//------------------------------// // The Way of the Rainbow // Story: My little Short Stories 2- Paradise Edition // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// The Way of the Rainbow Nightfall... the halls of the great Canterlot Castle stand silent, save for the soft hoofalls of myself and my sisters. The torchlight flickers off the walls as our robed forms trot by, a swinging brazier filled with incense held aloft by the Pegasus at the front of our group. Our slow trot punctuated by the rhythmic chanting our hymns in the old tongue of Equestria, we slowly pass the chambers that were once the rooms of Celestia and Luna. As we trot down the stairs towards what was once the throne room, the blue unicorn halts our prayers by whispering; "Sisters, the time for our evening prayers has come." Moonstone mutters, to which we all nod our heads in agreement. "Let us make our way to the shrine of our goddess, at once." It should be of no surprise that we dwell in this place in this frightful age, seeing as how the old palace is now the Great Rainbow monastery, our home. Our many acolytes dwell the various rooms of the castle, and visitors and pilgrims seeking our guidance are here, as well. The Princess ponies gifted this place to our order, following Ponyland's recovery the castle from our race's enemies. And it is only fitting that former abode of the alicorn sisters become our holiest temple- symbolizing the triumph of the way of the horsemaster over Alicornism and it's ugly heathen idols. The six of us enter the old throne room, and pulled our cloaks back. And out from beneath these hoods fall our long, flowing, rainbow colored manes... moving seas of vibrant colors that move with a life all their own. It is a symbol of our enlightenment, the connection we have made with the divine through years of meditation and prayer. Standing in a line behind Starshine, the white Pegasus who is our leader, kneels before the great icon of B'zekre. We all follow suit, and soon our voices rise in adoration for the creator of all of Ponykind; Great and blessed pony who is above all let not our humble herd falter and fall. Our gracious creator, please hear our call let all of your children, before you stand tall Our prayers, pleas and petitions echo through the chamber, reaching the ears of the the goddess who lies outside the world material. We do not pray or serve a flesh and blood pony, but the light of eternal mind and the spirit. B'zekre is beyond the corruption of the flesh, or the ultimate calamity of death. It is through faith in her, and love of your fellow pony- not friendship, but love of your fellow pony- that with allow each of us to triumph over death, and enter the paradise of the Friendship gardens ourselves. We Rainbow ponies exist to show the unenlightened ponies along the path, and to be their light in the uncertain darkness. Suddenly Parasol, our pink eath pony sister, pulled her head up from her prayers, her ears perking up. "Sisters, we are not alone here! Another presence has arrived amongst us!" We all stop our prayers, and we too soon feel the power that emanates from a corner of the room, trying to conceal itself. But we are too in tune with the world around us to be blind to such power in our midst, and it isn't long before we call our visitor out. "We know you are here, great one." Sunlight, our blue earth mare called out to our esteemed visitor. "Come forth, and make our presence known." There was no movement at first, but then our legendary visitor emerged from the shadows. Beautiful feathery wings, and enchanted horn... there was no doubt it was an alicorn who stood before us. Few of these wondrous creatures existed in this world, and it is rare of humble mares such as ourselves to be in the presence of such a powerful being. She looks about the room, gazing at the likeness of the horsemaster B'zekre sitting in place of the throne of Princess Celestia. "Greetings, sisters of the Rainbow Monks." The alicorn princess greeted us. "You've done a remarkable job of caring for this place, though I don't exactly agree with some of your changes." "Greetings, exalted one." Moonstone greeted our visitor, bowing and offering all the proper gestures of respect. "What brings a pony of your grace and stature to our humble monastery?" "Always quick to get to the point, aren't you rainbow monks" She replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "But since you wish to dispense with the pleasantries, I wish to acquire a small artifact of great importance from your monastery- a mere trinket, that the ponies of my kingdom have more need of than the confederacy does." "Ahhh, but what could our humble order possibly have that would be of interest to you?" Parasol added, gesturing down the all to our monastery’s treasury. "We have many artifacts from the days of old here. If there is something you need..." "The Rainbow of Light." The alicorn replied bluntly, turning to face us. "I know Queen Majesty has placed the rainbow here for safekeeping, and my subjects and I have more need of it than a confederacy already protected by the Elements of Harmony, the golden crown, and the Starlight Lantern." "But.. your subjects already have you to protect them, noble princess." Moonstone countered. "Surely a tiny trinket such as the rainbow would be of no use to your bountiful lands!" "I'm afraid not, there are many threats that stand before my kingdom." The alicorn replied, narrowing her eyes. "And I'm also afraid I'm not leaving here without the rainbow." "If you wish to threaten us, you fill find that despite being ponies of peace, we are not without the ability to defend ourselves." Parasol declared, as all of our eyes began to glow with the rainbow magic that flowed through our manes. "If it is a fight you want for the rainbow of light, then it is a fight you shall have, relic!" "Oh, there's no need to fight, rainbow ponies... the item which I seek has already been recovered while we have been speaking." The alicorn replied smugly, teleporting away as her voice faded out. "You monks aren't very good at dealing with distractions." As my sisters stood there confused at the Princesses’ words, I turned away from them in shame. They would soon go to the vault to find the rainbow locket gone, taken back to the alicorn princess's kingdom for her own use. They will not realize that a traitor stands among their ranks, and that the Confederacy will soon have an ancient enemy far more dangerous than Tirek, or Grogar, or any of the other foes of Ponykind combined. It will be pony against pony in this final, terrible war to come. And I fear the Confederacy may finally be destroyed by a selfish purple mare who cannot accept that these lands have moved on without her. Overcome by the horror of my actions, I turn to flee from my dear sisters. I cannot face those whom I had betrayed. "Windy, wait!" Parasol called out, confused at my flight. "Were are you going?" As I gallop away from the others, I feel my rainbow main slowly becoming normal again, and my unicorn magic slowly taking hold again as the rainbow powers leave me. Guilt washes over me for betraying my sisters, an action forced upon me by the alicorn, whom has my family under her 'protection'. As I flee from the monastery with my tail between my legs, I pray to B'zekre above for forgiveness for my treachery.