> Children of Harmony > by Flora Spectrum > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A young filly walked alone down the streets of the Crystal Empire as she slowly made her way to school. Her pristine white coat and icy blue eyes were no doubt from her mother, while her shimmering emerald mane was a gift from her father. While her flank lacked any cutiemark, she remained patient as her Aunt told her many times that one day, when it all made sense, it would appear. “Hey halfie!” Emerald Shimmer rolled her eyes and continued walking. While her mane was styled in the traditional crystal pony up do like all the other fillies, hers with her favorite silver ribbons and gem clips, and was the same size and shape as the other fillies, there were two things that made her different from her classmates and often the target for bullies. While Emerald’s father was a crystal pony, her mother had been from Ponyville causing her to be given the nickname ‘halfie’ as she was only half crystal pony. Secondly, she was a unicorn like her mother causing her to stand out amongst her classmates even more. Emerald had only met two other unicorns in the entire empire, the first, of course, being her mother and the second Prince Shining Armor whom she had only met once or twice. “Going to class halfie?” Once again, Emerald ignored the voice as she walked into the classroom and took her seat and mentally grinned. Today was family day, meaning lessons would end early for parents or other family members of the students to come and talk about their career, their special talent, or something of that sort. Mom didn’t tell me what she’s going to talk about, but I’m sure it’s going to be great! Unfortunately for the poor filly, time dragged on. The grammar portion of class felt like hours, and the math felt as if it went on for days if not weeks. Emerald continued to check the clock every fifteen seconds as she awaited the end of her mental torture. Emerald watched intently as she noticed her teacher’s shift in posture as she paused to look up at the clock. “Alright, we can end today’s lesson here,” she said with a smile. “I’m sure your parents are all here by now, so put away your things.” Emerald lifted up the top to her desk, threw in her supplies, and slammed it back shut before folding her front hooves together on top with an innocent smile. One by one, relatives filed in and sat down in the chairs lined up at the front of the room. Emerald gave her mother a quick wave and she returned the gesture with a wink as the teacher gave a short introduction. The first parent stood up and she recognized him to be the father of the colt that sat two seats over. Emerald was soon solely focused on him as he began discussing his work as a member of the Crystal Guard. What felt like seconds later, a second adult stood up, this one a young mare, as she discussed her internship at the hospital. Emerald almost dozed off as an stallion stood and droned on in a monotone voice about his career as a math professor specializing in advanced algebraic and trigonometric principals. I already had math class today! I don’t need another one on stuff I’m never going to use even if I could understand what those squiggly lines and letters mean! After several parents, grandparents, and older siblings had all taken their turns, only one pony remained. The white unicorn stood and walked to the center of the front of the classroom and introduced herself. “Hello everypony, I am Rarity, Emerald Shimmer’s mother, and I own a series of stores across Equestria known as the Carousel Boutique, perhaps you have been to the one located here in the Crystal Empire. However, as much I love to talk about fashion and my boutique, I here to talk to you about something very different.” Emerald Shimmer found herself entrapped in her mother’s voice as she told two stories she never got tired of hearing. After Rarity told the story of defeating Nightmare Moon and saving Princess Luna with the Elements of Harmony, Emerald noticed her classmates completely focused on her mother as she began her second story. As her mother finished telling the story of how she and her five friends, with the help of Princess Cadence, Shining Armor and Spike, had saved the Crystal Empire, the classroom erupted into a round of applause. As the cheering settled down, Emerald’s mother took her seat and her teacher stood. “Thank you everypony for coming today! Class, you are dismissed and I hope you enjoy your weekend!” Emerald stood with a smile and placed her saddlebags on her bag using her magic when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and came face to face with the filly who had been calling her halfie this morning. “Emerald I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” the young filly apologized. “I should have never called you those mean names. I understand if you don’t want to accept my apology, I just wanted you to know that I truly am sorry.” “It’s okay,” Emerald assured with a warm smile. “I’ll see you Monday,” Emerald turned and walked towards the door where her mother was waiting for her. Emerald had never told any of her classmates that her mother was part of the reason their empire was restored due to the fact that she didn’t want the other ponies to think she was above them or that they owed a debt to her. While she was still rather unhappy with the filly who had called