//------------------------------// // Prelude To The Storm // Story: Pony Rangers: Element Storm // by mistercokehold8 //------------------------------// Canterlot was where hundreds, if not thousands of ponies called home. Under the castle of the Princess of the Sun herself, the citizens lived in safe prosperity. One of the key attractions of Canterlot was Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, but that was known to the general public. What one wouldn’t know was there was actually a second school that was kept in secret. You only became a student here if the princess herself saw something in you. This school was kept deep in the mountain region around Canterlot. And it’s where three students were running very late. The teenage white unicorn mare named Sweetie Belle trotted along the sandy beach of one of the calm lakes on the mountain. It’s where she would go in her spare time to clear her head, or if she simply wanted to admire the view. When she wasn’t at the lake she was most likely working the singing lounges to bring in a source of income for her. Granted at the age she was, she didn’t get a whole lot of opportunities. She knew what she was getting into however. When she was invited into the school her family was more than proud of her, but if she had known it meant being this far from home she might’ve said no. The biggest reason she agreed was her two closest friends had also been invited. It was also those closest two friends she was currently waiting for. “Come on where are you two?” Sweetie asked herself, throwing another pebble into the lake with her magic. “Come on Scoots! You can land it today!” Canterlot may have seen like it was made for the more sophisticated of pony society, but even the younger ponies needed spots here and there to mingle. Once of those spots was the Downtown Skate Park, and it’s here were the teenage pegasus mare named Scootaloo was doing her thing on her trusted scooter. “Make way for the Queen of the pipe!” Scootaloo said happily as she continued to build up speed on the half pipe. Going up one end, she had enough air to pull off 540 Flair, before speeding up the other side to nail a 1080 tuck, with her hooves off the handle bar. The crowd around her was chanting: “1260!” “1260!” “1260!” For as long as she rode here, Scootaloo had never pulled off the 1260 degree spin, and stick the landing. The orange pegasus continued to build speed, until she again took to the air right off the half pipe, spinning her scooter around for one spin……two spins…..three spins….and just getting off the half spin needed before her scooter made contact with the ground. “1260! I did it!!!” Scootaloo shouted happily, several skaters from the group patting her on the back. “That was awesome Scoots!” One of her stallion friends said as she pulled off her helmet. “I’ve been trying to land that for months.” “Wanna try that new rail?” Scootaloo was about to answer until she caught glance at the watch on her friend’s hoof. “No I can’t! I gotta get to class!” Scootaloo said, quickly taking off her gear. “Class?” Her friend asked confused. “Never mind, I’ll catch you later!” The mare quickly hopped on her scooter, moving as quickly as her wings could carry her. On the other side of Canterlot a teenage earth pony named Applebloom was hanging on to dear life as the bull she was riding was doing its best to buck her off. “15 more seconds Bloom!” Her friend said behind the wooden fence. Unable to hang on any more, Applebloom let herself fall off into the dirt as so to avoid injury. When Applebloom came to Canterlot after being invited with her friends, she quickly made the rodeo her go to place to unwind, and to get some reminder of home. “Ah think we need to redo the saddle, ah couldn’t get the best grip ah could out there.” Applebloom said to her friend as she was taking down notes about her most recent run. “2 seconds longer though, so it’s progress.” Applebloom was gonna respond, until she remembered something. “Do you have the time?” She asked frantically. “Five after, why?” “Horseapples! Ah’m in so much trouble!” The southern mare began making a beeline up the road. “Applebloom where are you going?!” “Ah’ll check on you later! Ah gotta go!” Sweetie Belle had moved from her spot at the lake to a street near the park in the center of town. Sitting in her motorized wagon, she kept looking down at her watch, growing more and more worried. “Come on…..come on…..where are you guys?” From down the road behind her she failed to notice her friend Scootaloo come grinding to a stop on her scooter, quickly throwing it in the back before jumping beside her friend. “Boo!” Scootaloo shouted, trying to scare her friend. “Miss me?” “Dream on.” Sweetie couldn’t help but smirk at her friend. “Where’s Applebloom?” The two heard the commotion of pigeons taking to the air. Looking, the two saw their earth pony friend running as quickly as she could. “Last as usual.” Sweetie said quietly. “Not again.” Scootaloo said, shaking her head as Applebloom hopped into the back of the wagon. “Belts on.” Sweetie said, bucking up as Applebloom stuck her hoof forward. “Howdy yall.” Scootaloo happily took her hoof and pulled her into the front alongside her and Sweetie. The history these three ponies had could fill many books, and then some. Best friends since fillyhood back in their home village of Ponyville, the three had been through it all together. Collectively the three were known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, a name that stuck with them to this day, even though by this point