a series of short stories set in my shared fanifc 'My Little Pony' multi-generational universe.
A series of short stories set in my shared 'My Little Pony' fanfic multi-generational universe. Various stories take place in different parts of the timeline, with various characters from FiM, and other generations. (Note: IF YOU HAVEN'T READ MY OTHER STORIES YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON!)
Dream Valley, two weeks after the events of the episode "The prince and the Pony", the final G1 episode;
The sun shone down brightly on the Paradise estates, as the Ponies of Dream Valley were eagerly at play. Wind Whistler, Buttons, and Shady were out in the yard beyond the main house, at a game of pony polo.
"C'mon Shady, hit the ball to me!" Buttons exclaimed.
"I...I don't think I can do it..." Shady bemoaned, tapping the ball with her hoof.
"We've gone over this before, shady." Wind Whistler sighed, rolling her eyes. "Simply apply enough force to the ball with your snout, to send it flying towards Buttons!"
"O-okay, I'll try..." She replied nervously. But as she moved to hit the ball, a loud noise from overhead startled her. "Aieee!" She cried, accidentally sending the ball flying into the pool.
"What in the world is that?" Buttons cried, drowned out by the loud roar overhead. "We don't have jets in Ponyland!"
They all looked skyward, to see a white carriage with Pink Wheels roaring overhead, pulled by two Pegasus Guards in armor.
"The Sky Skimmer Carriage!" Buttons exclaimed. "Queen Majesty has returned to Dream Valley!"
"She must have finally finished the negotiations between Hoofkaido and Fort Rainbow Dash." Wind Whistler whinnied in surprise. "Considering it's been a year, it's about time!"
"Oh, Wind Whistler, what are we gonna do?" Shady wailed. "When Majesty finds out what we did with her castle, she'll have our heads mounted on her wall!"
"Now just calm down Shady, it's not our fault at what happened." Wind Whistler snorted. "Fizzy and I had the Moochick create Paradise estate, as a temporary refuge against the Smooze. It was Truly and her cronies who had us abandon the castle to the grundles."
"But will Majesty realize we always intended to reclaim the castle?" Buttons asked the blue Pegasus. "What should we do, Wind Whistler?"
"Exactly what we had planned to do, right from the start." Masquerade appeared from nowhere, startling the other three mares. "Gather those ponies who are still loyal, along with their offspring, and leave the traitors to their fate."
"Must you always sneak up on everybody?" Shady asked in frustration. "It's starting to get old!"
"We don't have time for that now!" Wind Whistler snorted. "We need to maker our preparations, and get out of here!"
"We should hurry." Buttons agreed. "Though I almost wish I could be here, to see if Truly survives whatever Majesty has planned for her!"
...
The Sky Skimmer Carriage landed in front of Dream Castle, and Queen Majesty stepped out. Taking in a breath of the fresh Dream Valley air, she smiled. "Ah, it's so good to be home!"
The white unicorn then turned to "Thank you, my good Stallions! Now, if you two would please take the carriage down to Wind Whistler's laboratories for a cleaning and a tune-up?"
"At once, my queen!" The two Pegasus bowed, and took the carriage inside the cave behind the waterfall.
Majesty lowered the Drawbridge with her horn, and trotted into the castle that had been her ancestral home for more than a thousand years...
... to find the place an absolute wreck! The walls and floor absolute mess, the curtains were torn and shredded, and the beautiful wall frescoes and mosaics, depicting the thousand-year history of Dream Valley, were covered in obscene goblin graffiti .
It was then, that Twilight Shine came up, and bowed nervously to Majesty. "My Queen, Welcome back... we are most pleased at your safe return." She looked around nervously, as Applejack, Glory, Firefly, Bow Tie, and Medley emerged behind her. "W-we've had some... uninvited guests staying in the castle, though we managed to keep them confined to the throne room and the main halls... and- your private Chambers." Twilight laughed nervously. "It appears Magic Star gave the castle away, and... neglected to tell me..."
It was then that a hideous goblin came around the corner. "Hello, silly-looking pony! Welcome to kingdom of Grundles!"
It took only a few seconds for Majesty to put two and two together... The queen's eyes went wide, and her magic-amplified whinny echoed across the breadth of Dream Valley.
"TRUUUULLLLYYYYYYYYYYY!"
…
"I WANT THAT MARE SENT TO A HUMAN GLUE FACTORY!"
Majesty stormed down the corridor of her castle, having just traded 1/3 of the royal hoard to the Grundles to get them to leave. Priceless treasures of Ponykind- including the royal regalia of Princess Celestia herself, recovered from the troll-looted crypts of Canterlot- were now in the hands of a crude tribe of goblins.
"Twilight! How is the rest of the herd?" Majesty asked. "Are they here, or did Truly sell them into slavery to the Blarks?"
"The rest of the herd stayed here during the grundle occupation, my queen. Along with the six of us." She gestured to Firefly and the others with her hoof. "We kept the grundles out of the treasure vaults, the library, and the royal catacombs. They never even discovered the dungeons or the laboratories and repair bays beneath the castle."
"But the grundle king insisted on having your room, my queen." Firefly winced. "It's not a pretty sight."
Majesty almost died at the sight of her private quarters. Her beautiful satin sheets were tattered and thrown about... obviously soiled by the Grundle king's 'personal entrainment'. Her bed's beautiful lace canopy was shredded, and her mattress had feathers coming out of the insides.
"This bed set was my grandmother's last gift to me." Majesty bawled, thinking of the late Queen Regal. But it was when the unicorn queen saw the picture of her mother and her, which had sat on her nightstand, smashed against the wall and torn in two, did Majesty finally snap.
"My queen! Masquerade has returned with the loyalists from paradise estate!" Medley cried out, as the mares and foals came trotting across the drawbridge.
"Only about thirty mares remain at the estate, loyal to Truly." Masquerade confirmed, following the refugees through the gateway.
"Twilight... keep everypony here at the castle." Majesty said icily. "I'm going to go deal with this...personaly!"
...
"BOOM!" The gates of Paradise estate were blown clean off their hinges, as an angry unicorn queen galloped her way through. Foals and mares ran for cover, asParadise flew directly into Majesty's path.
"Hold it Majesty, you can't just-" She never finished her sentence, as Majesty telekinetically tossed her into the pool.
"Take a bath Paradise!" The queen snapped. "Your hypocrisy stinks!"
She then saw Magic Star galloping away, but she quickly stopped her in her tracks. The queen levitated her back over to where she stood.
"My queen, please! We were forced to!" Magic Star begged, sweat trickling down her snout. "It was against my will! Truly-"
Majesty spun around, and horse-kicked Magic Star through one of the Estate's windows.
"That'll kick some horse sense into you, you lying old nag!" Majesty snapped. She turned her attention towards the main house. "TRULY!"
She smashed though the front door, where the stern earth mare looked up at her, stunned.
"Majesty?" She said in shock. "Ah knew ya'll would-"
Majesty caught the rotten earth mare in a levitation spell, slamming her into the ceiling, and then the wall, . "Ahhh! AHHHH!" She then finished by slamming the treacherous mare into floor...HARD.
"AIEEEEEEEEE!"
Truly lie on the floor, gasping for air, despite the pain from her cracked ribs, and blood trickling from her mouth.
"Get up, you traitor!" Majesty roared. "You haven't even begun to suffer for betraying me! For betraying the herd!"
"I regret nothing, foh tryin ta get mah freedom!" Truly snapped in contempt. "Go ahead and slay me, yer highness!"
"But why, Truly?" Majesty asked her, as her horn stopped glowing. "I treated you an the entire herd as my children! Why would you do something like this?"
"Ya''ll treated us like yer children, all raight! But not as yer equals!" Truly spat at her. "Ah'd do it ahll ova again, ta get away from yer tyranny!"
It was at that point, that Majesty noticed several of the estate foals, watching her from behind the couch, and quivering in fear. She saw the terror in their eyes when they looked at her, and was horrified by what she saw.
Majesty looked down at truly. "Get up. I'm not going to harm you."
"Wha?" A confused Truly stared at her. "Ah don't-"
" You may keep your estate, so long as you and your ponies uphold your oaths of loyalty to me." Majesty trotted back towards the door.
"Wait, whay ah y'all sparin' me?" Truly asked, pulling herself back up on her hooves.
"Because... I have realized that I was becoming something even worse than you, Truly." Majesty replied, trotting out the door. "And that is a far worse fate than anything you have done to me."
…
Things began to revert to normal at Dream Castle, as the nobility moved themselves back in after queen Majesty's return. The little ponies worked hard to restore the frescoes and paintings, and cleaned up and repaired the damage from the grundle occupation. But there were many changes Majesty had noticed in some of her subjects, and the queen was extremely curious.
"Galaxy, can I speak to you for a moment?"
Majesty's telepathic summons called Galaxy down from her tower, where she had been grateful to find all of her astronomical instruments intact. Coming down the steps into the throne room, she bowed before her monarch.
"Yes, my queen?" She asked politely. "How may I serve you?"
"Since you were at Paradise estate for the past year, I wanted to ask you about some of the... changes.. that have occurred with my little ponies while I've been away."
"Of course, my queen." Galaxy replied. "What so you wish to know?"
Majesty looked over the notes Twilight had prepared for her. "I found that we now have an alliance with the flutter ponies, and both Bright Valley and King Scorpan's kingdom have been restored, and our alliances strengthened with them?"
"That is correct, Majesty." Galaxy replied, smiling. "Those are perfect examples of what we have accomplished over the past year."
"And what about those giant crabs I saw helping Posey weed out and plow the castle gardens?" Majesty asked curiously.
"Ah, the crab nasties." Galaxy replied with a nervous laugh. "We met them when we were attacked by some killer flowers."
"Killer Flowers?" Majesty looked at her strangely. "Galaxy, have you been hitting the loco weed?"
"My queen, it's true!" Galaxy replied. "And besides, the crab nasties are strong and powerful allies, as well!"
"Hm. I see." Majesty read farther on down the list "I also see the castle adopted a baby dragon?"
"Yes... his name is spike, my queen. He started hanging around the herd after we freed him from Tirek."
"Spike?" Majesty asked in surprise. "Do you think it's possible that we are dealing with the famous assistant of Twilight Sparkle here?"
"Twilight Shine thinks this may be the case, given the long lives dragons lead." Galaxy responded. "Spike plays dumb whenever we talk to him about it, so we cannot be certain."
"The ponies adopted and then released a giant puppy, I see." Majesty levitated the paper down. "And it appears that Baby North Star tried to sell the twins to the elf royal family again?"
"Yes, but we actually helped the elves restore their king to the throne, after he was overthrown by his scullery maid." Galaxy finished. "And we even helped the gnomes get the Frazits under control again!"
"Well then, i guess that takes care of everything." Majesty raised her hoof. "Though I did want to speak to this 'Megan', that has been helping the herd so much."
"I shall arrange a meeting at once, my queen." Galaxy offered.
"Twilight shall take care of that, do not worry about it." Majesty narrowed her eyes, looking at something behind Galaxy. "But I wanted to ask you... why are those four doing that strange dance, in those silly costumes?"
Galaxy looked behind her... where Gusty, Shady, Sweet Stuff, and Sundance were dressed in veils and harem outfits... doing the dance of the seven veils.
"Oh good GRIEF..." Galaxy exclaimed, putting her hoof to her face. "Why did Scheherazade have to teach them that?"
As day turned to evening, the windows of Dream Castle lit up, as all of the ponies who lived there went about having their suppers, and spending time with their families. In the castle throne room, Queen Majesty of Dream Valley was holding evening court, listening to the problems that every pony in the valley came to her with.
"So as you can see, Surprise, you cannot just prank ponies who are working on the Castle's electrical system, by shooting them with a squirt gun!" Majesty shook her mane angrily. "It could be hazardous to a pony's health!"
"Yeah, Queen Majesty, I can see your point." Surprise laughed nervously. "Sorry I surprised ya with that squirt gun, Wind Whistler!"
"Thank you, your highness." Wind Whistler replied, every hair on her mane standing on end, and electricity sparking from her mouth. "It is my sincere hope that we can avoid calamities such as this in the future!"
The two Pegasus flew out of the throne room, the blue one spazaming and sparking every few feet. Queen majesty sighed, rubbing her temples with her hooves.
"Moondancer, whose my next appointment?" The queen asked with a sigh.
The unicorn levitated her clipboard over to her view. "Next up is your audience with Megan." She looked up at her queen. "The human ally to the Dream Valley ponies."
"Aha! Just the human I wanted to see!" Majesty replied with a grin. "Please, send her in at once!"
Lady Moondancer motioned to the guard, and he led a young blonde girl, wearing a Jean skirt and an orange t-shirt, into the room. She walked right up to the throne, before curtseying to the white unicorn before her.
"Your majesty, it is an honor to finally meet you." She said politely, looking up at the throne. "I've heard so much about you from the Paradise estate ponies!"
"Yes, it is a pleasure to finally meet you as well, my little human." Majesty inclined her head towards the girl. "And I wanted to personally thank you for keeping an eye on my subjects while I was away."
"It was nothing at all, your highness." Megan waved her hand dismissively. "They are my friends, and I would do anything for them."
"I understand that." Majesty replied. "But I have heard disturbing reports that you would take charge of my herd when there was a crisis, and order them around as if they were normal ponies." The Queen narrowed her eyes. "You even had the audacity to hop on the back of one of the princess ponies, and order her around as if she were a mindless earth mount!"
"But... Your majesty!" The little girl protested. "I was only trying to help!"
"I know you were... and you helped my little ponies out a great deal." Majesty sighed. "But a thirteen-year-old girl should be worrying about spending time with friends and boys, not helping ponies fight for their lives against evil sorcerers and fire breathing dragons."
Megan's heart sank. "You're not going to let me fight for the ponies or see my friends anymore, are you?"
"Of course not! You are as much a part of this herd, as if you were a pony yourself!" Majesty snorted angrily, stamping her hoof. " I am not going to force you away from Dream Valley. But I am not going to let you put yourself in danger any longer."
"So... what are you going to do?" Megan bit her lower lip, trying to hold back her tears.
"Megan Williams of earth, I herby grant you the rank of Duchess in Dream Valley, as a lady in waiting in my court." Queen Majesty sighed. "You - along with your two siblings- shall be free to come and go from the castle and Ponyland as you see fit, provided you are accompanied by a pony escort, and do not attempt to get involved in our conflicts any longer."
"I understand." She curtseyed to the queen again. "Thank you very much for your generosity, your highness."
"A pleasure, my little human." The queen replied with a smile. "And in the future, please remember... my subjects are not the horses on your ranch, that you can simply order around."
"I will, great Majesty. Thank you so much!" The young human ran out of the throne room in excitement. "Wow, me a Duchess! Wait till I tell my aunt Bonnie about THIS!"
The Queen smiled, and looked over at Moondancer. "All right, who is next on our list?"
"It's Cherries Jubilee and Applejack, your highness." Moondancer sighed. "Apparently, there was a disagreement in the garden..."
The queen sighed. "It's going to a looong night..."
To give up one's own boring life, and take the skin of another. Again and again, we hear of those who wish they could walk in the horseshoes of another, to take on a life in another time and place, to escape the problems and worries of one's own life. Ah, but what if those dreams are allowed to come true? Would the life we would lead be everything we desired it to be? And would we come to regret our decision? I, Tornado Firehooves, royal court scholar to Queen Majesty, now relate to you the tale of the boy Danny, and how his wish to run free came to grief...
Once, there were two sisters and a brother, who lived on their father's ranch in the human world. The eldest was the girl Megan, caring and wise. The youngest was her sister Molly, caring and fair. But the middle child was a young boy named Danny, who was noble and brave. The children of a professional race horse breeder on the open plains of Oklahoma, they were at home in the open fields and sunny skies. These three lived a normal life, in what they considered a normal world.
Danny and was a normal boy, not unlike any other. He had red hair and freckles, and wore a striped shirt and jeans. He liked to play baseball and ride his skateboard, and hated homework and school. Like many other boys his age, he spent time with his friends hanging out, and listened to his two favorite bands, Cold Slither and the Holograms. Danny spent his days scarfing down cheeseburgers, and playing video games. He liked going to the horse races with his dad, and dreamed of riding the rodeo circuit just like his father one day.
But Danny, unlike other boys his age, had a secret. His sister Megan had found the doorway to another world... a rainbow bridge, that took her to a magical world of dangerous monsters and talking ponies. She introduced this world of Ponyland to her two siblings, and together they had many adventures in this wondrous land of wizards and dragons. He formed a particularly close bond with the baby dragon, Spike... as they were the only two boys in a sea of girls. Sometimes Danny acted foolish, and got them into trouble. But his good nature always shined through, and together with his friends both human and pony, they would always triumph over the most evil of foes!
But the years came, and the years went. Molly grew up, and grew away from Ponyland. She turned her mind towards things like a future and a career, and forgot her friends across the rainbow bridge. Megan, however, could never forget her little ponies, so dear to her heart were they. She and Danny came again and again, even as they left childhood behind, and entered their teen years. As one sister drifted farther and farther away from a world she wanted to believe was nothing more than a childhood fantasy, the other sister came to become more and more a part of it.
For Danny, Ponyland was an adventure. An escape from a world of high school pressure, after school jobs, and the looming specter of adulthood. He preferred to ride on the back of his pony friend Surprise, soaring through the clouds, than being in a world of peer pressure, a trying high school baseball coach, and girls who turned him down every time he asked one of them to go to the Dancitron with him. Oh, how Danny wished he could leave the world of work and responsibility behind, and run free like the Dream Valley ponies do!
But one day... everything changed. When Danny had reached his nineteenth year, he and Megan came to help the ponies against yet another evil wizard who was trying to take over Dream Valley. The evil fiend had stolen a wand of transformation from ancient Equestrian ruins. The Ponies ended up in conflict with him, and Megan and Danny tracked him down to his lair in the Froggy Bottom swamp. It was here they did battle with the rouge spell caster, and it was here everything went oh so terribly wrong.
"I got the wand, Galaxy!" Megan yelled. "Let's try to keep it away from him!"
"Give me that wand, you filthy brats!" The wizard yelled.
Megan tossed it to Galaxy, who caught it in her mouth, and tossed it to Shady. But the game of keep away turned to disaster, when Shady messed up her throw to Surprise, and the wand smashed to the floor in front of the white Pegasus Pony, and cracked.
"Oh nooo!" Surprise yelped.
"Surprise!" Danny yelled, and jumped between the exploding transformation wand and his friend. The explosion knocked him to the ground, and he felt a terrible pain shoot through his entire body.
"DANNY!" Both Megan and Surprise cried out. It was then, that everything around the young human went dark...
...Danny came to lying in the Dream Valley infirmary, where her could hear the voice of Galaxy and his sister talking as consciousness returned.
"...Are you sure there is no way to change him back?" Megan asked.
"I'm afraid not, Megan." Galaxy whinnied. "The rod was a Penna artifact, from long before the time of the long-gone kingdom of Equestria. Using unicorn magic to undo it's affects could damage Danny's nervous system to the point of killing him!"
It was then that Danny awoke, to the sight of Surprise staring at him, looking worried. He tried to move his hand up to her, to let her know he was all right. But to his horror, he discovered he no longer had hands...but hooves!
"Ne-e-e-e-e-e-e-i-i-i-i-g-g-g-g-h!" He tried to scream, but all that came out was a pony's whinny. Horrified, Danny tried to stand up on his two legs... but it only resulted in him stumbling over his new wings.
"Easy, Danny!" Dr Medicin warned, as Surprise and Megan tried to steady him. "You're not yet accustomed to your new body yet!"
She was right, as Danny calmed himself down, everything was a new sensation for him. Every sound and smell was now much crisp and clearer to him. He could flex the ends of his new limbs- his wings and tail- much as he had once done with his hands. He could sense and feel things he never had as a human.
For he was a human no longer... now, he was a pony!
Where there had been a human boy, now there was a black stallion with a white mane. In shock after all that had happened, Danny could barely make out what happened over the next few hours. Promises by Queen Majesty that Danny could stay at the Castle for as long as he wished- a reward for all he and his sisters had done for the ponies. A promise by his sister to visit him whenever she could, as she hugged him goodbye. He struggled to hang onto his sanity, as North Star flew Megan back over the rainbow, to the human world...
...leaving him behind.
The next few weeks were pure torment for poor Danny. Sundance had to teach him how to speak all over again, as the shape and structure of his mouth had changed. Moondancer taught him how to first walk, then trot, and then gallop around on four hooves. It was a very unpleasant experience, as he continuously fell on his face every step he took. North Star was terrified of starting his flying lessons, and Gusty was getting frustrated with how clumsy and Kluzy Danny was.
"It's annoying, Wind Whistler!" Gusty yelled. "He's as helpless as a newborn foal!"
"Have patience with him, Gusty! Danny just made the biological jump from Primate to equine, a major strain on his sanity!" Wind Whistler snorted. "His entire nervous system has been rewired, and his brain is still reacting to his body like he's human! Instinct can only go so far in helping him to adjust!"
But as time passed, Danny did adjust. Gradually, he did learn to trot and gallop, and to use his wings and tail in place of his hands. North Star taught him to think in three dimensional space instead of two, and how to use that to fly. Gradually, his mind adjusted to the reality of what had happened to him. But that didn't mean he still didn't have problems. Danny discovered that he could no longer eat cheeseburgers- one of his favorite foods- when Megan brought him one, and all it did was make his herbivore stomach ill. And while Gusty was able to teach him to play polo, he could no longer play baseball... not like there was anyone to play baseball with in ponyland, anyway.
But even though he was adjusting to what had happened, didn't mean he liked it. Danny would never see his father or Molly again. Megan had told him that she had arraigned (with the help of a little unicorn magic) for them to believe he had gone away to study in Europe. He could still send them letters through Megan, or record his voice (Which Megan could present as mail or phone calls), but he would never see them face to face again. All those dreams of riding in the rodeo just like his dad were gone forever (unless he wanted to be the ride instead of the rider), as was hanging out with his friends, or going to the mall. Where being free like the ponies once seemed like a dream, now it felt more like the worst of nightmares.
And so the seasons turned... and turned again. Time flowed by, and Megan came to spend more and more time in Dream Valley. She still informed him of the happenings in the other world- Molly had become a news anchor, replacing a retiring Hector Ramirez. And his father... his father had passed away. He hadn't even been able to go to the funeral, or say goodbye. And the fun and adventure of visiting a magical land was now lost on him, now that he spent his days running and hiding from the very monsters and villains that plagued that magical land!
Danny spent his days sitting by the Rainbow river, staring at his own refection. Whenever he thought of home, tears streamed down his face, and rippled on the water's surface. Oh, how he longed to be human again! It was during this time that his cutie mark appeared... a storm cloud, with rain coming down from it. Gusty recommended calling him Weepy, but Surprise gave him the more complementary nickname of Stormchaser. Danny was not alone, however, as Spike and the Bushwoolies still spent time with him. Danny drew a little joy from the fact some still cared for him.
It was at this time, that many of the younger single mares of Dream Castle began to take notice of Danny. They knew who he was, who had had been, and that he still saw himself as human... but the pull of the herd instinct was too strong to be denied, especially with a Stallion who always stayed around the castle. They tried again and again to start up conversations with him, to see if they had common interests so they could form an emotional bond. But Danny would have none of it, repulsed by the advances of these mares. What would he, a human, want with a girl pony? But it was soon to his horror, that he realized that the stallion he had become had actually wanted to bond with one of them. It made him feel all the more disgusted with himself..
It was only Surprise, the pony whom Danny had saved from the wizard's rod, did he respond positively to. She was the Pegasus who had only been a filly when Megan and the Ponies had fought Katrina. She and Danny had become friends when he first came to Ponyland, and had flown together on many adventures. She would sit beside him at the river's edge, and talk with him as the hours slipped by.
"Remember how we wrecked those Gizmonks lab, Danny?" She once asked him with a giggle. "We sure gave em a big SURPRISE!"
The energetic and irresponsible pony did something Danny never thought he'd do again... she made him smile. They would both trot and fly, side by side, across the hills and skies of pony land, as they once had as pony and rider. Although Danny was unable to embrace what had happened to him, at the sight of Surprise's smile at least made it so he could accept it.
The day came, when Megan finally abandoned her life in the human world, for a life in Ponyland. Although Danny was overjoyed to see his sister again, he was dismayed that she seemed to treat him differently now. Instead of talking to him like her younger brother, she now treated him as just another of the little ponies. Oh, she knew who he was on a conscious level, to be sure, but she no longer seemed to treat him as a human. This only served to remind him of everything he had lost, and made it hard to spend time with his own sister.
And the wheels of Time turned and turned yet again. No longer weepy and depressed, Stormchaser now races across the skies, laughing after playing a prank on some pony, then fleeing as his angry victim chases after the trickster stallion. Yet, like a could in the sky, he can zip away, and vanish in a puff of smoke.
Surprise is often by his side… as is Baby Surprise, their little filly. Stormchaser wouldn't trade them for all of the oats in pony land. Every day their human friend, Megan, visits Dream Castle, and plays with the little fillies and colts. She now lives in King Scorpan's kingdom, and is married to one of the King's knights- a would-be dragon slayer she had befriended in her youth. Hadn't this human, this Megan, been someone important in his life once? Stormchaser finds it so hard to remember sometimes.
Tonight he, his family, and his friend Spike are going to go, and watch the fireworks Sky Rocket and Glory are setting on near the castle. As he watches them explode, he remembers a human boy named Danny watching a display much like this, with his father and sisters at a state fair. But as Surprise nuzzles him again, it the memory fades away, like the dream it was….
"So as you can see, Queen Storm Runner, this new trade deal you and Queen Majesty have agreed to will be of benefit to both kingdoms!" Twilight whinnied.
"That is indeed correct, my good Twilight!" Storm Runner replied, smiling. "These new trade regulations will be of mutual benefit to both Stormhold and Dream Valley. But I believe it was your remarkable negotiating skills that brought this partnership about."
Twilight was on a diplomatic visit to Stormhold, a peninsular kingdom in Ponyland's southern regions. Too far out of the way to be much notice to any of Ponyland's monster populations, Stormhold enjoyed relative peace in comparison to it's northern neighbors.
Queen Storm Runner, herself, was quite a sight to behold. A brown and white Pegasus mare with a brown and blonde striped mane, the gentle ruler's benign temperament was quite a contrast to her raging thunderstorm cutie mark.
At the moment, the two mares were Trotting through the palace gardens, discussing the final points of the treaty. Behind them trotted Galaxy and Archer, two of the queen's ever loyal bodyguards.
"I must say, I was rather surprised to hear that you were the one conducting the negotiations, Lady Shine." Storm Runner shook her mane. "It is usually your husband Tornado who conducts business with my court."
"Tornado is away on business at Misty Mountain, his home fortress." Twilight replied with a laugh. "You know how stubbornit's ruler can be, being the daughter of Princess Cadence and all."
"Yes... she is the last, after all." Storm Runner replied with a nervous laugh, which her walking companion failed to notice.
The two mares continued to chat, when a nearby stallion guard beat on his drum for the changing of the guard. Twilight Shine seemed to stop in her tracks at the sound.
"Why Twilight!" The queen asked, a look of confusion on her face. "Whatever is the matter?"
"That drum beat..." The pink unicorn whinnied, her eyes slowly tearing up. "He always played his drum like that..."
"T-twilight?" Storm Runner asked, bewildered. "Are you all right?"
"Today was his birthday..." Twilight realized, staring off into space. "I cannot believe I had forgotten..."
"Momma Momma! Look! Daddy got me a drum for my birthday!"
"Well, let's here you play it, little one!"
"Aunt Medley says I'm really good, Some day momma, I'll be the bestest drummer in all of Dream Valley!"
"Twilight, out with it!" Storm Runner. "What in the name of the horsemaster is wrong?"
"Rupa-tum-tum... on his little drum..." Twilight bit her lip, as the tears streamed down her face. The distraught mare galloped away, crying a trail of tears as she went.
"Twilight, wait!" Storm Runner chased after her, silently grumbling about queen majesty sending a poor, overworked mare to conduct a difficult diplomatic meeting.
"Now would you mind telling me what that was all about?"
It wasn't very long before Storm Runner had caught up with the sobbing Twilight, and convinced her to come back and talk about what had been bothering her. They were now in Storm Runner's private quarters, and the queen had dismissed Archer and Galaxy, and the two mares were alone to talk.
"I-I'm sorry about that, your highness, I just let my emotions get the better of me." The pink mare kneeling before the monarch. "It won't happen again."
"There was a reason you were so distraught, my good Twilight." Storm Runner insisted. "Now, from one mare to another... out with it!"
"It- it's my son's birthday." The mare finally replied sadly. "The guard's drumming reminded me of him."
"Your son?" Storm Runner asked in surprise. "You have another child besides Ember?"
Twilight nodded sadly. "His name was Drummer... h-he was born barely a year after Tornado and I wed. I remember, he was so little..."
"Whoa there, little guy! Stop pounding on everything!"
"Tornado, he's just a baby! He's only playing!"
"Well, he doesn't need to pound on my notebooks! I'll have to get him a toy drum, when he gets old enough!"
"Guess his special talent is already starting to show!"
"He was born an earth pony, probably inherited it from my grandmother." Twilight whinnied sadly. "But we didn't care... we loved him for the precious gift he was."
"Oh Twilight, I'm so sorry..." Storm Runner Trotted up to hug her, trying to comfort the Dream Valley mare. "I had no idea!"
"I-it's all right. Really it is!" Twilight told her. "Tornado and I don't... discuss it much..."
"Tell me, Twi" The Pegasus queen asked her. "What was he like?"
"He was the most precious little angel..." Twilight started, as the two mares sat down to talk...
"One thing I can tell you, is Tornado misses him just as much as I do..."
"Thane Firehooves..." Dr. Medicin scowled at him. "Would you please calm yourself down? We'll let you know when something happens!"
Tornado paced back and forth in the waiting room, nervous as a cat. How long was this going to take? It had been a mere nine months ago that Twilight had given him the happy news- she was with foal... and he was going to be a father!
The ten months that followed, had left him with so many questions. Was it going to be a boy or a girl? What kind of father would he be? Doubts and fears mixed with anticipation and excitement, as he bartered for a crib and baby clothes for their new arrival.
Now here he was, pacing back and forth, waiting for some piece of news on what was going on in there. He could feel his Twilight's pain and discomfort over the lifebond, and so wished she didn't have to go through this kind of suffering to bring a life into the world.
"NEEEEIIIIIIIIGGHHHHHHH!" An ear splitting whinny of pain tore through the castle's medical wing, and Tornado almost fell over from the sheer burst of intense pain he felt come over the lifebond. The next sound the stallion heard, was the soft cry of a new life coming into the world.
"Congratulations, Thane Firehooves! You're a father!" Nurse Sweetheart trotted out and told him, smiling. "It's a boy! You can go in and see them now."
His heart racing, Tornado slowly trotted into the delivery room, where an exhausted twilight was holding the newborn foal in her hooves.
"You both are, my love." Tornado replied, smiling down at his small family. "You both are."
"It must have been an extremely emotional time for you." Storm Runner Commented. "After you got the baby home."
"I was able to recover quickly, and that's when the chaotic routines started." Twilight said with a laugh. "It's funny to look back on it now, but at the time, we were both ready to tear our manes out!"
"WWWAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
The sound of a three month old colt tore through the Dream Castle tower room at 3 a.m..
"Tornado, you handle it this time!" Twilight groaned, rolling over, and pulling the covers over her head. "I handled it the last two!"
"But what if he's hungry?" Tornado groaned, throwing the sheets off. "That's your department, not mine!"
The pink mare rolled over again, and stared daggers at her husband. "That's what a bottle is for, you goofball!" She hissed out.
Grumbling to himself, Tornado rolled out of bed, and trotted over to the baby's crib. Carrying him out to the kitchen, he examined the little colt.
"Let's see here... nothing in your diaper." He picked Drummer up, held him over his shoulder, and patted him on the back with his hoof. "And you don't need burped." He held the little foal up, looking at him in confusion. "Then what-?
"Bllleeeuggaaahh!" Tornado was covered in green liquid.
"Lovely." The stallion grumbled to himself, as Drummer started crying again. "Just...lovely."
"Oh, that poor stallion!" Storm Runner stifled a giggle. "He must've been at his hooves end!"
"Oh, I think he looks back on those times with fondness." Twilight replied, trying to keep herself from crying again. "I know I will never forget those sleepless nights..."
"It wasn't long though, before infancy gave way to foalhood." Twilight said with a sigh. "Our little baby grew up so fast... you never cherish those times when they're here, and this you miss them when they pass you by..."
"So he grew up rapidly, and was soon saying his first words?" Storm Runner asked, trying to lighten Twilight's mood again.
"Yep, and once he started, we couldn't shut him up!" Twilight said with a sad laugh.
Twilight and Glory were trotting together, inside the castle's giant domed gardens and park. Baby Glory and Drummer were walking along beside thier mothers, on wobbly legs they had barely learned to use.
"Can you believe that outfit Truly was wearing today?" Glory asked with a laugh.
"Yeah!" Twilight giggled back. "It was way too tight!"
"And it looked funny!" Glory whinnied humorously.
The two mares were laughing so hard, that they failed to notice the aforementioned mare trotting up behind them.
"Hello gals!" Truly greeted them, causing the two to spin around. "What're ya'll laughin' about?"
"Ummm, just a joke Surprise told earlier!" Twilight replied with a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, you would've had to have been there to have gotten it." Glory nervously scratched the back of her neck with her hoof.
"Well, that's nawt impohtant raight naow!" Truly whinnied in her Southern belle accent. "What do y'all think of my latest outfit?"
She streched out her leg and hoof, showing off the red ruffled dress and matching sun hat she had ordered from Bright Valley.
"Well, what do y'all think?" She asked impatiently. "It's just the sweetest thang, ain't it?"
"Ummm..." Twilight replied.
"Wellllll..." Glory stuttered.
"Truly outfit way too tight!" Baby Drummer giggled.
"And it look funny!" Glory laughed.
The two mothers turned beet red from embarrassment.
"WHAT?" An angry Truly stared at the two kids incredulously.
"Wow... foals say the darndest things, huh Truly?" An embarrassed Twilight finally replied.
"I bet Truly sent that outfit back for a refund!" Storm Runner replied, trying her hardest not to laugh hysterically.
"That, and she went on a six-month crash diet." Twilight snickered. "And switched to stripes when Heart Thob told her they made her look thin!"
"So I' guessing it wasn't long before he reached school age?"
"Yep! He hadn't gotten his cutie mark by then, but he earned it is first day of class." Twilight replied, looking away and lost in her memories. "He was almost too much for poor Sundance to handle..."
"Now, class!" Sundance, the Dream Valley teacher addressed all of the foals in the classroom. "I would all like you to welcome Drummer, the newest student in our Kindergarten age group!"
Twilight gently nudged the foal into the classroom, and Drummer nervously trotted up beside the teacher's desk.
"H-hi, I'm Drummer..." He spat out nervously. "And it's nice to meet you all..."
"Can't you say anything, ya little blank flank?" Baby Lickety Split called out. "Or the gloom witches got your tounge?"
Everybody in the class burst out laughing at Drummer, and Lickety Split just sneered at him, eating her double raspberry and peanut butter ice cream cone she had brought to class. But instead of being humiliated and crying, the little colt had other ideas.
"I as just gonna say I love playin the drums!" he rushed up, and slammed his drumsticks on Lickety's split's desk. "Ponies seem to get a BANG out of my playing!"
The startled filly threw her hooves into the air, and sent her ice cream sailing. It landed on the top of her head with a cold, creamy SPLAT!
"Waaaaahhhhh!" The filly cried out, as she galloped away in shame. The rest of the class burst out laughing again, as an annoyed Sundance groaned.
"Well, that went well." Drummer said, tapping out a beat on Lickety's desk. It was then a drum appeared on his flank.
"Well. at lest he earned his cutie mark!" Twilight replied sheepishly, as Sundance stared at her angrily.
"Well, that's one heck of a way to earn a cutie mark." Storm Runner giggled again.
"Yes, it's another moment I'll never forget." Twilight said, as her expression turned sad again. "It was the events that followed, that I wish I could erase..."
Storm Runner looked up at the mare in front of her solemnly. "Twilight... how did he die?"
The pink mare squeezed her eyes shut, trying to deal with the painful memory. "...I-it was an early spring morning, after his eighth birthday..."
"Mommy, can I go out and play with Baby Glory an' Lickety Split?"
"Of course you can dear. But it looks like the sky is really cloudy up there! Come back in here the first sign of rain, you hear?"
"Yes, momma." The little colt rolled his eyes, and galloped out the door.
It had been early in the afternoon, and Twilight had been in her chambers, going over various old spell books. She would look out the tower window from time to time, and check on Drummer playing out on the meadow near the castle.
It was some time later that Twilight went to take a book back to the castle library, and when she had returned, she noticed it had started raining. The pink mare also noticed that there was no sign of the foals that had been playing outside.
"Huh, they must have come inside to play." Twilight said with a shrug, turning back to her work.
"How was I supposed to know that they had gotten themselves into trouble?" Twilight started to cry again, her eyes tearing up. "I thought one of the other mares was watching them! How could I-"
"Twilight, it's not your fault!" Storm Runner exclaimed. "There was no way you could have known!"
"I know, and I keep telling myself that..." The pink mare sniffled, and went on. "I didn't know it at the time, but his friends had goaded my son into doing something incredibly stupid... namely, wading out into the middle of the river, and standing against the full force of the current..."
"Miss Twilight! Miss Twilight!" Tic Tac Toe came running up. "We have big problem! Drummer in big trouble!"
"But how can that be?" Twilight asked, puzzled. "Didn't you all come back inside to play when then rain started?"
"Nu uh, we stay out and play in rain!" The first Tooth pony whinnied. "Drummer fell into the river! He get washed away!"
"WHAT?" Twilight shrieked in terror, her whole body tensing up as she ran down the hallway, screaming.
"Toorrnnnaaaadooooooo!"
The two ponies galloped outside, and ran down towards the end of the River. Following a shortcut, Tornado and Twilight reached the far end of the river that poured over into Celestia falls. The two ponies looked around in a panic, until they saw the screaming little colt, rushing swiftly towards the waterfall.
"Mommy... Daddy... ahhhhhhhhhh!" Drummer Whinnied in terror, as he was swiftly swept towards the falls.
"DRUMMER!" Tornado roared, diving into save his only son. Either one of them could have cast some kind of spell (even though their magic was weak), but they were terror stricken- Twilight frozen on the shore, and Tornado desperately swimming towards the foal.
"Hang on, Drummer, I'm coming!"
Tornado finally caught up with him at the edge of the falls. Reaching out with his teeth, Tornado barely caught the foal by the scruff of the neck, right before he went over the falls.
"Gotcha!" Tornado whinnied, dragging Drummer back to shore. Tornado collapsed on the riverbank, coughing and sputtering, but all right.
"Drummer, are you all right?" Twilight asked, rushing up to his side.
The little colt barely open his eyes. "Momma? I'm cold... why's it so cold?" He whimpered out, before closing his eyes again.
"Drummer?" Twilight whimpered, as the young colt's chest slowly stopped rising and falling, and he fell silent. "Drummer? Drummer?" Twilight's eyes began to tear up. "No...NO! DRUMMER! NO!"
The grief-stricken, pink mare shrieked and wailed hysterically, as an uncaring rain fell upon them all...
"It must have been like a knife wound, the months and days that followed." Storm Runner said sadly.
"Yes." Twilight replied sadly. "But there was something that happened, that made it even worse..."
The funeral was a solemn affair, attended by most of Dream Valley's most prominent ponies. Several little colts and fillies were there, too- saying goodbye to their friend... the first brush with death they would have in their young lives.
"Twilight, I'm so sorry!" Glory nuzzled her. "This is absolutely terrible!"
"He was a fine lad, Tornado!" Barnacle declared, hugging the distraught stallion. "Twas a truly tragic event fer ye!"
"You have both lost the greatest light you your lives today, my honorable and loyal subjects." Majesty declared, trying to hold her tears back. "I grieve with you both for your loss!"
"Bye Bye, Drummer!" A sobbing Lickety Split whinnied. "I's sorry I called you a blank flank!"
Tornado and Twilight were struck dumb by their loss, in total shock over the most important thing in their lives being taken away from them. They could only stare at the little blue colt lying peacefully in the casket, and Twilight had to be held back by Firefly and Applejack when they lowered him into the cold, cold ground.
The months that followed were hard for the couple, as they both adjusted to the cold silence of their apartment, that they had not known these past seven years of their marriage. It was hard on them both, as the grief and pain of their loss was as fresh every morning as it has been the night before.
The only sound they swore they could hear, was the soft rat-tat-tating of the now-ownerless toy drum, that sat by the fireplace. It would start up in the middle of the night, when they were asleep, but fall silent whenever one of them would go to check on it, only to start up again whenever they went back to bed.
"By the horsemaster..." Storm Runner said in shock. "He must not realize he's..."
"Most parents who lose a child are haunted by the memories." Twilight finally broke down, and started crying. "But my baby's there... and some nights I can hear him crying... and I can't even reach out and hug him..."
"Mommy, Daddy... where are you? I'm cold, and it's lonely! Mommy?..."
Storm Runner hugged the grieving mare, holding her for several minutes. Twilight finally regained her composure, and resumed speaking.
"The river. It was the river that took his life. He had already been swept along in the cold water for over a half an hour, and his heart and body have always had problems." Twilight whinnied sadly. "Tornado has always believed that there was another cause- some pony villain out for revenge who had cast a spell to weaken our baby's immune system. But I always knew it was just a cruel trick of nature and fate."
"You poor mare." Storm runner Silently nuzzled her. "You've been through so much grief, yet you keep on a happy face, and keep going."
"T-thank you, your highness." Twilight whinnied, drying her eyes with her hoof.
"But tell me, how did you come to adopt Ember?" Storm Runner asked.
Twilight gave a small smile. "That's when things started to look up again..."
For several weeks now, a young filly, barely out of foalhood, had been crying herself to sleep on the cold stone floor. Few ponies had noticed her, as the child had managed to stay out of sight. But it was on the fifth night that Twilight heard the sobs coming from behind Queen Majesty's throne.
"Momma, Poppa, why you leave me alone?" The pink filly sobbed.
"Who's there?" Twilight asked, as she looked behind the throne.
"I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to make so much noise..." The little filly tied to hold back her tears. "I'll be quieter, I promise!"
Twilight recognized the child as Ember, the little filly whose parents had been lost in a Troll attack this week past. Twilight had assumed the little filly had been taken in by relatives, but to have a Dream Valley child end uo like this...
The pink mare hesitated for a moment, thinking of her own precious baby she had lost. Ember had just gone though the same pain that she and Tornado had, but was suffering through the pain alone.
"Come little one." Twilight replied softly, nuzzling the small, sobbing form. ""Let's get you someplace warm, and get you some food."
Surprised, the little filly nodded, and trotted after the unicorn mare.
"So that's how Ember came to you." Storm Runner Whinnied. "But what about the ghost that was troubling you so?"
"I went to see Gypsy about Drummer." Twilight said sadly. "And she gave me some surprising information..."
"Jes, Tvilight, jes!" Gypsy chanted, gazing into her crystal ball. "I can zee zhat little Drummer's zpirit iz with you, darlink!"
"I knew it!" Twilight replied sadly. "Gypsy, what can I do to halp my son? How can I end his sorrow?"
"Pain?" He iz not in pain, darlink." The unicorn with the tambourine replied. "He iz jupming and laughing at your hooves, darlink! Zere is no suffering vith his spirit!"
"But-but the drum... the voices at night..." Twilight muttered. "We here him crying out..."
"Zhat is not the sad cry of a little colt's spirit, darlink." The Dream Castle mystic replied. "It is zee grief of a mother who cannot move on, subconsciously manifesting her pain through her unicorn magic!"
"So that's why you were haunted!" Storm Runner replied knowingly.
Twilight nodded. "Gypsy was right. I needed to find closure, and let go..."
…
"Nights like this still remind you of him, don't they?" Storm Runner asked, as Twilight stared out the window into space.
"And every time, the memories hurt like a stab in the heart." Twilight replied sadly, shaking her mane. "But I can at least find peace now. Once I found the strength to let go, the disturbances ceased."
"But he is still with you Twilight, both you and Tornado." Storm Runner replied. "And he always will be."
Twilight nodded, and slowly smiled at the Pegasus's words. "Thank you, Storm Runner. You truly are a good friend."
The two mares embraced, sharing the pain and joy of the grief Twilight Shine had shared with her newfound friend.
The next few days, Twilight finished up her work at Storm Runner's kingdom, before preparing to return to Dream Valley.
"Thank You, Storm Runner! I'll never forget my visit here!" She hugged the Princess goodbye.
"Farewell, Lady Shine." Storm Runner replied, smiling. "Please feel free to come back and visit anytime!"
The two new friends parted ways... as an unseen little blue colt looked on, smiling.
Trotting her way through the Great Frozen Waste, Princess Mi Amore Di Cadenza lowered her head to keep the blowing and drifting snow out of her eyes. The cold ate at her delicate coat, and ice formed on her hoof at every step. Even wrapped in the woolen parka her Chancellor, Bright Bramely, had given her, the only warmth the alicorn felt was the steam rising from her chilly nostrils.
She absolutely hated coming here, of course. But it was only Cadence, an alicorn, who could withstand the extreme temperatures of the north. The good princess wasn't able to fly here, though- the bitter cold iced her wings over every time she took to the air. Cadence didn't even understand how the very ponies she had come to see, survived in this Celestia-forsaken icebox.
The Great Forzen Waste was the nethermost reaches of Ponyland- a place of howling winds and chilling death. Here, among the snow-covered peaks and rocky outcroppings, lived creatures like the pengrims- a warlike tribe of viscous penguins who could freeze victims solid with an icy stare. In the skies above dwelled the windigoes- those foul an ancient enemies of Ponykind who fed off equine hatred. But those that Cadence had come to see had adapted to both of these menaces, and was right at home in this hellish wasteland.
"I wish they could've chosen someplace warmer to live."
The alicorn grumbled, as she trotted up the side of a particularly large peak. This mighty mountain was Ironspire- the foreboding, five-hundred-foot stone needle that pointed towards the heavens, as if in angry defiance of the howling winds that whipped around it. As the princess started up the steep, slippery slope, three ponies suddenly popped up out of the snow in front of her, surprising the alicorn.
"Princess Cadence!" A pink earth pony hissed, emerging from the snow beneath her as if she were a part of it. "Welcome to the lands of the snow ponies!"
"Aieeee!" The princess whinnied, jumping back. "You startled me there!"
"My apologies, your highness!" The pink and white maned pony with the evergreen cutie mark bowed. "My name is Mittens, and I am a scout of my tribe."
"And I am Chilly Breezes." The other pony hissed, her white coat blending in with the snow. "We received word of your arrival, and were sent to personally escort you back to the village."
"Many thanks, my good ponies." The alicorn nodded. "I am honored you came out to greet me! Please, do lead on!"
The two earth ponies gestured, and began trotting back up the mountainside. Cadence slowly followed them, hindered by the freezing cold and blowing snow. It amazed the alicorn that the two mares could walk along the top of the snow without leaving a hoofprint, and could move so quickly that they left the princess in the dust. The only way Cadence could follow them, was by spotting the pink snow skis on Chilly Breeze's cutie mark.
As they clambered their way up the endless and winding path, Princess Cadence had to shield her eyes from the blinding snow. "How much farther?" She asked loudly, trying to be heard over the roaring winds.
"We are entering the village gates, my Princess." Chilly Breeze replied, gesturing up towards the wooden arch above them. It seemed at first there was nothing all around them, but a snowy blast of cold air whipped up around them... and suddenly there it was.
Candence would not believe her eyes, as she passed row after row of wooden dwellings, built low to the ground to avoid the force of the winds. The stallions and mares of the snow pony tribe cast nervous glances at the alicorn as she passed, staring in Silence at this unusual creature from thier long history.
"Excuse me, lady." A little filly with a red and orange mane asked, trotting up to her. "But are you the Crystal Princess?"
"I beg your paredon, little one." Cadence replied in confusion. "What exactly do you mean?"
"The crystal princess, with wings and a horn." The little filly with the jingle belle cutie mark and blue stocking cap asked again. "Grandma used to tell stories about how the Crystal Princess used to protect our herd, then she got scared and ran away."
The little filly's remarks were a hoof in the gut to the alicorn, who simply stood there, speechless. It was then a mare's voice called out to the little filly nervously.
"Jingle Jangle, suppertime! Let's leave the nice princess alone now!"
"Coming mommy!" The little filly replied. "See you later, princess!" She replied, quickly trotting back into the snows, and vanishing from Cadence's eyes. The alicorn did her best, to fight back the tears, and appear strong.
"Let's go, your highness." Chilly Breezes motioned towards the largest hut, one the size of a small building. "The Chief will see you now."
Inside the chief's hut, a warm fire was going, and several woolen furs kept out the cold. Three earth ponies were seated around a fire, all regarding the alicorn with a cool aloofness. On the right was a mare with a pink coat and mane, whom Cadence recognized as Sno-glow, the tribe's ambassador to the Ponyland kingdoms.
On the on the left, was another pink mare with a tinsel colored mane. This was Winter Wish, whom the alicorn knew by reputation only. The tribal shamaness, she wore a fur cap with a set of deer antlers on it. It was to her the chief turned for all of her spiritual advice, and from her Cadence earned the most contempt.
In the center sat a noble-looking purple mare, with a white and blue striped mane. The chief of the snow ponies, Toboggan carried herself with a sense of authority and regalness that equaled Cadence at her finest. She looked upon the alicorn with a stern gaze that indicated respect, but also authority.
"Princess Cadence of Misty Mountian." Toboggan whinnied politely, nodding towards the alicorn. "We welcome you to our village, and wish to know why you have requested to come before us."
"Honorable leaders of the Snow Pony community." Cadence began, looking around at the assembled community. "I have come before you this day, in order to invite you and your tribe home from your long and unhappy exile in these lands. I know how much you and your ancestors have suffered, my dear subjects. And I am here to tell you that your herd's suffering is finally at an end!"
The three earth mares murmured amongst themselves for several minutes, before looking back at the alicorn with grim faces.
"Good Princess Cadence." Toboggan replied. "While we appreciate your generous offer, we must correct the misguided notion that we are your subjects, and that you are our Princess."
"B-but your tribe is descended from my Crystal Ponies!" Cadence protested. "Your ancestors lived happily under my rule for centuries!"
"The ponies of the Crystal Kingdom are indeed our ancestors, but we are the Snow Ponies, not the Crystal Ponies." Sno-Glow continued. "And we show no loyalty to a princess who abandons her subjects!"
"But I never meant to-" Cadence began, but Winter Wish raised her hoof, cutting the alicorn off.
"Do you remember a day, Princess Cadence, over five hundred years ago?" The shamaness threw a strange potion onto the fire, turning it green, and creating moving images in the smoke. "Do you remember an attack on the Crystal Capital, during the Grogar wars?"
The image showed several lava demons, the terrible invaders into the Crystal Kingdom, terrorizing the crystal ponies. Cadence saw them surfing through the streets on waves of lava, destroying every home and building they came across, in a wave of smoke and fire. Several crystal ponies, screaming and crying out to Cadence with their last breaths, were swept up in the molten river, and melted away into the stream of liquid fire.
"Our ancestors had a civilization that was the envy of Equestria, and King Levan and his minions destroyed it all." Snow-glo continued, as the image shifted to that of the present day Crystal Sea. "Now, the Crystal empire is a wasteland, inhabited only by lava demons and ice ogres."
"And you, in your royal arrogance, did nothing to prevent our ancestor's fall!" Tobaggan snorted angrily. "Levan, the murderer of our foremothers and destroyer of our civilization, rules in our former lands unpunished. The lava king now craves the elements of Harmony so that he may become a crystal being himself... a mockery of the very ponies he murdered so long ago!"
"But that's not the whole story!" The alicorn pleaded, tears straming down her face. "Shining Armor and I lost all of our children in that terrible war! The two of us only withdrew, because he had been terribly wounded!"
"You cared more for the stallion from Canterlot, whose natural life you had extended beyond it's natural length, than the welfare of your own herd!" Winter Wishes snapped, as the image shifted again. "The few survivors were forced to flee to the north, into the ice and cold far beyond the lava demon's reach!"
The smoke showed a line of ponies trudging though the mountains, the old and sick being helped along by the others, and their tears freezing in their eyes as they trudged along. A little filly dropped her doll, as her mother pulled her along quickly, as the stuffed toy was slowly enveloped by the snow.
"These mountains hardened us, turning us as harsh and brittle as the bitter cold that surrounded us." Sno-glow whinnied angrily, snorting a cloud of icy cold from her nostrils. "The crystal shattered, replaced in our hearts by the indestructible power of ice!"
"We shall not be going anywhere with you, arch traitor!" Toboggan hissed. "Your magic may have sustained us long ago, but we now nourish ourselves on the power of this bitter cold!"
"You can't do this! You are my subjects!" Princess Cadence protested. "The crystal ponies practically worshiped me!"
"We no longer look to you for guidance, Mi Amore Di Cadenza!" Winter Wishes yelled, pointing with an ice sculpture of a Pegasus with a halo and angel wings behind her. "After we were forced to flee, The mare Snow'el guided our forebears to these cold peaks, and found us a new home here! It is to her we look for guidance!"
"While you never bothered to come looking for us... until now, five hundred years later!" Toboggan roared, stamping her hoof angrily. "You found a new herd of ponies to rule over! Even while the first few generations of Crystal ponies in these mountains, died in the cold and dark- still believing you would come to rescue them!"
"T-they still believed I would come for them?" Princess Cadence stumbled over her words, unable to form a coherent sentence. "I...I..."
"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, leave our icy dominions, as I grant you safe conduct away from the frozen wastes." Toboggan finished. "But I warn you, should you ever return... you will not find the warm embrace of loyal subjects, awaiting your return. Rather, you shall find the icy embrace of the grave... granted by cold-hearted ponies that even the Windioges fear! FAREWELL!"
A cold wind suddenly blew through the tent flap, and the blinding snow whipped into Cadence's eyes. As the wind died down again, the princess found the three ponies, the tent, and even the entire village were gone! The alicorn was standing alone in the falling snow.
It was at that moment, that Mi Amore Di Cadenze accepted that some failures, even for an immortal, cannot be undone. Turning her head sadly, Princess started her way back down the mountain.
"Farewell to you, Snow Ponies." The alicorn thought to herself sadly. "From here on out… your destiny is your own!"
Throughout my writings on the history of this land, I have told the tales of many ponies. From the shining romance of the age of Equestria, down to the modern, dark, and throughly dangerous era of Ponyland, they have trotted through the pages of my work, their words and deeds coming to life for my most honored readers. I delved into their joys and sorrows, thier triumphs and tragedies. But of all the ponies I have spoken of in my texts, of all the mares and stallions whom my feathery quilled pens have ever recorded, there is one whose life I have not spoken of... one who's thoughts and feelings and deeds are more well known to me than any of the rest of Ponydom. Being an objective historian, I have refrained from opening this pony's heart and mind to you, my dearest readers...
...until now.
"Tornado, could you be a darling, and bring those books over here please?"
"Huh? Oh, of course! Coming right up, Miss Paradise!"
The light of the afternoon was sun shining through the windows of the Misty Mountain Fortress library, illuminating the bookshelves in which we were performing our labors. Paradise, a white Pegasus with a Palm tree cutie mark was busily re-shelving all the newest returns, while I was busy checking the last stack over at the counter. We had both been hard at work for the past hour since the library closed, and were both grateful that our work was nearly done.
"My, you're really good at this Tornado! Truly you are!" The white Pegasus beamed at me, flying a book up to the top shelf. "Your mother trained you to be a very good librarian!"
"Thank you, miss Paradise. You are most kind." I reply politely, bowing to her. "But I have no desire to be a librarian full-time... that is not where my talents lie."
"Gee, that's a shame!" She replied with a giggle. "I've rarely seen a stallion with your skills with filing and cataloging!"
Paradise might be correct in her summation of my skills... but she is far off the mark with what I wish to do with my life. I wish to be a historian pony... to objectively record the long and complex narrative that is the history of equine civilization, and preserve it for all generations of ponies to come! Oh, to recall the glories of Ponyland's past! To revel in-
Oh! Forgive me, I do have a tendency to ramble when I'm on that particular subject... I should introduce myself first. My name is Tornado Firehooves, and I am a blue unicorn with a Pink and purple mane. My cutie mark- a swirling white tornado, represents a mind that is always at work, always in motion I often fear it is a mind that will most certainly go to waste.
"Okay Tornado...levitate two for the sky over to the fiction section... and Where little foals come from over to the young adult section!" She instucts me, without even looking up from her work.
With very little effort, I meticulously shelve the two titles in the proper slots. Not even a page is out of place, so precise am I!
"There, glad we finally got that section all re-organized." I whinny, wiping a bit of sweat from my brow. "Now, only a few more shelves to go..."
My parents had raised me at misty mountain fortress... the earliest memories I have are galloping happily between the shelves, trying to play hide and go seek while mother worked. Those were the happiest times in my life... and they were over in the blink of an eye. The years passed quickly, and I watched as first my grandparents, then my aunts and uncles, then finally my father went to the great Horsemaster. Now, I am all that is left- last surviving pony of the ancient and noble house of Firehoof.
My mother's recent Passing meant I needed help getting the place in order. Dream Castle had been kind enough to send this wonderful Pegasus over to help me arrange things... and I for one could not be happier. A hopeless dreamer, Paradise was either lost in some fairy tail she was reading... or telling other ponies about it.
"Well, that about does it here." She told me, flapping up towards the window. "I think you'll be able to keep this unruly mass of books under control without me now."
"Paradise, wait!" I called out to her. "I wanted to thank you for all the help you've been." I scratched the back of my neck with my hoof. "Would... would you care to stay tonight, and accom-pony me to the Grand Galloping gala at the royal paradise? I have two tickets I managed to acquire!"
"Thank you, Tornado! That's really sweet!" The white Pegasus smiled down at me. "But you should really find a pony your own age to go with you!" And with that, she took to the sky. "Goodbye, Tornado! And good luck!"
"My own age... right..." I sighed, realizing I already knew she was going to say no. Long past my twenty-fifth year, I was already older than most single fillies, and it had been years since any had looked at me with interest. Shaking my mane sadly, I trotted out the door of the library, and turned off the lights behind me as I left.
As I made my way down the hall, I noticed several colts and fillies scattered throughout the hallway, talking to each other and laughing. They took little notice of the overly serious stallion who trotted past them, staring right though me as if I wasn't even there.
Ponies, my research tells me, are a race built on friendship and harmony. Yet there was always something in my nature that seemed to make other ponies shirk away from me in disgust... something that made them see me as not being a part of the herd. This quality is a thing I wish I could expunge from myself, though I obviously have no idea what it is.
It wasn't long before a young Pegasus stallion in armor came trotting up to me, a large, hopeful smile on his face. His words beamed with excitement, and I could already tell he wanted something.
"Tornado, my main man, what's up?" The royal guard-in training beamed. "How did it go with asking Paradise to go with the gala?"
"Hello, Thundercloud." I snorted, scowling at him. "She shot me down, just like Fireball said she would."
Thundercloud was one of the so-called 'mountain boy ponies'- a gang of six ponies of which I am the eldest. They are the only friends I have, and I usually act as something of a mentor/big brother to the rest of the group
"Ohhhh! Sorry to hear that, man!" He replied sympathetically. "Guess that means you won't be going to-"
"Yes, you can have the ticket, Thundercloud. I know that's what you're after!" I sort again, levitating the object of his desire out of my bag. "Now could you leave me to think for awhile?"
"Aw, don't be so snarky, Tornado!" My Pegasus companion whinnied to me. "I really was rooting for you ta not get shot down this time!"
"Look, Thunder... I'm not really in the mood for your jibes today." I muttered aloud. "Could you do me a really big favor, and takes your jibes someplace else?"
"Thanks, man! I owe ya one!" He flashed me another grin, then took off flying. "Don't look so down man, I'll kiss a girl for ya there!"
"Thanks, I think..." I mutter under my breath, as I trot away. What is wrong with me? I do I feel totally alone, even though I have several friends? MY whole life, I've felt like I was apart from the herd, instead of a part of it. The only ponies who ever understood me was my family... and now, the last of them is forever lost to me.
How am I so different from all other equines? My mind is always working... some ponies say a bit too much. My thoughts are ever a flurry of activity, as is symbolized by my Tornado cutie mark. I am ever worried about even the slightest problem that faces the herd, the what if's flooding my brain like a raging river. Are we going to be attacked by the troggles this season, trying to steal our crops again? Will we work out that trade treaty with the Blarks? Such questions will not leave me alone, haunting me all hours of the day and night.
But it is not only my relationships with other ponies that has suffered- no, my career in historiography- my special talent, for which I have few equals with in Ponyland- it has suffered, as well. For too long have I squandered my talents, seeking thrills and pleasure over studying and hard work. I squandered the opportunities that were laid before me on a silver plate- and must now suffer the consequences of my foolish actions.
As I trot back to my apartment, I open the door with a sigh. The silent emptiness of my humble abode, stretching out before me. Twinkles, my little orange feline friend, runs up to greet me.
"Meow!" My pet exclaims, his joy in seeing me mixed with his desire for a meal.
"All right, you little beggar! I've got your food right here!" I levitate a can of cat food out and open it, sitting it down on the floor for my purring friend. With a sigh, I trot over to the window, and stare out at the setting sun.
"She turned me down, Twinkles." I tell him sadly, staring out the window. "Rejected me, just like all the others did... though she was a bit nicer about it!"
"Sorry Tornado, I have to, um... do my mane!"
"Will I go to the gala with you? Are you flanking kidding me?!"
"Why don't you just give up, Tornado? No mare wants to be seen in public with you!"
What was wrong with me, I wondered? Why can every other stallion win the heart of a mare, and find happiness? Does my worrying and constant fear of something going wrong really set me apart from other ponies that much? Am I so different in that way, that I cannot even relate to my own kind?
"You think too much, man! And ya worry too much!" I remember Lightning, my earth pony friend, telling me. "You're so Paranoid, everybody says you act more like a human that a pony!"
Perhaps he is right, I realize with as sigh. As I stare out at the courtyard below, I can see the Pegasus-pulled chariots taking off into the darkening sky, heading off for a night of fun and frivolity at the gala. All of my friends have gone, leaving me to sit in a near-empty fortress. As I watch them go, I am reminded of a wasted youth- failed relationships, turned-down educational opportunities- that led me into the mired situation I am presently in.
As the last happy couple takes off into the clouds, I come to realize the dismal future that awaits me. Old age among a herd that tolerates my presence, followed by the icy and final touch of death. My dreams of a family, of children... all of them fade from my eyes, even as the light of the setting sun fades, right before my very eyes. No, my only companion I will ever know, will be the lonely embrace of Twilight; it's shadows filling my heart with loneliness and despair.
So be it, then. Come forth, twilight, my lifelong companion in loneliness! I doth both await and except thy eager embrace!
Here, recovered from the archives of the Royal Paradise, is the only surviving written account of the fall of Canterlot, by the last commander of that great city's defenders. I have translated the text from old Equestrian Whinnying to modern Ponyland English (the common tongue for all of Ponyland since the arrival of humans), but I have changed it to present tense in order to heighten the tension for the reader...