her halfie for as long as she could remember, she knew her apology was sincere and for that she was thankful. “Hello darling!” her mother greeted with a warm smile. “Was that a friend of yours?” “No, not really,” Emerald said with a soft smile, “she’s just a girl in my class.” > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dusk Shield strolled through the streets of Ponyville as the sun’s rays bathed his white coat and blue mane in their warmth. He was a young colt lacking a cutie mark with tall lanky legs causing him to be taller than most of his classmates. His silver eyes darted to the left as a pony pulling a cart barreled down the streets. He teleported a short ways away and crouched down with one hoof held out in a defensive position. The pony and cart slid to a stop as he ushered the small family of ducklings he had protected across the street and into the small pond a short ways away. Dusk and the pony with the cart game exchanged polite nods before continuing on their separate ways. Dusk had been told many times that he was like his mother, but often he wished he could be more like his father. While he had inherited his mother’s natural love for all living creatures, he had also had her bashful and overall shyness. On the other hoof, his father was a unicorn guard filled with courage and boldness. However, it seemed his younger sister had been given all the confidence and strength. His eyes were drawn down what was almost a completely deserted street with the tall houses on each side casting deep shadows. There were three colts who appeared to have a pegasus filly backed up against a wall. Looking closer, he noticed the filly had a sky blue coat and a long white mane. Without thinking twice, he teleported in front of the young filly and encased her in a bubble made out of his silver magic as he glared at the colts in front of him. “Listen up, and listen good,” he threatened in a chilling voice as his glare bore down on his petrified audience, “I’m only going to say this once.” }i{ Winter Melody glared at the three colts standing before her as they continued to throw insults at her. “You’re nothing but a flightless pegasus, just like your mother!” the first colt taunted. “My mother can fly and so can I!” Winter yelled as tears of rage began to form in her teal eyes. The second colt scoffed before adding, “barely. You’re pathetic and so is your brother. He will never be anything like your father.” “Shut up!” she screamed as she shoved the colt down. “Say what you want about me, but leave my family out of this!” “Neither you or your brother have your cutie marks!” the third colt, whom Winter hated the most, taunted with a sneer, “You two don’t even know how you’re going to be worthless!” Just as she was about to smack the colt in the face repeatedly and forget everything her mother ever taught her about kindness, her brother appeared before her and wrapped her in his magic. She saw pure fear in the eyes of her bullies and almost smiled. She didn’t care if that was mean, these jerks deserved it. She looked to her brother and was almost scared herself. His tall figure cast down a deep shadow causing him to appear more lean than lanky and very intimidating. She couldn’t hear what he was saying to the bullies, but they looked as if they wanted to melt into the dirt beneath them. Moments later, the three colts took off running and the magic bubble disappeared causing her to almost miss a unique white flash. “Are you okay?” Dusk asked as he turned to face her. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said before jumping up and down adding, “You did it Dusk! You finally did it!” “Yeah, I guess so,” he said sheepishly. “You won’t have to worry about them bullying you again.” “Not just that! You did it! You got your cutie mark!” She watched as he turned to look at his flank with was now adorned with three teal stars centered inside of a silver shield. “Huh,” he said as he scratched the back of his head once more, “I guess I did.” “Of course you did!” Winter cried as she continued her jumping while making her way down the street. “Now come one! We have to show mom and dad!” > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A small filly lacking a cutie mark walked through the Apple family orchard carrying her baby cousin Foxwhelp while her older cousin Dayton walked by her side. She had golden coat abated by the three white freckles on each cheek right below her bright green eyes. Her crimson mane was braided with a pink ribbon her Aunt had given her two years ago. Looking at her older cousin she sighed thinking of how it simply wasn’t fair. Dayton is only two years older than me but he’s already so big! And he has his cutie mark! Mom had her cutie mark at my age, so why can’t I get mine! Mom is in charge of running this whole farm yet I can’t even do the smallest of tasks! I’ve tried to hard to impress her, but I don’t think anything is working! I know she went to Manehatten when she was a filly, and I’ve been working on my manners and some French, I rather enjoy it, so maybe I can impress her with that. “Arianne, if those gears in your head turn any faster, you’re gonna wake up Foxwhelp!” Her cousin’s teasing but kind words snapped her out of her thoughts and caused her to gaze back at her baby cousin sleeping soundly on her back. “You were thinkin’ bout your cutie mark again, weren’t ya?” Arianne