//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Lost Harmony // by Miner //------------------------------// A thousand years ago, the once was a great and mighty nation called Equestria. It was ruled by the two immortal sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The eldest ruled the day, and the youngest ruled over the night. Peace and harmony ruled across the lands under their reign; until the day the Lord of Chaos Discord came into the land. As the last of the Draconequus, he and he only control all the powers of chaos in the world. And with it, he can bend and change the very face of Equestria to his own will with the snap of his claws. And when he saw the lands of the Princess had made for their ponies, working together in harmony, it filled him with disgust. And thus, began the war of the immortals. They fought against each other for years with no hope of victory for the Princess as the war raged on. The Princesses were forced to use their land's greatest treasure in a final attempt to stop the tyrant Discord, The Elements of Harmony. These precious stones embodied the peace across the land: Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, and all together, they form the last element, Magic. If one pony were to wield all six elements, they would have access to the land's most incredible form of magic. On the year's final day, the Princess activated them to seal away Discord. However, he blasted the elements with all the chaos at his disposal, hoping to destroy them, but failed. For once the elements were activated, nothing could stop them. A rainbow of colors emerged from the elements and imprisoned the Lord of Chaos in a stone prison. The war between the immortals was finally over. However, there was no celebration that night. For Discord may have failed to destroy the Elements of harmony, he did manage to do something far worse. The elements of harmony become the elements of chaos. But not before the spell was finished turning Discord into stone. Soon after Discord was turned into stone, the elements were surrounded by a glow of dark violet magic and shot into the sky as the opposing magic fought each other. The princesses and their subjects watch helplessly as the sky darkens with thunder, and lightning bolts fill the heavens as rays of colors shoot in all directions. The land shook as massive earthquakes forced mountains to emerge from flat ground dividing the country, sending water across Equestria. It wasn't until the elements scattered across the sky in six different directions did everything stop. Once the dust settled. Equestria was left in ruins. And the sisters didn't understand to what extent the damage Equestria was until two days later. The land of Equestria was separated into eleven islands scattered across the face of our world. In hopes of saving their ponies, Celestia gathers a group of ponies to go to the islands to restore order to the ponies that were lost to them. But they soon discover something hazardous about these new oceans. For once a pony leaves their island and ventures into or above the ocean, they can't use any of their natural magic: Earth ponies grow weary and weak, Unicorns couldn't keep their horns glowing, and Pegasus couldn't fly. Not even the Princess themselves were immune to the power of the sea. They believe that the elements of harmony sent all the chaos magic in them into the oceans, preventing anypony from using harmony magic in its waters. Ships were built to help join together the islands of Equestria; however, with so many islands to rule over, two Princesses were not enough. They assign leaders to each island to help lead the ponies and other species of the islands. The Princesses had restored order to five of the eleven islands in three years. However, none of the ponies on the remaining island were willing to rejoin and secede to look after their own. The Princesses pleaded with them to reconsider, but their minds were up. With no way of restoring the land of Equestria to the way it once was. Life continues for the ponies and creatures of the eleven islands. Then a prophecy was made by Star Swirl the Breaded. That if Elements of Harmony were ever to gather once again. Then the islands of Equestria would become together again and restore the land to its form and glory. Entry 121 Canterlot stands proud as the capital city under the Princesses' rule, located at the center of their five islands. Canterlot represents what was left of the old world. As time went on, the two sisters divided their control over their kingdom among themselves along with the arrival of the Princess of Love Candance. Despite the advancements made in the ship over the years, the Great Sparking Sea was still as ruthless to anypony or thing which would dear travel its waters. At best, ships would only lose at most three ponies per trip; however, no matter the risks, we must sail. For not, all the ponies who live on the other islands were as fortunate as we are here. Los Pegasus, Tall Tale, and Dodge won't make it through a hard time of the year without ships coming and going between islands. With that being said, I had made a decision. I want to become one of the sail ponies who risks their lives daily so that others may see another day of hope. I haven't told Celestia about it, but I hope she will listen to my reasons for why I want to do this. "Hay Sunset, what are you doing?" somepony asked nearby, interrupting Sunset's train of thought. Sunset Shimmer closes her diary and turns to the mare next to her. It was her roommate Twilight Sparkle, another student of Princess Celestia, just like herself. She a purple unicorn mare with a long straight indigo mane and a pink highlight running through it with a matching tail. "Nothing important, Twilight, but I need to ask you something." She then levitates her diary in her orange aura and puts it away in her saddlebags before she stands up and faces Twilight. "Oh! Really what is it?" Twilight said with a hint of excitement in her voice, "Now, first out, I don't want you to panic. So I needed you to hear me out." "Now why would I panic," Twilight said, but Sunset just stared right back at her blankly. Twilight blinks in confusion. "WHAT!?" "Need I remind you of when you forgot it was somepony's birthday a few years ago. So, then you woke me up in the middle of the night, dragging me into the store so we could get the last minutes gift, along with supplies for the party for Spike thinking it was his birthday, only to find