Have you ever walked in on the tail end of tragic play, and only seen the final few, gut-wrenching moments? Oh sure, you know the whole plot and story up to that point from things you've heard from friends, and reviews you may have read. But not actually seeing the happy times that spiraled downhill into this sorrow, lessens the impact on you. Well, I have personally lived through the final moments of such a tragedy, and I must say... my sorrow is no less than if I had experienced the entire story.
My name is Daffodil, and I am the captain of the Royal guard of Canterlot- the first mare to hold such an esteemed position, and probably the last. It is exceptionally rare and unusual to find a female in the ranks of the Equestrian Military, despite the fact we are the socially dominant gender among ponies... but these are unusual times we live in.
I was born into an Equestria already in decline... a pale shadow of a once-greater empire, devastated by the wars of the past two centuries. Although it was a livable place during my foalhood, things were not as glorious as they once were. All around us were the stain glass windows, depicting the heroic age of the harmony bearers and thier battles. Such times seem like a distant memory now.
"Captain! There is a messenger approaching the gate!" Tulip, my second in command, trots up and informs me. A white mare with a pink mane, my friend is highly sought after by the stallion guards under my command.
"A pony in armor." I snort, looking down at the new arrival outside. "Guards! Open the doors at once!"
The wounded mare limps inside, and shakes off the attempts of the pony medics to help her. As I trotted down the steps to greet her, the yellow mare with the orange mane looks up at me.
"Lieutenant, status report!" I snort, recognizing her rank by her armor design.
"M'am! Snowdrop of the Manehatten city guard, M'am!" She salutes, and I return the gesture. "I come from the east with news! The city of Manehatten has fallen!"
"What?! You cannot be serious!" Tulip whinnied in shock. "Surely Manehatten's defenses were able to hold the goblin army back!"
"This is a very unfortunate turn of events." I reply, remembering that goblins don't take prisoners. "Tell me, were there any survivors?"
"There was an estimated seventy percent causality rate." Snowdrop answered. "The rest of the remaining guards and civilians have fled to Baltimare!"
"Great Celestia…" Tulip whinnies in shock, using the long-dead princess's name as an exclamation
"They'll be safe there, Lady Ringlets has her city well defended." I reassure my two fellow earth mares. A white noblepony with a pink mane, Ringlet is a master strategist and tactician. Her only flaw is her love of Samurai and ninja tales from the donkey kingdoms of the east. If she had her way, she would remake Baltimare into a pagoda-filled paradise.
"With Manehatten gone, they'll be attacking Canterlot next." Tulip snorted. "We are the last obstacle standing between them, and the total domination of Equestria!"
I silently nod my head in agreement, turning over in my head how we came to this. It had only been a few months ago, that the foes of Equestria- Changelings, goblins, diamond dogs, and lava demons- joined together in a grand alliance. Invading in a moment of weakness, they quickly destroyed the city of Fillydelphia, and battled our armies all throughout the countryside.
"Can we expect any help from anypony?" Snowdrop asked hopefully. "Surely Misty Mountain could-"
"Princess Cadence's magic shield is barely keeping the lava demons out." Tulip tells her. "Her kingdom is in no shape to send any troops."
Snowdrop's face falls a little bit. "What about Tall Tale?"
"Duchess Highlights runs her city like a military dictatorship, favoring the art and philosophy of old imperial Pegasaopolis." I snort. "Even if we ordered her to send reinforcements, she'd claim she couldn't spare them!"
"What about Los Pegasus?" She asked, getting desperate. "I heard they were recently liberated from the Changeling occupation they had been under, since the beginning of the war!"
"Yes, liberated by the Flutter Ponies!" Tulip snorted. "Those xenophobes had been living in hiding in the Applewood mountains, and only exterminated the Changelings because they were a threat to them!"
"Queen Rosedust has made the city her capital. The ponies the changelings enslaved have simply traded one harsh master for slightly more benevolent one, that won't drain their love away." I add. "The flutter ponies are more likely to attack us after this is all over, than to come to our rescue!"
"Then… what about Bright Valley?" Snowdrop made one last, desperate attempt. "Surely Princess Golden Glow-"
"They are surrounded… as are Tall Tale, Baltimare, and Misty Mountain." Tulip shook her mane. "Snowdrop… we are on our own."
At that, our messenger falls silent. As Tulip leads the injured Snowdrop inside, I return to my watch atop the wall. By nightfall, I realize, these hills would be swarming with goblins and Diamond Dogs. We would be in for the fight of our lives.
As I look down into the valley below, I saw the recently abandoned town of Ponyville far off in the distance. It had been painful for me to lead a recon team into the abandoned town, to see the boarded up shops and abandoned homes. I was born there, I remembered, and always saw myself as a county girl, a rustic filly from the same hometown as the harmony bearers. And no amount of royal guard training would change that.
It broke my heart when all the inhabitants fled Ponyville a month past, seeking refuge in Dream Valley kingdom, deep within the dangerous and mysterious everfree forest. My family, my friends, the ponies I had grown up with… all of them had abandoned their country for a fleeting promise of protection. At least they would be safe in Dream Castle, as even our invaders were too afraid to venture into that mysterious forest.
The Harmony bearers… I wonder what they would think of us now? The kingdom they saved again and again on the brink of collapse, with the barbarians at the gates. Would Fluttershy cry at all the animals the invaders are butchering for food? Would Rarity weep at the destruction of beautiful garments the looters tore the diamonds off of, shredding the fabric and using it for other purposes? Would Pinkie Pie sob at the laughter that turned to tears, as the goblin killed and devoured every pony they came across?
And would Twilight Sparkle understand that we, the generation that would let Equestria fall, never wanted this? This was the kingdom we inherited… a kingdom on it's last legs.
I am so lost in my own thoughts, that I fail to notice a large mare trot out of the palace, and quietly walk up behind me.
"Captain Daffodil?" An older but noble voice called out. "Mayest we haveth a word with thou?"
I spun around, to find myself face to face with a goddess. Not many other ponies still believe that's what she is… but I come from an old family, where traditions are strong.
"My Princess." I bow low before Luna, the sole sovereign ruler of the kingdom of Equestria. "Tell me, what can I do for you?"
"We have spent many of these hours past, in deep contemplation and meditation." The princess informed me, looking out over the horizon. "It has occurred to us that Canterlot may fall this very night."
"My princess! Surely you have faith in your loyal troops!" I protest, trying to hide my growing despair. "We can defend this city from that rabble of monsters!"
"Let us be realistic, our loyal servant." Luna shook her mane. "This city shall soon betih under a seige most perilous. It would be best if the civilian ponies were taken from this place, so that they will not fall to our foe's wrath."
"You are correct, my princess. We should move the civilians out of harm's way." Shaking my mane, I sigh. "I'll give the order, to begin the evacuation at once."
"We shall send them to Vanhoover, the fallback capital that we had established, should some calamity befall Canterlot." Princess Luna agreed. "The Princess Ponies should be taken there, as they will be needed should something foul befall ourselves."
"Should I assign a group of guards to accom-pony them?" I ask.
"Yes, my fair Daffodil." She nodded wisely. "And it shall be you, who leads them unto their sanctuary."
"Princess!" I protest. "Send me not from your side-!"
"Captian!" She snorts. "You have duty to the civilians, and to my royal heirs! I command you to get them out of the city!"
"As you wish, Princess." I lower my head in sorrow. "So, this is how it ends? Equestria, which has stood for more than three thousands years, perishes in a terrible pile of smoke and ruin?"
"From the moment the three tribes made Peace, and founded this kingdom as a home for all equines, ponykind has been blessed." Under her voice as she spoke, my ears can pick up the sound of distant marching approaching the valley from the east. "Thanks to this kingdom, many generations of ponies have learned to live together in harmony, through the power of friendship."
"And now, Ponykind will have to live without it!" I try to hold back my tears. "Our race, that was once master of it's own destiny, will be driven back into the hills, and forced to live at the mercy of their conquerors!"
"Future generations of ponies, will be the servants instead of the masters. 'Tis true." My Princess lowered her head. "But friendship will not die with Eequestria, so long as ponies keep it alive. It will fall to your generation, my dear Daffodil, to find a new way."
"Won't you come with us, my Princess?" I plead with her, nuzzling her mane. "We will need you to guide us! Ponykind will be lost without you!"
But the princess shook her mane. "Equestria was my sister and I's kingdom. Even here, at the end, I shall not leave it." She smiled at me. "It's time for ponykind to grow up, and no longer rely on two ancient alicorns for protection. It is the younger and fresher minds to take control of things."
"Farewell, my Princess!" I hug Luna, weeping. "We shall all miss you!"
"Goodbye, my little pony!" Tears streamed down her face. "Adulthood has come, and I must leave you behind!"
...
I form the long stream of refugees into a line, trotting away from the city single file, with my guards flanking them on either side. Nearly behind me are Tulip and Snowdrop, making sure everypony keeps up.
As the city fades into the distance behind us, we hear the sounds of marching and battle coming from behind us. When I finally have the courage to look back, I see the tendrils of smoke and flames rising from Canterlot. Many foals wept at the loss of the only home they had ever known, and many of the guard's wives wept at the thought of the soldiers we had left behind, to help Luna make her last stand.
We meet little resistance along the way, and lost only one- a mare named Red Ribbon, who vanished around the time we saw a few large trolls. Otherwise, the monsters seem more interested in taking the Capital, rather than attacking a group of fleeing refugees.
Our long and arduous trek took us north along the unicorn run. We guards move the ponies along stealthily- hiding by day, and trotting by night, though these dangerous lands. This was no longer the safety of Equestria, but the dark and shadowy land of a thousand horrible things, ready to devour us. Finally, we arrive at Vanhoover, where the council of Princess ponies is given a hasty coronation, and the Canterlot ponies are assimilated into the Vanhoover herd.
In the days that follow, representatives arrive at the new capital, and pledge their allegiance to the new rulers. As I fulfill my duties as captain of the royal guard, I hear talk the talk of nobility and politicians, and I don't know wither to be amused or disgusted;
"The destruction of Canterlot is an outrage! Tal Tale will gladly send troops... in exchange for autonomy after our victory, of Course!"
"Baltimare will honor your request to send troops... but we desire the rest of the kingdom to call us Hoofkaido!"
"We will send soldiers to drive these foes from our lands... but Bright Valley proposes power be shifted to local rulers! Surely you can see the princesses of each city-fortress are better suited to govern their subjects than a potentate in some far-away capital!"
I watch as the leaders of Ponykind carve a united Equestria into their own personal fiefdoms. I watched as towns with proud and long histories, such as Tal Tale, are rebuilt into armed fortresses, bristling with firepower. And I watch, with great Sorrow and disgust, as the princess ponies approve a loyalty oath, reducing every mare, stallion, and foal in the kingdom to a state of feudal vassals. The last of our freedoms are stripped away, as we enter a feudal age of war and chaos.
It is not long before the war is over, and the last of the enemies are driven from Equestria. But in thier departure, a new order has replaced the kingdom of Celestia and Luna. I choke back tears, as the flag of Equestria is lowered for the last time, and the flag of the newly created Ponyland confederacy rises in it's place. Princess Luna has never been seen again, though rumors of her survival persist. But even if she did survive the battle, a new world has dawned, and I and my loyal troops feel as if we have no place in it.
It is therefore with regret that I must turn in this letter of resignation, to the council of Princess ponies- for both myself, and my two lieutenants, Tulip and Snowdrop. The three of us have agreed to retire and open a flower stall in Vanhoover (or the Royal Paradise, as it is now being called), and settle down to find stallions to wed. Our cutie marks are, after all, each the very flowers whose names we bear.
I also agree to stay behind and train the first captain of the Confederation's royal guard. But I can no longer, in good conscience, continue to wear this redesigned new uniform, when the country who I swore to serve at the beginning of my career, no longer exists...
The letter cuts off here, the rest of the pages probably lost in the constant reshuffling that the archives went though over the next five centuries. We have no clearer account of that final tragic battle than this letter excerpt- all others are accounts were collected by the Royal historians, from elderly ponies, years after they had fled Canterlot. It is sad to see what our ancestors went through in Equestria's death throes, but also serves as a warning to Ponyland, to never forget the sacrifices and losses that were endured, to make way for the world that we now know.
This is set during the events of the story 'Classroom of the future'
"Cheerilee, may I speak to you for a minute?"
Having just finished grading her classes' math tests, the Dream Castle school mare looked up from her desk, to see a blue mare with a yellow and pink mane standing in the classroom doorway.
"Yes, Sky Rocket, what is it?" Putting the stack of papers in her desk, the pink earth pony trotted over to where the pony with the Fireworks cutie mark stood. "What can I do for you?"
The castle's master pyrotechincian, Skyrocket prepared all of the castle's fireworks displays for holidays and special events, as well as all of the gunpowder-loaded defenses built into the palace's walls. Cheerilee had the misfortune of meeting her, when her daughter Sparkle Rocket, one of the classroom's students, tried to light the teacher's tail bow on fire.
"Well, Glory and I were busy planning this year's parade of costumes, and we were just starting to put the guest list together." She stared at Cheerilee with a pair of eerie jewel eyes. "Glory sent me to see if you and a stallion would be attending the event tomorrow night?"
""The Parade of costumes?" Cheerilee cocked an ear, staring at Sky Rocket curiously. "What in the name of Celestia is that?"
"Oh, that's right, you're new to the Castle!" Sky Rocket cleared her throat. "You've heard of the grand Galloping gala, haven't you?"
"Oh yes! The royal ball that used to be held at Canterlot castle!" Cheerilee replied with a sigh. "I used to dream of going when I was a filly!"
"Well... it's kinda like that, but only for Dream Valley!" Sky Rocket whinnied. "Everybody wears costumes, and there's dancing and music!"
"Ohhh, that sounds like a lot of fun!" The earth pony teacher smiled. "And I think I know just the stallion to take..."
"So, I can count on you and a date to be there, then?" Sky Rocket asked hopefully.
"N-e-e-e-e-e-i-i-i-g-g-g-h!" Cheerilee bleated out, before her eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with her hoof. Rushing back to her desk, she grabbed a bottle of yellow liquid- marked "Translation potion"- and downed a teaspoon of it.
"There, that's better!" The earth pony teacher said with a sigh. "If Glory hadn't given me this serum Zigzag had mixed up, I wouldn't be able to understand anypony here, or vice versa!"
"You're really lucky AJ and Glory both spoke the old Equestrian whinny when they got you out of that book." Sky Rocket replied with a sigh. "You know, you really should learn to speak English, Cheerilee! That way, you won't need that potion anymore!"
"I still can't believe ponykind gave up whinnying to adopt the language of the human settlers!" Cheerilee shook her mane. "In any case, I need to go and start getting ready! If it tomorrow night, I only have a day and a half!"
Cheerilee galloped out the door, leaving a bewildered Sky Rocket what the hay had just happened.
...
"The Parade of costumes?" A surprised Wigwam snorted. "Why in the name of the horsemaster would you want to go to that boring old-"
"I always wanted to go to the grand galloping gala, but I never got a chance to!" The teacher frowned. "This could be my only opportunity to have a best night ever!"
The two were having a milkshake at the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe, when Cheerilee revealed her unusual request. The tribal pony had no interest in going to the event, but the earth pony teacher seemed not to take no for an answer.
"Look, Cheerilee, the Parade of Costumes just isn't my kind of thing." Wigwam snorted. "I really don't think I'd enjoy it!"
"Oh, I see...." The teacher frowned, and looked down at her milkshake. "I understand."
Looking at her unhappy face, a defeated Wigwam let out a sigh. "All right, I'll escort you to the gala!"
"Horray! Thank you so much, Wiggy!" She hugged him, and galloped away. "I need to go and get buttons to make me a last minute costume!"
As she galloped out the door, several other ponies in the room looked up at Wigwam, who nodded towards all of them.
"All right, she's gone." He sighed. "Go ahead and bring your meat out of hiding!"
At Wigwam's words, several ponies pulled pizzas, cheeseburgers, and fish sandwiches out from beneath their tables. As Wigwam pulled his own barbecue pork sandwich out, a white stallion with a blue mane and fire hose cutie mark trotted up.
"Top ah the mornin to ya, Wigwam!" The big earth pony greeted his friend, taking a seat beside him. "And how are ye on this fine day?"
"Hello, Chief!" The buffalo pony replied with a sigh. "Not bad, I suppose. How are your wife and children doing?"
The head of Dream Valley's fire department, this stallion was always ready with a joke and a smile. Chief was one of the few stallions who could actually call Wigwam friend.
"Begorah! Ye know Wind Whistler, me boy! Always on me back about something or another!" The stallion chuckled in his thick brogue accent. "And the laddies and lasses be fine, as well! Are are things with ye an that fine teacher filly, hm?"
"Eh, not so good, my old friend." Wigwam took a bite of his sandwich. "She's got me taking her to the parade of costumes tomorrow night, and you know what that means!"
"Wigwam, Lad..." Chief shook his mane. "Ye can't hide our little secret here at Dream Valley from her forever!"
"Queen Majesty has instructed the ponies in the castle, to refrain from telling Cheerilee about the fact Dream Valley ponies are omnivorous! We've even ordered the youths in her class to remain silent!" Wigwam snorted. "We have no idea how she will react, so we are withholding that information until the time is right!"
"Well, at least ye won't have anything ta worry about tomorrow night!" Chief whinnied. "With all o' those foreign guests at the ball tomorrow night, there won't be a bit o' meat in sight!"
"Well, that's one thing I can be glad of!" Wigwam snorted, downing the last of his chocolate milkshake.
...
The next evening, Wigwam arrived at Cheerilee's apartment in the castle to escort her to the ball, as he knocked on the door, a pony in costume opened it to greet him.
"So Wigwam..." Cheerilee asked, trotting in a circle to show off her new costume. "How do I look?"
She was clad in a white dress and cap, with a red cross on it- the garb of a nurse.
"You look lovely, miss Cheerilee." Wigwam simply smiled. "You'll be the belle of the ball!"
"Oh, quit teasing me, you!" She snorted, looking him over. "I must say, you do look rather handsome in your feather headdress, though."
"Most ponies from outside the kingdom don't know I actually am a Buffalo pony, so it works as a most effective costume." He offered her a hoof. "Shall we go?"
"I'd love to!" She smiled, taking his hoof.
The two trotted down towards the grand ballroom, where hundreds of ponies were all gathered, all laughing and talking with each other. As she and Wigwam trotted down the red carpeted stairs, the pink earth mare couldn't help but admire the ribbons and lace hanging everywhere, and the many colorful costumes all the ponies were wearing.
"This...this is so wonderful...." She muttered breathlessly.
"Cheerilee! So glad you could make it!" Glory trotted up to her, wearing a witches costume. "So glad you could make it! And great costume, by the way!"
"Thank you, so very much!" Cheerilee replied warmly. "And I'm glad to see you and Fireball here, as well!"
The two mares looked over to the cider table, where Glory's stallion was downing glass after glass, laughing it up with the other boys. The two mare simply shook their manes.
"Boys will be boys!" The white unicorn chuckled.
"Wow, there are so many ponies here!" Cheerilee whinnied, looking around."It's like having an entire town's population in one room."
"Equine dignitaries from every corner of Ponyland!" Wigwam agreed. "We get more visitors here at the ball than any other time of year!"
"Speaking of which..." Glory trotted over to where three chatting mares stood, and got their attention. "Cheerilee, I'd like you to meet Sweet Suds, Red Roses and Sweet Lily. They're from the Perfume Puff clan- the best family of spa ponies in Fort Rainbow Dash!"
"Hello, Miss Cheerilee, it's nice to meet you!" Red Roses, the yellow unicorn with the pink mane, greeted her.
"Hiya, Miss Cheerilee! We've sure heard a lot about you!" Sweet Suds, the pink earth pony with the blue mane, greeted her.
"Indeed! It is an honor to meet de time-lost teacher from Ponyville!" Sweet Lily, the elder pink mare with a white mane, finished. "Our family once came from dat place, as our ancestors severed the Harmony bearers at their spa!"
"A pleasure to meet you three!" Cheerilee shook each of the three's hooves. Looking at their oddly poofy manes, the earth pony teacher suddenly noticed something familiar about these mares, and thier odd accents.
"Don't tell me... their names were Lotus and Aloe, Correct?" Cheerilee replied with a smirk.
The three ponies stared at her, and Blinked. "Why miss Cheerilee? Did you know de two spa mares of Ponyville?"
"I used to visit their spa in Ponyville all the time!" The pink mare nodded. "Oh, the stories I could tell you!"
"Uh, Cheerilee?" Wigwam told her, getting her attention. "I'm going over to the cider table while you four talk, alright?"
"Huh? Oh, go ahead." She told him. "But you be back over later, I want a few dances out of you before the night is through!"
"Looking forward to it." He smiled at her, before trotting off.
The evening went spectacularly, far better than Cheerilee could have imagined. She talked and danced all through the night, despite the fact Wigwam kept stepping on her hooves.
"Sorry, I seem to have four left feet, as the humans say." He whinnied in the middle of a dance.
"You're a pony, you doofus!" She teased him. "You don't have any feet!"
After they had finished their third dance, the pink earth mare went back to chat with her three new friends.
"Whoa, you sure know how to dance out dere, Cheerilee!" Red Roses chortled. "Me date and I weren't nearly so talented!"
"Oh, it was nothing!" An embarrassed teacher replied bashfully. "I just remembered a few moves from my youth is all!"
"So tell me, miss Cheerilee...." Sweet Suds asked coyly. "What dis goin' on wit you an' de Wigwam, huh?"
"Oh, he and I are jest friends, at the moment." She replied, blushing. "It was very nice of him to bring me to the Parade of Costumes, though!"
"Have you tried cooking him a good dish- say, a nice steak, or side a' rib?" Sweet Lily asked. "Dey say de way to a man's heart is trough his stomach, don't ya know?"
"Steak? Rib?" Cheerile's eyes went wide with horror. "B-but that's meat! Dead animals!"
"Dream Valley's Ponies eat meat, don't ya know!" Red Roses replied. "What, did I say somethin wrong?"
"Eat.... meat..." A look of disgust and revulsion crossed her face, and she galloped over to where Wigwam was drinking a glass of punch with his friends.
"Is it true? Do dream Valley ponies eat other animals?!?!" She demanded of him. "Please, please tell me that it isn't true!"
Wigwam spit his punch out when he heard her words. "Well... that is... I really don't..."
"DREAM VALLEY PONIES DO EAT MEAT?!?" Cheerilee went hysterical. "BUTCHERS! BARBARIANS! HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO HORRIBLE!?!"
Tears streaming down her face, Cheerilee galloped from the room in a hurry.
"Oh no...." Wigwam sighed, burying his face in his hooves.
"Lad, ye better go after her!" Chief replied with a sigh. "Ye have a lot o' splanin' ta do!"
"Cheerrilee, are you in there?" Wigwam called out, knocking on her door.
"Go away!!" She called out, her voice a mix of pain or sorrow. "You just want me to open the door so you can eat me... or something!"
"Cheerilee, don't be ridiculous!" The stallion outside her door snorted. "We're not cannibals!"
"Why didn't you tell me?" She opened the door, and stared at him angrily. "Why did you all keep your kingdom's dirty little secret from me?!?"
"Because we didn't know how you'd take it!" He scowled. "Even most of your students were afraid to pull that card on you, out of fear of their parent's wrath!"
"A few of them did mention it, but I thought it was more of their tricks!" The pink mare snorted. "But if you lied to me about this, what else did you lie to me about? How can I believe anything anypony in this castle says?"
"Cheerilee-!" Wigwam started, but teacher slammed the door in his face.
With a sigh, the buffalo pony shook his mane sadly, and trotted off.
"The nerve of that stallion!" The mare snorted, trotting across her room. "How dare he not tell me something so important!"
"And how would you have reacted if he had?" A voice behind her said.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" The teaching mare nearly jumped out of her horseshoes in surprise, before turning to see a familiar orange pony.
"Applejack! Haven't you ever heard of a thing called a 'door'?" The pink equine struggled to catch her breath. "How did you even get in here, anyway?"
"There are advantages to being friends with the castle's spy ponies." AJ replied. "And again I ask... how would you have reacted if he had told you? Any differently than your freakout back there?"
"How was I supposed to react to the revelation that there are ponies that actually eat meat?" Cheerilee asked. "Do you devour the flesh of other animals too now, Applejack?"
"No, but my children do. The spell has to be cast on a pony when she's a foal." The orange mare shook her mane. "There are several ponies in Dream Castle who immigrated in from other communities. They can't eat meat, either."
"Well, at least they won't try to make me into a ghoul, too!" Cheerilee gave a sigh of relief. "But... ponies that eat other animals..."
"Didn't we know several Griffins back in Equestria who ate meat?" AJ asked her, pointing out a fact she had overlooked. "Did we think they were barbarians?"
"Okay, you got me there. There are many unintelligent animals out there to eat!" The pink mare admitted. "But still, a pony who eats meat..."
"It's a different culture you're living in now. Love and tolerance, Cheerilee." Applejack smiled, reminding her of the old Equestrian motto. "Love and tolerance."
"Fine, you win!" The teacher snorted in defeat. "I admit I over-reacted a bit, but it was still quite a shock!"
"You're not kidding!" Applejack chuckled. "I had the same reaction when I found out about it, as well!"
"I wish I hadn't run out of the party in such a hurry!" Cheerilee said with a sigh. "I wanted one last dance with Wigwam before the evening ended."
"Well, It's not too late to head back!" AJ replied, smiling. "I have a feeling that certain buffalo pony is waiting for you there!"
"What? I can't go back in there!" The teacher snorted. "Not after the way I acted!"
"Don't worry, they'll forget anything even happened!" The orange mare replied with chuckle. "Now, let's get you back to that stallion of yours!"
...
As soon as Applejack and Cheerile came back into the room, they were surrounded by several ponies.
"Miss Cheerilee, We are so sorry!" Sweet Suds exclaimed apologetically.
"We had no idea you didn't know your own herd ate de meat!" Red Roses continued.
"Please, allow us to make it up to you in some way!" Sweet Lily finished.
"Oh, girls... it was my fault, really!" The pink mare smiled. "I really shouldn’t have reacted so-"
"There she is!" An angry voice called out. "That's the mare who looks down on us for eating meat!"
Moondancer, the castle busy-body, came trotting up to where they were all standing. Behind her were several angry mares, snorting and staring at Cheerilee darkly.
"Moondacer, I didn't here you slither up!" Applejack snorted. "Do you and your pack of overbearing soccer moms really have to make trouble at the parade of costumes?"
"So she thinks she better than us, huh?" One mare called out.
"Maybe she shouldn't be teaching our foals, then!" Another snorted.
"Uh oh..." Sweet Suds whinnied, taking a step back. "Dis is gonna be gettin' ugly, really fast!"
"We gotta do sometin'!" Sweet Lily exclaimed, moving in front of Cheerilee. "Girls, let em' have it!"
Suddenly, the three powder puff ponies released an odd pink mist from thier manes, which filled the nostrils of the anrgy mares that had encircled them. The looks on all of thier faces grew very, very drowsy.
"Ugh... I think I wanna go lie down..." One yawned.
"I'm feeling really sleepy all of a sudden." Another mare trotted off, barely keeping her eyes open.
"Cheerille, well settle this -yaaaawwwwn- later!" Moondancer snorted quietly. "I think I need to turn in early!"
"What was..." Cheerilee asked in shock. "How did you-?"
"We're not called de powder puff ponies for nothin'!" Red Roses chuckled.
"Whoa, I have got to learn more about all the different kinds of modern ponies!" The bewildered teacher replied.
"We just doin our best ta help!" Sweet Lily whinnied. "Now, I tink someone is here ta see ya!"
"Gled to see you came out of your room. Wigwam came trotting up, smiling. "The party wouldn't be the same without you!"
"Wigwam, I'm sorry I was so rude!" Cheerilee's ears drooped. "I understand why you did what you did!"
"Don't worry about it, miss Cheerilee." He bowed to her. "Now, my good teacher... may I have this dance?"
The two returned to the dance floor, where the last song- a slow number that Cheerilee couldn't place- started to play. Wigwam took the mare into his hooves, and moved slowly to the music.
"So..." Cheerilee asked, smiling at the stallion. "Is there anything else in this crazy society, that you've neglected to tell me about?"
"Well..." Wigwam looked away, sheepishly. "There is the little matter of what that glue we buy off the humans is made of..."
The few ponies in the audience clapped, as Nightshade finished his last song. The Bright Valley auditorium was as empty today, as it was for all of the young pony's performances. It was disheartening to the white earth colt, that only two ponies consistently came to hear him sing. Still he appreciated their devotion to him, and returned the gentle love they felt for them.
"Yaaay, Nightshade. woo hoo!" Bow Tie cheered, running up to the singer with the blue pompadour mane. "You were great!"
"Thanks, Bowtie!" He replied, nuzzling his girlfriend. There was no filly he cared for more in all of Ponyland.
"Well, done, son!" A yellow mare with a grey mane trotted up. "You're still the best singer in all of Ponyland!"
"Aw gee, thanks, mom!" The pony in the blue letter jacket smiled, happy for his only living parent's support.
As the three of them left the nearly empty arena, Nightshade looked around his hometown of Bright Valley, and sighed. This was the best place in the Confederacy to become a star, and there was nothing more that the young earth colt desired to do than become a singer! But no matter how much he practiced, no matter how much he sang in his high school choir, no matter how many lessons he took from expensive stallion tutors... Nightshade just couldn't seem to draw in the fans!
"Well, I've got to go meet the other girls at the Powder Puff spa!" Bow Tie announced, nuzzling her boyfriend again, before galloping off. "See ya later, baby!"
"Bye, Bow Tie!" He smiled at her, as she galloped away. "See you tomorrow!"
"And I need to be going, too. Supper won't be making itself!" His mother turned down the street that led to the house the two lived in. "Make sure you're home by eight!"
"Later mom! I'll be home before the food gets cold!" After the two had left, the pony singer sighed, and trotted down the street.
"This is just great!" He thought to himself, snorting out loud. "I can't even get a decent gig that pays! What am I gonna do?"
The son of the foreman pony at Bright Valley's steel mill. Nightshade had grown up in decent, middle class surroundings. He had always admired the stallion entertainers on television- the rock 'n roll rebels that everyone thought was cool, and could turn everybody's heads. As his teachers in school had seen he was musically inclined, they prepared him for a career in the entertainment business. But when it came to actually draw a paying crowd in to listen to his songs, the handsome young colt just seemed to keep coming up short!
Passing the Atsa-Mata bistro, Nightshade looked though the window at the ponies eating inside. Bow Tie loved it when they always came here for their dates every weekend. Slurping down spaghetti noodles together, and gazing into each others eyes over a candlelit table in the darkened dinner. Oh, what fun times they had had! But with high school graduation soon upon them, Nightshade feared he might have to be in that Bistro as an employee soon, serving up the spaghetti, just to make ends meet. How could he ask Bow Tie to stay with such a low-class stallion?
Walking further down the street, Nightshade passed several parked cars, their sleek chrome plating and shining hubcaps glistening in the sun. He had wanted to buy his mother a new mustang when his career took off, to replace that broken down old model P she went get groceries in. But the way his career prospects were going, he'd be lucky if he could buy her a toy car!
His poor mother... she had endured so much. She had had to watch Nightshade's father - her husband- come back from that dingy old factory night after night. His hooves chipped and dirty, his mane and filthy coat all soaked with sweat. His father had sacrificed so much for nightshade and his mother's happiness, and what was his reward for it?
The white colt remembered the night a year ago, when the factory owner- a grey stallion in a tweed suit- had come to tell them there had been an accident. His kind and dear father, crushed like a grape by the factory gears when he tried to save another stallion's life. The factory paid for the closed casket funeral, but Nightshade and his mother were barely able to get by on the meager few bits that were the old stallion's pension.
"Oh, what am I to do?!?" He thought to himself, as he stopped and stared at the Statue of Pinkie Pie- the town's patron saint pony- in the village square. "You were always the mistress of pony celebrations and laughter, the pony who could randomly burst into song! What in the world can I do to help my loved ones?"
"Would y'all happen to be Nightshade, the famous pony performer?" An oily voice hissed behind him, causing the teenage colt to spin around.
"Yeah?" Nightshade snorted, looking behind him. "Who wants to know?"
"Name's Zeb, son! Ponyland talent agent extraordinaire!" A slimy looking zebra in a polyester suit and sunglasses hissed. "I heard you perform back there, son, and I think you've gotta voice that's outta sight!"
"Thanks... but what do you want with me?" He asked suspiciously.
Zeb just chuckled. "Son, I have a plan that'll make the both of us very, very rich...."
....
"Grrr, why'd I have to miss the bus again?"
It was raining outside the 13th precient Bright Valley elementary school, and a nine year old Nightshade was rushing to get to. The frustrated foal covered his heard with his book bag, and Cursed under his breath as he dashed away from his house. But about a few feet away from the school entrance, Nightshade head a strange sound, coming from behind the building.
"Waaaaaaaaah!" A sad, plaintive cry went up from the playground. Galloping back, the young foal found a little blue earth filly, sitting underneath the sliding board, and sobbing.
"Hey there little pony!" He called out, trotting up beside her. "Why ya so glum?"
"No-nobody wants to play with me!" She sobbed, burying her eyes in her hooves. "And they left me all alone out here!"
"That's not cool!" He exclaimed. "Not cool at all! What's your name, little pony?"
"B-Bowtie, she replied, looking up at him. "Bowtie Lace."
Nightshade could see the filly was only a year younger than himself. "My name Nightshade, and I'd love ta play with ya!"
"Really?" She asked, drying her tears, and looking up at him.
"Sure, little pony!" He thought for a moment, then tore a strip of cloth off of his jacket and tied it into a bow in her mane. "Here you go, little pony! A Bowtie for Bowtie!"
"Yaaay! You're a nice colt!" THe little filly whinnied with joy, nuzzling him.
Together, the two little ponies went into the school, and out of the rain.
...
"Hello, girls!" Bowtie called out cheerfully, trotting into the Perfume Puff beauty spa. "How are ya doin today?"
"Bow Tie, darling!" Dainty Dahlia, a white earth mare with a pink mane, pulled up a chair for her. "So good to see you!"
"Hello, dear!" Daisy Sweet, a blue mare with a yellow mane, greeted her. "The usual today?"
As always!" She grinned, shaking out her pink mane, and lying back in the chair. "And make sure ta give me lotsa ribbons!"
"Good grief, cousin!" Lavender Lace, a female Pegasus in charge of the other two, stepped out of the back. "You sure do love your hair ribbons!"
The blue filly smiled as lavender came into the room. Bow Tie's cousin, this mare was one of the few winged ponies ever born in Bright Valley... and face a lot of prejudice, because of it!
"A very special somebody gave me my first ribbon, and he loves seeing me in them!" She replied, as Daisy Sweet began working on her mane. "Besides, they make me look even cuter!"
"Speakin of that crazy colt," Dainty Dahlia inquired, as she began manicuring Bow Tie's hoof. "Has that little rascal proposed to you yet?"
"What? No!" Bow Tie snorted, as Lavender Lace put two cucumbers over her eyes. "We're just graduating this month! Besides, he wants his career to take of first, before we think of marriage!"
"Career, huh?" The Pegasus looked skeptical. "When is that boy with the purple pompadour gonna get himself a job, hm?"
"Hey, don't be so hard on him, girls!" Bow Tie snorted, as Lavender began to massage her back. "You don't know that colt like I do...
....
"Mama, Papa... this is Nightshade!” She gestured to the two adult ponies. "Nightshade, these are my parents!"
After they had been dating a few months, Bow Tie had invited the now-fourteen year old Nightshade home to meet her parents. Needless to say, Nightshade was less than excited about the prospect!
"H-hello, Mister and Missus Lace!" He whinnied nervously, scratching the back of his head with his hoof. "Nice to meet you both!"
"A pleasure to meet you dear!" Satin n' Lace, a lavender mare with a pink mane, greeted him. "I hope you'll be able to stay with us for dinner!"
"Pleasure to meet you, son!" Shoe Lace, the brown stallion who was her father, shook his hoof vigorously. "Would you like to come up and tour the Cliff guns above the city? I am the captain of the guard, you know!"
They enjoyed a wonderful dinner together, then Nightshade and Bowtie went upstairs, to look out the attic window together.
"You really want to be a singer, don't you, Nightshade?" She cocked her head curiously.
"Very much so!" The singing pony agreed. "It's always been my dream to be a great singer!"
"Sing a song about me, Nightshade!" She asked, leaning her head against him.
The colt thought for a moment, then began to sing; "Spell a pony's name for me
B-O-W T-I-E!
It's Bowtie! My Bowtie!
And my Bow-Tie
is the prettiest little pony of them all!"
....
"Oh NO!" Bow Tie whinnied in terror. "What in the world is going on?"
It was evening the next day, when Bow Tie came galloping back towards town in a hurry. She had been outside gathering mushrooms, when the bule filly had heard several screams coming from the city, and a dark cloud slowly spreading over all of Bright Valley.
As she approached the bridge leading into town, Bow Tie saw the three powder puffs feeling towards her.
"Girls! What's going on?" She called out, as the three mares stopped to answer her.
"Bow Tie! Run for your Life!" Dainty Dahlia yelled, almost out of breath. "The town's been overrun by fakies!"
"Z-zombie ponies!?!" Bow Tie's eyes went wide. "Princess Silver Swirl! The gun batteries-!"
"The princess escaped with her guards, they're making for sanctuary in fort Rainbow Dash!" Daisy Sweet replied, looking back over her shoulder. " Your father locked down the gun battery vaults, right before they..." She looked down. "I'm so sorry, Bow Tie."
"So sorry about what? Where's my father?" She looked up at Lavender Lace, who was flapping overhead. "Lavender, where's Nightshade?"
"It's Arabus, Bow Tie." The Pegasus told her without hesitation. "He turned to townsfolk into fakies by stealing their shadows. "
"What? Arabus?" Bow Tie screamed incredulously. "That old fairy tale of the shadow stealing genie sealed under the town?!?"
"Yes! He's using music to distract them, while he steals their shadows..." Dainty Dahlia's eyes were tearing up. "...and Nightshade was helping them do it!"
"No...." Bow Tie's eyes went wide, and tears started to form. "That's a lie! You're LYING!"
"I wish we were, Bow Tie... but we saw him!" Daisy Sweet replied, as the three turned to gallop away. "You'd better run, while you still can!"
Bow Tie turned back to the bridge, where she saw Nightshade standing, staring at her.
"Oh, Nightshade, thank the horsemaster you're safe!" Bow Tie cried out in relief. "C'mon, we've got to get out of here before...."
She stopped suddenly, a shiver sent up her spine by the cold, icy stare coming from the pony she loved.
"Nightshade?" She whimpered, her lower lip trabling as she started to cry. "Nightshade what's wrong?"
Suddenly, a mare and a colt came up from behind the pony singer, an empty look in their eyes. Drool leaked from the stallion's mouth, While the mare growled like a savage animal. The two were fakie zombies, to be sure. But they were also ponies that Bow Tie knew well.
"Mama..." She whimpered, a lump forming in her throat. "Papa..."
"Take her alive." Nightshade snorted, scowling at the filly in contempt. "Arabus will want her shadow to feast upon!"
"NO!" The filly howled in anguish. She kicked the two fakies that had once been her parents away as they lunged at her, and galloped away from bright valley at top speed.
"I HATE YOU NIGHTSHADE!!!" She howled to the uncaring wind. "I'LL HATE YOU FOREVER!!!"
As she ran, she tore out of her mane the ribbon that had been a gift so long ago, and let it fall behind her. Away the filly ran, tears streaming down her face, as she left Bright Valley- and the only colt she had ever loved- behind her forever.
"Twilight, whatever in the world is wrong?" The princess trotted up, asking the little foal who had only recently become her student.
The little filly was in tears, crying over a picture of an elderly pony "My momma send me a message. She told me grandpa has gone away, and he's not coming back!" She sobbed, running over and clinging to the princess's hoof.
"There there, little one." She lowered a comforting wing onto Twilight. "It'll be all right!"
"Are my paernts gonna leave me?" The little filly sobbed, looking up at Celestia. "Are you gonna leave me, too?"
"Child, I promise you." She wrapped her wings around the filly. "One thing you can be certain of, is that I will never leave you!" ...
Equestria, three hundred years after the age of the harmony bearers.
Celestia, the ancient and venerable Princess of the alicorns, felt old.
Not that she looked a day over thirty mind you, but in truth she had seen twenty two centuries come and go. She had seen both friends and family come and go over the ages, and the princess had discovered that even she could become weary of the world.
"Oh, Twilight... how I wish I could see you again." She thought to herself with a sigh. "It's been so long since I've seen a friendship report, I almost miss all of the chaos you and your friends once caused!"
Raising her horn to the sky, she brought the sun in the sky down for the night, as she had a had a thousand times before, then turned to head back to her room for a night's slumber.
...
"Attention visitors, the time is now six fotry five, and the Canterlot royal palace and gardens are closed for the day! We'd like to thank everypony for being our guest today, and wish all of you a happy and safe journey home!"
As the voice blared over the loudspeaker, and all of the pony tour and school groups that had come to see the Canterlot royal statue gardens shuffled out of the gate, past the two security ponies who shut and locked the iron portal behind them. As all the employees and staff clocked out for the night and headed back into Canterlot city, few gave any thought to the grounds and garden they had left behind. After all, who was going to bother with a bunch of dusty old statues anyway?
It was after the sun had finally set, that a lone, shadowy pony-like form materialized out of nothingness. This cloaked figure made his way over to the silent, still statue of a Draconnequis that stood off by itself in the garden. The pony sized shape under a brown cloak approached the mismatched jumble of many creatures, and looked over the unmoving figure of Discord.
Discord, the spirit of chaos. Once reformed into nothing but a harmless prankster, the fiend had returned to his old ways after Fluttershy had passed away. The sisters had returned him to his prison here in the garden, a final act of pity to a creature that had lost his dearest friend.
"For three centuries, trickster, you have slumbered!" The shadowy form rumbled in a deep voice. "I command you now... awaken!"
The stone began to slowly crack and peel away, as a sinister laugh rippled outward from the crumbling stone. The chaotic form beneath burst forth, like a butterfly newly freed from it's cocoon.
"I am free!" He bellowed with laugher, stretching his arms to the sky. "Free to reign chaos upon Celestia's precious little kingdom once more!"
"Yes, free thanks to me." The small form in the cloak hissed. "You will now spread your richly desired chaos, at my bidding!"
"Sorry, but I don't work for others, especially not ponies!" He flew down, and stared into the black void that was the opening in the strangers cloak. "But as a reward for freeing me, you can take my place on that pedestal!"
Smiling, the lord of chaos snapped his fingers... and nothing happened.
"What in the world?" He gazed at his claw. "Why isn't this thing working?!?"
There were few times the lord of Chaos had not been able to bend reality to his will , and this was one of them. The confused draconequuis looked back at his 'liberator', utterly full of confusion.
"Hello, Discord." The large form snarled at him. "it's been a while!"
The cloak had been cast aside, and a large, red and black figure stood towering over the lord of chaos. It was a horned centaur that stood before him, and Discord recognized a face he hadn't seen in ages...
"You're immune to my power!?! But how-" Discord replied, dumbfounded. "This isn't possible! How can you resist my chaos magic?!"
"I am more powerful than you can possibly imagine, you pathetic fool!" The centaur snarled, grabbing the draqconequis by the throat. "I am lord Tirac! I am the master of Midnight Castle, and lord of the rainbow of darkness! And you, Discord, are already well aware of what I can do!"
Even though he had never met this version of Tirek before, he was well aware of what the centaur was talking about. This Tirek did not radiate chaos... oh no! This abomination reeked of raw, unadulterated evil. Whereas Discord fed off the power of orange juice rain and birds flying backwards, Discord felt this being feed off betrayal and slaughter, of screaming children and horrific nightmares.
For the first time in his long existence, the lord of chaos felt fear . The power of the unspeakable horror that lay beyond the Tartarus gate radiated from this one, as he was a vessel of that terrible power. And while that power could not shape reality like his chaos could, was a power greater than his. A power that could easily slay him, should this Tirek wish it so.
"O-of couse, my lord." The draconequuis tried to stifle his fear. "What can I do for you?"
"Merely spread the chaos that you so richly desire, as you did before you were corrupted by friendship!" The great beast bellowed again. "To return to your old chaotic ways! That is the only price I ask for your freedom!"
"Ooooh, that shall not be a problem, great one!" Discord sneered, putting the image of a sweet-smiling yellow Pegasus out of his mind. "Why do you think Celestia and Luna re-sealed me in stone in the first place?"
....
Princess Celestia awoke to the sound of a rooster gargling, and a bird meowing in her ear.
"Ugh!" The princess groaned, slowly opening her eyes. "What in the-"
Madness was the only word that described what was before her.... sheer and utter madness! The ceiling to her room was gone, the clouds in the sky were scoops of chocolate ice cream, and a pair of feathery wings with no bird attached flew by. Immediately, the princess knew what was going on.
"DISCORD!" The angry mare roared, bursting out into the main hall. "Where are you, you malevolent mischief maker!"
"Right here!" The laughing draconequuis was sitting on Celestia own throne, drinking a glass of cider, surrounded by a bunch of royal guards who were jumping around and barking like dogs. "It's soooo good to see you again after three centuries! Though to us immortals, I suppose that's only like... what? Five minutes?"
"How did you get free?!?" Celestia demanded. "The sealing this time should have lasted at least a millennium!"
"Let's just say I had a little benefactor who sprung me early!" The villain chuckled. "And look! I even got you a gift for my return!"
Discord pointed towards the base of the throne, where Celestia saw there as the stone statue of an alicorn, her face frozen in fear. At first, the princess assumed it was just some more of Discord's chaotic re-decorating. But upon looking at the statue more carefully, the princess made a horrific discovery.
"Sister!" Celestia cried out, looking back to Discord in anger. "What have you DONE?!?"
"You know, I finally decided to try putting ponies in stone!" Discord burst out laughing. "I must say, I can see why you enjoyed doing it to me! The sheer look of terror on their faces, frozen like a beautiful work of art!"
Immediately, the princess galloped for the door, but discord snapped his fingers and in vanished, leaving a blank wall.
"There's nowhere important for you to go anyway!" The trickster chuckled wildly. "If you're going to look for some new harmony bearers in a hurry, don't bother! I already scoured Equestria for all of the potential candidates while you slept, and they're already here!"
Discord pointed over at the far wall, where Celestia's gaze met a most gruesome sight. Row after row of pony heads, mounted on plaques as trophies, lined the walls. There might have been two to three hundred of them, but Celestia was too sickened to actually count.
"T-this is a trick. An effect of your chaos powers." Celestia whinnied in horror. "As soon as you're put back in stone, my subjects will go back to normal!"
"Not this time, my dear Celestia! I learned a bit from the tactics of my benefactor" The draconequuis chuckled. "I couldn't risk any of these ponies mastering the elements, and sealing me back up again. I want this game to last a bit longer than our last one!"
"A game... is that all this has been to you?" Celestia looked up at Discord's poor victims, then closed her eyes. "These poor ponies, all of the others you've tortured for your sick entertainment. You've wrecked many lives in the name of your sick fun!"
"They were only mortals, Celestia." Discord scoffed. "You act as if their lives actually meant something."
"You want to play games, monster?" Celestia turned back to face him, her eyes glowing. "Well, you're about to play your last hand!"
The glow soon covered her whole body, then moved up to her horn. The entire castle seemed to shake, under the power she was gathering in one, small area.
"Celeastia, wait..." Discord looked up at her, his eyes going wide. "Celestia, what are you doing?!?"
"The game is over, Discord!" She snarled, looking angrier than the trickster had ever seen her. "You'll never hurt another pony again!"
For a moment, the princess thought of Twilight Sparkle. She thought of her sister, and all of the family she had lost.. and all the family she was leaving behind.
Then, she unleashed her power.
Her soul... her being... her very life force poured out from her horn, and tore out across the room. it tore towards Discord, causing the draconquuis to recoil in horror.
"No! It can't end like this!" He wailed in terror. "I don't wanna stop playing! I don't wanna-!"
FZASH! The white hot light from the wave hit him... and he was gone. Not frozen in stone, not sealed away in a magic slumber. Discord, the trickster lord of chaos, was disintegrated. His death howl tearing throughout the castle. There was only a small, disgusting stain on the floor where he had stood only a moment before.
The wave continued outward, washing over and healing an Equestria in chaos. But as the wave spread across the sky, the burning rays of Celestia's sun fizzled out. A much brighter sun came up over the horizon, and moved across the heavens of it's own volition. All across the landscape, ponies who were battering their heads against walls, or running from crazed wombats, suddenly found themselves back at their normal lives. But they would soon discover that their lives had changed, and things would never be the same again.
"Oh my word, what dideth just occur!?" Princess Luna found she could move again, and looked around at a bunch of confused guards in the throne room. "The last thing I doth remember I was- SISTER!"
The alicorn princess stopped dead, when she saw the unmoving form of Celestia, lying on the throne room floor.
"Sister, art thou hurt? What did happen to..." She trailed off as she saw that Celestia wasn't breathing. "S-sister?"
...
Celestia trotted on into the light, not even hesitating or looking back. she heard the sadness and sorrow of a passing behind her, but she assumed it was only an echo.
"About time you got here, you highness!" The unicorn pouted, pushing out her bottom lip. "And this from the pony who said she'd never leave me!"
"To be fair, you're the one who left me!" The alicorn retorted. "Though I am happy to see you again!"
"Come on, Celestia! I have so much to show you here!" The unicorn mare, now looking as she had in her prime, trotted beside her teacher.
"Calm yourself, my faithful student." She smiled, as they trotted into the light together. "We have all the time in the world."
Archivist's note; the following text is set in the aftermath of the events of the destruction of Paradise estate, chronicled in "Twilight then, Twilight now". This text is not recommended for the faint of heart, or the weak of stomach.
Tornado Firehooves
Paradise Lost
I can see nothing at first, as the darkness around me melts away...
As I return to consciousness, I hear the soft crackle of flames coming from behind me. Pain shoots through my entire body as I return to the waking world, and I can taste my own blood in my mouth. Wearily, I open my eyes, and it is only slowly that my blurred vision adjusts to the dim light around me.
"Ohhhh....." I let out a small groan, as I try and pull myself back to my hooves. As I stand, I feel several cracked ribs in my chest, and a broken wing drags lifeless at my side. I have never felt pain like this before, as it feels as if my whole body is on fire. But in spite of the pain, I press on, determined not to fall prey to my agony.
"Oh my Horsemaster...." I gasp out breathlessly, looking at the carnage around me for the first time. Paradise Estate is in ruins, the walls reduced to rubble, the ceiling collapsed in on itself. The once happy mansion where my friends and I all dwelled, has been reduced to a pile of still-burning ash.
"What-what happen-" I wonder aloud, and it all comes back to me in a rush- the goblin and strydon attack, the ponies running and fleeing in terror. My eyes go wide in a panic, as my thoughts immediately turn to my friends.
"IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?!?" I cry out desperately, dragging myself along on my three still-functioning legs. I can feel all of the slashes and scratches on my once-lovely white coat, my palm tree cutie mark scarred beyond recognition. I search frantically around for any sign of life.... but I quickly wished I had not done so.
"NO! LOFTYYYYYYY!" I shriek, sobbing as my eyes settled on the motionless body of Lofty. The corpse is so charred and mangled, I can only identify her by the sight of her hot air balloon cutie mark. The cruel monsters even sheared her wings off before putting her out of her misery.
"Oh, Lofty.... why..." I weep, remembering the dear friend I used to fly the skies of Ponyland with. "C'mon, ya slowpoke, Try ta keep up! Aw, can't you fly any faster than that?" I weep bitterly, despairing at the though that I would never see this kind, gentle pony fly through the skies ever again. The thought of what those monsters had done to her, is more than this mare can bare. Realizing there might be other survivors who need help, I look away, and close my heart to the pain and sorrow that threatens to overtake it.
How could we have been so foolish, to think we were safe out here? When Truly led us all away from Dream Castle, all of us ponies thought we were staking out a new claim of freedom here! A new home, away from the Tryrannical rule of queen Majesty! Little did we realize we had left ourselves vulnerable.
"Is there anyone there?!?" I call out desperately, my eyes scanning the wreckage for any sign of life. "Anyone at all?!?"
But no answer comes, save for the howling wind. There's no one out here... this place is only filled with death.
This wasn't supposed to happen, my mind reasons. In all the fairy tales I've read, the hero always manages to save the innocents at precisely the right moment, and thus bring about a right and proper happy ending. The villains aren't supposed to come in, and slaughter the innocent villagers! That's what the heroes in fairy tales existed to prevent!
Yet no hero came forth when Paradise Estate needed it the most, no champion with a white knight on his back came galloping to our rescue. The villains won the day, and we were the losers. It seems all of those ponies who called me gullible and laughed at me had a point. And yet, even after all that has happened, I still have not given up believing in fairy tales. Perhaps, it's just a weakness of my cutie mark.
I continue limping around, and trying to ignore the blood trickling down in my face. To my right, I ignore the lifeless form of Magic Star, the earth pony's body stuck with more sharp arrows than a pin cushion. And to my left, I avert my gaze from Cupcake, whom the Troggles must have gutted like a fish. I want to scream my sorrows to the wind.... I want to fall to my knees, and cry for the dear friends I have lost forever.
But there may be Troggles lurking around here still, and I'd bet Ali Baba and all of his forty thieves that they'd still love to skewer any pony they could find. No, best to wait until it was safe to weep for the dead, and get myself as far away from here as possible.
I stumble out past the swimming pool, now all filled with rubble, and remember all the fun times we had swimming there. I pass what was once the kitchen, and wince at the memory of helping Cupcake baking a cake to take to the Flutterponies. And as I limp past what had once been the living room, I can recall reading the baby ponies bedtimes stories from my favorite books.
How did it all go so wrong? The question will not let my mind go, as I try to pull myself out of this death trap. All I can think about are the angry sentiments, that first led us out here....
"It's settled than!" A voice snorted in a southern accent. "We need ta lead the Mares away from this heyah castle, so that the heard cain live free o' tyranny!"
"But wait, can't we all just talk to the queen, Truly?" A reluctant Lofty whinnied hopefully. "Surely, she will listen to our grievances, and-"
"Haven't you been listening, you featherbrain?" Magic Star snorted. "You can't reason with a tyrant! We need to flee from this oppression!"
"Oh, but why do we have to leave Twilight, Firefly, and all of the others here?" Cupcake asked sadly, thinking of her friends. "I shall miss than all so!"
"They're all stooges of the queen, and would turn on us at the swish of ah Tail!" Truly relied angrily. "Only bah leavin' the dead weight behind, cain we trot onward tah freedom!"
Oh, how I wish I could go back and smack that old nag for that! I cannot believe I supported her traitorous actions, and all for having the estate named after me! As I trot out past the now mangled gate, I see the mutilated carcass of a beheaded mare strung high over what had once been the entrance.
"Good riddance, Truly!" I yell up at the mangled form. "My only regret is you had to take so many ponies with you into your madness!" I spit at the remains, before trotting out and away from the estate for the last time.
Still, I cannot say all of my time at Paradise Estate were all bad. There were many fond memories there, many happy memories. I will always cherish the laughter, the friendships, and the memories I experienced behind those pink gates. And even though the estate that bears my name will from this day forward be but a fond nostalgic memory, I will cherish those times, throughout all the days of my life!
As I trot onward, I can feel the red life fluid draining more and more out of my fragile frame. When I had been running from the beasts that had invaded our home, I jumped out a broken window to escape. The shards of glass are still embedded in my stomach, and every movement I make seems to bury them in deeper.
Though the pain and the blood, I can feel my mind becoming hazier and hazier. The tears I lets the tears flow for dear friends, whose brutal deaths seems so meaningless, so pointless! Oh, how I wish I could go back ,and stop my friends from being tricked by Truly's words, and leaving the safe haven of Dream Castle's walls, to find their own destruction! Oh, my queen, I am so sorry we betrayed you! Even up until the end, when you sent Galaxy and the others to bring us home, I still rejected your forgiveness, in favor of my stubborn pride!
I can feel a gradual weakness creeping over me, as the blood loss is finally getting to my ravaged body. I am only several hundred yards away from the ruins, when I collapse by the flowing waters of a clear stream. As I gaze upon my refection, I remember another time, when everything was so much simpler. I was only a little filly then...
"Twilight, come quick!" I yelled, galloping into her room. "My mom gave me a new fairy tale to read!"
"Really?" My pink unicorn friend asked me, levitating the book out of my satchel. "What is it this time? The Swan Princess? Jack and the beanstalk?"
"It's about a little colt and filly, who get lost in a woods, where and evil witch wants to gobble them up!" I tell her excitedly. The two of us sprawled out on her bed together, and started reading the book.
Twilight Shine... my best and dearest friend in all of the world. We were so very close, as my special talent was reading, writing and telling fairy stories, and hers was magic through wishing. We loved whiling away the hours, reading about handsome princes and magical spells. We always dreamed of the day a stallion in shining armor would sweep each of us off of our hooves. But we were only little fillies then, and adulthood only brought us pain...
"No... please don't leave me..." Twilight begged me, tears in her eyes. "We've always been friends, you're like my sister!"
"Oh yeah? Was I like your sister when you stopped spending time with me, and started hanging out with your 'harmony bearer' friends?!?" I snorted angrily. "Was I like your sister when you went and married that unicorn stallion, without even discussing it with your best friend? He's no handsome prince, Twilight! His face looks like a mule stomped on it!"
"Please... please don't go with Truly!" she pleaded one final time. "Stay here at the castle, where you'll be safe!"
"Go flank yourself, Twilight!" I spat, galloping away from Dream Castle's drawbridge. "If you think we ever were friends, then you really were living in a fairy tale!"
Twilight... my sister in all but blood. I would take back those mean words I spoke at the drawbridge that day, and try my best to make up for the way I acted. How I wished I had stayed there at the castle with you, where we could be sitting and reading all the fairy tales in the library still. As I lay here, the life ebbing away from me, I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me somehow. I hope one day you will read all the fairy takes we shared, to your own little filly.
The wind is getting cold now, and it's getting harder and harder for me to form a coherent thought anymore. I can't feel the pain from the shards of broken glass that cut me open anymore, and I close my tried eyes as a warm light washes over me. As the world around me fades away, I swear I can hear the sound of wings and Pegasus guard armor approaching the spot where I lay All I know is, the future looks so filled with light ...
It was in the early evening, as a reddish-colored sun set over the rolling hills of Ponyland. The various towers and citadels throughout the land, shuttered their windows and barred their doors, hoping to keeep the restless forces of the darkness at bay. For while there were in Ponyland many nights which one did not want to be out and about in, this dark and sinister night was the worst of them all.
There was another time, long ago, when this night of nightmares had been one where ponies actually enjoyed being scared. It was on this night, that poines embraced and celebrated all of the things that frightened them, under an open and starry sky. Those days were long over with, however. And the horrors that dwealt out in the darkness of this night were far more terrifying than anything the wildest of imaginations could conjure up.
Within the safe and secure walls of Dream Castle, the Halloween celebrations were well under way. Lit jack-o-lanterns were on every tabletop, their mischievous grins aglow with an inner light. The sound of music and laughter eminated from the ballroom, where ponies in costume danced the night away, and the cider flowed freely.
Groups of young fillies and colts, dressed in various costumes, went from apartment to apartment inside the castle, gathering sweets in bags and pails. The rooms and hallways were bathed in the glow of torchlight, as adult ponies in costumes handed out sweet treats.
"Come on girls, we still need to hit Cheerilee's Place!" Surprise, who was dressed as a clown with a big rubber nose, snorted to the fillies with her. "We need ta get as many sweets as we can before midinght!"
"Yeah! Let's go to Cheerilee's next!" Baby Gusty exclaimed, pushing up the brim of her witch's hat. "This is her first Halloween here, and I wanna see what she's gonna give us!"
"Yeah! And I wanna see her costume, too!" Baby Half Note chimed in, hopping around in her ballerina's tutu. "Maybe she's dressed as a fakie zombie!"
"Whatever she's dressed as, I hope it's not too scary!" Baby Shady whimpered, trying to hide her face under her fairy princess's costume. "That skeleton costume Galaxy was wearing was scary!"
"Aw, c'mon! That was really cool how she made part of herself invisible, so only her skeleton showed!" The white Pegasus chuckled. "Now shhh! We're here!"
The mare knocked on the door, as she and the fillies opened their treat bags and held them out. The door suddenly clicked, and swung open with a creak.
"Trick or Treat! Smell my-" The ponies suddenly stopped, puzzled that nobody was standing there.
"W-where's Cheerilee?" Baby Shady asked looking around inside.
"Ahhhhhhhh! PONY BLOOD!" Cheerilee hissed, suddenly popping up in the doorway with fangs and a spread black cape. "I zo vanted to have a bite tonight!"
"AHHHHHHHH!" All four of the girls screamed, before three of them fell back laughing.
"Wow! Great Costume, Miss Cheerilee!" Baby Gusty exclaimed. "Vampires are awesome!"
"Yeah, really cool how ya scared us!" Surprise added, pulling herself back up on her hooves.
"Thank you, girls!" The pink teacher in pigtails smiled. "But aren't you a little too old for this, Surprise?"
"What? And miss out on the cool costumes and getting scared?" At that, all of the other ponies stared at her. "What?It's not for the candy! Sugar makes me hyper!"
"Anyway, I have some chocolate bars here for you!" She tossed three Filly Ruth bars into their bags. "Happy Nightmare Night, girls!"
"That's happy Halloween, Miss Cheerilee!" Baby Half Note corrected her. "Though this night can give me nightmares!"
"Hey Baby Shady, don't you want any candy?" Baby Gusty asked, looking when there was no response. "Baby Shady?"
The pink earth filly had passed out, frightened by the sudden appearence of vampire Cheerilee.
"Oh dear..." Cheerilee exclaimed, staring down at the twitching pony child. "Are you all right, Baby Shady?"
"HA! Way ta go, Cheerilee!" Surprise giggled, falling backwards with laughter. "You got that little fraidy cat GOOD!"
....
As the little fillies and colts were busy with the trick-or-treating, most of the adult ponies had gathered in Dream Castle indoor theater for a diffrent sort of Halloween entertainment. Many of them were gossiping among themselves, as they waited for the show to begin.
From the royal box in the Balcony, Queen Majesty signaled the stagehands for the show to begin. As the lights dimmed and the curtains opened, an orange unicorn with a tambourine cutie mark trotted up onto the stage.
"Hello zere, darlinks!" The veiled mare with a coin belt around her waist whinnied in a sultry tone. "In ziz magical und myzerterious realm of Ponyland, zere are many strange ztories und frightening ledegends! Tonight, I, zee zpectakular Gypsy, vill now relate to you von zuch tale!"
The lovely mare leapt across the stage in circular arcs, banging her levitated tambourine with her hoof. Every mare in the theatre admired her graceful and acrobatic dancing... while every stallion admired her swaying and shifting hips.
