing?" Twilight stopped telling the group her plans to address Lyra. Said pony was rubbing the human's hand on her face like it was lotion, and her eyes were rolling to the back of her head. She stopped when she noticed everypony was looking at her. "Uhhh... i've always wanted to know what they feel like..." Lyra said with a sheepish smile. "On...your face?" Rainbow questioned. "Oh my..." Fluttershy said. "Darling... I think you have a condition." Rarity said. "Do they feel good?" Pinkie asked, reaching for the other hand. But she was stopped by a stern look from Sanatore. "Green unicorn, please don't rub his hands on your face, not only is it a violation of his body... it's really creepy." Sanatore said. He, with the human carefully balanced on his back, walked up to Twilight. "I think we may have to give that mare..." "Lyra" Twilight said. "Yes, right. This Lyra a physiological evaluation, in my professional opinion." He gave her a very worried look. "This might grow into a obsession with the human, I fear for her mental health." Twilight raised an eyebrow "Why is that?" Twilight asked, her curious and studious self taking over. "During her...rant, she said that she was constantly ridiculed because of her belief in humans, even though her outburst on the surface was comical...I think she has some emotional damage from the constant ridicule, and now that she sees a human, she is going to try to relive herself of that emotional baggage using the human... with could lead to a very unhealthy obsession." "Hmmm... I see your point, so we shouldn't let her come with us?" Sanatore shook his head. "No, that would lead to even more damage to her already fragile emotional state. I recommend that she come with us... but she cannot be left alone with the human. Imagine what she would do to his body if she was alone with him." Sanatore and Twilight shivered at the mental images. "Okay... Lyra! You can come with us, but only if you keep yourself in check, alright?" Lyra smiled and nodded. "Alright, back to the plan, we wi-" This time Rarity that interrupted. "Twilight, if I may, can I make a new set of...undergarments for this human? There probably isn't any hospital gowns or clothes that are made for his species, and we don't want him to be in those...dirty rags any longer, hm?" Twilight took a moment to think. "Well, Sanatore, you are the pony in charge of his well being. What say you?" Twilight asked. Sanatore thought for a second. "Hmm...you there, what's your name?" Sanatore pointed a hoof to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow flew to him. "Rainbow Dash! Fastest flier in equestria!" "Okay, Rainbow Dash, can you please go with Rarity so that when she is done with the...undergarments, you can bring them to the hospital?" "Of course! I'll bring them in ten seconds flat! Come on Rare's, don't have much time!" She picked up Rarity. "No, no, no! The wind will ruin my precious maaaaaa..." Nopony could hear her finish her sentence because of how far away she was, nothing was left but a faint rainbow streak. "Talk about hustle..." Wise words said his first sentence since they came from the everfree. Everypony nodded. "Well, time to go to the hospital. Wise words, with me." Twilight said. "Yes ma'am" He said with a coy tone, and he trotted next to her. The walk towards the hospital was uneventful. The only sound that was made was the clopping of hooves on the floor, the constant sound of Pinkie pie bouncing, and the steady breathing of the human on Sanatore's back. But when they entered the hospital... well let's just say Celestia leaving Wise words there wasn't for no reason. "AHHHHHHHHH! W-W-W-WHAT IS THAT DISGUSTING THING!? GET THAT MONSTER OUT!!!!" A nurse screamed when Sanatore entered the main lobby of the hospital, despite the warning from Wise words gave prior to the human's appearance,. Wise words horn glowed green again. "As I told you, this is a human. I know It is hard to believe but look at me, and the pony that is carrying the human." Wise pointed a hoof to Sanatore. "Do you see our armor? We are royal guards, and if Celestia herself knows the human is here and is letting two of her guards AND the elements of harmony escort this human towards a populated town, would it be safe to assume that this human, who is ALSO laying UNCONSCIOUS AND BANDAGED on the back of a royal guard, safe? And is in need of medical attention?" The mare nurse calmed down, and looked down in shame. "I didn't hear a response" Said Wise words. "Yes..." the nurse weakly said, but to Wise words, it was loud and clear. "Also, look where the human is lying on, the back of an armored royal guard. Do you think that is comfortable?" Wise words questioned. "No..." the nurse said. Head still down in shame. "And do you think your disingenuous assertions are making a INJURED BEING any better? Didn't you take an oath to practice medicine ethically and honestly?" The mare hid her face and didn't answer. "Answer the question." Wise words demanded. "Y-yes..." the nurse said, tears are starting to form on her face, but nopony notices because she is hiding her face. "Now, is it ETHICAL to deny healthcare