they had all earned their cutie marks. To their delight, they were almost exact matches, with the only difference being the emblem in the middle of the shield on both sides of their flanks. Being together is really what keeps their minds off of being away from home, and if it wasn’t for their friendship, they might not be here in Canterlot at all. “How can you guys be late every single time?” Sweetie asked as she drove to their location. “I couldn’t be late even if I planned it.” “Maybe that’s because you’re the reliable one Sweetie Belle.” Scootaloo said. The unicorn mare let out a scoff and began laughing. “What does that mean? ‘The Reliable One’?” Applebloom was laughing with her. “Look, in any group there are three different types of ponies.” “That’s right.” Scootaloo said. “The thing about…um….” The pegasus had to pause to gather her thoughts. “Like the Power Ponies!” “Power Ponies? You’ve been reading too many comics again Scoots.” Sweetie said, rolling her eyes. “No no, she’s got a point.” Applebloom said pointing to her winged friend. “There’s always the reflective hard worker.” “Then you have the risk taker.” Scootaloo said, putting a hoof around Applebloom’s shoulder, while pointing at herself. “The adrenaline pony, that of course being me.” “And then there’s you Sweetie. You’re…..you’re just….you’re the logical one!” Applebloom said, trying to think of the right words. The unicorn couldn’t help but smile at her friends. “Again, lay off the comic books guys.” Sweetie continued to drive until the road turned into dirt paths. For what had to be half an hour the three drove until Sweetie pulled to a stop just outside a forest. “Ah don’t know ‘bout you two, but this place creeps me out.” Applebloom admitted. “At least it’s not the Everfree Forest. Now come on, it’s Physical Element Day, and you know they’re waiting for us.” Scootaloo said, climbing out of the wagon. Her friends quickly joined her before they made their way up the forest trail going deep into the heart of the forest. The three continued to walk, climbing over several fallen trees and rock until they came to a small pond with a waterfall flowing into it. “It’s quiet.” “A little too quiet if you ask me.” The three stepped lightly, being cautious of their surroundings. Scootaloo’s ears perked when she heard something moving quickly behind them. Turning around however, she found nothing there. “Did you guys hear that?” She asked her friends. Before the two could answer the ground around them began to shake violently, two large cracks forming right in front of them. “Scatter!!!” The pegasus shouted, her and her friends falling on either sides of the cracks. Before the three could recover, they saw a large group of ponies, from all three species, quickly pour into the clearing. “Stick with the plan!” Sweetie shouted to her friends as Applebloom and Scootaloo quickly regrouped. Then the two groups charged at each other, with three mares quickly avoiding kicks from many hooves. Sweetie Belle was able to jump out of the way of two unicorns, landing on the side of the pond. Using her magic, she leaped onto the surface of the water, running along it to avoid the other two. Turning back she found the two quickly approaching her with the same spell. Taking a fighting stance, she made the mistake of taking her mind off the spell. The two ponies watched amusingly as Sweetie Belle flailed wildly, before falling into the pond altogether. Applebloom blocked two kicks to her chest, trying a leg sweep only for her fighters to jump over. Avoiding more physical kicks, she watched as an earth pony stomped his hooves on the ground, causing two large cracks to charge the mare. “Not good!” Applebloom jumped out of the way, only for one pony to finally land a kick, sending her backwards. “Ok! Two can play at this game!” The mare raised her back hooves and slammed them onto the ground as hard as she could. The others braced themselves as a dust cloud formed, but as it parted, they found that all Applebloom managed to do was get herself stuck halfway into the ground. Scootaloo flipped into the air to avoid her attackers. Putting a good distance between herself and other pegasus ponies, she and one other pony sized each other up. Without blinking the two quickly took to the air, their wings flapping as hard as they could. The problem with Scootaloo was while her wings were now larger then when she was a filly, they still weren’t much when compared to other pegasi her age. The two passed within close distance of each other, the student pegasus striking Scootaloo in the back with a wing. Quickly losing control, Scootaloo began flailing as she crashed into the ground, sliding until she came to a stop. Spitting out twigs and leaves, the pegasus mare noticed a larger pony standing in front of her. Slowing looking up, she looked right into the eyes of headmistress of the school, and the princess in charge of all of Equestria, Princess Celestia herself. “Stand down.” The alicorn called. The various ponies around her did as they were told. “Would somepony please retrieve Sweetie Belle and Applebloom?” Shamefully Scootaloo climbed to her hooves as Sweetie Belle was fished from the pond, and Applebloom was plucked from the ground. The unicorn mare was now soaked head to hoof with water, her mane now a wet curtain in her face. The earth pony mare didn’t fare much better, completely covered with dirt and mud. “That’s enough for today.” Celestia said to the group. The students bowed to their princess before returning up the paths they came from leading back to their