"Var, var to zee north of Dream valley, nestled deep vithin zee Vispering woods, lies zee village of Hollow Shades!" She smacked her tambourine. "In de golden age of Eqvestria, ziz little town vas already a creepy place, but in de zenturies zat followed, it became a dangerous und voreboding place, avoided even by zee goblins und vitches!"
"In ziz old vorld of ours, most ponies who have died cross over zee great barrier to zee other zide. Ze good und just go to zhier reward in zee great horsemater's stable, vile zee wicked go to join zee unspeakable evil beyond zee gates of Tartarus!" She leapt in the air and spun, before shaking her tambourine again. "But zhere are zhose who are in a limbo betveen life und death... ponies who had unvinished business, or just aren't ready to end zee party yet!"
As the audience sat spellbound, Gypsy narrowed her eyes. "It is zaid zeez spirts gazer at zee sight of Hollow Shades every Halloween night, to zelebrate az zee living do, behind zee zaftey of zhier valls! But... it is alzo zaid zhat a trio of ponies- a brave heroine, a coward, und an idiot- may approach zee zight of Hollow Shades, and see the wonderous sight of zee dead dancing in zhee moonlight!"
Gypsy suddenly burst into song, grecfully dacing and jangling her insturment, as she wove a tale of spookiness and shadows. But as the unicorn mare continued, three mares slipped from the hall unnoticed, and quietly trotted their way towards the castle's drawbridge.
...
"Ohhh, what're we doing out here, Gusty?" Shady wailed, as she and Fizzy followed the white unicorn deeper into the woods. "It's really dangerous out here, and I'm really scared!"
"Shady's right!" Fizzy added, her usual bubbly and carefree tone sounding subdued. "I'd rather be back at the party, bobbing for some of Applejack's apples!"
"Don't you guys wanna see a ghost? That's what we came out here for in the first place!" Gusty snorted. "Honestly Fizzy, listening to you two's whiny voices is givin' me a headache!"
"So says the pony, who has a voice like Bart Simpson when she talks!" The Blue unicorn snapped back, referring to the human world TV character Megan had shown them. "At least we don't sound like our noses are stuffed up when we whine!"
"Eat my shorts, guys!" Gusty yelled back angrily. "Look, I wouldn't a dragged you two along, if Gypsy hadn't said I needed a coward and an idiot with me to see the ghosts at Hollow Shades!"
"W-well, I understand why you dragged me along then." The pink earth pony shivered. "But why bring poor Fizzy out here?"
"Hey Fizz!" Gusty yelled back at the unicorn. "How does that little light in the back of the fridge turn off and on?"
"Ohhh, that's easy!" The mare with the pink and green striped mane giggled. "A little man turns the light on and off when you open and shut the fridge... though I haven't been able to catch him yet!"
"That should answer your question." The unicorn with the green and pink striped mane replied, before trotting ahead.
The three of them continued along the path, quickly leaving Dream Valley behind them, and approaching the towering trees of the whispering woods. The clouds seemed to blot out the moon as they hurried along, and a chilly wind started to pick up, whipping through their manes.
"That does it, Gusty!" Shady whinnied, shivering. "I've have enough of this scary stuff! I'm going home!"
It was at that point, that the distorted sounds of a young filly's laughter echoed through the branches, carried on the back of the wind. As the three mares turned to face the way they came, they began to hear soft, excited voices.
"Look girls! It's three mares with their cutie marks!" The first voice whinnied, sounding close and at the same time, far away. .
"That earth pony has a pair a sunglasses on her flank!" Another distorted voice giggled. "And that blue one has some milkshakes on hers!"
"G-gusty..." A wide-eyed Fizzy gasped, her eyes wide in terror. "Who... who said that?"
Shady, scared out of her wits and unable to speak, was on the verge of hyperventilating,
"Ah know! Let's go see they cain halp us get our cutie marks!" A third voice finished, speaking in a southern accent.
At that exact moment, three small, translucent shapes emerged on the path behind them. The three mares could immediately tell they were fillies- unicorn, a Pegasus, and an earth pony, from the looks of it. But the one small detail that made the hair on the back of their manes stand on end... was the fact that they radiated a slight glow, and the three mares could see right through them!
The heads of the three transparent fillies spun around to face the mares, and the small trio suddenly began galloping right towards them!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! It's the ghosts! " Gusty yelled to the other two screaming mares. "Guys, run for your life!"
The three terrified ponies tore off down the path in a run, as the laughter of three chilling apparitions from beyond the grave followed closely behind...
"Faster, girls, faster!" Gusty screamed, galloping as swiftly as her hooves would carry her. "They're gaining on us!"
The three of them were tearing along through the forest, the three specters in hot pursuit. They had been running for nearly ten minutes, when some lights began to appear in the distance.
"Look, Gusty!" Fizzy called out, gasping for air. "I think I see a town up ahead!"
"There it is!" Shady agreed, looking ahead. "Ohhh, I don't think I can make it!"
"Just a little farther, Shady!" Gusty called out. "I head ghosts can't follow you into a living town! You can do it!"
The three ran ahead with all of their might, making it just inside the town limits, before collapsing in a heap, exhausted. The three figures they had been running from, when they finally had the strength to look back, were nowhere to be seen.
"We did it girls!" Fizzy gasped. "We got away from the spooks!"
"Yeah, but where ae we?" Shady asked, looking around. "There aren't any pony towns in Ponyland, except for Bright Valley!"
It was at that point, that a red stallion trotted over to the three mares, and looked down at them. Their vision still blurry from their exhaustion, the three mares could barely make him out.
"You ladies look exhausted." A deep voice told them, in a southern accent similar to Truly's. "Are you all raight?"
"We're fine, thanks for askin, mister!" Gusty gasped out, trying to catch her breath. "But I gotta ask, where the heck are we?"
"Yer in a place called Hollow Shades!" the stallion whinnied, stamping his hoof. "Finest little burg in all o' Equestria!"
The three mare's vision started to clear, as they could see stallions, colts, and fillies trotting around the town.
"H-hollow Shades? But that's a ghost town!" Shady added, as she pulled herself up again.
"If we were in Hollow Shades, that' meant all of you would be..." Gusty's voice trailed off, her eyes going wide at the sight of the translucent stallion they had been talking to. "...ghosts...."
"Eyyyyyyyyyup!" The earth pony spirit replied simply.
"Just a minute!" She called out, as the banging on her door got louder. "I'll be right there!"
Cheerilee let out an exhausted sigh, having spent the entire night giving out candy to hundreds upon hundreds of colts and fillies. The pink earth pony trotted slowly towards the door, and opened it to find Applejack and Gypsy, along with three anxious stallions, standing there.
"Yes?" She asked, puzzled. "How may I help you?"
"Zorry to bother you, Darlink " Gypsy asked "But we were vondering if you could lend a hoof in a little problem ve are having!"
"Why, is something the matter?" The teacher's ears perked up. "Did something happen?"
"My wife, Fizzy, went to Gypsy's performance earlier this evening!" Salty, a turquoise pony with a purple mane, spoke up. "But she never came back into port, after her voyage was over!"
"Same with my Shady!" Quarterback, a pony with a blue coat and mane, agreed. "She never made touchdown back at our apartment after the show, and that's not like her at all!"
"And my Gusty never crossed the finsh line!" The entirely blue pony named 4-speed, finished. "We're all really worried!"
"Are you boys talking about you wives not coming home with those euphemisms..." She looked at them with a raised eyebrow. "-or are you referring to something else?"
"This is no time for joking, Cheerilee!" Applejack snorted. "Those three goofballs have gone missing, and we're worried something bad might've happened to them!"
"Zheze three ztallions came to me, after zhier mates did not come home." Gypsy added. "Und I had a vision zhat you und Applejack vould be needed in zhier rescue!"
"Do you have any idea where they may have gone?" Cheerilee asked, starting to worry about the missing ponies.
"We think they went to Hollow Shades!" AJ replied. "That was what Gypsy's performance was about, and we think Gusty goaded the other two into going with her!"
"Hollow Shades? The ghost town?" The teacher remembered the book she had read to her class for Halloween. "Oh dear, it's dangerous out there after dark! We'd better go after them!"
"We're coming with you!" Salty snorted, stamping in unison.
"Nothin doin!" Applejack snorted. "If ghosts are involved in this, the less ponies out there the better!"
"Okay..." Fourspeed nodded in agreement. "But please, bring our mares back safe, all right?"
...
"Ohdearohdearohdear!" Shady cried out in terror. "W-what are they gonna do to us!?!"
The three mares were back to back, sitting in the very middle of the gathering of pony spirits gliding and floting about. None of the three dared to move, as specters of deceased equines floated in and out of the worn down and drab buildings- talking, gossiping, and going about their ghostly business.
After the red stallion had moved on, the other ghosts had paid the three no notice, but the mares simply continued to sit there, paralyzed with fear. It was only after several minutes, that Fizzy got up, and trotted over to try and talk to one of the spirits.
"Hello, there!" She smiled nervously, totting up to two of the spectral mares. "My names Fizzy! What's yours?"
"FIZZY!" Shady called out in terror. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?"
"We can't just sit there and do nothin forever!" The air headed unicorn replied. "We might as well try to talk to them!"
"My name's Roseluck, and this is my friend, Lily!" The ghosts’ echoing voice drifted on the wind. "We were just heading over to the spa, you and your friends want to join us?"
"Sure! Sounds like fun!" Fizzy motioned for the other two to follow. "We'd love to join you Two!"
"Fizzy! Are you insane?!?" Gusty whispered to her. "I do not what ghosts running thier cold and clammy ectoplasm over my coat and mane!"
But not wanting to upset thier supernatural hosts, the three mares followed Fizzy and the two spirits inside. Invisible hooves massaged the three mare's backs, and unseen ponies painted polish on thier hooves. Gusty was mostly able to keep her composure, as she soaked in hot water fed my a fire that wasn't there. But poor Shady had to keep herself from hyperventilating, as a floating comb brushed through her mane.
"There, Wasn't that wonderful?" Lily asked, smiling at the three. "Lotus and Aloe always do a wonderful job!"
"That was great!" Fizzy giggled. "What do ya want to do next?
"The dance!" Roseluck whispered. "Vynal Scratch is DJ'ing a dance!"
The two ghosts floated out to the center of town, where several pony specters were twirling and gliding around to a errie, yet very moving, beat. The two spectral mares moved off to dance with two other specters, while the three girls quickly found themselves with dance partners.
"This... this isn't so bad!" Gusty called to the others, as a brown stallion ghost with an hourglass cutie mark twirled her.
"I still don't like these creepy creeps touching me!" Shady whined, as she and a stallion spook named Braeburn did a dip.
"Better not say that when they're in earshot!" Fizzy giggled, as the read stallion they originally met twirled her about.
At the end of the third song, a grey hared mare (who was dressed like a mayor), had two other ponies bring out a punch bowl filled with a red liquid.
"All right everypony!" The older spirit called out. "Drink up, and enjoy!"
All of the spirits swarmed over the liquid, taking glasses and dipping into the large punch bowl. The three living mares trotted over to the bowl and sniffed at it, and their eyes went wide in horror.
"Girls... I don't think this is punch..." Shady whimpered, stepping back from the liquid nervously.
"I'll say it isn't!" Gusty blurted out. "That's pony blood!"
"How could you not enjoy the fluids of life?" A ghostly mare named Junebug asked curiously. "All ghosts crave the liquid of the living!"
"Unless you're not ghosts..." Lily's eyes narrowed, as if she was looking at the three for the first time. Her eyes began to glow red, and fangs suddenly appeared in her mouth.
"MOOORRRRTTTALLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" She hissed, glaring at them angrily. "MORTALSSSSSSSSS HEEERRREEEEE!"
The eyes of the assembled ghosts all turned red, as they surrounded the three mares on all sides.
"Girls..." Gusty called out nervously, eyeing the spectral ghouls surrounding them. "... I think we're in trouble!"
"Those silly fillies!" Applejack snorted angrily. "What've they gotten themselves into this time?!?"
The three Fillies had left Dream Castle, and were galloping towards Hollow Shades, as fast as their hooves could carry them. The full moon high in the evening sky lit their way along the northern path, while the sparks that shot forth from the nearby volcano of gloom filled their hearts with dread.
"You vould expect ziz kind of zing vrom Gusty und Fizzy!" Gypsy snorted, trying to keep up with AJ. "But Zhady? She vouldn't go near a haunted place if her life depended on it!"
"Oh, you know how ' convincing' Gusty can be!" AJ replied in disgust. "She probably roped the others into going along with her harebrained scheme!"
"Ladies, could you please slow down?!?" Cheerilee gasped out, trying to keep up with the others. "I'm not excatly as fast or as strong as a Dream Valley earth pony, you know!"
"Great horsemaster, girl! What's happening to ya?" The orange earth pony looked back. "You've been slowin down, and packin' on the pounds for the past few weeks! You feelin all right?"
"I don't know AJ, I have been gaining a little weight... and had a strange craving for peanut butter and pickles!" A concerned Cheerilee replied. "Wigwam thinks I might be sick or something!"
"Look, vou can go zee Dr. Medcin, az zoon az ve get home!" Gypsy snorted at the two of them. "Right now, ve need to conzentrate on rezcuing our vriends!"
The three ponies galloped up to a clearing in the trees, where they heard the giggling of three small fillies.
"Look girls! It's three more ponies! Maybe they can help us!"
"Wait a sec... that pony is Miss Cheerilee! She's come to join the party!"
"An' that's mah sister! Ah knew she'd come!"
The eerrie voices stopped the mares dead in thier tracks, and The teacher and the one-time apple bucker's faces suddenly went pale.
"Applejack...." Cherrilee whinnied, her blood running cold. "I remember...those voices..."
"Yeah, from long ago..." The orange mare in denial replied "...it can't be..."
The three little spectral fillies glided up to the three mares, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell coming up to the pink teacher. While Apple Bloom galloped up to Applejack.
"Hiya, big sis!" The little filly with the bow in her mane smiled. "What's with the Bow in yer tail? And where yer hat?"
"A-Apple- Apple Bloom..." Tears were streaming down the mare's face, her heart a mixture of terror and sorrow. As the mare stepped forward to embrace her long-lost sister, her hooves went right through the glowing shade.
"Why so sad, big sis?" The ghost asked her, puzzled. "An' why's yer voice sounds so funny?"
Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell poked at the pink mare, confused as thier hooves passed through her.
"Miss Cheerilee, how come you're all fleshy?" The spectral unicorn asked. "And what's with the funny pig tails in yer mane?"
"Oh, girls..." Cheerilee tried to hold back her tears, as the two hit her with a barrage of questions. "What happened to you?"
"Ugh, ladies! Ignore zheze shades!" Gypsy snorted. "Zheze are not ze zpirits of your loved vons! Razer, Zeze are impressions- pzychic recordingz- left vrom Eqveztria's pazt!"
The two mares stared at the spectres blankly for a moment, blinking.
"So... these aren't real ghosts... like when North Star met Luna..." AJ looked at the shade who so resembled her long-dead sister. Even if it wasn't her, it was still chilling for AJ to see it!
"That-that would explain why these three are still fillies!" Cheerilee noted, as the other two phantoms stared at her. "The real girls grew up, and had lives and families!"
"Zhey are ztill complex enough to interact vith!" Gypsy exclaimed. "Maybe zhey can tell us vere our vrieands haf gone!"
"Ohhhh! You want the other mares who came here earlier?" Scootaloo asked. "We can show you where they went!"
"Zhen lead on, little ones!" Gypsy commanded, and the three mares followed the glowing shades on towards Hollow Shades...
...
"Girls, make a run for it!" Gusty yelled at the other two ponies. "I'll hold these stupid spooks off!"
As the spirits charged at the three ponies, becoming solid enough to attack them. But Gusty unleashed a powerful volume of wind from her horn, blowing the spirits back, and giving the three a chance to gallop away.
The three girls took off from the town square, with the blood thirsty spirits in hot pursuit. Up and down the streets of town they ran, with the ghosts popping out of every door and alleyway. They kept turning and running in every direction, but the snarling, salivating spirits were around every corner.
"Gusty!" Fizzy whinnied in terror, as an elderly green mare closed in on the Twinkle-eyed pony. "They're gaining on us!"
"We can't outrun em forever!" Shady wailed. "What're we gonna do!?!?"
The white unicorn thought for a moment, then suddenly, she looked up at Fizzy's gemstone " Hey! Ghosts don't like bright light, right?"
"Yeah!" Fizzy added, still fleeing for her life. "So what?"
"Turn and face em, Fizz!" Gusty replied, a great big grin on her face. "Let's shine a little light on the subject!"
Fizzy turned to stare down the marauding ghosts, while Gusty cast an illumination spell on Fizzy's twinkle eyes. Twin beams of light shot out from the gemstones, searing the ghosts like flames, and causing them to howl in agony.
"Take that!" Gusty yelled aloud, as the spirits were driven back in pain. "What's wrong ghosties, not bright enough for ya?"
"Gusty! Fizzy! Shady!" Applejack called out, as the three came rushing into the village. "What the hay are you three doing?"
"We're fighting these evil spirits, who tried to attack us!" Fizzy yelled triumphantly, turning her head back and forth to get as many spooks as possible.
"Yeah! Why bother giggling at the ghosties, when ya can fry em!"Gusty agreed, concentrating and increase sting the light's intensity.
"Come on girlz, ve haff to get out of here qvickly!" Gypsy told them. The three of them broke into a run for the edge of town, until Applejack stopped to stare at a red stallion, with an elderly green mare.
"AJ, no!" Gusty yelled back, causing the whole group to stop. "What are you doing!?!"
"B-big Mac?" AJ whimpered, staring at the two spirits. "G-granny Smith?"
"Come back to us AJ..." The two voices called out to her invitingly. "We miss you sooo much..."
"Hey Big Mac..." Cheerilee called out, barreling into AJ. "You may have been a fine stallion once, but now you're all style and no substance! LEAVE MY FRIEND ALONE!"
The spectral stallion hissed, as Applejack broke free, and rushed off in a gallop again. All of the mares ran for the town exit, just as clock tower in the center of town, hit the stroke of midnight.
"What's happening?" Fizzy asked, as the town and it's ghostly inhabitants began to fade away into nothingness.
"Halloveen iz over, darlink!" Gypsy whinnied triumphantly, "zee town iz vanizhing back into zee dark dimension, vere it belongs!"
"That means we won, hooray!" Fizzy yelled triumphantly "We beat the ghosties!"
...
"So let me get this straight, Gypsy." Fizzy inquired, as they all trotted their way back home. "Those wern't real spooks, just memories?"
"Ezentially, Darlink!" She explained. "For example, zhose vere not zee 'Cuite Mark Crusaders', az Cherrilee callz zhem, but instead zhere dezire to earn zee cutie marks manivested!"
"And all of those bloodthirsty ponies?" Shady asked nervously. "The ones that were chasing us?"
"Zhey are zee bad zides of zee ponies you knew- shed vhen zhey crossed over to zee other zide!" Gypsy replied. "Zhose ohosts are zhier strongest emotions, given physical vorm!"
“So those ghost exist, because ancient ponies had strong emotions?” Aj snorted. “But why do they appear?”
“Zhat, darlink, iz zometzink ve many nevr know!” Gypsy admitted openly.
"Well, real or not, we sure showed those ghosts who's boss!" Gusty strutted in front of the other mares. "When it comes to Dream Valley's ponies, I'm the bravest mare of them all!"
"BOO!" Cheerilee yelled out, sneaking up on the unsuspecting mare.
"Aieeeee!" Startled, the normally unflappable Gusty was nearly sacred out of her horseshoes.
"You better be careful, Gusty!" AJ told hime with a chuckle. "This holiday really is to die for!"
All of the mares burst into laughter, as the welcoming sight of dream castle drew closer on the horizon.
"Your highness!" I hear a voice calling out, breaking through the darkness. "Your highness! It's time to get up!"
The sound of her whinnying is enough to rouse my from my slumber, causing my eyes to flutter open. The first thing I see is the purple canopy hanging over my bed, before I find a pair of aqua blue eyes are quickly staring straight into mine.
"Your highness!" She calls out bluntly. "Are you awake?"
"Ahhhh! Sunbeam!" I yell, sitting up in bed quickly. "How many times have I asked you not to do that?!?"
"I'm sorry, my king." She replies apologetically. "But it's so hard to judge if you humans are awake or not!"
Sunbeam the unicorn... my royal advisor and assistant. A gift from Queen Majesty from Dream Valley, she has helped me put my kingdom back in order ever since I was freed from the dark lord Tirek. A very meticulous and precise pony, I probably wouldn't even be able to find my shoes in the morning without her help!
"Don't worry about it." I sigh. Standing up, I walk for my bathroom, shutting the door behind me. "Do you have today's schedule prepared?"
"Well, you have that meeting with the envoy from the rats of Munsterville at four, they want to re-negotiate our kingdom's tariff on cheese." I hear her turn the page of her levitated clipboard, as she stands outside my bathroom. "Oh, and you're supposed to meet with Sir Huguenot about his squire in a half an hour!"
"Thanks, Sunbeam." I reply gratefully, as I pull my blue breeches and tunic on, before slipping my golden crown onto my head. "Once again, you are a royal life saver!"
My name is King Athelstan Wessex IV- or, as I am more commonly known, King Scorpan of Manehatten. I rule this city state, and the surrounding countryside, which are home to most of Ponyland's population of humans. My long lineage comes from a great line of kings, who ruled this land, since the day humans fist came over the rainbow bridge over four centuries ago.
"Also, your highness, you may wish to look over these requests from factory owners Fudgy McSwain and Rocky Ripple." She continued, as I came out of the bathroom, and slipped on my fur robes. "They want to discuss the possibility of lowering the kingdom's tariffs on ice cream and toppings..."
"Yes, yes, Sunbeam! All in due course!" I chide her, walking out of my room. As I step out into the hallway, the warm rays of the sun shine down upon me. Looking out the window, I gaze upon the sight spread out before me. Manehatten, a beautiful city of townhouses, churches, and guild halls, and lining the cobblestone roads. Once a city of Ponies, our human ancestors rebuilt it into a great metropolis, where we can live under our own laws and customs, in a land ruled by talking ponies.
"Hello, your majesty! Good afternoon, your majesty!" The passing courtiers and officials in the hallways bow to me as I pass, while many of the ladies of court stare at my brown hair and blue eyes, swooning at my so-called 'good looks'. They all pay me the admiration and respect due to their king, but I have no way of knowing if their praise is sincere or not.
As Sunbeam and I pass into the throne room, many of the servants who are lazing about, suddenly snap to attention. As they proceed to the tasks which are their primary responsibilities, I can hear the throne room's radio broadcasting a pony station in the background.
"Yeeeaaaah! What’s up Ponylaaaaaand! This is D.J., coming at you live from Bright Valley music hall, with all of the greatest hits, along with weather, news, and sports! Today we'll be coming at you about a little disagreement, between Prince Clever Clover, and the Margrave of Fort Rainbow Dash! But first-"
The blue unicorn with the radio cutie mark is quickly silenced, as Sunbeam snaps the dial to the 'off' position.
"Stupid sensationalist trash!" I hear her grumble, as she trots back over to my throne. I'll never understand these ponies and their strange technologies- why did the ambassador from Fort Rainbow Dash give me that noisemaking box in the first place? We rely on the magic of our wizards for such things, and have little use for such strange devices.
With a sigh, I recline in my throne. "Sunbeam, send in the first dignitary."
"As you wish, my liege." She levitates her clipboard up. "First up is Powder, ambassador of the snow pony tribes of the north!"
"Thank you your highness, it is an honor to be here!" A purple unicorn with a snowflake cutie mark and white mane comes trotting in, and bows before my throne. "As you may or may not know, my tribe lives in a very cold land far from here. We cannot grow crops and food on our own, and so we were wondering if your honorable kingdom would be willing to trade with us for goods and supplies the other pony kingdoms just don't have!"
"With all due respect, Miss Powder..." I raise my arm, cutting her off. "My people and I have very little use for ice and snow in such large quantities."
I know of this pony- she is the snow ponies’ fast talker, who is always hanging around at Queen Majesty's court. I've heard it said she can sell a refrigerator to a pengrim.
"Aha, but that is where the answer lies!" The unicorn gave a mischievous grin. "You see, we have learned that Blarkland and Screea, being desert countries, have no access to large amounts of water! Now, if you were to, say, take our ice off of us, then transport it by magic..."
"We could trade or sell it to the Screens and Blarks!" My face lights up. "What a brilliant idea!"
"I knew you would appreciate it, your highness!" Powder replies with a grin. "It's a perfect solution that is a benefit to all three parties!"
And so it goes on, for the rest of the morning. I receive visit from a peasant who was digging a well, and ran into trouble when he accidentally penetrated a diamond dog mine.
"GRRRRR! Human dig into our kitchen! Demand recompensation!"
"That was my land I was digging under! It was your fault you put your stupid home under my property!"
I receive a domestic dispute from a duke, who bought a sleeping pony off a con man, only to find it could talk when it awoke.
"That merchant gave me a raw deal!" The nobleman grumbles. "All this old nag ever does is complain!"
"Who you calling an old nag, you weirdo!" The yellow pony with the green mane snorts. "My name's Tootsie, and I was just taking a nap, when this loser slipped a saddle onto me, and got on my back!"
One apology to a mare and anti-slavery lecture to a nobleman later, and I had reached my lunch break. Sunbeam clopped her front hooves together, and the servants wheeled a steaming cart of food in.
"I had the chef prepare the fist side of ham and blood pudding in Manehatten, your highness!" The mare boasted to me. "Now eat up, while it's still hot and cold!"
As I placed my napkin around my neck, and picked up my silverware, I noticed Sunbeam merely eating a bowl of oats over to the side. With a sigh, I realized how little of an appetite all of the stresses of my court must leave her with. I wish I could tell this mare how much I appreciate her hard work and dedication. But being the kind of Pony she is, I knew she would hear none of it.
Late arrivals from the other world, we humans fill out a kind of strange place here in Ponyland. Our ancestors first came here from a place called Angle-land, fleeing from the tyranny of a ruler called the eighth Henry. They discovered the rainbow bridge while fleeing from his authorities, and gradually snuck themselves and their families over to escape the horrible oppression. I, myself, am descended from the first kings of Angle-land, including the great king Alfred. It was the disposal of my line by Normandy of William, that led to my ancestors fleeing here, where the ponies set my lineage up to rule the human settlers.
After quickly finishing my meal, I await the arrival of the next petitioner.
"Sir Huguenot, your majesty!" Sunbeam tells me. "And his young apprentice, squire Alonzo!"
A middle aged, portly man in armor soon enters, followed by a teenage boy in a red tunic. It is clear that the elder gentleman is vexed by the boy, who carries a look of angry defiance about him. I hope things are not going amiss with this boy, as he was hand-picked by my court wizard, and I have high hopes for him.
"Ah, my good knight!" I smile, greeting the two arrivals warmly. "How goes your training of my court's next champion?"
"Not well, I fear!" Sir Huguenot growled, crossing his arms over his massive stomach. "The boy will not follow my instructions at all! He won't slay baby dragons when I tell him to, and he can't even stay in the saddle when jousting with other squires!"
"Those jousters are twice my size! How could I possibly stand up to armored riders that huge!" Alonzo protested. "And I can't slay any of those dragons, they might be friends or relatives of Spike!"
Spike... the name hits me like a blow from a club. The baby dragon who was my only companion for years, when Tirek had turned me into a monster in his service. That little fellow was centuries older than I would ever be, yet he acted with the bright-eyed wonderment of a newborn when faced with very real and dangerous situations.
I had hoped he would remain by my side, returning with me when I returned to my kingdom, but he chose to stay with the ponies who had saved us. Oh, Spike... where are you now? Happily frolicking with the ponies across the meadows? Or off on your own adventures? I hope one day, I will get to see you again, my friend...
"This boy will not even ride a horse into battle! He insists on using that stupid camel of his as a steed!"
"My camel isn't stupid! He can talk, just like the ponies do!"
"Bah, you are worthless, boy! That enchantress from the other world, has clearly bewitched you!"
"How dare you say anything bad about Megan! She is the sweetest and kindest maiden I've ever met! And she's the reason our good king was rescued in the first place!"
"Both of you, ENOUGH!" I yell finally, silencing them both. "I have heard enough from both of you, I need to consider matters in private! Now, leave me!"
"Yes, my king!" Both of them bowed simultaneously, before storming out of the room, still glaring at each other. As I am left in the throne room, I stare out at the evening sky.
"Y-your majesty?" Sunbeam asked in a worried tone, trotting up to me. "Are you all right?"
"I feel so... old." I remove my crown, gently caressing my temples. "I was robbed of ten years of ruling my kingdom by that monster, and now I am left to put things back into order, all by myself."
"You are not alone, my dear Athelstan." She came trotting up, rasing her head to nuzzle me. "I am here to help you, no matter what happens!"
"It's funny you use my real name, few ponies or people do so anymore!" I laugh ruefully, lowering my head. "Everyone calls me King Scorpan these days... all they remember is the flying ape-like monster I spent so many years as!"
"Don't let them get to you, your majesty!" She replied soothingly, rubbing her head against mine. "Your human herd is just having trouble adjusting to having their ruler back!"
"Ahhh, you're just a pony, Sunbeam!" I complain, walking out of the throne room. "How could you possibly understand?"
"S-scorpan..." I can hear the sadness welling up in her voice, just as surely as the tears were welling in her eyes. But how could she -how could anyone- understand? This is a sorrow that I alone must bear.
Reentering the hallway, I look out the window at my city again. So many wonderful, happy people out there... descendants of refugees, who have made successful lives for themselves here. How can I possibly be the ruler they except me to be?
"It is the fact you worry about that fact, which makes you such a wonderful ruler!" I hear in my mind. I turn, to find a white haired human woman with a yellow streak in her hair- and a unicorn's horn- staring at me. "A bad ruler wouldn’t' even care about their subjects."
"Sunbeam." I whisper, as the woman clad in a pink gown walked over, and rested her head against mine. "Isn't that a misuse of your unicorn magic, my dear?"
"We all have these problems, Athelstan, both pony and human." She tells me, putting an arm around me "It's how we use our friends and loved ones to deal with the misery and stress.
Saying nothing, I merely smile, putting an arm around her waist. Together, the two of us watch the sun set on the city before us, and just a little bit of the burden is lifted from my heart.
The snow fell all around the walls of Dream Castle, giving the place the feeling of the wonderful season that was in the air. Foals played outside the castle walls, making snow ponies and sledding down the nearby hill. The Pegasus were busy stringing up the lights, while the earth pony carolers were at the palace's outdoor stage, trying to get in tune to sing "Jingle Bells" for the Christmas concert that night. Even the unicorns were helping out, levitating a Christmas tree they had bought off of inside, and setting it up with all of the decorations on it. Yes, the great season of Christmas was in the air, and every pony could feel the joy and magic all around them.
"Mama! Mama!" Baby Applejack came running out the castle's drawbridge, galloping towards the orange earth mare trotting away from the now-finished choir practice. "Guess what I did today?"
"Easy there, little one!" Her mother laughed, as the little filly trotted up and nuzzled her. "And how was your last day of school before holiday break?"
"It was great!" The filly exclaimed, waving her hooves around excitedly. "Miss Sundance read us the story of How Minty saved Christmas, an we had cookies and played games!"
"That's great, apple blossom!" Applejack smiled, using her nickname for baby AJ. "And I hope you're ready to eat a lot of my apple pie tonight, and open all of the Presents your father and I got for you."
At her mother's words, Baby Applejack's ears drooped. "Mama... Do you think Daddy and Apple Delight will get back from Misty Mountain in time for Christmas?"
"I don't know, little one." At that, the orange earth mare frowned. "The Snowstorm brewing tonight is supposed to get even worse, and it'll be dangerous for them to try to fly, gallop, or ride through it!"
"Couldn't a unicorn just wink 'em home?" The filly asked hopefully. But applejack just shook her head.
"Twilight and Galaxy told me they have to make a short series of jumps when winking, and with the coming storm, that could get daddy and your brother hurt!"
"I understand." The filly replied sadly. As she and her mother trotted back towards the castle, Baby Applejack looked up at her. "Mommy, is it true you were the Applejack when you were younger? The harmony bearer from Ponyville?"
AJ's eyes went wide at that. "Yes... yes, I am, apple blossom, that was me. Where- where did you hear about that?" She was not surprised her daughter had heard about her earlier life in Ponyville, given that it was now spread all over the castle, but AJ had hoped to tell her children about her past herself.
"Baby Lofty told me." Baby Applejack replied. "Mom, if you're the element of Loyalty, can't you just make the weather change so they can come home?"
"T-that's not how the elements of harmony work, sweetie." Applejack replied, looking away. "And I don't have the element of Honesty anymore."
"Well, that's what I wish for Christmas." Baby Applejack sighed, trotting back over the drawbridge ahead of her mother. "I want daddy and Apple Delight to all be in front of the Christmas tree together!"
AJ looked back up at the dark clouds in the sky, and thought of the blowing and billowing sea of white that would soon descend from them. As she followed her daughter back into the castle, the wheels in the mare's head slowly began to turn...
...
"You want us to drive the storm away?" Firefly asked, nearly choking on her hot coca in shock. "AJ, are you serious?"
The oragne mare was sitting in the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe, at a table with six of her Pegasus friends. She had just gotten done telling them her plan to make her daughter's dream come true, and was now getting stares of disbelief.
"Yep, I know Pegasus were once able to control the weather." Applejack replied confidently. "I'm certain you ladies would be able to wrangle those clouds up there, and drive this storm out!"
"Look, Applejack... we Pegasus might be able to still pull tricks like causing lightning across the sky, or bouncing from a cloud and dumping water all over another pony as a gag." Medley warned her. "But full on weather control? That's a pony of a different color."
"Sounds like fun to me!" Surprise squealed, slurping down her hot fudge sundae. "I always have fun playing in the clouds!"
"You say you're doing this as a Christmas gift for your daughter? How dramatic, dahling!" Heart Throb cooed in her southern accent. "I'd love tah yelp ya'll get your man home for the holidays!"
"Not to dampen everyone's enthusiastic prospects for this enormous endeavor." Wind Whistler snorted, trying to get everybody at the table back to reality. "But to tamper with the natural flowing patterns of the weather in this day and age, is to invoke the supremely unpleasant wrath of the fairy folk."
"Blimey, she's right, AJ!" North Star Agreed, sipping her hot cider. "The fair folk run nature now, and ta meddle in their affairs is ta invite disaster!"
With a sigh, AJ leaned forward, and shook her mane.
"You're absolutely right, ladies." The orange mare replied. "I just thought all of you would be interested in living up to the legacy of your Equestrian ancestors, proud ponies like the wonderbolts, who could shape the weather with ease! But if all of you don't think you can handle it..."
"What did you say, AJ?" Firefly angrily slammed her hooves down onto the table. "Are you implying we aren't up to par with Rainbow Dash, and the other Pegasus you knew in Ponyville?"
"Firefly, calm down!" Medley warned her. "She's just trying to goad you into-"
"Ladies, get yer flying goggles on!" The Pink Pegasus snorted. "We've got cloud duty outside the castle tonight!"
"Yaaaay!" Surprise giggled zipping around the room. "This is gonna be sooo much fun!"
"This is a total and utter folly." Wind Whistler snorted, getting up from the table and trotting away. "And I want no part of it!"
"AJ, I really hope this isn't a mistake." North Star sighed, finishing off the contents of her mug. "For all of our sakes!"
...
That very night, five Pegasus flew up into the skies over Dream Valley, zipping across the skies, and smashing into clouds, breaking them up. Ancient, latent abilities awoke within the flying ponies, as they willed the cold winds to push the storm front over and away from the road to Misty Mountain. As they worked, the Pegasus talked and gossiped amongst themselves.
"Wow, this really is a lot of fun!" Surprise exclaimed, bucking a cloud and causing it to dissipate. "We shoulda been kickin' clouds all along!"
"Stay sharp though, ya airhead!" Firefly told the ditzy blonde, as the winds whipped at her mane. "We don't fly in these kind of conditions that often!"
"I say, this is quite a way to be spending the day before Christmas eve." North Star exclaimed. "Speaking of which, would you care to join me at the Snowdrop Ceremony on Christmas day, Medley? The Flutter ponies told me I could bring a guest!"
"Oh, I would love to, Star!" The Pegasus with the music note cutie mark exclaimed. "But only if I can take my hubby and Baby Medley with me!"
"Hey, Heart Throb, I was wondering..." Surprise flew up beside the pink Pegasus. "Is it true the humans believe the Horsemaster's son was born on Christmas night, and that's why they celebrate this holiday?"
"It's true, darling! And they believe he was born in a stable, no less!" Heart Throb tossed her mane nonchalantly, as she emptied a cloud of it's snow by continuously hopping on it. "As if the horsemaster's offspring would be born anywhere else!"
But as the five flying ponies cleared the skies from Dream Valley to the Misty Mountain range, there were those watching them, who were not at all pleased with their actions.
Far, Far to the North of Dream Valley, stood the towering peak of green mountain. Home to Ponyland's population of fairy folk (Mistakenly called the green mountain elves by some ponies). It was they who brought the rains and the sunshine down onto the countryside, they who made the winds blow and the snow fall.
Deep within the grand feat hall, the great fires were alight in celebration, as the great fairy ladies and lords, decked out in all of their diamonds and finery, danced to the ancient yuletide carols. Pixies and sprites attended their human sized fay masters- who all looked beautiful beyond the measure of mortals. The revelers even appeared human, save the pointed ears and pair of tiny antenna coming out of their heads. But at the very heart of the gathering, stood four figures in council together, who observed the weather-altering ponies with displeasure.
"See now, my brothers and sisters!" The Summer Witch shrieked, her blazing red eyes staring at the viewing orb with disdain. "These ponies seek to take our sacred duties onto themselves once more, interfering with the running of the natural world!"
A red-haired maiden in a green gown adorned with flowers, the summer witch burned with an anger that all of Ponyland could feel. She was only happy when her heat scorched human and pony alike, and made the flowers and trees wither. It irritated her beyond words that the gentle and soothing touches of the other seasonal lords ruined the misery she could bring on ponyland.
"Oh, sister! You are far too harsh on them!" The autumn princess, a figure in a yellow gown adorned with leaves. The scent and auras of the fields and vineyards, of the forest and birdsong, hung around her. "These Pegasus only meddle with the weather for fun now and then! Certainly we can forgive this intrusion into our dominions, just for the Christmas season!"
The summer witch merely scowled at her younger counterpart- of course she'd support the Dream Valley ponies, they had saved her when the summer witch imprisoned her to keep fall from coming one year! But it was a cold chilling voice that spoke the condemnation of the Pegasus next.
"We most certainly cannot overlook these equines interference in our affairs!" The winter wizard hissed, icicles forming on his chilly breath. "I had a glorious snow storm planned for this holiday, and those accursed ponies ruined it! I demand they pay for their actions in blood!"
Clad in blue scale armor and looking like a man who had frozen to death, the winter wizard loved nothing more than freezing unwary travelers out in his cold solid. Under the name of the Sea Wizard, he would often sail through the frozen seas of Ponyland in his ship, the Golden Galleon, and entrap ponies so he could freeze them to death. The snowdrift that buried the helpless passerby, the chill that sent elf and gnome to the sinister embrace of the grave- these were the only thing that warmed the wizard's chilly heart.
"If you could, brother, you would freeze all of Dream Valley in a never-ending winter." The Storm King, lord of spring showers and the rainy season of rebirth, the goblin-like fay clad all in rags, glared at his two malevolent counterparts. "But be warned! Armed with both the rainbow of Light, and the power of it's unicorn mages, Dream Valley could put up enough of a fight to destroy even us!"
"Of course you support the ponies!" The summer witch hissed, red and yellow flames crackling off of her angry form. "They promised to visit your castle, when nobody else will look at your ugly face!"
"You leave him alone!" The Autumn Princess yelled, a strong fall wind blowing her leaf-like hair around. "You forget that your precious summer, must always give way to my autumn!"
"And you forget that your fall withers away before my winter!" The Wizard roared, snow and ice spewing forth from his mouth.
"All of you- ENOUGH!" A middle aged woman in a blue dress covered in moving storm clouds yelled, storming into the room. All four of the season sorcerers fell silent.
"The ponies have been warned not to make their own weather, and they have flagrantly violated the oaths their ancestors, the last generation of Equestrian Ponies, made to us upon our awakening." The weather witch proclaimed. "Though we cannot attack Dream Castle directly, the ponies must pay for this gross insult to fairykind!"
...
Outside the walls and protective magical barrier of Dream Castle, Baby Applejack, Baby Heart Throb, Baby Medley, and Baby Firefly were stringing up lights into AJ's apple trees. They had snuck out after sunset, and were busy preparing a surprise for the castle tomorrow morning.
"Wow, these sure are pretty!" Baby Applejack told the other fillies. "Momma's really gonna love our surprise!"
"I hope so!" Baby Firefly replied, suddenly shivering as she flew. "Brrrrrrr, is anybody else feeling cold out here?"
It was then that the four fillies suddenly felt ice spreading their hooves, and the icicles forming on their wings.
"Help me!" Baby Heart Throb screamed, her eyes going wide in terror. "I can't move my legs!"
"Aieeee! It hurts! It Hurts!" Baby Medley wailed, as the blood in her veins froze to ice. "Make it stop hurting!"
A few minutes later, Applejack came trotting out of the castle drawbridge.
"What the hack is all of that commotion out here?" AJ looked around, and noticed the four shadowy forms standing over by her small outdoor apple orchard.
"What're you girls doing out here?" AJ asked, trotting over to what she thought was the fillies. "Oh, and apple blossom? I have a nice surprise for you! Your dad and brother will be-"
As the orange mare drew closer, she finally saw the horrific sight of four little fillies who had become ice sculptures, looks of abject terror frozen on their innocent little faces.
The distraught mare could only stare at the little fillies, helpless as the nurse ponies directed the stallion guards to carry them inside the castle. Oh, how could this have happened on Christmas eve, of all times? Staring at her frozen daughter's horrified face, tears streamed down the guilt wracked earth mare's face.
"I only wanted to make you happy..."
...
"Blast you, Applejack!" A teary-eyed Firefly howled, as three other mares tried to hold her back. "I lost my baby because of you!"
Having returned from their weather operation in the skies, the five Pegasus had gathered in Queen Majesty's throne room. The four mothers amongst them quickly learned what had happened to their daughters in their absence. Shock quickly turned to sorrow, however, and sorrow quickly turned to rage. Their hearts filled with anger towards the orange earth mare standing before them, the mad mothers fumed at the instigator of this actions.
"Blimey, it's obvious 'tis the Spirits of the Season's doing!" North Star snorted, glaring at Applejack. "A punishment for tampering with the forces of nature like we did."
"None of this would have happened if we hadn't listened to AJ!" Medley growled. "But you had to get your precious hubby and son home right away!"
"Applejack, ya no good scallywag! This is all your fault!" Heart Throb shrieked, tears streaming down her face. "I say we offer y'all up ta the fair folk ta freeze instead!"
"No, please, I didn't mean to..." Applejack looked around at them. "I'm so sorry..."
The four weeping Pegasus closed in on her, only to have queen Majesty stamp her hoof in anger.
"Ladies, that is enough!" The ruler of Dream Castle commanded. "Punishing Applejack, who has suffered just as much as you have, will not bring your children back, or hers!"
"Then what are we ta do, your highness?" North Star asked bitterly. "How can we restore our children from this horrid affliction?"
"A delegation must be sent to Green Mountain, to plead with the elves to restore their children." Majesty commanded, leaning forward on her throne. "Applejack, for your selfish actions, it is you who shall make the journey up the mountain. But you shall not go alone."
"As you command, Majesty." Applejack bowed humbly, trying to hold her own tears back. "But this is my mess I made, and I need to clean it up."
"We'll go with her, my queen!" Firefly exclaimed, the other four nodding. "Our children are in as much danger as Applejack's are!"
"No, you three will stay with your daughters." Majesty decreed, pointing her hoof up the stairs towards the infirmary. "But I suggest all of you wear insulated clothing, as Dr. Medicin has informed me that she is keeping the room ice cold to prevent the fillies from melting."
"Then who will be coming with me?" Applejack asked, looking around the throne room.
"I shall come!" A white Pegasus mare exclaimed, limping into the room. "I have much to atone for to the Dream Valley herd, and I can fly AJ to the top of the mountain!"
The moment Applejack saw her red mane and Scarred Palm tree cutie mark, she knew exactly who this wounded mare was.
"No, Paradise! It's too dangerous!" Applejack exclaimed. "You still haven't recovered from your injuries after escaping Paradise estate!"
"Besides, Paradise." Medley added. "The last time you went to green Mountain, you nearly passed out from the high altitude!"
"I can handle it!" The Pegasus snorted, flexing her recently-healed wings. "And I've toughened up since then!"
"Blimey! Don't trust that lazy mare with our children, my Queen!" North Star protested. "She's the pony who tried to get out of work, by getting some magic paint off a goblin merchant!"
"Yeah! And when she painted Paradise Estate with it, the house came to life and tried to kill us!" Heart Throb finished. "Don't send her with Applejack!"
"I've learned my lesson since then, ladies!" Paradise shot back. "And I want to help out, to make up for my past betrayal of the herd!"
"Very well, Paradise. You shall accom-pony Applejack on her quest." Majesty exclaimed, nodding. "Good luck to you both!"
...
The two ponies quickly set off for the north, taking the well-traveled roads, so as to avoid the many menaces and threats that now plagued Ponyland.
As the passed several of the human villages near Manehatten, Applejack and Paradise strayed close to the towns. They could see lit candles in windows, and hear singing coming from the churches. But as they passed near several homes on the outskirts, the orange pony noticed several houses with their doors open. Motioning to Paradise, the two mares quietly trotted up to a window and peeked inside.
"What in the world? Why do they- " Applejack asked, noticing an empty place set at the table near the hearth. "Paradise, is this some odd human Christmas custom I'm unaware of?"
"This is the night the humans celebrate the Horsemaster's birthday, Applejack." Paradise replied. "In some towns, it is customary to set a place for the horsemaster at the table."
"Well, I wish there was such a place to welcome us this night." The orange mare replied with a sigh. "I'd rather do anything but face the beings we are about to encounter."
Arriving at the base of Green Mountain, Paradise wrapped her hooves around her earth pony friend, and began to fly her up the cliff side.
"Careful Paradise, don't drop me!" AJ called out in a worried tone. "You sure the altitude isn't bothering you?"
"I-I'll be all right, AJ!" The white Pegasus called back, her voice becoming nasally from her sinuses becoming stuffed up. "Don't you worry about a thing!"
After a rough and wobbly ascent, the two arrived at the great doors to the fairy kingdom. Paradise quickly wrapped her hoof on the door, and a beautiful fey with a green gown and long blonde hair answered the door.
"Warm Welcome to you and your friend, good Paradise!" She greeted them, remembering the Pegasus from her last visit. "I am Kara, gatekeeper of the mountain kingdom! What brings you to us this holiday season?"
"We would have words with the Season Spirits, Kara." Paradise replied. "We have come to discuss the curse they have placed on our children."
"Of course." The fay maiden with antenna bowed to them. "Right this way, please."
Kara guided them through the well-lit golden halls, past fine treasures of silver and gold. Arriving at a large set of doors, the fey maiden opened the door for them, and motioned. "Enter, our lords and ladies await you within."
The two ponies trotted into a large, vaulted chamber. Inside, AJ and Paradise felt the chill of winter, the burn of summer, and the cool breezes of spring and autumn all at once. Before their eyes, the four great rulers of the seasons appeared, and before such magical might the two ponies shielded their eyes with their hooves.
"So, here stands the ring leader of the pony desecration!" The winter wizard roared, glaring down at the orange mare. "Have you come here to share the fate of your little foals?"
"Great lords and ladies of nature, we understand your righteous anger at this flagrant violation of your sacred duties." Paradise exclaimed, bowing her head to the four. "But why make the innocent ponies suffer for the actions of their elders?"
"I quite agree with you, my good Paradise!" The Autumn princess replied, glaring at two of her fellow sovereigns of the weather. "I believe my esteemed comrades acted quite out of turn in these matters!"
"Bah! You would not be so lenient in this desecration, if it had been your season that had been violated!" The summer witch barked. "We should freeze all of Dream Valley, as a warning to the other pony herds not to trifle with the fair folk!"
"You... you five are cruel beyond belief!" Applejack exclaimed. "You would punish the innocent along with the guilty, just because you feel slighted!"
"Can't you have some compassion for us mortals?" Paradise pleaded. "Especially on this most holy and sacred of nights?"
"Brothers and sisters, I implore all of you two pardon this one little transgression!" The Storm King spoke to the others. "We are not without compassion!"
The weather sorceress stepped forward, and spoke to Applejack and Paradise.
"For seven centuries, my good mares, we fey have guided the weather and seasons of this world." She explained. "When the being you call discord perished, it awakened our kind from a long slumber, and we resumed control of the Seasons of this world, which you ponies had so judiciously controlled in our absence. But you ponies must remember... while you may have the magical ability to manipulate and control nature, but we fey are of nature!"
"All right, my lords and ladies, I give up." Thinking of her poor frozen little girl, Applejack trotted forward and bowed to the five nature spirits. "I only wished for my little girl to be happy for the holidays, for my whole family to be together for the holiday." She closed her eyes, and a single tear rolled down her cheek. "But if what I did was such a horrible thing... then I ask that you freeze me instead, and spare the babies from your terrible wrath!"
"Applejack, no!" Paradise wailed, galloping forward to her friend.
The five spirits murmured amongst themselves, too low for the two ponies to hear. Applejack noticed the looks on the Winter Wizard and Summer witch's faces turn to frowns and scowls. Finally, the Weather Witch looked down at the ponies, and spoke.
"My little pony, your willingness to sacrifice yourself for your child and your friends, has earned you the compassion and mercy of the immortals." She smiled at the two mares. "Merry Christmas Applejack. Now, go home to your family."
The two mares wee suddenly surrounded by smoky clouds, as the halls of green mountain, and the five Season Spirits, vanished before their eyes.
"Where are we?" Paradise asked, looking around in confusion. "What's going-"
The mists parted, and the two mares quickly found themselves outside the walls of Dream Castle. "We're home!" AJ exclaimed. "But how?"
"Mama! Mama! There you are!" An excited voice suddenly cried out. "Guess what? Daddy’s home!"
Before either could utter a word, Baby Applejack came galloping out of the Castle, followed quickly by Firefly and Medley.
"What's happened?" The dumbfounded Paradise asked. "We were just-"
"They just thawed out, all of a sudden, as if they had never been frozen." Firefly stated simply. "They were ice one minute, and normal the next."
"And guess what, AJ?" Medley exclaimed excitedly. "Your hubby and son are home!"
As the four ponies trotted back into the castle, Firefly looked back at the other two mares. "Whatever you two did, it musta worked, good job!"
Paradise then leaned over to AJ, and whispered. "So, you have another Christmas wish, Applejack?"
"Only that you and everyone else have a Merry Christmas, Paradise." The orange mare simply smiled over at her friend. "And a happy new year."
...
Very well, Applejack. As you requested, I have written down the Christmas story you wanted me to write for your Daughter, where you get to save Christmas. But as a historian, I am normally against such tall tales, but it is just a fairy story for foals. Pegasus still able to control the weather? The fairies controlling nature? And the fairy rulers being so fickle and cruel? Really AJ, you're imagination's almost as vivid as Paradise's. Oh well, Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Tornado Firehooves
P.S.- Do you think Ember and I could have some of your leftover apple Pie after the holiday. Don't tell Twilight I said this, but her annual fruitcake always makes me sick. Honestly, her cooking makes better paperweights than edible food! Yech!
To Captian Lofty, commander of the Dream Valley Lightning Bolts-
Here is the historical account your requested of me, translated from personal diaries and firsthand reports. I must warn you, however, that this text does not present your ancestor in positive light, nor does it paint a heroic picture about the founding of the Lightning Bolts. Lofty, you have been warned!
Thane Tornado Firehooves
Dream Castle Historian
As the rain came down on her head, a young Pegasus mare put her suitcase over her head, wishing she could fly up into the clouds and stop this drizzle- an impossible feat, given this region had uncontrollable weather. As she flapped her way through the everfree forest, she remebered-
"You're a disgrace to the Wonderbolts! Drumming you out of this academy is letting you off soft!"
"But ma'am! I was only trying to be a better flyer-!"
"Don't talk back to me, nag! You dishonor this academy with your lack of concern for your fellow pony! I never want to see your face around here again!"
But the more the young mare remembered, the angrier she became...
"My queen, she is here!" The unicorn whinnied, looking in through the throne room door.
"Very well, Minuette." Rosaline replied, looking up from her paperwork. "Please, send her in!"
The large bronze doors swung open, and a proud-looking Pegasus mare trotted into the throne room, stopping before the throne and bowing politely.
"Thank you for seeing me, your highness." The blue pony with a blonde mane greeted Rosaline. "It is truly an honor to be granted an audience with you, and on such short notice."
"Lightning Dust... so you are more polite than my intelligence reports on you indicated." The unicorn monarch learned forward on her throne, looking down at the mare thoughtfully. "Welcome to Dream Castle, my dear. It is rare privilege that an Equestrian citizen is allowed to see this place."
"Yeah, I can understand that." Lightning Dust looked around at the throne rooms white washed marble columns, and purple drapery and carpeting. "Nice place you got here, your highness. Not as fancy-schmancy as Canterlot, but nice in a Dream Valley sort of way."
"What exactly are you doing here, my dear?" Rosaline replied, getting to the point. "You put yourself at great risk, coming to visit a kingdom of exiles and outcasts that officially doesn't exist. What exactly is it that you want?"
"I was the best flyer in Equestria, your highness. I had practiced since I was a foal." Lightning Dust looked up at Queen Rosaline, her face turning to a look of anger as she spoke. "Ever since I was a little filly, all I ever wanted was to be a Wonder Bolt. I trained and trained and trained, forcing myself to be faster than the fastest Pegasus filly, and stronger than the strongest Pegasus colt. While other foals were playing games and having fun, I pushed and pushed and pushed myself to be the best!"
"I am well aware of your story, Lightning. My spies are highly skilled in their information gathering." Rosaline snorted, pointing towards a barely noticeable changeling lurking in the shadows. "You were kicked from Wonderbolts training, due to your recklessness and carelessness!"
"I was the best cadet at the academy that year, the best!" The mare snorted angrily. "I was the fastest at completing 500 flying laps! I was the one who pushed past the limit on the dizzytron! I was the pony who created a tornado to bust clouds quicker! And what was my reward?" He eyes went wide, as she was basically shouting by this point. "Stripped of my position as a a leader! Publicly humiliated! And that Spitfire? She was a total hypocrite! She made me a leader because I pushed myself flying! She supported everything I did, up until Rainbow Dash called her on it! My childhood dreams were ripped out from underneath me, and I want payback!"
"That may be the case, but again..." The queen replied, bringing a halt to Lightning Dust's ranting. "What is it you want from Dream Valley?"
"You're kingdom's in a Cold War with Princess Celestia's kingdom, and in that cold war, the air power of the Wonderbolts is a factor." She smiled darkly. "I know their strengths and weaknesses, I know how they work as a team! I can give you the strategies your air fighters need to combat them! And I can train you an elite combat force from your best Pegasus flyers to counter them!"
"So, you'll train me my own squadron of Wonderbolts, and provide me with valuable intel." Rosaline cocked an eyebrow. "And what is it that you want from me in return?"
"The team is named gonna be named after me- the Lightning Bolts- and I'm made the squad captain." The mare demanded, stamping her hoof. "Also, the glory stays mine, even after I'm gone. None of this 'earning the position through effort' junk, my rank and leadership gets passed down to my daughter, and then to her daughter, and so on- as long as there is a team."
"As I recall your foolish actions nearly destroyed the harmony bearers." Rosaline replied critically. "Why should I put my own subjects at your tender mercies?"
"Okay, I admit I was being a bit reckless that day, but they could have told me what I was doing wrong, rather than stripping my pin off my uniform right in front of everypony else, and booting me out!" The Pegasus mare's wings drooped, and she looked at the floor. "I won't put the ponies under my command's in unnecessary danger, I swear I won't be reckless with the lives of your subjects!"
"You are extremely ruthless and ambitious, Lightning Dust... qualities frowned upon in Equestria." The queen noted, staring directly at the Pegasus. "However, those may just be the qualities Dream Valley's aerial defenders will need, if they are going to protect my kingdom. Very well, I shall grant you what you desire!"
"All right! Thank you, your Highness!" The Pegasus kowtowed before Rosaline. "I promise you, you're not gonna regret this!"
"See to it that I do not." Rosaline replied, gesturing off to a servant to take the Pegasus's luggage to a room in the castle. "For I have a most important task for you, once you get your new team trained!"
"You are correct about one thing... the Wonderbolts are far too much of a threat to the balance of power between Equestria and Dream Valley." The queen stood up, and trotted over to the window. "Once the Lightning Bolts are ready to go, I want Celestia's little group of flyers taken out of the picture, permanently!"
"Your majesty?" The Pegasus asked in shock. "You want me to... wipe out the Wonderbolts?"
"Not to actually end the ponies lives, mind you... that is far too sinister an act." The queen replied in disgust. "But if the unit were publicly humiliated in, say, an international incident... My aunt Celestia would be compelled to dissolve the Wonderbolts to save face."
"Leaving Dream Valley and the Flutter Ponies with the only elite flyer units!" Lightning grinned. "Oh, your majesty, you are a clever pony!"
...
"I'm lookin' for a few good ponies..."
Withing the glass-domed courtyard of Dream Castle, Lightning Dust was addressing thirty of the kingdom's best flyers, hoof-picked by the queen herself. The new captian was currently dressed in a leather bomber jacket and aviator goggles- the team's outfit, designed by Hoity Toity himself- and was seeing who she could pick out of this rabble to start the training.
"As you all know, Equestria- the kingdom which dumped all of you out on your flanks, turning you from respectable citizens into exiles- is now threatening the new home that you and your families have made for yourselves out here. Queen Rosaline needs Pegasus of particular strength and speed to defend her dominions from invaders, and I want to know whom among you is up to the challenge!"
Several moments of silence followed, before a blue stallion with an grey mane with a pale streak in it stepped forward.
"I'll be happy to join your cause, ma'am!" The athletically built stallion replied, saluting the mare.
"And you might you be, soldier?" Lightning replied, realizing he was a professional by his demeanor.
"Wind Rider, ma'am... formerly of the Wonderbolts!" Her replied, keeping his gaze ahead.
"Wind Rider? The famous flying ace?" She asked in surprise. "How did an ex-Wonderbolt end up out here?"
"Humiliation and exile, ma'am!" he replied grimly, continuing to salute. "It's something I'd rather not talk about, m'am!"
"And they punished me for my ruthlessness! The mare thought to herself. "Like I said before- hypocrites!"
"Very well then, Wind Rider." She told him, her eyes going up and down the curves of his flank. "You'll be my second in command on this team." She handed him a uniform jacket. "With your experience, you're gonna help me whip this rookies into shape."
"Ma'am! Yes ma'am!" He snorted, saluting again. "I won't let you down, ma'am!"
"As to the rest of you, I could whip even the weakest of you into shape!" She flew up to another unassuming white mare with Pink and green streaks in her mane. "You! Rookie! What's your name!"
"My name? Blossomforth, ma'am!" She clumsily saluted Lightning. "Ponyville exile, banished to Dream Valley for publicly humiliating a Cloudsdale politician!"
"Did, I ask for that information, rookie?" She barked, causing Blossomforth to wince at her harshness. "In order to prove I can make each of you into a lean, mean flying and fighting machine, I will be taking this joke of a mare as my wing pony! Do all of you understand?"
"Ma'am yes ma'am!" They all replied in unison.
"Very good! I see you're all very dedicated to the cause!" The mare nodded approvingly. "But I wanna see whose got the fire in 'em to be a Lightning Bolt, and who doesn't! Now, get out on that track, and give me 500 laps!"
"M'mam! Yes ma'am!" They replied in unison, heading out onto the indoor track.
"So far, so good!"The mare thought to herself. "I need to get these goofs into shape, if we are going to carry out our new queen's orders!" Lightning Dust narrowed her eyes. "I need to stop sweating all the small stuff, and concentrate on training these failures and setbacks, to be ready! Look out, little ponies! Lightning Dust is gonna have her revenge!"
Tornado,
You're darn right this isn't a good narrative- it sucks! You make my squadron look like a band of criminals that destroyed the Wonderbolts, and you made my ancestor, Lightning, look like an evil villain. Fix it, Tornado! FIX IT NOW!
Excerpts from royal correspondences, in regards to the Wonder Bolts-
"Rosaline, I've heard you've been putting together your own little team of Pegasus flyers for Dream Valley, and hope to put them on par with Equestria's finest. I'm telling you Rosaline, the Wonderbolts are the best flyers in all of the world!" -HRH, Princess Celestia, Co-ruler of the Principality of Equestria.
"You seem very confident in your Wonderbolts, Princess Celestia. Perhaps a little set of war games, to test my elite flyers against the pride of Equestria? Oh, I suggest we make it a surprise attack... after all, you claim Spitfire's team can handle every situation. Care to put your boasts to the test?" -HRH, Queen Rosaline, monarch of the kingdom of Dream Valley
"Aunt Celestia, Shining Armor and I question your decision to put the Wonderbolts to the test like this! As always, the Crystal Empire supports your decision, but remember that every royal court's eyes in ponydom will be on the Wonderbolts and Equestria.
...After all, Equestria's reputation as the center of Ponydom will be on the line..." -HRH, Princess Mi Amore DI Cadenza, empress of the Crystal Empire
...
The weeks passed quickly, and Lightning Dust began her task re-fashioning a bunch of Pegasus wash-outs into her elite fighting team. All through the days and nights they drilled- flying, performing loops and dangerous aerial stunts. With the aid of Wind Rider, she brought discipline and order.
"Get your flank in gear, rookie!" The stubborn stallion bellowed, at a pony who fell behind on the obstacle course. "I wanna see you double time it flying through those hoops next time!"
"Y-yes sir!" The other stallion apologized, trying to move faster.
Her second in command was ruthless, showing no mercy to the cadets. Rumors had circulated through the team, that Fire Streak had actually attacked an innocent pony on a mission, and had been drummed out of the Wonderbolts for that- but of course, there was absolutely no way to prove it.
"You know he's totally insane, don't you ma'am? He has the rest of the team's stallions through fire hoops- Thunderlane almost burned his wing feathers off!" Blossomforth told Lightning, when they were away from the rest of the Squad. "The only reason that lunatic doesn't yell at the mares, is Dream Valley's weird 'female-superiority' laws!"
"He may be a lunatic, lieutenant... but he's our lunatic!" Lightning sighed. "His obsession may just be the key to our victory!"
On the other hand, Blossomforth was the total opposite- caring and controlled, she worried constantly about the others' well being, and was always arguing for less hours training, and more rest for the trainees.
"Both of them bring something to the table... both balance the team out." Lightning realized, sitting in her office on Dream Castle's upper floor. "I need both of them, to keep me from going too far to one extreme or the other!"
As she trained and drilled with these ponies, Lightning began to realize their individual value and worth- even the 'slower' and 'weaker' ones had something to bring to the table- be it intelligence, or strategy, or unorthodox methods. It was something she overlooked when she had been in the Wonderbolts Academy- where she had been so obsessed with raw speed and power.