sighed. It seemed she could never hide anything from her cousin. Her mother had an older brother and a younger sister, and sometimes it made her feel slightly lonely as an only child. However, her cousin naturally took the role as her older and caring brother while Foxwhelp easily filled the role as a younger sibling. “Why can’t you be more like your father and speak a total of two words except for the rare occasion?” Arianne teased. “Because I take after my mother, now quit tryin’ to dodge the subject,” he shot back with a smile and Arianne couldn’t help but snort. True he took his speech from his mother, but one would have to be blind to not be able to see that Dayton would be as big as his father one day. “Maybe I was,” she answered simply. “You’re tryin’ too hard,” Dayton lectured lightly while shaking his head. “Nopony gets their cutie mark by trying, it happens naturally and when the time is right. You’ll get yours one day, just try and be patient.” “But I need to get my cutie mark to I can figure out how to help on the farm and to make mom proud!” “Arianne,” he said softly. He stopped walking for a moment and she turned to look at him. She shook her head and kept walking. “Never mind,” she said while continuing to shake her head, “forget I said anything.” They walked in silence the rest of the way until they approached the house and an elaborately decorated carriage made its way towards them. “Who’s that?” “Some rich ponies own some sort of fancy restaurant and are thinkin’ they want us to supply their apples. Your mom is supposed to try and make a deal with them today.” “Here, take Foxwhelp back to the house,” Arianne commanded as Dayton obliged and crouched down enough for her to slide him off her back and onto his without stirring the sleeping foal. “I’m going to go see if I can go help my mom!” The young filly took off as fast as her short legs could carry her, trotting the last distance to give herself time to collect herself. “Hi mom,” she greeted with a warm smile as she walked next her mother. “I saw the carriage pull up to the house, are you expecting someone?” she asked casually despite the fact that Dayton had told her the answer seconds ago. “A restaurant owner from Manehatten is thinkin’ about makin’ us his apple supplier,” her mother answered honestly, “If we can come to an agreement, it would give us a lot more business.” “May I join you?” Her mother paused, and then shrugged her shoulders before continuing their walk towards the carriage. “I don’t see why not, just don’t be too rowdy or askin’ him all kinds of personal questions.” She nodded and the two stopped as a formally dressed stallion stepped out of his carriage. “Oh my,” he gasped as he tried to brush the dust off his hooves but failing. “Mr. Coinage,” Apple Jack greeted formally while outstretching a hoof, “I’m Apple Jack and this here is my daughter Arianne. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Coinage looked down at the extended hoof before returning his gaze up and giving her a formal nod instead. “Quite.” “Well, would you like a tour of the orchard?” Apple Jack offered with a hopeful smile. “No thank you, I can see enough of it from here. It would be better I think to attend to business inside,” He answered stiffly. “Of course!” Apple Jack agreed. “Please, follow me!” As the three began their short walk to the house, Coinage commented dryly, “Well, I must say, I did expect this place to be a little more… civilized.” Arianne saw her mother’s eyes widen in shock before turning to an icy glare. “Um, Mr. Coinage,” Arianne said in her most polite voice before things could get out of hoof, “do many apples grow in Manehatten?” He looked at her for a moment before answering simply, “no.” “Of course not,” Arianne continued. “You see Mr. Coinage, there is a place for everything. Manehatten is the place for exquisite restaurants and upscale hotels, while a countryside setting such as here is the perfect place to grow apples.” “Hmm… I must say you do have a good point.” Coinage agreed thoughtfully. Apple Jack led them into the house, “Please make yourself at home.” As Arianne watched the two sit across from each other, she noticed they had relaxed quite a bit, but not enough. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’ll go retrieve some of our apple varieties, we also have a selection of apples prepared in several delicious entrées and deserts.” She paused to give him her most charming smile before continuing, “Perhaps you will even find one you would like to add to your menu.” Coinage chuckled and gave her a warm smile, “Thank you child, that would be most lovely. Now, Miss Apple Jack…” As Arianne trotted into the kitchen and the adults began to discuss their business transaction, she couldn’t help but beam with pride. }i{ Arianne and her mother walked back towards the house as Coinage’s carriage turned back onto the main road. “We’re gonna cook a big dinner tonight! With lots of dessert! We have plenty to celebrate afterall!” Apple Jack declared proudly. “This was a pretty big business deal, wasn’t it mom?” “We got more to celebrate than that sugarcube.” “Like what?” “Like that mighty fine cutie mark you got there,” she answered with a warm smile. Arianne stopped and looked at her flank, which was now adorned with a green apple standing behind a white fleur de lis. A fleur de lis for being able to socialize with