school. The alicorn of the sun then turned her attention to the three mares. “Let’s see…..failing to remain focus when using the water step spell.” She said standing in front of Sweetie Belle, before moving to Applebloom. “Failure to use the earth around you correctly.” Then the alicorn turned to Scootaloo. “Failure to keep in control of flight, and oh yes, tardiness. I believe that makes five this month?” The three ponies could only look at the ground in shame as their teacher gazed at them. “I will expect a visit from you three later, so we may discuss your lack of commitment to your studies.” Celestia calmly turned towards the direction of the school before teleporting away in a flash of light. “Well…..that wasn’t so bad.” Scootaloo muttered, her friends giving her a annoyed look. The three then began trotting up the trail behind them towards the direction of their school. “Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applebloom, you three have been students at the academy for nearly a year now, and yet you fail to see the importance of punctuality.” The three students trekked their way up to Celestia’s office, where she was currently giving another lecture to the three. They were used to it by now. “I would suggest you find a way to change that before you return tomorrow. Otherwise I will have no choice but to expel you.” “Wait, you can’t!” Scootaloo said frantically. “We’ve worked so hard at this opportunity!” Applebloom said. “We can’t go back to Ponyville and tell our families we were expel!” Sweetie didn’t want to imagine what her family would say. “You all have great potential.” Celestia said kindly. “It would be a shame to waste it.” The three mares looked at her helplessly. “Now go. You must have other studies.” “Yes mam.” The three friends said quietly, giving the princess a quick bow and leaving her office. Celestia sat in silence for a few moments before the other being in the room decided to speak. “Celestia, I like those three as much as everypony else.” An all too familiar drake by the name of Spike, who was now in his teenage years, no longer having baby fat and being as tall as the mares that just left said. “But to be honest, I don’t know how you put up with them.” Several years back Spike’s closest friend requested that he come up and assist Celestia in any way that he could. The alicorn could only smile. “Well then Spike, I suppose that’s why I’m the headmistress and you’re the headmistresses assistant.” Celestia then turned back to a parchment behind her, reading the contents closely. “Any time now?” Spike said, changing the subject. “I fear we may have a few days at most.” “Your highness….I know you believe in those three…..but I don’t think they’re who you’re looking for.” Celestia rolled up the parchment. “Let’s hope I am not mistaken.” As all of this was happen in Equestria, far above it in the large void known as space, a rather sinister vessel was quickly approaching the planet. The craft was made of the hardest material in the entire galaxy, designed to look like something out of a pony’s worst nightmare. On board the passengers were looking down on the planet. “Your majesty,” A blue unicorn mane with a silver mare spoke. “Equestria is within our sights.” “We await your orders.” A larger than normal male bull spoke. “Shall we begin preparations?” A female griffin asked. The pony they spoke to simply stared down at the planet. The mare was nearly as tall as Celestia, but with her coat being the exact opposite as the Princess of Sun, dark midnight blue. Her eyes with very similar to that of a feline, her mane flowing in an invisible breeze, looking as those it was made out of the stars around them. This was the pony Celestia feared would return. This was the being known as Nightmare Moon. “Prepare thyselves at once.” She ordered. “For tomorrow, we raze the planet.” The next day Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle found themselves sitting in the chairs of the local Cart Repair Shop, where Applebloom worked in order to bring income to herself. The southern mare was currently in the back, examining the axis to a wagon as several alarm clocks sat around her, all set to a certain time. “What do you think our families would say if we were expelled?” Sweetie asked Scootaloo, looking up from the magazine she was ready. “Sweetie, we’re not gonna get expelled, alright?” The pegasus said confidently. “We’re gonna be on time, and we’ll start to show the princess that we do care about all of this.” Before Sweetie could say anything the sound of various alarm clocks went off. “That’s mah que!” Applebloom took off her work clothes, sliding over the counter, quickly joining her friends in rushing out the door, all three quickly scrambling into Sweetie’s cart. “Are we on time?” Sweetie looked at her watch. “We’re early for once!” Scootaloo and Applebloom slapped hooves as their unicorn friend drove onwards. A few minutes up the road however they came across a pair of elderly ponies with a broken down cart. “Looks like they need help…..” Against her better judgement, Sweetie pulled over to the side of the road. “Sweetie! No! We don’t have the time!” “We just can’t leave them here. What if something happened to them?” The unicorn mare argued. “All I know is that if we’re late then something will definitely happen to us! And it won’t involve fabulous prizes!” “It’ll take just two minutes Scootaloo.” Applebloom said, pulling a toolbox from the cart. Scootaloo growled to herself, before begrudgingly joining her friends. If the three had been paying attention, they