Looking out the window behind her desk, the mare saw Thunderlane and Blossomforth perform a triple somersault together, using each others weight to compensate for their inability to control the clouds or air pressure here in Dream Valley. Her ponies were learning to rely on their internal strength and power, to replace their now lost ability to control the weather.
"Is this what Spitfire had been trying to tell me?" The mare wondered, pulling on her leather jacket. "I was so determined to be the best, I didn't see the value of the rest of the team..."
But as the time passed, the team grew stronger. Seeing the Lightning Bolts were growing stronger, Lightning Dust knew the time was drawing near for her to honor her part of the bargain to Queen Rosaline. The Pegasus mare knew her team would need an edge, as the skills of Spitfire's team was far too superior to the Lightning Bolts. Lightning Dust needed an edge.
...
"Arabus? Arabus, are you here?"
Sneaking out past the borders of Dream Valley, (an easy feat, as she was not an exile like the others were) Lightning Dust had made her way to Canterlot. The back-alley curio shop was right where her friend's letters said it would be, though it took some finding as the Pegasus searched through the maze-like labyrinth of the lower city. Down here, below the pomp and circumstance the wealthy unicorns dwelled in near the castle, the earth pony common folk eked out an existence in their humble stores and bakeries.
Down here in the shadows and gloom, she had entered a dark store filled with dusty old books and zebra skulls. Folding her wings and trotting by the creepy candle-lit decor, the Pegasus found the figure she was searching for behind the counter.
"Arabus? It's me, Lightning Dust!" The mare told the earth stallion, who was pouring over his ancient tomes. "You remember me."
"Ahhh, Lightning Dust!" A harsh voice hissed, as the pony with the white coat and purple braided mane looked up from his books. "You and your little foal friends used to play outside the store I worked in! I have not seen you around, since you were hoof-high to a filly, all of those years ago!"
"You've been busy yourself, Mr. Arabus!" She smiled, glad to see a face from the old neighborhood. "The ponies back in Baltimare told me you had opened a shop of your own in Canterlot! I just didn't expect it to be in such a..." She looked around at the dinginess. "...Colorful setting!"
"Bah, these unicorns! I scrimped and saved up all of my money to open a shop in the better neighborhoods, but what did they do?" He snorted angrily. "Blocked my shop from opening near the castle, and isolated me in this infernal ghetto!" He smiled back at her. "But enough of that, my dear. What can I do for you?"
"I am here to make you an offer, Mr. Aarabus... a chance to make your life better, and get revenge on Equestria for your mistreatment." The mare shook her mane. "My queen's informants tell me you were doing some research on the fabled alicorn amulet!"
"Your queen? Ahhh, so the rumors circulating about Dream Valley are true!" The oriental pony smiled, narrowing his eyes. "Yes, I greatly researched the amulet's power and effects, but I eventually sold it to a unicorn mare, several years back."
"Yes, but you later wrote that you found a method to drain other ponies's energy... to steal their life force." Lightning Dust insisted. "That is a power my queen needs for her plans!"
"Don't talk about that out loud!" The stallion hissed, zipping over to bolt the door. "Yes, I've created a device that can steal a pony's shadow.... drain thier energy away to leave them helpless and weak." He picked up an odd looking satchel, and opened it to reveal built in electronics and circuits. "I based it's abilities on unicorn magics, but if I were ever discovered using it..."
"Use it in the service of Queen Rosaline, and you will be handsomely rewarded," Lightning Dust smiled a dark smile. "That... and you'll have safe haven in Dream Valley!"
"Your queen's spies do their job well... learning of both my device, and my disgust with unicorn dominated society!" Arabus snorted. "Count me in on your little plan, my dear!"
...
The wonderbolt academy was a large, windy plateau in the middle of the Equestrian mountains. It was here, that Equestria's finest flyers could train in the most intense atmospheric and weather conditions, to become members of the most elite group of Pegasus in the world.
It was nearly sunset, and Spitfire was hoof printing the last of her forms for that day. Fleetfoot was running the newest group of rookies through their paces, and Rainbow Dash, her second in command, was back home visiting her family in Ponyville. Things were quieter than usual around here, and Spitfire neither liked nor trusted the quiet.
As she put the stack of papers away, she saw Soarin flap by the window, smiling in at her. The mare snorted in disgust, scowling out at her wring pony. Soarin was a loud braggart, and made more out himself than he actually was. Oh, he was indeed very fast (Spitfire could personally attest to that!), but his flight prowess was nowhere near what he told the press.
"Hey, Spitfire! Wanna come join me for an evening flight?" The stallion giggled. "C'mon, it'll be fun!"
"The fun part is what comes after the flight!" She thought to herself, grinning coyly. "All right, hang on! I'll be out in a sec!" Putting the last of her papers away, she saluted the two guards at the door, and headed out. "At ease, boys! We're done here, let's pack it up, and call it a night!"
But as the mare flew out of her office, a KABOOM! struck the nearby runway, sending the Pegasus trainees flying in every direction. The shocked Spitfire reacted instantly leaping into the air, and barely avoiding the debris sent flying in every direction.
"Spitfire, we're under attack!" Soarin called out, zipping overhead. "Some kinda big....thing!... hit the airstrip, and took out the trainees!"
"Evasive maneuvers!" She screamed, as the Wonderbolts scrambled. "If it's the flutter ponies again, use the anti-flutter maneuvers we practiced!"
But even as the wonderbolts got into the air, the twin comets that had stuck the airstrip hit each one of the Wonderbolts at ridiculous speeds, knocking over a dozen of them out of the skies at once. The two blurs -a mare and a stallion- stopped right in front of Soarin and Spitfire, glaring at the two flyers darkly.
"Hello, old friend." The stallion snorted at Soarin.
"F-fire Steak?" The dumbfounded Wonderbolt whinnied.
"Good to see you again ma'am!" The mare growled.
"Lightning Dust?" Spitfire snorted. "What the hay-"
It was then she noticed the brown leather jackets with the Dream Valley patches on the sleeves, and saw the team of ponies attacking the trainees and wonderbolts.
"Lightning, you traitorous witch!" The mare screamed, diving straight at the other mare. "You've betrayed Equestria and the Princesses!"
"Yeah? Well, they betrayed me first!" The indignant mare dove out of the way, tackling Spitfire from behind. "I'm just returning the favor for being expelled!"
"I knew you were nuts, Wind Rider!" Soarin yelled, as he dodged a dive by the other stallion. "But attacking you're old buds like this? Not cool!"
"You're all weak! All of you!" Wind Rider snarled, tackling Soarin from behind. "Those ponies who surrendered were traitors! They deserved the fate I was going to give them!"
The two mares and stallions dove and zipped around through the air, dodging kicks and looping out of the way of the wind gusts each pony threw at their opponent. Meanwhile, the trainees were getting their flanks kicked in by the Lightning Bolts, until the Wonderbolts recovered, and joined in the attack.
"Lightning, we need help here!" Blossomforth called to her commander in a panic, "They're kicking our flanks in!"
"I discharged you, because I wanted to teach you a lesson... because I wanted to push you in the right direction!" Spitfire yelled, as she delivered multiple back kicks to Lightning's face in the air. "I wanted you to come back to the academy with a better appreciation for your fellow ponies’ lives!"
"I did learn to respect their lives, but from a source other than you!" The mare snorted defiantly, as she tumbled to the ground.
Nearby, Soarin finally landed a spinning kick to Wind Rider's jaw, knocking him out of the sky.
"Whoah, total wipeout, dude!" He chuckled, looking down at the unconscious Pegasus. "Ya should’ve stayed in Dream Valley!"
"Give it up, Lightning!" Spitfire called out, landing near the downed pony, nodding towards the battle behind her. "You're Dream Valley rejects are no match for the Wonderbolts!"
"You Wonderbolts fight with skill and finesse, Spitfire!" Lightning Dust smiled up at her. "But my team? We fight to win!"
As if on cue, a chilly wind blew across the field, and all of the Wonderbolts and trainees fell to the ground, weakened. One by one, their shadows were ripped right out from under them, leaving each of the ponies feeling drained and lethargic.
"What- what have you done?" A disbelieving Spitfire whinnied weakly, barely able to stand.
"Taken away your will to fight... left you weak and helpless." Lightning sneered, standing over the beaten mare. "Face it, Spitface.... the Lightning Bolts have won!"
All around them, the Dream Valley ponies subdued both trainee, guards, and Wonderbolts alike. Once they were all tied up, Lightning Dust turned to her troops, and congratulated them.
"Well done, my friends! You provided the perfect distraction until our little trap was sprung!" She nuzzled Blossomforth and Fire. "I am proud to serve with you all!"
"Strip every Wonderbolt of their costumes! And take every trophy, flag, banner, award, and plaque as war booty!" Blossomforth told the others. "We shall take the Wonderbolt's glory as our own!"
"After that, burn every building to the ground!" Rider snorted angrily. "Leave nothing here standing so all of Equestria knows our victory is complete!"
"We will do no such thing, Fire!" She snorted, glaring at the stallion. "Blossomforth's orders are humiliation enough!"
"As you wish, ma'am." The stallion grudgingly agreed.
"W-what about us?" Sorain asked weakly. "Y-you gonna end all of us, too?"
"No.... I'm going to spare all of you. Not a single life will be taken from our little raid here." Lightning snorted. "But you'll all spend the rest of lives as lethargic, shadow-less Pegasus. You'll never again be the flyers you once were!"
"The Wonderbolts are finished! Princess Celestia will retire your entire order in disgrace!" Wind Rider agreed. "Even if a new group were to be trained to replace you, the order's reputation is forever sullied!"
After clearing out all of the buildings, the Lightning bolts loaded all of their loot into large chests, and slowly lowered them away from the Plateau. Unseen by the Wonderbolts, the Dream Valley ponies quietly slipped Arabus away from his hiding place, where he had been hiding since the conflict started.
"Lightning... please..." Spitfire pleaded weakly, as Lightning got ready to take off. "I don't know what magic you used to pull this off... but don't leave the Wonderbolts... don't leave my team... like this!"
"Why should I help out a team, that I wasn't good enough to be a part of?" Lightning turned away from her in disgust. "Take a warning to Celestia and all of the kingdom- don't mess with Dream Valley!"
The angry mare lowered her goggles, and took to the air after the rest of her team.
...
"Your plan was a success, Lightning Dust!" Blossomforth exclaimed. "At the urging of the queen's allies at the royal Canterlot court, Celestia and Luna have dissolved the Wonderbolts, and turned defense of the kingdom over to the Royal guard!"
The two mares were standing in the Lightning Bolts's new trophy room, staring at all the trophies and ribbons swiped from the academy. Lightning was staring ahead at the Wonderbolts uniforms, now mounted in glass cases all around the room.
"Funny... I always wanted one of these suits, but never like this." She turned to face her wing pony. "And what about Arabus?"
"Took his reward, and made for the north. Turned down our offer of safe asylum." Blossomforth shrugged. "Said he had more shadows to drain, now that he knows his machine works!"
"I hope we haven't created a monster." Lightning shivered. "Well, as long as Equestria never learns he was the cause of our victory!" She looked back, and saw Blossomforth was still standing there. "Anything else you wanted to say, lieutenant?"
"Are you sure we did the right thing, ma'am?" Blossomforth asked. "I mean... if we had beaten them fair and square... but this..."
"We did what we had to do, lieutenant." Lightning Dust snorted. "The past may have belonged to the Wonderbolts... but the Future, Blossomforth, is ours for the taking!"
….
"B-but Tornado! I thought we won those trophies and outfits from the Wonderbolts in a contest of skill! And my ancestor was responsible for the Creation of the shadow-stealing demon, Arabus?
Ohhhhh, I need to sit down... suddenly I don't feel so proud of my heritage any more..."
As I step outside of my tent flap, the hellish winds of the northern wastes tear through my white mane. I can barely see where I am going, as I trot over towards the large hut at the center of our village. I am about to say my farewells, and I cannot wait to embark on the greatest adventure of my life.
I am a member of the Snow Pony tribe, a proud nation of equines who make our homes amongst the ice and snow. Descended from the proud crystal ponies of the Equestrian age, we are as proud of our past and ancestry, as we our of our harsh and grim present. Our relationship with the other pony herds vary- we treat others, based on how we ourselves are treated.
As I enter the tent of our tribal chief, I shake the snow and ice from my purple coat. My white snowflake cutie mark is the only thing on me, that doesn't stick out in this endless sea of white.
"Are you sure this appointment is what you desire, Powder?" Toboggan asked me, her voice like a hissing whisper. "Dream Valley is a place spurned by the other herds!"
"But not by our tribe, my lady." I reply, bowing to my chief with respect. "I am certain I can make a difference as our tribe's ambassador!"
"Then go with our blessing, young unicorn!" Winter Wish, our village shamaness, agrees. "To you we entrust handling of our tribe's affairs in the warm lands, and wish you success in representing us there!"
"And I shall send word ahead of your arrival!" Sno-Glow, our tribe's representative to the rest of Ponyland. "Furthermore, Chilly Breezes and Mittens, two of our best scouts, shall see you to your new post in Dream Castle!"
"T-thank you, elders!" I bow a final time, before turning to leave the tent. "I know that I shall not fail you!"
Trotting back out of the hut, I consider my tribe and it's misfortunes. We are well adjusted to this bitter cold, but food has been scarce this year, and we've had to cut deals with the other herds. We do indeed kill the predators who hunt us in this harsh climate, though we do not eat the pengrims and polar bears we kill. Instead, thier furs line the sides of our tents, and make wonderful material for our coats and parkas.
It's a harsh life we lead, but not an unbearable one.
As I walk back to pack my things, two other snow ponies trot over to speak to me.
"Don't worry, Powder!" Chilly Breezes assured her. "We shall successfully get you to Dream Valley!"
"Yes! We shall be happy to protect you on your way south!" Mittens agreed, patting me with her hoof. "Nothing shall hurt our dear Powder, not even the dark lord himself!"
Soon, we are ready to depart the camp, and almost every equine in the tribe is there to see us off! Whinnies of farewell and good luck fill our ears, as we trot out through the main gate, and the village soon vanishes behind us.
It is not long, however, before we are approached by a little filly who had been waiting just outside the village wall. She had waited until we were far away from the tribe to speak to us, and I am not at all pleased to hear what she has to say!
"Aunt Powder!" The little one calls out, galloping us to us. "Please wait for me!"
"Jingle Jangle?" Mittens asks in shock, seeing the small pony trot up to us. "What are doing out here alone, child?"
"I wanna go with you!" My niece exclaims. "It's boring in the village, I wanna see the rest of the world!"
"I don't know..." I reply uncertainly. "... your mother would be very worried!"
"Don't worry, Powder!" Chilly Breezes assured me. "She'll be perfectly safe traveling with the three of us!"
"yeah, and we'll see her safely back to the village, right after we get you to Dream Castle!" Mittens agreed.
With a sigh, I give in to the three's pleading. "Oh very well, Jingle Jangle! You may join us!"
"Yaaaaay!" The filly exclaimed, happily galloping around us in a circle. Picking up her own small bag she had packed, Jingle Jangle happily joined our group.
It wasn't long before the four of us were on our way- beginning our long trek towards the south. The drifting and blowing winds do not bother my two companions, but they cause me a great discomfort. My father was a stallion from Hoofkaido, and his unicorn pony blood leaves my immunity to the cold greatly weakened.
"Couldn't you ladies please slow down?" I plead, falling behind in the snow. "I can't keep up with the two of you in all this cold!"
"Oh dear, I was afraid this would happen!" Chilly Breezes exclaimed. "Couldn't you just use your unicorn magic to shield yourself a bit?"
"Ohhh! Good idea!" I exclaim, creating a force field with my horn. The projected aura drives away some of the cold, and I can better keep up with the other two.
As we continue walking, Jingle Jangle looks up at me.
"Aunty Powder, we're going through the lands of the ancestors, aren't we?" She pleads to me. "Please, tell me about the Crystal Empire!"
I smile at her, knowing she has heard these stories a thousand times. Still, we need to pass the time, and I feel like reciting the old stories the tribe's loremaster once told me.
"In the ice and snow of the frigid north, once stood a beacon of hope and prosperity. The Crystal Empire, a shining civilization of high culture and incredible magic, was the home of our great ancestors. They played and reveled in this paradise, their happiness powering the crystal heart, which served to protect them from all harm.
The day came when King Sombra, a vile unicorn with a heart of shadow, enslaved the crystal ponies, and filled their hearts with sorrow. Sombra was defeated at first, but the empire vanished from sight for a thousand years. But the day came when the crystal princess, along with the six harmony bearers, found the Crystal Heart deep within the royal castle, and destroyed the evil unicorn once and for all.
The crystal heart was our protector, nourished by our herd, and providing the power that protected us in return. Our great empire fell to evil forces, and the crystal heart was lost to the ages. It is the hope of the Snow Ponies, proud descendants, that the heart may one day be reclaimed, and peace restored to the lands!"
"Does the crystal heart sill exist, aunty?" Jingle Jangle asks me hopefully. "Can we make life good for our tribe again?"
"I don't know child." I reply, sighing. "I doubt we ever will know."
As soon as we come out of the mountains, I can see the snow gradually clearing away, giving way to a shifting and flowing sea of crystal.
"Ohhh, pretty glass!" Jingle Jangle exclaimed. "What is it?"
"The jewel sea..." Mittens whispered ominously. "... the place from which our ancestors once ruled!"
We step out onto the crystalline surface, and it ripples like water beneath our hooves. Trotting across the clear, fluid-like surface invigorates us snow ponies, and making the three of us more energetic at every step.
"Why, Powder!" Chilly Breezes suddenly yells. "What's happened to your coat and mane!?!"
Looking down at my reflection in the crystal, I see I am now partially translucent and glowing. My mane is done up in a fancy, aristocratic style. And I feel more alive than I ever have in my life.
"I'm not the only one changed by the experience, Chilly!" I reply, pointing my hoof towards both her and Mittens. With a gasp the both stare at each other in amazement. Their manes are now done up in fancy buns, and their coats shine like newly-polished gemstones.
"Ohhhhh! I'm all pretty!" My now glowing niece exclaimed, hopping and skipping about on the crystalline surface. Her mane done up like a princess's, her coat shining like a diamond... oh, if only Jingle's mother could see her now!
As the three snow ponies dance about, I can see the wonder in their eyes... the pleasure of seeing the glorious state of our ancestors, restored to us! Much as I know it has to be done, I hate to be the pony who let their expectations down.
"It's an effect of the crystal!" I snort, reminding them of where we are. "Our bodies are reacting to the power inherent in this place!"
"Whatever it is, it feels wonderful!" Chilly Breezes exclaims, practically gliding on top of the jewel waves. "I'm so glad we came this way!"
I stare down into the crystal as we walk, and the touch of my hoof creates images in the jewel sea... memories, from the age of the Empire, embedded in gemstone waves. Jousting mares in armor, little fillies and colts petting small sheep, a crystal stallion in a jester's outfit playing a flugal horn. It is the culture that our ancestors once hed... the culture that we, in the present, have lost.
"Aunty Powder, what are those pictures?" My niece asks me, pointing down with her hoof.
"That is our own tribe, child, as we would be." I reply sadly, as an image that looked like Jingle Jangle floated by. "This is the life that was stolen from us, and we shall never have again!"
"The feeling here is incredible!" Mittens exclaims. "I don't understand why the tribe doesn't move back-"
Mitten's question is quickly answered by a loud BOOM!, as the ground cracks open, and a wave of lava poured out in front of us! The four of us jumped back, as the river of magma circled us, corralling us into a tight loop.
It was at that point, that three large humanoids made entirely of lava swarm up out of the crevasse, riding on stone-like surfboards, and dripping and oozing magma from every pore.
"It's the lava demons! Run!" Mittens wails, as Chilly Breezes and I moved to protect Jingle Jangle. " Hurry Powder! Get your niece out of here!"
"What is this, Crystal Ponies?!?" The lead demon roars in disbelief. "Capture them! They may know the location of the crystal heart!"
"Yes, general Sludge!" the other two demons growled, diving towards us on their lava boards.
Ignoring my shock at the name of that sacred treasure, I run with Jingle Jangle, even as my two guards move to defend me. The lava demons sent a wave of lava at us, which my two snow pony companions quickly froze with a wave of ice. Blast after blast of lava was deflected by ice chunk after ice chunk, launched by my companions at the ferocious beasts.
Finally, one of the lava demons surfs right in front of me, trying to cut off Jingle and I's escape.
"End of the road, Crystal Pony!" The one called Sludge chuckles evilly. "You've got nowhere to-glllk!"
The lava general is cut off, as an icy blast from my horn freezes him in a large block of ice. Jingle and I then dash over the hills trying to move away as fast as possible, moving beyond the lava demon's reach.
"Foolish mare! We still have your friends!" One of the demons laughed, having trapped Chilly Breezes and Mittens in a circle of fire. "Now bring us the crystal heart, or these two will be melted to slag!"
"Oh no!" Jingle Jangle wailed, looking back in terror. "What're we gonna do now?"
"We need to get to the royal oasis!" I tell her, as we gallop away. "From there, we can go with a trade caravan to Dream Valley!"
And perhaps Queen Majesty can help me, I pray, find an artifact I'm not even sure truly exists...
"Right this way, ambassador Powder!" The guard motioned Jingle Jangle and I forward, though the hallway and into the luxurious, specious throne room at the very center of Dream Castle.
"Oh, why thank you, my good sir!" I smile back at him politely, and slowly trot forward, the silent little filly two steps behind me.
It had been a harrowing journey across the mountains for the two of us, following our narrow escape from those lava demons. After a long and arduous trek, we had returned to what most ponies would consider civilization, and made our way south. Although Jingle Jangle and I encountered no further monsters on our trip, the encounter had left the two of us on edge, jumping at every shadow along the way.
I must give my young niece credit, as she has shown maturity and strength beyond her years throughout this terrible experience. I just hope Mittens and Chilly are holding up as well... prisoners of those terrible and ferocious villains!
Returning my thoughts to the present, I trot out into the largest room I've ever seen, in any kind of structure! Posh red carpeting, glass chandeliers. and shiny mirrors adorning the walls- this place puts our native village to shame!
On the throne before me sits her royal highness, Queen Majesty, surrounded by her courtiers and ladies in waiting, She's every bit the mare all of the stories made her out to be; both regal and beautiful, with an inner strength and determination not seen in these lands since the reign of Princess Celestia.
Out of the sea of unfamiliar faces present in the room, there are only a few I recognize; Twilight Shine, the royal court magician who visited our wintry home a few years back, and Sweet Stuff, chief baker of Dream Valley's vast kitchens. I had seen a picture the overly kind and gentle mare, in a mare's home journal magazine a trader brought to our village. I had best tread carefully in the alliances I make, until I am quite certain of who is who.
"Your highness, I present Ambassador Powder, representative of the Snow ponies of iron spire peak!" Pretzel Twist, one of the queen's emissaries from Fort Rainbow Dash, introduces me. Jingle Jangle and I trot past the purple unicorn with the orange mane and pretzel cutie mark, and bow before the monarch.
"Ah, Ambassador Powder! We have been expecting you!" The Queen inclines her head towards me. "You are most welcome here at Dream Castle! I am, however, most concerned about an attack on your person while on your way to the castle here!"
"I am afraid so, your grace!" I told her sadly. "My entourage and I were surprised by a terrible foe in the Crystal Sea, and little Jingle Jangle here and I were the only ponies who managed to escape!"
"Aunty Powder and I got away, but the lava demons took our friends!" My niece blurted out. "We made it to the Royal Paradise, and caught a ride here on a stallion's hay wagon!"
"It was a very unpleasant ride, your highness!" I grimace. "Two of my companions were taken by those fiends, and I wish to see to their rescue as quickly as possible!"
"Indeed, my good Powder! An attack on a group of ponies, traveling under safe conduct protection to be emissaries to Dream Valley, is an insult to the very honor of our kingdom!" Majesty snorted angrily. "Your friends must be rescued, and I shall send members of Dream Castle's herd to aid you!"
"The demons were after something called the Crystal Heart." I explain. "They threatened to vaporize Chilly Breezes and Mittens if we didn't bring it to them!"
“Hmmm, I’ve heard stories of the Crystal Heart, it was the treasure of the crystal ponies!” Twilight tells us thoughtfully. “There are very few who would know what happened to it, however.”
"Then you should seek out the Moochick for answers, for there is no wiser being in Dream Valley!" Twist advises. "I hear he has gone into the gnome caverns beneath the forest, to visit his own kind!"
"Prince Fireflight and Sports Time?" Twilight scoffed. "My good Twist, I'm not so sure that's a good idea!"
I roll my eyes at the other diplomat's suggestion, amazed she did not volunteer herself. I know who this Pretzel Twist is- a Fort Rainbow Dash Acheron, who wanted to make a name for herself by being the one to establish diplomatic ties to Dream Valley. Coming from a line of candy cane makers who got their start in Ponyville, the house of Twist was well known for it's ability to twist words and politics to their will. They are a family of silver tongued smooth talkers, who could convince a foe to willingly jump on the end of their spears.
"I don't know, Twilight! I believe it is an excellent idea, getting my brother something to do besides just sitting around the castle!" Majesty noted, the queen's eyes lighting up as she talked. "Perhaps we should also send a mare to guide our good snow mare on her search, as well!"
"Your highness, I believe it would be best if you sent two stallions to guard her!" Pretzel Twist suggested. "Perhaps your younger brother, and his football-loving friend?"
"A wise suggestion, Twist!" The queen agreed. "But what mare would agree to accompany her?"
"Ummmm, excuse me, your highness?" A timid voice called out from beside the throne, as the blue mare with a purple mane stepped forward. "Uhhh, I really don't mean to interrupt your conversation, but if it's not too much trouble, I would really like to go along with Miss Powder on her adventure."
"You, Sweet Stuff?" Pretzel Twist asked the timid earth mare, looking her over. "Are you sure about that? I mean no offense, my dear, but you hardly seem the adventuring type!"
"But that's why I have to go along!" The jewel-eyed mare insisted. "If I go along to help Powder rescue her friends, I might actually become braver and stronger along the way!"
"I too question the wisdom of your request, my dear." Queen Majesty agrees, tapping her hoof against her throne. "But if your heart is truly set on going, I shall not stop you."
I shake my mane, not believing what I am hearing. I'm going on a dangerous rescue mission, off to rescue my friends from certain doom... and my chosen companion is Dream Valley's resident doormat pony?
The horsemaster must really hate me today.
...
"May fortune smile on you, Miss Powder!" Twilight Shine exclaimed, nodding her head. "Have no fear for you niece, either, as we shall care for her until your return!"
"Thank you, great Majesty." I bow to the queen, then turn and trot away from the throne. "I am truly grateful to have your valuable assistance!"
"Wow! We're going on an adventure together! That's so amazing!" The blue mare exclaimed, in an excited voice barely above a whisper. "I'm really very grateful you took a pony like me along with you, you're so very kind!"
I merely nod at the mare's ramblings, as she thanks me a over a dozen times for bringing her along. I try to avoid looking at her gemstone eyes- those things always seemed a mockery of us crystal ponies- and try to concentrate on what we have to do next.
"We should go upstairs, and collect the stallions." I suggest to her, trotting towards the door that leads to the castle's living quarters. "The sooner we can be on our way, the better!"
"Good idea! You're really smart to think of that!" She smiles at me, genuinely complimenting me on my idea. "Of course, even being Dream Valley's head baker, I've never actually met the prince myself! It is a big castle, after all!"
Following the directions one of the guards gave me, we soon arrive at an apartment across the hallway from the queen's private chambers. Raising my hoof, I politely knock on the door.
"Excuse me." I call out, tapping on the wooden door. "Is anybody home?"
"Jus a minute!" A masculine voice calls out. I hear the sound of four hooves trotting over, and then the door in front of us swings open. "Hello? Yes, can I help... you...miss...?"
Suddenly, I am struck speechless. In front of me stands the tallest, most handsome piece of stallion flesh I have ever laid eyes on. Purple coat, lavender mane, and a lightning bug cutie mark decorating the most gorgeous flank in all of Ponyland... I cannot help myself from staring at this royal dish! And the thing that's making my heart skip a beat is he's staring right back!
"Hi-hi..." I sputter out, trying to regain my composure. "My name is Powder, and you're sister the queen told me to ask you for help with problem..."
"Oh, my sister sent you?" The stallion bowed to her. "My name is Fireflight, prince of Dream Valley. Whatever you're problem is, I am most certainly at your service."
As the two of us continued to stare at each other stupidly, a blue stallion with a blonde mane trotted out of the back.
"Hey Fire! The popcorn's ready! We gonna watch the movie, or-" The athletically built spony suddenly sees the two of us, and smiles. "Oh, sorry! I didn't know the prince had invited such lovely mares over!"
"Oh, hello! My name's Sweet Stuff!" She trots in past me, and goes right up to greet the stallion with the soccer ball cutie mark. "It's such a wonderful pleasure to meet you!"
"Name's Sports Time, Dream Castle's top soccer player!" He walks around her, looking at her flank. "And I gotta say, Miss Sweet Stuff, your name really suits you!"
"Oh, why thank you!" She replies sweetly, the innuendo going right over her naive little head. "It's really nice of you to say that!"
"Now, what can we help you fine fillies with?" The prince asks, slipping his gold crown onto his head.
"Get your things, we have a long walk ahead of us!" I sigh, motioning towards the door. "I'll explain on the way!"
...
It long before our little party of four has left the castle, and we are quickly on our way. While Sweet Stuff and Sports Time are happily chatting on the road behind us, I decide to grill the spoiled royal brat walking beside me.
"So your friends were taken by the lava demons, and they want you to find the crystal heart, eh?" Fireflight asks me, after I had explained the whole situation to him. "Yeah, the Moochick is the best creature to go to, in situations such as these!"
"Ah, yes, Dream Valley's magic 8-ball gnome they go to, whenever they have a problem or a question!" I snort, as we trot along through the mastificent forest. "If you ponies didn't have him, you probably wouldn't be able to put your horseshoes on straight!"
"Now that's not really very fair, Powder!" The prince protests. "These are dark times we live in, Dream Valley takes all the help we can get!"
"And what help does a spoiled prince need, especially one who has nothing to do but sit around, while his sister runs everything?" I sneer. "What responsibilities do you have to worry about, while you and your jock friend back there are busy searching for the next good time?"
"Wow, you're being really hard on a pony who's trying to help you!" He snapped back. "What's your problem, anyway?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to seem ungrateful..." My ears droop, as I look away from him. "I guess I'm just bitter about a pony who got to grow up in a nice warm palace, while I and my friends were raised in an icebox!"
"I think it's more likely you're worried about your friends, and it feels like we're just wasting your valuable time." He looks up, smiling at me. "Do not worry, we'll help you get them back!"
While the two of us were talking, Sweet Stuff was busy getting to know the prince's jock friend.
"So you played for the dream valley soccer team?" Sweet Stuff chirps in her sugary tone. "Wow, that's amazing! I just love games!"
"Well, most of the other herds in Ponyland call it football. But yeah, I love soccer!" Sports Time continued. "I was the best player on my team in school, and now I represent Dream Castle in the inter-herd games!"
"Wow, I'd love to come and see you play sometime!" She replies, trotting a little bit closer to him. "I bet you're the best player in the world!"
"How could you know that?" He answers with a chuckle. "You've never even seen me play!"
"As nice as you are, I can't imagine you being a bad player!" Sweet Stuff replies, her jewel eyes glistening at Sports time. Looking back, I simply roll my eyes in disgust.
"Boy, those to are hitting it off well!" I chuckle, trotting up so Fireflight and I are out of earshot.
"Ehhh, that's Sports time for ya!" He tells me with a laugh. "Always has his head in the game!"
“And what about you, my good prince?” I ask him. “What’s your story?”
“Oh, nothing special...” He sighs. “Oldest son of the previous Queen Majesty, never intended to be the heir, just the spare, you know the deal.”
“So they provided know way for you to serve your herd?” I ask. “How sad. I was trained to public service to the tribe from the moment I could walk.”
“They only kept me around, in case something happened to my sister!” He shakes his mane. “I’ve always wanted to help the ponies in my herd, if only I could be given the chance!”
As we were talking, that the prince leads our group to a small cavern in a thicket, virtually hidden from view by the undergrowth.
"This is it, ladies." He tells us, straitening his golden spiked crown. "The entrance to the underground gnome kingdom. We should be able to get some answers down here!"
"Oh my! It looks so dark down there!" Sweet Stuff whinnies. "I'll go down first if you want, so none of you get hurt!"
"Wait, I don't think that's such a good-" But before I can continue, she has already charged headlong into the cave. With a sigh, the rest of us lower our heads and follow. I light the pathway in front of us with my horn.
"Ugh, this is nasty!" Sports Time complains, as we past through passageways of brown dirt and gnarled roots. "Do we even know where we're going down here?"
"Don't worry buddy!" Fireflight reassures him. "The moochick left us a map, telling specifically how to find him!"
"And you have the map with you?" Sweet Stuff asks, looking back at us.
"Nope! Memorized it before we left!" The prince smiles. "I know exactly where we're going!"
"Relying on a stallion's sense of direction?" I groan, putting my hoof against my forehead. "Great, we're doomed."
The four of us continue through the long and winding maze of tunnels, until we come to a large chamber with a crystal clear pool in the middle. Amazed, the four of us bend over, staring at our own reflections on the reflective surface.
"Wow, I can't believe how clear the water is down here!" Sweet Stuff comments. "It looks clean enough to drink!"
"Hey, this pond wasn't on the map!" Fireflight exclaims, looking around at all the tunnels.
"I knew it, we are so lost!" I snort , trotting back the way we came. "Stallions are totally worthless when it comes to finding their way!"
"Hey! You can't accuse me of not asking for directions!" He replies defensively. "There's nobody around to ask!"
"Please stop arguing, you two!" Sweet Stuff pleads, following us out of the cavern. "You can't solve anything by just fighting!"
"Oy, it's gonna be a really long day!" Sports Time groans , trotting after us. "Let's just go and try to find the moochick!"
The three of us are so wrapped up in our own business, that we fail to hear four forms rise from the pool after we leave, and trot their way back out of the caverns....
As the four of us continue our journey downward, we began to notice the walls and ceiling of the cave we were trotting through began to smooth out, as if they had been carved by intelligent hands. Several torches lined the walls, and we saw ornate and beautiful carvings that only grew more intricate as we went down. Soon, the tunnel opened into a large cavern, and we ponies found that we had reached our destination.
"Look everybody!" Sports Tyme exclaimed. "We've found the gnome village!"
All around us, the diminutive humanoids worked, toiling away on their machines, crafting the soil and stones of the earth, and cultivating the precious seedlings that will grow into Dream Valley's mighty trees one day. The bearded male gnomes, clad in their blue button over work overalls, worked side-by-side with the females, clad in their earthen skirts and conical hats. Seeing our approach, one of the gnomes approached the spot where we stood, and greeted us.
"Welcome to the dell dweller village!" The little bearded man smiled, bowing to us. "How may I be of service, noble ponies?"
"Thank you, good sir!" Fireflight explained bowing back. "We are seeking a gnome called the Moochick, would you know where we might find him?"
"But of course!" The gnome exclaimed, gesturing towards one of the nearby mushroom-shaped houses. "He is currently visiting with his nephew Garth... be sure to knock before going inside!"
...
"Come in, the door is open!"
After knocking, we enter the colorful mushroom shaped house, and find the Moochick sitting at a small table. Beside him sits a beardless gnome in a greenish blue tunic, a very indignant look on his face.
"Ohhhhh my my my, Dream Valley Ponies!" The old wizard exclaimed, stroking his beard. "What brings you down here, so far away from your forested home?"
"Hmph! Probably here to curry another favor from you, uncle!" The younger gnome scoffed. "These ponies simply can't seem to get along without your help!"
"Garth! Mind your manners!" The Moochick chided angrily. "I apologize, ladies. My young nephew can often speak before he thinks!"
"It's quite all right, we fully understand." Fireflight responds diplomatically. "Mr. Moochick, allow me to present my companions Sweet Stuff, Sports Tyme, and Powder. We've come here to seek your aid, in a matter that is troubling Dream Valley."
"A troubling matter, hmmmm?" The old man noted, leaning back in his chair. "Well well well, let's hear all about it, then!"
And so, I opened up, explaining every little detail of my misadventure since leaving home. I tell him about the abduction of my friends, and the harsh demands the lava demons placed on me. As I shared every nuance and detail with the wily old wizard, his brow only seemed to furrow, and his expression grew darker.
"The crystal heart, you say? Hmmmmm....." The sagely old wizard exclaimed, clasping his hands together. "That was indeed a wondrous artifact, charged with the love and joy of the crystal ponies, and used to protect the kingdom from any outside threat."
"So it did exist!" Fireflight exclaimed a smile spreading across his face. "I knew it did! But if the heart protected the empire, how in the world did it ever fall?"
"When Princess Cadence abandoned her subjects to protect Shining Armor, they lost faith." The old gnome explained sadly. "There was nothing to power the crystal heart, and therefore nothing to protect the Crystal Ponies."
"But what happened to the crystal heart after the empire fell?" Sports Tyme asked curiously. "Clearly, the crystal ponies didn't take it with 'em!"
Turning away from us, the old wizard seemed hesitant to respond for a few moments. Finally, he looked up, and revealed a long hidden fact to us.
"Cadence gave it to Princess Luna, who had her earth pony smiths re-cut the gem into the heart of Ponyland." The Moochick sighed. "It now lies in the caverns below the jewel sea, where it maintains the magical foundations of Ponyland."
"The jewel sea? Oh my word!" Sweet Stuff exclaimed, her gemstone eyes going wide shock. "It's been right there, under the lava demon's nose the whole time!"
"But... how is it protecting Ponyland?" Fireflight asked, his face showing the same puzzlement I felt inside. "Without the love of the crystal ponies to power it, it's merely a lifeless rock!"
"The heart of Ponyland is a battery. All it needed was a new source of energy." Garth blurted out, earning a dark look from his uncle. "The stone is now powered by the elements of harmony. Your lunar Princess infused the powers of the elements into the gemstone for safekeeping."
"WHAT?!? Luna put the Equestrian elements into our tribe's sacred treasure!" My face contorted into a look of rage. "How dare that alicorn tramp mess with a relic like that!"
"Now listen here, little missy!" The Moochick glared at me angrily, his burning gaze powerful enough to make even this snow pony shake in her horseshoes. "Princess Luna may have made many mistakes, but a tramp she was not!"
"Mr. Moochick, I am sorry for any... misunderstanding." Sweet Stuff whinnied apologetically, stepping in between the two of us. "But we need to know how to rescue Powder's friends!"
"My good ponies, the answer is already close at hand. Merely reflect on yourselves, and send the many thoughts that result after the lava demons. They shall soon be seeing things your way!" The old wizard said knowingly, a soft twinkle in his eye. "But now, if you will excuse me, I have a stubborn nephew I need to convince not to do something foolish!"
"But it is not foolish, uncle! I love her more than anything!" The younger gnome protested. "I need to rescue that fair maiden from the castle in the clouds, that her father imprisoned her in!"
"Lad, you've never even seen the girl! You saw her image on an old tapestry in the craftsmen's guild hall!" The Moochick countered. "Besides, I knew her father, and he was one of our order's most powerful wizards! The old coot probably riddled the sky palace with traps!"
"You just don't understand, uncle! You've never understood me!" The young gnome protested. "I really don't even understand why you adopted me as your nephew!"
The two humanoids continued their argument, raising their voices as the four of us trotted out of the hut. Leaving behind the gnome village and it's inhabitants, we start our way back up the tunnel.
"Well, that sure was a whole lot of help!" Sports Tyme grumbled. "What the heck did that crazy old coot mean, anyway?"
"Now Sports time, the Moochick's meaning is never clear right away!" Sweet Stuff chided him. "Twilight always told me if you think about it long enough, you can unravel his riddles."
"But does he really have to be so cryptic?" Fireflight grumbled. "Those poor snow ponies are in danger! We don't have time to solve a gnome's enigmas!" As we trotted our way back towards the lake, we began to hear several voices talking to each other, and heard the sounds of several dozen sets of hooves galloping about in the cavern we had left behind. As soon as we had come upon the strange underground lake again, our eyes met a truly unbelievable sight.
"Great Horsemaster!" Fireflight gasped. "What in the world?!?"
"Good heavens!" Sweet stuff whinnied. "Where did they all come from?"
"Oh wow!" Sports Tyme said in awe. "There's so many of them!"
And it was at that instant, that I knew what the Moochick had meant, I knew how to free my friends!
...
In the underground kingdom of the lava demons, King Levan was growing impatient.
"Sludge! Has that blasted pony brought the crystal heart to us yet?" The lave king roared, glaring down at his diminutive servant.
"Oh, not yet master!" The smaller lava demon replied, trying to placate his wrathful master. "But the lookouts did see several ponies enter the jewel sea not too long ago! Perhaps they are bringing the heart to us right now!"
"Took them long enough!" The cruel lord of molten rock roared. "I should just go ahead and execute those- wait, Sludge... did you just hear something?"
It started as a low rumble at first, but soon picked up into a mighty rumble, that made the very foundations of the crystal caves shake and tremble. Suddenly, and entire herd of Sweet Stuffs, Sports Times, Fireflights, and Powders came pouring into the caverns shaking the very ground in a mighty stampede.
"Foolish Ponies! How dare you invade my domains!" Levan roared, zapping pony after pony with his fiery lava. But for every one he vaporized, two more seemed to appear it their places. "Sludge, help me! I'm being overwhelmed!"
"You're not the only one, master!" Sludge wailed, as he desperately tried to throw lava orbs at the invaders. All over the caverns, lava demons roasted and boiled the hundreds upon hundreds of look-alike ponies that poured in from every entrance and opening, but the endless stampede continued to pour in at an alarming rate.
So distracted were the fiends, that four ponies were easily able to search out the dungeons, and free the captives right out from under their molten noses. By the time Levan and his goons had eviscerated the last mirror pond duplicate, my friends and I were long gone from the crystal caverns.
...
"I knew you'd come to save us, Powder!" Mittens thanks me, as we embrace outside the Dream Castle. "I told Mittens you'd never let us down!"
"She's right, old friend!" Mittens agreed, smiling. "It was very clever of you to use that reflecting pool to create an army of Pony clones to distract Levan's armies!"
"Oh, girls, it was nothing!" I tell the two of them, as I hug Mittens and my Niece goodbye. "Now, you three be careful on your way back to the mountains, you hear?"
"Bye bye, aunt Powder!" A tearful Jingle Jangle called out, as she followed the other two away from the castle. "I'll miss you!"
Life here at Dream Castle has settled into a wonderful existence. Oh, we have our ups and downs, to be sure. But these ponies I now live among seem to have a knack forgetting out of trouble. My diplomatic skills have strengthened times between the snow pony tribes and Dream Valley, and I like to think has life better for both of our herds.
Sweet Stuff and I spend a lot of time together these days, as she has become my best friend in this castle. When she's not hanging out with me, my jewel-eyed friend is at Sports Tyme's side, and I suspect I'll be serving as maid of honor at thier wedding soon. As for Fireflight and I, we still try to see each other every week. The prince and I are very busy these days, and have decided to take things slowly.
And what of the heart of Ponyland, you ask? While we snow ponies are not exactly happy with the fate of our holiest artifact, we are at least happy it s helping all of Ponykind now. While we might never again shine in the heart's light as crystal ponies, I may at least take comfort in the fact that the heart's light now warms the spirits of all ponies everywhere. I like to think our ancestors would be proud!
Hello there everybody, my name's Fizzy! I'm a unicorn mare from Dream Valley, and it's so nice to meet all of you- well, I think this counts as meeting, even though this is a letter. Hey Tornado, does a letter count as meeting someone? Wait, are you already writing everything I'm saying down? No, don't do that! This isn't how I wanted to start! Oh well...
Anyway, like I was saying... I'm Fizzy Pop, a cute blue pony with a pink and green mane, and the twinkliest jewel eyes in all of Ponyland! I love my friends, like Wind Whistler, and Gusty, and Shady... and I love to see my friends laugh and smile! My special talent is mixing but the yummiest sodas and ice cream floats in all of Dream Valley, and I use my unicorn magic to make them all bubbly and fizzy... just like me! My ice cream sodas are the hit of the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe!
Me and the other ponies, we've been though a lot together! One time my friends got covered in some icky stuff called smooze, and they turned all grouchy and mean! Another time a mean old witch turned us all old and wrinkly, and the big brother ponies had to rescue us from her carnival! I always seem to end up on the craziest adventures, I was even there when our personalities got all messed up by the frazits! You wouldn't believe all the crazy stuff I've been through!
But... there are some things I don't like about myself, too. I'm not a clever pony, I've never been very smart or bright. I've always made silly little mistakes, and forget to do stuff, and everything I usually say is really really dumb. I've always been like this, as long as I can remember. Gusty always calls me a scatterbrain, cause I'm always tripping over my own hooves. I can't even use my unicorn magic properly! I try to levitate things in my fizzy bubbles, but I keep dropping and breaking stuff! When I tried to float one of my chocolate shakes across the room, I ended up spilling it all over poor Shady's head!
My friends... they are all so much cooler than me. Wind Whistler is so much smarter, and Gusty is so much braver! Oh, I could never be the pony they are, but I'm just glad to be their friends. I do know I make them unhappy by being my dumb self, though. So I try to make them happy, by being even sillier. It feels great to make them laugh... even if they're laughing at me instead of laughing with me!
My aunt Snuzzle told me that when I was a baby, that my mom was pushing me around Hoofkaido in a stroller. She didn't watch where she was going, and she ran into another pony. I tumbled out of the stroller and hit my head, and after I didn't act like other baby ponies anymore, mom didn't want me anymore, and gave me to Aunt Snuzzle in Dream Valley.
It's okay, I understand why mommy didn't like me. I'm not a very clever pony. Hey, maybe if I can show other ponies I'm smart, maybe mom will want to see me again! Tornado, why did you look at me like that when I just said that?
Anyway, I grew up in Dream Valley, and I made a lot of friends as a filly in school! There was Shady, who always has something sweet to say to anybody. And Wind Whistler, who always cared so much about other ponies feelings. We first met on the first day of fillygarten, and they were so nice and shared their lunches with me! In elementary school we took turns having sleep overs at each others places, and we would tell each other ghost stories, and do each others manes!
"Those curls look lovely in your hair, Fizzy!"
"Thanks, Wind Whistler, you're too sweet!"
"I dunno, I think you both look silly!"
"Oh yeah? Look whose talking, Shady!"
We totally loved hanging out! I remember the time we made smores together at phillyscout camp, and the time we put makeup on Wind Whistler's brother when he was asleep. Growing up with those ponies was soooo much fun!
But... there were other ponies I grew up with, ones who weren't so nice. Truly, a really mean earth filly, used to like picking on us. She and her two best friends, Magic Star and Sparkler, used to love teasing me all the time, making fun of the fact I'm not very smart. They would tell me a colt liked me, then leave me totally embarrassed when I'd go to ask him about it. One time, when no grown-up was around, they even had Sparkler dangle me out one of the tower windows in the castle, with her unicorn powers.
"Please put me Down! I'm afraid of heights!"
"Not until ya'll say 'A'hm stupid!' Say it, or I'll drop y'all!"
"All right! All right! I'm stupid! I'm stupid!"
Wind Whistler and Shady always stood up for me, and beat the other girls up... but I really wish they hadn't done that. I really don't mind when Truly steals my gemstone eyes and hides them, or Magic Star kicks mud into my face. After all, the girls were only trying to get me to except the truth that I'm dumb.
After all, I'm not a very clever pony.
It was hard being picked on by bullies, but at least I had my friends to make me feel better. They made it bearable when I was tricked into going into the boys room, or leaving my lunch out to be stolen, cause Truly told me some hungry faeries wanted to eat it. I kept falling for all of their dumb tricks, but the other girls always tried to make me feel normal. I was always happy to have them around!
But one day, Wind Whistler and Shady disappeared. They went out one day to pick some flowers, when I was too busy with my homework to go with them, and they never came back when suppertime came. I was sad that my friends had gone away, and I felt really lonely that I had nobody to play with! Whole weeks went by, with nobody having any idea where my friends had gone. Until one day, Some soldiers from the south finally brought Wind Whistler and Shady home... but they weren't the same friends I remembered anymore.
A bunch of really smart scientist monkeys- they were called the gizmonks, I think- they wanted to know how a pony works. They took my friends to take them apart, and not put them back together the same way. They tested Shady to see how how scared a pony could get of stuff, and locked her in a bunch of dark and scary places and did a lot of mean things to her. Poor Shady came back a fraidy cat, and still jumps in fright at the sight of her own shadow. And Wind Whistler... the monkeys wanted to find out how a pony's brain works, and they... the opened her head up, and did some stuff to her brain that made her really smart. I dunno what it meant, but I remember what one of the unicorn doctors said when he looked at the stitches on top of her head...
"Intelligence centers were unintentionally enhanced, but emotion centers have been seriously damaged, possibly removed entirely."
Those mean monkeys! Wind Whistler went from being the nicest and sweetest pony I know, to going around saying 'sentimentality is illogical', whatever that means. She used to be a silly scatterbrain like me, but now she's all serious and stiff all the time. At least she's still my friend, though! She told me she stayed my friend cause "I won't be satisfied until I learn how a how a pony with no neural activity whatsoever manages to stay breathing, let alone carry out other day-to-day activities!" I wonder what she's talking about...
And Gusty... she's a really good friend, too! She and I made friends in high school, when I accidentally levitated her homework into the trash, and she threaten me until I got it out and apologized. She finally drove those bullies away, I've never seen Truly to run that fast from a unicorn blast! Gusty's mom told me she had been like that since she was a filly, when she saw her dad threatened by a troll. Trying to protect her dad, little Gusty stood up to that mean old troll! She's never been afraid of anything since. Good old Gusty, she's the bravest mare I know!
My family's really nice, too! I met by hubby, Salty, at a moonlight dance on Captain Barnacle's ship. He was the only stallion who didn't look at me like I was strange or something, and even asked me to dance! All his friends kept asking why he started to date an idiot, but he kept telling them I was a very special pony. Salty... my cute little blue sailor stud muffin! I just loved the angry look other mares give, when they realize that cute little flank with boat cutie mark on it, belongs to this 'idiot pony'! Though I can't blame them for calling me that...
... after all, I'm not a very smart pony...
I try to ignore all the other ponies who call me stupid... I put on a smile, and try to giggle every time they call me an idiot. I'd rather trip over rugs and make ponies laugh, or say something silly, and have all my friends roll their eyes and giggle. Oh, I like it better when the others enjoy the sodas and malts I mix up. But they seem to like it better when I mess up, and they can all laugh at dumb old Fizzy's silliness. I'm not mad at them for wanting to laugh at me, though. I'm happy that I'm able to make them happy. After all, what else is a stupid pony good for?
Tornado, did you write everything down? Tornado, why do you look so sad? Don't worry, I'm not sad or anything, everything will be okay...
Three hundred years ago, during that dark age when between the fall of Equestria and the modern day , Ponyland was an even darker and gloomier place that it is now. But while the world was a dark and scary place for us ponies, it was even more so for the poor human settlers who had poured in over the rainbow portal from earth. Traveling to the abandoned Manehatten region that had been allotted to them by the Ponyland Confederacy, these brave pioneers hewn their Frontier towns out of a rugged wilderness.
But this new world was a foreboding place for the first few generations of humans, filled with monsters and magic they have never before seen in the world from which they had come. And so the humans did little to venture outside of their little villages and homesteads. It fell to adventurous- and ambitious- mare merchants from Bright Valley, to make the dangerous runs to the Manehatten region. Members of the Secret Surprise guild, so-called because nobody knew what goods they would bring on their visits- these entrepreneurial young earth ponies helped keep early human civilization alive in Ponyland
"Come on, Secret Star." The purple mare with a pink mane called out. "If you're going to be making journeys like this on a regular basis, you really need to learn to keep up!"
"I-I'm trying to, Star Dazzle!" The younger pink mare with a turquoise mane gasped out, trotting at a brisk pace. "It's just I've never made one of these trips before!"
Trotting along the road between the human lands and Bright Valley, the two members of the Secret Surprise guild hurried along towards their destination. The two large, blanket-like saddles they wore had protected them from the rain and weather, but seem to weigh heavily on their poor backs as they made their way along the treacherous route. Two large, pink keys hung from their necks- symbols of the trading guild to which they belonged.
"Ugh, this is terrible." Secret Star complained, chipping her hoof polish along the jagged stones. "Sleeping in the dirt all night, hiding from chimeras and giants every step of the way. Why are we doing this again, exactly?"
"Because, we're the only merchants bold enough to bring the humans the goods they need." Star Dazzle replied, just as she had the last dozen times her younger companion had asked. "Besides, humans will pay through their noses to get some of the things we have!"
"What are humans like, anyway?" The apprentice merchant asked curiously. "I've heard they kind of resemble tall hairless monkeys that wear clothes."
"That's an accurate description, if a bit rough." The older trader replied, nodding. "though are much more polite than a monkey, and far more sanitary."
"Are they very friendly?" Secret Star asked, shivering. "I've heard they can be as mean and scary as ogres!"
"They are far more reasonable than ogres, trust me!" Her companion replied, shaking her mane. "Now get ready, the village is up ahead."
The two ponies approached the wooden walls of the stockade, several felled trees cut and tied together into a defensive wall. Two guards armed with crossbows marched along the inside of the stockade walls, clad in light armor shirts and half helms. Spying the ponies, one of them motioned to the guards at the gate.
"Halt, who goes there?" The guard called out, pointing his crossbow through the open hole. "Be ye friend, or foe?"
"Two pony merchants from Bright Valley!" Star Dazzle called back. "We come to trade goods, we come as friends!"
The guard nodded, and soon the gates swung open, allowing the two mares entrance. As they trotted inside, several women and children came running up, shouting and pointing in excitement. At the sight of all of them, Secret Star's eyes went wide in shock.
"My word! They all look so different from each other!" The mare whinnied, looking around at all the people who came running up. Small ones, tall ones, ones with brown manes, and ones with blonde. Some wore breeches and tunics, while others wore long, flowing dresses. "They're as diverse a species as we are!"
"Oh wow, the talking ponies again!" An older gentleman exclaimed. "Here with new things!"
"Did you bring me a dolly?" One younger child asked pleadingly. "Oh, I do so want a new one!"
"I could use some new gardening tools!" A housewife called out, her arm held in the air. "Or maybe some new cooking utensils?"
"Hello, good human!." Star Dazzle called out, as the crowd formed around them. "There's plenty here for every one, so no need to push or shove!"
"All right, so I guess this is where we get the goods out, huh?" Reaching for Star Dazzle's key with her mouth, Secret Star used her mouth to stick it into a keyhole on the side of the large blue saddle the older mare wore on her back. As the key clicked in the lock, the saddle swung upwards; revealing a large hole in the other ponies back!
"Enchanted saddle of holding, our guild's trademark secret." Secret Star smiled. "Nothing beats a small pocket dimension in a saddle, for transporting a large supply of goods on a long trip."
Pulling a brown, wind up clock out of the saddle, she handed it to Star Dazzle . "All right, people! What will you trade me for this fine piece?"
Several of the humans crowded in, making bids and holding up items to trade. Finally, one man offered up a silver ale tankard.
"Here How about this? Brought from the other world by my grandfather, it was! Crafted by the finest silversmiths in Lower Saxony!"
The two mares nodded, and the trade was made. Soon more and more goods flowed from the two mares’ saddle; silk clothing and spices from Hoofkaido, farming tools and weapons from Fort Rainbow Dash. The humans happily handed over whatever they had, in exchange for whatever the ponies could give them.
Secret Star noticed, however, that there was one human male who stayed back from the others. Dressed in a pair of breeches and a brown jacket, the gentleman in the white wig stood out from the other, more medieval-dressed humans. He stood back and watched the ponies from afar, staring at them and the swarm of humans intently.
Finally, the two ponies had exhausted their supply of trade goods, and the village folk happily dispersed with there new found treasures.
"Three sets of table silver, a smoking pipe, and a new leather cap." Secret Star noted, as the two ponies reloaded their saddles and shut them. "Good grief, what are we gonna do with all of this human stuff?"
"Trade it to Dream Valley, I suppose. They seemed to be obsessed with human goods." Star Shimmer replied, as she led the younger pony down the dusty dirt road towards one of the human buildings. "Now come on, we'll stay here at the the village inn for the night."
The two ponies entered an extremely well built, Tudor-style building, with two floors and many glass windows on every side. Inside, the two ponies were greeted by the sight of several hand carved wooden chairs and tables, and a roaring fire in the hearth.
"Wow, this place in amazing!" Secret Star exclaimed, looking around in wonder. "What's it called again?"
"The Whinnim inn, I've stayed here several times during my previous trips to this village." Star Shimmer replied. "It's very comfortable, and has been built to accommodate pony travelers, like ourselves."
"Good day ladies, welcome to the Whinnim." A middle aged woman in a blue dress and ruffled cap walked in, greeting them. "Ah, Miss Star Shimmer! Back for another visit, I see?"
"Yes, it's a pleasure to see you again." The older mare bowed politely, turning to her companion. "Secret Star, this is Missus Wash 'n Clean, the proprietor of this establishment."
"Miss Wash 'n Clean?" The other pony asked, confused.
"Oh, that's not my real name, dearie! I just use it with ponies because they always complain human names don't mean anything." The woman explained. "Star Shimmer here suggested it because I wash and dry all the linen and sheets."
It was at that point, that the two mares saw the strange fellow from the square who had been staring at them walk in. Seeing the two ponies, he silently walked over by the fireplace and sat down, still staring at them.
"Miss Wash n' Clean, who in the heck is that odd fellow?" Secret Star whispered, looking back at the stranger. "He seems a bit different from everybody else here."
"Ah, he's a sailor from the other world, my good pony." The innkeeper explained. "Says he accidentally crossed over the rainbow doorway after being shipwrecked. Never did give his name, but he paid for his room in silver."
"Thank you very much, Miss Wash 'n Clean." Star Shimmer bowed to her again. "We'll be staying in my usual room for the night."
"Certainly, ladies." The innkeeper replied with a smile. "I'll have your rooms made up at once."
After the two mares had taken eaten and rested, they took a seat by the fire as the evening’s chill set in. As they were warming themselves by the hearth's glow, the odd stranger walked up to them, and spoke.
"Excuse me, ladies, I'm sorry if I was bothering you earlier by staring." The gentleman bowed, removing his tri-cornered hat. "But, are you ponies actually intelligent?"
"Well, being how you're from the other world, I could see how you might think we're not!" Star Shimmer replied with a laugh. "Yes, we are as intelligent as you humans, and gifted with the power of speech, as you are."
"I see, I apologize for my ignorance." He replied, sitting down on a chair across from them. "And I've heard from this people, that you ponies rule this land. What kind of society do you have?"
"One based on mutual respect, and the bonds of the herd. Loving our family and allies, and slaying our enemies." Secret Star sorted. "One based on what once called 'friendship', I suppose."
"And those people out there, the ones grabbing at the things you were giving away." The sailor shivered. "They were like savage animals, swarming around you to get what they could. While you ladies are so gentle and refined."
"Why thank you, my good sailor." Star Shimmer replied, blushing. "But the humans of Ponyland are very nice. I would hardly call them 'savages'."
"Perhaps so, but those beasts behaved like they belonged kept in a pen. Why, just the other day, one of the locals painted green attacked me, and tried to steal my jacket."
"Hey now! I've already told that was a goblin who tried to steal your clothes." Miss Wash 'n Clean told him, peeking in from the kitchen where she was slicing carrots. "Don't go spreading bad rumors about us Manehattenites, now!"
"Such a wonderful place, this land is. I must be sure to tell my old friend, Mister Swift about it, should I ever find my way home." The sailor sighed, standing up. "Well, I've taken up enough of you fine ladies' time tonight. I must retire to my sleep." He bowed to them, and gently kissed both of their hooves.
"Wait a minute." The blushing Secret star exclaimed, calling out to him as he ascended the stairs. "You never did tell us your name!"
"Gulliver, my good mare." The world-weary sailor called back as he entered his room. "My name is Lemuel Gulliver."
“Well mister Gulliver.” Star Shimmer sighed, as he closed the door to his room. “I hope you can find you way home one day…”
This account came to me from Petal, a colleague of mine who runs the Applejack historical Museum in Fort Rainbow Dash; it comes originally from her now-deceased mother, a hard working mare named Floral, and is a very thought-provoking piece of material.
Tornado Firehooves, Dream Castle historian
Fort Rainbow Dash, 50 years ago...
Applejack... there is no pony in the world I know better. Coming from a farming family, I was taught to have a deep respect for the patron pony of all agriculture, and when I got into school I could see no other pony I could admire more. Oh, let the bookworms worship Twilight Sparkle, and the fashion ponies idolize Rarity. But for this yellow earth filly with a read mane, the practical mare with her folksy wisdom was the ideal to strive for.
And so, When I found my special talent took me into the history of Agriculture, I devoured everything in the libraries and historical archives about this harmony bearer, who seemed to get the least love out of the six. I wrote my thesis paper on the Apple family's contributions to agricultural innovation in old Equestria through the introduction of zap apples, an eventually worked my way into the leading historical institution regarding the farm mare.
During all my years of working at the Applejack and Apple family historical museum, I've seen all types come through here. Tourist families from Bright Valley, with three screaming foals and the dad with six cameras hanging around his neck and wearing a Hawaiian shirt. School groups, who seemed more interested in causing trouble than actually listening to my speeches on my tours. But perhaps the oddest tourist I've ever dealt with, came in only two weeks ago...
It was a day like any other. I was seated at the receptionist’s desk, going over my notes for a lecture on how Applebloom earned her cutie mark that I was giving to the 'Daughters of the Harmony Bearers' society tomorrow, when I suddenly heard a loud crash coming from the atrium. Galloping out to see what had occurred, I found that a clumsy, shabby looking mare had pulled an apple out of the bottom of a bushel display we had standing at the entrance.
"Ooops, my bad." Seeing me, the mare took a step forward, only to trip on the apples rolling everywhere, and stumble to the floor. "Whooaaaah!" The mare went down with a loud SPLAT, leaving a mashed apple mess everywhere.
"Applesauce, anyone?" The collapsed mare asked in a nasally voice, as I trotted up to her in annoyance.
"What happened?" I asked her with a sigh, as I set the basket upright, and start stacking the apples back inside with my mouth.
"I-I just wanted that big shiny apple on the bottom." The mare sighed in dismay, helping me stack the apples back in the bin. "I didn't think they'd all fall out like that."
"The sign says free take one, not free take the biggest one that will bring the whole bushel down." I snorted, as the mare greedily licked her lips, and downed the shiny apple she had been eyeing. Looking this mare over, I was not surprised by her appearance. An orange coat with a blonde mane, big blue tailbow, and a five apple cutie mark. Clearly, a mare from a Harmony bearer clan- we get a lot of them though here. Being Ponyland's foremost expert on Applejack, the Apple family even invited me to be a guest at their family reunion. I don't recall seeing this rube hayseed there, however.
"Have you come here to look around the museum?" I ask the country rube with the annoying voice. "My name's Floral, and I'd be happy to give you a tour!"
