1 - Spicer Wild
Spike hiccupped. He coughed, green flame licking the inside of his nostrils. He sneezed, the fire bursting out of his mouth, a scroll along with it. The royal seal flashed, and Twilight Sparkle’s horn glittered, picking up the letter from where it had landed on the grass.
“I wonder what it is, Spike,” she said as she unrolled it. Her friends gathered around, curious. They were out in Applejack’s orchard for an early summer picnic. She began to read the letter out loud. “My dearest Twilight, do not be alarmed. I require your presence and the presence of your friends in Canterlot Palace immediately. This is a matter of urgency and secrecy. Signed, Princess Celestia”
Rainbow Dash jumped up. “Well! Come on,” she said, wings splayed, “if we’re fast we can make the train.”
“Wait! We need to pack first,” cooed Rarity, already imagining herself back in the fancy upper crust of Equestria’s finest ponies. “I simply must bring my two newest hats.” She looked up at the red one on her head, tossing her mane.
“There’s no time,” countered Twilight, trying to forget the new book she wanted to show her mentor, “The train leaves in 15 minutes!”
“See you slow pokes at the station!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she zoomed off, signature rainbow trailing in a wisp behind her.
“That’s what you think!” Applejack yelled, galloping off, running just below her friend. They laughed and didn’t look back as the others slowly fell farther and farther behind. Apart from Pinkie Pie, who wandered back to town and ate a cupcake. And yet, she popped up at the station, chocolate icing coating her face, before all the others, scaring the pony-feathers out of the poor conductor.
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The six ponies and single dragon entered the Canterlot Palace huffing. Princess Celestia stood to greet them, pleased that her most powerful subjects had come so quickly. “Girls,” she said, smiling, regel voice carrying through the spacious hall, “I’m sure you’re wondering what’s going on.” As she spoke, Celestia didn’t notice the frown creeping through her features.
Applejack was the first to step forward. “What’s wrong, Princess?”
“As of yet, nothing is threatening Equestria as a whole. However, there is something that could cause problems in the future,” she replied, stepping down the stairs to stand among the six ponies. Colorful light from the stained glass windows played across her white fur. “I am trusting you girls with this secret and I trust you to keep it until I say the time is right.”
All of the smaller ponies bowed their heads and bent their knee. The Princess raised them back to their feet. “The Elements of Harmony have been stolen.”
Suddenly all of them were talking over each other. All were saying things like “What?” “Who?” “Why?” and “We’ll get them back.” After a bit, they all quieted, Twilight stepping forward to speak for everyone. “But Princess? Why is that a secret? Surely somepony would know who took them.”
Celestia shook her head, the ripples in her mane turning jagged for a moment. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. I – “ Pinkie Pie cut her off.
“Wait. Just. A. Minute. Does this mean Discord is back? With his eternal chaos and CHOCOLATE RAIN!!!” she said, or shouted. She was about to say more when Rainbow Dash stopped flapping her wings and landed on her face.
“This isn’t the time,” the pegasus hissed to her frizzy-maned friend. Celestia’s eyes said thank you, but she continued as if it hadn’t happened.
“No, Pinkie, it isn’t Discord back again. This time it’s a different foe. One equally as devious but fueled with jealousy instead of spite.”
“Princess Celestia, who is it? Is that the secret?” asked Twilight
“Yes, you see, in the beginning, Luna and I were not the only royals. We had a brother. Solo. He was meant to rule the sun while Luna received the moon. I was to govern the sky, day or night, in conjunction with one of them to maintain the balance of two.” She turned and looked out one of the windows, over Equestria’s rolling hills and dark forests. “But Solo refused to be ruled. He wished, as the only stallion among us, to rule the sky.”
“His mind was clouded with jealousy and he sought to overthrow me by cruelly forcing the sun hotter than it should have been and not allowing any crops to grow. For a time, the ponies of Equestria only found refuge in the night. I know he was only a youth at the beginning, the younger twin of Luna and his hotheadedness was that of a child, but I could not allow it to go any farther.”
Fluttershy was cowering behind Rarity, attempting to keep her flank from quivering. She was one step away from putting her hooves over her ears. The rest were riveted to the story. There was a third Royal Pony? Celestia continued.
“Luna and I worked together using the Elements of Harmony to trap him in a spell that would release him when he was ready. We didn’t know how long, but he has escaped and taken the Elements and left me a message that indicated that he had hidden them in the lands beyond Equestria. In the old lands.”
