> The Rise of the New Elements > by FirestarPhoenixwing > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Introduction and A New life > --------------------------------------------------------------------------         Introduction   I guess I never realized how normal my life was with my parents. I didn’t have fire powers at that time; much less know about them. I never wanted to live in a rich community. I think that I would've felt much more comfortable in a country like community. They always spoiled me, my parents, and were always concerned about my safety. Not that every parent shouldn’t care for their children’s safety, but my parents were over the top. I was not allowed to fly because I could fall and might hurt myself, I couldn’t even go anywhere without supervision from my parents and to make matters worse my parents made the teacher supervise me at every recess and P.E. class. I didn’t learn to fly until about a few years ago when the other fillies and colts were bullying me, not only for not being able to fly but I was the only filly in class who was a Pegasi who couldn’t fly, I got really mad at them after several days went by and I shot up like an arrow. But I lost my anger when I saw myself in the air flying like I had done it everyday. That night at dinner the family conversation wasn’t that fun. My parents made sure I didn’t fly anymore by strapping my wings to my body with a belt. I’m not saying I don’t love them, I did, but I was unhappy and I guess a little depressed in that life. Sorry, I should probably introduce myself…         A New life  Hi, i’m Firestar Phoenixwing, I was an only child until a little incident happened. I'm a pegasus filly with a special talent. You see, I can control fire, and even though my fire is magic it still has a hard time burning in wet places and in the cold. Princess Celestia told me to write down any event that happens to me. So this is my story…  A unicorn pony escaped from the Canterlot prison. As she is casting a spell to get away she is startled by me, Firestar Phoenixwing; “What are you doing,” I asked? The spell, being interrupted explodes dissolving the criminal in glowing dust. The blast pushes me back knocking me out, the last thing I saw was my room on fire. When I awoke the house was burnt down. It was just me alone in the ashes, but unhurt. At first I didn’t know where I was; I felt as if I were missing something, like it was there on the tip of my tongue, I could only remember my name, Firestar Phoenixwing, and were I was born… Ponyville. Something told me ‘Yes go there, go to Ponyville. But how I thought, “Hmm… there's a library in every city right, and every city has maps, so… there's a probably a library here that has a map but where.” I flew above the buildings and saw a castle, “Every castle has a library.” I said to myself As I approached the building I saw an open window and went through it. Down the hall I saw a light and followed it until I found it’s source, the library. As I looked through books I pulled one off the shelf and saw a face on the other side.  “Hi”, said the new pony!  “Ahh” ,I shrieked! “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, I’m Twilight Sparkle. Who are you” ,asked Twilight? “Umm.. I’m, I’m Firestar Phoenixwing,” I said. “Are you doing research too,” asks Twilight? “Yeah, sort of, I need a map, can you help me,” I asked?  She pondered for a moment. “Maps? Maps? Oh yeah I saw some over here, this way,” declares Twilight,”Ah, here we are.” She pulls out a map of Equestria and unrolls it on a table. “Where’s Ponyville,” I asked? “Right... here. Why,” asks twilight? “Well, It's the only place I remember. Besides my name, I can’t seem to remember anything and something tells me I need to go there, tonight, if I can and maybe I might remember some things,” I said.                      “Oh, if you're going tonight you’ll want a cloak to keep you warm, here take this one, it’s mine but I can just always get a new one. It's supposed to rain pretty hard out tonight so be careful, and good luck with getting your memory back,” says Twilight. “Thanks”, I said, “For helping me. Oh, and don’t tell anypony I was here ok?”  “I promise, not a soul,” promised Twilight.  “Bye, thanks again,” I said.  “Bye”, says Twilight.                                                                                                                               -   Later that night, I started getting tired. I saw a tree that would provide shelter from the rain so I flew to a high branch. In the morning I continued my journey in the warm sun, but I was hungry and I had no idea if I was on the right path to ponyville. A few hours later I found a patch of wild berries. I ate every berry on the bush. Then I saw other bushes and put the berries in my cloak pocket for lunch and dinner and I was hoping for breakfast too. I hide to the side of the road once or twice to avoid anypony that might know I am missing from the fire. 3 days later I was starving. All of a sudden I could smell the fresh scent of picked apples.   ‘Apples’ I thought. In a minute I’d eaten five of them and was about to eat a six one when I heard a voice, “What in tarnation? Why are you eating our apples? You didn’t even pay for them! Big Mac, I found a thief,” said a young looking earth pony, possible a little older than me. She had three apples for her cutie mark.            “I’m sorry I didn’t know this was a farm! L-Look I can’t pay for the apples I ate  but I can work for them, then I’ll move on,” I said. Just then a large red earth pony, I could only presume was Big Mac, came around a tree.   “This pony here, she says she’ll work for them apples she ate,” says the pony called AJ, “You think it's a good idea?”  “Eeyup,” Big Mac declared. “How ‘bout five apples for five days,” says AJ, “Deal?”   “Deal,” I said. “You’ll get food and a bed,” said AJ, “By the way what's your name?”  “I’m Firestar Phoenixwing and I’m guessing your AJ and your Big Mac”, I pointed to each pony as I said there name.  “Thats right, but you can call me Applejack,” says Applejack “Now normally you’d buck the apples off the tree but, since you're a pegasus, I was thinking you could pick them out the air instead. We might get less bruised apples that way.” “Ok let's get started,” I said. Five days went by, I ate the same food as everyone else, my bed was nice, and their granny Granny Smith is a very great cook, the foal Applebloom just stared at me the whole time. The morning of the sixth day I got ready to leave Sweet Apple Acres when I wondered about something, “Oh yeah, I almost forgot to ask, but, could you tell me which way it is to Ponyville?” “Well, on maps and such, Ponyville is about a mile or so down that road, but we think of Sweet Apple Acres as part of Ponyville. Why’d you want to know,” asked Applejack? “I lost my memory and I only know that I was born here so I thought I could recall some of my memories by going there,” I said. “I’m sorry about that, good luck getting it back. Oh, and I may see you in town sometimes if you decide to stay. Bye,” said Applejack. “Come back and visit us again. Hopefully you won’t be working the farm next time *giggle*.” “Cool, bye,” I said giggling to myself. After a few minutes of flying I saw the tops of the buildings and houses. In a minute I could see and hear the town life. In another 10 minutes I was in Ponyville  when all of a sudden I heard my name. “... Firestar Phoenixwing, if you see her tell me straight away. One of my guards will pass out fliers of her. She is a filly without parents or a home, without food and water,” I heard the announcer say. I saw that it was Princess Celestia talking so I walked up to her.  “Well no need to go through all the trouble,” I said, “Excuse me, excuse me, thank you, Princess Celestia were you looking for me?” “Firestar Phoenixwing I’m glad that you are safe, but what are you doing here,” asks Princess Celestia as the crowd started to disperse?  “This is where I was born,” I said, “I lost my memory so I thought I could find my parents here, that is what you meant by ‘without parents’ right? Are they back at Canterlot?”   “Firestar I’m sorry but your family is dead, they died in a freak fire that burnt your house down. Somehow you survived miraculously.” “N-nooo,  they can’t be dead, noooo, I know they're still alive. I-I can’t be an orphan,” I whimpered with tears in my eyes; but deep down I knew it was true my whole family was dead. I had nopony left. I started crying with big tears and quiet sobs. “I see you earned your cutie mark sometime in the last couple of days, may i see it,” asks the Princess? I nodded as the Princess approached me. The Princess took off my cloak and looked at my mysterious cutie mark. I had not even noticed my mark at the time. “This is very interesting.” *Sniff* “Why,” I asked? “Well your cutie mark is a flame, and what looks like magical sparks,” said the Princess, “This can explain why you survived the fire. Which means you could have a special talent. Maybe some talent over fire. Maybe it’s magically involved.” “ Control over fire and a magic.” I asked a bit confused? “Not to be rude but if you haven’t noticed I’m not a unicorn, or a alicorn princess like you, I’m just a regular old pegasus. There is nothing magical or special about me.” “Yes, well, you may be more magical and  special than you realized. There’s some sort of magic I can sense on you,” said Princess Celestia. “But Princess Celestia I lost my memory, how am I supposed to learn magic,” I asked still sobbing? “I can heal your memories, but only if you allow me to, and in the process, I can activate your magic ability,” said Princess Celestia. “ Really you can restore my memory, yes, I allow you to restore my memory,” I declared a little less depressed.  The Princess touched her horn to my forehead and a flashing pulse travels from her horn into me restoring my memory; then the Princess looks for the source of my magic-to-be. She found it and activated it. “Its is done, I’ll be staying here the rest of the week so I can help you develop your magic. I’ve read one of your papers from school. You said you did not like living in Canterlot. Does this still stand,” asks Princess Celestia?   “Yes it does”, I said remembering the paper she was talking about.   “Why? All your parents money is yours to live off of it. All 900 million bits and counting. Would you like to stay here?” , offered the Princess.  “I just didn’t like the whole rich business. I mean, I felt like I was spoiled. I didn’t want that, I don’t want that. I just wanted to live like a normal filly. In a town like this. Also the kids, they would bully me because I couldn’t and wasn’t allowed to fly. Then once I learned to fly I was bullied because I was one of the only pegasi in the school now if my classmates found out I am an orphan, I would be bullied even more than I was before. Yes I would love to stay here. Thank you, Princess Celestia,” I said.  “Your welcome, now, can you remember the events that started the fire and your journey to Ponyville,” asks Princess Celestia?  “Yes,” I said.  “Good, you can tell me all about it during lunch,” said Princess Celestia. Me and the princess went to the local cafe’ and I told Princess Celestia about the start of the fire over hay burgers and fries. She listened to my story, without interrupting a word. If I paused she would nod for me to continue. I didn’t mention Twilight Sparkle to her.  After I finished she shook her head,” I don’t know how she could have gotten ahold of such a powerful teleportation spell. I will have the police investigate into this. So we know who really killed your parents.” “Who”, I asked. “A mare crazy enough to unleash every villian me and my sister banished long ago.”  After lunch we started my training.  “First you must know how to cast and control your magic”, said Princess Celestia. I struggled a day trying to start a flame. Eventually I made one.   On the second day I learned to control the fire. On the third I could cast fire. On the fourth and fifth day I learned I could burst into flames and eventually mastered this move as well. I trained in aerial acrobatics and trained in jumping building to building just in case something happens to my wings. On the sixth day a dark mass loomed over Ponyville ,when, all of a sudden a cylinder of shadows was cast from the sky. “Princess what’s going on? Is this a test of my ability,” I asked. “No, it can’t be. Firestar this is not a test, this is an evil giant pony from the shadow. That prisoner that killed your parents must have unleash him. He extinguishes all light and absorbs all magic. Nothing escapes this creature without consequences, he only leaves death and destruction behind. Beware Firestar for Clytius has come. I can not face him down single handedly and there is not enough time to get other alicorns help and I can’t control the Elements of Harmony. You and I are the world's only hope. Only we can defeat him”, warns the Princess.  “I’m scared,” I whimpered. “Me too young one, but we must not show our fear to him it will only make him stronger,” reassures Princess Celestia. “YOU FOOLS WILL DIE BEFORE ME”, shouts Clytius. He was at least 20 feet tall with eyes the color of diamonds. His hair was long and his form was shadowy. Worst of all were his legs. They looked like they were dragon scales. I bursted into flames. “Not today not ever again,” says the Princess. “HAHAHA, IT’S TOO LATE TO STOP ME. A FRIEND OF MINE UNLEASH ME AT FULL POWER. I’LL ABSORB YOUR MAGIC AND EXTINGUISH THAT FILLY’S FLAME. I AM TOO POWERFUL FOR YOU PRINCESS”, shouts Clytius!  My fire suddenly went out and dark tendrils flew at me and the Princess. “What - what happened” I asked? “Stay away from the tendrils, they will suck the life out of you,” said the Princess. I dodged the shadow tendrils as Princess Celestia shouted to me, “You can relight the fire he only put it out for a second.” “Ok,” I said as I threw a rock at Clytius. “Hey you, yeah you, take this. Hi-yaw!”  I threw another rock that burst into flames as it flew at Clytius. “You aren’t immune to rocks now are you.” I burst into flames and flew around Clytius and started bombarding him with fire. The Princess starts shooting magic bolts at Clytius but both of our attacks seemed to not affect him. He swiped at me with his hooves. but I dodged them and threw more fireballs at him. He slapped them away and punched me into a building. I heard a crunch as my left wing hit the wall wrong. My vision was blurry and there was a small ring in my ear. Dust circled around me.  “YOU HAVE COURAGE”, shouts Clytius! “TO TAKE ME ON LIKE THAT MY LITTLE PONY! BRAVO, BRAVO!” Dark shadows started flowing around him. He turned to Princess Celestia, “REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I SHOWED UP SILLY PRINCESS? YOU AND YOUR SISTER COULD BARELY DEFEAT ME! IT WAS ONLY AFTER THAT UMBRA PONY ABSORBED MOST OF MY SHADOWS THAT YOU COULD DEFEAT ME. AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM? HE BECAME THE CORRUPT KING OF A LONG AND FORGOTTEN EMPIRE! YOUR SISTER TURNED EVIL AFTER SHE ABSORBED WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY SHADOWS. THAT DROVE HER OVER THE EDGE! REMEMBER THAT? YOU HAD TO BANISH HER TO THE MOON! OR HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN YOUR OLD FRIENDS?” “SILENCE,” shouted the Princess. “I Have not forgotten them. It is only too painful to remember the old days of Equestria.” I got up painfully. and made my way back to the princess trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my left  wing. “King Umbra was a gentlecolt. It was your shadows that made him evil. Me and Luna had to banish him in the ice of the Frozen North. It is what he would have wanted us to do. As for my beloved sister, do not even mention her. Her memory burns painfully for me every time I raise the moon. I stood by the princess's side. I looked over at the Princess and realized she was crying. “HAHAHA BRAVELY SPOKEN. IN THOSE DARK DAYS MANY SACRIFICES WERE MADE. PONIES DIED. ALL THESE YEARS I BUILT UP MY ALLIES IN TARTARUS! BEHOLD THE ARMY OF THE DEAD!” The ground shot up as skeleton ponies rose from the ground. The only other ponies around us were the four drivers of the chariot. They grabbed their spears and made a formation as they occupied some of the skeleton ponies. I blasted one with fire. Another one leaped on to me. My wing burned with pain as I hit the ground hard with the skeleton pony on top of me. The princess was dealing with Clytius. Protecting me from the shadows. The skeleton pony started choking me. I don’t know if I was hallucinating from the pain and being choked but I thought I heard it say in a raspy voice. Now die ancestor of the fire princess. Die as the ancestor of the follower of the Lunar Crusade and of spirits.WAHAWAHA! My vision started to blur again and I couldn’t breathe. The pain in my wing was unbearable. I blasted its face with a fireball and kicked it off of me and it melted into the ground. I could breathe again. “It's useless,” I declared. “We can’t stop him.”  “It’s not useless, not unless we combine our power. Stand next to me and start building up your firepower,” said Celestia. “On my mark release all your built up fire power at Clytius.” “Ok I’ll try,” I said. I was scared for the life of me. I think the first battles are the hardest. “OH”, shouted Clytius! “YOU ARE GOING TO TRY THAT ON ME NOW?! HAHAHA. AMUSING.” Moments passed and I could hear random explosions not to close by from where we were standing and ponies screaming in the background as there life was sucked out of them.  I thought to myself, ‘Why isn’t he killing us? He certainly has had the chance to do so by now. Or maybe he did. I got crushed, the Princess, maybe she took most of the blow and she's dead, now and I’m dying.’ Then I heard the Princess’s voice shout, “NOW”!  I thought ‘I am alive so is the Princess! What does ‘now’ mean? Oh, Yeah.’ I releases my fire and opens my eyes. I saw my fire combined around Princess Celestia’s magic. I was momentarily blinded by the light and the heat was intense, almost as if I were next to a miniature sun. When the light cleared a less giant Clytius stood before us. I thought, ‘Oh no it didn’t work. All that work for nothing.’   “A CLEVER TRICK BUT I AM STILL THE STRONGEST BEING ON THIS WORLD. NOPONY SHALL DEFEAT ME”, shouts Clytius. “Not without your shadow mist your not,” countered Princess Celestia, “And now I banish your form from Equestria and send you back to Tartarus from whence you came.” The Princess shot a beam of energy at Clytius as he disappears with a mighty scream, “NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” “Good job Firestar”, exclaimed the Princess as she looked over at me, “Firestar are you ok?” My fire flickered around me. My vision blurred,then, suddenly I was  out in a flash and collapsed. (After I collapsed I don’t know what happened, but this is what the Princess told me.) Princess Celestia felt my forehead. “Clytius must have put a curse on Firestar while we were channeling our energy. Somepony get a doctor quickly! Don’t worry brave one you’ll be alright I won’t let you die today,” says Celestia as she strokes my head.  A nurse runs up to Princess Celestia’s side, “Excuse me Princess Celestia but you called for a doctor, what is it, what's -- oh, oh no. We must get her to a hospital now. I’ll cast a spell to keep her alive until we get her to a doctor.” The nurse casted her spell. “Ok let's go!” They carried me to a small tent where a doctor was wrapping bandages around a pony's leg.  “Doctor you have to help this one quickly,” says the nurse.  “Stay off it for two weeks,” says the doctor to the patient. The doctor then turns around. “Oh my, what happened?” “She has been cast with a death curse, upon using any magic the spell will activate and kill the victim depending on how powerful a spell they cast. In Firestar's case she and I just cast a spell powerful enough to send any being to Tartarus and most likely never return to Equestria and the enemy only had time to cast it on one of us. Using a spell like that while having a death curse will most likely kill you. Firestar is strong but she doesn’t have a lot of time left. I should have planned for this to happen, I don’t have the energy left to cure her with my magic,” explains Princess Celestia as she cursed herself (with words not magic).   “Don’t worry says the doctor I know the healing spell, but she will be in a comma for a few hours,”  the doctor reassures the Princess.  The Princess nods, “Cast it then, quickly.”  The doctor casts the spell but then almost passes out after casting itl. The spell worked its way into my system and the curse started to leave my body in dark wisps.  “Thank you doctor how much is the treatment,” asked the Princess?  “No no, its free for you Princess Celestia,” says the doctor. “Please I want to. After all you nearly passed out yourself casting it. Now how much”, insists the Princess? The doctor gave in, “Fine, its 20 bits.”                         The Princess pays the doctor 20 bits and waits outside. Two hours later she heard my confused voice as to where I was. “Huh? Where am I? Hello, where am I, anyone there?” “Your safe,” says Princess Celestia as she walks in.  “Hi Princess Celestia,” I said. “Hello yourself little one. Welcome back to the land of the living,” jokes the Princess. “Hey, since tomorrow is my last day I thought we could try to find you a new home here.” “Wow cool, yes I would like that,” I said accepting the gift. The next day me and the Princess help rebuild some of the destroyed Ponyville buildings; and we asked the families if they would adopt me but they had to decline because they couldn’t afford another pony in their family. I felt a little unwanted, but I didn’t resent them for not letting them join their family. I knew they already had a hard enough time paying to get their houses and shops fixed. “I’m sorry Firestar,” said Princess Celestia, “but we have to go to the orphanage. Maybe somepony there will take you.” “It's ok, thank you for everything Princess. I’m sure somepony will adopt me eventually,” I said.  