"Thanks! I'd just love ta learn about a family member!" The mare tells me in a bucklin accent- clearly, a farm migrant worker from the east, with very little education. Putting on a smile, I go to lead her through our various exhibits.
"Coming from the leading agricultural family in Ponyville, Applejack was the harmony bearer whose no-nonsense attitude and practical know-how made her the voice of wisdom amongst the other harmony fillies..."
We trot though the galleries, and the mare listens to my lecture intently. I could swear I saw a twinge of sadness pass over her face as I discuss Applejack's siblings and Granny Smith, but it quickly changed to a smile when I talked about the Apple farm and it's accomplishments.
"What about the Apple family, are they still around? Do they still exist?" The mare asked me, stumbling over a fence in our Apple family barn recreation, then quickly pulling herself back up. "I mean, I really don't keep up much with that side of the family."
"Why, yes! Applebloom and Big Macintosh's descendants still meet in Canterlot Valley every hundred moons." I told her. "There were descendants of Applejack herself on record, but I believe that line died out a century ago."
"Wait a sec, there were descendants of AJ herself?" The mare asked, giving me a look of utter disbelief.
"Indeed there were." I trotted into the portrait hallway, the rustic eastern mare in tow. "Take this mare, Applejack the second- better known as Applejewel." I pointed to the painting of an orange mare, her blonde mane up in a bun, and a golden choker around her neck. "She moved to Manehatten a century after the original Applejack's death, and was the darling of the city's earth pony elite. She was even courted by Pressed Pants, the millionaire great grandson of Fancy Pants, until she dropped the snob because of his arrogance."
"He probably had bad breath, too." The mare chuckled, and I just rolled my eyes at her ignorance.
"And this here is Applejack the third." I pointed to the picture of a mare in a saloon girl's dress, with fishnet stockings on her hooves. "She lived two centuries later, in the lawless western town of Dodge Junction. She helped the sheriff fight the frontier's ornery lawbreakers by gathering information." I gave a chuckle. "Sometimes, she'd use her looks to get information in ways that would have been considered immoral."
"Ewww, how gross for her!" She stuck her tongue out, and again I was annoyed. Did this stupid clumsy pony have any idea what it was to sacrifice one's own happiness for the greater good?
Finally, I turned my attention towards a red mare with an apple and tablecloth cutie mark. "And this was Applejack the fifth, a mare from the Ponyville theme park. She took the apple's her cousin Apple Spice grew, and sliced them up into picnic lunches for the other ponies of Ponyville. She was a silly and playful goofball like all of the other theme park ponies." I looked back at the orange mare. "Rumor has it her red coat was a dye job."
The mare looked at all of the portraits in the hallway, cocking her head to the side. "Ya know, as much as these mares all look alike, somebody might think they were all one mare, all pretending to be different ponies over the years."
"That's... and unusual idea." I humored her, trying not to laugh. "And why would she take on all of these identities of her own descendants?"
"Well, maybe she wanted to learn what it was like to be other ponies, like her." She pointed down to the portrait of Applejack the fourth- the famous, super-feminine dressmaker of Fillydelphia. "Maybe she wanted to explore the road not taken?"
"Riiiiight." I look to the portraits, and look back at the mare. Suddenly, I heard Fort Dash's clock tower outside chiming the hour. "Listen, it's been wonderful giving you a tour of our museum, but it's time for us to close now."
"Hey, thanks fer showin me around." She replied, nearly stumbling down the stairs. "Over the long life I've lead, I often forget what the name Applejack means, and sometimes I have ta come back here ta be reminded."
"Come back here?" I thought to myself. I had been working here for six years, and I had never seen her before. She would have had to come to the museum as a filly to be here before me. And the long life she's lead? She barely looked more than twenty. Clearly, this mixed up mare way either really crazy or really dumb.
"Say, I know a little bit about the ponies called Applejack." The mare offered. "If you were ever need any info-"
"With all do respect, kid, I have been studying the element of honesty's life for half of my life." I told her, as I shooed the young mare out the door. "Even if you are from her family, what could you possibly tell me?"
Though the glass, I see the earth pony stare at me for a moment, shake her mane, and trot on down the sidewalk.
Locking the door, I trotted back into the museum, and looked up and the grand portrait of Applejack. The mare I so admired- oh how I wished I had had a chance to meet her- not only to ask her questions, but to just thank her for being such an inspiration in my life. But alas, the greatest of the Harmony Bearers is a part of the past. And I must be content to read about her, and look at the relics of the past only. If only I could have met her face to face...
"MEDLEYYYYYY!" Firefly yelled, finally at her wits end.
"I'm terribly sorry, Firefly, I really am!" The Pegasus apologized profusely. "I'm just so excited to finally be visiting the human world, after all you and Megan told me about it's wonders... i-it just makes me want to- SQUEE!"
Firefly rolled her eyes at her best friends excited squeaking. Sure all mares and fillies squeaked like that when they became excited or extremely happy. But right now her dear friend was really getting on her nerves!
At Medley's urging, Firefly had finally agreed to take the other Pegasus over to the human world for a visit- to explore the oddly strange playland that she, North Star, Wind Whistler, and Surprise got to explore on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Medley had always been too be cowardly and frightened to go over to the other side, but the mare had finally mustered up the courage to ask her best friend to take her over the bridge.
"Ohhhh, there is so much I want to do!" Medley exclaimed excitedly, as the two ponies flew toward the rainbow bridge. "First, I want to go to a disco, and -SQUEE!- dance! Then, I wanna go see a John Travolta -SQUEE!- movie! Megan told me how cute he is!"
"Medley, of course Megan has a crush on that guy, they're both human." Firefly grumbled, as the two flew into the multicolored column of light. "And we can't let the wrong humans see us... otherwise, we'll end up on the dissection table!"
The two ponies, passed into the rainbow tunnel, zooming along the passage as it pulled the two Pegasus to another world. There was a sudden flash of light, and the two ponies emerged above a brightly lit city, surrounded on all sides by mountains.
"Oh my, would you look at that!" Medley exclaimed in wonder, as they flew across the night sky. "I-it 's like a bunch of big castles with stars in their windows!"
"They're called skyscrapers, Medley. Our ancestors had them in Manehatten." Firefly sighed. "The rainbow must have dumped us out over one of their inland cities, and judging from the landscape, I think I know which one."
"Ohhh, what are those rivers down there?" Medley exclaimed. "And... ohhh, what's that round building down there, with all the seats? Is that the Coliseum Mister Moochick was talking about?"
"Okay, now I definitely know where we are. Those rivers are the Monongahela, the Allegheny, and the Ohio." Firefly smiled, as they flapped overhead. " And no, that's not the Coliseum, that's three Rivers Stadium, a place the humans gather for sporting events." She suddenly dove down towards the city. "C'mon, Medley! Let's go have a look!"
"Wait, Firefly! I can't keep up with you!" Medley cried, zooming down after her. The timid Pegasus tried to follow her friend’s trail, but in the cloudy and misty skies, Medley lost sight of her friend.
"Firefly, come back!" Medley wailed, soaring down towards the river below. "Come baaack!"
...
Flying towards a suburban area, Firefly saw many houses on the ground blew, with their window lit, and families happily going about their evening business. Quietly landing near a darkened end of the street, the Pegasus looked around at the now-quiet neighborhood.
"How can humans live in such an un-natural place? Firefly thought sadly, feeling sorry for these silly creatures. "At least Megan lives on a farm in the country."
The Pegasus was about to take off again, when she her a gasp, and the sound of a dropped trash bag behind her. Spinning around, the Pegasus found a shocked human girl standing there, staring at her in shock.
"Oh my gosh..." The red haired girl exclaimed, her eyes going wide. "A-a Pegasus..."
"Oh Ponyfeathers" The pink pony sighed, shaking her mane. "Not again."
"H-hey there." Firefly greeted her, stretching her wings. "What's up?"
....
On the docks near the river, a washed up sailor lay against a warehouse wall. Having spent the last of his money from his temp jobs working the river boats, he was currently laying in a gutter and downing a canteen of spirits. His only companion was currently sitting on his shoulder, and making his headache even worse.
"Dorp that bottle, sailor!" The green parrot squawked in anger, pecking the sailor on the head. "You're better than this, start acting like it!"
"Aww, can it Polly!" The washed drunk in jeans and a blue shirt grumbled, turning his flask up again. "If ya don't shut yer yapper, I'll sell ya to the pet store!"
A sailor from the west coast, Hector had been unable to hold down employment on a vessel due to one too many fights with his shipmates. Having come east, he had made his way across the country working odd and end jobs, hoping to hop an Atlantic cargo vessel to Europe. His money -and luck- had finally run out here in Pittsburgh, and now he was just trying to drink his troubles away. Pouring the last of his canteen down his throat, the last of his booze dribbled down his short beard.
"Awww, damn, there goes the last of my stuff." The sailor grumbled, to no one in particular. "Things just can't get no worse."
"Um, excuse me, good sir?" A feminine, ladylike voice behind him called out. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could help me..."
"What can I do for ya, doll?" Hector looked up, expecting to see a beautiful dame, but instead the sailor got the shock of his life. "W-wha?"
Hector Delgado had previously hallucinated everything from pink elephants to beautiful girls. But the one thing he had not expected to see was a pastel-colored, talking pony with wings.
"What the hell are you!?"
...
"So, let me get this straight..." The red-haired girl asked skeptically. "You're a talking pony from a magical fairyland across the rainbow, and your here to explore earth?"
"Yep, name's Firefly, adventurer extraordinaire." The Pegasus exclaimed proudly, flapping her wings. "I've been on so many fantastic adventures, it'd make your head spin!"
"You'll pardon me if I'm a bit skeptical." The girl in the jeans and t-shirt replied, picking up the garbage bag she had dropped. "But it’s not like I've encountered a magical talking pony every time I've taken out the trash."
Looking the girl over, Firefly noticed she was just a little younger than Megan. But sadly, she also seemed a bit more cynical. Firefly had once convinced Megan to have more confidence in herself. Surely, she could convince this girl to be a little less cynical!
"Look, I know all of this is hard for you to believe, but I've seen and heard a lot of crazy stuff during my lifetime." Firefly shook her mane. "Why, my friend Medley and I have encountered everything from a chariot riding demon lord who wanted eternal night, to an evil unicorn with shadow powers. And that's saying a lot, cause Medley's afraid of her own shadow! But once she's had a taste of something exciting, her excitement can usually overcome her fear." She went over, and nuzzled under head under the girl's hand. "Why, just getting her to visit this world was an adventure had a half!"
"Hm, sounds like your friend's a handful." The girl replied, stroking Firefly's mane with her hand. "But if you're friend's visiting this world too, where the heck is she?"
Firefly's ears suddenly perked up. "Oh my gosh, I almost forgot!" Leaping up into the air, the Pegasus bid a hasty farewell. "Nice meeting you, but I really have to go find my friend now!"
"Bye, funny flying thing." The girl called out, waving as the Pegasus took to the clouds. Going back to the bag she had dropped, the girl put the scattered garbage back into the bag, then tossed it into the dumpster.
"Lauren? Lauren, where are you?" A voice called from the house behind her. "How long does it take to put the trash out?"
"I'm coming..." The girl replied. But as she turned to go back inside, the girl noticed a book on the ground that had fallen out of Firefly's bag when she had taken off.
"Huh, what this?" The girl asked, as she picked up the brown hardback book with gold trimming. Turning the book over to look at the cover, Lauren noticed the glossy title emblazoned on the cover.
The history and Culture of old Equestria
....
"Ha ha! A demon that turns ponies into dragons!" The old sailor chortled. "Yer the funniest hallucination I've ever had!"
"Thank you, mister Delgado! *Hic!* And your sailor stories are almost as funny as Captain Barnacle’s! -SQUEE!-"
The Pegasus and the sailor were lying in the alleyway, laughing hysterically at each others terrible jokes. That’s how Firefly found them, as she landed nearby.
"Medley, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!" Firefly trotted up to them. "Why are you with this shabby looking human... and why do you smell funny?"
"Oh! Hector here shared some of his wonderful grape drink with me, *hic!* This stuff is better than cider! *SQUEE!*" The Pegasus began to flap her wings, and started to awkwardly take to the sky. "Hey look, Hector, I can FLY WHEEEEEEE!"
"Medley, get back here!" Firefly exclaimed, zooming up after her wobbly friend. "You're inebriated! You can't fly straight! MEDLEY!"
"Bye, bye, hallucinations!" As the two Pegasus took off, Hector Delgado stumbled over to a pay phone, and picked up the receiver.
"Hello, General Abernathy?" The drunk sailor gurgled into the phone "This ish Hector X. Delgado. I've decided if I'm seein talking pastel ponies, I might as well take you up on yer offer ta join yer *hic* outfit yer puttin together ta fight those snake guys..."
...
"Oh ponyfeathers!" Firefly grumbled, as the two mares approached the rainbow bridge. "I lost my book!"
"You lost your *hic* what now -SQUEE-!" Medley asked, flying in circles as she wobbled along after Firefly.
"The history book on ancient Equestria, I promised to Megan's aunt Bonnie." The Pegasus snorted. "it fell out of my saddlebag when I was talking to that girl."
"Well then, I guess Aunt Bonnie will jusht have to be happy with the modern history of Ponyland, *Hic*." Medley replied, as they vanished from the human world. "Besides, it not like anybody could do anything with Equestria's history, -SQUEE!-"
Normally this is the kind of story I'd be omitting from my series- embarrassing and personal as it is. But Twilight insisted I cover this little... ordeal we went though, as it is as much a part of recent history as all the battles and political maneuvers I usually write about. Also, our anniversary is coming up, and I don't want to spend it with my flank on the couch. So, without further ado, here's the chaotic story of one of the most embarrassing situations I've ever lived through...
"Twilight, are you sure this is a good idea?" I asked nervously, as the ship they were on made it's way upriver. "I mean, what will they think of me? Will they even accept me?"
"Oh, would you please relax, Tornado?" The filly beside me snorted, stamping her hoof. "I'm sure my family will accept you, don't worry about it so much!"
My life has only seemed to have gotten crazier in the last few months. A half a year ago, I was merely an archivist at the Misty Mountain royal library. Quietly passing my time with booking work, and dreaming about living in the more romantic Equestrian era, instead of being a paper pusher. But then this young pink filly suddenly found her way into my life, and I found myself lifebonded to this shy little unicorn named Twilight Shine. After admitting our feelings for each other,
Following our little misadventures with the elements of Harmony, Twilight had had come home to prepare things for me, while I wrapped up my business at Misty Mountain. Coming to live in a new kingdom wasn't really a problem for me, as most of my friends, the so-called mountain boy pony gang, were already living at Dream Castle. I am extremely apprehensive, however, as I was about to go the the one ordeal every stallion in Ponyland dreads...
... meeting the mare's family.
"Tornado, look! We're almost there!" Twilight exclaimed, running to the ship's rail. "Ohhh, doesn't dream castle look wonderful!"
As Captain Barnacle's vessel rounded a bend in the rainbow river, I noticed a small pink castle sitting on a hill to the right. The same pastel hue as my wife, this four turreted structure did little to impress me as our vessel pulled up to the dock, but then I remembered what I had read about it's enlarged interior, and kept in my mind that appearances can be deceiving.
"Now arriving at Dream Valley!" First officer Salty called out, as to pony sailors lowered the gangplank. "All ashore that's goin ashore!"
Several ponies got off the ship with us, and we all trotted our way up towards the castle's entrance. The drawbridge lowered at our approach, and several mares and stallions who had been waiting for the ship's passengers to disembark came out to greet us.
"Twilight?" A purple Pegasus with a pink mane called out, flying above the crowd. "Twilight Shine, over here!"
"Twilight Sky!" The unicorn filly next to me called out, galloping up to and hugging the pony with the candle cutie mark. "Ohh, I haven't seen you in ages! How've you been!"
The two fillies hugged, and my Twilight turned back towards me as I approached. "Tornado, this is my cousin, Twilight Sky. She's a nocturnal message courier from Fort Rainbow Dash."
"Hello, my good stallion." She inclined her head towards me. "Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet when you were in town, I was on Pegasus Courier duty at the time."
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Sky." I courteously nod back. "And it is quite all right, I was sort of busy with some business at the time myself."
"So this is the Stallion Twilight's been raving about." A middle-aged mare said from behind me. "It's nice to finally be able to put a face with a name."
At the sound of the voice, I spun around. To my utter surprise, I found myself face- to- face with a slightly older version of my own Twilight, but with a blue coat and yellow mane. I could see the rumors about Dream Valley ponies having prolonged youth was true; despite the fact this unicorn's voice sounded older, she looked to be almost the same age as my twilight! The mare radiated a sense of nobility I had seen in few other ponies, and it was this this nobility that was my only clue that this youthful looking lady was any older than my beloved.
"Tornado, this is my mother, Twilight Glow." My little unicorn told me. "Mama, this is Tornado Firehooves, the historian from Misty Mountain I was telling you about."
"M'am." I bowed politely, smiling at my future mother in law. "It is an honor and a privilege to be-"
"Bah, don't worry about the formalities, Tornado. You're family now." She patted me on the back with her hoof. "Now come on, let's get back to my castle apartment. I've prepared a scrumptious lunch of ham, potatoes and salad!"
"Sounds wonderful!" I reply, licking my lips. The three female ponies started trotting back into the castle, and I began to follow them. Suddenly noticed an angry looking white Pegasus flapping her way towards us, one I recognize all too well.
Great Horsemaster... not her.
"Twilight, good to see you back!" The Pegasus with the palm tree cutie mark sneered, shooting me a nasty look. "And I see you didn't come alone."
"P-Paradise? SQUEE!" Twilight whinnied in delight, rushing up to take the Pegasus filly in a deep hug. "I haven't seen you since I left on my harmony quest! How've you been? What've you been up to?"
"Oh, you know me, Twilight... hanging around the library, reading fairy stories... the usual." As the two were hugging, Paradise's acid stare made me want to go find someplace to hide. "Why don't you introduce me to your friend here?"
"Oh! Paradise, this is my fiancé, Tornado! I met him on my travels!" She grabbed my hoof shoving me forward to greet the Pegasus. "Tornado, this is my best friend, Paradise. She and I known each other since we were foals!"
"We've met before." The flying filly scowled, making me want to find a place to hide. "Look Twilight, why don't we go find some place to talk?"
"It'll have to wait, Paradise. Mama's going to cook us up some lunch!" Twilight Shine expressed gleefully, dragging me along with the group as we trotted down the hallway. "And after that, we have some awfully big things to discuss!"
...
Twilight's family apartment was very nice. A two story, two bedroom affair with a living room, kitchen, and dining room- not surprising, considering how well Dream Valley ponies are rumored to live. The table was a fine setting with a white tablecloth, covering a brown oak table with six matching chairs. Twilight's mother served up a delightful assortment of dishes, which she levitated on and off the table as the five of us took servings from each dish.
Glow seated me at the head of the table- a customary gesture that made me extremely nervous. For this seat had once belonged to Twilight's father, I knew, and the implications of putting potentially the next haed male of the household there... Let me tell you, the idea of the potential burden of responsibility did nothing to subdue the ever- rising knot of tension that continued to grow in my gut.
"I hope you don't mind me cooking meat, dearie." Missus Glow apologized, as she finally sat down and served herself. "I know how sensitive other herds can get about that sort of thing."
"Not at all!" I tell her, hoping a little bit of conversation will ease some of my apprehension. "My own family had the omnivore spell cast on us, as well. We always did get strange looks from other ponies, though, for our... 'unusual' dietary habits."
"I'm shocked they didn't think you ate other ponies for supper." Paradise snorted, taking a bite of her salad. "You look like one of those creepy ponies from the fairy stories who eat other equines, after all."
"Sooo... where are twilight and I's friends?" I ask nervously, desperately trying to change the subject. "I should be moved into their apartments by now."
"Oh, Firefly, Lightning and the others are having some trouble adjusting." Twilight Sky replied, nonchalantly, eating a sugar cookie. "I've heard the digestive conversion spell can take a lot out of you."
"Both the colts and the girls will probably be recovering in the clinic for a week or two, and Glory said she's be staying with her beau until her recovered." Paradise continued. "Turning 'ponies into meat eaters' magic was never meant for adults."
"So, I hear you're a historian, Tornado?" Twilight mother inquired, as she levitated a bite of ham up to her mouth. "Or was it an archivist?"
"That must've been a very exciting job." Twilight Sky sighed. "Digging though those endless stacks of dusty tomes all day."
"Well, my special talent is actually being a historian, but I worked as an archivist since we already had quite a few already there." I reply, taking a bite of a buttered roll. "I'm hoping to take advantage of the fact that Dream Valley doesn't currently have a chronicler, and flex my talents to their fullest ability."
"I'm sure Queen Majesty will have a place for you. "Paradise sneered, flexing her wings behind her chair. "Better watch out though, or you'll be glue factories like our last royal historian."
"Paradise! That's enough of that, right now!" Twilight mother snorted, stamping her right front hoof on the table. "Please do not upset our guest with your crude remarks!"
At the white Pegasus's words, I feel the tension and worry rising in me, making my throat tighten up, Sensing my unease, Twilight reached over and put her horn against mine, using her magic to calm me down. With a sigh, I relax again. If there is one thing I will hand to my beloved, she knows how to defuse down my perpetual panic and worrying.
"Yeah, stay off the couple's back, Paradise." Twilight Sky snorted angrily. "They've got enough to worry about, with the wedding coming up and all."
"W-wedding?" I suddenly ask in shock, my eyes going wide.
"Mother! We haven't even begun to talk about that yet!" Twilight snorted indignantly, stamping her hoof.
"Well of course, dearie. I know you two haven't set a date yet, but it's something that two lifebonded ponies should already be planning for." Twilight Glow levitated a book up, and began looking though the pages. "Now Shine, I was thinking of ordering you a dress from Bright Valley. Majesty will want to officiate at the ceremony, of course, and we'll want flowers...."
Twilight, soon caught up in her mother's planning schemes, trotted over to the elder mare's side of the table, leaving me sitting their speechless. Twilight Sky trotted up to me, and whispered something in my ear;
"Feeling left out of your own life decision?" She said with a chuckle. "Better get used to it, Tornado. Stallions always play second fiddle in weddings and marriage."
My heart only sank further at her words, as Paradise's jealous a murderous glare burned itself in my psyche from across the table. With all of the things going on at the moment, I suddenly didn't feel like eating anymore..
"Oh, Twilight!" Glory exclaimed, as she levitated the bridal veil onto the filly's head. "I swear that dress is the most lovely wedding gown I've ever laid eyes upon!"
Eight female ponies were gathered in the Dream Castle ballroom, preening and fussing over the bride-to-be. For her part, the pink unicorn was merely sitting there and blushing, embarrassed by all the attention she was getting.
"You are absolutely correct, Glory." The bride's mother agreed, as her daughter admired herself in the body length mirror. "You look absolute lovely, my dear."
Twilight Shine was wearing a long white gown, all decorated in white satin and lace. Bows, ribbons, and sequins decorated the entire dress, and a long velvet train stretched halfway across the room behind her. In her veil was woven a wreath of baby's breath, And four translucent slippers adorned her hooves, crafted by master unicorn jewel smiths from the finest gemstone of the crystal sea. None of the ladies present had ever seen it's like before.
"I-it's all so wonderful, I just can't believe this is happening..." Shaking her head, the pink unicorn looked back at the blue earth filly behind her. "Thank you so much for this fantastic dress, Bowtie! I can't express how grateful I am!"
"Don't worry about it Twi, it really wasn't that big a deal." Bow Tie replied, putting safety pins in the back of her dress, and pulling a ribbon tight with her teeth. "You're about the same size as me, and it wasn't like I was planning on using this thing anyway." The ribbon-maned mare's eye twitched, as she tried to suppress the memory of a two-faced singing earth stallion. " wanted this wedding to be the happiest day of your life."
"She's right Twilight, this is gonna be the best wedding Dream Valley has ever seen!" Twilight Sky exclaimed, fluttering around over her head, looking at the dress from above. "And it was so wonderful of you to make us your bridesmaids."
"And it was even more awesome that we recovered from that meat spell in time to be in your wedding." Firefly added, handing Bow Tie pins and needles as she worked. "And even more awesome you let Medley do the music for your wedding."
"Oh yes, I heard her bird choir practicing in the castle gardens, they were so lovely!" Poesy sighed dreamily, as she arraigned some tulips in a vase. "And it's just as wonderful that you're letting me arrange the flowers at your wedding. I promise I'll make you the prettiest bouquet you've ever seen, Twilight!"
"Yeah, we're all gonna make sure your wedding is the coolest shindig ever!" Firefly adds, admiring her pink bride's maid's gown in another mirror. "I'm just worried my dress will get messed up, when I perform the double inside out loop after you say your vows."
"It's also a good thing you're not wearing white like Twilight, Fly." Applejack chimed in sarcastically. "We don't need everybody at the wedding bursting into laughter during the ceremony!"
"Why you little-!" Firefly angrily dove at the orange earth pony, the two kicking up a dust cloud as they fought. "You take that back, Applefat!"
"Hey you two!" Twilight pleaded, turning away from the mirror to face the two immature fillies. "Both of you stop that, right now!"
But the two feuding friends ignored her, punching and kicking each other all around the room.
"Firefloozy!"
"Goblin bucker!"
"ENOUGH, BOTH OF YOU!" Twilight Glow Roared, stopping the two fighting fillies in their tracks. "This is supposed to be my baby's special day, and I'm not going to let you two, her so-called FRIENDS, ruin it for her!" She angrily levitated the Pegasus and earth pony apart form each other. "So none of you two's usual childish fighting. Do you understand me?!?"
"Aww, she ain't worth the trouble." AJ snorted, trotting away from the small group. "If ya need me, Twi, I'll be in the kitchen, makin' sure Sweet Stuff's cooks aren't overcooking the food."
"Yeah, stick ta the catering, ya bug dumb farm pony." Firefly stuck out her tongue. "Leave the other wedding stuff to ponies who are good at it!"
"Yeesh, are we sure those two are the best of friends?" Twilight Sky whispered to Poesy. "I mean, they act more like the worst of enemies!"
"AJ and Firefly have a... dysfunctional friendship." The yellow earth filly whispered back. "They may argue a lot, but they really do love each other like sisters!"
"Oh mother, I still can't believe it... I'm really getting married." The filly in the wedding gown squeed, turning to face Twilight Glow. "It's all coming together like one of those wonderful fairy tales."
"I know, dearest... I only wish your father were here to see this, and give you away." The older mare hugged her daughter tightly. "But speaking of fairy tales, where is that girl Paradise?"
"Yeah, where is she?" Glory asked, cocking an eyebrow, it's the maid of honor's duty to be at the fitting."
"Oh, I heard her say something about wanting to talk to Tornado." Bow Tie remarked, as she adjusted Twilight's bridal veil. "She asked him to meet her up in the library for some reason."
"Probably wants to make sure he takes really good care of her best friend." Poesy added softly, with a smile. "But right now we have more important things to worry about, Twilight. Like planning your baby shower!"
"All RIGHT! I was hoping we'd get to that!" Firefly exclaimed, zipping around the room in excitement. "Okay,first we gotta get Cupcake and Gingerbread to bake us a big cake for the bow tie wearing stallions to jump out of! Then, we need to get Twilight some good gifts for her wedding night. Me, I got her got her a saucy black leather saddle and bit with lace that rides all the way...up... the... flank..."
The pink Pegasus slowly stopped realizing all the other females were staring at her with angry looks.
"What, is something wrong?" Firefly asked in surprise, as the other fillies and mares scowled at her. "Was it something I said?"
...
"Wow, this place is incredible." I thought to himself, looking at the endless rows of books stretching all the way to the ceiling. "I can't wait until Twilight and I take this over."
"Like what you see, horn boy?" The white Pegasus snorted, flapping her way over towards me. "I figured this place would remind you of home."
"Ahhh, Paradise. Yes, it does remind me of home." I told her, looking over the books once more. "You wanted to see me about something?"
"Yes,.. it's a matter about your wedding." The white Pegasus's smile suddenly turned angry. "Tornado, I want you to call off this wedding to Twilight!"
"Wait... WHAT?" I asked in shock, not believing my ears. "Paradise, you can't be serious!"
"I'm very serious, hornhead!" The filly snorted, stamping her hoof at me. "Twilight is my best friend in all of the world, and she deserves to lifebond with a pony a thousand times better than you!"
"What on earth brought this on?!" I ask her in disbelief. "Is this about what happened between the two of us back at Misty Mountain-"
"This has nothing to do with that, Tornado!" She snapped at me. "Twilight deserves a young and dashing prince of a colt, like she has dreamed about since she and I were both foals. She doesn't need to be saddled with a neurotic, broken down stallion who is twelve years her senior." She flew up in my face. "I don't know how you bewitched her, Tornado, but I won't let you ruin by best friend's life!"
"B-but Paradise..." I protest, my ears drooping. "I would never try to ruin-"
"Really? Do you really think you're the stallion of her dreams, Tornado?" She looked at me accusingly. "You saying you live up to all her expectations? That you can be the stallion in shining armor that the element of magic demands to be by her side?" She shook her mane. "Can you live up to the expectations she's going to set on her 'perfect' stallion, Tornado? Are you the fairy tale stallion who can make the filly of wishing's dreams come true?"
"But, I...I...." My arguments die away before her verbal assault. I began can to wonder... was I really the stallion that Twilight Shine needed? And more important, did I even deserve her? It was only then that Paradise struck the blow that drove all of my doubts home.
"Have you told her about your past mistakes?" She asks me. "I'm sure she'd love to hear about your part in the great alicornist purge of Misty Mountain. Just imagine...her brave and bold hero, his hooves tainted with the stains of his past misdeeds!"
"Please, no!" I look down, trying to hold back my tears. "Paradise, please... I love her..."
"If you love her, than you want the best for her." The white Pegasus finished. "And the best thing for her is not having the mistake that is you in her life."
Lowering my head, I could only turn away in silence. "See if you can keep her busy for a few hours, Paradise. I'll have my things out of the castle and make myself 'un-findable' by then."
"Excellent! I knew you'd see things my way, Tornado!" She replies happily, as I trot out of the room in silence. "Trust me, Tornado. You're making the right decision for Twilight!"
As I trotted away in defeat. my only response to her final words was silence.
"You- you did WHAT?!?" Her voice cried out in anguish. "You sent Tornado AWAY!?!"
Twilight's distraught whinny echoed through the ballroom, causing all the mares putting up decorations to look back and stare at the unicorn mare and her Pegasus friend.
"Yes Twilight, I did it for your own good!" Paradise snapped back, flexing her wings in anger. "That old stallion was no good for you! You need a handsome prince, not that ugly unicorn fossil!"
"Oh Paradise, how could you!?" Tears welled up in the filly's eyes. "I already lifebonded with him, Paradise! How could you be so mean!?"
The white Pegasus only stood there, dumbfounded, as the grieving bride to be galloped out of the room. At that point, Twilight's mother and Firefly went over to confront the confused best friend.
"Already... bonded?" Paradise asked in shock. "But I only wanted.... I didn't mean to..."
"Paradise, what on earth were you thinking!?" Mrs. Shine snorted, stamping her hoof angrily. "Shame on you for trying to ruin the happiest day of my daughter's life!"
"You big jerk!" Firefly jumped at the confused filly, plowing into her and pummeling her with bites and kicks. "How dare you make Twilight cry on her special day!"
"Ow, ouch, owwie, AGAHHHHHHHHH!" The Pegasus filly wailed, as Firefly proceeded to pound on her.
"Oh dear, this is just awful!" Posey added sadly, starting to pace. "We need to go and find Twilight right away!"
"Not just Twilight, darling." Glory added, galloping towards the door. "We need to see if we can reach Tornado, before he gets too far away from here!"
"Hold on there now, you two." Applejack stopped the two mid-pace, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "I'm sure Twilight's got the situation under control."
"Yeah, you think Twilight is gonna let her stallion get driven away?" Twilight Sky said flapping down from where she had been decorating the balcony. "Don't worry girls, I'm sure our girl has this well in hoof!"
,,,
I was nearing the edge of the Mastificent forest, the woods which has once been called the everfree, as I looked back at Dream Castle in regret. Here was the place that I thought I'd spend the rest of my days. Here, amongst other outcast ponies who consumed meat and had a number of the same strange quirks that I did, I truly felt like I belonged. I had hoped to make a life for myself here, but hope had washed away like the under the new-fallen rain.
My bag, containing what few personal possessions I truly own, is levitated above my head. Inside, is a small photograph of the little pink mare I am leaving behind. The precious treasure I am freeing from all my weaknesses, all my failings, and all the grief being saddled with this mistake of a stallion would give her. As I begin to trot down the road towards Misty Mountain, I hear the sound of four hooves galloping up behind me.
"Tornado, Tornado please wait!" Twilight called out to me, in a sorrowful, pleading voice. "Please don't go!"
I turn to face her, and she stops. She in so radiant there, standing before me like some vision of Angel Pony. The sight of her tear stained face, her trembling lower lip and those eyes filled with such sorrow is almost enough to break my resolve right then and there. But I remind myself I'm doing this for her, trying to give her a better future than being mated to a failure for the rest of her life. Because I...
....I love her, blast it! I never ever write that in these stupid historical documents, because it's sounds so corny. But I'm going to break my own narrative and say it right here and now. I love the little pony named Twilight Shine, I love waking up beside her in the morning and seeing her warm smile and the sunshine on her face. I love her laugh when she makes Ember and I breakfast. I love her groan of annoyance and rolling of her eyes when I do something stupid. I love that little lip quivering-pout thing she does when she wants something. I love her more than any other pony in the Horsemaster's creation...
...and that's why I felt I had to set her free.
"Twilight, no I can't. I don't know if I can be the pony you need me to be." I start, choking on my own words. " I'm sorry, but Paradise is right. I can't hold you back, I have no right to, I-"
"Tornado, shut up." She snapped angrily, stamping her hoof. "Would you kindly turned off that damned over-analyzing brain of yours for a moment, shut your mouth, and listen to me."
She stormed up to me, and put her horn against mine. Both suddenly began to glow, and I could hear her voice in my mind.
All of your life, you've been alone, Tornado. You've felt alone, even when you had friends. Nobody ever really understood you, and you were always afraid they were all going to go away and leave you all alone. And the one pony comes along who loves you enough to never leave you alone, and you're scared of losing her, too. Even worse, you afraid you don't deserve her, and she should leave you alone since you are such a worthless pony.
Ever since I first saw you in that hallway in Misty Mountain, I knew there was something special about you. Yes, you did your stupid things and made your mistakes. But you always tried to make up for them, always tried to do the right thing no matter what happened. You were the only stallion who enjoyed my endless rants about fairy tales and dreams coming true, and I was the only filly who loved to listen to your endless history lectures, while other ponies got bored and walked away. We're perfect for each other, Tornado... It's like the horsemaster crafted us from to halves of the same mold.
But you do deserve me, Tornado. You do deserve the happiness we can give each other. I don't care how old, or how imperfect, how whatever anyone else says you are. To me, you are handsome and beautiful and wonderful. The shining knight I read about in all those fairy tales ,who kisses the princess and wakes her from her sleep. Just as you did when you saved me from Wish Shine's spell at Misty Mountain. You cared for me enough to risk your life, and that is worth a thousand of Paradise's handsome princes.
I do so love you, Tornado Firehooves, but that human word is too shallow, to meaningless to describe the lifebond. I know your fears and your anxieties... because they are my fears and anxieties now, too. You'll never be alone again, my dearest, because I will be there with you no matter what happens. We're a part of each other now, Tornado, two halves of the same soul in two separate bodies. And I will never, ever leave you, throughout all of the Horsemaster's eternity.
She pulled her horn back, and I am left standing there, silently. The tears slowly begin to trickle out of my eyes, and I collapse to the ground in a blubbering mess. All of the pain and sorrow from my foolishness and stubborn pride washing over meal at once.
"I-I'm sorry.... I didn't realize..." The cried, letting my veneer of maturity slip away from me as a sobbed uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry..."
"It's all right, Tornado." She whispered, wrapping her hooves around me tightly. "It's going to be all right."
We sat there like that for several hours, until the sun slowly began to set in the west. And as she held me in her hooves, all of my doubts and sorrow were washed away in my sad sad tears.
...
The wedding was a modest sized affair, albeit one with all the fairy-tale trappings that Twilight's heart desired. What remained of both of our families were in attendance, as were our dearest friends. Fireball stood in as my beast man, and Firefly hastily took her place as maid of honor at the last instant. Needless to say, I don't think Paradise enjoyed her seat at the far back of the chapel.
"Can you believe the tux that our old buddy is wearing?" Lightning whispered, chuckling from behind me."
"Hey, I helped him pick it out!" Thundercloud snapped back in annoyance, Fireball moved to shush them both.
The white chapel was all decorated in streamers of red and blue, with gold icons of the many mares on the house of Twilight lining the walls, symbolizing the attendance of the ancestors at the proceedings. The entire room was decorated with flowers Posey had grown just for the occasion, and every pony present whispered and chattered in the seat as they waited. And in the far back, I saw a small bearded man in a green cap, and leaning on a gnarled old cane- the only non-pony attending this auspicious occasion.
Suddenly, the bridal march began to play, and the loveliest pony my eyes had ever beheld came trotting down the aisle. Behind her trotted her four bridesmaids, while a little giggling white Pegasus with a balloon cutie mark served as the flower girl. The small entourage finally stopped at the altar next to where I stood, and as the music stopped, our queen began to speak.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to bear witness to the union of this stallion and this filly. It is a joyous occasion to celebrate, the joining of two souls. And there are no two ponies more joyous than the ones who stand before me."
Twilight looked stunning in her gown, her head adorned with golden crown handed down by her ancestor, Twilight Sparkle. I could only stare in awe as her mother had led her down the aisle, and my heart was racing as she stood before me as Queen Majesty spoke.
"Do you, Twilight Shine, take this stallion as your husband and mate, to guide and lead though the trials and perils of life, and then throughout eternity in the horsemaster's stable?"
"I do." The filly beside me replied, he face hidden beneath her veil. She stared at me though that white piece of cloth, and I wished I could have seen her eyes as she spoke.
"And do you, Tornado Firehooves, take this filly as your wife and partner, to protect form the evils and dangers of this life, and then throughout eternity in the horsemaster's stable?"
"I do." I replied without hesitancy, my eyes never leaving the filly beside me.
"Then by the power invested in me by the Great Horsemaster, I now pronounce you husband and wife!" Majesty spoke finally. "You may now kiss the groom!"
And I levitated her veil up, and placed my lips on my starry-eyed new bride, and the crowd erupted into cheers. Pegasus zipped back and forth across the room in celebration, and the mare before me an I kissed the kiss of everlasting love.
If there was one concept Wind Whistler understood, it was science. Cold, hard logic and the facts, that's what made the world go round,. Not these silly sentimental concepts her overemotional friends used to guide their lives. Oh, she did indeed have feelings, to be sure. She did care about her friends and family in a way only her emotionally devoid mind could, but said feelings were not the guiding force in her life, and were not displayed every moment of the day.
No, let her friends and family rely on their 'hearts' to run their lives for them (though how a pulmonary muscle had anything to do with emotion, Wind did not comprehend) She would let the rational mind be the driving force in her actions, and leave the sentimentality to lesser ponies.
The blue Pegasus was hard at work in her lab, examining chemicals in beakers and Bunson burners, and monitoring the scientific equipment around her. Tesla coils buzzed and sparked behind her, and lights blinked and flashed on the computer consoles the mare surrounded herself with. This is where Wind Whistler belonged, spending her spare time keeping the castle above's technology running smoothly. While she did enjoy playing some games with her friends, it was times like this she was happier at her work.
"Now, if I can just mix these two delicate isotopes… " The goggles and white lab coat wearing mare thought to herself, as she began to pour her mixture between two beakers she was holding in the wings. "Dream Valley will have to only Smooze repellent in all of Ponyland. I just have to be extra carefullllll…."
"HEY, WIND WHISTLER!" A loud, intrusive voice bellowed down the steps. "YOU DOWN THERE?! WE WANNA TALK TO YA!"
BOOM! The surprised mare jumped, causing the volatile mixture to explode in her face. Her pink mane blown backwards, the blue mare coughed as black smoke filled the entire room.
"Whew, Wind Whistler!" A blue, jewel-eyed unicorn waved the smoke away with her hoof, as she and a white mare descended the staircase. "Were you eating One of Cupcake's triple layered burritos again?"
"Salutations, Gusty and Fizzy." The Pegasus greeted her two goofy friends with a sigh. "To what do I one the pleasure of this visit to my workshop?"
"Well, Fizzy here thought you'd been working a little too hard in your lab." Gusty snorted, as she and the blue unicorn looked around at the various odds and ends in the laboratory. "Though we might ask if ya wanted ta join us!"
"Thank you, ladies, I really appreciate the sentiment." Wind Whistler replied politely. "But I really need to-"
"Ohhh, is this a soda pop?" Fizzy asked, downing a test tube of a strange yellow liquid. "Mmm, tastes like root beer!"
"No Fizzy, don't drink that!" Wind Whistler cred out, dashing over to the unicorn.
POOF! There was a flash of light, and the other two ponies present suddenly found Fizzy had become a horse of a different color.
"Ahhh, Fizzy!" Gusty wailed. "You've gone to plaid!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" The jewel-eyed mare asked, looking at her reflection in a nearby beaker. "Eeee! I'm all ugly! Wind Whistler, make me pretty again!"
"Okay, now hold on you two." Wind Whistler exclaimed, hurriedly flipping through one of her science journals. "Let me see if I can find a- no Gusty, do not touch that!"
"Wha?" The white unicorn asked, as she levitated an orange potion up off the table. "What do ya- oops!"
SMASH! Gusty clumsily dropped the vial, shattering it on the floor. A bizarre cloud covered the mare, and when it finally dissipated, The unicorn found she had acquired a new growth on her face.
"Aieeee! Gusty! What happened to you?!" The plaid pony shrieked. "You've got a beard!"
"Aieeee! I look like a stallion hippie!" The white unicorn wailed. "Wind Whistler, do something… quick!"
"Girls, those potions were on loan from Zigzag, so I'm not quite sure what side effects they might have!" The blue Pegasus interrupted, trying to calm the two panicking ponies down. "Now, if you two would just hold on-!"
"Ohhh, fixitfixitfixitfixitfixit!" Fizzy wailed, jumping around the room in a panic. Suddenly, her back hoof hit a lever on the console behind her, and series of alarms and flashing lights went off all over the lab.
"Uh ohhhh…" The unicorn mare moaned, taking a step towards the stairs.
"I think ya really did it this time, Fizzy…" Gusty replied nervously.
A pair of doors on a section of the floor slid open, revealing a large water tank beneath the laboratory. Three long red tentacles uncoiled from beneath the surface, and began writhing around the room.
"Fizzy, you doofus!" Wind Whistler wailed, as the slimy appendages slithered towards her. "You just opened the tank where I was keeping that Squirk spawn we captured!"
The tentacles quickly grabbed the blue Pegasus, pulling her back towards the water. A red, octopus-like body emerged from the opening. And a large, tooth-filled mouth opened on the side.
"Ahhh! Get away from me, you mangy mollusk!" The scientist wailed, as one of the tentacles tried to strangle her. "I am not on your nutrition plan!"
"Uhhh, ya know Fizzy… I really don't think Wind Whistler wants to come play with us right now." Gusty said nervously, running back up the stairs. "She seems a little wrapped up in her work right now!"
"Yeeeeahhhhh, we'd better go and see Zigzag about getting back to normal." Fizzy agreed, as she and Gusty ran back up the stairs. "Bye Windy, see ya later!"
"Oh, for the love of-" Wind Whistler growled, biting and kicking at the tentacles as they pulled her closer to the tank. "If you want something done right…"
Reaching out with her wing, the blue Pegasus barely managed to grab a nitro grenade off one of the nearby counter tops. As the horrific monster swallowed the Pegasus in one gulp, Wind Whistler managed to flip the detonation switch.
BOOM! The creature suddenly exploded all over the room, splattering bits of octopi all over the room. The blue Pegasus emerged from the pool, a very sour and angry look on her face.
"Mental note to self; install a security device in laboratory to prevent entry of any pony with an I.Q. lower than a corn chip." She though aloud, as she shook the Squirk spawn guts out of her mane. "Second note to self, inform Chief and the kids we'll be having a dish similar to calamari for supper tonight."
With a heavy sigh, the exausted mare picked up a broom with her hooves, and started to sweep up the mess.
"And then, time to get some payback against too extremely nosy mares…"
…
It was only a few hours later, that the two goofball unicorns were trotting down the halls of Dream Castle, their problems having just been recently solved.
"Wow, that was sooo cool how Ziggy was able to cure us!" Fizzy giggled. "How come zebras are so good with potions?"
"Just a natural gift, I guess." Gusty replied with a chuckle. "Say, you think we should go back and apologize to Wind Whistler? Y'know, for wrecking her lab and all."
"Yeah, I guess we should. Windy doesn't have much of a sense of humor, after all." Fizzy replied, her ears drooping. "Running of like that was a mean prank, even if we knew she could handle herself."
"There's no need to apologize." A voice called out calmly. "After all the logical thing is to make up for your actions… which you are about to do, by the way."
A weird light suddenly shot out at the two girls, freezing their muscles in place so they couldn't move. Wind Whistler suddenly stepped around the corner, holding a weird looking ray gun in her wings.
"Molecular petrifaction ray." The blue Pegasus declared, slipping the gun into a pocket on her lab coat. "Something I reverse engineered after studying Crunch the Rockdog's magical transmutation abilities."
The two unicorns could only stare at her in horror, as the mad scientist pony smiled evilly, and rubbed her hooves together.
"You're probably wondering what I am going to do with you, well that is an easy one." She put her hooves around her paralyzed friends. "There are some experiments I've just been dieing to try out. Gusty, you're going to help me with a hair removal potion. Your whole coat'll fall out if this works properly! And Fizzy, I have a wonderful device called the canine-o-matic, that will give you four paws, and have you drinking from the toilet for the rest of your life. Now won't that be fun?" A puzzled look crossed her face. "Now, if only I could figure out how to get the two of you back down to the lab…"
As the two unicorns looked on in horror, Wind Whistler quietly hit the release switch on the ray gun in her pocket, zapping the two mares again ,and restoring their ability to move.
"NNNOOOOOOOO!" The two terrified mares wailed, galloping away at top speed. Wind Whistler just stood there, a smirk across her face.
"Gotcha." She said under her breath, as her two friends ran off in fright. "And you are clearly mistaken, my dear Fizzy. I most certainly do have a sense of humor."
This tale comes from right after the wedding I spoke of earlier in my writing, Apologies in advance for any conservative sensibilities this writing may upset. And please, Twilight... don't put me on the couch again for telling my readers about this...
Tornado Firehooves
Dream Castle Historian
"Can you believe this, sweetie pie?" Twilight squeed, looking out the passenger car window on our train. "We're actually going to spend our Honeymoon, in the most romantic place in all of Ponyland!"
As Twilight states the obvious in her excitement, I could only shake my mane and smile. Our wedding having gone off with only a few hiccups, Queen Majesty had been gracious enough to send us on one of the most magnificent trips a newlywed couple could ask for. The only thing that would make this aventure any better, would be if the two of us could stop calling each other these sappy and sickeningly sweet names. (Oy, the things love does to a rational mind!)
"I'm really grateful the queen could give us such a generous gift." I agree, joining her in gazing out the window. "I mean, it's only once in a lifetime even a royal from the Confederacy receives an invitation to visit Selenia. And to just hand that invite over to us as a honeymoon gift..." I trail off, still not able to believe what a wondrous gift the Queen of Dream Castle had given us. I see our train pass beyond the Pegasus guard tower that marks the confederacy, and realize that I had just crossed beyond the borders of my own country for the first time.
"I can' think of a more beautiful place to spend our first week as husband and wife, my love." She nuzzles me, rubbing her head up and down my neck. "I just know we're going to have a wonderful time."
"I would have a wonderful time anywhere, my little sugar muffin, so long as you were there with me." I reply, licking the side of her face in response.
As we passed though the Applewood hills, I noticed the tents and trading posts of the Bison tribe confederacy zoom by, the picturesque canyons and deserts they call home a beautiful sight. After we cross through a long dark tunnel, the obsidian peaks of the Darkstone mountains rose around us.
"Hm, looks like we've arrived in New Equestria." I smile, nudging my beloved, as the sprawling countryside spread out before us. "Wow, would you take a look at that view?"
A colony created by Princess Luna millennia ago, the kingdom had started as a refuge for the poor foals orphaned by the various disasters that had stuck Equestria over the ages. The kingdom slowly grew and prospered, becoming even as bountiful and happy as the homeland. A wave of immigrants poured in as the mother country slowly rotted away from within, and alicornists took refuge from the growing persecution occurring back home.
The death of Princess Luna finally caused them to declare their independence, the colonials had become sickened by the warlike race Ponyland ponies had evolved into. The newly created Ponyland Confederacy, still weak in it's infancy with enemies on all sides, could only acknowledge the colony's independence. Believing they better embodied the concept of friendship that what the homeland had become, the colony declared itself the nation of New Equestria- a self proclaimed beacon of hope for all of ponykind
On the hillsides, Twilight and I saw pony villages and towns dotting the hillsides and valleys. Quiant, picturesque little villages that looked like something off a Bright Valley postcard. Adult ponies of all three types waved to the red and silver passenger train as it roared by, as their young fillies and colts played around the ground beneath them.
"This place looks so picturesque, and those ponies look so happy." My wife noted, resting her head against me. "I've never seen ponies living in towns before. So happy, so carefree..."
It was like watching some history book come to life.... Pegasus tended the clouds above, and earth ponies worked happily in the fields below. Twilight and I stared up as the weather team bringing clouds together the skies above us, and one of the mares was drawing lighting out of a cloud by hopping up and down on it. But while I had been ready for these sights, the pony beside me was agast.
"Tornado, are those Pegasai... controlling the weather?!?" Twilight asked me in shock, her eyes going wide. "How are they doing that?!? There’s no way they can be doing that! "
"The ponies still control the weather here, sweetest." I explain to her. "The fairy folk that control Ponyland's weather never extended their influence this far south. The ponies of New Equestria guide the weather here, much as our ancestors did in old Equestria."
"Hm, that's sounds pretty handy." My wife snorted, as if the idea of ponies controlling the weather was blasphemous. "Guess these ponies think they know better than good ol' mother nature."
"Ahem... yes... well..." I cough nervously, trying to change the subject. "Oh hey, we seem to be approaching the capital!"
The train came up over the hill, and we saw a beautiful metropolis hanging off the side of the mountain before us. The castle, the town... it was like some replica of the now ruined city of Canterlot in it's heyday, save for the fact it was all constructed of obsidian of the purest purple. And symbols of a moon adorned every spire and rooftop.
"Boy they sure are dedicated to Princess Luna." Twilight commented. "I'm surprised they don't call this place the Lunar Republic."
"Har har. Look, there's Fancy Pants station." I reply, getting up out of my seat. "Let's go get our luggage, and get out there to meet our escort."
The train came to a slow stop, and the two of us stepped off onto the tarmac. The ponies around us were trotting in every direction, stepping on and off trains as they went about their business. My dear wife was in for another shock, however, as a most unexpected sound came out of the ponies's around her's mouths.
"Neigggghhh!" "Snort, snort!" "neigh, neigh!"
"T-tornado, w-why are they all making horse noises? Don't they know how to talk? " Twilight asked, clinging to me with her hooves. "We're surrounded by primitives! Aieeee Tornado, I don't wanna be eaten!"
"Calm yourself, Miss Twilight. Nopony is going to eat you." A yellow earth mare sighed, as she and an entire enourtage of pony servants trotted up. "Rest assured, we are more civilized here than our... protein eating friends in Dream Valley."
"Ah, so glad somebody here speaks English." I raise my hoof in greeting. "My name is thane Tornado Firehooves, and we're expected by the princess."
"My name is Pretty Vision, and I've been selected to be your guide during your stay here ." She shook my hoof. "In the name of our Beloved ruler, may I welcome you to Selenia, the capital of New Equestria."
"A pleasure, Miss Vision." I tell the pony with the mirror cutie mark. I kiss her hoof politely, causing Twilight to jealously glare at our guide in anger. "May I also introduce my wife, Twilight Shine of Dream Valley."
"Ah yes, the mare descended from Princess Twilight Sparkle." Pretty Vision bowed low before her. "Here my lady, we still recognize you as a princess. May I welcome you to our fair kingdom, your highness. And I hope that you and I will get to become good friends."
"Hmph. So I'm a princess here, am I?" My wife looked at her in contempt, after the earth mare had uttered the 'f' word. "Then take our bags to our room, peasant, an be quick about it!"
"As your wish, your majesty." Pretty Vision grumbled, muttering to herself as she motioned for several servant ponies behind her to take our bags. "Right this way, if you please."
The two of us followed her, and were taken aback by the many sights that greeted our eyes. Ponies laughed and talked together freely, in ways that shocked Twilight's conservative Dream Valley sensibilities. And the sight of several temples dedicated to Celestia and Luna that we passed made my blood boil, a fact I was barely able to hide with a smile.
"My my... you certainly adore the alicorns here." I comment, my smile slowly turning into a grimace. "I don't think I've ever seen this many monuments to the ancient princesses anywhere."
"Why yes, we have Temples dedicated to Princess Luna, our kingdom's sweet mother, all over the capital." The mare smiled, her heart swelling with pride. "But we also have many chapels dedicated to Princess Celestia, Princess Cadence, and Princess Twilight Sparkle, as well!" She looked back at the two of us with a wink and a smile. "You two should visit them to ask for blaessings for your marriage, if you get the chance."
The look on Twilight face told me she was contemplating ponycide, when we finally arrive at our hotel. Pretty Visions guided the two of us up to our room, and the servant set our bags down on the floor.
"Now if you two need anything, you just ring the desk." The earth mare bowed to us, as she and the other ponies trotted back out the door. "I shall be by tommorrow, to take you to the castle. Have a pleasant stay!"
"Can you believe the nerve of that mare?" Twilight snorted indignantly, after the Door had closed. "Spewing out that ponygan blasphemy in our faces! And the way she got fresh with you like that! Ohhhhhhhh!"
"Now Twilight, remember this is thier country." I remind her, surprised at how much our roles are reversed from the incident at Fort Rainbow Dash. "But that's not really bothering you, is it? I can feel how nervous and upset you are, my love... what's wrong?"
"You can read me all too well... damn this blasted lifebond. "She sighed, and trotted over to look out the window, at the sprawling city beneath us. "I-I'm sorry Tornado, it's just... I've dreamed of this moment, here with you, for a long time now." She lowered her head. "And now that we're here... like this..." She turned to me, her long, Farrah Fawcett styled mane hiding her face. "I-i-it's just I've never.... with a stallion..." She blushed a deep red, tapping her hooves together nervously . "I don't know if I..."
"Then it'll be a new experience for both of us." I tell her, gently taking the mare I love into my hooves. "I love you so much, Twilight. And nothing could make me happier than this moment."
"I-I love you too, Tornado." He replied, resting her head against me. "And I wouldn't want any other stallion in the world here with me now."
The two of us shared the most passionate kiss of our lives, as my unicorn powers levitated the light switch off. And that night, the two of us experienced the most passionate and wonderful nights that any two ponies could ever conceive of.
"Ohhhhhh..." I groan, as my eyes slowly open to the early light of dawn. Looking over to my left, I see the most wonderful mare in the world snuggled up my side, her own eyes just now opening, as well. "Good morning, my dearest. Sleep well?"
"Ohhh, my aching flank..." She smiled, rubbing her nose against mine in response. "Yes, actually... you did kinda tire me out a bit last night. Not that I didn't enjoy it."
It was an odd feeling for both of us, to wake up beside another pony after a long, pleasurable night. It was something that would take some getting use to, to be sure, but from that first night on our honeymoon, the benefits seemed to far outweigh the disadvantages. (It would only be over the next year or so, that I would discover the annoyance of Twilight's blanket hogging, and she would learn to despise my loud snoring, but that is a story for another time).
Anyway, it did not take us long to get showered, and have breakfast delivered to the hotel room. While we were finishing grooming ourselves, I noticed Twilight levitate a familiar yellow tiara with a pink heart jewel out of her bag, and place it on her head.
"Wait, your family's ancestral coronation crown?" I ask suspiciously. "Twilight, what are you planning?"
"Well, Pretty Visions told me that I'm looked at as a princess here," My wife replied candidly. "so I'm thinking- why not take advantage of that?" She smiled mischievously. "I mean, I've always wanted to be treated like a princess, and this might be my only chance."
"Oh, Twilight..." I sigh, knowing full well what really behind all this. Twilight is not happy with any view of her ancestor as an alicorn, and in her eyes New Equestria has taken this error to it's worst extreme. Pretty felt her displeasure when we first arrived, and now I feared the rest of Selenia will feel her displeasure.
It was at that point that a knock came at the door, and I opened it to find Pretty Visions standing there. As soon as the mare saw Twilight in her crown, she respectfully bowed low before us.
"Greetings, your highness." Pretty greeted her humbly. "I have returned once more, and I have brought two of my friends along to assist me."
"Salutations, Princess Twilight." An earth mare with a blue coat and orange mane bowed. "My name is Twisty Tail, and this is my friend, Braided Beauty."
"We've come to give you a and your consort a tour of the city's sights today," The green Pegasus behind her continued. "since you don't know your way around Selenia that well."
"What about our visit to the palace?" I ask, surprised by this turn of events. "Weren't we supposed to meet with the princess today?"
"Our gracious ruler has had an... unexpected problem come up. Rest assured, she will be more than happy to see you tomorrow."
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Twilight asked, a big grin crossing her face. "C'mon Tornado, let's get out there and see the sights!"
...
Over the next few hours, we were able to see some of Selenia's greatest sights. While the city was mostly a magnificent reconstruction of old Canterlot, there were many things that gave New Equestria's capital a charm all of it's own. Our dear mares proceeded to play tour guides, explaining to us the significance of everything we saw on our journey.
"This is bridle falls, the tallest waterfall in all of new Equestria." Twisty Tail told us, as Twilight and I looked over the rail at the roaring surge of water. "Much as Horseshoe falls did in the old country, this natural wonder draws many New Equestrian couples on their honeymoon to the capital."
"Ohhhh, look Sugar Pie!" My wife gasped, staring over at the cliff side at the towering falls. "It's such a looong way down!"
"Whoah, that is a long way down..." I agree, as I climbed over the railing to get a better look. "I never realized how far up we were."
"Prince Tornado, it might not be a good idea to stand up there." Pretty Vision warned, trotting up and grabbing my hoof. "Those safety rails are there to stop ponies from fa-"
"Whoa-oah-oah- oahhhhhhh!" I stumbled in surprise as Pretty grabbed me, losing my balance, and tumbling over the side. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"SWEETIE!" Twilight shrieked, extending a hoof downward in a panic.
It all happened so fast- my falling, Braided Beauty reflexively zipping down to catch me. Before either Twilight or I could cast a spell, the green Pegasus had me back up at the observation platform, where I was rattled, but otherwise alright.
"Oh, Tornado!" Twilight hugged me tightly. "Are you all right?"
"I-I think so." I replied shakily. "I think the next time I go over those falls though, I might want to use a barrel."
"You should be more cautious, your highness." Braided Beauty chided me, zipping around over our heads. Twilight stared up at her with an angry scowl, clearly not happy with ethier my Pegasus rescuer, or our original guide, Pretty. It doesn't take long, before I find out what bothering her.
"Face it Tornado, she pushed you over." Twilight whispered, as we stopped to get lunch. Our three guides had sat at a table farther away from us, where they would hear our conversation. "Those three are plotting to ruin our honeymoon, I just know it!"
"Now Twilight, you're just being ridiculous!" I snort, trying to keep my voice down. "Why in the name of the horsemaster would they be trying to ruin our trip?"
"I've heard them talking, Tornado." My wife grumbled, glaring over at the three mares. "They think we're savages from the old country. Pretty and her friends are just trying to make us look stupid!"
"Twilight, please stop it!" I hiss, as the mares at the other table finish up their meals. "I really don't think we should say anything, until they actually do something!"
My wife only sat there and stewed, while our three guides trotted over to our table to continue our tour. As we all trotted though the city, Twilight and I noticed several Pegasus guards in obsidian armor, Flying around the city, and going on their patrols. But when we looked closer, the two of us noticed a small detail about these shadow guards, that nearly threw us into a panic.
"Excuse me, Miss Beauty?" I ask our Pegasus guide, causing her to stop and turn around. "But am I mistaken, or do those stallion guards have... bat wings?!"
"You are not mistaken, my prince." The Pegasus mare informed me. "Those are our city's Nightwatch guards- a subrace of Pegasus bat ponies, who once served as princess Luna's personal troops."
"But, I thought the bat ponies were extinct!" Twilight whinnied in shock. "Their herds were wiped out in the Grogar Wars!"
"In the confederacy, perhaps. But Princess Luna had left several Nightwatch guards to watch over the colony, after her final departure." Twisty Tail explained. "Their descendants still watch over our country, carrying out the last orders of their dear alicorn princess."
As we passed a pair of the Nightwatch guards, I could have sworn one of their creepy bat eyes was following us as we trotted past. A shiver ran down my spine, as I hurried to catch up with the others.
We are soon guided over to the outskirts of the city, where there were a large network of caves running in and out of the mountain. Trotting us up to the mouth of the largest cave, the three mares stopped us in front of a small statue of Princess Luna, that rested on pedestal right at the cavern's entrance.
"These sacred caverns are called the Garden of Night." Pretty Vision explained to us. "This is where the first little orphans Princess Luna brought here, sought refuge."
"They lived here in secret for many years, until the other colonists began to arrive." Twisty Tail continued. "It was from the homes they made for themselves in these caves, that the colony expanded outward. The seeds of Luna's refuge would grow into the new Equestria."
"May we have a look around?" I asked, curious about these very historic caves. "I'd very much like to explore the interior."
"Certainly, but we must ask that you not use your unicorn magic to light the way." Pretty Visions replied. "The natural bioluminescence of the caves, shall see you through to the end."
"Thank you very much, ladies." Twilight told them. The three mares bowed to us, as my wife and I trotted our way into the caves. "Watch your step, Sweetie. I don't want you falling down again."
Once inside the darkness, the walls lit up all around us in an eerie obsidian-blue glow. A still silence permeated the caves, as it seemed like we were the only living things that had been here in a millennia.
"Wow, can you believe this was Princess Luna's secret refuge?" Twilight whispered, looks up at the rock formations hanging from the ceiling above us. "It must have been really scary for those poor fillies and colts!"
"Well, at least they had the light of the caves to guide them though." I replied, looking around at the glowing crystals embedded in the walls. "Can you imagine navigating this place totally in the dark?"
And it was at that moment, that the glowing light of the crystals was suddenly doused... and my wife and I suddenly found ourselves totally in the dark.
"Ack, sweetie pie, I can't see anything!" The pink mare beside me shrieked. "Quick, we'd better light our horns!"
"Twilight, no! We must respect our hosts!" reply, gritting my teeth. Even if I don't like the superstitious beliefs of these ponygans, I can still respect them. "Just take my hoof, and I'll see if I can guide us out of here!"