might have noticed the storm clouds rolling in over the mountains…. At the academy gardens Spike was doing his best in trying to make heads and tails of local weather events, like the storm clouds rolling in for example. Celestia was sitting calmly, drinking her herbal tea when she felt it. “Spike….when I say so, take shelter immediately.” “Why? She can’t be here already.” The dragon said as thunder boomed overhead. Right before their eyes the clouds over head turned into a dark shade of purple, with the wind picking up. The alicorn of the sun took a deep breath, closing her eyes in concentration. “The darkness inside you has grown sister….” Spike was confused on who Celestia was addressing, seeing as nopony else was around. “Tis had time to grow.” A voice stated. Celestia calmly turned on the spot, and looked directly into the eyes of the being responsible for all that was currently happening. For the first time in nearly a thousand years, the alicorn sisters were reunited, but it was not on a happy note. “It’s been a long time.” “Army’s take time to grow.” Nightmare responded, before a flash of light lit the area. Spike covered his eyes briefly as the light dissipated. Celestia watched as the unicorn magician named Trixie, the griffon named Gilda, and the bull named Iron Will appeared at her sister’s side, all here with a snide smirk on their face. “And now is the perfect time for revenge.” “You’ve corrupted them with your dark energy.” “I have only given them what they want.” Nightmare said calmly. “And that is the chance to right, what has been wronged.” The alicorn of the night then addressed the three. “Raze the grounds. Capture any pony you find.” “As you wish your majesty.” The three disappeared once more, leaving just the two sisters. “It doesn’t have to be this way Luna.” Celestia could tell she struck a chord. “Do not refer to me as such!” Nightmare shouted, using the Royal Canterlot Voice. “The one you know as Luna is dead! And why would now, after all this time be any different?” Celestia knew she would never get through to her sister in this state, leaving her with only one option. “Only one filled with such hatred and darkness would cast aside who they truly are. I will fulfill my duty to fix that.” “You will try…” Nightmare Moon said calmly with a smile. “And you will fail!” Spike stayed off to the side as the Nightmare Moon charged her horn, firing a magical shot at Celestia. The alicorn of the sun dodged off to the side, the resulting shot causing a explosion large enough for the various students on the grounds to see. Before Anypony could check on Celestia the light flashed again as Trixie, Iron Will and Gilda stood before the students. “Putty Patrol!” Trixie unleashed a spell that conjured over a dozen of strange look grey beings that looked like they were crafted out of clay with oddly placed black stripes going along their sides. Now the students we’re realizing something was definitely wrong here, but before any could react the putties charged forward. “Thank you three so much for your help.” The elder stallion said as Scootaloo loaded their tools back into the wagon. “Hey it was no problem.” “We hope you two have a great day.” Sweetie said, climbing back into the driver seat. “Well…..we’re late…” Applebloom said grimly. “You never know, maybe Celestia forgot what she told us.” “Applebloom, she’s the princess of Equestria.” Scootaloo said fastening her seatbelt. “I’m pretty sure she doesn’t forget things easily.” “She probably has bigger things to do then worry about us.” Celestia was refusing to fight back against her sister, even as Nightmare Moon continued to fire magic beam after magic beam. Each blast caused sparks of energy to scatter over the ground. The younger alicorn powered her horn as she charged forward, Celestia charging her own as the two collided with sparks and lightning crackling all around them. “Fight back sister!” Nightmare said, throwing several hooves, with Celestia ducking each one. Down on the academy grounds the putties were too much for the fighting students. To make the situation more dire massive magic bolts were being shot down from the evil vessel above the planet, each one causing an explosion that scatter the fighting ponies. Iron Will was striking any pony that fell into his line of sight. Gilda would swipe at any ponies with her claws while Trixie was blasting the area around them with her enhanced magic. “Trash them all!” The griffon shouted. “Now Trixie!” Trixie looked at the fighting ponies, striking each one with a magical sphere that quickly shrunk, trapping any pony they captured. “Enjoy the view.” The unicorn taunted “Up, up and away!” Aiming up each captured pony was launched into the sky, with the intent of holding each one prisoner on the vessel above. In the gardens the two sisters were evenly matched in combat. “I have failed you Luna. I have failed you.” Celestia said, panting from the effort she was given to avoid combat. The ground shook as a massive magic bolt was shot down from above, striking the academy building head on. To Celestia’s horror the building quickly began zipping into the sky piece by piece via magical vortex.. Nightmare Moon aimed her next strike….but not at Celestia. “Let us see how you fare without your little dragon!” “Spike! No!” Celestia galloped forward, knocking Spike out of the way from the spell, taking the full brunt of it. Like her students before her, she quickly found herself in a shrinking sphere. “No!” Spike ran at Nightmare Moon, only to be picked up in her magic. “Consider this a