At sunset the Princess and I said our goodbyes. “Firestar keep practicing your magic whenever you can. I’m sure Equestria will come to need your power in due time,” said Celestia.  I created a small flame in front of her. “I will.” I hugged Princess Celestia in a final goodbye. “Oh, yes, I almost forgot to give you this,” the Princess pulled out a journal from the chariot, “Write down any events down in this journal. “I recommend you write the events from the past few days up to this time. I must go now, goodbye firestar.” “Goodbye Princess Celestia. I will write down any event that happens to me. I will never forget you,” I said.  “And I won’t forget you little one,” says the Princess.                                                                                                                              -            The next day I started school and everypony there was talking about the past few days events, ‘Did you see it? It was huge!’ and ‘The princess totally destroyed it that's why she came to Ponyville, because she knew it would be there.’ I laughed inside. They knew nothing of the little filly that helped Princess Celestia defeat the giant. I found out that Applejack and I are in the same class. “Cool, I feel more comfortable here already,” I said. “Yeah, hey, I’m glad you're alright,” said Applejack. “We saw a giant shadow of a pony, then a big light and then the thing was gone, like it was never there.” “Well, I was partly responsible for part of the light,” I told her. “How,” asked Applejack?   “Me and the princess fought it with her magic and my fire powers which is how I broke my wing,” I said gesturing to my wing in its cast.   “Fire powers? What the hay are you talking about,” asked Applejack?    “Watch,” I said. I maked a small ball of fire, which made Applejack jump. “Sorry.” I put out the fire.  “No,no it’s fine, it's just, I didn’t expect you to mean it literally, after all you are a Pegasus,” said Applejack. “And pegasi don’t usually have the power to start a fire. That is really cool though.” “Thanks, I also got my memory back,” I said.   “Cool how’d you do that,” asked Applejack?   “Princess Celestia healed my memory which is how I got my fire power,” I explained. “So, you were hanging out with Princess Celestia pretty much the whole week,” asked Applejack?   “Yeah, pretty much,” I said. “You should invite me next time,” said Applejack. Then we both started laughing.   So me and Applejack became great friends. I practiced my fire power an hour after school each day. Applejack watched me practice, applauding me when I succeeded in what I was trying to do and encouraging me when I messed up saying “Good try. You’ll get it next time.” *Note to Self* This is my story so far. The princess said Equestria will need my talent soon. How soon is soon? Tomorrow? Next week? Ten years from now? I hope I won’t have to bare the weight of equestria on my wings. I don’t know if I can take that responsibility. > Royal Guard > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I got the letter from the Princess a few days after I was old enough to go out on my own and had a nice little house near the edge of Ponyville. Derpy dropped it off on my way home from the market. She said, “Hi Firestar, I got a letter for you!” She handed me a letter. “Thank you derpy,” I said. “Here I have something for you too.” I gave her a box. She took it gingerly. “What’s in it,” she asked? “Open up and see,” I told her. She gasped a she opened the box up. “Muffins, for me,” she said excitedly? “Yep, you told me how you loved them so I bought some,” I said as she gave me a big huge. “Thank you. See yah tomorrow Firestar,” Derpy said as she flew away! “ No problem. See yah,” I said. When I got home I put everything away then I got the letter Derpy gave me. It was addressed from the Princess. You see a few months ago Nightmare Moon had shown back up in Ponyville. So I tried one of the new fire abilities I had been working on, sending messages to Princess Celestia by setting the paper on fire. The trick was not to physical burn the paper but to send it in a magical fire that would reform it once it gets to the pony you send it to. Unfortunately I only works one way for me, so I get my letters of reply back via mailmare. So anyway when NightMare Moon came back I sent a letter to Princess Celestia to tell her about it. I knew if I tried taking her on alone it would prove to be impossible. It was hard enough even for Princess celestia to cast her to the moon, but I guess if you're related to anypony it is hard enough to send them away anywhere by force. So I waited until I saw somepony flying towards the Everfree forest. So as fast as I could fly I chased after the figure. That was a mistake for me as it turned out to be Nightmare Moon. “Go away and do not mention thou saw me to anypony, and maybe I’ll let thou go safety,” hissed Nightmare Moon. Feeling a little brave I said, “Why? If I turn and go back home what’s to stop you from casting a spell on me or killing me?” “Thou questions the position of Royalty,” said Nightmare Moon shocked? “How dare thou… Wait We must save our energy for the others. I will give thee another chance to walk away. Thou knows you can not defeat me on your own.” “You're right I can’t stop you on my own, in fact I made a mistake by coming up here to think I could take you on alone; but i can buy time for whoever is trying to stop you.” I said in a reasonable voice. “Fool,” said Nightmare Moon! In a wave of darkness she was gone and in her place were some small but terrifying looking dragon things. They were pure black with silver outlining on their scales and looked to be the size of a large Stallion. They were skinny but they looked fast. I was lucky Nightmare Moon didn’t know I had fire powers because they took one look at me and they spewed silver fire at me. When they stopped they looked a bit confused that I was still standing, well Flying in my case. I threw two fireballs at them but they just dissolved into the dark of night. I had know idea where Nightmare Moon had gone into the forest and i had heard stories of terrible creatures like the Timberwolves and even a Cockatrice that could turn anything that looked at it in the eyes to stone. I had to go back home. Once I got back to my house I opened the letter. It said: Dear Firestar Phoenixwing, I promised you would have an important role in Equestria one day. So in order for you to do this I thought we could give you the proper training to help you with this. You have been invited to join the Royal Guards. The initiation will be held two days after the Summer Sun Celebration with the graduating class. You have already proven to me you are capable of joining the Royal guard when we battled Clytius. I would love for you to come. A chariot will arrive the day after the Summer Sun Celebration. -Princess Celestia The the day after the Summer Sun Celebration was tomorrow. Since the chariot was supposed to come I decided to call it a day. In the Morning everything seemed normal. I had a strange dream that night, that the lost Elements of Harmony were found and used against Nightmare Moon. Nothing was destroyed from Nightmare Moons Arrival last night, so I thought maybe the ones who were sent to defeat her must have done it. I wrote a letter for Derpy that morning during Breakfast. It read: Hi Derpy, I’m going to be gone for a couple days. The door will be unlocked, so let yourself in and drop the mail off on the table. Also there are some Muffins on the counter. Remember only take one a day otherwise I’ll run out. Thanks see you in a couple days, Firestar I had just finished writing the letter when I heard the thump of a chariot landing. I grabbed the note and a packed satchel with my initiation letter and ran out the door. I grabbed a rock from outside and stuck the note to Derpy underneath it and put it by my door when I noticed that Princess Celestia and a young looking mare in the chariot. “Princess Celestia,” I said bowing down. “What are you doing here? Who's that in the Chariot?” “Firestar I received your letter about the appearance of Nightmare Moon as well as another letter from the one who defeated her. As for who this is, she is my sister Princess Luna,” said Princess Celestia. “But that means--How,” I asked? “I encountered Nightmare Moon last night, but she got away.” “She has been reformed. Please don’t call her nightmare Moon anymore,” said the Princess. “She’s still a little shaken up about last night. Please if you're ready I would like you to meet her.” “Princess Luna,” I said bowing to her, “ I am Firestar Phoenixwing. I have been invited to join the Royal guard. it’s an honor to meet you.” Princess Luna seemed to be a little shocked at this. “It’s an honor to meet me? Even after what happened last night?” “All is forgiven,” I said. “Oh. Ok, well... good, thank you. It is an honor to have thee serve Equestria. Thou looks to be a good soldier,” Princess Luna said. “I- i’m sorry for putting you in danger last night I- I was not myself.” “No need to apologize Princess, all is forgiven. Forget about it, please it will make you feel better,” I said and Princess Luna noded. “Wait you said thou was a Phoenixwing?” “Yes Princess,” I said. “A phoenixwing served me as a follower of the night millennia ago she was a good soldier.” “Really, what was she like?” “Oh, a little shy at first. She was so sweet and gentle, but loyal. When I became Ni- my other self she stood with me in trying to rule with endless night. She married a good colt. They had a filly.” “That’s um… interesting.” “Firestar,” said Princess Celestia, “if you're ready we must depart.” We got on Princess celestia’s chariot, which was quite comfy, and at about lunch time we arrived in Canterlot. We had some Daisy sandwiches and Hay fries. On our walk to the castle I said to myself, “I thought I’d never come back here, to canterlot.” When we reached the castle Princess Celestia gave me and Princess Luna the tour of the castle. She showed us our rooms near the end of the tour and then showed her room if we needed anything. We thanked her and by the time the tour was done it was dinner. We had Sunflower salads for dinner. The next morning it was the day of the initiation. I found that during the night my clothes that I was to wear during the ceremony were folded on the trunk at the foot off my bed. It was a simple blue cloak with some gold colored greaves for my front legs, and a helmet with a blue hair piece on top I put on the cloak and greaves. Someone knocked on the door. “Come in,” I called.Both princesses came in. “Ah, I see you already have your uniform for the graduation on already. Good the Ceremony is