What followed over the next several hours, was two ponies stumbling around in the dark, stubbing their hooves on rocks, and banging our heads into walls. Finally, after I had fallen on my face six times and Twilight had fallen on hers four, we finally made our way back out into the light... where three hysterically laughing mares were waiting for us.
"Ohhh boy! You should've heard you two stubling around and screaming in there!" Pretty Visions giggled. "I can't believe you two fell for the old 'don't shine your horn in the sacred cave' gag."
"Oh brother, they were totally right about what brainless rubes confederacy ponies are!" Twisty Tail laughed. "You should see the look on your faces!"
"I'm very sorry we did that to you, Princess Twilight! But the way you've been treating everypony and the way you've been acting since you got here, you kind of deserved it!" Braided Beauty stifled her laughter. " Now, let us apologize to you by treating you to a nice dinner in the city's finest restaurant, and then we'll take you toi our finest spa for a lovely mane perm."
"You... you..you honeymoon wreckers!" My wife snorted, her horn glowing in anger. "It's not me who needs a new hairdo, it's you!"
"Twilight, no!" I pleaded, taking a step back. "You'll cause an international incident, they're not worth it!"
But it was too late. Reaching beyond her own miniscule unicorn magic, my wife's eyes and crown began to glow, as she tapped into her inherit power of wishing- my own dear Twilight's special talent.
"I wish...I wish... I wish... I wish!"
Within an instant, the manes of our three hosts began to grow wildly out of control. twisting and tangling in a manner a pony's mane was never supposed to move. The three mares suddenly galloped away from us in terror, as their hair writhed and moved on thier haeds as if it now had a mind of it's own.
"Guess they are the ones, who need to go to the salon now." A satisfied pink unicorn snorted. "Though I don't think the beautician is gonna want to work with a trio of' brush and grow' ponies, whose manes won't stop growing!"
"Oh Twilight..." I moaned sadly, shaking my head. "...what have you done?"
My wife and I had returned to our room, following out 'incident' outside the sacred caves. The two of us were packing our things, as we were certain that Twilight's outburst was going to get us kicked out.
"How can you even ask me that, Tornado? With the way those two treated us?" The pink unicorn snorted indignantly, slamming her suitcase shut. "They thought Dream Valley ponies were stupid! How dare they play mean tricks on us like that!"
"I will admit that their remarks were a bit... immature." I replied, levitating my own suitcase onto the bed. "And besides, they only acted like that because of how your treated Pretty Visions."
"Well then, she shouldn't have come onto you like that!" She snapped, shaking her mane. "I don't like hussy mares getting fresh with my husband!"
"Twilight, I kissed her hoof." I sigh in exasperation. "I was merely trying to be polite, and she really didn't do anything in response."
"Oh, sure, take her side!" Twilight snapped back, in one of the few times she's ever been upset with me. "And I'll bet you just enjoyed having her around on our honeymoon, too!"
I can only sigh in exasperation, as my wife got the last of her luggage together. The two of us were ready to head down to the desk to turn in our keys, when a knock came at our door. A Pegasus guard was there, a rather grim look on his face.
"Princess Twilight?" The grim-faced soldier bowed to her politely. "The royal minister would like to have a word with you."
"Now we've gone and done it. I just knew there would be trouble about this." I put a hoof to my head, trying to stifle the migraine I was getting. "Why oh why did this have to happen on our honeymoon?"
...
The throne room of Selenia's royal palace was a large, magnificent chamber. Greatly resembling it's once-great counterpart in Canterlot, Tornado even noted the stain glass windows depicting the original Harmony bearers’ greatest triumphs. The royal minister was standing before the vacant throne, the pink Pegasus with a white and blue mane looking down at Twilight and I as if we had were strange aberrations that had crawled out from beneath some rock. The mare's gaze fell upon the pink Tiara my dear wife was wearing, before she finally opened her mouth to speak.
"Ah, Princess Twilight. Welcome." The mare stated, as our three guides trotted into the room behind her. "My name is Curly Locks, and wanted to I apologize for my inability to meet you upon your initial arrival here. State affairs can be very tiring, and with our beloved princess on holiday, I have been kept extremely busy with affairs of state."
"O-okay..." My wife replied uncertainly, taken aback. "T-thank you, I guess..."
"By the way, we wanted to thank you for the wonderful mane-dos you gave us with your magic." Braided Beauty smiled, as her maned snaked and writhed around on her head. "I must say, we've never had such lively haircuts before!"
"Yeah, this is so amazing!" Twisty Tail agreed, as her mane groomed itself with the brush it was holding. "I mean, I won't even have to get my mane ready for a date now, it'll do it for me!"
"And you've actually created a very legendary look for us!" Pretty Vision exclaimed, as her hair held up a mirror for her to admire herself in. "Did you know Lady Ringlets is said to have and a mane like this? I can't believe we'll all get to look like the founder of Hoofkaido!"
"Indeed, I might wish to get such an animated haircut myself." Curly Locks finished, smiling at my wife. "Thank you so much for giving the ladies of the royal court such a wonderful makeover."
"But I...I..." Twilight replied, dumbfounded. My wife had been prepared for just about any reaction from these ponies, from being kicked out of the country to being diplomatically chastised. But to actually be thanked for her little outburst, well, that was a factor she had not counted upon. "You're welcome, I guess..."
"But why exactly did you call us here, your Excellency?" I asked, hoping to draw things back to the point.
"Ah yes, Thank you for reminding me, Prince Tornado." Curly replied, looking straight down at my wife. "Princess Twilight, in the absence of our beloved Sovereign, the crown to the only Equestrian royal within the borders of our kingdom. As we are a continuation of old Equestria, that position would fall to you, Princess."
"Me?!?" My wife asked in shock, her jaw nearly hitting the floor. "I'm the ruler of new Equestria?!?"
"For the duration of your Honeymoon, we would like to offer to you the temporary position of Princess and prince of new Equestria." the royal minister offered, smiling and bowing to the stunned mare beside me. "Consider it our wedding gift to you and your spouse."
"I...ugh..erm... ack!" Twilight suddenly sputtered, her eyes going wide in shock. Then, all at once, she suddenly burst into tears and galloped out of the room, tears streaming down hr face.
"WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Twilight!" Called out, moving to run after the fleeing unicorn. But Braided Beauty stepped in front of me, and shook her head.
"Let us talk to her, your highness." She Motioned with her hoof towards Twisty Tail, who nodded her head in agreement. "Please wait here."
As the two galloped off after Twilight, Curly Locks let out a sigh.
"Well, that certainly went well." The royal minister turned to leave. "Pretty Visions, please see to our prince here, I have important state duties to attend to."
"Don't worry, your highness." The mare reassured me, as Curly Locks trotted out of the room. "The girls will take good care of the Princess."
"Good grief, just wish I knew what was going on here.." I groan, rubbing my head with my hoof in frustration. "Twilight has been acting weird ever since we first arrived here."
"Prince Tornado, did something happen during your wedding, that may have upset the Princess in some way?" Pretty inquired, her mane wriggling morphing into a set of question marks. "I noticed something really seemed to be bothering her."
"Well, her best friend did kind of turn against her, and try to break up our wedding because she didn't approve of me." I reply, thinking back over the events of the wedding.
"So, she has had to deal with the grief of her dearest friend's betrayal, and the stress surrounding her wedding, all in the past few weeks?" The mare cocked an eyebrow, as the strands of her mane formed into a series of fingers wagging at me. "And did you ever think to ask her what was bothering her? Did you try to ask why she was so upset?"
"Hey! I did ask her what was wrong! " I protested, realizing where she was placing the blame. "I just didn't push the issue when she didn't want to talk about it. Besides, weren't you ladies the ones who played that little trick on us in the caves?"
"I... will admit that was a mistake. But we thought she was just being a snooty royal." Pretty replied, her hair animated hair drooping in response. "We believed we would just be teaching her a small lesson in humility. The three of us had no idea she was dealing with than much stress, or we never would have pulled such a prank."
"But I...you... well..." I trailed off, the great historian and scholar finally stuck speechless. "Okay, I admit I messed up. I should have been more aware of my new bride's feelings. Especially since I can feel them myself ." I noted, thinking of the lifebond.
"Hey, your new at this whole 'marriage' thing, you'll learn." Pretty replied with a laugh, her mane wriggling humorously. "You and Twilight both have some adjusting to do, and it's not going to be easy, for either of you."
"I must admit, you New Equestrians sure do live up to the alicornist ideals of the old kingdom." I reply admiringly. "Twilight never expected you to be so nice to her, especially after the way she acted."
"What can I say? Being friendly is a way of life for us." She trotted up beside me, her mane giving me a pat on the back like a hand. "Now let's just hope the others can get through to Princess Twilight."
…
It wasn’t long before Twilight and the other three came back, my wife looking much calmer than she had been before she had run off. Before any of them had a chance to speak, I ran up and hugged my wife.
"Listen, honey... I'm so sorry I didn't pay enough attention to your feelings." I whinnied sadly. "This whole mess is all my fault."
"No Tornado, I'm the one who should be sorry." She looked down in shame. "I was hiding how much everything hurt, and trying to live my romantic fantasy of a honeymoon, calling you all those silly names." She turned her head away. "I should have told you how I felt."
Hey you two, lighten up!" Braided Beauty protested, her mane moving to brush Twilight's hair. "This is you two's honeymoon, you should be enjoying it, not moping about the mistakes you've made!"
"Yeah, that stuff's solved now, " Twisty Tail agreed, her mane adjusting my glasses. "You should be out having fun!"
"Twisty's right, Twilight!" I agree ethusiascitally. "You've always wated to be a fairy tale princess, right? Well, now's your chance!"
"You know what, Tornado? You're right!" My wife smiled, looking up towards the empty throne. "This is our time to shine... and we're going to show New Equestria what a real royal couple should be like!"
"Well this should be intresting..." I reply uncertainly, as my wife ascended the stairs to the seat of power.
"Long live Princess Twilight!" The brush n' grow ponies exclaimed, as I moved to stand beside her.
Turning over the events of this trip in my head, I cannot help but wonder if our dear Queen Majesty di not arrange this specifically for Twilight and I's benefit (with the aid of the true princess of New Equestria, who now gets a week off from her normal duties). Looking over at my wife, I am remided of how much my wife had wanted to live out her fairytale drams. I am so very pleased she is happy now, and one can only hope our honeymoon goes a lot smoother from here on out.
After a hard day's work in the orchard, Applejack was tired, and ready for a good night's sleep. More than a thousand red delicious and golden delicious apples- mouth picked by the clumsy mare and her team- all washed and busheled away for the winter. Sometimes, AJ wished she could still buck apples, as she had in her youth. But Queen Majesty had banned apple bucking for safety reasons, and the orange mare didn't feel the need to defy or question her. Right now, the only thing the exhausted earth pony sought was a warm bath, followed by a good sleep in her nice warm bed. What she got however, was a loud knock on the door, just as she was drawing her bathwater.
"Hey Applejack!" A yellow earth pony with a blue mane called out, sticking her head through AJ's open door. "Cotton Candy's having a slumber party tonight! Wanna come?"
"Ugh... hello, Bubbles." Applejack groaned in annoyance. Oh course, leave it to the annoying mare with the white diamond shape on her face. The earth mare was in charge of Dream Valley's water supply, and had met AJ when the she can delivered her report on how much of the water would be needed to keep the orchard watered. Bubbles had proven particularly annoying in her persistence in trying to draw the orange farmer pony out of her own little personal bubble. "Look, I'm kind of tired tonight, couldn't you just-"
"Great!" Bubbles cheered gleefully, a huge smile on her face. "I'm so happy you'll be coming, too!"
Before Applejack could even blink, the other mare had whisked her out of her room, and dragged her to an apartment on the floor below. There, two other mares were sitting around on the floor, giggling and laughing with curlers in their manes. The pink earth mare, whom the apple mare recognized as Cotton Candy, was a silly filly who had first welcomed AJ to Dream Valley when she had first moved here. But the pink unicorn, with the white mane with purple stripe in her mane... this was a pony that Applejack had not expected to see here.
"T-twilight?" The silly pony asked in shock. Wasn't she supposed to be on her honeymoon with Tornado?
"Oh, of course not, silly!" The unicorn with a multi starred cutie mark on her flank. "Twilight's my sister! I was the one invited to this slumber party!"
"Oh, Milky Way..." Aj replied, realizing who this mare was. "... I haven't seen you since the wedding."
"Well, it's good to see you again too, girlfriend!" Milky replied with a laugh. "Bubbles here thought you might be lonely with Twilight gone and your other friends busy, you could come down here, and hang out with us!"
""I just love having new ponies at my slumber party!" Cotton Candy giggled in delight. "Now, who wants some s'mores?"
"Ohhhh boy...." Applejack groaned inwardly, smacking her hoof against her face. The mare remembered the last time she had been pulled into an impromptu slumber part such as this. That had turned out to be such a wonderful experience, that AJ could barely wait to excuse herself from this airhead crew.
"Look girls, I'm really grateful you invited me. Really, I am." The orange earth mare laughed nervously. "But I really need to get my beauty sleep, so I can get up tomorrow, and-"
Before she could finish, the mare found herself dragged over to a table, and a warm mass of chocolate, marshmallow, and gram cracker was shoved into her mouth. The annoyed apple picker chewed the snack up and swallowed it, smiling at the deliciously sweet taste.
"Okay, maybe I'll stick around for a bite or two...." AJ replied, as she downed a second one. Soon the four mares had downed an entire plate of the gooey chocolate treats, and sat back on the room's two couches satisfied.
"Oh, man... we're gonna be wearing those on our flanks for awhile." Milky Way giggled, "What do you girls wanna do now?"
"I know!" Cotton candy replied. "What do mares and fillies always do after smoores at a slumber party?"
"MAKEOVER TIME!" The two ponies squealed in gleeful unison.
"Oh no..." Applejack grumbled, as the other mares reached for her.
AJ was suddenly found herself dropped into a chair, and what followed was a flurry of scissors, mascara, and makeup.
"Oh, you're gonna look soooo adorable!" Cotton Candy exclaimed, as she applied strawberry flavored lip gloss onto the orange mare's lips.
"The stallions won't be able to keep their hooves off of you!" Milky Way agreed, tacking a pair of false eyelashes on the apple picker.
"Mmmmmmph!" An exasperated Applejack groaned, as the other mares fawned over her.
"There, aren't you glad you came here with me?" Bubbles grinned, as she applied glittery hoof polish the AJ's hooves.
"Yeah,it just great." Applejack growled, now dressed green dress with a red apple print. "Not like I haven't been made over at a slumber party before."
After the other three had been dolled up, the four mares were seated around a lamp in the middle of the floor, telling creepy stories to each other.
"...and that's when they found his rusty hook, hanging out of the window of their stagecoach!" Bubbles finished with an evil-sounding laugh, "So, whatcha think?"
"If he was a pony, how did he trot around with an iron hook?" Milky Way asked, more confused than scared.
"I think that story was a dud, Bubbles. Sorry." Cotton Candy sighed, turning to the last mare. "So what do you have, AJ?"
"Shew, those namby-pamby stories? I got something that'll top 'em all!" AJ chuckled. "Now, lemme tell you all an old farmer's tale from when I was a little filly." She made a face in the lantern's light. "This is the story of the sass squash..."
And so, the the old farming mare found herself actually having fun, in spite of how tired she was. The hair curlers and dating board games, things that would have once been more of an annoyance she had to put up with, had actually become enjoyable to the old yellow mare.
"Wow, this party is amazing!" Bubbles laughed.
"Yeah, I gotta admit," Applejack sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I'm certainly glad ya pulled me outta my room." She smiled at the other ponies. ""You ladies are the best!"
"I don't see how this could be any more fun!" Milky Way added.
"Ohh, I know how!" Cotton Candy trotted into the back, and brought out a gigantic glass bottle with a yellow liquid in it. "I just happened to have this cider left over from last year!"
"I dunno, girls..." Applejack warned, as the other mares uncorked the bottle, and began pouring glasses of the funny smelling apple juice. "This stuff might be a little too old to drink."
"Awww, stop being such a wet blanket, AJ!" Cotton Candy chided her, as the mares began downing the cider. "Why do you always worry that something's gonna go wrong?"
....
"I know! *Hic* Your a schailboat!" The wobbly Milky Way said, nearly falling over in her seat as she spoke. "That's the only think that rocks like that!"
"Thatsh not rockin, you doofush!" Bubbles replied, wobbling around. "I'm shupposhed to be a *hic* cricket, hopping around the room!"
Applejack watched the other three with an annoyed sigh, She had been right about that crazy cider, and her three friends were now inebriated, and acting like total fools. She had stuck to drinking the milk in Cotton Candy's fridge, amd was currently the only sober pony in the room.
"Girls, don't you think it's about time to turn in?" AJ suggested, letting out a yawn. "I think we've had enough fun for one night!"
"Aww, lighten up, AJ!" Cotton replied, stumbling around in front of the mare. "The night is shtill young!"
It was just after a game of Scheherazade, that a knock came int the door. Outside, there was a white earth pony with a blue mane and several blue flowers cutie mark- a pony that none of the four recognized.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you..." The nervous sounding mare asked. "But my name's Mage, and I'm new to the castle." She set down a measuring cup in front of the other ponies. "Would any of you happen to have a cup of sugar?"
"Yaaaay! Another new friend!" Bubbles hiccuped, sending a fouls bust of stench right into the other mares face. "Get in here, new friend!"
"Ew, this place stinks!" Mage wrinkled her dainty nose, as Bubbles pulled her inside. "What have you ladies been doing in here?"
"Awww, wesh jusht having shome *hic* fun!" Milky Way giggled, sitting the new mare down on the couch beside her. "Now Cotton, you were shaying about the cashtle's *hic* boys?":
"Well, Quarterback Score has th-the best flank. And that Steamer boy Poesy brought in with her has the cutest eyes." Cotton replied dreamily. "But the Hottest hottie in Dream Valley has to be Slugger!"
"Oh yeah, that boy can buck me anytime! Woo-woooo!" Bubbles stood up on the couch, slapping her flank. "Pity he only hash eyes for Buttons!"
"Wow, you girls are certainly forward with a stranger" Mage cocked an eyebrow. "And what is your opinion on the castle's males, fair Applejack?"
"Well, I-I don't think that's an appropriate question to-" Applejack started, trying to hide her blush.
"Awww, c'mon AJ! *hIc*!" Bubbles stumbled over to the mare, putting a hoof around her. "We all know you have a thang for that Mountian Boy hottie, Lightning!"
"Whew! what a hottie!" Cotton Candy agreed, waving her hoof in front of her face. "That stallion is lightning in a BOTTLE!"
"I see" Mage replied, narrowing he eyes. "And tell me, what do you girls think of Queen Majesty?"
"Majesty? That old nag? *hic*" Cotton Candy snorted. "Naw, jusht kidding. She's a great queen. But she doshen't know how to let her mane down, and have a good time!"
"Yeah! She's an awesome leader!" Milky Way agreed. "But she's such an old fuddy duddy. Dhere's no way she'd *hic* come and hang out wif a bunch of mares like us!"
"Shtill, she's and amashing mare." Bubbles finished. "I'd rather have a shitck in the mud whose a good queen, than a *hic* good time mare that can't lead anhts to a picnic!"
"Thank you very much for your opinion, ladies." Mage smiled, trotting towards the kitcen. "I believe I shall get my cup of sugar, and beyond my way."
As the mare trotted her way out to the kitchen, Applejack swore she saw the top of a horn sticking out of the top of the unicorn's mane. Noticing what her inebriated friends did not, the earth mare suddenly realized what exactly what had just happened.
"Ohhh boy..." AJ thought to herself, as Mage trotted out the apartment door. "Things are going to be a whole lot more interesting when we all wake up tomorrow."
I am the queen of Dream Castle, the ruler of all the ponies of this valley. I am the unicorn whom this entire herd looks to in time of trouble, I am the source of wisdom and strength whom all of my subjects look to for leadership. I love each and every one of my subjects as if they were my own foals, and my heart and soul is devoted to their welfare. I smile when their hearts are filled with joy and happiness, and I weep when they are consumed by misery and sorrow. This was what I was raised to do, and the reason for my very existence.
As I sit upon this red velvet throne, I look down upon my children who come to me with their grievances. It is my responsibility to resolve disputes between my little ponies, and it is my duty to set the rules and make the decisions which determine how they will live their lives. and to protect them from the foul things in this world that mean to do my little ones harm. Most of the herd look upon me with a combination of awe and reverence, always seeing me as Majesty the icon, and not Majesty the mare.
If only they knew the half of it.
I was born into a time of uneasy peace. A twenty year truce had had just been signed between the Confederacy and Tirac, and most of the goblin hordes had been driven back beyond the southern desert. Like all the princesses before me, I was raised as a commoner. Raised side by side with the ponies I would one day rule, so I could understand how they had to live. I attended classes in the schoolroom alongside the other colts and fillies of the herd, and played games with them in the castle courtyard. There was always a distance between the other ponies and I. Oh sure, they were always kind and polite enough to me, but they were always too nervous around me to ever let their guard down.
It was a lonely existence, as few ponies treat me as one of them. There are times I wish I were of their number, instead of some kind of almighty sovereign whom they had to tread lightly around. But some mare must fill this role of an impartial arbitrator between the ponies of the herd. And if I made friends with any of them... well, in a dispute my decisions in their favor wouldn't be seen as very neutral, now would they? So I must forever remain an outsider amongst my own herd, forever distant from the very ponies I make this sacrifice for. But the whispers have reached my royal ears, that not all ponies see my royal sacrifice as something noble. There are those who scorn my choice to live above them, and think I am as stiff as a statue in the royl gallery.
What right did those mares have to say those things about me at the slumber party? They don't even have an inkling of what I've given up, and what sacrifices I've made for their well being! And yet, I cannot deny there is some truth to their words. the only ponies I can talk to on any level are my own royal consort, and Baby Majesty. Yet the days come, that I long to be able to go and enjoy a cup of cider with, say, Gusty and Fizzy. To sit with two simple mares such as those two, and laugh and joke and gossip like any normal pony, instead of having them bow and grovel at my every word whenever I come into the room. Why can't they see me as the plain looking white unicorn with the blue mane and field of flowers cutie mark?
But... being the spoiled little queen of Dream Valley isn't all that's at stake here, is it? My bloodline is a long and ancient one- older than the alicorns, older than Equestria itself. The first Majesty was created at the dawn of time by the horsemaster, the seventh mare brought into existence to lead the rest of the very first herd of sentient ponies. She was gifted with a golden crown, that only she and the eldest born mare of each generation of her bloodline could use. That crown was past down though our family, as each Majesty took a powerful place of leadership amongst ponykind. Our bloodline became the unicorn Royal family in the classical era, then a second branch of the royal family under the alicorn princesses of the Equestrian era. We eventually came to rule Dream Valley, and our line controls this tiny kingdom with an absolute authority.
Ahh, but what is so important about this golden tiara that rests upon my head, you ask? You might not believe it, but this crown is the most powerful artifact in this entire world, It is written that when the Horsemaster saw the first ponies that they had just created, the almighty wept tears of joy. Those tears- the love the horsemaster felt for her first newborn children- took physical form as a golden gilded tiara with a rose on it. This crown allows me to do feats beyond anyone's comprehension. If I so willed it, mountains would be flattened into valleys, and the sun and moon would race across the sky. With a mere thought, I could wish the dead alive again, and they would be standing before me. Or if I desired all of Ponyland's enemies would be erased from existence. Any mere wish that I could possibly conceive of, and this tiara would make it a reality.
Then why don't I use this incredible power? Because it's usage carries a terrible price. While this tiara could vanquish a thousand alicorns and the elements of harmony with a mere gesture, the horsemaster warned that any warping of reality the house of Majesty took with the crown, the universe would carry an equal reaction out on Ponykind. I once used the crown's power to turn a troll who was threatening my herd to stone. The monster had pleaded for his life, but I still carried out my swift and ruthless justice on this unsuspecting victim. The end result? The universe repaid my actions, with a massacre of a battalion of Dream Valley troops by goblins in black mountains. All of those grieving widows, all of those orphaned foals. Can you now comprehend why the crown of Majesty is such a terrible burden upon me? If such a minor action was replayed so harshly, what would happen if I tried to use the crown to warp reality itself?
And so, I remain ever burdened with this terrible responsibility. My subjects with never know the terrible burden this crown that weighs so heavily upon my head is, nor will my pain over the decisions I am forced to make with this terrible power. I may have been created to rule ponykind, even over the alicorns themselves, but I am content to govern my small herd with the righteousness and justice they deserve. I only wish that sometimes my little ponies could gaze upon me and see the pony within, and not just the Majesty without. Sometimes, I think it would be so nice to have a real, true and caring friend. As a queen, I often wonder what partaking in such a common pleasure would be like.
But for now, I have two formerly inibrated mares from yesterday, that I simply must have a word with...
"All right, ladies and gents!" Gusty declared, holding a glass of soda high into the air, her cheeks flushed with red. "Let's get this party swingin' here!"
All around the partying ponies danced and sang, the bright lights and pounding beats rocking the joint. The blue unicorn D.J. laid down the hot tunes on her turntable, while the white earth mare Scoops served up ice cream sodas and cider at the refreshment table, while all the other ponies danced the night away. After all the battles won and foes defeated, it was a rare time for these ponies to celebrate.
And what a reason to celebrate, indeed! In memory of those who had passed, Queen Majesty had ordered the ruined Paradise Estate rebuilt and restored, as a memorial to the ponies who had lost their lives here in Tirek's viscous and brutal attack. After the building and surrounding structures had been fully and authentically restored, the queen had decreed that a party be held to celebrate the estate's re purposing into a foreign embassy for Dream Valley, where an ally of the kingdom would soon take up residence.
"Hey, Fizzy, wanna try the limbo?" Surprise asked, as she and Glory set the pole up. "How low can this mare go?"
"Ohhh, sounds like fun!" The ditzy unicorn trotted up to the pole, and winked from one side of the pole to the other. "Yay, I did it! What did I win?"
"Oh, Fizzy..." Glory moaned in disgust, as Surprise burst out laughing.
"Wow, that's one for the record books!" The crazy Pegasus giggled, falling backwards in midair.
"Hey, are you sure you haven't had enough to drink, Gusty" Scoops asked, as she served up the mare's seventh ice cream soda. "You know how hyper you get when you have too much sugar!"
"Awww,, don't be silly, you old worry wart!" The mare jumped up onto the table, yelling at the top of her lungs. "Okay, this party is too dead, EVERYBODY CONGA!"
Many ponies present were overjoyed by the gathering, while a few were a little too somber to be enjoying the party. Outside, Paradise was looking over a large earth mound that had been dug, and heaped upon a mass grave that stood nearby the estate.
"Lofty... Cupcake...Truly...." The mare whinnied mournfully, looking at the memorial plaque in front of her. "What right did I have to live, while so many of you perished in such a terrible way? I don't deserve to be standing here, today..."
"Paradise, what are you doing standing out here?" Wind Whistler asked, trotting out of the nearby estate. "We were just about to initiate the primitive tribal gyration the humans call the twist, and-" She stopped suddenly, seeing what the mare was staring at. "Oh dear, Paradise, I didn't realize...."
"No, it's all right, Windy." Paradise sighed, turning her face away to hide her tears. "They were traitors anyway, what pony could possibly mourn them?"
"Paradise, they were our friends, too." The genius mare put a hoof on her weeping friend's shoulder. "We all feel-"
“Heyyyy, there you to are!” A overly hyper Gusty exclaimed, coming out and putting her hooves around the two other mares’ necks. “What’re you both doing out here? Doncha know there’s an awesome party going on in There?”
“Salutations, Gusty.” Wind Whistler greeted the other pony, trying to disentangle herself from the unicorn. “While we appreciate your pointing this factor out to us, I suggest the hypothesis that the two of us would prefer to remain out- ahhhhhhh!”
Before the two mares had a chance to protest, the hyper unicorn had yanked them both back inside the manor house, giggling and laughing all the way.
…
The party continued for several hours, until many of the ponies present were too exhausted to continue. More and more couples continued to leave the party, until only Wind Whistler, Fizzy, Gusty, Paradise, and Gypsy remained.
“You girls sure you can make it back to the castle in one piece?” Quarterback Score asked his wife, as he and other husbands got ready for the long trot home. “One of us could stay here with you five, until the party’s really over.
“Naww, you boys just head along home, and get some rest.” Gusty replied, rubbing her spouse’s nose. “We’ll be along later, and you and I can… score a few touchdowns.”
Quarterback laughed, as the other mares in the room all blushed at Gusty’s bluntness. Finally, after all of the stallions had galloped away, the mares all gathered around a table and chairs, Gypsy had set up, in the middle of the room.
“Now gazer round, girls, as I prepare to call upon zee ponies zhat haff pazzed on.” Gypsy said cryptically, as Gusty dimmed the lights, and Fizzy lit a candle. “If vou will all take each others hooves, I vill attempt to reach zee ozer side!”
“The other side of what, the wall?” Fizzy asked, taking Paradise and Wind Whistler’s hooves. “Oh, I could just walk outside and tell you what’s there!”
“She means the afterlife, you big dummy!” Gusty snapped at her bubble-headed friend. “All right! I’ve been waiting for something cool like this séance all evening.”
“I really don’t think this is a good idea… contacting the spirits of the dead here. I really can’t believe Gypsy agreed to do this.” Paradise whinnied nervously. “Besides, I don’t even think Wind Whistler believes in this sort of thing.”
“And why not?” The blue Pegasus snorted indignantly. “The afterlife and the existence of the spirit world are well documented facts! Why should I even consider doubting their veracity?”
“Well, all the human world scientists on the television always say that all that paranormal stuff isn’t real.” Fizzy pointed out, speaking up with the others. “They said it’s all unscientific, and shouldn’t be taken seriously.”
“What utter hogwash! What they call the supernatural is simply a science so advanced, that we do not yet understand it.” The blue mare scowled. “A true scientist is open to any possibility- with proper controlled experiments and theorizing, of course. “They do not crystallize their hypothesis into an unchallengeable dogma they vehemently defend in the face of all other theories. I have little use for such overzealous skepticism, as it is not the sign of a true scientist, but instead the sign of an arrogant fool.”
“Vind Vistler, if vou vill please get off you high soapbox und zit down, ve would like to vegin.” The Pegasus mare complied, and Gypsy continued. “Now all of vou, please conzentrate on ze vlame. Zink of our vriends who haf gone on to ze next vorld, und ve shall try to make contact vith zem again. Conzentrate…”
They all stared quietly into the flame, and focused their minds on the ponies they wished to talk to. But as the minutes slipped away into hours, nothing even remotely supernatural occurred, in the darkness around them. The silence gradually wore away at the gathered mares’ patience, until one could stand it no longer.
“That does it, this séance stinks!” Gusty snapped, jumping back to her hooves. “Leave it to a pack of losers like Truly and her bunch, not ta show up at a seance in their honor!”
“Why Gusty! What an awful utterance to make!” Wind Whistler declared, shocked at her friend’s cruel words. “I can’t believe you would disrespect the deceased in such a manner!”
“Yeah, Truly and the other girls were our friends!” Fizzy protested, looking at the other pony angrily. “In fact, I’m starting to think this séance might have been a lil’ disrespectful to their memory .”
“Awww, get off yer high human, Fizzy!” Gusty snapped back. “Those gals were traitors, and we’re better off with them in the ground instead of here!” The white unicorn barked, clearly still suffering the effects of the excess sugar. “Besides I wish ol’ Truly herself was here right now, so I could give her a piece of my mind!”
At just that moment, a lightening bolt suddenly cracked outside, booming across the clear sky above. Not able to take the cruel remarks her friend had just made, Paradise suddenly burst into tears, and covered her face in her hooves.
“Awww Paradise, I didn’t mean you!” Fizzy protested, as the weeping mare galloped out of the room. “Please come back!”
As thier friend ran out of the room, Wind Whistler simply rolled her eyes.
“What utterly juvenile behavior!” Wind Whistler snorted in disgust. “Come on, Fizzy. Let’s go see if we can catch up with her.“
“Wheee, I like missions!“ The goofy blue unicorn replied , skipping after the other mare. “Heyyy, wait up for me!”
Gypsy put out the candle, as the lights suddenly came back on again. But looking out one of the estate's windows, she began thinking about what had just happened.
“What a horrible interruption that was." Gypsy thought to herself, with a frown on her face. “I just hope Gusty didn’t stir up a hornet’s nest, with that crude little remark..."
…
Outside of the estate, green mists began to hover and swirl around the burial mound where the slain ponies lay. Suddenly, the mound began to shake and rumble, as if a living thing were inside of it, trying to get out. A cold wind blew across the estate grounds, and a shadow covered the light of the moon. Terrified animals fled in every direction, as a hissing sound and a foul stench emanated from the disturbed soil.
“Rhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”
Suddenly, a decayed, moldy white hoof burst forth from the top of the mound, followed by the half decayed snout of a yellow earth pony. Before two long, the very mound itself exploded outward… and the decayed, maggot ridden forms of a dozen mares clambered from the resulting hole. Truly, Cupcake, Magic Star and the other friends of the Dream Valley ponies walked the earth once more. But as they shambled their way towards the great house, something other than friendship was now on thie half-decomposed minds.
“Brrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaainssssssssssssssss!”
Terror in Paradise, part two- Night of the living Truly
Terror in Paradise, part two- Night of the living Truly
"Paradise, come back!" Wind Whistler exclaimed, as she ran outside after the other mare. "Please don't let yourself be troubled by that odious nag's bile, she doesn't know what she's talking about!"
"I-it's all my fault..." The Pegasus wept bitterly, staring at her own refection in the estate's pool. "I never should have helped bring the others out here. They're all gone because of me..."
"Now Paradise, that's simply not true!" The blue mare protested. "Those mares made their own choice, and if they were here right now, I'm sure they'd tell you the same thing!"
"BRAAAAAAAINNNNNSSSS!" A half-rotted earth mare sudden leapt over the wall, followed quickly by nearly a dozen others. Only a few wisps of hair still stuck out of her mane, and her ribs shone through the holes in her rotted white hide.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" The two living mares screamed in terror, hugging each other as the ghoulish ponies surrounded them. "FAKIES!"
"Hello, girls...." A raspy voice emerged from the half-rotten earth mare, a half smile covering the still fleshy part of her face. "Sooooo good to see all of you again!"
"T-truly?" Wind Whistler asked, trying to hide her disbelief and terror creeping into her voice. "I-is that really you?"
"Why don't you come and find out, Windy." Cupcake hissed, putting a skeletal hoof down behind Truly. "In fact, we think you'll just be dying to join us!"
The fakie zombies took and step forward, and Wind Whistler immediately broke into a gallop, yanking the other mare along with her as she ran.
"Come on, let us expediently depart this location!" She wailed, as they ran back inside, locking the door. "We need to warn the others!"
The drooling beasts galloped quickly after her, only to have the door shut in their faces. While the bloodthirsty horde tried to smash their way through the enchanted doorway, a still entirely fleshy zombie broke away from the others, and started looking around for another way inside. It was then that a twinkle-eyed unicorn mare trotted out the side door, and spotted the snarling fakie.
"Ohhh, Magic Star, you came back!" Fizzy's face suddenly lit up, as she rushed over and hugged the fakie. "It's so good to see you again! Where in the world have you been?!"
"Brains?" The uncertain zombie asked, as the other mare dragged her along.
"Oh sure, your family will be happy to see you!" Fizzy giggled, as she made her way back to the castle. "But whew, we really need to get you a bath! You smell like you've been buried underground or something!"
...
"Gypsy, bar the doors immediately!" Wind Whistler wailed, as she and paradise ran back inside the estate's living room. "We are under assault by the legions of the undead!"
"Awww, what're you yakkin' about, Windy?" The still hyper Gusty snorted. "The undead? This ain't halloween, ya know!"
"RHAAAAARRRRR!" several voices screamed out, as half-rotten zombies smashed thought the windows. "BRAAIIINSSS!"
"Guzty, zhe iz right!" The horrified roma pony threw up a shield between them and the invaders, as the huddled in the center of the room. "Girlz get ready to vight vor your lives!"
The fakies came pouring in, as the mares tried to fight back. The two unicorns blasted away at the zombies, while the two Pegasus threw every loose piece of furniture in the room at them.
"My apologies, Cupcake. I really sorry about this." Wind Whistler broke a chair over the growling, slobbering mare's head. "We really have no desire to bring harm to any of you."
"Oh really, brainiac? Coulda fooled me!" Mimic hissed, a green misty could emanating from her mouth. "You went though all that trouble to save me, then you let this happen to me? Some friend you are!"
"These things can talk!?" Gusty asked in surprise, as she blew Cupcake's nearly fleshless corpse against the wall. "What the heck's going on here, anyway?!"
"Paradise, how could you leave us all to die?" Gingerbread asked sadly, stopping in from of the distraught Pegasus. "I thought you were our friend."
"Oh, Gingerbread... I..." The mare tried to hole back her tears. "I'm so sorry...."
Paradise's guard down, the fakie leapt at her with bared fangs. Gingerbread's teeth were inches from her throat, when a beam from Gusty's horn vaporized the moster.
"Paradise, don't let your guard down!" Wind Whistler yelled, as she spun and dove around, trying to avoid Lofty the elder's bite. "Gypsy, why in the horsemaster's name would these creatures return to life?!"
"My incantion! Guzty's interruption must have used my magik to call zhem back from zee great beyond." Gypsy realized, trying to push several of the beasts back with a wall of energy. "und now zhey vant revenge vor dizubing zhem!"
"Y'all wanted ta give me a piece of yo mind, Gusty!" Truly hissed, in a near-demonic voice. "Naow, we've ahll decided ta come back and take it!"
"Gusty, I know what they want!" Paradise told her, kicking Cupcake's corpse out one of the windows. "You have to apologize! It's the only way to appease thier restless spirits!"
"Wha? Now way!" Gusty snorted proudly, as she tried to hold back a bunch of the fakies with a wall of wind. "I'll never apologize to that miserable little-"
"Gusty, she was your friend! She was a friend to all of us!" Wind Whistler protested, back-kicking Lofty's fakie out of the air. "Please, swallow your pride, and make your peace with the deceased!"
"Guzty, vou zummoned zhem by you vords!" Gypsy pleaded, throwing up a shield around all of the exausted mares, as the remaining fakies swarmed in. "Only vou can zcare zhem avay!"
"All right already!" Gusty wailed in defeat, turning towards the lead fakie. "Truly, I'm sorry! I'm sorry I called you a traitor! You did what you thought was right, and I have no right to judge your actions!"
The fakies suddenly all stopped at once, staring at the still living ponies in the room. Finally, Truly turned towards the terrified unicorn mare, and a genuine smile seemed to cross her decomposed face.
"Thak y'all, Gusty." The mare replied, her voice actually sounding normal again. "Thiat's ahll ah needed tah heyah."
And with that, the fakies all suddenly dissolved into a large puff of smoke. And when the air around them cleared, the windows, the furniture... all of the estate appeared as if nothing had even happened.
"What did... did that just..." Gusty sputtered out id disbelief. "What the heck just happened?!?"
"I recommend we not think about it, my friend." Wind Whistler replied, trotting out of the room with the unicorn. "Let us just get the lights off, and close down the estate before we head back to the castle."
"Darlink, are you goink to be all vright?" As the two left the room, Gypsy trotted over to Paradise. "Zhat must haf been a very terrible experience for vou!"
"Yes Gypsy, I'm going to be all right, thank you." The Pegasus stared out one of the estate's windows, at the glittering stars above. "I'm just thinking about my friends, both those still here, and the ones who have passed on..." She stood up, and motioned her head towards the door. "Come on Gypsy, let's go home to the castle."
"Zhat iz a vunderful idea!" The roma pony replied, a smile crossing her face. "Ztill, I cannot zhake the veeling ve've vorgotten somezing..."
....
In one of the castle's windows, two mares were seated at a decorated table. Clearly in the middle of a tea party, the unicorn levitated a teapot up to pour some more of the hot liquid.
"Sooo, would you like some more, Magic Star?" Fizzy asked, adjusting the party hat on her friend's head.
"BRRRRAAAAAAAAAIIINNNNNNSSSSS!" The drooling mare replied, exasperated that the pony next to her obviously had no brain matter to eat.
"Oh, Magic Star, you are such a kidder!" The blue mare replied with a giggle. "You still really need a bath, though!"
Pulled recently from the archives of the Royal Paradise, I have translated form old Equestrian the story of two ponies who passed through the width and breadth of old Equestria together. Though it the two of them learned not only a great deal about life, but aslo learned a great deal about each other.
Tornado Firehooves
Dream Castle Historian
"Pony Joe, over here! Another round, please!"
My hoarse voice cracks the silence of the cafe, causing the few patrons still present at this late hour to turn their heads when I speak. My appearance is unusual, to be sure, but not enough to hold their attention. Pony Joe runs this shady tavern beyond the midnight hour, after he's closed his more legitimate donut shop down for the day. Many ponies here are busy downing donuts and exotic beverages for their own reasons... many are here to remember, but many are also here to forget. This old stallion, though, is seeking to do a little bit of both.
"You sure you're okay, buddy?" The unicorn stallion asks, drying a levitated glass, and giving me a look of concern. "I think you've had one too many ciders already."
I can only imagine how terrible I must look to an observer- a scarred blue hide, and a scraggily, half torn-out mane. Bloodshot eyes only stare back at him in silence, and I only give him a weak nod in response. As he pours me another glass of cider, I consider how any other pony would have a concerned friend show up to talk some sense into them now. Not this unicorn, however... I put my friends behind me a long time ago. This unicorn has seen too many horrors, been through too many terrors to believe that those who once called themselves my friends would come to my aid.
What is my story, you ask? In truth, there's not much I wish to tell. I was a bright young unicorn researcher once, with a deep knowledge of magic, and a desire to help all of ponykind. I journeyed out beyond the borders of Equestria, where I found many adventures beyond counting. I had many good times with friends out there, and even met the love of my life. But my friends and I went on a very perilous journey, and we barely returned from our ordeal alive. But while my friends returned to find the mares they loved waiting for them, I came back to find I had been replaced by the one I held dear, cast aside for a prettier face and a softer mane. No, my story is not the interesting one here- rather , it is the story of the pony of whom I am about to speak.
She came exploding though the door, that blue mare with a white mane did, clearly a pony who is used to making a dramatic entrance. She held her head up high as she slowly trotted towards the bar, her wand and magic cutie mark clearly visible as I glanced at that well-rounded flank of hers. From the weariness in her violet eyes I can see she has been though much grief herself, but the fire I also see in those eyes tell me she has the will and determination to deal with it.
"Pony Joe! The great and Powerful Trixie demands that you serve her at once!" The angry pony hissed, sitting at the bar stool and slamming her hoof down. "Give me the hardest cider at your barrel, and make it snappy!"
"Awww, keep yer hat on, Trixie!" The barkeep replied, clearly recognizing the irritating yet provocative-looking mare. "I'll get to you just as soon as I serve those ponies over there in the corner."
"Hmph, it is Trixie who should be getting preferential treatment." The mare snorted indignantly. "Trixie is one of your regulars, after all."
"Sounds like you've been in here quite a few times, miss." I speak up, looking down the bar at the haggard-looking mare. "I'd be more than happy to take a recommendation on their finest drink, if you'd care to share your thoughts."
"For you, Trixie recommends a glass of water." She snaps, as Joe pours her a glass of cider. "See if you could wash all of the ugly off your scarred old face."
"Ouch, such unkind words, coming out of such a lovely lady's mouth." I reply gently, moving down to the seat next to her. "Would your mood improve, perhaps, if I offered to buy you a round, perhaps?"
"Such an offer will get you everywhere, gruesome." She spat back, as I tossed a few bits onto the bar for her drink. "I suppose you want Trixie to spend some time with you, now, maybe a roll in the hay?" The disgusted mare spat, ignoring the fact that a 'roll in the hay' without a lifebond would be impossible. "Sorry, I'd need to keep the light off, if I didn't want to lose my lunch."
"I'd settle for what a nice pony like you, is doing in a dive such as this." I reply calmly, drinking another cider and ignoring her juvenile attempts to rile me up. "What brings what is clearly a very talented unicorn down to a sinkhole such as this?"
"You could tell, couldn't you?" This 'Trixie' replied, a smile spreading across her face as her ego was stroked. "I was a show pony, the best performance stage magician in all of Equestria. Trained by the great Midnight Hooves himself."
"You were Midnight's apprentice?" I ask, my ears perking up at the name of my old colleague from Tambelon. "Than you truly must be talented. But again, why is such a talented show pony, with all of your skill and looks, doing in a rundown cafe in Canterlot at two in the morning?"
"Tis true, Trixie should be headlining shows in Manehatten and Fillydelphia, as she once did." The mare grumbled, as she levitated the glass of cider and downed it in one gulp. "But thanks to that Twilight Sparkle, I've been so humiliated, I'll never be able to get a decent booking again!"
"Twilight Sparkle!?" I rasp in surprise, hearing a name that was like a stab to my own heart. "Now what did our dear Alicorn Princess ever do to you?"
"Oh, not much... just she and her friends made me the laughingstock of Ponyville!" Trixie spat, slamming her hoof down again as she emptied her second cider. "Trixie only came to their little town to put on her act, and they utterly and totally ruined my reputation!"
"Not to interrupt, Miss Trixie, but that's not quite the way I heard it." Pony Joe interrupted, as he refilled my glass again. "The way Spike told me, you bought the Harmony Bearers right up on stage, and humiliated them right in front of the whole town. And then you brought an ursa major in that almost wrecked Ponyville!"
"I'm a show pony! Showing off my magic is my special talent!" She snapped back, downing the rest of her third cider in one gulp. "Okay, maybe it was a bit mean hog-tying the famer and messing up the fashionesta's mane. But they were yelling at Trixie for doing what she's supposed to do! And Trixie didn't ask for those two brats to bring that beast into town, it's their own stupidity that almost got the town destroyed!"
"Great and Powerful Trixie... Great and Powerful Trixie..." I think for a moment, downing another glass, and trying to sift my memories around in my cider-induced haze. "I remember you now! You're the unicorn mare who enslaved Ponyville!"
The moment I uttered those words, her ears suddenly drooped, and her angry expression changed to one of regret. "I-I didn't mean to do that! Those horrible things, it was all the alicorn amulet! I swear it was!"
"Torturing Ponies, trying to kill them... all in the name of 'getting revenge'? A show pony's special talent is supposed to be entertaining other ponies with their feats and abilities." I snapped back, just as inebriated as the unicorn sitting next to me. " Not enslaving them and making them suffer in the name of your own hurt vanity and pride! You're just as twisted and evil as Discord and Sombra and Nightmare Goon!"
"That's Nightmare Moon, Booker. "Pony Joe corrected me, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, what he said." I grumbled, the stink of booze oozing from my breath.
"You're so right... I'm a monster!" The sloshed blue unicorn blubbered, tears streaming down her eyes as she buried her face in her hooves. "I'm a disgusting creature that doesn't deserve to live on Celestia's earth!"
"Oh for the love of-" Putting my hoof under her delicate chin, I bring her face up to look directly into her eyes. "You are no monster, Trixie. You're simply a pony who's made some very bad mistakes over the years... but in that respect, I'm not really that different than you."
"Really?" She asks, drying her sloppy wet tears with her hoof. "W-what have you done that's so terrible? And who are your, anyway?"
"Madam, my name is Professor Booker, formerly of the Tambelon research laboratories." I introduce myself to the drunken mare, nearly falling over in a half-bow on my seat. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"A researcher? Well that explains the egghead appearance." She replied, as she motioned with her hoof for Pony Joe to refill her glass. "But Tambelon? I heard that place was completely blown up."
"That's what a lot of ponies heard." I reply with a sigh, as I take another sip of my cider. "Suffice to say my friends and I barely escaped that horrible place though a crack in the *hic* dimensional barrier that closed up behind us."
And so we talked- two ponies, each drowning in our own sorrow from our past mistakes, and finding sympathy for each other in our misery. As we each downed more and more cider, a sobriety spell I had learned in my younger days kept us both awake. But even that could hold back the tide of total inebriation forever.
"So you had to leave on a long trip, and when you got back, she had found another stallion, huh?" Trixie asked me, amazed at my story. "Wow, I can't believe any mare would do something like that- *hic*."
"Yep, left me for some fancy pretty-boy Crystal Empire guard." I mutter, my head lowered over the bar. "I finally got back to Equestria, and she chose a blue maned airhead over me."
"How could any female pony be so dumb?" The great and wobbly Trixie whinnies, her disheveled mane falling into her eyes. "Mares outnumber Stallions in Equestria three to one. Most fillies would be fighting each other tooth and hoof to get one, even a *hic* scarred up freak like you."
"Well, any stallion worth his salt lick would be happy to get a mare like you." I reply, rubbing my nose against hers. "Even if you are a cold hearted, stuck up witch."
From my cloudy memory, what followed the rest of the night was a series of warm kisses that stank of cider, Pony Joe shooing a pair of unicorns out of his place for 'making an indecent scene in front of the customers', and trotting my way back to a yellow and red wooden cart, followed by one of the most heavenly nights I've ever had since escaping back through the portal from Tambelon.
...
What I awoke to the next morning, I found myself lying on a feather mattress in said cart, with an azure colored mare (I could see her actual color now, not being tanked) lying against my side, nuzzling up to me to keep warm.
"What the?" I start to exclaim. "Ow-ow-OW! headache!" I groan, putting my hooves to my temples.
"Oh, good morning, gruesome." The mare moaned softly, licking the side of my fce, and rubbing her own forehead from a lesser headache. "Sleep well?"
"Yes, but the aftertaste is a bit of a doozy." I mutter, trying to stand up straight without falling over.
"Hold on, I've got a potion here in the cart for such a problem." She ran into her medicine cabinet, and produced a small vial. "Bought this off of a traveling zebra potion dealer, should mix that nasty migraine up in a jiffy!"
Without the lifebond, nothing had happened between us the night before, of course. But it was still embarrassing to wake up in such an... awkward situation. After a quick breakfast she had hastily prepared, I was soon trotting out of the cart, ready to make my way towards whatever destiny had planned for me next.
"Booker, wait." Trixie came running out of her cart after me. "Where will you be going from here?"
"Wherever the winds take me, I suppose." I tell her, looking on down an empty road ahead of me. "Ever since I got home, I've just kind of... wandered from place to place, sleeping under bridges, and getting by however I could."
"Well, you could... come with Trixie!" Her face suddenly lit up. "I mean... Trixie could use a research pony, maybe with some tips to make her act better? And Trixie could teach you about stage magic, and maybe you could teach Trixie about other magic?"
Looking into her eyes, I see the same look I saw in another mare's eyes so long ago... a mare whom I had mistakenly believed I had lifebonded with. Trixie has been cast out and ostracized for so long, that the first stallion who showed her a warm smile and a few kind words was like a breath of fresh air. She was tired of being alone, and had found common interest with me in the subject of magic.
Did I want to go though all of this again? Did I want to put myself though the same pain and misery that broke my heart last time, if this mare decides I'm not good enough? It only takes me a moment to decide.
"I'll stay Trixie... but only if you drop the arrogance and the 'great and powerful' garbage when we're not in public." I snort. "I know it's part of your stage performance, but I won't have such belittling behavior in my personal life. Around me, you will be yourself. Understand?"
"Okay fine, you Win! I'll drop the act!" She sticks out her lip angrily, pouting for a moment, before finally replying. "But not in front of the paying customers. I'm going to have a hard enough time as is rebuilding my stage reputation."
"I completely understand, Trixie." I smile, as the two of us trot back over to the cart.
"Actually, Trixie's just a stage name. My real name's Beatrix Lulamoon." She turned and smiled at me again. "But I'd prefer it if you called me Bea."
"Okay then, 'Bea'." I reply with a laugh. "But there's a little problem here... there's only one bed in this car. Where the hay am I going to sleep?"
"That wasn't a problem last night, now was it?" She trotted back onto the cart, cocking and eyebrow. "This cart is heading to the Crystal Empire next, and it can get very cold on those northern winter nights. We'll need a way to keep warm, now won't we?"
With a sigh, I follow her onto the wagon. Something tells me my life is about to get a hack of a lot more interesting from now on...
Greetings, my pony brothers. I am most pleased with this rare chance to share my wisdom with you all. I spend little time around my own kind, and instead prefer the solitude of the rolling fields and vasts forests. The wilds of Ponyland are my home, and it is through that life which the spirits of nature guide me. For I am Wigwam, sworn brother of the buffalo tribe, and the bridge between the world of civilized ponies, and the world of the wild.
Not a day goes by that my services aren't needed; there is always some foolish earth ponies who cut down trees in a sacred grove, or a bunch of beavers who unwittingly built a dam in the middle of a river that is a pony citadel's water supply. I am often called to arbitrate disputes between wild animals and pony, or pony and nature spirit. For I understand the wilds better than any other pony. For the wilds are a part of me, in a way on other pony can boast.
There are times, to be sure, when I cannot resolve a matter by reason. My tomahawk is stained with the blood of those who could only express themselves by violence, and I fear it will taste the blood of many more of that ilk. Nevertheless, it is my hope that one day such violent actions will no longer be needed. Then a generation of young ponies could once again know peace- something that all agree was worth fighting for! But until then, brave ponies such as myself would just have to accept some extreme ponies will never learn.
My life has always been one mixed with both order and chaos, with joy and sorrow. As a newborn, my true mother and father had abandoned me on the gentle rolling plains of Appleloosa. A tiny newborn foal, wrapped in a haggard green blanket, left exposed to the open elements so the wild beasts could finish him off. But in their great kindness and wisdom, one of the great buffalo tribe of the plains rescued me from oblivion, adopting me in as one of their own.
In his great kindness, Chief Thunderhooves took me in, and sat me at his table as if I were one of his own young. I was fed and cared by the tribe, and the treated me as if I were a buffalo myself. They taught the ways of the wilds, and the lore of the spirits. I stampeded with my buffalo brothers and sisters across the sacred grounds many times, forming friendships with the bison my own age that I will cherish all the days of my life. My foal-hood was a happy one, running as free as the winds over the opens grassy plains. But there was always something deep inside me that always felt... apart. That no matter how well the tribe treated me, a part of me always felt out of place, as if I didn't belong.
"You are as my own son." Chief Thunderhooves told me. "You may resemble our noble pony friends, but you have the heart and courage of a Buffalo." I took heart in these words, joining the war parties to patrol the head lands when I came of age. But while my tomahawk did fell many a goblin raider from the north, my eyes beheld creatures that I resembled more then my buffalo brethren. These ponies walked like me, and talked like me. They spoke of the same dreams and desires I had, and the females awoke stirrings in me that years of the tribe's girls had failed to do. Oh, the mighty chief might have been correct about my having the heart of a bison, but the soul deep within was that of a pony.
The time had come, to rejoin my own kind. The bison I had called father was unhappy to see me go, but reluctantly admitted I had to return to my own kind. At first, I became the tribe's representative at the trading post, but soon I answered to the siren call of my ancestral home of Ponyland. Oh, the forests and streams, the mountains and rolling hills... something deep inside me had long yearned for these lands, and I galloped wild and free across the wilderness of Ponyland. But my own tribe, the ponies... I could never live as they do, cloistered up in their citadels for protection, as artificial and silent as a tomb. I soon realized I was no more at home amongst the ponies, than I was amongst the bison.
Finally, the great and glorious queen of Dream Valley took me in, appointing me to speak for her herd before the great council of tribes. In this way, I found my true calling. A child of two worlds, now I speak before the buffaloes for the ponies, and before the ponies for the buffalo. Then my life totem- which my fellow ponies call a cutie mark- appeared upon my flank. Teepees, the dwelling places of the bison tribe, symbolize how my home is amongst both of my two families. It brings me great joy that I can be a voice for two worlds. But I still felt alone, separated by a gulf that existed between both of my families.
Then, when I least expected it, a new pony found her way into my life. A lovely mare, an educator of foals from an age long past, suddenly came into the Dream Valley herd. Like me, she was an out-of-place stranger in a strange land. Like me, she had no place to call home in an unfamiliar world. We found happiness in each others' hooves. We made for ourselves the family that we both needed, and it made our lives feel truly complete. My dear, Sweet Cherilee. You are my sweet pink flower, and my great strength when I have none.
The other ponies at the castle... few of them understand me. They think the feather headdress I wear makes me chief amongst the buffalo, and they sometimes ask me to make strange howls and do war dances. Do not my pony brethren understand the culture of the buffalo who raised me? And my buffalo brothers react to me strangely when I eat meat, and do not understand how I can spend long periods of time inside a stifling castle, away from the beauty of nature and the open lands. Both sides understand me completely, yet neither side understands me at all.
I am a pony of two herds- both bison and equine, yet neither. I wish I could learn why my blood family abandoned me, why my mother and father didn't want the infant colt they had left to die. But perhaps it's for the best. I have my own family now, and it is a family of my own choosing. My sweet little teacher, and our own two little ones. They are the greatest treasures in my life now, they are the only ones who truly understand me.
And woe to those who would ever dare to try and take them from me.
The Grand Vanhoover Canal. A pony-dug waterway that connects the Royal Paradise to the town of Bright Valley, it was one of the final projects that Princess Luna had commissioned before the Grogar wars. A hundred and fifty mile long silver ribbon that the ponies of Confederacy used to transport crops and goods along the old unicorn run, this eighty foot wide and nine foot deep trench had a constant stream of ships and barges traversing it's entire length.
It was on one such vessel, that four equines from Dream Valley now made their way east towards the earth pony town. Riding on a packet boat laden with wheat, flour and barley, the small group of earth ponies marvel at the scenic countryside they slowly glided past.
"Oh my goodness Shady, this is so amazing!" The pink mare exclaimed, looking off the bow of the boat. "Thank you so much for inviting Wigwam and I along on this voyage."
"Oh, I'm so glad you could join us on this trip." Shady replied, looking down on the deck. "I... didn't think you and your husband would really want come along on this dumb trip."
"Nonsense, Lady Shady. I've been wanting to show Cheerilee the rest of the Confederacy for some time." Wigwam waved a hoof dismissively. "She should get a look at how her homeland has changed over the last millennium, after all."
"Actually the unicorn run still looks much like it did when I visited here as a filly." Cheerilee replied nostalgically, looking over towards the yellow mare that were traveling with. "What do you think of all of this lovely scene?"
"UNICORN RUN....GOOOOD!" Magic Star hissed, drool trickling out of her mouth. "MAGIC STAR WONDER IF THERE BRAINS HERE?"
"Um... right..." The teacher replied skeptically, cocking an eyebrow. Trotting over to the other mare."Ummm, Shady? Why did we bring her along again?"
"Oh, I just couldn't leave poor Magic Star alone! Especially with both Fizzy and her hubby busy right now." The pink mare with the chartreuse mane replied sadly. "Besides, I thought this trip would be some good bonding time for her and her daughter, since she wanted to come too."
"Mommy, mommy! Look! captain gave me hat!" Baby Cuddles announced, galloping out of the ship's small cargo hold waring a small sailor's had. "Me look like sailor pony, huh?"
"CUDDLES LOOK LIKE SAILOR!" The foul-smelling fakie told her blue-colored offspring. "GET JOB ON BOAT!"
Wigwam only laughed, and Cheerilee rolled her eyes at the mother and daughters antics.
"I think she's a little young for that." The Pink mare added sarcastically, clearly critical of the decomposing mare's deteriorated intellect. "I do believe that Magic Star's intellect, has become as rotten as her hygiene."
"Oh come on. dearest." The tribal pony chuckled. "She's not that bad! Besides, maybe that's why she's so eager for braaaaains!"
Hoping to redirect the conversation, the pony teacher looked up to the ship hand working on the vessel's roof.
"Um, excuse me, Miss Coral?" Cheerilee asked the purple mare, who was tightening a knotted rope. "I'm truly sorry to bother you and miss Ocean while you're working, but I was wondering if you could tell me a little more about this vessel..."
"Why certainly, Miss Cheerilee! Always happy to educate an educator!" The mare smiled, "As you can see, we are traveling in a flat bottom packet boat, which is specially built to travel through shallow water like this." She pointed down at her peach-colored partner who was pulling the boat along by a tether rope. "Ocean and I take turns pulling the boat along, switching places up there on the towpath every few miles or so. While it would take two or three of any other kind of pony to do such heavy labor, one of us earth ponies is quite enough to get the job done."
"I probably couldn't get the job done." Shady whined, looking down at her wobbly reflection in the water. "I guess I'm just not good at anything."
"Now Shady, you need to stop being to hard on yourself!" Cheerilee insisted, stamping her hoof on the deck of the packet boat."You are just as capable as any other pony to do anything you set your mind to! Isn't that right, Wigwam?" The pink mare with pigtails looked up at her husband when he failed to respond. "Um, Wiggy?"
"Huh?" The stallion with the feathered headdress was looking out at the woods beyond the canal towpath, startled by his wife's question. "Oh, sorry... I was just thinking about some of the things I've heard about the local tribe who I have heard lives just to the north of here."
"What? There's a buffalo tribe living this far north?" Shady asked in shock. "I didn't think they could live anywhere this cold!"
"My buffalo brothers can live in extremely cold places, Lady Shady." The tribal pony corrected her. "But no, I was actually referring to a tribe of reindeer that are supposed roam just north of the confederacy's border. They are a very hostile group, and have little trust for outsiders."
"Oh no!" The dark pink mare with the sunglasses cutie mark wailed. "Does that mean we're in danger here?"
"I very much doubt it, Miss Shady." Coral told them with a laugh, motioning to the the mare pulling the boat to pick up the pace. "They rarely are bold enough to conduct raids this far south of Ponyland's border."
....
Hidden in the woods beyond beyond the towpath, four sets of eyes watched the approaching vessel with great interest. As the unsuspecting ponies drew closer, a large male buck gazed at them through a round spying glass he held in his hoof.
"A pink and white canal boat." He told the other deer surrounding him. "Seven ponies visible- four mare passengers, one stallion in buffalo tribe garb and two mares with ring cutie marks- the crew, judging by their uniforms."
"The Sal sisters. Their boat makes this run every for weeks." Another stag replied, sharpening his horns against a nearby tree. "They'll be laden down with a ton of lucrative cargo, no doubt, bound for thiose rich and spoiled ponies in bright valley."
"This will be quite a nice little haul." A third buck replied greedily, already imaging those unwitting ponies being skewered on his horns. "We should make sure there are no survivors."
"No!" A female voice came from behind them, ad a pair of pony hooves trotted up behind the three males. "No one is to die on this raid, is that understood?"
"But Forestpearl, they are just ponies!" One of the bucks challenged, standing up to the uppity female. "Why should we-"
"Are you questioning my instructions?" She asked angrily, her gemstone eyes flashing in annoyance. "Perhaps you wish for me to tell my father about your impudence?"
"No, my lady." The male stag replied, as he and his companions bowed. "We shall ambush them at the next canal lock."
"Indeed." Another stag agreed, as the three melted into the foliage. "they'll never know what hit them!"
...
It wasn't long before the boat arrived at a giant pair of wooden doors, set in the middle of the waterway. As the boat came to a stop, Coral and Ocean changed places.
"Boat in!" Ocean cried out, in the direction of a large house near the two sets of wooden doors. "Open the lock!"