warning.” The alicorn said, holding the dragon nose to nose. “Pass this message on young dragon: anypony who dares stand in my way, will feel my wrath.” Nightmare Moon then promptly flung the young drake through the garden wall, watching it collapse on top of him. She then turned her attention to the captive alicorn. “I will destroy your beloved planet dear sister…..and you are going to watch it burn!” The elder alicorn could only listen as Nightmare Moon cackled evilly before teleporting the two back up to her vessel. As the villainess alicorn depart, at that very moment Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom made it up the path, and into what looked like to them pure chaos. “What the heck is going on?!” Scootaloo had to shout to be heard over the school being pulled up. “Something’s attacking the school!” The gale force wind was too much for the three as more debris rose up. “Look out!” Sweetie pushed her friends over as pieces of debris flew around them into the magical vortex. The three covered their heads as the vortex finally departed, the sky clearing up along with it. “Is it over?” Applebloom asked. Scootaloo said up, but there would be absolutely nothing left of the school. What sat before them was now a vast crater. “It’s all gone….” The pegasus mare said, stunned beyond belief. “What was that? An earthquake?” “When was the last time you heard of an earthquake that pulls ponies and buildings into the sky?!” Sweetie asked in disbelief. Aboard Nightmare Moon’s vessel the various captured ponies were struggling inside their capture spheres. “Oh would you dumb ponies stop fighting already? You’re giving me a migraine!” Gilda complained. “Don’t worry about them much longer. Once all the ponies from Celestia’s schools are captured, Equestria will be ours to do as we please.” Trixie gloated. “Trixie! Gilda! Quiet!” Nightmare Moon ordered as she trotted into the room, her captured sister floating above her. “Or I’ll make sure you join them.” “Sorry your highness.” Both followers grumbled as Nightmare Moon flicked her hoof at the captured ponies, sending them deeper into the vessel where they wouldn’t be heard. “Now, where was I?” “The final phase of your plan to capture Equestria your majesty.” “Of course.” Nightmare Moon trotted up a set of stairs, taking her seat in her throne. She then floated her sister down to her face. “Now that all of your mighty schools have been silenced, you nothing left standing in my way.” At that moment Iron Will whispered something into Trixie’s ear, causing the unicorn to frown. “Your majesty…..it seems there are three students unaccounted for.” Trixie said nervously. The alicorn of the night just let out a sigh. “Why did I think anything would be done right the first time?” She then used her magic to pull the three followers close. “I want you three to make sure that the grounds have been cleared. I want nothing left standing. NOTHING!” “Who would do something like this?” Sweetie Belle asked as her and her friends climbed down into the crater. Rubble was scattered all over the place, making it next to impossible to tell if anypony made it. “Are we the only students left?” The southern pony asked. “Are we the only ones left at all?” The three looked around still in disbelief when Scootaloo’s ears perked. She heard the sound of rocks being shifted. “Who’s that?” She asked, stopping her friends in their place. The pegasus pointed to a pile of rubble as a purple hand poked its way out. “It’s Spike!” Scootaloo quickly galloped forward, beginning the process of digging. “Help me get him out!” Without hesitation Sweetie and Applebloom joined their friend, moving rocks and other pieces of debris off of Spike. When they finally pulled the dragon out, he sent off on a coughing fit. “Spike, are you ok?” Sweetie asked concerned as Spike started to breathe normally. “Yeah…..yeah I’m fine.” “What happened out here?” Scootaloo asked. Before Spike could answer a large magical bolt shot from the sky, exploding on contact with the ground. The impact was powerful enough to knock the four off their feet and hooves. “What was that just now would be a better question!” Sweetie shouted as the group hurried back up. “This way!” Spike shouted. “We gotta get out of here!” He pointed at the direction of a large pile of debris on the far side of the crater. Another bolt struck the ground, another explosion going off just behind the four. “Keep running!” “Sounds like a plan!” Applebloom shouted as more bolts rained down upon them. “Where the heck are we going?!” Scootaloo shouted as more explosions went off. The four finally arrived at the spot Spike pointed to. He quickly tossed several pieces of rubble, revealing a hidden doorway on the ground. “Get in!!!” Spike said as the explosions got better with their aim. The dragon pulled the door open, motioning for the group to quickly climb down the steps. Without thinking Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom did as they were told. Once they were in Spike quickly followed, pulling the door shut as an explosion struck where they were just standing. “What is this place?” “This is an escape tunnel.” Spike said as the tunnel around them shook. “If we follow it it’ll take us to the bottom of the mountain. From there we’ll make our way towards Ponyville.” The three mares looked at each other, not sure if they heard him right. “Ponyville, as in our old home?” “Unless you guys have a better plan.” “Do you wanna tell us just what’s going on here?” Scootaloo asked, looking the dragon in the eyes. Spike looked at the three