about to begin in a few hours,” said Princess Celestia. “I would like to walk you down with the rest of the guards. I hope you understand there has never been a mare in the Royal Guard. It has never happened and you maybe the only mare to join.” “Are mares not allowed to join,” I asked as we made our to the rest of the guards to be. “No,” said Princess Celestia. “Mares could join but they just choose not to.” We finally reached the other guards and Princess Celestia and Princess Luna told me good luck and took their places on their thrones, although Princess Luna had a chair because she didn’t have her thrown yet. The Guards started whispering when I stood among them asking them what I was supposed to do.Finally one of them told me what to do, “Well the princesses will call us up one at a time in alphabetical order to be given a blue star symbolizing our graduation. What's your first name?” “Firestar,” I told him. “Your Firestar? I was told there would be a Firestar behind me but I had never heard of you. I guess you're behind me,” he said. “Thanks,” I told him. Suddenly trumpets sounded and Princess Celestia called out the first name. Armored Cadet. Then Bronze Day. An hour later it was my turn. Firestar Phoenixwing. “Congratulations. I Princess Celestia declare you--” KABOOM! One of the guards yelled, “there's been an explosion. Protect the princesses.” I grabbed a spear from a nearby rack and ran up to the princesses “Don’t worry Princess Luna,” I said guarding her, “We Will be safe.” She nodded nervously. “Whats wrong,” I asked. “I’m worried that I may turn into Night- my other self,” said Princess Luna. “Don’t worry Princess I’m sure your other form will never come back. You’ll be the best Princess of the Night ever,” I reassured her. Suddenly the doors bulged on their hinges. Luna said, “Firestar the door, thou must help the others guard it. I will be fine on my own.” I looked at Princess Luna one last time then I ran to the door when I suddenly hear the bang of a cannon. The doors burst open and I was knocked back from the shrapnel. Ponies dressed in ragged clothing gallop through the doors. My ears rang. Then a pirate saw I was alive and charged me with a sword. I Threw him off me with my back legs and flipped on to my feet again in the process. I grabbed a sword on the floor. Suddenly a pony who I could only imagine was the captain came through the shattered doors. We both made eye contact and I knew that this was a legitimate pirate operation. He dressed in a captains jacket and pirate hat. He even had an eye patch and of course had two swords and a couple of flintlocks. He was a unicorn pony. He unsheathed both his swords. We fought until he knocked my sword on to the ground and shattered the blade. He knocked me on to the ground and raised his sword to finish me. Instinctively I raised a hoof to block him from striking me. Suddenly a blade springed out of my greaves as I made contact with his chest. “AAARGG!” he cried aloud taking shaky steps backward until he came to a column. He took out one of his Flintlocks out as I stood up still shock at my astonishing discovery of my, I decided they were hoof blades. I looked up to the sound of the hammer clicking back. Before I blacked out I heard *click* BANG as he pulled the trigger. I woke up a few days later in the medical wing. “Uhg. I have to stop getting myself nearly killed.” “I agree,” said Princess Celestia as she came out behind a curtain. “You were lucky the bullet only went through your wing.” “What, happened after I passed out,” I asked. “Well, the guards made a phalanx formation and drew the pirates back and made them retreat. You were all alone in the mass of pirates. We were surprised to find you still breathing. You're tougher than you look,” said the Princess. “Anyway, you should be able to go back to Ponyville when you want. Oh, yes I almost forgot why you're here, I Princess Celestia declare you Private Firestar Phoenixwing. Soldier in training.” Anyway to sum up this story I became a special unit in the royal guard for Ponyville. This unit only consisted of me as the first mare and pegasus in the royal guard. I’ve protected Ponyville from some chaotic creatures so far and have become known by the ponies here as the Protector of Ponyville. Only time will tell what is in store for me. I talked about Nightmare Moon with Applejack she told me she defeated Nightmare Moon with the help of some friends she made on that night and that she was the bearer of Honesty. She introduced me to them. Rainbow Dash, bearer of Loyalty; Pinkie Pie, bearer of Laughter; Fluttershy, bearer of Kindness; Rarity, bearer of Generosity; and Twilight Sparkle, bearer of Magic. “Twilight, good to see you again. I never thought I’d see you again since that night in the library,” I said! “Hi Firestar,” said Twilight! “Hang on,” said Applejack! “You two know each other already?” “Yeah,” I said, “She was the first pony to help me when I lost my memory.” “Cool, Let's go into town and celebrate,” said Applejack. > The Curse > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Curse *This takes place when discord was released the first time and causes disharmony in Ponyville* It was an ordinary day. Like any other day I took my place walking around Ponyville. I became an official royal guard a few months ago with training. I didn’t have any warning Discord would show up. When I saw first saw him he turned the buildings upside down. Literally the buildings were upside down and the ground was all sorts of different colors and it kept changing from day to night every few minutes. I tried to stop him but when I did he turned and looked at me and said, “You don’t like what I’ve done to the place?” “No,” I said, “no I don’t. Nopony here likes what you’ve done Discord. Everything is topsy turvy. The only pony here that like it is you. This is too chaotic It doesn’t make any sense!.” “You know my name, good. It’s not supposed to make sense. You hurt me with your words but your mind is ordered and clear. I should fix that,” he said! “What are you-,” I began? With a snap of his fingers I heard a loud noise like a alarm clock going off in the middle of the night when you're asleep, only ten times more annoying and deafening. Then it stopped. “What did you do,” I asked? “You don’t like that noise do you? I cursed you. Every so often you will hear that noise, but only you. Nopony else here will hear a thing. It will drive your ordered mind into madness, and then you will see what I see of this beautiful land I have created, a land of chaos.,” he said. “Ha,” I said defiantly, “I’ll never see the world the same way as you.” “Oh but you will,” he said, “ I’ve already dealt with the bearers of harmony. With them out of the way I am unstoppable. Welcome to Ponyville, Chaos Capital of Equest-” “NO,” I said! I blasted him with a ball of fire. “Well, that was not very nice Firestar. You know if you’d let me finish a sentence you could learn something from me. You’d find that chaos is much better then order. He snapped his fingers. With that I heard another round of deafening noises in my head that were so intense that I blacked out. When I woke up everything was back to normal. Everything but me. The noise in my head was still there. I talked to Applejack about Discord. She said that she defeated Discord with the help of the other bearers of Harmony. I didn’t mention the noises, I figured they would go away in a few days. Boy was I wrong. - One Month Later The noises got so bad I couldn’t walk anywhere without my head feeling like it was going to burst. Applejack came over one day to check on me because I hadn’t been in two for a few days. When I told her about the headache she said she’d be back with Twilight and the others. When everyone was at my house I told them the story. “What,” asked Twilight? “I thought he said he fixed all the chaos in ponyville!” “I am summoning him here NOW! DISCORD!” Discord suddenly appeared in my house. “Yes, what is it Twilight,” he asked? “Oh, I see. I told you I fixed all the chaos in Ponyville didn’t I.” “Yes,” said Twilight, “yes you did. Fix her.” “Oh alright,” said Discord. “Sorry about that incident a few months ago Firestar. I wasn’t reformed back then. I hope you understand.” He snapped his fingers. Suddenly the headache stopped and the noise in my head went away. “There see, all better.” “Are you sure,” asked Twilight. “Ugh,” I said, “Yeah he fixed it alright.” “I can assure you I fixed it Twilight Sparkle. Fluttershy reformed me. Now Firestar, you’ll experience some aching. Don’t worry it’s normal. Your brain is just relaxing,” said Discord. “It certainly doesn’t feel like it,” I groined. Fluttershy checked up on me every day to see if I felt ok. She’s a great friend. A few days later I felt back to normal. That's when I started writing this story. Well I have to make up some lost time from my job as a royal guard. > The Shadows are alive > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Shadows are alive It’s been days since the shadow war but the events over the past couple of weeks still blaze through my memory. I can’t sleep at night without waking up in a cold sweat. I guess I am a little too young to experience an entire war that depends solely on your power. After all I’m a few years younger than Twilight and all the other but older than the Cutie Mark Crusaders that I see running around town every so often. They’re cool fillies to hang out with. Anyway back to the story, hmm… I guess I can start when Rainbow Dash asked me who and where taught me to fly. “I never saw you in Cloudsdale,” she said. “Yeah, I’ve never been to Cloudsdale. I actually had to teach myself how to fly. Basically, my parents said I was not allowed to fly in case I fell, I couldn’t even go anywhere without supervision from my parents or the teacher. I didn’t learn to fly until the other children were bullying me, not only for not being able to fly but I was the one of the only fillies in class that was a Pegasi that couldn’t fly, I got really mad at them after several days went by I shot up like an arrow,” I told her. “That means you haven’t learned what most Pegasi learn at an early age. Come on we're going to Cloudsdale so I can show you how to fly faster,” said Rainbow Dash. - Later she showed me that if I flap my wings less that I can maintain a longer period of flight and I won’t get as tired as if I flapped. Next she showed me how we can go at a super fast speed. All we had to do was fly above the clouds and then let ourselves fall. On our way up though We shared a vision. I don’t know how we had it be it was a pretty bad experience. We saw a volcano in the distance. As we flew to the ground I put a hoof to land thinking it was solid ground. Turns out it was lava so I burnt myself. “I thought you were fireproof,” said Rainbow Dash. “Well, I’m fireproof to a certain point. My skin is tougher than your skin by far for resisting fire but it's not as a dragon