to an INJURED BEING, BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE HOW IT LOOKS!? IS IT ETHICAL TO CALL AN INJURED BEING DISGUSTING AND MONSTER AT A FIRST GLANCE!? IS IT!? BECAUSE THE ONLY MONSTER I SEE RIGHT NOW IS YOU! NOW ANSWER THE QUESTION!" Wise words horn turned a dark green. The mare was crying, but Wise words didn't care. Her misery seemed to feed Wise words. He stepped closer and dark green energy started to seep from his eyes, like a form of flaming eyeliner, his eyes were blank, his voice started to sound like many at once. It put Luna's royal Canterlot voice to shame. "ANSWER. THE. QUESTION!" A hoof was felt on his shoulder. He looked back with his teeth clenched. It was Sanatore. He looked around. He saw the girls look at him with shock, he saw the other nurses looking at him, he saw the crying mess of the nurse he was verbally destroying, but most of all when he looked in the lobby's mirror... he saw himself. He couldn't even recognize himself, he deactivated his magic, and looked at the group he came with. "... Get him a room..." Wise words then walked out of the hospital. Twilight was going to go after him, but Sanatore stopped her. Fluttershy went towards the crying mare to comfort her. "He...needs some time alone... lets just get the human a ro-" Pinkie flailed her hooves to get attention. "Yes...um..." "Pinkie" Twilight said. "Yes, Pinkie?" Sanatore said. "Since everypony is just saying "human" can I name him!? Oh! I know, I know! How about Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop!? " Pinkie asked. ... ... ... ... "I'll consider it." Said Sanatore One doctor burst out laughing, which started a chain reaction, and got everypony to laugh. Successfully releasing the tension in the room. The mare on the floor crying did not share the same energy as the others, but a slight chuckle escaped her lips. "Heeeey!" A familiar voice rang. Twilight and her friends came out to see who it was. The owner of said voice touched down outside the hospital, it was Rainbow. She had a box in her possession and a... "WOWEE DASH! You look so....WOW!" Pinkie said. The other three mare's looked in shock and awe at their tomboyish friend. Her mane, usually unkempt, was now groomed. Making rainbow look.... well, wow. The cyan pegesus had a look of slight irritation. "Don't get used to it. Rarity was complaining about her mane and how I "barbarically destroyed" it, then she "insisted" that she do my mane as a form of payment. Said that my mane was like a "mop thrown in a wind tunnel" and she kept going on and on about it until I let her do it." She caught some stallion pedestrians staring at her. When she looked back, they all went on their way. "So, hows the human doing? Got him the clothes he needed." Rainbow said. Twilight answered. "Were about to get him a room now, I have to go to the library to get some note paper a-" She was interrupted when Pinkie pulled a stack of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink from her mane. "And I need to check up on Spike..." Twilight said. Pinkie reached into her mane and pulled out a sleeping Spike, basket and all. "He doing fine." Pinkie whispered. Twilight nodded and then Pinkie put Spike back into her mane. Rainbows stomach growled. "Need some grub..." Rainbow said to herself. Pinkie then proceeded to reach into her mane and pulled out... a lamp. "Nope! That's not it!" Pinkie said and put the lamp back into her mane. Then Pinkie proceeded to pull out and put back a series of random items. A lawn chair, a couch, tom, princess Luna, Iron Will on a chair clipping his nails, a hot pink Bugatti, yadda yadda yadda... "Where are- OH! There they are!" Pinkie exclaimed. She pulled out a box of muffins and handed them to dash. None of the group questioned just how she got those, after being around Pinkie for long enough you tend to expect the unexpected. The doctors, and Sanatore, however did not expect that. Lyra's reaction was priceless though. "DEUUEAUUGH!?" ... ... ... The next day. Ponyvillie was awake and bustling. Shops were being opened, little fillies and colts were going to school, and a royal guard was carrying a- wait what? Sanatore, a neutral looking Wise words, and the mane six were walking towards the train station. The hospital gave them a gurney for the human (although finding one big enough to use on the humans tall frame was a hassle). Twilight jumped at the chance to use the gurney, one because it would make the trip easier and two because it would make them human look absolutely harmless in the eyes of the residents of ponyvillie. Even though they would be very surprised, they would be much less so because of the helplessness the human exhibited. "It's over here bonnie, take a look." Lyra said as the group approached the train station. Lyra dragged bon-bon over to the train station to gloat, but bon-bon didn't expect it at all. "Ugh... lyraaaaaaa, why did you bring me he-" Her sugery, whiny voice was caught when the group past them with a...human in tow. Her face was frozen in a look of shock, and her head followed the group until they disappeared further into the station. Lyra tapped her shoulder, when she looked at her she had a smug grin on her face and her hoof was out. "Pay up." Lyra said. Bon-bon, still in her shock, reached into the saddlebags she came with and handed her a bag of bits. "Now, time to capitalize." Lyra said. Still wearing that smug grin, she went off into ponyvillie. 