She trailed off, searching for more to say. To explain. Then Rainbow Dash piped up with a question.
“How did he get out without being ready?”
“Interesting you should ask, Rainbow Dash. I don’t know for sure, but I do remember cracks forming in the spell the first time you accomplished the Sonic Rainboom. And more appearing after the second. I am not blaming you,” she said, catching the subtle droop on the blue pony, “It would have been inevitable. However, Prince Solo is no longer in the palace. His powers are drained but he will be gaining it again. If you do not reach him before he does, Equestria will return to being sunburnt and desolate. I will not be able to keep him from his birth right a second time.”
Nopony said anything, they looked at eachother. The lands beyond Equestria? The thought had never even crossed their minds before. There was nothing out there. At least, that’s what we thought.
Twilight stepped forward again, speaking for the rest, swallowing the fear and replacing it with determination. “When do we leave, Princess?”
“As soon as you’re ready,” she replied. “Good luck everypony, the fate of Equestria is in your hooves”
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Pinkie Pie singing was not the best traveling music, but no one could really stop her. “We’re travelin’ to the outlands, outlands, outlands. Travelin’ to the outlands to see what we can see. All Across the border like a hoarder and a box of mixed mortar. Rolling like a stooooone in chocolate raaaaaaaiiiiiiiinnnnnn!” Her boundless energy was bouncing her over the rocks and scarce brush as they crossed over the mountains.
Rainbow Dash shot a look the other pony’s way. She had been singing the entire way up one and now down the other side of the mountain. They were making good time, but Dash bet that they could go faster. Fluttershy wasn’t even bringing up the rear like she had been the LAST time they had tried to climb a mountain. This time it was Rarity… and the luggage she had insisted on bringing.
The 7 of them rounded a ridge and were able to catch their first real look at the lands beyond. It wasn’t exactly bare, there were streams and a large river, but it wasn’t anywhere near lush either. There were sparse trees, and no flowers that they could see. The only movement they could see was a hawk circling above. Fluttershy’s big eyes didn’t leave it for a second.
“Well that’s depressin’” sighed Applejack as she turned with the rest to keep finding their way down the mountain. The bottom wasn’t that far away, but glimpsing the landscape had created an air of quiet among the 7.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. There was a flash of light and before them, details hidden by the blaze, appeared a large pony, wings spread wide and horn so sharp the point itself glistened. Everypony turned their eyes away from the dazzling light, blinking in pain.
“So you have come!” blared a strong, deep voice. “None other than the bearers of the Elements of Harmony! We have expected your arrival.” The light was beginning to dull and the Equestrians turned back to face the newcomer, thoughts already in their head as to who it was.
The stallion before them was bright, his coat fluctuating like a fire and his mane a sparkling gold cloud that copied Luna’s almost perfectly. His eyes blazed red. He stamped a copper-shod hoof, the stone beneath him crumbling.
“It is I, Prince Solo, the true ruler of the Equestrian Skies that stands before you. There is no hope for that usurper Celestia who stole my throne and stole my youth.” He looked down at the girls again, gaze seeming to pass through each and every one. His eyes stopped on Spike and a sly smile curled his muzzle.
“I know it is your quest to retrieve the Elements, so you will have to play my little game. Each one is hidden separate from the others. You must find them in order and only one pony can enter each challenge, but, the pony the element belongs too cannot complete the task.” He paused, the smile growing wider, everypony still sitting dazed and afraid. “But look, there are seven of you. That’s cheating, my dear Equestrians.”
His horn shimmered and Spike was lifted off the ground and was held floating alongside the golden prince. Rarity and Twilight cried out his name at the same time, but before they could work any magic, the little dragon was gone in a puff of shining smoke.
“What did you do with him?!” demanded Twilight Sparkle.
“Oh, don’t worry, little magic-mare. You’ll get him back once you complete my tasks. He must be quite special though, to earn the affection of two unicorns.” He winked and turned away, began pacing through the sky as if he was leaving. But then his ears perked up. “Oh yes, I almost forgot. You need your first clue don’t you. Well, give me a moment. Ah yes. Now, listen closely. The path to Loyalty is as treacherous as death. Snow and ice as a veil to unwinding flame. So high the sun never sets and the summer quit the game.”
Prince Solo cackled to see the puzzled looks on their faces. He spun, turned tail and disappeared, his laugh and the words, “Good luck, everypony” ringing in the air.