//------------------------------// // A Call for Help // Story: Equestrian Gems // by Serenade Sketch //------------------------------// On a bright, sunny morning on Friday, the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle is relaxing in her castle reading one of her books. After a while, there was a knock on her door and she opened it to reveal it was two of her closest friends, Fluttershy and Rarity. “Hello Twilight. Fluttershy and I were wondering if you would like to come with us to the spa for today,” Rarity said. “Sure, I don’t mind, I’ve actually finished this book anyway,” Twilight responded. Just as Twilight started to get up, Fluttershy saw the title of the book she was reading and read aloud, “Legends and Lore of Ancient Equestria.” “Yeah, this book is pretty old, but reading about ancient legends from the past is pretty interesting,” Twilight said in response. As the three friends were getting ready for some relaxation, suddenly Starlight Glimmer, Twilight’s student, and Spike, Twilight’s assistant, came into the room. “Oh Twilight, glad we found you before you left,” Spike said. Twilight then asked, “Spike, Starlight, what do you need?” “This message came for you,” Starlight responded while holding out a scroll. Twilight then levitated the scroll and began reading it, “Dear Twilight, I need you and your friends to come to Canterlot as soon as you can. Princess Luna and I have a task for you and I feel it’s best if we told you face to face. We also have a few guests you may find very interesting. From Princess Celestia.” Rarity then tilted her head in confusion “I wonder who these ‘interesting guests’ are.” Twilight then rolled up the scroll, “Well, there’s only one way to find out. Let’s gather everypony else and start heading for Canterlot”. Everyone nodded in agreement and headed out of the castle and split up to gather the rest of their friends. Rarity and Fluttershy went of to Sugar Cube Corner to get Pinkie Pie, Starlight went to Sweet Apple Acres to find Applejack, and Twilight and Spike headed towards Rainbow Dash's house to get her. As the three groups all met at the train station, they all boarded to train to Canterlot. Twilight and Applejack sat next to each other, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Spike and Starlight started having a casual conversation, and Rainbow Dash and Rarity were just relaxing. Applejack then asked, “So Twilight, did the princess say who these ‘guests’ are or give any description on them?” Twilight responded, “No, nothing about them was said. Princess Celestia said that she and Princess Luna would tell us face to face. I wonder who’s waiting for us?” Just then Pinkie appeared from behind them which startled them, "Whoever they are, I really, really, really hope we get to be friends, and then I'll throw a party to celebrate our new friends." As the train pulled into the station, the group made their way to the castle, at the entrance were two guards. “Ah, Princess Twilight, you and your friends are expected in the throne room,” one of the guards said as they stepped aside. As the group made their way to the throne room, they saw the two royal sisters waiting for them. “Twilight, thank you for coming as well as your friends," Celestia greeted. "I hope we weren’t interrupting anything important?” Twilight shook her head, “No, of course not, if you need us, it’s much more important than what any of us are doing.” Rainbow Dash then asked, “So, you said there were ‘special guests’ waiting for us. Where are they?” Just then a voice from seemingly nowhere said, “Right over here.” Following the sound of the voices, everyone turned their heads left and found two cloaked figures standing there and while they kept their appearances covered, it was clear that they were ponies. The one that just spoke then said, "Please allow us to introduce ourselves," then she removed her cloak reveling a light red pegasus with a red mane and pinkish eyes, but the most distinctive features was the red and round jewel on her forehead and the fact she had no Cutie Mark. "My name is Red Pearl, pleased to meet you and this is my friend." The other pony then removed her cloak reveling a green unicorn with a long dark green mane, equally dark green eyes, a green gemstone on her chest in a rounded square shape and also had no Cutie Mark, "Name's Chrome Diopside, nice to meet you." The group just stared at the two ponies in shock and silence until Pinkie spoke up, "Ooh, I like your gems." "I must agree, they are just simply stunning," Rarity added. "Thank you, we do our best to make sure nothing bad happens to them," Red Pearl replied. Princess Luna then stepped forward, "I think it's time that you told them why you're here." Red Pearl and Chrome Diopside nodded and then Red Pearl said "It might be best if we told you about our history." Everypony then sat down for Red Pearl and Chrome Diopside's story.