'This is gonna be a good day' Lyra thought. ... ... ... Train. The sound of the train going towards Canterlot was the only sound that was heard in the room that housed the mane 6, Sanatore, Wise words, and the unconscious bipedal alien. That and Pinkie's constant rambling, she had it in her mind that she could pass the time by talking to the unconscious human. People in coma's tend to be great listeners. "Andthenafterallthiswe'llthrowyouapartyandnotonlythat!apartywithballoons!Howsuperduperwouldthatbe-" Her hyper-speed rate of talking was stopped when the sound of the train stopping rang thought the train car they were in. "Alright everypony on board, we are here in Canterlot, please exit in an orderly manner." The conductors voice ran though the train car. Pinkie shook the human's limp hand. "Well it's been fun talking to you!" Pinkie exclaimed. The group has been watching her "conversation" with the human for a while, and decided to just let Pinkie Pie be Pinkie Pie. She was getting some concerned stares from Sanatore, he told Twilight of his concerns over the mare. "You get used to it, it's just the way she is, I don't think any therapist could withstand her for very long." Twilight said. "...If you say so..." Sanatore said. When they came out of the train station they were met with a big surprise, a royal carriage was waiting for the mane six, they noticed that the train station was completely barren of any other ponies but themselves. Celestia must have prepared for the humans arrival. The stoic guards raised a brow at the alien among them, but other then that, they did nothing. 'Celestia must have forewarned them about the human' Twilight thought. The group went into the carriage and it started to move towards the castle. The hustle and bustle of Canterlot filling the carriage as they went down the street. But those sounds were completely ignored, complements of Pinkie pie. ... "Pinkie...what are you doing?" Twilight asked. The pink incarnation of energy was currently poking the humans face, then chest, and arms with her hoof. "He's really squishy" Pinkie said. She was laughing and poking the, now proclaimed by Pinkie, squishy human. "C'mon girls! Give him a poke!" "No thanks." Rainbow said, eyeing the knocked out alien encase he sprang to life. "I don't feel right having a alien who has the equivalent of nightmare moon, or worse, in that skull of his right next to us." "Ah don't think poking tha thing isn't ah smart idea. About as smart as trying tah herd manticores." Applejack said. "Still think we should hogtie this "hoo-man" just tah be safe." Sanatore spoke up. "You might reopen any wounds that didn't heal yet. So I don't think hog tying would by a good idea... or poking him for that matter...Pinkie." Sanatore emphasized Pinkie's name. "Aw, but it's so fun to poke him! I'm not doing it hard. He even likes it." Pinkie put her hoofs on the mouth of the alien and made it into a smile. "See?" Sanatore couldn't help but chuckle a little bit. Pinkie knew that she won. "Fine, just don't poke him to ha-" His sentence was interrupted by the sound and feel of the carriage landing, they reached their destination, the castle. And when the guards that where pulling the carriage opened the door... Right there was Princess Celestia, with a weird hexagonal crystal around her neck. Adding to the already impressive royal garments she usually wears. Everypony bowed when the go out of the carriage. The carriage then continued out of sight. "Good evening everypony, I hope your trip went well?" Celestia asked. "Yes princess, we had a... interesting ride here." Twilight said. "Inform me later my dear student." Celestia looked at the unconscious alien. "We must use all the time we have at our disposal." Celestia started to walk towards the castle. The group noticed that, other than a few guards, they were the only ponies here. The group didn't ask why, it was obvious why there wasn't anypony around. The group followed Celestia until they arrived at the door that led to the room that housed the elements of harmony. Celestia stopped at the door. "Wise words and Sanatore, thank you for helping during this. But I am afraid that only the elements, the human, and myself will have to proceed further. Return to our posts." Celestia ordered. "Of course." Both of them said. Something was off about Wise words though. They left the room. Celestia put her horn in the center of the door, a tiny hole in the door was filled by it. Celestia let off some magic, and the six circles that made their home on the beautifully made door shined, the door vertically opened. "Come with me" Celestia said. The group whet inside the amazing architectural prowess the room radiated. Rarity felt like a school filly in a candy store. "No...words..." Rarity contradicted herself. As they approached the pedestal that housed the