hide where I could jump in a pool of lava and come out unharmed,” I explained rubbing the hoof that got burnt. I didn’t know it at the time but now I’m pretty sure that the vision was Equestria in the future. We snapped out of the vision. As Rainbow and I flew back down we thought that it would be a good idea to see Princess Celestia after we told the others about the vision. The next day we took the train to Equestria and arrived at noon. When I stepped off the train I started glowing. A moment later I was wearing a glowing orange and red stone on a golden necklace. I have know idea how it got there. When I showed Princess Celestia it she said, “Now I understand. I was hoping they were destroyed. Firestar what you wear on your neck is one of the Six Elements of Equestria. They are fire, water, air, rock, and plant life. You have the fire element” “So there is more than just the Elements of Harmony,” I asked? “Yes,” Said the Princess, “but these elements are more ancient than the Elements of Harmony. In fact they are older than Luna and I. I didn’t think they had any children.” “Who had children,” the eight of us asked? “The ponies that could control the elements,” She said. “And what about the vision me and Rainbow Dash shared,” I asked? “That was a glimpse of the near future. What you’ve described to me sounds like the end of Equestria. What could cause such a disaster I do not know. except maybe a volcanic eruption,” the Princess said, “But I sense nothing.” The Princess invited us to stay the night and we graciously accepted. The next day she gave me the book about the elements and we boarded the train for Ponyville. - A few week later there was a Wonder bolts show in Ponyville. It was a nice day outside and everyone was enjoying the show, especially Rainbow Dash. Some of the cadets had just past us when I hear a loud boom and saw smoke rise to the sky. I realized it was coming from my house! I flew as fast as I could to Twilight’s old Library where I kept the Elements of the World book and my Element. When I got there the castle was rigged with explosives. I flew through the door and grabbed the book and my element and dashed out the door just as the explosives went off! “AAAGGGHHH,” I screamed as I flew twenty yards away. When I hit the ground I blacked out. When I woke up my friends found me. Luckily I wasn’t hurt in the explosion and every pony was at the Wonder bolts show so no pony got hurt. I noticed more smoke columns rising into the sky. All of them came in the directions of my friends house. Twilight's new castle wasn't damaged by the explosion but it was on fire. The Apples house had blown up but there farm was untouched. So we decided to stay in their barn. “Who in their right mind would blow up all our houses,” asked Rarity. “I don’t know,” said Twilight. “I failed,” I said, “My one job was to protect Ponyville. How am I supposed to protect Ponyville if I can’t even protect my own home?” “Hey it’s not your fault. There was nothing you could have done to stop this,” Rainbow Dash tried to reassure me. “Yes, there was. If I had been doing my job then…” I didn’t finish my sentence. I flew up to the top of the barn roof and cried softly. Once again in my life some pony else had ruined my life. For three days I felt broken sitting on the barn roof. It felt like my life line was a mirror, and some pony had just shattered it with a hammer. I didn’t eat or drink. Everyone’s family in Ponyville was in the barn. The Apples, Rarity’s sister Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, some of Fluttershy’s animals, and Mr., and Mrs. Cake and their two Foals. I heard Twilight talking about how concerned she was about me after she tried to get me to eat something. “I’m just so concerned about her. I don’t know if she will ever be the same. After all she just became a legal mare a few months ago.” “Were all worried about her sugar cube,” said Applejack. Spike came up after a few minutes later. “Firestar, um you haven’t eaten in a couple days. I brought you some food.” “Thanks, but I'm not hungry,” I said. “It’s not you fault this happened. Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s not the end of the world and you didn’t make any mistake. I thought I was making a mistake when I pet sat for every pony. I mean, I kind of did, but, I moved on. You should too.” I gave Spike a smile. I realized just how much my friends cared about me. “Come on,” I told spike, “Lets go down to the others and eat.” “Guess who decided to join us,” said Spike when we entered the barn. “Firestar,” said everyone!!! “Are you feeling better,” asked Twilight? “Yeah I-,” I said when my sentence was cut off by a group of ponies that appeared out of nowhere. We were surrounded. They had smoke curling off them like Clytius did. There hair was blue and smoky and they all seemed to be unicorns. They didn’t move their mouths but I could hear them in my mind say “Surrender Firestar Phoenixwing. Come with us peacefully or your friends won’t be staying in a barn tonight. We will blow it up like we did with your houses.” “You blew up our houses,” I shouted! “Um... Firestar what are you talking about,” asked Rainbow Dash? They all gave me puzzled looks. “You don’t hear them? They blew up our houses,” I said. “Yes,” the shadow ponies whispered in my brain. “Now come with us and your friends will be spared.” “NO,” I said! I shot fire at one but it backed away. Another one lunged at me and bit me. “Augh,” I shrieked. It’s bite was icy cold. I burst into flames and the pony vaporized. The bite warmed up to my body temperature and the bite healed. The Shadow ponies backed away from me. “We have to split up we can’t take them head on. They are too dangerous. We can go into pairs. Rarity and Sweetie Belle, Applejack and Applebloom, Big Mac and Granny Smith, Rainbow and Scootaloo, Pinkie and Fluttershy, Mr. and Mrs. Cake and the Foals. Spike can you go with Twilight,” I asked? “What about you,” asked Spike? “I’ll take them out when they chase you.” We ran in different directions. I ran to the barn to get my element of fire. Some of the shadow ponies went after my friends but many of them went after me. I blasted them all with fire and they dissolved. I blasted every single one that had followed my friends and their families. But by the time I took them all out I felt exhausted and my Element was steaming. When we regrouped at the barn it started to crack. Then it shattered. “I… I overused its power..” “Hey, it’s alright. We can store it by the Tree of Harmony.” “Ok I said a little disappointed in how I had the Element of Fire for a few days and I managed to break it. We laid it next to the Tree of Harmony and it started to glow like it did when it first appeared around my neck. When the glow faded away. The shattered Element was in cased in a small sapling of fire. Like the Elements of Harmony on the Tree of Harmony. The next day was the Gala and Princess Celestia invited us to go. Rarity made some pretty cool looking dresses for all of us back in the barn. I have know idea how she did it. Mine looked as though it were made of fire. It was pretty cool. At the Gala I talked to the Princesses about the attack at Ponyville and my Element shattering. They could make anything of it. For the rest of the night we almost enjoyed the party. Almost. That night the Shadow Ponies struck again. They captured the guests and the guards. They got my friends and the Princesses. I was the only one standing. “Surrender Firestar Phoenixwing. And everyone here will not be harmed,” They said actually speaking. “Firestar, no, they’ll kill you.” “Yes, Princess of Magic. You are correct,” they said. I didn’t want anyone in there to get hurt because of me so I said, “I’ll be fine. I need to keep everyone in here safe. This is my duty as a Royal guard.” “A wise decision,” the Shadow ponies said. “No,” said Applejack. “I must, I’m sorry. Spike I want to keep something that's valuable to me in case I do die,” I said showing Spike some of my fire. He took it gingerly without arguing. “Keep it burning.” “I will,” he said. With that the Shadow ponies looked at each other. Then they looked at me and shot an icy cold beam at me and froze me in place. “The prophecy is complete,” they said. Then the left. - The only advice I can give is when you're stuck in a block of ice it is cold. I couldn’t hear a thing but I could see. Princess Celestia took some of my fire and made a miniature sun out of it to melt the ice quickly. Within an hour I was completely unfrozen and shivering from the cold water that drenched me. I was able to absorb my fire back and I warmed myself up. I asked Princess Celestia, “What did they mean by the Prophecy is broken.” “Let me show you,” The Princess replied leading us to a small section of the library. She picked up a book and turned a couple pages. “Ah, here it is. The Prophecy of The End of All Ages. It reads, Generation to generation the flame lay small, the small flame will be kindled higher than before. This pony is a Pegasus with a magic power, her blood belongs to the princess of fire. I think that is what the shadow ponies meant by the prophecy is broken. When you froze they were counting on getting rid of you. They have something planned.” “That makes sense,” I said, “I won’t leave Canterlot until we know what they are planning.” “We are too,” Twilight said as the others nodded. “Then I have something to show you,” said Princess Celestia. The Princess led us to the armory. “We have modified your hoof blades. They are now fireproof. They also have a little bit of shadow proof and we added a grapple to it just in case. We made fire producing weapons to handle any Shadow pony attacks.” “This is great,” I said thanking her for the new weapons. - A few days later we lost magical contact with the other cities. So we put up a shield like the time the Changelings attacked Canterlot. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Twilight were holding the shield up by the time the Shadow Ponies arrived We found out that the shield didn’t keep them out but it did slow them down. The Royal Guards and I fought the shadow ponies that got through the shielding but by the third day the Princesses were exhausted. Princess Celestia had a idea that I could make a fire shield, so I headed to the center of town. I closed my eyes and pictured a shield of fire surrounding the city and opened my eyes. It was actually working. The shadow ponies couldn’t get through but my shield was weak. I could feel it weakening at every minute. I kept the shield up around city for ten days. In those ten days I didn’t eat or sleep. On the tenth day a guard walked by me and I said, “Guard, I… I can’t hold the shield much longer. Go… go warn the Princess… p-please!” Then I fainted. - He must have dragged me back into the Castle because when I woke up that's were I was. Twilight and the Princesses were enchanting the doors and windows. “Firestar,” said Princess Celestia! “I’m glad you're awake we can’t keep them out much longer.” “We need to vaporize all the shadow ponies at once,” I said. “I think I can but I’ll need you, twilight and Princess Luna to enlarge my magical energy by lending me some of your magic. Suddenly the doors burst open and shadow ponies poured through. “We have to do it now,” I shouted! I concentrated on making the biggest fire ball I could create. I was surrounded by fire. I let it reach 10 feet away from me before I released it in a flash of light. when the light cleared my head felt dizzy and I collapsed. “Firestar, are you alright,” asked Twilight? “Yeah, I’m just a bit dizzy and a little tired,” I said. “Then you should rest. You deserve it after all you’ve done these -,” she said. I was out before she could finish her sentence. - I slept for about two days and during those two days I had horrible nightmares. The Crystal Empire was overrun. As I looked around I saw the crystal ponies in their homes and a shadow pony guarding every door. A guard walk straight through me.’So they can’t see me,’ I thought. I walked into the throne room only to find no pony in the room. The prison was the only place Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor would be. When I arrived at the dungeons I found The Princess and the Prince were locked up. Luckily they didn’t look too hurt, they just had a few scratches and bruises. I knew there was nothing I could do for them in my dream form so I left to try and get a good strategy for taking back the Crystal Empire. When I woke up I had my plan ready for the Princesses, the guards and my other friends. “Okay, so, first Me, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, Spike, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Rarity, AJ, Twilight, and Pinkie will be the ponies sneaking into the Crystal Empire. We will do this by a hiding spell at night. Princess Luna can cast the spell. Once we are over the walls Spike and I will go to the dungeons and rescue Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor by melting the metal with our fires. The rest of you will open the gate and let in the Royal guard and free the Crystal ponies. All of this will happen while Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor use the Crystal Heart to weaken the Shadow Ponies and I’ll use the big fireball spell and defeat them,” I said. “ Sounds like a plan,” said Princess Celestia. “I shall have the guards prepare the train for our departure. - “Firestar wake up. We about to arrive,” said Twilight. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. “Ok thanks Twilight.” I put on the armor and headed to the doors with twilight. “Is everyone ready,” asked princess Celestia? Many heads nodded. “Alright Firestar, you are in charge now. Lead the way, my little pony.” Our team made it to where the magical shielding should have been when I said, ” Princess Luna, I think now would be the time to cast the invisibility spell.” “I believe so too, Firestar. There is just one thing you should know before I cast the spell, You must stay close to me for the spell to work. The further you get away from me the more the spell will wear off. Be sure to stay close to me.” Princess Luna casted the spell. “Ok,” she said. “Let’s go.” We followed princess Luna into the Crystal empire, As we approached the prison there were only two guards. Me and spike knocked out the guards and we parted with the other group. “Now you’ll have to somehow get the gates up without be noticed,” I said. “No problem. We’ll see you then,” said Twilight. “See ya,” me and Spike said. As we ventured into the prison we searched for guards. Luckily there weren’t any to be seen. Finally after about an hour of searching we found Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor. We asked them if there was a key but they said it had been destroyed by the shadow ponies so me and spike melted the lock off with our fire. “Sir,” I said saluting Prince Shining Armor. “Firestar Phoenixwing of Princess Celestia’s Legion reporting for duty. Please follow me.” “Your part of Princess Celestia’s legion? You seem a little young to be part of the Legion. Wait you're that mare that joined the Princess’s legion without training,” asked Shining Armor? “Yes sir,” I said. “Please sir, the other three princess and Twilight's friends are raising the gates to let in the legion to distract the guards. During the distraction you’ll put the shields that protect the Crystal Empire. Then I’ll be able to defeat the shadow ponies.” “Wh- what Twilly's here,” asked both the Prince and Princess. “Um… I mean, I understand. That's a good plan. Now let’s go take back Equestria starting with the Crystal Empire,” said Prince Shining Armor. As we came out of the prison Twilight and her friends were raising the gates to let in our legion. The shadow ponies raised the alarm and charged the legion. “Now,” I said! We ran to the Crystal heart. “Ok raise the shield,” I said. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor’s horns touched each others and the Crystal Heart began to glow. Suddenly the shield that protected the city raised back up. “Ok, now it’s my turn,” I said. “Close your eyes, it's going to be bright.” I closed my eyes and concentrated on making the biggest fireball I could create. When I couldn’t get the fireball any bigger I opened my eyes and felt all my energy drain as the fireball was released. A blazing ring dissolved the shadow ponies. I collapsed to the ground in a heap. “You did it,” said Prince Shining Armor. “The shadow ponies they’re gone.” “Good,” I said. “That's what I was going for.” “What was that? It was like a supernova,” said Shining Armor. “Hmm… I haven’t really thought about a name for it. Let’s call it the supernova ability. “Firestar,” the Prince said helping me up,” I’ll follow you anywhere, I’ll fight by your side anytime.” I grinned, “Good, cause we still need to take back the rest of Equestria, Sir.” He grinned back, “ All right let's go get them.” I nodded and started to get back to everyone when he said, “ Oh and Firestar, were friends and I consider you an equal, please, call me Shining or Shining Armor.” “Ok Shining ,” I said. - It took us months to take back Equestria. First we started with taking Ponyville back after taking back the Crystal Empire, then we took back Cloudsdale, then Appleloosa, Las Pegasus, and so on. Finally the last city to take was Manehattan. We had used the same plan in the Crystal Empire for all the other cities we took back since it was the best one any pony could come up with so we thought it would work for the Battle of Manehattan. We were wrong. We found out that the shadow ponies were teleporting from another dimension and We located the source in Manehattan. At first everything played out the way it was supposed to. I used the supernova ability and vaporized the shadow ponies, but then they started to reform and turn into the portal to the other dimension. Shadow tendrils of energy were flailing everywhere and I was really close to the portal and was just about to blast it with a fireball when one of the tendrils wrapped around my hoof and dragged me into the portal. - All I can say is it was dark on the other side of the portal. The only light was some teal orbs floating around. The ground was rough and were like shards of black glass that hurt to walk on so I decided to fly. In the distance I could make out a castle just as dark and glassy as the ground around me, as if it were made of glass. On the castle was another portal that seemed to lead into Equestria. I took a deep breathe and immediately regretted it. The air was acidic and my lungs felt like bursting. I could hear rivers rushing by. Then a voice spoke, “Haha, You are stuck here, unless you can get through the portal you see on top of my castle. Which is impossible because I am guarding it.” “Who are you,” I asked? “I am the Lord of the shadow ponies,” said the voice. “I want you to meet me at my castle. I want to destroy the only pony that has a chance to defeat my armies.” He was right, I had to go to his castle and walk into his trap. It was the only way back to Equestria. After about an hour I arrived at the castle and flew up to the tower with the portal. “Welcome to my humble home said the Shadow lord. I hope that it was painful because soon you will die.” “where am I exactly? On another planet, another dimension? Where,” I asked? “Why, we're in Tartarus,” he said. My eyes widened and he chuckled to himself, “Yes, behold my kingdom. The five rivers that flow through Tartarus flow to this spot, the Styx, the river of hatred; the Acheron, the river of pain; the Lethe, the river of memory loss; the Phlegethon, the river of fire; and the Cocytus, the river of pure misery. Soon I will release all the creatures locked up in here and they shall join my armies. “Why didn’t you take the regular way out of Tartarus,” I asked? “Because that is upper Tartarus,” He said. “It’s real name is Erebos. All I need to escape is to sacrifice you to Tartarus.” “I’ll fight you before I give in,” I said. “Very well, I did not want to do this the messy way but you leave me with no choice,” the shadow lord said. Tendrils shot out of the shadow lord and wiped at me. I dodge it and shot a fireball at him. It hit him in the chest but he didn’t dissolve like the other shadow ponies usually did. “What,” I said!? “You didn’t dissolve like the others do!” “Of course not,” The shadow lord said! “You think I could be defeated that easily?” He wiped another tendril at me. and I dodged it but he had wiped another tendril and slapped me across the platform and into a pillar that held the portal. It cracked as I slammed against it. The portal flickered. ‘That’s it!’ I thought. ‘I need to destroy a pillar and get through the portal so the shadow ponies can’t get through any more.’ I got up and waited for another tendril to swing at me. As one came at me I dodge and leaped for the portal but the tendril caught my hoof and threw me back. “You won’t escape that easily,” He said. “I think you should slow down. Maybe you should be a filly again!” Instantly I got smaller until I was the same age as when I first started writing in this journal. I was a filly and I still had my cutie mark thankfully. “You see, anything I want, I get in my domain. All I have to do is say the word.” I started crying tears of anger. My vision turned red and I created a huge fireball. Bigger than all my other fireball I used during the Supernova ability. I blasted it at the shadow lord's face and dashed for the portal as fast as I could fly. “GAH,” the shadow lord yelled. He lashed out at me with a tendril and I when through the portal just as he missed me and smashed the cracked pillar. I was safe and unfortunately still a filly. > The Shadow War > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It had been a few months and I was still a filly. Twilight has been researching in the Canterlot library and me, spike and my other five friends decided to stay and help her. I wouldn’t mind being a filly but any pony I don’t know treats me like I am a filly even when I say I’m not a filly and that I went through Tartarus and got changed into a filly by a shadow pony lord. (Yeah, I wouldn’t believe it either, but I was there.) When I asked some pony to come with me so ponies could stop thinking I was a thief, homeless, or ditching school, Fluttershy volunteered. It made sense because she has almost the same coat color as I do, so she could look like a older sister or my mother. Yikes, that's a scary thought. (No offence to Fluttershy.) It’s better than being judged as a criminal, or a ditcher. Anyway Fluttershy would help me with shopping sense the shop owners wanted to always know where my parents are and where I got the money. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are very sweet. They let me play with them because the training equipment was way too big and heavy for me, and because I was generally had a skinny average build when I was a filly I naturally looked and felt that skinny. I already had trouble with it as a mare. It just shows how I was able graduated to become a Royal Guard without training. One day we were playing tag and I was it. The Crusaders dashed across the hall and I was gaining on them when two workers with a glass pane came in between me and the Crusaders. I didn’t have time to slow down. I thought ‘I wish I could teleport.’ when fire shot up around me and I appeared on the other side of the glass before I crashed into it. So now I can teleport like unicorns only with fire. - Since it had been fairly quiet in Equestria I took the opportunity to try and fix up my element that shattered during the first shadow pony appearance. I decided to take Spike with me on a chariot to Ponyville so I could communicate with my friends. I told the guards to wait by the chariot while Spike and I walked to the tree of Harmony. When we got there I went up to the tree of fire and found that the tree had restored the Element of Fire. The stone was in one piece like it had never shattered. I took it off the tree and turned around to go back to Ponyville, I said, “Ok spike, I think we can go back thanks for accompanying me here.” “Oh,” said a voice in my head, “I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere but with us little filly Firestar!” Shadow ponies. They seemed to be the same ones that first ambushed us at the apple farm, I thought. They were holding Spike hostage. “Yes, we are the ones that ambushed you at the farm,” they said as if they could read my mind. “You will come with us.” “And if I refused,” I asked? “You have no choice, you are surrounded. You would be killed before you could even make a move,” they whispered. “Fine, but-” I didn’t get to finish my sentence. I think they knocked me out but the next thing I knew was I was waking up in a metal cage tied up. Spike wasn’t with me and I heard the shadow ponies whispering that they had no use for the little dragon so the let him go. Good, I thought I hope he can make it back to Ponyville safely. My bindings were cloth so I was able to burn through it easily. The shadow ponies didn’t know about my teleportation spell. Once I teleported out of the cage I snuck behind some crates to get a bearing of my surroundings and then I tried to sense where my Element was. ‘I should have a connection since we both create fire’. To my surprise I could sense it. There was a shadow pony trying to melt it down. Carefully I snuck from crate to crate until I arrived at the place the shadow pony was trying to melt my element down. “You know, you're only making it stronger,” I told him. The shadow pony turned around but before he could make a sound I summoned a small fireball that dissolved him. I took my element and flew off. The sun had already set and I knew I had only a little time before the Shadow ponies would find that I escaped and would start looking for me. I couldn’t see Ponyville any where so I decided to spend the night in the trees. Heh. Funny my first adventure escaping a place was spending the night in a tree. In the morning I could clearly see the rooftops of Ponyville nearly half a mile from where I was, and some smoke about 100 yards away from me. How the Shadow Ponies were able to live so close to Ponyville without being noticed I had no idea. Once I arrived in Ponyville I found Spike safe with the Royal guards. “Firestar where were you? I was just about to send a letter saying you were kidnapped.,” said spike. “Could we send a letter anyway? There is a shadow pony camp less than a mile into the Everfree Forest.” “A-a- but all the shadow ponies were defeated. We destroyed the portal from their world to ours. Never mind just tell me what to wright.” My friends, I fear that the shadow ponies have built a camp less than a mile away from Ponyville. I don’t know how they are here and I can not defeat them on my own. Me and Spike will need help, please send the Royal guard to help us. Your friends, Spike and Firestar. Once all my friends and the Royal Guard showed up we immediately made a plan. We were supposed to take the Shadow Ponies by surprise. As we were approaching the camp when Shadow Ponies burst out of the trees and surrounded us. It was a trap. “Royal guard, hold your ground we won’t be taken captive. We have to defeat all the Shadow ponies. Attack!” We charged the ponies and almost overwhelmed them. We pushed them back to their camp in the first 10 minutes of the battle. As I evaporated a shadow pony I charged another when it shot me with a shadow bolt of magical energy. I tripped and stumbled. I looked over myself but there didn’t seem to be any damage. Then I got shot again. My vision swam and my legs felt like a I was carrying a load of apples on each leg. As I went down I could hear my name being called. I heard Twilight give the order to retreat and Rainbow Dash and fluttershy flew me out of the Everfree to safety and into Ponyville. I was a little dizzy and my vision turn grey and swimmy, so, I’m not sure what happened but when Princess Celestia showed up it went something like this… The Princess arrived almost immediately as Rainbow and Fluttershy set me down on a bed. “Princess,” said Twilight, “She’s this way we must hurry.” Princess Celestia approached me, “I hope you can hear me Firestar. This will only take a moment to get the poison out of your body.” I started glowing with the Princess’s magic. I felt the shadow poison seeping out of me. My vision started to clear and I started regaining my senses. “Princess Celestia,” I said, “Thank you. I owe you me life once again.” “I was happy to help,” said Celestia, “Let’s get you some fresh air.” We walked outside a few yards away from the inn we were in. “When I got the poison out of you I saw it fly off,” said Princess celestia, “I had a feeling it was meant for something.” “What do you mean,” I asked. “Well, during the battle did they try to fire the magic bolts at any pony else?” “No.. Wait are you telling me that they were specifically trying to target me for something?” “Yes, but not just something, I think they were going to summon their Shadow leader using your body. With you defeated and unable to stop them they might have had a chance to take over Equestria. Suddenly there was a flash, in front of us was a portal of darkness. My friends run up to us. “What's going on,” asked Twilight? “You were right Princess Celestia, it’s the Shadow lord,” I said. A large shadowy figure came out of the portal, just as terrifying as the last time we met. “Ah, Firestar, I see you are still a filly, as I cursed you to be,” Said the Shadow Lord. “As you may have guessed, I was supposed to take over your body using the shadow poison that was in your body. Then no pony would be able to stand up to me while I take over this world. But no matter there is still a little poison in you, I can sense it, eventually you will either die or you will be turned into a shadow pony. With the poison in your body I can control your fire ability.” His horn began to glow with magic. All of the sudden I was seeing my worst nightmares and pains. “Oh, yes I forgot to mention, I can inflict your worst memories, past pains, and nightmares,” said The Shadow lord. “Foul creature, We shall defend Firestar from you until our last breathe,” said Celestia. The pain stopped. “Haha, you think I will take you all on alone,” asked the Shadow lord? He started multiplying. From 1 he became 2. From 2 to 4 until there was one of him for each of us. Each pony was in combat except me. The Shadow lord said, “Firestar I offer you no bloodshed if you give up and let me take over Equestria. I can bring back your parents from the dead. You could relive your childhood. I made you a filly for a reason.” “You planned all this? And my parents, They would be flesh and blood not just ghosts,” I asked? “Yes,” he said. “Firestar don’t listen to him, He’s has to be lying! Think about it, he will rule all of Equestria and turn us into slaves or shadow ponies, or both! Friendship will be lost forever and even if he’s telling the truth bringing the dead back to life is unnatural and shouldn’t be done, it can’t be done, it’s forbidden” said Spike who didn’t have a Shadow lord to fight. He probably thought spike was not worth the effort. “But spike, I could get my family and my childhood back,” I countered. The shadow poison was affecting my brain. I knew it but I could bring myself to stop it, I wanted my family. “Equestria can be handed over by one mare. To do that would be taking every pony's life and throwing it away. “Y-you're right, I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you for a minute there Spike, I wasn’t in my right mind,” I said, “ I can’t accept your offer Shadow lord, the fate of Equestria can’t be put on the shoulders of one pony. Instead I think you should take my offer, leave and never come back.” “You think I would just leave. I wouldn’t have even followed through with my own promise. This talk was only a way to let the poison settle in and do it’s work. You should listen to your dragon friend more often. Unfortunately for you that’s the last time you will ever listen to him. Now you will become a shadow pony in a minute,” said the Shadow pony. Then he gave me a curious look, “You should be dead or at least be a shadow… I see. You're a different species, one of the last of your kind. This is why the poison didn’t work, It’s wearing off too.” “ If the poison has worn off then you can’t control my fire anymore,” I said. I blasted him in a flamethrower effect. The shadow lord’s other bodies dissipated. I approached Princess Celestia, “ Princess, he isn’t easily beat by fire when I was in his realm I used a supernova effect on him bigger than I’ve done before and he still survived, barely hurt from it. But I was thinking, do you remember our battle with Clytius? What if we did that with