collectively. “Look, all three of you will know the truth once we get to her.” “Her?” Spike sighed. “We’re going to back to Twilight’s.” Back on the vessel Trixie and Iron Will were scanning the ground below them, but couldn’t find any signs of life. That didn’t tell them if they got the three missing students however. “No signs of life your highness.” Will reported. “Even if they were foolish to go back they would’ve surely be blasted to bits.” Nightmare Moon stared at the planet below. “I’ve wait quite some time for this dear sister.” She said, still holding onto the sphere Celestia was trapped in. “For nearly one thousand years I was cast adrift alone out here in the wide regions of space. I’ve dreamt of the day when this moment would be reality.” The alicorn cackled to herself. “How does it feel sister? Being as alone as I was.” “Your highness.” Gilda had just walked into the room. “The putties are ready for battle.” “Excellent. Set them loose. Let them bring destruction.” For what had to be several hours the group of three ponies and one dragon had traversed their way out the escape tunnel, managing to find their way back to Sweetie’s cart. They wouldn’t have had the time to catch a train, or Celestia forbid walk all the way to Ponyville. The four sat in silence for the majority of the ride, even though everyone in a while Scootaloo would try to pry more information out of Spike. Nothing was gonna make the dragon crack. They had finally passed the sign that told them that their destination was just over the hill. “Park the cart. We’ll walk from here.” Spike said. “Still not gonna talk?” “Look a few more minutes isn’t gonna kill you.” The dragon argued. Sweetie pulled the cart off the road. From there the four made their way over the bridge and into the small village of Ponyville. It had been nearly a year since any of the three mares had step hoof into their home town. They couldn’t imagine being back in a situation like this. The group quietly made their way up to the library located in the center of town. It would’ve been hard to miss the Golden Oak Library, seeing as it was the only business that was set up inside a tree. Spike took a quick glance around to make sure passing ponies weren’t watching the group, before opening the door. “Get inside, quickly.” He told the three mares. The friends shared a look, before doing as they were told. Once in, Spike shut the door behind them. “Twilight? It’s me.” He called. The room sat quietly for a moment, until the sound of trotting came down the stairs. “Well isn’t this a surprise? I didn’t know you we’re due for a visit Spike.” A purple unicorn came out from the stairs. Twilight Sparkles lived in the library, and loved her job running it. She trotted over and gave Spike a hug, who quickly returned it. “I wish it wasn’t in such short notice Twi.” The pony finally noticed the three teenage mares in the room. “Scootaloo? Sweetie Belle? Applebloom? You three have grown so much since I last saw you.” Twilight complimented. “But shouldn’t you three be in class right now? Being invited to Celestia’s school isn’t something you just skip off on. “Yeah….about that Twilight.” Scootaloo said nervously. “You see its sorta…….gone?” Sweetie said. “Gone? A whole school just doesn’t disappear.” “You wanna tell her Spike?” Applebloom asked. Twilight looked at her former assistant. “Twilight,” The dragon glanced at the three mares, before back to his close friend. “She’s returned.” The look on the unicorn's face couldn’t be replicated if one tried. It was a mixed look of worry and fear. “Spike, what happened to the princess?” “……gone.” Twilight trotted to a bookshelf quickly. “Are these the only three left then?” “As far as I can tell.” “Lock the door and put up the closed sign.” Spike did as he was told. “Excuse me, but can somepony tell us just what’s going on?!” Scootaloo was getting sick and tired of being left out in the dark. “We watched our school get sucked up into the sky, along with everypony in it!” “Now we wanna know why!” Twilight turned, not knowing just what to say to the three. “Would you please follow me?” The unicorn used her magic to pull a book off the shelf, but the moment she did, something happened. The shelf standing next to the three ponies slid to the left, revealing stairs going downwards. Twilight and Spike made their way down the stairs with the three friends looking on in confusion, before they too followed. Twilight stopped at the end of a short hallway, before placing her hoof on a metal panel of some sorts. The panel began glowing, and once the unicorn removed her hoof the room the group was standing in began to light up. “No way….” Applebloom said as the three looked at the room lit up around the amazed mares. Lab tables were set up along on side of the wall, while on the other side what appeared to be a large computer activated, showing by the minute scans of the entire planet. “Don’t ask any questions please, because we can’t answer them.” Spike said. “What? Is this a big secret?” “Yes Scootaloo, it’s a big secret.” “And there are times when secrets must be revealed Spike.” Twilight walked over to a large bookcase, pulling out a rolled up parchment. “Have you three heard of the legend of Nightmare Moon?” Judging by the confused looks on their faces, Twilight knew they hadn’t. Using her magic, she unrolled the parchment, and began reading off it. Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. Over time the two sisters overcame obstacles and challenges that threatened to shatter the balance between all ponies, including turning a creature of pure chaos into stone, locking a demon into the deepest pit of Tartarus, and defeating a creature of pure darkness. Unable to split their duties between maintaining balance and ruling their land, they summoned a group of ponies, each powered with a different element to keep the balance in tact between all. As time went on the younger sister began to resent her older sister. The darkness and resent in the younger sister’s heart grew, until it could no longer be contained. The darkness overtook her, transforming her into the wicked mare known only as Nightmare Moon. Reluctantly the elder sister and her group of ponies combatted Nightmare Moon, and with their combined powers were able to banish the wicked mare into the furthest and darkest regions of space, where her powers could do no harm to any pony. With their task completed, the ponies returned their powers to the elder sister. The sister feared that despite their best efforts, one day Nightmare Moon might return. For the sake of pony kind, she sealed the powers away, until the moment when they would be needed the most. “This was a legend that had been passed down from generation to generation,” Twilight explained. “but all things eventually fade into oblivion, and a legend that shouldn’t have been forgotten faded out of the minds of ponykind.” “So Celestia’s sister, Nightmare Moon….she’s returned?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Yes. And there’s only one thing on the planet that can stop her.” The unicorn turned to Spike. “Bring out the morphers.” “Twilight you can’t be serious.” Spike said, unable to comprehend what he just heard. “Spike, we literally have no choice in the matter.” “But these three?” Spike questioned, pointing to the three mares. “Them?” “What about us?” Scootaloo said, not looking very happy with that statement. “I don’t like how that sounded.” Sweetie Belle didn’t look to happy either. “Spike, now.” Twilight said sternly. The dragon looked like he wanted to argue, but after seeing the look on his friend’s face; he knew he would lose that fight. Spike then walked over to a safe, putting in the combination before pulling out a grand looking box. He then brought the box over to the three. “Those ponies mentioned in the legend, their powers we thought to be lost in time. But they weren’t.” Twilight explained. “Celestia didn’t seal them away either. She would pass them onto the pony she trusted the most, until they got to me. I know it sounds crazy, but you three will use those powers.” “How?” “With these.” Spike then opened the box, revealing three black, red and gold devices. On each device was either a red disc, blue disc, or yellow disc respectively. “These are your Pony Rangers Element Storm Morphers.” The three friends looked floored by the statement. “Pony……Rangers?” Scootaloo asked in disbelief. “Celestia thought of the name herself.” Twilight said with a fond smile. “Please, take them.” She insisted. Still not quite understanding what was being asked of them, Scootaloo reached in and took the morpher with the red disc. Sweetie Belle took the one with the blue disc, and Applebloom took the final one with the yellow disc. Twilight then stopped in front of the southern mare. “Applebloom, child of the earth, true to your heart…..you will embody the powers of the Yellow Element Ranger.” The unicorn then moved to Sweetie Belle as the three put the devices around their hooves. “Sweetie Belle, fluid and graceful like the water…..you will become the Blue Element Ranger.” Twilight finally stopped in front of Scootaloo. “And Scootaloo, reaching for the sky…..you will command the powers of the Red Element Ranger.” The unicorn took a step back. “From this point on, you three will be known as The Pony Rangers: Element Storm, protectors of Equestria.” It finally sunk in for Scootaloo. “Us? The three of us save Equestria?” “This is heavy.” Applebloom had to take a seat in order to catch her breath. “I know it’s an awful lot to take in guys, but Celestia would’ve want you to do this.” “More like they’re the ONLY choice.” Spike muttered, getting a kick to the shins from Twilight. “So……now what? What exactly do these things do?” Sweetie asked. “Yeah, where’s the switch?” “Our heroes Twilight.” Spike said quietly. Before he could get another kick to the shins the computer behind them began beeping wildly. “Nightmare Moon’s army is back! And it’s making its way towards Canterlot! You three need to use your powers and cut them off!” “How?” “To activate your powers all you have to do is say, ‘Element Storm, Ranger Form’ then the morphers will take care of the rest, now go!” “Keep your eyes open!” Nightmare Moon had the power to create monsters, and she did just that to send down below to lead the Putty Patrol. The blue face monster was to lead the putties all the way to Canterlot, first examining the crater to make absolutely sure the three students had been destroyed. The putties checked every pile of debris and rubble that they could find. “Hey!” The villains heard a voice calling from the top of the crater. The blue face monster looked up and saw the three missing students arrive at the edge of the crater. “Looking for us?” Scootaloo asked with a smirk. “Come down here and find out!” The pegasus looked at her friends with a smirk. “Okay. Element Storm…..what was the rest of it?” “You didn’t remember?” Sweetie asked in disbelief. “It was a lot to take in!” If only they knew back at the library Spike was face palming badly right now, he and Twilight watching the events unfold from the computer. “It’s Ranger Form!” Spike shouted over the communicator each morpher had built in. “Again our heroes Twi. Applebloom looked at the monster and putties below. “Stand back. Ah’ll show you how it’s done.” Sweetie and Scootaloo did as they were told as the southern mare lifted her morpher. “Element Storm, Ranger Form! Ha!” The disc on her morpher began to spin rapidly as a small funnel covered the southern pony. “Power of Earth!” When the funnel dissipated, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were amazed to see their friend now standing in a yellow suit of some sorts complete with an emblem on her chest, her legs covered in silver and the helmet around her face shaped like lion almost. “Look at you!” Applebloom had to examine herself. “You two know the drill!