box that held the elements. She took the box off the pedestal, (which had a strange hexagonal hole in the center), and opened the box, revealing the elements. Celestia then gave each of the mane six there corresponding elements. Fluttershy was given the element of kindness. Applejack, the element of honesty. Rainbow Dash, the element of loyalty. Rarity, the element of generosity. Pinkie Pie, the element of laughter. And finally, Twilight Sparkle, the element of magic. Celestia then took the strange hexagon and then inserted it into the hole in the pedestal, her horn began to glow her trademark golden color, And what happened next caught everypony by surprise. The pedestal began to sink into the ground, and when it finally went completely inside the floor, the ground began to shake.... The wall that was right behind the now floored pedestal began to... open. Revealing another door/wall. This one had five circles surrounding one big one in the center of the wall-door. Each of the surrounding circles corresponded with a specific element of harmony's color, and the best part about this new wall...It was made of crystal. Rarity almost fainted at the supreme beauty of this door. "My word...this door is absolutely-" She was cut off by Pinkie pie. "B-E-A-UTIFUL! WOWEE ZOWIE, THIS EDWARDO!" Pinkie exclaimed. Everypony looked at her in confusion, "It's a wall door right? Put them together and you get dwaor! But the spell check said that wasn't a word, so the author changed it to Edwardo. So, Edwardo!" "Wait, what's a spell check?" Everypony asked including Celestia. Well basically, everypony had a different way of saying it, but it was still the same question. "It's the program that checks your spelling every time out type a word into a computer, silly fillies!" Pinkie said. "Wait, what's a- you know what, i'm not even gonna ask, lets just move on" Rainbow said, and everypony did just that, knowing it was a futile effort trying to understand anything that came out of Pinkie's mouth. "So, princess, whats is this...door doing here?" Twilight asked. "I wouldn't call myself a wise leader if the only thing I relied on was the elements of harmony. Have you noticed that all the greatest threats to equestrian society was handled by the elements of harmony, excluding Sombra and Chrysalis ?" Celestia asked. "Yes, I did notice that, princess." Twilight said. "But, we can't zap the guy with the elements, right?" Rainbow concluded. Celestia nodded. "We cannot use the elements on him Rainbow Dash, you are correct on that...but a long time ago, before my sister became nightmare moon, I thought to myself, 'what would happen if a great calamity was brought upon equestria, and the elements, or even magic itself, was useless against it?'. This was when I alone controlled the elements of harmony, so that is why this door is here. You, now the vessels of the elements of harmony, must use them to unlock the door so we can proceed." "Alright girls, lets crack us open hidden vault!" Rainbow said excitingly. This was sounding more and more like a daring do book by the second, and the rainbow haired mare was enjoying every second of it. Applejack and Rainbow dash put the human down and away from what was about to happen, better to be safe than sorry. The elements started to glow, and from each element a beam shot out and hit the corresponding colored circle. "DR.OCTOGONAPUS!" Pinkie screamed right before the beam shot out of her element. "BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Pinkie screamed while the beam was firing. No one questioned the strange mare. After about 3 seconds the beams ceased, and the door began to glow, the door began to open and...a hall made of pure crystal awaited them, the magic that the elements just released was flowing though the walls, creating a kaleidoscopic affect on the walls. Rarity's eyes shed a couple tears in respect for the beauty of it all. "The colors in the walls in the walls is an aftereffect of the elements magic, the crystal this room is made of does not leak magic, so it is safe to bring the human in here." Celestia said. "So... pretty." Fluttershy said. Everypony agreed with her, even Pinkie was silent and in awe of the hall she was observing with a big, for her, smile on her face. Celestia began to walk in the hall. AJ and RD picked up the human and started to walk with the rest of the group went inside the beautiful hall. Soon the colors faded, much to the disappointment of everypony, the walls where now a brilliant white. The group then stopped at a door. "If you can already guess I had this hall and our solution made with the help of the crystal empire. It took years of hard work and years of excavating, but we did it... girls, I give you..." Celestia opened the door leading to their solution with magic, the crystal hall created another kaleidoscopic affect. She opened the door and what they saw was forever engraved in their minds. Mouths where opened in shock, tears were shed, and no words but Celestia's where spoken. "IN CRYSTALLINAM PURITATEM" The room was the same crystal as the other rooms, but what was in the middle... was a kaleidoscopic crystal