all of us?” “I see, good thinking Firestar. Let’s give it a try.” We all grouped up, the Bearers of Harmony, The Princesses, and me all concentrating our magic. I closed my eyes feeling more of my power combining into my magic fireball. For several minutes there was silence and nothing happened. Then I heard the Princess shout “NOW”! I opened my eyes and released everything I had at the shadow pony. The blast was so powerful that the shadow lord was pushed back into the portal. Then the portal closed. we were so tired that we fell to the ground. - I was stumped at what the shadow lord said about me being a different species. So I asked Twilight if she could figure out what I was. She said she would have to do a blood test. Rainbow Dash agreed to be the pegasi test pony once we got back to Canterlot. Twilight also said that maybe could find cure to get me back to my normal size and age that I was before the shadow lord changed me to a little filly. A few days later Twilight came back with the results. She said that there was only one major difference and once she looked back into the book about the Elements of Equestria she figured out that one of my ancestors had been a dragon pony, but over generations I look like a regular pegasi. The only trait I still have from the dragon pony ancestor is the fire ability. Twilight also said she found the cure to make me a mare. Twilight casted the spell and I was back to normal. We have started to rebuild our homes in Ponyville. Twilight's castle took very little damage from the explosion as only the entrance was partially destroyed. My house is almost done being rebuilt. My new mission from Princess Celestia is to seek out any shadow pony camps and destroy them. > A New Element > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It’s been awhile since the shadow war, the last monster attack was in nearly two months ago which is unusual for Ponyville. Usually there is some sort attack every week. Sorry I should probably tell you what is so important about this day. It’s the night of Hearth Warming Eve and Twilight is having a party at the castle. Well actually Pinkie Pie was throwing a party at Twilight’s castle and invited the entire town. It seemed to be a normal night, the only weird thing was that it wasn’t supposed to snow until the next day, yet there I was walking through a blizzard to the party. The party was fun for the first 30 minutes before some pony that was looking for me showed up. He said, “Are you Firestar?” He was a cyan unicorn with sea blue and white hair that looked like an ocean wave, his eyes were sea blue as well. “Yes, that’s me, are you new here,” I asked? Pinkie was standing right next to me, “Oooh a new pony pleased to meet I’m Pinkie Pie what's your name I never saw you before which means your new cause I know every pony in ponyville and if you're new it means you haven’t met any pony yet, and if you haven’t met anyone yet, you must not have any friends.” The new pony just nodded and pinkie jumped off. “So, you need to see me,” I asked? “Yes, and if you cooperate no one else will get hurt,” the new pony said! “What are you talking about,” I asked? “Who are you?” “My name is Arctic Surf, and your ancestor left my ancestor to die.” “What do you mean my ancestor left,-” I was about to say but slipped on some ice. That didn’t make sense it was too warm in the castle for there to be any ice. Suddenly every pony was slipping. “I control water,” said Arctic Surf “ which means I can make it in all it’s forms, solid, liquid, and gas, hot or cold.” "Every pony you got to get out of here", I shouted! Every pony started running out of twilights castle. I melted the ice around me with some fire. "Fire against water, you should know that water always wins." He started to make the ground icy again but I made a circle of fire around myself Then I shot a fireball at him. Arctic Surf sent a wave of water up to block it. Then I charged him and pushed him through a door. Then I melted the door handle and the lock so he couldn't get out. Then spike came up to me and handed me a letter. It read, Dear Firestar, our scientists have made some armor that can protect you from magic and the weather. It should be on its way about now. From, Princess Celestia A package dropped down out side. "Spike tell me if he gets out of the door," I said! I opened the package. In it was the suit. I put it on and went back inside. The air was freezing rapidly. My suit engages it defense by covering my head. I pushed spike out of the castle just before the air turned into solid ice. Luckily I used my teleportation spell with my fire. I erupted in fire and suddenly I was outside the castle. Every pony had hid in there houses. "Spike get twilight and the others in one of the houses. Sugarcube corner is close by do have them stay there," I said. Spike nodded and ran off. Suddenly all the air that froze in the castle melted into water and was coming straight at me. I couldn't fly because the suit was too heavy. I created a fire shield around me and the wave went past me evaporating my shield. We fought each other shooting water and fire at each other eventually I pinned him down. "You got to stop this I wouldn't do whatever it was that my ancestor did to yours. Plus we may be the only elemental ponies alive in Equestria left we should work together." Suddenly Arctic Surf started to glow. Once the light stopped there was a sea blue shell made of water on a string around his neck. "You're the element of water. If we work together we could find the other elements. Please lets be friends," I said. "I'm sorry I Wasn't thinking," said Arctic Surf. So Princess Celestia had Arctic Surf join into my squad so now I'm not alone. Also we found out that Arctic Surf’s ancestor sounds a lot like he could be the hippocampus Poseidon. > Getting an Upgrade > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi it’s me again, Firestar phoenixwing well we are running out of pages in this book that Princess Celestia gave me to write in. Arctic Surf got his own book from Princess Celestia to write in so he will probably be writing down his own adventures. Any way you probably want to read this next chapter. well here we go… Me and Arctic Surf got a letter from Princess Celestia it said, Dear Firestar and Arctic, Please come to Canterlot for we have a special mission for you both. From, Princess Celestia We got on the first train to Canterlot. Once we arrived at the train station we were personally escorted by the Royal Guard to the princesses where they immediately left us. “Princess”, we both said bowing. “Firestar, Arctic I am glad you are here. Our spy have found a pirate base. We believe it belongs to the same pirate crew that attacked us from the graduating ceremony. If you can get in and destroy it then we could decrease the amount of pirating between our ports in Batlimare and Las Pegasus.” “When do we start”, I asked? - We got our suits that protected us from magic and weather. The fort was at the border between Equestria and the Crystal Mountains. Luckily I had a pony that could create blizzards so we got close enough to approach the fortress. Arctic was able to make a ice tower that rose high enough so that I could go through the middle of the fortress. I heated the brick until I could slip through the liquidish brick. Arctic cooled it off once I got through and made the brick solid again, then he went up top to take care of the guards. I heard a faint hissing then the doors on my right exploded into thousands of splinters. In the doors place was the barrel of a cannon and two pirates already reloading. Then the door in front of me exploded as well before I could attack the first pirates. The pirates finished reloading and fired again the cannon ball hit my right hoof. My leg instantly went numb and the armor was cracked. The second pirates reloaded and fired again but they were aiming for the roof. I looked up as they fired. The cannonball hit a platform above me and knocked it down. Barrels of gunpowder dropped down on me and exploded. Suddenly I was falling. I landed on my right arm, the one that got hit with the canon, and I felt a burning pain in my elbow up to the base of my wing. My vision swam as I crawled away from the opening. The pirates were aiming their cannons at me now and I could do nothing about it. The pirates froze. No really they literally they froze. Arctic surf looked down at me. “Oh, Sweet Celestia, NO! Hang on Firestar I’ll be down in a second,” He told me. He enveloped in water and poured down to me and rematerialized. “Holly horse feed,” he muttered as he saw my right front hoof. “You're going to be fine. I’ll get you out of here,” he told me. He froze the cracks in the wall then he unfroze them and the cracks got bigger. He froze them again and melted the water again. and was able to break the wall on the third time. he levitated me out of the fortress under the cover of the blizzard. with my suit partially destroyed I could feel the cold and the stinging of the snow. “Ok Firestar don’t freak out at what I’m going to do ok,” he asked? I nodded in agreement. Suddenly my body wasn’t solid anymore; and I was freaking out. When I rematerialized I was in Canterlot with Arctic standing over me. “Guards help me! Quickly,” he shouted. I blacked out. When I awoke I was in the hospital. “Firestar you're awake,” said Artic. “You’ve been out for days. I was so worried about you after the surgery.” “Wait, what? Hold on, what are you talking about,” I asked? Artic pulled up the blankets covering my front legs. To my shock my right leg was missing. But in it’s place was a robotic leg. “Where’s my leg!” “Relax Firestar, please,” he said. “Oh, greetings Princess.” I looked over just as Princess Celestia opened the door. “Princess, I want my real leg back,” I complained. “Firestar you don’t talk to the Princess like that,” Arctic scolded. “It’s ok Arctic. Firestar we can’t give your leg back it was a mangled mesh with your armor. We had to remove it.” “But- but...,” I sighed. I knew there was nothing I could do to get my leg back. This new robotic leg was part of me now. “We made some modifications, your leg is now part of your armor. We also fixed your armor so that the leg armor of the armor doesn’t interfere with your new leg.” So after a few days in the hospital I got out and had to do physical therapy for a couple weeks until I could walk and run again. It was hard but I think I’ve gotten used to it. Everything is pretty much back to normal now. No monster attacks. Oh but I did find an old book that my great times ten grandmother that lived a thousand years ago just before Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon. Princess Luna gave it to me when after she found it. I guess that my great times ten grandmother gave it had it hidden in a secret area only known to the group that supported a never ending night. But enough spoilers you’ll just have to see for yourself.