the rich ponies, and an apple for my ties and dedication to my family. I guess this makes me a bridge between the two. “I did it mom!” Arianne cried happily. “I found a way to make you proud!” “Arianne,” Apple Jack said before sweeping her up in a tight hug, “I’m always proud of you.” > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A young ice blue colt jumped up and down while giggling with his mother. Occasionally his dark blue mane adorned with a single hot pink streak would fall and cover his golden eyes only to fly upwards as he jumped. “We have to start planning next year’s reunion!” he cried with a foalish grin. “Of course!” his pink mother cried while jumping up and down, “this year’s was super duper fantastulistic stupendously fun meaning we have to aim big if we want to make it even better!” His mother pulled a marker board out of seemingly nowhere and began scribbling furiously. “Now, if we can measure the happiness levels in sweets, games, decorations and music-“ “Ooh! Don’t forget the ponies! They make it special after all!” Indigo Pop added in. “Of course Indy! Give yourself a hoofive for that one!” Indy obliged by throwing his right hoof off screen only to come back and give his left one a solid hoofive as his mother continued giving instructions, "Okay! Now, add up how many ponies we are inviting!” “Okay let’s see, we have they grown ups, their spouses, the colts and fillies, adds up to thirty one, oh wait! Sweetie Belle should have her foal by then so make that thirty two!” “Okay!” As his mother went back to scribbling her equation on the board, Indy found himself lost in thought. I can’t wait until the next reunion! It’s the only time I get to see some of my bestest friends! Emerald Shimmer lives so far away in the Crystal Empire and both Lustrous Armor and Harmony are gone a lot for all that important royal stuff. Ooh! Maybe if I plan my birthday early instead of waiting until the week before, they can have their schedules empty and can come! That would be the best birthday ever! “Hey Indy!” “Yeah mom?” he said with a smile as his mother’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “We’ll plan your birthday party soon so everypony will be able to come, but let’s finish planning this one first!” Indy giggled at his mother’s strange way at knowing what he was thinking. “Okay mom.” Indy’s left eye blinked twice and his right ear twitched once. As his mother gasped the same time he did, he knew she sensed it too. “You know what this means?” Pinkie Pie cried. “A family of four ponies with a dog expecting puppies any day now is here and they are out looking for a house to rent!” Indy responded with enthusiasm. “Quick! We have to go find them!” Pinkie cried as she raced out the door. “And plan their welcome party!” he yelled as he raced after her. > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A young lavender filly landed on a cloud panting and completely out of breath. She flopped down and didn’t even bother trying to move her light blue and green mane out of her eyes. She and her twin brother had been practicing for nearly an hour, causing her usual calm temperament to fade and her irritation grow with her brother’s pushiness. “Come on Icy!” Fire Streak called as he landed on the cloud in front of her. Most ponies only knew they were twins due to their publicity when they were born, other wise nopony could really tell they were twins, let alone related. Her brother, who was older by mere seconds, had a fiery red and orange mane and a golden coat. His soft green eyes were identical to their father’s, while her magenta ones were exact replicas of their mother’s. “I need a break,” Ice Winds said slowly while keeping calm. Past fights had taught her that when push came to shove, her brother always had the quicker temper. “This is no time for breaks! We’ve got training to do!” He urged impatiently. “Training can wait for five minutes,” she answered calmly. “If we keep taking breaks, we are never going to make it into the wonderbolts! Our mom, dad, and aunt are all wonderbolts! Racing is in our blood we have to be able to show it!” “Technically, our Aunt is adopted-“ “It doesn’t matter! You know what the headlines read when we were born! Future Wonderbolts! If that’s not enough, we have plenty of other expectations to live up to! We’re kids of an Element of Harmony!” “We’re not the only ones! What about Indy Pop! He is perfectly content planning parties and putting smiles on ponies’ faces with his mother.” She retorted. “Yeah, but is always breaking physics and not to mention, he’s recently been developing what he’s calling his Indy Senses!” “What about Dusk Shield and Winter Song?” She asked rhetorically. “Their mother can tame a manticore, stare down a cockatrice, not to mention she reformed Discord, the Lord of Chaos, on top of all that their father is a member of the Royal Guard! Don’t tell me there aren’t high expectations there.” “But whose expectations do we have to live up to?” she asked finally standing up and approaching her brother. “Everyone’s!” he yelled exasperated. “I don’t care about everyone!” she shouted finally matching his tone. “I don’t care about everyone! I only care about impressing myself! How far I’ve come and how far I’ll go!” Fire Streak paused and looked away as if to consider what she said. After a moment, Ice Winds continued, “Mom did this when she was