orb, six orbs that where colored the same as the elements where orbiting around it, like an atoms electrons would orbit around the nucleus. The magic induced words of Celestia caused the crystal to activate, the outside orbs that were still began to move. Bands of energy corresponding to the elements colors formed and connected to the orbs, and the orbs were following the bands of energy around the main orb. It was a beautiful sight to behold. "These crystals do not use magic when they are activated. This took 300 years in total to make, the instructions passed from generation from generation of crystal ponies and the resisdents of Latinia that were in charge of this. I've made and lost many friends while making this artifact. My friends dying of old age, not because of making this crystal... it is the only thing I can think of that will help us in our time." Celestia said " Princess... you said something...about Latina?" Twilight said, still in shock because of the amazing artifact, she looked behind herself to find that everyone had a look of shock on there face Well, except Pinkie of course. She had a smile that was so big it made twilight want to check exactly WHAT her skin was made of. "Yes, both the name and the healing abilities of the in crystallinam puritatem came from Latina. The ability to work without magic came from the crystal empire." "How does it work without magic?" Twilight asked. "These crystals do not do the work needed, or exert any energy when they're used. This is because of the fact that these crystals act as a catalyst." "Cata-what?" Rainbow asked, finally knocked out of her beauty-induced stupor. "A catalyst, in a chemical reaction, is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change." Twilight explained, Rainbows head started to hurt. "They incite the change, but are not changed themselves." Celestia toned it down for the confused mare. That Rainbow understood. "So what you're saying is that these marvelous pieces of art will cause the human to separate into the two halves, without exerting any force?" Rarity said, while simultaneously looking at the crystal. Her eyes were as big as dinner plates and shined like diamonds. "Yes... but there's a problem, like a catalyst needs certain substances for it to BE a catalyst... this crystal would only work on someone who was born in, and body corresponds to, equestria. This human's body... was not. Even though the reflection is, and the humans body adapted to the magic in equestria, the human's body isn't 100% equestrian. We would have to find a common ground for the artifact to work. To guide the artifact, so it has a path" Twilight eyes started to widen. You could almost hear the words 'BRAIN BLAST!'. "THE PRISON!" Twilight exclaimed. Celestia smiled as she realized what Twilight did moments after. "I'm impressed you figured it out so quickly Twilight Sparkle." Celestia said. But everypony else in the room was confused. "Wha?" Applejack said. "Don't you see!? The prison was made from equestrian magic, meaning, THAT is the common ground we need!" Twilight said. "Gee, Twi. Way to go full egg-head on us, we would probably be here for the rest of the day if you weren't here." Rainbow 'complemented' Twilight. Twilight ignored that comment. "This is were you girls come in, the prison is the only thing truly 100% in equestrian origin, besides the reflection, in the humans body and brain. If we were to 'mark' the prison with a series of mental nodes planted by you six here. He could give the artifact a clear path to the prison, and when we activate the crystal, it should work..." Celestia said. She then looked at the group. "i need you girls to step away from the human, and cover your ears" Celestia said They did, RD and AJ gently set the human down and went towards to group. Celestia pointed at the human then said a phrase in the language of latinia...in her royal Canterlot voice. "CRYSTALLUS, CONTINENT!" The crystal did not slack, even thought it was well over 1000 years old. The rings floated off the main crystal and with lightning speed, went over to the human. He started to float in the air and was spread out, the six individual rings combined into one. The orbs orbited the human now, his arms and legs each had a orb next to them atop his head was one orb, and straight down in between the two orbs next to his legs was one also. Floating above his head was a red orb. Next to his left hand was a yellow orb. His right hand had a violet orb next to it. Next to his left foot was a green orb. His right foot sported a blue orb next to it. Finally between the green and baby blue orbs was of a purple shade. The shine that they had when orbiting the orb was gone, and the ring connecting him was barely see able. When that was done the girls felt a ringing in their ears. Even though they did what the princess said, it still hurt. "My apologizes, but these crystal were created during the time that I frequently used the royal Canterlot voice. It was the only way to start the process." "It's alright princess." The group said. "Now... who will go first?" Celestia asked? ... ... ... ... "I will." A voice said. .