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other, both nodding. “Element Storm, Ranger Form! Ha!” Both disc on their morphers began spinning rapidly both doing through the same sequence as their friend. “Power of Air!” “Power of Water!” The two ponies looked similar to Applebloom, except Sweetie being cyan blue and her helmet being shaped like a dolphin. Scootaloo was red, and her helmet being shaped like an eagle. “Pony Rangers: Element Storm!” The three shouted. “Attack!” The putties charged towards the three. “Element Swords!” The three rangers pull a sword from over their shoulders, before leaping into battle, splitting up. “Alright boys step aside!” Scootaloo was able to glide through the air, each slash of her sword striking a putty. “On your left!” She bounced off a tree before flicking her wrist over her morpher, sending blast of magic at the putties in front of her. “It’s all in the wrist!” “It’s also a handy laser blaster!” Sweetie called, turning her sword. “What’s wrong?” She asked as she blasted several putties while galloping across the lake. “Never send a girl in blue spandex run on water before?” Applebloom slashed across a group of putties, before slamming her back hooves into the ground, causing it to crack along, striking the putties with more force. “It worked!” She then jammed her sword into the ground, finishing off her putties. The three rangers quickly regrouped as the blue monster lined them up in his sights. “Impressive, but did you really think that’s all we have?!” The monster sent several lasers at the three, causing sparks to emit from the ponies, and the resulting explosion knocking them off their hooves. “Let’s see if you like this!” Scootaloo took to the air again, this time take the monster with her. “Hey! Put me down!” “If you insist!” Scootaloo then promptly dropped the monster through the treetop. When it rose back up the three struck with a sword slash, sending it screaming flying backwards. “That’s it!” The monster got back up, just in time for the three rangers to discover their personal weapons. “Hawk Blaster fired up!” “Sonic Fin sound off!” “Flying Hammer ready to roar!” Applebloom swung her hammer over her head. “Eat this!” Slamming her hammer into the ground repeatedly, the monster bounced off the ground, sparks flying out each time. “Ready for a workout?” Sweetie aimed her Sonic Fin, and began shouting into it. “And 1, and 2, and spin! Work it! That’s it!” The monster was caught in a vocal vortex, spinning repeatedly until Sweetie dropped him. “Is it hot out here, or is it just you?” Scootaloo asked, aiming her Hawk Blaster, firing a blast of fire right at the monster, damaging it even more. “Let’s put them together guys!” The three rangers were able to combine their weapons to make one large weapon. “Storm Striker!” “Oh I’m so scared!” “Ready?” “Aim.” “Fire!” Scootaloo pulled the trigger, launching a massive sphere of energy that collided with the monster. “Thanks for stopping by!” The monster screamed and convulsed, until it finally collapsed and exploding into a giant fireball. “They did it!” Spike reported happily to Twilight, who couldn’t help but smile at the three. The three rangers stood in place, until they lowered the visors to their helmets. “Did that really just happened?” The pegasus mare asked. “Ah’m pretty sure it did.” Applebloom said. “Now that…….was awesome!” Sweetie said happily, slapping high hooves with her friends. “Pony Rangers?!” Nightmare Moon shouted in the royal voice at her followers. “Nopony told me there would be Pony Rangers!” “We didn’t expect any your highness.” Trixie pleaded. “They won’t be a match for us next time.” Gilda said. “For your sakes they better not be! Now leave my sight!” The pony and griffon fled the scene as the evil alicorn held up her captive sister. “What other surprises do you have for me? Well sister….I’ll not only take over Equestria, I will also destroy your precious rangers!” “Did you see us out there?!” The three ponies had returned back to Twilight and Spike, and having removed their helmets they were too busy celebrated. “We trotted all over those putties and that monster!” Spike only rolled his eyes, deciding to keep his mouth shut so the three could have their moment. “You did well….this time rangers.” Twilight said, getting the three to quiet down. “But please understand, there will be battles in the future. Nightmare Moon will not rest until all of Equestria belongs to her….or until she is destroyed.” The three ponies quickly regained her composure. “The future is in your hooves Pony Rangers, but for now, celebrate. You earned it.” The three quickly went back into their celebration mode. Twilight and Spike could only smirk at the three, knowing that there might not be days like today. But that would be later.