At her signal, two stallions came out of the house, and began to slowly push the two lock doors open. The boat slowly glided between the two sets of doors, which the stallions then slowly closed the doors behind them.
"Oh my!" The mare exclaimed, watching the entire process with fascination. "What are they doing, exactly?"
"Moving the boat into the lock, so it can change elevation." Ocean explained, as water started to slowly pour in from the closed lock doors. "They flood the lock to raise the water level, so it can go through the next set of doors to continue on up the canal."
"Wow, didn't they have canals back in Equestria, Cheerilee?" Shady asked, puzzled by the teacher's curiosity. "I thought a teacher's supposed to know everything."
"We did have canals back then, Shady." Cheerilee sighed. "I was just trying to maybe teach Cuddles something about our trip."
"Wheeeee!" Baby Cuddles exclaimed, as the water levels rose. "Boat going up!"
"Wow, you're so smart, Cheerilee!" the dark pink mare sighed sadly. "I wish I was as-"
"Blast it, Shady! Why are you always so hard on yourself?" An exasperated teacher finally snapped. "Even when other ponies are praising you, you're always tearing yourself down!"
"I-I don't know Cheerilee... everything just seems so hopeless!" the mare moaned, her ears dropping heavily. "Everybody else seems really good at something, but I'm such a totally useless pony!"
"Well, I personally believe you have the potential to be a really great pony." The pigtailed mare put a hoof on her shoulder. "You just need the opportunity to prove yourself."
"AHHHHH!" Coral screamed, as three antlered fiends leapt into the canal , and landed on the boat. "Deer raiders! Deer raiders!"
It all happened so fast. Several bucks jumping and lunging with their antlers, knocking unsuspecting ponies to the deck. Shady was quickly knocked overboard, as a buck stood over a frighted baby cuddles.
"Aieeeee!" SPLASH! "Somebody help meee!" The scared pony wailed, splashing around in the shallow waterway.
"I don't care that Forestpearl said no deaths!" The stag snorted, his antlers at the terrified foal's throat. "Your mane wil make an excellent trophy on my wall!"
"AHHHHHHH!" The poor little pony shrieked, tears flowing down her face. "MAMA, HEEEELLLLPPPPPP!"
"BRAAAAAINNSSS!" The yellow zombie burst forth from below decks, her fangs bared and glowing red eyes blazing. Against her fellow ponies this creature held itself in check. But against this heartless monster who threatened her baby, Magic Star showed no mercy.
"What the heck are y-ARGAAHHHHH!" The buck wailed, as the mare bit into his flesh, both of them tumbled down the stairs below decks. There was the sounds of shouting and screaming, followed by crashing and banging noises. When the noise finally died down, a terrified baby Cuddles crawled over to the stairs.
"M-mama?" the foal asked, peeking down the steps. "Is mama ok?"
"Magic Star fine!" A voice hissed from the darkness below. "finally got brains! BUUURRRRP!"
On the other side of the boat, another buck did battle with Wigwam. The two circled each other, each looking for an opening.
"Ahh, so you're the buffalo tribe pony we've heard about!" The stag hissed, lowering his antlers. "Your scalp will make an excellent trophy!"
"We'll see about that!" Wigwam snapped back.
The buck lunged at him, and the earth stallion jumped to the side. With a swished of the tomahawk in his hoof, Wigwam chopped one of the proud deer's antlers off.
"ARGH! You stupid equine!" The buck hissed. "You shall pay dearly for that!"
The buck lunged again, this time stabbing Wigwam in the chest.
"Agrahhhh!" He cried out in pain, grabbing the wound with his hoof. Blood tricked out onto the deck, as the earth pony stumbled backward.
"You're not as tough as I thought, whelp." The Buck said with a laugh, lowering his one remaining antler. "I'm really going to enjoy this."
Not as much as I will." Wigwam replied. Lifting his tomahawk as the stag charged him, he dodged the remaining antler, and cleaved the deer's skull in two. But even as his opponent collapsed to the ground, Wigwam suddenly noticed he had little time to celebrate.
"You may have stopped us from claiming our loot!" A buck yelled back, jumping off the now-risen boat, and running back towards the forest. "But at least I've claimed a new female to satisfy me as a consolation prize!"
"Wigwam!" The teaching mare shrieked, tied up and draped across the fleeing buck's back. "He jumped me! Help!"
"Cheerilee!" Wigwam yelled in a panic. Starting after her, the stallion collapsed in pain from his wound.
"Oh no! Coal yelled, as the four deer that had been keeping her and the other pony crew busy fled. "They got miss Cheerilee!"
As the raiders all vanished back into the forest, a dazed Shady climbed back onto the boat.
"What happened? Where is everybody?" The confused mare asked, looking around. "What's going on?"
....
"Those IDIOTS!" The brown-colored mare with antlers, who had been watching from the bank snorted, her face twisted in an angry snarl. "What did they think they were DOING!?"
Watching the scene unfold on the boat for a few moments more, Forestpearl turned and vanished back into the woods, furious over the betrayal the bucks of her tribe had given her.
"My first raid, ruined by those alpha male brained morons!" The pony with antlers thought to herself. "Now just how am I going to explain this to father?..."
"Father, this is an outrage!" Forestpearl snapped angrily, stamping her hoof angrily. "They deliberately defied my orders, and tried to kill those poor innocent ponies!"
"Now Forest, do remember that it was a raid." Chief Staghorn replied calmly, putting a hoof on his adopted daughter's shoulder. "Besides, most of the warriors who committed these atrocities paid for their actions with their very lives."
"But Hjort has taken a mare as his personal property- a very unwilling captive who I believe has a mate already!" The mare insisted pointing a hoof out of their longhouse.
"He has done what?!?" Her father asked his eyes going wide. "My little flicka, are you certain of this?"
"Yes, father, that big tront took her by force!" Forestpearl insisted. "We can't just leave her to be held prisoner by that brute!"
"Very well." The buck motioned outside. "Go out and see if you can speak with him. I shall join you shortly."
"Thank you, father." The young mare replied with a smile. "I'll go and see what I can do."
As the pony with antlers galloped out of the longhouse, the chief collapsed backward onto his throne with a sigh.
"Sleipnir's hooves," The stag rubbed his temples with his hooves. "What am I going to do with her?"
For over four centuries, the Bruten Hjorthorn tribe had along along this pony-made river they called a canal, plundering cargoes and pilfering goods from the equines without their knowing it. Most raids were stealthy adventures- night hit-and runs where they were gone before the crew even knew they had been there. But these young hotheaded bucks... they were determined to resort to violence, in the hopes of taking a pony's mane as a trophy. Such grisly totems disgusted the chief- he hated the taking of an innocent life, and the sight of a young filly's bloody scalp on the belt of one of his warriors had nearly driven Staghorn to attack the unsuspecting buck. What these young warriors needed was stern discipline and leadership- traits that the greying deer was becoming to old to give.
Chief Staghorn had hoped Forestpearl would have been able to reign them in. Hotheaded and impulsive, his daughter had just been a filly when one of their raids had claimed her parents. Not wanting to leave the poor foal to starve to death, the chief had taken and raised her as his own. Not wishing to cause Forestpearl pain, the tribe had told her that her parents had abandoned her to the forest and fled. The village shaman had managed to create a false pair of antlers for the child so she wouldn't feel out of place, but his daughter had always said she felt different from the other fauns.
"She should have been able to control those hotheaded fools out there." The disappointed buck thought with a sigh. Now, Slenipr knows what troubles we're going to have with the ponies..."
...
"Hjort!" Forestpearl called out, bursting through the flap of the arrogant buck's tent. "Where are you, you little worm! I would have words with you!"
"But of course, my dear princess!" The buck put on a false smile, bowing to the chief's daughter. "Please com right on in."
The mare looked around the place, scowling. Furs of dead animals hung everywhere- trophies of hunting sport, she knew, as deer could not eat meat- and various trinkets stolen on various raids. Over on the far side of the tent, the captive pink mare lay under wool blanket, scowling angrily at her unhappy fate. It was obvious that Hjort had not treated her well in the few days since her capture.
"Hjort, you have to release her at once!" The princess snapped, "Holding a pony of the confederacy hostage is certain to draw us into a war... a war we cannot possibly win!"
"I will most certainly not give up the only trophy that I was able to bring out of that mistake of a raid!" The buck snorted angrily. "Besides, she's very useful. I've never had someone who cooked and cleaned for me before!"
"Get out of here." Forestperal trotted up to the antlered creep, and stared at him with her steely, crystal eyes. "Go outside and help the other bucks gather some firewood. I'll speak to your 'guest' in private."
Hjort scowled at her for a moment, before storming outside. Forestpearl trotted over to the weary form of Cheerilee. "Are you all right?"
The mare looked up at her silently, glaring at her few minutes before finally replying;
"I... I'm all right." The pony teacher snorted, shaking her head. "he didn't hurt me... too badly."
"Can you stand?" The princess asked her, looking down with concern.
"He keeps my hooves shackled, doesn't want me to get away, you know." Cheerilee replied, coughing hoarsely. "So, you're a mare. Were you ponynapped, too?" She looked at Forest's head. "Will I grow a set of those if I'm kept by the tribe long enough?"
"No, they raised me." The antlered pony replied in mild annoyance. "After my pony parents decided to leave me to die. Why do you have to assume so badly about my tribe?"
"Because your tribe has given good reason to?" The teacher mare responded, throwing off the blanket to reveal her hoof manacles.
"I'm... sorry about that." The jewel-eyed mare's ears drooped. "I swear I will do everything in my power to get you free of that brute."
"Pardon my lack of enthusiasm," The mare sighed in disgust. "but I'll believe it when I see it."
...
"Oh dear, Wigwam, that buck did a number on you!" Shady told him, looking around worriedly. "You're really lucky to be alive!"
The remaining ponies were aboard the now docked canal boat, gathered around a bed the wounded Wigwam lay upon. Coral was re-bandaging his wounds, while Magic Star and Cuddles looked on in the background.
"Don't worry, fair Shady." Wigwam replied, trying to sit up. "It'll take more than this wound to stop-AGAH!" The stallion yelled in pain, falling back down again.
"Be careful,Wigwam." Baby Cuddles squeaked, looking of over the edge of the bed. "You might hurt self. and me no want that!"
"Gahhhhh! Wigwam get better!" Magic Star warned. "Or Magic Star HAVE WIGWAM FOR DINNER!"
"Oh cut it out, you two! We have more important things to worry about!" Ocean chided them. "Shady, did you and Magic Star get rid of those deer carcasses?"
"Yeah, I didn't know what else to do with them, so I cleaned them and made them into a stew for the Dream Valley ponies on board. "Shady said with the sigh. "Magic Star helped a lot, too... though she took some meat for herself."
"Braaaaainssss!" Magic star agreed, licking her lips.
"Baby Cuddles love deer soup!" The little filly agreed. "Me want more!"
"I'm sorry I asked." Ocean replied ruefully.
"Gee Wigwam, they took Cheerilee!" Shady reminded him, in a worried tone. "And you're in no shape to rescue her. What're we gonna do?"
"I will most certainly save her!" Wigwam protested, trying to get up again. "I'll-agraaaahhh!"
"You'll lay right back down until you're fully healed!" Ocean ordered her. "Shady. it's up to you to go after Cheerilee."
"Whst?!? I can't save Miss Cheerilee! I'm not a good hero..." The mare protested, her ears drooping. "I'm not really good at anything..."
"Shady! Now is the time to stand up and be brave!" Wigwam bellowed forcing himself to sit up. "You must track down where they've taken my beloved wife, then come back to tell us so we can mount a rescue!"
"You really sure you want me to do it?" The shivering pony whimpered. "How can you be sure I just won't mess it up?"
"SHADY! My wife's life is in danger, and she is counting on you!" Wigwam pleaded, lying back down. "Please, in the name of the great horsemaster... please help her..."
"Oh no, oh no, this is never gonna work!" Shady whimpered, as she snuck through the trees towards the deer encampment. "There's no way I can get close without getting caught! I just know I'm gonna blow it!"
"Raaaggahhhh! Why Shady be so hard on self?!" Magic Star growled, following the jittery mare through the foliage. "Need more courage if going to rescue Cheerilee!"
"That's just the thing, Magic." the simpering mare replied, looking down. "I don't really think I'm cut out to save anyone."
"You need to get brave, face what scares Shady!" The undead mare snapped back, drool coming out of her mouth. "Now, hear deer ahead, you go show whose boss!"
"I-I'll try.." She stuttered, as the two came to the edge of a clearing. There, they saw one of the deer scouts out on patrol, looking around through the forest to spot any intruders into the camp.
"Well, here goes... the mare took a breath, summoning all the courage she had. Putting her hooves on a bush, she began to shake the leaves.
"Sven, is that you?" The annoyed buck exclaimed, as he heard some rustling in the bushes. "It's about time you got here, my shift is almost over."
"Nope, I'm not Sven, you big dummy!" Shady called out mockingly, sticking her head out of the bush. "Why dontcha come and get me?"
"What the- a pony?" The deer guard ran after her. "Hey you, hold it right-"
"GRAHHHH!" Magic Star roared, jumping up and pulling the surprised guard into the bush. Several terrified screams emerged from the shaking shrubbery, before a cracked deer skull was sent flying out of the foliage.
"PTOOIE! Ugh, deer meat tough!" Magic star complained, licking the goo off her lips. "Need barbeque sauce!"
"Good job, Magic Star!" Shady whispered, motioning the other pony forward. "Now let's get going!"
The two galloped forward, coming to a larger clearing where the encampment was. They could see several deer wandering around the huts, going in and out of the longhouses as the two ponies looked on.
"Well, this is it!" Shady gulped, looking around at the various huts. "But how do I tell which hut Cheerilee is in-"
"Are you two here for the mare?" A voice behind her asked, causing the already nervous shady to jump in fright.
"Aieeee!" The earth pony cried out, springing around. "W-who're you?"
"My name is Forestpearl." The bizarre looking pony/deer hybrid replied, emerging from the trees behind them. "And I am thoroughly disgusted by my tribe's kidnapping of your friend."
"C-can you lead us to her?" The mare replied nervously, not sure if she should try this half breed.
"I can, but one of you shall need to make a distraction." The hybrid replied, motioning towards the encampment with her head.
"Magic Star, you want to-?" But before Shady could even ask, the undead mare was already galloping out into the clearing.
"Grahhhhh! Deer brains!" Magic Star roared, lunging right at one of the deer warriors.
"Ahhh, an unholy undead demon!" The buck barely had time to wail, before the mare was on him. Several other deer heard the warrior's pathetic screams, and ran to help their comrade.
"Well, that certainly takes care of the distraction." Forestpearl replied, leading Shady forward. "Come on, I'll take you to your friend!"
The two mares galloped towards on of the huts, where the shackled Cheerilee was waiting inside. Upon seeing the other mare, the pink teaching pony's eyes suddenly went wide.
"Shady? What the hay are you doing here!?" The other mare shrieked , before getting her voice under control. "You've got to get out of here, or they'll kill you!"
"Actually, I think I'll kill all of you now." A buck snarled, trotting into the tent, his eyes glistening like fire. "Forestpearl, how could you betray your tribe like this?"
"You made my tribe betray itself, Hjort." The mare with antlers spat back. "Your brutality has damned this whole raiding encampment- we all have blood on our hooves now."
"And you, stupid mare." The buck snarled. "I spared your life, and this is how you repay me?"
"Oh buck off, stag brains!" Cherilee yelled in defiance. "I've had enough of cleaning your hut!"
"Gah, stupid ponies!" Hjort snarled in anger. "I'll kill you all!"
The buck lunged straight at Forsetpearl, who suddenly reared up and kicked him backwards.
"Take that, you monster!" She yelled, as the arrogant stag fell backward towards Cheerrilee.
"This is for all the pain you caused me, you stupid creep!" The teacher kicked him backwards, stumbling towards Shady.
The pony mare, disgusted by the sight of this jerk who had hurt her friend, gave him a third kick straight out of the tent. "Let that be a lesson to ya- you mess with one mare, you mess with all of us!"
Hjort screamed as he tumbled outside, the sound of an undead mare chewing an tearing signaling the end of his miserable existence.
"Wow Shady, where did that come from?!" Cheerilee asked, in total shock over what she had just seen. "How did you get the courage to fight, let alone to come and rescue me like this!"
"I-I don't know, it just all happened so fast!" The pink mare replied, shaking her head in disbelief at what she had done. "I-I just couldn't leave a friend in the hooves of those brutes."
"Which brings up a good question- how are we going to get you past all those warriors out there?"
"Not really a problem, actually." Magic Sat came in through the tent flap, giving off a loud *burp* from everything she had eaten. "I've kind of cleared the playing field for us, so to speak."
"Magic Star, how can you be talking normally again?" Cherrilee asked in shock, stretching out her hooves after a long captivity. "The last time I saw you, you couldn't form a coherent sentence!"
"Huh, you're right. Must've been all the brain food." The undead mare joked sarcastically, in a way the old Magic Star never would have. "Anyway, we really should get out of here right now. We can worry about oddites like my sudden intelligence later."
"Forestpearl, wait!" Cheerilee called out to her, as the half breed trotted out of the tent flap. "Are you sure you don't want to come back to Dream Castle with us?"
"No, I was raised by this tribe, my place is here in this forest. Besides, my father will needc help expaling what has occurred back in our village." The mare with antlers sighed. "Still, it was nice to finally meet other like myself. Who knows, perhaps we shall cross paths again someday."
"Good bye, Forestpearl." Shady replied, as the antlered mare melted back into the forest. "Thanks for all your help..."
...
Back aboard the boat, the ponies were happy to see Cherrilee and the others had returned safely.
"Oh, Cherrilee!" Wigwam exclaimed, embracing his wife has she came into the room. "Thank the horsemaster you're all right!"
"It's okay. Wigwam. I'm back now." The dark pink mare said with a smile. "Everything's going to be all right."
The two ponies hugged each other tightly, as the other ponies looked on.
"She's lucky that brute didn't have the chance to really hurt her." Magic Star sighed. "Still, being forced to work like a slave, that's horrible enough."
"I just hope that young mare will be all right." Shady shook her head. "I don't want to think what those awful deer will do to her for helping us!"
"I wouldn't worry about her, Shady." Magic Star replied, smiling. "I have a feeling that little dear can handle herself."
"Handle Self!" Baby Cuddles agreed, trotting up behind the two mares. "Me heard Shady was brave hero out there, save Miss Cheerilee!"
"Awww, it was nothing, just doing what any other mare would've done!" She replied bashfully. "Besides, after all that, I don't think I'll ever be afraid of anything again!"
"Hey Shady, look!" Magic Star called out, pointing her hoof at the ground. "A mouse!"
"Eeeeek!" The pink mare shrieked, jumping up on one of the beds beside Wigwam's. "Where?!? killitkillitkillitkillitkillit!"
"Ha, gotcha!" The now once-again sentient mare exclaimed, laughing. "Seems like some things never do change!"
314 A.R.- three centuries after the release of Nightmare Moon.
The Everfree forest... a dark and mysterious place of shadows and gloom. This place was home to many terrible monsters and horrible creatures, and had such a fearsome reputation that no pony from the neighboring village of Ponyville ever dared to venture here. But to her, this place was home. Not only home, in fact, but her sovereign dominion. Ruled by her and her family for generations, her pony subjects had grown hard and brutal in these lands. Re-shaped by the cruel unforgiving environment that surrounded them, the ponies of Dream Valley had grown strong in the forest they now called home.
But those Equestrian Ponies.... those spoiled little foals who lived in the lands beyond Dream Valley, those were the equines that made the mare sick. Living their sweet and gentle little lives, with controlled weather and safe towns and cities. The mares of Fillydelphia had never known the bitter cold that killed half your harvest. And the foals of Mnaehatten went to sleep in their cozy warm beds each night, with no fear of where that filling meal that would be on their table the next day would come from. Oh, how she loathed those ponies who danced under the light of the alicorn's sun and moon, while she and her subjects fought to survive in the shadows.
"My queen?" A voice called out to the yellow mare with the pink mane. "Queen Sky Skimmer, must come back to the castle at once. It appears that the situation has worsened."
Sky Skimmer stood at the edge of the everfree forest,looking up at the sight of faraway Canterlot. The ponies up there were celebrating the wonderful holiday of Heart's warming eve there, and even from here the queen could see a thousand colorful lights glittering in the capital. There, she knew, ponies were going to watch hearth warming eve plays, and sitting down to warm meals with their friends and families. The royal Princesses were probably sitting down to warm cups of cider, congratulating themselves on how good of rulers they were. the very thought of it was enough to make Sky snarl in rage.
"Very Well, Love Melody." The angry mare replied, trying to keep her composure. "Let us return home, and tell me what is amiss
The first earth mare ever born to the royal Majesty blood line, Sky Skimmer Majesty was a pony many in the kingdom of Dream Valley were uncertain was the best choice to take the throne. But being the last Queen's only daughter, she had promised her subjects that she would do her best to live up to their expectations. But while things had gone well the first two years of her reign, more recent events had only played into her subject's worst fears.
"I just received a report form the castle engineers, that we have a problem with the power." The purple mare with the fading pink mane told her queen. "Quite frankly, the electricity in the generator is running out, and with the waterfall having frozen up, we have no way of restoring it."
"Melody, we need that power to keep the light and heat going!" The queen pointed out, as the two crossed the rope bridge that led back to the castle. "Can't the unicorns generate enough electricity with their magic?"
"I'm afraid not, my queen." The mare replied sadly. "It's taking all of their energy just to keep their family's rooms warm."
The two approached the ruins of the palace of the two sisters- a ruined facade Dream Valley's engineers had restored to keep the true castle hidden. As they trotted into the grand ballroom, the queen could see the forms of the changelings of clan Shadowvale flitting about in the shadows. Cloaked sentries whose job it was to scare off any curious ponies who wandered too far into the everfree, these guardians used the Equestrian legends of the mare of shadows to prevent the alicorn sister's subject from discovering their hidden kingdom.
"This is most disturbing news, another calamity to pile onto our long list of troubles." Sky Skimmer told her royal chancellor, as the portal into the Dream Castle pocket dimension opened. "For a holiday, things around here just seem to be getting worse and worse."
The two mares trotted down the grand hallway, where several ponies sat huddled in blankets, trying to keep warm together. A Pegasus lady in wasting flew up, and put a warm cloak around Sky Skimmer.
"Here you go, my queen." She whinnied in concern. "Is that warm enough for you?"
"Yes that is fine, thank you." The monarch lied, trying to keep from shivering. Her subjects were so loyal, willing to give up their lives for something as trivial as her comfort. The sight of a shriveled mare and a stallion sitting under a blanket caused her to stop in her tracks.
"Are you two all right?" She asked the malnourished couple. "Why are you not in your rooms?"
"Oh, we're just fine, your majesty." The stallion told Sky Skimmer, a forced smile on his face. "A-and we just wanted to spend hearth's warming eve out here with our fellow ponies."
"Y-yeah," The mare agreed, her teeth chattering. "i-it's really lovely in our apartments, and we wanted somebody out here to talk to."
"Very well, my little ponies." The queen replied, biting her lip, and trying to hold her tears back. "lease, let me know if you need anything."
The queen trotted on to the throne room, where sparse hearth warming eve decorations had been set up. That was just as well, the queen decided, as Sky Skimmer wasn't in much in a holiday mood, anyway.
"Melody, get the head of our gardens in here." The queen demanded, sitting down on her throne. "I want to know why we don't have enough food to feed my subjects!"
It wasn't long before a purple mare with a peach colored mane was summoned in, Bowing before the throne, Magical Breeze answered the queen's inquiry.
"Putting it quite simply, your highness, our gardens and orchards are freezing up." The mare sighed, shaking her mane. "Too much cold is seeping into the tesseract from the outside world, and it's killing all of our crops."
"And what of our livestock?" The queen asked, tapping her hoof on the throne's arm rest. "Are they too suffering from this terrible weather?"
"The animals are starving and dying, as well." Magical Breezes responded sadly. "And the situation isn't much better amongst the castle's pony population. I've heard stories about some mares and stallions eating their family pets, and boiling saddles to eat the leather."
"It's all those stupid alicorn's fault!" Lovely Melody snapped angrily, stamping her hoof. "If it weren't for those idiotic embargo laws, we could get the food and energy we need!"
"And what can we do about it, Melody?!?" The irritated queen snapped back. "We don't have the might to challenge Equestria, and we are even allowed to survive because the rainbow of light is a powerful enough defensive weapon! How could we possibly challenge the Equestrian army head on?"
"What about the golden crown, my queen?" Magical Breezes asked, pointing to the object on the mare's head. "Surely you could just tap your hooves, and-"
"And what, blow my entire kingdom to smithereens?" Sky Skimmer asked, shaking her head. "The crown is the most powerful object in this world, tapping the might of the great horsemaster herself. For whatever I do with it, the crown will take just as much away." The mare shook her head. "I cannot risk causing my poor subjects any more suffering."
There was silence in the throne room for a few moments, before the chancellor finally stepped forward.
"My queen, I wasn't going to mention it, but..." The mare sheepishly held up an envelope, with seal of the dark lands on it. "...but this came for you a few weeks ago, and perhaps it has the answer we've looking for."
"A diplomatic dispatch?" Curious, Sky Skimmer took the already opened envelope from her adviser, and began to read the letter;
To her royal highness, Queen Sky Skimmer of Dream Castle. Ruler of one of the strongest nations of survivors in all of Equestria, Greetings;
It has come to our attention, that your loving and loyal subjects have come under much affliction of late, due to the harsh rules and regulations set upon Dream Valley by your surrounding neighbor, the principality of Equestria. We are deeply troubled by the rumors of starvation and hunger that are coming out of the Everfree forest, and we wish you to know that the sympathies of the Dark lands are with our dear friends in Dream Castle, despite all of the... 'difficulties' our two nations have shared in the past. the royal Princesses Celestia and Luna should not be so cruelly with their fellow equines, and we fear for the survival of your entire nation under Equestria's continued blockade of your borders.
My gracious lord and master, the great lord Tirac, believes that we may offer a suggestion that will assist in your malady. As you are well aware, Equestria's good fortune and magic flows from the tree of harmony, a crystalline plant growth, located at the very heart of your wild and untamed dominions. As long as the tree lives, Equestria remains strong, and your little ponies continue to suffer. But if a powerful enough magic of sufficient might-say, Dream Valley's rainbow of light, or that powerful crown of yours- were to attack the tree at it's roots, such a blast would be of sufficient power to kill it. With the harmony tree gone, Equestria's weather would become self governing, totally uncontrollable by the Pegasus, and unicorn magic would be severely weakened and diminished. Also, the everfree forest- your domain- would expand over Equestria. Dream Valley's rough and rugged everfree forest ponies get new territory, while those spoiled and selfish little Equestrian ponies are pushed farther and farther back.
Furthermore, my great and gracious lord has another offer to make Dream Valley. If that accursed tree were to be dealt with, opening up the opportunity for my master to exploit such a weakness, I am in a position to offer absolute neutrality should lord Tirac or his allies begin their war with Equestria. And he promises Dream Valley shall come to no harm, so long as this conflict is being waged. We offer you and your subjects the opportunity to better your lives at the expense of those who have caused you so much misery. Will you cause a little suffering to those who gave it to you, or will your subjects continue To be pushed around by two unicorns with wings in far away Canterlot.
The choice, my wise and noble queen, is in your capable hooves. But it may be everyone's best interests, my good queen, to destroy a worthless plant that is only bringing pain to your subjects. Take some time to think about what I have written here, and I shall await your response to our most gracious and ingenious offer.
Kindest Regards,
Viceroy Thugly, Goblin enforcer of the Darklands for Lord Tirac
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Sky skimmer asked, throwing down the letter with her hoof. "Melody, something like this is too important to just ignore!"
"My queen, you can't possibly be considering taking the dark lord's offer!" Breezes protested. "The tree of harmony is the life force of all Equestrian Ponykind! Without it, this continent will slip into a Dark age that will never end!"
"Why should we care?" Melody asked, shrugging the other mares concern off. "They've turned down all of our pleas for help, why should we care about Celestia or Luna or any ponies outside of this forest?"
"Both of you, leave me." The queen told them, as the two other mares bowed and departed. "I must think on this matter... alone."
After the other ponies had gone, Sky Skimmer stood up, and began to pace the floor in thought. Looking up at the portrait of Queen Sunsparkle, she wondered how the very first mare in her royal bloodline would have handled this situation.
"You were first queen of the unicorn kingdom, created by the horsemaster herself to rule." She thought to herself, gazing at the mare with the glittering red coat and yellow mane. "It was you who first forged the golden crown from the tears of the horsemaster, you who was the first leader the first herd of ponies ever had. What would you do, if you were in my horseshoes?"
As she stared up at the portrait, the queen thought about all those lights off in the distance in Canterlot, and of all those suffering ponies who loved her, and relied on her for guidance and leadership.
And it was then, that the queen knew what she had to do.
The tree of Harmony... no matter how many times she or the other ponies came down here to view this crystalline wonder of nature, they couldn't believe how warm and inviting it's sparkling glow seemed. A powerful symbol of the elements of harmony it had once contained, the tree was a sign of the permanence and stability that harmony itself represented.
"This infernal tree..." The queen noted, as she and her adviser looked on as the Dream Valley guards surrounded the crystalline growth. "...the source of our tormentors greatest strength. Once we have felled the great source of the elements of harmony, the balance of power will begin to shift in this land."
"My queen, I am still urging you to reconsider this act of madness! The tree of Harmony is holy to all of ponykind!" Breezes again pleaded to her sovereign. "The alicornists say the first six ponies first emerged from the trees branches, and horsemasterist lore says Ponydom's greatest treasures- such as the golden horseshoes- were fashioned from it's crystalline bark! Can we so easily strike down a living thing, that has been so beneficial to our race?"
"Don't you think I have thought about that?!?" Sky Skimmer snorted, staring back at her shaken adviser. "Don't you think I've agonized over this decision?" She looked at the tree coldly. "I've had the court mages and ambassadors searching for an alternative solution for the past week. But all of the other royal courts, including Celestia and Luna's, have all turned a deaf ear to our plight. I do not wish to go down in history as the mad queen who cut down the pony world tree." She narrowed her eyes. "But I will not go down in history as the queen who let her people starve and freeze to death, either."
"As you wish, my queen." Out of arguments and the will to argue, the mare simply lowered her head, and sadly stepped away.
"I'm sorry, my old friend. But we have no choice." Sky Skimmer turned to her other adviser. "Melody, tell the unicorn guards to take up positions around the tree, so they can catch it when it comes down."
Lowering her head, Sky's golden crown began to glow. A wide red beam shot forth from the mare's head, striking the base of the tree. Immediately, the beam began melting through the crystal trunk, slicing through the mighty plant that served to hold all of Equestria in balance.
"That's it, my queen!" Love Melody exclaimed excitedly. "You're doing it!"
The tree began to creak and groan, rainbow energy sparking from it's damaged trunk. And all over Equestria, everypony felt something was amiss. Earth ponies, Pegasus, and unicorn's alike felt the terrible pain in their hearts that they just couldn't explain, while the three remaining alicorns heard the tree's scream of agony in their minds, as if friendship and love itself was under assault in the air all around them.
"Fall, you stupid tree!" The queen snarled, assaulting it's base with all of her might. "Damn you, fall!"
The tree of harmony was one of the mightiest sources of magic in the entire world, few artifacts cold compare to it's power. But the golden crown- the physical embodiment of the power of the horsemaster himself- was mightier. All over Equestria, they very ground and soil seemed to writhe in agony as the tree withered and died- plants and animals both suffered as the crystalline plant suffered it's death throes. Finally, the great tree came down with a mighty crash.
"My queen you've done it!" Melody exclaimed, as the unicorn guards levitated the now fallen tree off the ground. "You brought the tree of harmony down!"
Although none of the ponies in Equestria knew what had exactly happened, not even the great Celestia and Luna, they all sensed that something terrible had occurred. Very slowly, the strength of Dream Valley's ponies slowly began to grow, along with the strength began to fade from their Equestrian cousins. it would take generations before ponykind would feel the results of a process that had only begun, but the balance had now begun to shift away from Harmony.
"Well... it appears you've achieved your desire, my queen." Breezes lamented, looking down at her exhausted queen. "But what should we do with the dead tree now?"
"Carve a large gemstone from the branches and trunk, and have it sent to Princess Luna as a gift." The queen gasped, nearly falling to her knees. "As to the body, have my unicorn artificers fashion me a new royal crystalline carriage from it's trunk. Might as well get something out of this whole accursed mess."
"Yes, my queen." Melody and Breezes bowed, as Sky Skimmer trotted away. "It shall be done just as you command."
"Can you believe it, Breezes?" Melody whinnied excitedly, as the guards levitated the dead harmony tree away. "We've borne witness to history! This marks a new and exciting change for the entire world!"
"You're right about one thing, the world has indeed changed." Breezes wept, even as she felt a new, chaotic strength wash into her body, one that made her warm feelings of friendship and light flee from her mind. "And you should also realize that now that the crown has been used for an action that will harm the rest of Ponykind, Dream Valley is in for one heck of a backlash." The mare shook her head sadly. "May the horsemaster help us all..."
Historian's note; this letter was found with Spike, after all of the castle mares had given him gifts for his first Christmas. He was slightly bigger then usual when we found him on top of the pile of gifts, and he had no memory of writing it after we took the gifts away, and he returned to normal size through the loss of his horde. I apologize for the strength of his opinions, and recommend that the more sensitive of my readers cease reading at this time. But please be aware Spike was not himself when her wrote this, intoxicated by the effects of Dragon greed.
You have been warned.....
I forgotten how wonderful the sunshine was.
After so many long centuries as a slave, it is so good to breathe the fresh air again. I had kind of adapted to the dank and stale air of Tirek's dungeons, and it's going to take a while to adjust to the outside world once more. These silly ponies don't seem to get that, and keep asking me to go outside and play games with them on warm sunny days. I'm much happier to spend my days in Queen Majesty's treasure room. happily munching away on the spare gemstones littered about the place. Give me a few months to adjust my eyes to the bright glow out there again, ladies. And then we'll talk about playing some pony volleyball.
We dragons are known for the long lives we lead; the equal of any alicorn, and far far longer than any individual pony. Those of us who grow up in Equine society start off seeing the world as they do, and learn to act more like ponies than our own reptilian kind. But as the centuries pass, we watch the mares decay and rot away before our very eyes, and we learn to distance ourselves from our earliest memories. It is the only way to keep our sanity, as the never ending currents of time ceaselessly surge forward.
These Dream Valley ponies- feh! A bunch of silly fillies who eat things that would make other ponies sick, and behave in a way that would disgust them utterly. All that talk of sugary and saccharine girly friendship, yet they'll slay their foes without mercy if they believe it is justified. These ponies are descended from the ponies who killed the tree of harmony, whose ancestors carved it's dead trunk into a chariot for their queen, and tossed the remaining fragments into the generator to power Dream Castle until the end of time. Their queen at the time paid with her life for that decision, but all of Ponyland is still paying for it today.
To be sure, many of these ponies have good qualities about them; they and the human girl beat the dark lord, after all. The Dream Valley mares are intelligent and resourceful, and I would be foolish to think they have no merit. But I am well aware that these equines are but a pale imitation for their forebears, especially those who are of the bloodlines of my dearest of friends. These pathetic mares are an embarrassment to the ponies of Ponyville.
Where do I start? Oh yes, Surprise. That insane little hyena who laughs every time somebody opens their mouth. She thinks it's funny to put piranhas in the castle swimming pool, or to to dump ice cubes into some ponies hot bath when they least expect it. Pinkie Pie would weep at how her pale Pegasus offspring torments her friends, and makes them cry with her practical jokes. Poesy's still a quivering mess after that albino lunatic strapped her down to a table, and pretended to be a doctor that was going to lobotomize her with a chain saw. This maniac doesn't give a flank about parties, her special talent is humor and jokes; particularly ones that make other ponies miserable. This element of laughter is certainly no joke.
Firefly.... I'll admit this mare has all of Rainbow Dash's courage, and all of her flying skill and heroic bravado. But she is even worse when it comes to being a hotheaded jerk, ego being far inflated above anything Dash had. Her primary talent seems to be starting a fight with everyone; including her friends! And even worse, this boy-obsessed tomboy can't keep her hooves off the stallions, and she'll often forget when she's doing to chase after a tight flank. Her only true loyalty is to her insatiable lust, and and her dearest friend is her out of control attitude. Instead of some noble goal like joining the Wonderbolts, I'd wager her dream is to pass a night with every stallion in Ponyland
And then there's Poesy; the wishy-washy wallflower who's too timid to go to the bathroom by herself. This doormat of an earth pony cries and hides in the corner whenever there's a roar of thunder and a lightning flash. This pony is definitely no Fluttershy, she's far too afraid of giant and viscous animals to try and befriend them. All she cares about is being kind to her plants, and she always judges things on their appearances; how shallow can a pony get? i hate that every time I look at this walking failure, I see the reflection of a dear friend. Kindness does not mean being a quivering mass that can't even speak up for yourself.
The others are just as bad; Applejack is hiding something, I'm sure of it. And even if she's not that silly pony is the worst waste of space this dragon has ever laid eyes upon. Stumbling and falling around like a bad cartoon character, and I've never seen a pony this greedy and stupid in all of my millennium-long life. Why just this week, I watched her collect four bushels of apples from the tree outside. But before she could call the stallions to come and carry the them back to the castle, she gave into her greed and devoured the contents of two of the containers herself, and lied to the other ponies about how many apples there had actually been. An element of honesty should never be stupid or greedy, and that mare is not even fit to utter the name Applejack, let alone carry it.
And then there's Glory. I cannot tell you how much this mare pains me, the mere sight of her is like a stab wound to the abdomen. It's not just about her being a party planner instead of a dressmaker (which is a job another one this six losers should be doing instead), nor is it just the fact every time she opens her mouth, that annoying air pollution that grates on the nerves comes out instead of Rarity's heavenly voice. No, the problem is this mare or her failure of a family, can't even begin to measure up to the greatest unicorn to ever live in Ponyville. No, I cannot stand when this walking mistake compares herself to Rarity, and she and her family have coasted off of the fame of their ancestor for generations, even using her reputation to cover their own failings. Never mind that Glory's sister Sparkler is a raging drunk who makes her daughter feel her pain whenever the child fouls up; she's from the house of Rarity! It doesn't make any difference if she strikes baby Sparkler until she bleeds, these are a family who can do no wrong!
And lastly there's the little pink tramp; you all know the one. There is no way, no shape, no how that little miss "I WISH, I WISH I WISH" isn't one millionth of the mare the princess of Equestria was. Twilight Sparkle had to study for years and years to to attain her magical talent though the only way it should be achieved; through discipline and hard work. Her idiotic descendant was simply handed that power on a silver platter, casting spells without the least bit interest in how they work. That's the message to send to all those little fillies who idolize you, you fairy tale obsessed freak. You don't have to work or study to achieve your dreams, kids, just wish hard enough and it'll happen. That's just as bad as that old gasbag of a unicorn you married- great pick there, Miss Shine, a stallion twice your age. Good luck celebrating your 30th wedding anniversary over his gravestone.
I tried to go back and be her assistant; at least she had the good sense to not have a stupid owl as a pet. But all I ended up getting her was fairy stories and fiction books off the shelves. She never looks up the answers to her problems like her predecessor did, she can't stand reading things like non-fiction. Rather, she uses her feelings to solve her dilemmas, disregarding logical and scientific solutions as a waste of time. Twilight believes magic can't be explained, and to do so would be a crime against the magic itself. She has the potential to be the most powerful mage in all of Ponyland since the days of her ancestor, but chooses to hold herself back so she can keep her special talent- wish magic- a secret. I gave up on her and walked away from her when I realized what a dreamer this moronic mare actually was.
And you know the worst part? Twilight Shine has a full understanding and mastery of Wishing and dreams, yet she remains a unicorn. Why? Because she prevented herself from ascending to being an alicorn through sheer force of will. She told everyone that she doesn't want to be an alicorn. How dare she deny Ponyland, a kingdom in desperate need of hope, an alicorn princess who could give the land exactly what it needs! That little pink urine stain doesn't deserve to carry the honored name of Twilight!
And the other ponies of Dream Castle? A super genius Pegasus with no emotions, a jewel eye unicorn who can blow bubbles in soda who is too stupid to live, and a depressed earth pony who cries all the time- wow, what an amazing herd Dream Valley has! I'll be doing them a favor by running off with all of these shiny, shiny gemstones in the royal vault, it'll only be right and proper to take this treasure off their hooves as a punishment for their errors. I'm going to make these ponies pay for their mistakes... just as soon as I get a little sleep here...
"Oh, wow!" Fizzy exclaimed, looking at all the yuletide festivities surrounding her. "This is gonna be the best Christmas EVER!"
It was Christmastime at Dream Castle, and the spirit of the holiday season was in the air. Garland and red ribbons hung on all the walls, and lights the citadel's lavender exterior. Ponies ran hither and yon, unicorns levitating boxes of decorations, and Pegasus carrying bags filled with gifts in their mouths, rushing back to their apartments with their latest newly-bartered treasures.
In the great hall, several mares, stallions, and foals were gathered for a grand party, dipping into the punch bowl and wishing each other a happy holiday in the shadow of the castle's great four hundred foot Christmas tree. Among the gathered equines, were a set of three friends -Fizzy, Glory, and Shady- who were looking around, and admiring all of the holiday decorations the Pegasus had put up.
"Yeah, even I think the castle looks amazing!" Shady replied, in a voice unusually cheerful for the normally depressed pony. "I gotta say Glory, your decoration teams did a marvelous job making this place shine!"
"Awww, thanks girls! I do so love decorating for Christmas!" Glory replied proudly, smiling as she looked over the results of all her extensive planning. "This time of year is the most festive holiday party to plan for, it brings out the artist in an event coordinator!"
"Wow, I know Christmas is a really fun holiday and all." Fizzy added, levitating a Santa hat onto her head. "But why does it mean so much for you to decorate for it?"
"It's a long story, Fizz." The white unicorn replied, looking up as one of the Pegasus hung a wreath on the wall. "See, my mom was always to busy making holiday outfits for her customers this time of year, and she never had the time to spend with any of us foals during the holiday. Oh, she promised every year she'd take off and spend with us and dad, but she was just too wrapped up in her work." She shook her mane. "Now as an adult, whenever I decorating for this season. I try to think about how she would've enjoyed it. I always try to imagine Christmas would be like if mom was still here."
"Aaaawwww, that's so sad!" Shady replied, her face drooping back to it's usual melancholy look. "I don't understand how you can even like Christmas after something like that!"
"Ohhh, it's not that bad, Shady! You see-" Glory suddenly trailed off, suddenly noticing how quiet the ballroom stage was. Looking up at the clock, the mare turned to the blue unicorn beside her. "Fizzy, did you remember to book some holiday entertainment when I asked you to?"
"Umm, well, that is..." Fizzy stuttered, looking back and forth between Glory and the stage and the white pony.
"Fizzy, when I told you I was too busy to get a performer, you said you had it covered!" Glory snapped angrily. "Oooohh, why did I trust a doofus with something so important!"
She had just finished talking, when the red curtains slid open, and all the ponies in the room began to hoof-clap.
"Relax Glory, I did get a performer!" Fizzy giggled, quickly remembering her recent visit to Bright Valley. "And you just won't believe who agreed to sing!"
"Hello, all you little ponies!" The white earth stallion on stage exclaimed, causing all the younger mares and fillies in the room to swoon, "Are you all ready to rock with Nightshade?"
That glittery jacket... that blue pompadour... as soon as she laid eyes on this sparkling pony, Shady instantly knew who the stallion was. Nightshade and the Shadowettes, one of the most popular bands in all of Ponyland, Second only to D.J. and the Dance 'n Twirl ponies in popularity, Nightshade had been involved in a wizard's scheme to steal the shadows of innocent equines. The Dream Valley ponies had helped defeat the wizard and free the stallion, and the grateful singer had agreed to sing at the castle whenever the ponies wanted him.
"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock!" The glittery stallion sang. "Jingle bell time in jingle bell chime!"
"Night shade! Whoohoo!" An entire herd of filly groupies swarmed the base of the stage, cheering and jumping at the singing sensation in front of them. in between the screaming Baby Lofty and the bouncing Baby Heart Throb, Baby Bow TIe was about ready to jump up on stage, howling the singer's name.
"Nightshde! Yay Nightshade!" The crushing preteen filly screamed, jumping up on the stage. "I wanna have your foal!"
"Whoah there, little filly!" The musician stopped her, moving to help the little filly off the stage. "You need to watch from the floor!"
But as the three mares watched the earth pony help the little filly down, all the color suddenly drained from Glory's face.
"Fizzy, you moron!" The white mare shrieked, slapping the other unicorn over the head with a hoof. "How could you invite that don juan pony to sing at our Christmas party!"
"Ow! Hey!" The mare rubbed her head with her hoof. "What's wrong? What did I do this time?"
"Fizzy, don't you know who's helping me decorate the ballroom this year?!?" Glory's expression changed to a look of horror, as she saw a blue earth mare with ribbons in her mane, came trotting into the room. "Oh, dear...."
"Hey, Glory? I got those green bows you wanted for the west wall." Bow Tie whinnied, carrying the ribbons in a box on her back. "Will you need help putting... them... up?"
Bow Tie caught sight of the musician with his hooves on baby Bow Tie, and it only took a moment for the singer to spy her.
"H-hi, Bow Tie...." Nightshade said nervously, "Long time, no see..."
In a lightning quick second, the enraged mare had leapt onto the stage, kicked the musician away from her daughter, and was now choking him with his own microphone cord.
"Bow Tie, you need to calm down!" Fizzy pleaded, as she sat beside the seething mare, trying to calm her down. "Nightshade has already made up for what he did, and everybody's forgiven him. Doncha think you should, too?"
"Forgive him?!? FORGIVE HIM!?!" The enraged blue mare snorted angrily. "Fizzy, do you know what that two-faced, slimy rattlesnake did to me? I loved that pony, gave him my heart and all of my affection for years! And do you know how he repaid me?!?"
"Teamed up with an evil cloud genie named Arabus, betrayed you by turning your family your friends into shadowless zombies, and tossed your love into the trash like an old worn out shoe." Glory replied, trotting up to her dear friend. "It was horrible what you had to go through, Bow. No one should have thier whole lives ripped away from them like that."
"A-after he and Arabus chased my out of the city, I wandered the Ponyland countryside for months." Bow Tie remembered bitterly, closing her eyes tightly. The other two mares present already knew this story by heart, but let her tell it again so she could feel better. "I was able to scavenge food at first. But then the cold of late fall set in, and it became hard to find anything to eat..."
Bow Tie struggled against the bitter cold, hunkering low to keep the chill from feeing her. The mare gazed around with bloodshot eyes, seeing if there was a place to take shelter for the night. Spotting a nearby stream, and slowly trotted up to take a drink. But the reflection she spotted in the water below, was not of a pony she recognized.
"Great Horsemaster, I look like a savage!"
Her haggard pink mane, once the envy of every mare in Bright Valley, was now a tattered mess. The mare's satin and silk ribbons all through her mane and tail, gifts from her family and friends, were tattered and torn beyond recognition. She could just imagine some human hunting party coming across her, nd filling her fragile little body with arrows after mistaking her for some kind of wild animal.
"I need to keep moving."
The mare continued her trek southward for several weeks, passing over the unicorn run, and into the narrow passes of the Equestria Valley. Winter was setting in, and Bow Tie was hoping to fin her way to one of the great citadels of Ponyland before she ethier starved or froze to death. But my mid-December she was too week to go on, having survived on the sparse shrubs and grasses she had found, and was ready to give up. But just as Bow Tie was about to collapse, her weay eyes gazed upon a sight that filled the weary mare with awe.
"C-canterlot Mountain." She whispered allowed, her eyes going wide in wonder. "I've made it to the holy city."
Somehow finding the strength to push on, the mare slowly trotted her way towards the mountain. Climbing the ancient staircase that led to the capital, Bow Tie found herself amidst the crumbling ruins of broken down buildings, and roofless homes that had not been inhabited for more then five centuries.
"So this is where I get to spend my last Christmas, amongst the ruins of my ancestors.." The exhausted mare thought, stumbling over into the shadow of a broken down building and collapsing. "I wonder if someone will find me here in a hundred years, and think I was part of the ruins."
Bow Tie lay there quietly for several minutes, staring out into the remains of the old Canterlot city square. It was then, that something odd began to happen. Whither a strange supernatural event, or some trick of the tired mare's mind, the entire city suddenly began to light up around her. Street lamps blazed at every corner, and wreaths hung above every door. Bow Tie then noticed the shades of Equestrians ponies trotting to and fro, giggling and laughing and going about their holiday business. Clad in jackets and scarves and hoof mittens, the merry ponies of old Equestria taking no notice to dying pony lying off to the side, the life slowly draining from her malnourished body.
"Awwww, c'mon Nightshade! Get me that jacket for Christmas, pleeeease?"
Among the shadows of ponies past, Bow Tie caught a glimpse of herself- or rather, a shadow of herself as a younger filly, trotting around with Nightshade. The look of joy on the other Bow Tie's face, sent a pang of sorrow and regret through the older mare's heart.
"You know I can't afford the brand name one, honey girl!" Nightshade asked. "Why don't we just get the cheap knock-off?"
"C'mon, Nighty, that's no fun!" The filly replied, pouting. "Only the best will do for your Bow Tie!"
Bow Tie buried her face in the snow, ashamed of how shallow and frivolous she had been. All of the blessings she had had with her family and friends over each and every Christmas that slipped by, and she had never once stopped, and enjoyed the company of the ponies around her, company that was now lost to her forever. She would never again see her father's smiling face on Christmas morning, nor would she ever taste her mother's hot ginger soup again. No, she was going to die right here on this cold stone floor, and nobody would even shed a tear.
"Oh great horsemaster, please have pity on this wretched mare, and end my suffering now." She pleaded aloud, trying to push the pain and heartbreak out of her mind. "And please, if there is ever another filly who had all of the blessings that were given to me... please don't let her squander them... let her stop, and see her dear ones as the blessing they are."
It was at that moment, that all of the sights and sounds of the holiday vanished, and all of the ghosts faded away. Bow Tie couldn't be sure, but it almost seemed one dark blue shade, with both wings and horn and a flowing mane, seemed to linger a bit longer than the others. It stared at her sadly, before vanishing like all the rest. Suddenly, a light snow began to fall all around her, and the young mare thought she could hear voices.
"Commander Sunburst, over here!" A pony's voice exclaimed, as a white unicorn came into her blurry field of vision. "It looks like there's a mare, half frozen in the snow!"
"Great Horsemaster, you're right!" A commanding voice replied, and a glittering stallion trotted up beside the unicorn, looking like an angel to the fallen mare. "We'd better get her back to dream castle, before it's too late!"
"You were lucky Sunburst and I were there at the ruins." Glory noted, as Bow Tie finished her story. "He was serving as my escort while I was looking though the remains of Canterlot for old Equestrian tapestries to restore."
"You two saved me, and brought me back here to my new life in Dream Valley." The mare replied gratefully. "Later, Sunburst and I even got married, and had baby Bow Tie together."
"But if things turned out so well for you, why are you having such a hard time forgiving him?" Fizzy asked. "It's no good for you to hold on to grudge like that."
"Fizzy, my parents died during that whole shadow fiasco, and he's partially responsible." The mare scowled angrily. "How can I possibly forgive that jerk for how that jerk betrayed me?"
Honey, you still need to talk to him, and let go your hatred." Glory replied, pointing a hoof at the door. "Because if you don't, the pony you'll end up hating is yourself."
Bow Tie scowled silently at her friend, before nodding and trotting out the door.
"Oh, Bow Tie..." The singer sighed, gazing at a snapshot of the two together, as he sat alone in the ballroom. "Where oh Where did you and I go wrong?"
"Probably at the point you stabbed her in the back, and helped betray and kill her family." A yellow earth pony soldier with a red mane snorted, trotting into the room in full armor. "Sorry, that was rude of me. Are you feeling all right after your, um... 'incident'?"
"Yeah, I'll have a sore neck for awhile, but I'll be all right." Nightshade rubbed his throat with his hoof. "Nice uniform you have there. You a friend of Bow Tie's or something?"
"Or something..." The pony grunted. "My name is colonel Sunburst, officer in the Dream Valley royal guard. Miss Bow Tie is my wife."
"Y-your wife?!?" Nightshade asked in shock, his heart sinking. "O-of course she's married now, I saw your daughter at the Christmas party a few hours ago."
"Yes, she found a new life here, after what happened at Bright Valley." The stallion replied, narrowing his eyes. "I'm actually surprised you had the courage to show up here after all that has occurred, Knight Shade."
"Actually, it's just 'Nightshade'. "Knight" is merely my stage name." We sighed. "Have you come to beat me up, too?"
"No, I think you've suffered enough. Though I do admit- I was considering requesting Bright Valley have you gelded, and shipped of to the mareharajah of Ponystan as a palace eunuch for what you did to my Bow Tie. "The other stallion winced at that comment. "But I got over it. I must ask though... why in the world did you betray such a warm and kind-hearted mare in the name of a career?"
"Leave it to a solider pony to bluntly get to the point." Night shade replied with a nervous laugh. "I didn't betray Bow Tie, I actually helped save her from Arabus and Zeb, evil, when they were attacking the town." The stallion musician explained. "I was pretending to be with them, so it would drive her out of the city, so they wouldn't get her shadow."
"And were you helping her, by threatening her life like you did?" The stallion asked, actually curious. "Sure sounds like betrayal to me."
"I had no choice but to obey Zeb and Arabus at the time." Nightshade explained, looking downward. "That's why I acted all angry and mean, it was the only way to drive her away without it seeming suspicious to those two."
"So that 's why she thought you had turned against her!" The soldier replied, realization dawning on him at last. "Well, at least there was a little bit of nobility in your actions, after all!"
Nightshade was about to say something in response, when two other ponies came trotting into the room.
"Daddy!" A little blue filly came galloping up to the soldier, who picked the little pony up in his hooves asnd hugged her. "Merry Christmas, daddy!"
"Hey how's is my little girl!" The pony with the glowing sun cutie mark replied. "You being a good girl for santa?"
"She and I had to get some last minute decorations, and we decided to stop back here and see how you were doing." The adult Bow Tie added, trotting up and nuzzling Sunburst.
Seeing the three ponies there all together, a loving family at Christmastime, stung a pain in Nightshade's heart. For an instant, he saw himself thee, in Sunburst's place, holding the little filly up and getting nuzzled by the mare he once loved. But she was lifebonded to Sunburst now, and that door was closed to him forever.
"Sunny, would you be a dear and take Baby Bow Tie back to our apartment?" The blue mare asked, narrowing her eyes as she spotted the singer pony. "I'll be along in a few minutes."
"You sure you'll be all right here?" The soldier asked, leading their little girl out of the room.
"Don't worry dear, I'll be fine." Bow reassured him, as the other two ponies left.
The two onetime lovers stared across the room at each other in silence, a roiling storm of emotions going through both of their hearts and minds.
"Hey, Bow. it's been awhile." The stallion spoke up, breaking the tension. "I never thought I'd see you again."
"And I had hoped I never would see you again." The mare replied coldly, looking away from him. "I can believe you made a deal with those two monsters, and for what? To build up your damned singing career!"
"Bow Tie, listen to me... I'm so very, very sorry about what happened back there." Nightshade responded, trotting up and looking the mare in the eyes. "I had no choice but to go along with Arabus and Zeb's plans, or they would have taken my shadow, too!"
"Nightshade, you could've told me! I would've helped you do anything to stop them!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, tears coming down her face. "I loved you! We could have found a way to beat them! But no, you had to work with them and drive me away!"
"Damn it, Bow! I was trying to keep you out of it!" The musician snapped back, stamping his hoof. "I had always intended to find you after this was all over, But things just got so crazy...."
"Shade, you could have snuck away anytime you wanted to, and ran to one of the pony citadels for help! But what did you do? Took your flanking little shadow stealing act on the road, and helped Arabus suck half of Ponyland dry!" Bow Tie narrowed her eyes at the other pony. "You betrayed me, killed my parents, and even sold your own mother down the river for a song!"
"All right, Bow, all right. If I would’ve known you were going to be at that party, I never would've showed up when Fizzy asked me to come." The melancholy stallion replied, his ears drooping. "I understand that you'll never be able to forgive me."
"Forgive you, Shade? Oh no, I've already forgiven you for zombifying our hometown and what happened to my family- after all, it was actually Zeb and Arabus who did all those horrible things." She turned away, shaking her head sadly. "But I can never forget what you've done to me, and the choices you made that allowed them commit their crimes."
His eyes going wide, he trotted up to her pleadingly. "Bow Tie, I..."
"Merry Christmas, Knight Shade." The mare replied , putting both her pain and this pony from her past behind her as she trotted out of the room. "I hope you have a pleasant journey back to Bright Valley."
And as the other pony left, the stallion could only look over all the festive holiday decorations, glance back to his faded photograph of a Chirstmas long gone by, and weep for his past of horrible mistakes.
"Argh, Stupid snow!" The Stallion snorted, as the wind and blistering cold tore at him. "Stupid Dream Valley! Stupid Bow Tie! Why did I even come back to this blasted place!"
Nightshade trotted along in anger, trying not to think about the place he had left behind him, and trying not to think about the mare he had left behind a long time ago. Back there, she was enjoying a night of unwrapping presents and singing carols with her family. Back there, ponies were feasting and making merry over the punch, and enjoying the warmth of the great fires on the hearth. While he was out here, slowly trotting his way back towards Bright Valley.
"Dumb Shadowettes!" He growled, cursing his band. "If they had wanted to head back tonight, we could all be riding home in our nice warm tour bus right now! But noooooo! They had to stay over in Dream Castle for Christmas!"
As he continued to trudge onward, visions came to the guilt ridden stallion- visions of a life that he could have had, a life that would never be his...
He saw a church, all decked out in white.... a lovely blue bride, and a dashing groom. As the two stood there, here could tell how very much they were in love.
"Bow Tie, do you take this stallion to be your lawful wedded husband?"
"I do"
"Nightshade, do you take this mare to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"I do."
The couple kissed, and the snows shifted the vision forward. Nightshade then gazed upon the mare and the stallion in a Bright Valley hospital room, the mare lying in bed in pain, and the stallion standing over her in concern. Even as the female pony screamed in agony, her mate held her hoof tightly.
"Push, Bow tie, Push! You can do it!"
"I'm trying, Night, I'm trying!"
There was a scream from the mother, and the cry of a newborn foal as the scene shifted again. As the blizzard parted a final time, Nightshade gazed upon the couple many years later, seated by a Christmas tree with two little colts,
"Here, son! Open up this package!"
"Ohhh, wow! A new pony polo ball! You're the best, dad!"
As father and sun hugged, the stallion cried out in his agony- unable to take the visions any longer.
"WHY!?! Why are you torturing me like this!?!" The stallion wailed, screaming towards the heavens. "I know I messed up, why do you torment me with what could have been?!?"
The wind only howled in response, and the Stallion fell to his knees.
"I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry I caused so much pain to ponies who cared about me." Nightshade wept, the tears freezing as they rolled down his face. "I am so terribly sorry I betrayed her! Great Horsemaster, give me another chance! PLEASE give me another chance!"
The roaring snows engulfed the once-proud pony, blinding him. But just as it seemed the howling winds were going to tear him apart, the mighty walls of white melted away into a gentle snowfall. Off in the distance, the bruised and beaten pony swore he could hear a voice calling out to him.
"Nightshade! Nightshade! Are you there?" A white mare with a purple mane came out of the darkness, carrying a lantern in her mouth, and two blankets on her back. "Oh, Nightshade, there you are! I was afraid you had frozen to death out here!" She threw a blanket over the nearly-frozen stallion's back.
"T-thank you miss." He replied, shivering bitterly. "B-but who are you?"
"Oh, my name's Scoops. I run the Satin Slipper ice cream shop." The mare replied, as Nightshade noticed the icecream cutie mark on her flank. "I saw you leaving the castle when I was closing up for the night, and I followed your trail though after the storm started."
"I-I really do appreciate it." His teeth chattered, as he looked away from the pony who had saved his life. "B-but why'd you come all this way to save me? I don't really deserved to be saved by anyone."
"I-I wanted to get you back to the castle, for when the Christmas giant brings our presents before the stroke of midnight." Scoops smiled, recalling the old pony legend. "You know how he's supposed to travel around with the land of Christmas on his back, aided by his pony... friend...Felicidades..." She trailed off, as the stallion glared at her.
"What's the real reason you came after me miss Scoops?" He snorted, narrowing his eyes. "Why would you risk our life to save the wretched pony who almost condemned Bright Valley to destruction?"
"B-beacuase every pony deserves a second chance." The mare exclaimed, smiling at Nightshade with a warm smile that the stallion had not seen since he had Betrayed Bow Tie. "And no pony- no one- deserves to freeze to Death on Christmas day!"
Looking back up into the mare's eyes, Nightshade saw a tender mercy and a compassion, that no one had afforded him since his betrayal of everything he had loved. Even after he had redeemed himself, every mare and stallion had looked upon him with either contempt and scorn, or at the least a bitter indifference. Here was a pony offering him even the slightest ounce of Friendship, as if in answer to his plea. And for the first time since he had helped steal his first shadow, the singer was filled with a warmth as great as the mightiest roaring yule fire.
"Thank you very much, Miss Scoops." The smiling stallion replied gratefully. "I'll be more that happy to accompany you back to Dream Castle."
And as the two ponies trotted back together, Nightshade saw his second chance in that warm face that occasionally glanced over at him. And the Stallion right then and there vowed to never again make the foolish mistakes that led to his near destruction the first time.
"Nightshade, look!" Scoops exclaimed, pointing a hoof. "They've lit the castle for Christmas!"
And up ahead, the two ponies could see the castle and the surrounding trees lit up, in a vibrant sea of blue and green. And as they trotted down the hill, the once-condemned Nightshade was filled by the beauty and warmth and beauty of the Christmas spirit.
"Popcap! Bottletop!" The blue mare exclaimed, calling out to the two pony foals in their rooms. "Could you come down here, please? I have an errand I'd like you to run!"
"Coming, mom!" The twins called out, galloping out of their rooms, racing down the hallway, to where their parent waited in the kitchen.
"What's up?" Bottletop, the colt with the red mane, asked.
"What can we do for you?" Popcap, the pink-maned filly, added.
The unicorn mare smiled at the two little purple ponies- a pair of little hyperactive screwballs, just like she was. Although the two energetic equines shared her bubbling soda cutie mark, their special talents of causing trouble were very, very different from her own.
"I want you two to go visit the outer garden, and collect a bushel of fruits Cherries Jubilee has put together for the Satin Slipper, to use in making our sundaes." Their mother giggled, levitating a cherry soda she was drinking up to her mouth. "I'd go myself, but my shift kinda starts in ten minutes."
"No problem, mom!" Popcap announced, saluting her mom with her hoof. "I'll bring that bushel back before you can say 'chocolate milkshake!"
"Whaddya mean you'll get it for her?" Bottletop asked in annoyance. "I'll be the one to bring the fruit to the sweet shoppe. Then Miss Lickty Split'll give me a big, yummy sundae!"