our age, and we can too. Let’s do this, but for ourselves. And mom whose been trying to secretly watch from the living room window this entire time.” Fire Streak smirked and nodded. “Okay let’s do this.” The two flew up and into opposite directions. They paused only when the other was barely visible and centered with themselves. The two race towards each other in unison only to barrel towards the ground side by side a split second before collision. At the last moment, they grabbed a hold of each other with their inner front hooves, and accelerated with a burst of speed fast enough to break the sound barrier. A circular rainbow flowed across the sky while casting its colorful colors down onto the ground below. The laughter of a colt and filly could be heard all around as together they created a perfect loop. Moments later, they broke apart as he colored their new canvas with tricolored loops consisting of red, orange and yellow while her corkscrews left a trail of green, blue and purple. What felt like seconds later, but had actually been several minutes, the two siblings crashed into their mother on the front steps of their cloud mansion where she had come out to get a better view. “We did it mom!” Fire Streak cried as they two hugged their mother. She simply tightened her embrace as she squealed, “You guys. Are so. Awesome!” > Chapter 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A lavender alicorn filly raced through the halls of the Canterlot Palace. Her golden mane adorned with light blue streaks flowed freely behind her as she escaped what she could only define as torture. She rounded a corner and slid to a stop in front of one of the many palace guards. “Quick! You’ve got to hide me!” she pleaded with the stoic stallion before her. “I don’t think that is a good idea your highness,” he said while remaining expressionless. “Please!” she begged while altering her sky blue eyes to be as big as possible and sticking her bottom lip out into a pout. However, the guard only snorted in return. “Fine!” she yelled while stomping her front hoof and glaring, “As princess and member of the royal family, I demand you give me your armor at once!” The guard rolled his eyes and levitated his armor off and placed it onto the small filly. She felt the weight become bearable as the armor’s enchantment activated and transformed her into a replica of the rest of the unicorn guards. It felt odd at first to not have wings anymore, but she knew this would only last for a moment. The original guard, now transformed back into his usual appearance, stood next to her as if he was asking for directions. Moments later, a flustered princess slid to a stop in front of the two. “Have you seen my daughter?” she asked panting. The faux guard extended his front hoof to the left and she nodded while muttering, “For a filly named Harmony she likes to create a lot of chaos. Maybe she’s been around Discord too much…” Harmony felt as if a light bulb had lit up inside her head. Discord! I can always count on Discord to help me! After her mother had disappeared, Harmony levitated the armor off and back onto the guard. “Thanks for your help!” she called as she took off running once more, “I won’t tell mom if you won’t!” She ignored the snort she received in reply as she rounded the corner and into another pony. She looked up to see a colt a few years older than her with a dark golden coat and a two-tone blue mane staring down at her with lavender eyes. “I’m so glad I found you!” she said as she instantly recognized the colt, “have you seen Discord anywhere?” “No I haven’t,” he said slowly, “May I ask why?” “I need him to cause a little bit of chaos! Not a whole lot, just enough to keep mom distracted.” She explained with a smile. “Why in Equestria would you do that to mom?” He asked out of pure amazement. “To escape torture!” She cried. “Okay. Now you’re not making any sense.” “Mom is trying to catch me and make me put my mane up all fancy and put on a dress and stuff!” The colt in front of her face-hoofed. “Sis, you told me yourself you like to wear dresses, especially the ones Rarity makes for you.” “I do! But it means we’re going to one of the boring royal dinner parties tonight!” she whined, “They shouldn’t even be called parties because they’re no fun at all!” Her brother sighed and held out his hoof, “Come on.” His sister placed her fore hoof to his and after a single blink and a distinct rush, she found herself in one of her favorite places. }i{ Lustrous Armor teleported to a small balcony with his younger sister where he knew she loved to spend nights stargazing with Princess Luna. While the stars were not yet out, the sun was currently setting making for an excellent view. She giggled and ran to the edge and stretched to look over the short wall meant to keep ponies from falling. He walked over and lifted her up and placed her on his back as she smiled at the beautiful sunset before them. Despite his special talent, represented by his cutie mark consisting of a shield partially hidden by a brush of magic, he knew he couldn’t protect her from all the evils in the world, including boring dinner parties. However, by bringing her up here, he could keep her, and himself, from the sometimes over bearing royal duties. Just seeing that look on her face though, he thought to himself as he paired her smile with one of his own, that’s enough for me.