//------------------------------// // Introduction // Story: The Source of All Magic // by Final_Scratch //------------------------------// It was a warm summer evening in the small town of Ponyville, and everypony was going about their routines as normal. The earth ponies could be seen finishing a hard day’s work and heading home for the night. Pegasi were clearing the last of the clouds to make room for what was to be a clear starry night, and as the last of the clouds were moved the moon began to slowly rise into the night sky. Stars filled the sky like a million little diamonds, and the darkness began to envelop the town and bring out softer shades of colour. When the pegasi returned home, one could look up and see a clear and beautiful sky, the kind that few living ponies had been lucky enough to see before Luna's return. Ditzy Doo wished she could stay awake, and simply wander around and take in the new world that began when the sun went down, but she'd have to be up early to deliver mail. She sighed, and turned from the window to see her daughter Dinky desperately trying to lift a book with her magic. Ditzy held back a chuckle, her daughter always got the funniest look on her face when she tried to do magic. "I think you've practiced enough for today Dinky," Ditzy commented. "It's time for you to go to sleep." "But I'm not tired, and I want to stay up and practice my magic," Dinky complained. Ditzy let out a little giggle in response. Dinky seemed confused. "What's so funny?" "Oh, it's really nothing. I just remember saying the same thing to my parents whenever I wanted to practice flying. Now go get some sleep, you'll need your rest if you want to do magic." "Will you read me a bedtime story?" Ditzy tried to roll her eyes, but failed. Besides, she wouldn't ever be able to say no the face her daughter had at the moment. It was just the cutest little look, with her big eyes and innocent expression. Where doe's every kid learn to do that? You can't say no to that face! "Oh alright." Ditzy gave in. "What story do you want tonight?" Dinky was already at the bookshelf looking for the book she had in mind, then pulled a small blue story out from the bottom shelf. "This one! Read this one!," Dinky exclaimed. This time Ditzy succeeded in rolling her eyes at the little filly. Like I even needed to ask. Dinky always asked for the same story, without fail. Ditzy took the book, carefully tucked Dinky into her bed, and began to read. A long, long, time ago, before Celestia or even Discord ruled the land, there was a small village where nopony was friends with anypony else. In this village there was no love, but nor was there any hate. Everypony there was content in their village, and so they never thought to venture beyond its borders. It was their home, and everypony was satisfied there. It was a peculiar village, but even more peculiar were the ponies that inhabited it. There were no colourful pegasi, earth ponies, or unicorns. There were only colourless ponies, who didn't know the power of friendship, or the power of magic. They only interacted with the other ponies if it would benefit them in some way, otherwise they were solitary and alone. In the village lived three little ponies. One of them was dependable and strong, but also caring. Another was daring and quick, and always kind. The last was the smartest and most beautiful, yet never boastful. These three ponies were different than anypony else in the village. They wanted more out of life, they wanted adventure. So they set out into the unknown, although nopony in the village could fathom why. After weeks of wandering aimlessly with no hints as to where they go, they turned back to return to the village. But them, all of a sudden they saw a pony flying across the sky. They couldn't believe their eyes, and followed the wondrous flying pony to its destination. When they finally caught up to it, it had stopped at another village. But this village was far different than the one the ponies had come from. This village was filled with pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies of every colour imaginable. Here, ponies were flying and using magic. But the biggest difference was that here, ponies were friends with other ponies. The three little ponies then realized that upon finding the village, they too had become colourful. The daring one grew wings, and took to the air. The smartest felt a horn grow from her head, and magic now flowed through her. The most dependable could feel power flowing through her. She was stronger than before, but what had caused this? They asked the ponies in this new, wonderful, village, and learned that the three little ponies had gained these powers because there was magic in the air, which had appeared the moment the three ponies had become friends. The daring one's newfound magic had turned them into a pegasi, granting them the power of flight. The dependable one had become an earth pony, connected with nature and stronger for it. The smartest and most beautiful became a unicorn, able to channel the magic to her will. They thanked the ponies of this new village, and returned to their own to spread the magic of friendship. Upon their return, they immediately began befriending the ponies of their home town. Soon everypony was filled with colour, and happier than they'd ever been before. On that day, the three little ponies agreed to travel the lands as long as they lived, spreading the magic of friendship wherever they went. They all lived happily ever after. Ditzy closed the book to find Dinky sound asleep. When Dinky first heard the story, she'd had so many questions about what the story meant. Ditzy remembered telling her for the first time. "The story means that magic only exists because friendship does, and magic is what gives all the ponies their powers. It's why pegasi can walk on clouds and ponies have special abilities that other ponies don't. If it weren't for friends, everypony would be like the ponies in the village. This means that magic only exists as long as friendship does, and there is only so much in a given area unless more is being generated by acts of friendship, such as making new friends or kindness." It was almost a lecture, and she'd repeated it several times before Dinky understood. Of course she was glad Dinky knew, it really helped to answer a lot of Dinky's other questions, particularly the ones about Pinkie Pie. Ditzy chucked to herself at the mere thought of Pinkie Pie. That pony had so many friends her magic could break physics itself, and she only used it for laughter. Finally, Ditzy put the book away, kissed Dinky on the forehead, and returned to her own room to sleep. Tomorrow would be another big day, and she needed her rest. As she dropped off into her dreams, Ditzy thought about one of Dinky's questions that had always bothered her about the story. She'd never quite been able to answer it, and it always bothered her. If magic only exists because we have friends, then what happens if we run out of magic?