"Both of you'll need to help carry the basket, and no fooling around!" The unicorn warned, shaking a hoof at the twins. "I don't need Scoops any angrier at me then she already is!"
But even before she had finished, the two ponies were already out the door. The twins raced down the hall, practically jumping over each other to get there first. Popcap sprung forward, landing on her brother’s head before using it as a springboard to jump ahead.
"Hey, no fair!" Bottletop cried, snorting angrily at his sister. "You cheated!"
Early pony gets the fruit, bro!" She giggled, grinning back at her sibling. "And the ice cream sundae!"
As the two galloped out over the castle's drawbridge, Bottletop whispered something down into the moat, Suddenly, a small wave came up out of the water, and knocked the filly into the fins of a group of Bottletop's underwater friends.
"Hey, no fair using the sea ponies for help!" Popcap whined.
"Sorry sis!" The colt laughed, galloping ahead towards the outer garden. "Looks like I'll be the one getting the sundae!"
The angry filly climbed out of the moat, and galloped after her brother, who was already at the outer garden. It was a large cluster of trees surrounded by a stone wall and a gate. Most of the adult ponies hated coming out here, because of how open and exposed it was outside the castle, but the younger ponies, along with a few of the gardeners, actually liked being out here in the fresh air and sunshine.
"Hey, don't do that again!" Popcap snapped, her jeweled eyes glaring at her brother. "Remember, mom said we have to work together to get the fruit back!"
"Yeah, yeah... so says the filly who jumped on my head!" Bottletop snapped back, before the two trotted over towards the tree orchard.
"Cherries! Cherries Jubilee?" Popcap called out, looking around. "You there?"
"Maybe she's at lunch?" Her brother whispered, when no response came. "Maybe we should head back inside?"
"Right here." Cherries replied, trotting up behind the two siblings. "So glad you two finally made it."
"Ahhhhh!" The twins screamed in unison, nearly jumping out of their horseshoes. "Miss Jubilee, please don't do that!"
"Sheesh, you kids today. Can't even take a little joke." The mare replied with a sigh, leading them over to a basket under two of the cherry trees. "Whelp, he's the Cherries I promised your mom. Tell her to make sure they only end up topping the best hot fudge sundaes, and the finest root beer floats,"
"Don't worry, we will!" Bottletop replied, as he and his sister picked up the basket handles at either end in thier mouths. "And mom says thank you!"
"Oh, and be careful on your way home!" Cherries called out, as the two trotted back out of the garden with the basket. "Word's going around the castle that some kind of monster's come out of the everfree! Make sure to hurry back to the castle, so you're not gobbled up!"
"Awwww, she's probably just pulling our chains!" Popcap thought to herself nervously, as she and her brother slowly carried the basket back out of the garden. "I mean a monster, on the loose in Dream Valley? Yeah, right!" She and her brother slowly dragged the basket back towards the castle, even as the sun set in the evening sky behind them.
But the two had only gotten a third of the way back to the castle, when they hears a scream coming from behind them, followed by a loud thud.
"Wait, what was that?" Bottletop asked, dropping the basket. "Sounded like miss Jubilee back there!"
"Oh, come on!" His sister snorted, dropping her end and rolling her eyes. "You're just trying to get out of carrying you're end of the-" But before she could finish, he had already galloped back into the garden. "Hey, wait for me!"
The twins arrived back towards where they had last seen their fellow earth pony, and found her standing thier silently under the shadow of evening. But as they drew closer, the two ponies noticed she was standing particularly still for such a busybody pony.
"E-excuse me, m-miss Jubilee?" Popcap asked nervously. "S-shouldn't you be heading back, it's kind of getting late!"
The orange mare with the cherry cutie mark gave no reply, and the two jewel-eyed ponies took a step closer. The brother slowly reached a hoof out to the adult pony... only to have her tip over and fall with a loud THUNK!
"Holy horseapples!" Popcap screamed. "She's been stoned!"
Both ponies stared at each other in unison, before giving the only response two sensible children of that age would;
The terrified ponies raced towards the exit... only to have a dark, slithering shape block their path. Before their very eyes, a strange beast that looked half bird, half winged lizard, it unfolded to bat-like wings and glided above them. Letting out with a cry that would terrify the bravest stallion, it stared down at the two ponies with a steely gaze from it's glowing red eyes.
"What the heck is that thing?" Bottletop asked, looking up at the bizarre monstrosity. "It looks like Mister Moochick fused a chicken and a Dragon together!"
"I dunno, but it does look freaky!" Popcap replied, staring up at the creature. "Do ya think this is the thing that turned miss Jubilee to stone?"
The creature continued to glare at them, and seemed surprised when nothing happened. Intensifying it's gaze, the odd creature's eyes began to glow even a brighter red as it glared deeper into their twinkle eyes.
"Ewww, Botteltop! That things staring at me all creepy!" The little filly screamed, looking away in disgust. "I think it is what froze Miss Jubilee up, bro! Kill it, kill it!"
"Hey, stop bugging my sister, you weirdo!" The colt snorted. Grabbing it's tail in his teeth, Bottletop yanked the creature to the ground. "This'll teach you to turn ponies into rocks!"
The twins jumped on the beast, trampling the creature to death with their hooves, and let out a terrible shriek. With it's last thoughts. the monster tried to figure what went wrong. Why hadn't she turned to stone when it looked into their eyes, like that adult pony had? It was only with it's last thought, as it glanced as the glittering stones in the twins eye sockets, that the lizard-bird realized it's fatal mistake....
... for the two little ponies had no eyes....
"Ohhhhhh, my head....." As the twins reduced the monster to a scattered mess of feathers, they heard the groaning of the restored adult pony behind them.
"Miss Jubilee!" Bottletop called out, as they galloped back towards the groggy pony. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Cherries replied, pulling herself back to her hooves. "Ew, what's that nasty mess over there?"
"We think it was the thing that turned you to stone like that, so we squished it." Popcap replied, as they looked back at the icky mess. "I think we should take it back to mom with the cherries, so she can fry it up for supper."
"Thanks kids, I really owe you one for that." The mare snorted shaking off her grogginess. "And I guess somebody should have warned that Cockatrice about the jewel-eyed ponies."
"Aaand that's all for today, class!" Sundance exclaimed, as all of her students got up from thier desks, and trotted towards the door. "Be sure to get your algebra homework in here by monday!"
The bell rang, and the little colts and fillies all quickly exited the Dream Castle school room. Grabbing her own saddlebag, a lavender filly with a pink mane began walking her own way towards the door.
"Excuse me, Ember?" Sundance called out from her desk, stopping the filly in her tracks. "Before you go, may I see you for a moment please?"
"Yes, miss Sundance." With a heavy sigh, the little pony turned around, and sullenly trotted her way back to the front of the classroom. Normally a quiet student with some of the best grades in the class, the little filly couldn't figure why the teacher had singled her out. "What can I do for you, Miss Sundance?"
"Ember, dear... there's something I wished to speak to you about." The teacher smiled at her eager young student. "You're at the age that many colts and fillies discover thier special talent..."
Ember's eyes went wide, and looked down towards the blank spot on her flank- a spot where an image representing something should be. Covering the spot with her tail, the filly looked away with embarrassment.
"Oh, dont worry, Ember! It's nothing to be ashamed of!" The teacher put a hoof on the little filly's shoulder. "I was even older then you when I earned my cutie mark!"
"T-then why do so many ponies make such a big deal about it?" The downcast little filly asked.
"Well, the fact your cutie mark hasn't apeared at this age wouldn't have mattered in old Equestria. But here in Ponyland, foals are normally born with thier marks, and 'blank flanks' such as yourself are a rarity in this day and age." The white mare with the pink hearts cutie mark told her encouragingly. "So that's why I've ordered a special assesment and aptitude test from Bright valley, for... 'special needs' fillies such as yourself."
"W-what do you want me to do?" Ember asked worriedly.
"Take this permission form home, and have your moth- er, have Twilight fill it out." Sundance handed her a sheet of paper the teacher had in her mouth. "We'll proceed from there."
The little filly nodded, then trotted out of the classroom. In the hallway, her two friends Racer and Paws were waiting for her.
"Hey Ember, what's up?" The yellow colt with the blue mane asked, trotting along side her.
"Yeah, what did Miss Sundance want?" her other friend, a blue filly to a pink mane, asked.
"Awww, it was nothin'." The filly snorted, looking away from the other two as she trotted on. "Don't worry about it, you two."
"C'man, Emb. You can tell us!" Paws replied, smiling at her friend.
"Yeah, we're your friends!" Racer agreed, nodding his head.
"Welll..." The filly stopped, and sighed. "It's about my not having a cutie mark yet. She says I need to take a special test."
"Oh, is that all?" Paws rolled her eyes. "That's nothing! I got a cousin in Fort Dash who didn't get hers until she was thirteen!"
"Yeah, and even after you get it, it doesn't mean that you'll know what to do with it!" Racer agreed, looking back to the racing car on his own flank. "I always thought I was supposed to be a mechanic, till pop let me behind the wheel of his monster truck."
"Don't worry about your cutie mark, okay?" Paws enouraged her, gesturing towards the brown puppy on her own flank. "I'm sure you'll get a totally cool one when you find you're special talent!"
"Something totally cool, about you losers?" A conceited filly's voice chirped, as three fillies trotted right up to the friends. "Oh please, you three wouldn't know kewel if it came up, and bit you in the flank."
As thier fellow students approached, the three foals looked away in disgust. The Jewelry sisters- Diamond, Ruby, and Shappire- three rich brats who transferred in from Bright Valley for the semester, while thier father was doing business in Dream Castle. The sisters enjoyed tormenting all the 'castle' ponies they looked down upon- particularly Ember and her friends.
"Oh, look... you creep squad just arrived." Paws snorted, rolling her eyes. "What the hay you want, Diamond?"
"Oh we just wanted to see the freak pony and her freaky friends." The white filly with the silver mane sneered.
"The only freaks here are you three." Ember snorted, scowling at the ponies picking on her and her friends.
"She's right though... it's not every day you get to see a blank flank, a pony so messed up she can't make up her mind on what she wants to be!" The pink filly with the red mane teased. "So nice of you to take pity on the little retard, and be friends with her!"
"You shut you flank hole, Ruby!" Racer glared at them angrily, steam coming out of his nostrils. "Before I shut it for you!"
"Oh, sure... a big strong colt hits a poor defenseless filly. I'd jut love to watch them drag you off to the soldier's barracks" Shapphire, the blue filly, sneered at him. "C'mon girls, I'm bored here! Let's leave this blank flank to her loser friends!"
The three girls laughed, trotting away from Ember and her friends.
"Ohhhh, I'd love to ram my hoof up those three smug filly's... urrrgghh!" Paws snorted, trying to contain her anger.
"Don't let them get to you, Ember!" Racer told her, putting a caring hoof around you. "Those jerkettes don't know what they're talking about!"
....
"Twilight, Tornado... will I ever get my cutie mark?"
The question came out while we were eating supper, and both of us looked at each other. We both looked at each other knowingly, then the pink unicorn across from the table from me smiled at the questioning filly.
"Ember, I've told before, you'll grow up to be your own special little pony." She levitated the pitcher over to my place, refilling the juice in my cup. "Your cutie mark we'll appear right when it's supposed to."
"I wish someone would tell the jewel sisters that." The filly looked down, sighing.
"Were those little monsters picking on you again?" My ears perked up angrily. "I told Sundance she had to reign those girls in! Just wait till I go talk to Majesty, and-"
Twilight gave me 'that' look, and I fell silent. Nuzzling the little filly the two of us had brought up, she gave her a reassuring smile. "Sweetie, you can't let those mean ponies get to you. You're a better pony than any of them are- and some day, you'll show that to the whole world."
We finished dinner in silence, then Twilight saw the little filly off to bed. Sitting back in the recliner, I opened my evening paper, and blew on my bubble pipe.
"Tornado, do you think I'm not being sympthetic enough" My wife asked me worriedly. "I mean, maybe I could have done something about-"
"My dear, it's just something she'll have to work out." I sigh, blowing bubblesall over the room with my levitated pipe. "Still, I am going to have a word with sundance about those bullies..."
"Good night, little one." The older mare replied, smiling tenderly. "Sweet dreams."
Ember closed her eyes, and drifted off into the pleasant repose of slumber. Seeing that her young charge was safely asleep, the pink unicorn smiled and clicked the light to her room off. But it wasn’t long after the darkness enveloped her, that a bright light suddenly filled her field of vision.
“H-huh?” The confused earth filly asked, looking around and blinking in confusion. “Where am I? What’s going on?”
At first, it appeared that Ember was standing in front of the Dream Castle. Ponies she knew and loved danced and played in the sun before it’s gates, and a general feel of happiness permeated all of her surroundings
“Wind Whistler, throw me the ball!”
“Shady, stop sitting there and moping, and come join our picnic!”
“Oh, Fizzy! Why’d you pop those balloons! They were for the party!”
The ponies that the little filly lived with and knew were happy and joyous, until a dark cloud suddenly eclipsed the sun. The ponies suddenly grew fearful, and began to run in every direction as dark, finger-like tendrils descended from the sky. The grasped at the terrified ponies, capturing them and throwing them into fiery pits that seemed to open out of nowhere from deep in the earth.
"Somebody, help us!"
"Eeeeeeeeeeee!"
To her horror, Ember could hear the cries and screams of the dark cloud's victims. Until the filly saw a dark hand descending, grasping for her.
"No, keep away! Keep away!" Ember cried out in terror, running away as the shadowy fingers closed around her. "Twilight, help me! Aieeeeeeeeee!"
"Ember.."
Suddenly, the little filly was enveloped by a flash of light, and she found herself on the open fields of Ponyland once more. Before her , floated a great glowing ball light, and the dark shadow and wispy black clouds fled before it.
"Ember..."
Before her eyes, appeared the most beautiful pony Ember had ever seen. A glowing pink coat, the large and lovely pair of feathery wings... Ember had seen this ethereal pony before, and knew her warm and loving presence even as she stood before her.
"Oh, Angel Pony!" The little filly raced forward, grabbing the elegant mare in a tight hug. "I'm so glad to see you here! I just saw something that was just awful!"
Known to all ponies the entire world over, this great deity was the protector and kind of all the equines of this world. She would often appear to the chosen ponies to deliver messages and give advice, appearing in both visions and dreams. Greater than a million alicorns, angel pony was one third of the trinity that made up the great horsemaster, the maker of this world and all the living things that dwelled within it. This divine entity was known to a thousand different races under a thousand different faces, forms, and names... but to all followers of Zororpothisim, she was known as the angel pony.
I know, little one, of the terrible things you have seen." Angel pony reassured the scared little filly, wrapping her in her wings, and filling Ember with a warmth that felt like pure euphoric bliss. "It is the future you see, if Ponykind's hearts remain hardened."
"Oh no, how terrible!" The little filly wailed, closing her eyes, as the divine mare gently nuzzled her. "Angel Pony, how can this terrible thing be stopped?"
But when she opened her eyes, the real creator of the world, and all of the things from her vision were gone. "A-angel pony? Where are you?" Looking around, Ember found herself in her own room, lying in her own bed once more.
"Oh, Angel Pony..." The little filly whispered, pulling her sheet closer around her body. "What in the world am I supposed to do?"
It was at that moment, that Ember felt a chill coming from her nearby bedroom window. Seeing the white lace curtains gently billowing in the breeze, Ember realized that Twilight never would have left the window open on a chilly spring night.
"Ahhhh, there she is!" A voice hissed from the darkness, as the filly saw several pairs of glowing eyes staring at her. "The little pony who will help us find all of the gems!"
"TWILI- mmph!" The little filly started to shriek, before a furry clawed paw closed over her mouth. As several clawing, grasping paws shoved the struggling little baby pony into a brown sack and tied it up, Ember could smell the stench of several large, greedy canines all around her, and her little heart suddenly grew greatly afraid.
"Yes, clairvoyant little pony help us find all the gems in pony!" One of the voices barked, as Ember felt the bag lifted out the window. "Or little pony will end up as a yummy little dinner!"
The evil laugh of a horrible creature, whose heart knew only the greedy lust for jewels and gemstones, echoed across Dream Castle's courtyard. Down the hall, a unicorn mare was suddenly startled awake, sitting up in bed in a cold sweat.
"What the hay?" I groan groggily, looking at the alert mare sitting up in bed next to me. "Twilight, what is it?"
"Something's happened..." She leapt out of bed, galloping down the hallway towards our little filly room at the end of the hall. "Something's wrong!"
Getting out of bed and putting my spectacles on, I quickly followed her down the hall, and only made if halfway when I heard my wife's terrified voice echo throughout the castle. "Oh no... "
Ember felt herself carried a long distance, being bounced and jostled around in her bag, before finally being dumped out on a cold stone floor.Hopping back to her hooves, the terrified filly looked around frantically.
"Where am I?" The filly cried in a panic. "What are you going to do with me?"
The earth pony was surrounded by total darkness, the only sound she could hear was the drip...drip... dripping of water off the stalactites above her. Several pairs of glowing eyes stared at her from the darkness, and she could hear the snorting and growling that sounded like the canine variety.
"Awww, poor little pony is scared!" One of the voices said out of the darkness. "Is little pony afraid of the dark?"
"Is good little pony is scared!" Another voice taunted, followed by the sound of licking his lips. "If little pony doesn't do want we want, we have pony over for dinner!"
Another roar of laughter came from the mongrels surrounding the little filly, causing her to hide her eyes and cry. She then a rusty old iron harness being slipped around her neck, and heard one of the fiends crawl over to whisper in her ear.
"Use your gift to find us gems, little pony... or you feel the leash of pain!"
Her lower lip quivering in fear, the terrified little filly had only taken a few small steps, before the sharp terrible sting came down upon her flank...
"EYEAAHHHHHHHHHH! TWILIGHT HELP ME!"
...
"THOSE MONGRELS TOOK MY BABY!" Twilight screamed in rage, barely held back by my energy shield. "My queen, we should send an army down those toilet drinker's filthy holes, and bury them alive in their own den!"
My wife and I were standing before Majesty's throne, with an ambassador from the Diamond dog tribes seated across from us. Twilight kept shooting the canine murderous glances.
"Your Excellency, I understand the pain and misery lady Twilight is going through." The brown furred diamond dog with a white vest and Diamond collar declared. "I would feel the ame way if a member of my pack was taken. But I swear to you, that the Under dog alliance and thier allied packs are not responsible for this abduction!"
"Oh, come off of it, you dumb mutt! We found the claw marks and the filled in tunnel outside of my tower apartment!" Twilight snarled, spittle flying from her mouth in her hot rage. "Everyone knows your kind drags unsuspecting ponies down to your caves to work in your gem mines! You probably want to use Ember's mysterious powers to locate your shiny gemstones for you!"
"With all due respect, my lady..." The diamond dog growled, barely keeping his composure in the face of her accusation. "... only a few packs of our kind are greedy and stupid enough to actually try and abduct ponies!"
"Twilight, I know you are in pain, but that is quite enough!" The queen glared down at my wife, finally silencing her. "Ambassador, do you have any idea who might have taken Ember?"
"There are no Diamond Dog tunnels beneath Dream Valley, Queen Majesty. Those are the grundel caverns, and we respect their territory by treaty." The dog considered, scratching his chin with a claw. "I might suggest that the abductors came up from farther below... perhaps they originated from the goblin tunnels."
"I'll get a stallion detachment down there at once." The Queen reassured . "Don't worry Twilight, my knights will smoke those green devils out."
"Thank you, my queen." My wife bowed to her, then turned to the ambassador. "I'm giving you and your people the benefit of the doubt. But be warned... if I discover that your pack is behind my baby's disappearance..." Her eyes and horn began to glow, crackling with black magical energy. "... I swear there will be hell to pay!"
"My lady, if any diamond dogs are behind the abduction and maltreatment of an innocent child," His lip turned upward in a snarl, revealing a very sharp fang. "They will not live long enough for you to get to them."
...
Out in the castle courtyard, two little ponies had snuck their way out past the guards, and were trotting towards the castle's back gate. The little filly suddenly tripped over a rock, and had to stifle a yell as she fell.
"Shhh, keep it quiet, Paws!" The little colt told her, as he helped her back up with his hoof. "We'll be in big trouble if we're caught out here!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to." She frowned at Racer. "You sure this is the place we're supposed to meet him?"
As if in response, something suddenly penetrated the ground next to them, digging it's way up from below. A little grey creature clad in a red vest and green hat, suddenly popped out of the hole he had just dug.
"Hello, little ponies! Grundel king always here to help!" The creature with bat-like ears and a tail spoke. "Ready to go and find lost pony friend?"
"Boy, am I glad my dad left the magic mirror to contact you guys laying around!" Racer exclaimed, smiling at the monarch in greeting. " Will the rest of your tribe be helping us?"
"Grundels already searching the under dark for missing little pony." The grundel king replied, motioning the filly and the colt to trot down the passageway. "We rescue little filly, and make those dogs wish they were never born!"
At the same time Twilight and I's adopted daughter went missing, two other Ponies from Dream Valley had another adventure of their own, one that involved one of the most famous family reunions in the entire history of Ponyland.
"Wow, can you so totally believe this? I so can't totally believe this!" Surprise asked, flapping around over Applejack's head, firing words off a mile a minute. "I mean, I can understand wanting you to come, but me? It's just sooo totally weird!"
"Surprise? A piece of advice." AJ replied sarcastically, looking up at the other pony. "Taking a breath between blabbing might actually let some oxygen reach yer brain."
The two ponies were trotting through the dug open pits and holes of the Ponyville ruins, making their way to the edge of what had once been the town. The two had come here for an event of some significance, though one of them couldn't actually believe she had finally been asked to come.
"I mean, sure I might be related to the Apple family a little bit, Twilight told me all six of our harmony families marred into each other over the years." Surprise whinnied excitedly. "But you! You're no only a member of the Apple family, you practically ARE the apple family!"
"I'm not surprised you've been invited, we always had a fellin' Pinkie Pie was kin to the Apples." The orange earth mare replied. "But if you must know, the family and I have had... issues over the last few centuries, and I really don't wanna talk about it."
"Yeah, you never wanna talk about stuff with your old family." Surprise slowed down her hyper-ness, stopping to look the other mare in the eye. "In fact, you won't tell us anything about our ancestors, or Equestria. How come?"
"FOR THE THOUSANDTH TIME. I've told all of you I really don't remember it that well." Applejack replied with a snort. "It's all the same with me, Cheerilee, and Spike- the whole thing's a big messy fog- and I'm actually kind of glad it is."
"Well, I hope you're ready to tell the members of your family that." Surprise told her, as the two arrived at the edge of what had once been Sweet Apple acres... only to they there were already several hundred ponies there.
There were several tents set up, with ponies coming and going from tent to tent. Eating baked apples, square dancing, several old mares working on a ridiculously large quilt. Even though most of the Apple family had mostly migrated out of Equestria and to the southern lands, the always came back here, back to this sacred spot, in order to celebrate their family reunion every hundred moons (as the Equestrians had reckoned time). True, many family members had drifted away over the generations, and many branches off the family had either died off or been wiped out. But still the strength of this farming family had endured for well over a millennia.
Their reunion here...it was a sight Applejack remembered in the deepest recesses of her mind. And he was a sight that caused her the greatest pain.
"I-I'll tell you what, Surprise." The mare told her friend nervously, stopping dead in her tracks. "Y-you go on and join the festivities. I think I'll go look around the museum they built for the Ponyville archeological dig."
"Hey, are you trying to get away from your own family?" The white Pegasus cocked an eyebrow. "What exactly is goin' on here, AJ?"
"Nothing's going on, I dunno what you're talkin' about!" But when Surprise gave her that look, she let out a sigh. "Oh, all right! I haven't exactly been on the best of terms with my distant kin for a long time now, and I don't know how many of em' will take to me being here today."
But didn't Daddy Apple Delight invite you here today?" The white Pegasus asked, looking around at all the ponies with apple-themed cutie marks on their flanks. "Doesn't the head of the entire family's opinion mean something?"
"Yes, I guess your right." AJ conceded. "But how can I really know if-"
"Ah, there you two are!" A loud voice with a slight lisp called out. "I'd heard that both of you had been invited, but nobody knew if thew would actually show up!"
"Twist!" Surprise called out, zipping up to hug the Purple unicorn. "It's so awesome to see ya here! How've ya been?"
Visiting from Surprise's hometown of Hoofkaido, the orange-maned mare with a pretzel cutie mark and been the Pegasus's childhood friend. Like Surprise, she too was distantly related to the family, and as such had been invited to the Apple reunion. Even though her special talent was being a pretzel maker, Applejack couldn't help but note that the lisping mare vaguely reminded her of a little filly with glasses. She talked in the same manner as the little candy maker pony had, and AJ couldn't help but be reminded of one of her sister's dearest little friends.
"Hey, there, Mith Applejack! Good to finally thee you at one of these things!" The mare greeted her.
"Nice to see you again too, Twist." AJ replied weakly. "How's the pretzel business going these days?"
"Oh, you now how it ith. Sthomtimes, it bakes up into a nith fluffy crust, Some times you burn your prethzles to a nithe scorched black." Twist replied with a laugh. "Howth's things in Dream Valley?"
The two mares started a conversation, as AJ looked around at the other ponies. Members of the apple family laughed and talked and joked together, so happy to be together again, if only for this one day. Applejack had not been allowed to know this current generation of the family as they had been growing up, and she felt like a stranger amongst her own kin.
"E-excuse me miss..." A blue Pegasus mare with a candy-cane striped mane asked nervously, trotting up to her. "I don't mean to bother you, but... are you her?"
"If you mean 'am I Applejack, little filly, then yes." The orange earth mare replied, looking this pony with a curly mane over. "I didn't expect to meet a member of the family who was a Pegasus."
"Oh, yes! I'm from the small branch of the family here in Ponyland!" The mare replied with a smile. "My name's Candy Apple, and considering your past, I guess I would be a filly to you."
"Watch yer mouth, kid. Don't the Apples teach their ponies to respect their elders?" The mare asked sarcastically, patting the other mare on the back. "Seriously, why don't we go grab a couple of hot dogs from the food tent, and you can tell me about your own family."
"I don't believe that is wise." A white stallion came up over the hill, scowling at the two. "Candy, go join your sisters. I wish to speak to Applejack alone."
The other mare frowned, and obediently trotted off. Applejack only glared at this pony with the Apple Tree cutie mark, this current head of the Apple Family whom AJ had known since he had been a foal. There was no love lost between these two Equines, despite the fact that AJ had even named her son after him as a goodwill gesture. The blonde pony farmer only stared down at the once-immortal mare in contempt.
"Hello, Apple Delight." Applejack bowed her heard in greeting. "It sure is a pleasure to see you again, though I suppose you're not very happy to see me."
"Eeyup. The elders never should have forced me to invite you here." The stallion said in response, staring at the mare he had hoped he would never see again. "You never should've come here, AJ. You really should not have come back."
"Look, Apple Delight... I know we've had our issues in the past." Applejack told him with a sigh. "But for the sake of both of our families, I was hoping-"
"Issues? You call what you've done issues?!" The stallion snapped angrily. "This family had always looked up to you, to your honesty, and honored your memory for a thousand years. And what did you do?" He snorted angrily, stamping his hoof on the ground. "Went into hiding! Buried yourself in false identity after false identity. You buried yourself in lies!"
"I did what I had to do to survive!" AJ snapped back, scowling at the head of the Apple family. "Do you have any idea what they would have done to me if ponies had found out? Besides, I've learned what I did was wrong, and I'm trying to make up for my mistakes!"
"Family is supposed to stick together, Applejack!" Delight seethed, as the ponies at the reunion surrounding them, started to stare at the two arguing equines. "Where were you when this family was endangered over and over again? Where were you when generation after generation of Apples struggled to keep everything together through the dark ages? You abandoned your kin, and walked away as if we were all nothing to you!"
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Apple Delight." The mare snorted angrily, Starting to trot away from the other pony. "I was hoping I had been invited here to try to put the past behind us. But if you're so hurt by what I've done... well then, I'd best not be staying around here!"
As the mare trotted towards the reunions exit, Candy Apple noticed her leaving.
"Applejack, wait!" The Pegasus mare yelled, galloping after the ancient earth pony, as she tried to catch up to her. "Please don't tell me you're leaving! The reunion isn't even over yet!"
"I'm sorry, Candy, but I really don't think I'm wanted here." The mare replied with a sigh. "I'd best be moving on, before I cause Apple Delight -or this family- any more grief."
"WAIT!" Candy Apple called out, stopping Applejack in her tracks. "Now just stop it right there! You can't just go galloping ou of here, after coming all this way!"
"Candy Apple, are you bothering her again?" Apple Delight snapped trotting up to his younger cousin. "I though I told you not to-"
"You shut your mouth, you pig-headed stallion!" The young mare snapped angrily, cowing the male in front of her. "I'm going to say my piece, and the two of you are going to listen!"
The two other ponies stopped, and several other members of the family stopped wheat they were doing, and turned to listen.
"I don't know how this stupid fight between you two got started, and I really don't care. Family is more important than stupid little fights like this, and it's even stupider that you two are too busy bickering to see that." She looked back and forth between the two. "Family is the ponies you care about, the ponies who are there for you, even when nobody else is. They can fight and argue not get along sometimes, but they will always forgive each other in the end." She narrowed her eyes at the orange mare. "I'm ashamed enough my own thimble-brained cousin forgot that fact, but I can't believe you, of all ponies, didn't remember what family was all about!"
As the disgusted Pegasus trotted away, the two earth ponies only stared at each other in silence.
"You, know, as much as I don't want to admit it, she does have a point." Delight said with a defeated sigh. "We both may have been just a mite too stubborn for our own good."
"Listen, Apple Delight, I am truly sorry you feel I've wronged and disrespected the family, and I'm sorry I've caused you such pain." Applejack admitted, extending a hoof. "It was wrong of me to lie for all those centuries, I should of realized I always could have come to my family for help."
"I'm sorry Applejack, but it's very hard for me to simply forgive you for suddenly turning up alive, when my family could've used you all those years." The stallion turned away, ignoring the offered hoof. "But I can promise you that you will have no more trouble in trying to be a member of this family."
As the resentful stallion trotted away quietly, the other ponies all crowded around AJ. They were eager to meet a member of the family who had always been there, but they had never been allowed to get to know.
"Wow, you're the Applejack? I've always wanted to meet you!"
"What were the other harmony bearers like? Did you go on many adventures?"
"Will you come to my birthday party next year? I'd love to have you there, cousin AJ!"
And for the first time in centuries, the old orange mare felt like she had a large, caring family once again.
...
Elsewhere on the old Apple property, two curious ponies had wandered away from the rest of the family reunion, their minds set on their own mission.
"Wait, where are we going?" The confused Surprise asked, following the other mare down the cavern. "Why would there be any stuff to make pretzels down here?"
Oh, the grundels live down here," Twist explained, lighting a candle with her hoof, as they went deeper into the tunnel. "They hath the most specialiest ingredients to make stuff!"
And as the two ponies descended deeper into the dark, they didn't realize there were several eyes watching them...
"Oh dear, this place looks absolutely terrible." The stallion said aloud, looking around at the sleazy dive he had just trotted into. "I certainly hope he has a good reason for coming here."
Ever since he and his friends had returned from Tambelon, Slick Styles had been trying to rebuild his career here in Manehatten, Equestria's fashion capital. It had been months since he and his friends had parted ways, so when he had received a message from a fellow unicorn, the fussy stallion was surprised, to say the least. As he took a seat in a booth in the back, his eyes scanned the place for any sign of the pony he was supposed to meet.
"Hello, Slick. Good to see you again." A scarred blue unicorn snorted, trotting up and sitting down beside the other pony. "I actually didn't expect you to come here to meet me."
"Hey, I wouldn't miss a chance to catch up with an old friend." The fancy stallion smiled, as the unicorn waitress levitated them a water. "So, what've you been up to since...since we got back?"
"Eh, wandered around for awhile, lived off the land." Booker adjusted his cracked glasses. "I eventually hooked up with a show pony, and have been traveling with her around Equestria ever since."
"Yeah, I kinda wondered how you'd been since you found out Princess Twilight had dumped you." Styles replied with a sigh. "I can't believe how distant she was to you after we got back."
"I though all of us had lifebonded with the harmony bearers... I guess that just wasn't the case." The blue unicorn replied with a sigh. "How have you and the others handled-"
"She didn't even recognize me, Booker." Slick looked away, hiding his face in the booth's shadows. "Rarity acted like I was just another stallion. Did you hear about how she was chasing that stallion Tenderhoof? And don't even get me started on what happened to the others."
"It almost would've been better if we had never come back from the Dark Dimension." Booker sighed, burying his face in his hooves.
"But I have a feeling that's about to change." Slick replied, trying to cheer his friend up. "I mean, that's what you indicated in your letter, right?"
"I've made a deal that'll change our lives, old friend." Booker nodded. "When I get done. you'll have enough diamonds to decorate a thousand of those fancy outfits you so like to make."
"Diamonds? An endless supply?" Slick asked, shaking his mane in disbelief. "How on in Celestia's mane did you manage to strike a deal like that?"
"The diamond dogs, Styles. I made with one of the packs that we'd help them find diamonds with our magic, in exchange for digging the jewels out." Booker cracked a smile. "They agreed to split the gemstones fifty-fifty, we'll make a freaking fortune!"
"Wait, you got the dogs to agree to let go of that many gemstones?" Slick asked skeptically. "Booker, there has to be more to the deal than that!"
"Welll, I sort of did promise them that the first earth pony born with clairvoyant powers would be given to them as a slave." The stallion rolled his eyes. "Something about some ancient Diamond Dog prophecy."
"You sold another pony into slavery?!?" Styles asked in shock. "Booker, have you lost your mind!?!"
"Relax, Slick. No earth pony has ever been born that has full-on visions of the future, earth pony sense notwithstanding." Booker replied. "We have nothing to worry about from those dumb mutts."
"Booker, you realize that Diamond Dogs never forget a debt?" The other stallion asked, taking a sip of his water. "They'll pass your deal down through the generations, until a pony is born that fits your description is born."
"That's some future pony generation's problem." The blue stallion offered a toast. "Though I do feel sorry for whatever poor pony the dogs decide to take."
"Move it, little pony!" The large brown diamond dog snarled, whipping the whip across the little filly's flank. "Pull that cart of shiny diamonds, or me put you in world of hurt!"
"I'm, trying, I'm trying!" The little filly wailed, as the lash came down. "But's it's so heavy- EEEEEE!"
The sound of Ember's wails filled that cavern, drawing the attention of every dog in the pack. The lash cracked painfully across her back again and again, leaving cuts and scars all over her once pretty coat. The filly pulled harder and harder against the rusty old iron yoke, just to make the beating stop.
"Pease, I'm trying! Please!" Ember cried, falling to her knees. "Twilight, help me, TWILIGGGGHHHHTTTT!!!!"
In the main den far above, the alpha male sat at a table, greedily devouring the various meats the pack had brought to him as tribute. A fatty ham, stolen from the elven towns, a leg of mutton, taken from a human shepherd boy who wasn't watching his flock. The filly's mournful cries made all of the dogs in the chamber grabs their sensitive ears in pain, save for the gluttonous German shepherd sitting at the table's head.
"Ahhhh! Little pony's cries of pain, is symphony to ears." The alpha declared, pleased at the song of suffering coming from the mines below. "Is not screams beautiful sound!"
"Are you crazy? Pony screaming is horrible sound!" The alpha female, a dog who resembled a border collie, growled back at him, plugging her ears with her paws. "Wish racket would stop, so we eat in peace!"
The collie did not like the German shepherd (Diamond Dogs have no names in the common tongue, instead using a specific growl-sound to identify individuals) who had defeated the last male. A sadistic brute from another litter, he seemed to draw pleasure from causing pain. The alpha female didn't like it when a goblin informant had told them about the mysterious pony in Dream Valley who had visions, and she didn't care for how those brutish bulldog grunts were treating said filly in the caverns below.
"Bah, female not see how many gems we unearth? How many shinys pony bring us?" He got up from the table, and trotted down one of the tunnels toward the mines. "Grabbing little pony best move this pack ever made! Besides, pony owe us this for diamonds long ago!"
"Beating innocent child senseless way to get gems? Why males so stupid?" The collie spat angrily, getting up from the table, and following him down the tunnel. "Get better results being kind to pony, rather than making her cry."
"Bah, stupid females, think you know everything!" The alpha male snorted, waving a paw dismissively. "Watch, me get pony to do what we want!"
Walking down to the chamber where the helpless filly pulled against the too-heavy cart, and grabbed her out form the harness by the throat.
"You, little pony! This cavern all out of gems." He snarled, choking her. "Tell us where more gems are, or you served up as my next meal!"
"Okay, okay! Please, just stop hurting me, please!" She pleaded, as the dog threw her back to the ground. "I'll find your diamonds for you!"
Closing her eyes, the filly entered a dreamlike state- she used to not be able to do this on demand, but constant painful beatings were good motivation for practicing a craft- and concentrated. several seconds passed, and she opened them again, staring blankly at the cavern wall before her.
"Down there, to the left." The filly said plainly, pointing to a section of the wall near their feet. "Dig there, and you will find more diamonds."
The filly then collapsed, and the collie rushed over to her side.
"Little pony all right?" She stroked the little filly's mane, then looked up at the bulldogs angrily. "Stupid grunts, you hit filly too hard!"
"Bah, female show pony to much kindness, pony get spoiled." The alpha male barked, walking back up the tunnel towards the den. "Besides, it not like little ponies have feelings anyway."
....
"Your highness, are you sure this is the way to the diamond dogs den?" Paws asked, looking around at the constantly swerving and curving tunnels they had gone through for hours. "It feels like we've been going in circles!"
"Worry not, little pony! Grundle explorers tell me this way they dug to diamond dog den!" The grundle king replied, holding the torch aloft, as the two ponies and about a dozen grundels following him. "We have your friend back in no time!"
"But how can you be sure that these are the dogs that took Ember?" Racer replied, looking around at the winding passageways uncertainly. "She could be anywhere in Ponyland by now!"
"Grundel scouts say, scent of pony stronger down here." The grundel king replied, as they came to a dead end. "Ah, me certain this wall here lead to mine!"
"How can you say that? There's nothing here but a wall!" The colt stamped his hoof angrily. "Man, I can't believe how dumb grundels are!"
"Racer, mind your manners!" Paws chided him. "Your Majesty, if you please?"
The grundel king nodded, and with the help of two of his servants, dug ihs way through the stone wall. On the other side, they could hear the barks and howls of several diamond dog grunts.
"Look, something coming through wall!"
"Is it goblins?"
No, grundels! And they have ponies with them!"
The collie looked up from where she was giving Ember some water, and saw the goblinoids and the equines come though the opening in the mine wall. Standing up, she snarled at the intruders, uncertain of their intent.
"Look, they have Ember!" Racer yelled, pointing an accusing hoof at the dogs. "Grundels, get em'!"
But instead of attacking, the grundel king walked up to the alpha female, and bowed.
"So sorry to intrude, nice dog lady," The king smiled his grotesque teeth at her. "But me saw this lovely little pony you have there, and wondering if you would part with her!"
"So, grundels want to trade, hm?" The collie barked back. The two then started communicating in grunts and squeals, leaving the two foals in the dark as to what was going on.
"Wait, what are they doing, growling at each other?" Racer asked, as the two rushed over to Ember. "Both Diamond dogs and the grundels are dumb!"
"Racer! Can't you see something else is going on here? I think they're parleying." Paws snorted angrily, as they looked their now unconscious friend over. "Just because their cultures are different than ours, doesn't mean they are stupid!"
"If you say so Paws, you're the canine expert." Racer sighed, shrugging his hooves. "Still looks like a bunch dumb animals grunting at each other."
"So we have deal?" The grundel king smiled, showing the bugs in his teeth. "You let pony go, and we give you large gem tribute?"
"Is deal." The two shook paw and hand, nodding at each other. "Only you better get out of here, before-"
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?" The alpha male roared, barreling back down the tunnel after one of the other dogs had run to warn him what was occurring. "Female, you betraying your pack?!?"
But before anyone could react to anything, a while Pegasus and a unicorn suddenly came sliding down another tunnel, as if they were on a sliding board. They landed right into the middle of the whole fracas, causing evey eye in the cavern to turn to them.
"Ohhh, look Twist!" The crazy mare told her friend. "I think we found the Diamond Dogs!"
"Uh oh..." Twist replied, looking around nervously. "I think we're in big trouble now..."
The mind of Surprise Celebrations... a mired morass of chaos and insanity that defies any sort of logical thought or coherent idea, it has been the source of equeal amounts laughter and tears for the ponies of Ponyland. Even Wind Whistler cannot begin to comprehend the maelstrom of craziness that brews in that noggin, and ponies came come to just except that Surprise is just Surprise. But what if we could, just for a few moments, peer into that madness, and seek out the only strand of sanity in her brain? Here, in the only page of her diary (yes, I went into her room and swiped it, she owed me for writing in my journal) that wasn't covered in squiggles and crayon drawings she my hve recorded the awnser. Written right after Ember's rescue from the diamond dogs, it's the most coherent entry in the entire book... but that's not saying much.
*Sigh* Here we are again... my friends in trouble, ponies fighting a bunch of bad guys who want to hert us, yadda yadda yadda. Same old song and dance, different day. As always, we'll kick their sorry flanks in, and make em' go crying home to thier little mommies. These diamond dogs are no different that Tirek or those dumb witches or the goat with the bell or even that dumb pig lady, and it'll end the way it always does. The same old boring Dream Valley routine- what a pathetic joke!
All these mares around me, they all think they're actually accomplishing something! Can't they see how much of a big cosmic prank it all is? Fight another bad guy, live another day. Any minute one of these stupid monsters could finally get the drop on us- maybe some dragon with roast us, or some troll will make us into dinner. Maybe some enchanter will put a curse on us and melt us into Swiss cheese. Both we and our silly-willy lives could end at any given moment, yet they all treat is like it's all serious and all actually means something. HA!
Like I said, all a pathetic joke. I mean, I can tell better jokes in my sleep, and there's no one who can make a funny better than me! So that's why I've made it my life's mission to make everyone laugh, to get em' all to get a little amusement out of this miserable existence that's over in the blink of an eye. I don't plan parties like great-great- I-don't-know-how-many-greats grandma did, but I'm waaaaay better at pulling pranks and gags than she was... and boy, have I pulled some doozies over the years!
But so many ponies don't laugh with me when I pull my pranks, why is that? When I was a little filly in Hoofkaido, I saw how sad and upset everyone was when grandpa died, so I tried to liven things up a bit by putting on his samurai armor, and trotting right into the funeral wearing it. You shoulda seen how everyone was running and screaming, and begging for mercy from the 'angry, unappeased ancestor ghost'. But when I took the helmet of and they saw it was just me, Mommy Celebrations got angry and smacked me. And at the cherry blossom festival one year, I hid a whole bunch of frogs into my kimono, and let tham all go just as the kabuki performers were starting there act. You shoulda seen that one mare scream, when a frog jumped into her wig! Hee hee!
But did they appreciate me? No! I was a 'dishonor', and a 'disgrace'! I actually think Mommy and Daddy Celebrations were happy when I left for Dream Valley with Twilight and the others, and I never even get so much as a letter from them or my sister! Though I'm really not shocked with my sis not writing, she's probably still mad at me for smashing the doll she made for the Hoofkaido's Himatsuri festival. Okay, I know she spent weeks carefully painting the little mare, putting the wig and dress on it, and putting in and coloring the mane. But it was so funny when that anvil came down on it, and she got that shocked look on her face. All of the other fillies with dolls burst out laughing, so why did Sweet Celebrations start crying?
The ponies here at Dream Castle haven't been much better, though. Baby Cuddles just cries and hides whenever I hit her with my shock buzzer, and Gusty chased me for two hours after I put that whoopee cushion under her chair. Gingerbread and Sweet Stuff didn't giggle when I put too much yeast into the cookies they were baking and made them explode in the oven, and Bow Tie didn't chortle when I dyed all of her ribbons plaid. And the worst out of this bunch has to be Shady. I don't think I've ever seen that mare crack a smile, or laugh, or do anything but mope and whine! She resisted every attempt to make her laugh, even the time I put a stink bomb in her toilet! I swear, I think that pony actually enjoys being sad!
Why won't these ponies laugh at my jokes? Humor is my special talent, and I want other ponies to see how much of a pathetic cosmic prank this life really is! Oh, there are a few ponies who actually get the joke. Queen Majesty made me her royal court jester, and loves my 'antics' cause I make her laugh after all the serious queeny stuff she has to do all the time. Fizzy gets the joke, and always laughs at my gags. Why, she’ even helped me pull some my best tricks! And there's also Danny, Megan's brother. The two of us are real stinkers, and his sisters always getting mad at him for pulling pranks and stuff. He and Fizzy are the only ones that understand me, and they have become my best friends.
The three of us do kinda feel out of place around here, though. One time, Paradise had stayed up late, watching a movie Megan had brought from the other world about aliens and space stuff. Sooo Fizzy, Danny and I disguised ourselves as Martians, and 'landed' in our ship outside her bedroom window. Oh boy, did she scream when we threatened to take her brain out! That Pegasus was so scare she couldn't sleep for a week! But instead of laughing, Megan and the other mares just yelled at us, and told us not to scare ponies like that ever again. I just don't see it, what did we do that was so wrong?
Well, time to stop philosophizing, and kick these doggies in the booty. But I wish my friends could stop getting mad all the time, and just join me in the fun. I don't understand why the other ponies have to be so boring and serious all the time, can't they see that, just like one of Sweet Stuff's burritos, life's nothing but a gas? Why can't other ponies just get the joke, and giggle right along with us? Why does everybody have to be so freakin sensitive? What the hay is the matter with all of you?
another interruption from my main narrative, this is the story of a pony who will soon be appearing in one of my historical treatiesies.
I sit at my potter's wheel, hooves carefully molding the clay, shaping the raw and crude material from the earth into a new form. What shall it be this time? a statue? An urn? Ah, no. This shall be a vase, which some earth pony can put her flowers in. As I turn the wheel with a push of my leg on the pedal, I slowly push and smooth the spinning clay into a circular form, hollowing out the interior with the the tenderest care my hooves can manage. This pottery is no great masterpiece, to be sure. Just a simple routine that I have performed many times before. But there is a simple pleasure even in making a simple vessel such as this. A symmetry to the handles on each side, a small joy in the pony I barter it to who will get many fine years of use out of my work.
As I look around my studio, I see the various paintings hanging upon my walls. Flowers, animals, scenes from both nature and domestic pony life. Every sight in Fort Rainbow Dash seems to carry a burst of life and color in every moment for me to see, and all I am capable of doing is capturing a wisp of the beauty of that fleeting moment forever in my art. For my art is the vice through which I speak to the world the song which I sing to express myself. Like the great artists Ponycasso and Toola Roola before me, I am sharing my own creative vision with the world.
A knock comes at the door, and I adjust my glasses with a sigh. I already know who it is, and my heart grows sick at the thought of what I must now endure. Trotting over to the door of my small and humble studio, I open it to find A yellow earth pony Stallion with a white and blue striped mane.
"Hello, Acheron Golden." I tell him, bowing politely. "I have been anticipating your arrival. Please your Excellency, do come in."
I can only imagine how I must look right now- my blue mane a scruffy mess, my dark obsidian coat is all splattered with paint. Still, he's never been one to judge me on my appearance, his only concern is the quality of my work. Golden Gladiator is a piece of art work unto himself, the grizzled survivor of Rainbow Valley Goblin uprisings, the only stallion to ever reach the exalted position of Acheron in his Patrician family. His body bears many tribal markings resembling the elements, burned into his coat by a goblin tribe that had captured him. He reminds me of a classical bronze god, the scars only accentuating the magnificent sculpt of his- ahem, erm, anyway....
As he gazes around at my various commissions, my patron nods his head with approval. "Very good, very good, as always." He tells me admiringly. "You have once again outdone yourself, and proven your worth in why I have brought you here."
"Thank you, exalted Acheron." I bow to him again, unsure if he is genuinely impressed. Golden is a very hard pony to read, and sometimes I'm really not sure if what he's telling the truth or not. "Tell me, have you given any consideration to my ideas for the new art on Fort Dash's hall of Justice?"
It was one of my greatest hopes- the hall of justice, Fort Rainbow Dash's highest court, had been damaged in the last skirmish of the uprising. Many artists had been in competition to create the new designs, and I was hoping my ideas would be presented by my patron before the senate as a possible design for the new edifice. I had long dream of working my wonders on the great Doric and ionic columns of Fort Dash's magnificent buildings. As a little filly, it was the beauty of these beautiful buildings that first awoke the desire to speak to the world through my artwork.
But Golden Gladiator shook his head in the negative, causing all of my aspiring hopes and dreams to again be dashed. Again I felt the disappointment I had when my parents disapproved of my special talent. Again I felt the sting of all the peers from my fillyhood who didn't understand my message. A lifetime of disappointment of growing up in Fort Rainbow, a regimented herd whose heart beats to the song of the marching hoof and strong discipline.
"Your visions of what Fort Dash represents, I feel they are not compatible with the Senate's vision." He tell me in a patronizing manner. "I have some different projects I'd like you to work on."
And so, he gives me a new string of commissions to work on... of Battles and bloodbath, of the great Stallion Army of Fort Rainbow Dash, punishing goblins gruesomely gutting dragons by the sword. Can he not see my vision goes against all these severed heads and limbs he's having me decorate his home with? It goes against my very artistic sensibilities and training to draw, paint and sculpt the gory scenes of the army's triumph. But still Gladiator foists his unrealistic proportions and warped poses upon me. Can't he see how miserable all this drek is making me? But he is the patron, I am the artist. My opinions and tastes must take a back seat to the reality of the situation.
The great Toola Roola once said whenever we make a piece of art, we put a piece of ourselves into it. As my guest makes his departure, I look at all the untraded works I've made, and put my very heart and soul into, that nobody seems to want. Will the world never see the song of light and color that I've created with my special talent? Will my great symphony of self expression become merely a footnote, whist I am only remembered for art I never wanted to create in the first place?
"Diamond Dogs, attack!" The alpha male barked angrily. "Destroy the intruders!"
Diamond dog and grundels tore into each other, fist meeting paw in a vicious struggle down in the darkness of the mines. One mongrel slashed across a grundel's chest with his claws, only to have a massive spiked club come crushing down upon his skull. Another diamond dog bit one of the intruders in the back of the neck, who responded by prying him off and hurling him into a nearby wall. The diamond dogs had a numerical advantage, to be sure. But the far sturdier and stronger grundels more than made up for it with vicious blows and powerful strikes. As the grundel king smashed two of the dog's heads together, he turned back to the two ponies.
"You go! Get your friend out of here!" He roared, jumping to attack another dog. "We grundels stay, and fight stupid mutts off!"
"You got it, your highness!" The two other kids helped her back up onto her hooves. "Ember, can you stand? We gotta get you outta here, before-"
"Racer, behind you!" Ember called out suddenly, her eyes going wide.
The colt ducked just in time, to avoid a dog taking a swing at him with his paw.
"Get away from us, you drooling mutt!" The colt sorted, as he and Paws kicked the canine away with their back hooves. "Go find a toilet to drink out of, or something!"
"Wow Ember, those powers of yours sure do come in handy!" Paws added, as the two dragged the injured filly back up the shaft.
On the other side of the mine, the alpha female growled in anger at her companion's stupidity.
"Bah, insolent male!" She sniffed at the air in disgust. "Did not see a good deal when he smelled one!"
"What we do now?" A dog loyal to her asked, bowing and scraping. "We help ponies and grundels fight?"
"No, smart diamond dogs no fight against other smart diamond dogs." She signaled all the canines in the pack loyal to her to hold back. "We let ponies and grundels do all the work for us, then take control of pack once they gone."
In the center of the mine, the alpha male was dashing around and chasing a white Pegasus to and fro. The giggling mare was zipping to and fro through the air, barely avoiding the diamond dogs claws as she pranced about like a lunatic.
"Whoo hoo!" She shot upward, as he dove at her again.
"Missed Me!" She zipped downward, as he leapt high into the air
"Too Slow!" She flew to the right, avoiding a paw swipe.
"Try Again!" She Whipped to the left, avoiding a sharp bite from his fangs. "Better luck next time!"
"Araghhh! Stupid flying pony!" The Alpha male roared, shaking a balled up paw at her. "Came down here, and fight like diamond dog!"
"Aww, where's the fun in that?" Surprised cackled. "Why don't you just come up here, and fight like a Pegasus?"
As the alpha continued to try to bring the laughing pony down, three diamond dog grunts surrounded Twist, causing the terrified unicorn to hunker down in fear.
"Oh dear oh dear oh dear... I'm a baker, not a fighter!" She whimpered, levitating one of her baked goods out of her bag. She timidly offered the salty treat up to the dogs in front of her. "N-nice doggies...w-would you like a p-pretzel?"
Curious, one of the canines grabbed the baked good out of he air, and quickly devoured it. Without thinking, she levitated to more to the other two, who chomped them down within seconds. Much to her shock, Twist now discovered she had three mutts, all happily wagging their tales at her.
"Pretzels... good!" One declared, his tongue hanging out.
"Give more! Give more!" Another responded happily.
"Awww, you're cute little puppies!" Twist patted them on the heads with her hoof. "Here, you most certainly can have more!"
Meanwhile, Surprise had looked up, and noticed the three pony children had made their way back up the shaft.
"Hah, look like your precious gem finder just got away!" The flapping mare boasted. "Looks like another win for the awesome equines, toilet breath!"
"NOOOO! Stupid ponies ruin EVERYTHING!" The alpha roared, finally leaping into the air, and bringing the white Pegasus to the ground. "Now, I tear stupid pony wing from limb!"
"AIEEEEEEE!" Surprise cried out, as the drooling monster kept her pinned down. "Twist, help me!"
Seeing her friend in trouble, the unicorn galloped over, and tossed a bunch of salt and crumbs from her bag all over the alpha dog.
"Hey lookie, doggies!" She called out to the grunts. "Here's a big yummy pretzel for you all to share!"
The grunts were on him in an instant, their fangs bared as the jumped on the surprised leader. The white Pegasus barely had time to zip out from under his grasp, as the feeding frenzy began.
"No, what you stupid mutts doing?!?" The German shepherd wailed. "You no eat me, I am- AGGAHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhh......"
"Yum, meaty pretzel!" One declared, ripping and chomping.
"And lots of it!" Another agreed.
The other dogs jumped away from their fights, and leapt in to joining in on the feast. The grundels and ponies present, could only look on in horror, watching the diamond dogs devour one of their own.
"Oh well, me never much like him, anyway." The collie who was now solely in charge, declared. "Now you grundels and ponies wanna try that deal again?"
"TWILIGHT!" The little filly screamed, as she came galloping towards us in sheer and utter joy.
"Ohhh, my baby!" Twilight cried out, taking her into her hooves. We both embraced the little filly tightly, so delighted that we had little Ember in both of our lives back.
We were all standing in queen majesty's throne room, having just all been assembled after hearing Ember had been recovered. Both ponies and the other races, congratulated us on her safe return
"Diamond dogs have promised to give up claim on little pony." The grundel king told us, putting a hand on my shoulder. "In exchange for more of those salty crunchies!"
"I cannot believe that bloodhound pack was able to get that far into Dream Valley, Lady Twilight." The ambassador apologized, bowing to us politely. "Rest assured, we will be dealing with those mongrels soon enough!"
"Wow, Ember! The class just isn't gonna believe we've been though all this!" Paws exclaimed, shaking her mane. "And boy, this'll sure stop those spoiled jewel sisters from teasing you!"
"I'm just glad we got you back okay." Rocket continued, trotting up and licking ember's coat. "I don't think I coulda took it if something bad had happened to you!"
"Th-thank you, Racer..." The pink filly replied, blushing. "I'm really glad to be back, too."
"But-but what are those scars on your back?!" Twilight noticed, her expression turning dark again. "Ohhhh, that alpha dog better be glad he's already dead! Otherwise, I'd be perfectly happy to kill him... very slowly and painfully!"
"Just be glad everything worked out. miss Twilight!." Twist declared. "And besides, you won't believe how many of those uderdwellers want to order my pretzels now! And to think I owe it all it Surprise here!"
"Happy to be of service, Twist!" The white mare flew around behind the rest of the group. Suddenly, she stopped behind Ember, whispering into the little filly's ear.
"Say, kid?" The mare grinned with a mischievous smile. "How'd you be interested it getting back at a certain trio of little filly brats?"
...
"See you tomorrow, class. And be sure to read chapter sixteen!"
The three little ponies trotted their way out of the classroom, laughing and giggling over the way Baby North Star blew milk out her nose, and sure enough, the three familiar fillies stepped in front of the firends.
"Well, well, well... if it isn't the blank flank and her two friends!" Diamond sneered. "I'm surprised those diamond dogs didn't eat the three of you down in those caves!"
"Naw, apparently we were too tough for them to chew." Paw replied, a smile that perplexed the three bullies across her face. "They would've loved three fluffy fillies like you."
"Hmph, like you three have room to talk." Ruby snapped. "At least we all were born with our cutie marks, unlike your little loser friend there!"
"Actually, I'm kinda glad I don't have my cutie mark. "Ember replied smugly. "It the only thing that's gonna keep me safe."
"Safe?" Shapphire asked, confused. "Like, what are you talking about?"
"What? Haven't you girls heard?" Racer said, as a long shadow suddenly eclipsed the three fillies from behind. "They're taking bratty little fillies with gemstone cutie marks, to see what makes them tick."
"Zhat's right, my little villies." The sound of a motor starting up came from behind the three bullies. "Ve vont to open your zkulls up, und zee vhat makes you tick!"
Diamond and her cronies spun around, to find a maniacal-looking Pegasus in a lab coat and carrying a chainsaw standing over them.
"Hello fillies! Time to dance the lobotomy lambada!"
"Ahhhhhh!" The three fillies screamed, before running away at top speed. Behind them, three students and one insane mare continued to laugh hysterically.
"Can you believe they fell for that?!?" Surprise giggled, falling backward as she tossed the lab coat off. I can't believe they fell for that!"
And as Ember continued to laugh along with her friends, a yellow star suddenly flashed across her flank for a second, before flickering out once more.
Not yet, little one, not yet...
Applejack, Applejewel, and a Valentine's memory...
Hello, everyone, Applejack here. Tornado asked me to close out this book of short tales with a word on my own recollections , and the current holiday going on right now reminds me of a certain stallion travel guide writer. Ahhh, Tenderhoof... I remember the big dope, and the whole silly mess with Rarity trying to be something she wasn't. It was for Ponyville's founder's day, and Rarity was being a total goofball trying to act like a farmer to impress an out-of-town unicorn. Too bad she didn’t come to her senses, until I showed her just how idiotic she was acting. But that day was a major turning point in my life... one in which helped make me the proud and stubborn mare I am today.
You know, I recall two particular things about that whole fiasco; One, looking back from my current age and vantage point, I actually love that frilly outfit of Rarity's I put on. (It's still in my wardrobe, magically preserved. I wear it to most formal occasions). Oh yeah, I admit it... I used to cringe at anything frilly or froo-froo in my younger days, you wouldn't of caught me dead in some of that junk Rarity made. But when I dressed up in that elegant gown of hers, it kinda, wellllll... felt nice. The truth is, a small part of me actually liked putting that dress on, ditching the accent, and putting on the airs aunt and uncle Orange instilled in me. It felt like I was a totally different pony, and it was actually fun trying something new.
Of course, that didn't change who I was inside. I still loved workin' the farm, and I still loved bucking apples and being s rough and tumble cowfilly. But after many many decades of endless bucking of apples and being covered in mud... well, lets just say it can wear on a mare. Applejewel, a part of myself that came into existence that day, became a seed that grew and grew inside me. Suddenly crawling through the filth and hauling apples in the hot sun for the rest of my unnaturally long life, began to seem less and less appealing, I began looking on my now aged fashioneista friend, and wished my hooves were as clean and shiny as hers once were, and my mane coifed instead of looking like one of the snorting pigs in the sty. And while didn't feel right when my aunt and uncle tried to push it on me as a filly, those fancy ways I so scorned didn't look so bad as I grew older and older.
Oh, I fought it... B'zekre knows I fought it. Why the hay would a member of the Apple family want to work in fashion? But when my family and the girls and Sweet Apple acres were gone... well, there was nothing keeping Applejack propped up anymore. I became Applejewel, starting a new life as a fashioneista, and patterning myself on my deceased friend. I worked with all sorts of fashion mares as an assistant, getting better year by year, and outliving most of them. I'm sure you've all heard how horrible I was at making dresses when the girls' cutie marks got switched. Well, after about a century of pracite I got almost as good as Rarity. And the public didn't just like my dresses, they loved them. And Apple Jewel became on of the hottest designers in Equestria at the time.
It was all an act to protect my secret... at first. I spoke in fancy, and shirked away from mud, laughed at all the unfunny jokes the trendsetting ponies who were my customers made. But the truth is, I actually became that girly giggling ball of elegance I was pretending to be. I actually liked making and wearing those dresses. I actually hated getting dirty and muddy. I didn't have to work to talk without my accent... because I wasn't even thinking in the accent in my head anymore. Applejack... Applejack literally died, and Applejewel became the real pony. I made many fine dresses, attended many formal events and parties, and dated many of the most elegant stallions in all of old Equestria (and I got to hand it to Firefly, the stallions of today have far more stamina than the stallions of yesteryear). AJ was simply became the faded memory it is still to me today.
Of course, many of AJ's old personality traits gradually resurfaced in me over the centuries. But today I'm more of a ratio of 60% Applejewel, and 30% AJ (The other ten percent is my infamous crankiness and sarcasm I gained in this lifetime). I'm always the first to volunteer to wear a frilly dress whenever Buttons and Bow Tie put on one of thier fashion shows, and I hate getting my hooves dirty- that's why I pick my apples now with my mouth from the trees, instead of bucking them. And don't even think about asking me to put my hooves in that dirty mud- there are bugs and worms in there, ew ew ew! My point is that ponies can change over time. And something that happens in just one instance, can have a profound effect on you for the rest of your life.
And the other thing I remember, was that Tenderhoof was really silly in the way he was trying to impress me. See, I never actually said I didn't like him for who he was. If his approach had been different, he would have had me eating out of his hoof. And Rarity would've been making me a wedding dress a few months after the founder's day festival. See, the thing I didn't like about him was he was being insincere about who he was, and how he was coming on to me. If he had just walked up to me, said he liked the farm and my way on life, and openly and honestly conveyed he liked me, I probably would've been trying to get his attention. But I didn't care for an insincere stallion then, and I most certainly don't care for one now.
That was the idea that Lightning understood when I met him. Sure, I was mean to him at first. But because he cared for who I actually was and always acted like himself, I was able to get to know and fall in love with him for the real stallion inside. And that's why my millennia of loneliness came to an end... aaaand why I have a hubby and Cherries Jubilee is still a single old nag. If you're reading this, in your face, cherry slurper! You won't be able to find a stallion of your own in TWO thousand years! HA! *Ahem*, anyway... I hope you all have a nice Valentine's day, and get to sped it with that very special somepo-er, someone. Thank you for listening to this old apple picker for awhile. (Great Horsemaster, I'm starting to sound like Granny Smith!)