out that it was not his birthday, but MINE INSTEAD!" Sunset shouted the last part, which caused Twilight's mane to fly backward before resting back on her shoulders. Twilight turns a little pink in the cheeks as she remembers the event a few years with an embarrassed smile. "Oh, right. Hehe, I forgot about that." Twilight said, rubbing her foreleg another the other in embarrassment, "Anyways, Twilight, just hear me out, please." she nods. "Ok, Twilight, I want to help with the supplies runs between Equestria islands," Sunset said with a smile. Twilight smiled back. "Oh, that's wonderful!" Sunset looks back at her in confusion. "It is? I thought for sure you would have a different reaction." "Why would I? It is a wonderful idea that you want to help out those brave ponies." Twilight runs on over to the other side of the room towards a sleeping dragon in his bed. "SPIKE!" she shouts, causing the young dragon to frightfully jump out of bed before falling on the floor. He rubs his head with a claw as he sits up. He would complain to Twilight for the rud awaking, but she cut him off by putting a hoof to his mouth, "Hold that thought, Spike; I needed you to write a letter to the Princess first." The young drake yawns as he gets up rub the sleepiness from his eyes as he gets a paper and quill from a nearby table "Which one?" "What do you… never mind Spike. Just take a letter, please." He nods. "Dear Princess Celestia. I am writing to you today on Sunsets' behalf. She had told me that she wishes to help out with the supply runs between the islands of Equestria. And we wish to seek an audience with you to discuss this further. Your faithful student Twilight Sparkles. Ok, send it, Spike." Spike nodded as he breathed fire onto the scroll, turning it into magical smoke flying away out the window. "Wait, WE! Where did WE come from, Twilight?" Sunset said, pointing her hoof at the mare. "I am the one that wanted to talk to the Princess. What is up with that?" "Oh, for a couple of reasons," Twilight said, smiling. "One, it would be an interesting experience to see those ships, and two, I want to see the princess." *Sigh* "Of course, you would," Sunset said, rubbing her forehead, "But I guess I can't blame you; it has been a while since either one of us has seen her? Right, Spike. Spike?" Sunset said, only to find out that he had gone back to sleep. Sunset then looked at a nearby clock to see that it was an hour past lunchtime. She then looked at Twilight and as they nodded in agreement. Twilight uses her purple magic to pull the blanket away from him, but Spike holds on to his blanket for dear life until his bed is turned upside down by an orange aura and falls on a pillow Sunset moved earlier. "Ok, ok, I am up, girls, sheesh," Spike said, getting up. "Can't a guy get any sleep around here anymore?" "Actually, Spike, you have overslept today and yesterday. I believe you have had more than enough sleep already." Twilight said while looking at a sheet of paper levitating in front of her. "In fact, you have been sleeping more these past few weeks than any other month this year." The silence was her only response to her statement. Confused, Twilight looks back at her friends to see that they are bug-eyed at the moment. "What? Was it something I said?" "Uh Twilight, why do you a scroll of that list when Spike is sleeping and when he is not?" Sunset broke the silence and took the scroll away from Twilight with her magic. "Oh! Mom said I need to make sure that Spike's sleeping and eating habits aren't bad. So that he will grow up nice and healthy." "But don't you think this is a little too much," Sunset said as she looked over the scroll. Before she could reply, Spike burped out some flames from his mouth that condensed into a scroll that he grabbed to open up to read aloud. "Dear Twilight and Sunset. Your meeting request for such a topic surprises me, but not unwelcome. Please head on over to my study as soon as you two can, and I will meet you there. Sincerely your Teacher, Princess Celestia. p.s. Spike can come as well." The two mares looked at each other before Sunset broke the awkward silence. "Well, we better get going." Fifteen minutes later, in Celestia's study, Two mares and a dragon found themselves waiting to see the Princess. Spike is relaxing on a pillow he found and was relaxing peacefully without a care in the world; however, the same cannot be said about the other two in the room. Sunset is pacing back and forth in front of a fidgeting Twilight, trying to calm herself down. "I can't believe this is happening; we haven't had a moment to talk to the Princess in ages." "Twilight, I am not sure I should scowl you for making such a bold move to see the princess or thank you for not thinking about your plan through and getting us here." "Uh, thank you?" At that moment, the door to the study opened to reveal a large white Alicorn mare with a soft blue, green, purple, and pink mane waving in a nonexistent wind with a matching tail. Once her presence was made known in the room, everypony and dragon bowed down to pay their respect to their Princess. "Rise my ponies and dragon." Celestia said, "It is good to see you all again." The two students moved to Celestia for a hug. "It is good to see you, Princess," Twilight said as the hug ended. Then they all moved to take a seat as a maid pony came in the room with a cart of cookies and tea. Spike grabbed some of the cookies and sat back down as the rest of them served themselves some tea after Celestia took her first sip before she started the conversation. "Now then. I believe you two called me here on a matter of the trading routes?" "Yes," Sunset spoke up as she set down her teacup. "I want to help them." "And in what way did you have in mind, my dear Sunset?" "I want to become one of the crew members onboard one of the ships." This caused Twilight to do a spit take away from anypony nearby. Every pony looked towards her as she quickly cleaned up her mess with an embarrassed smile and a laugh before she turned to address Sunset. "A Crewmember?! I thought you wanted to help with scheduling, office management, or even the loading docks. Not going out into the sea!" "Well, what is wrong with being a crewmember Twilight?" Sunset irradiated, "A whole lot of things, Sunset! You can lose your life just being one of them!" "Might I ask why the sudden interest in becoming a crew member on board one of the ships Sunset?" Celestia asked, Sunset takes a deep breath and lets it out, "Everyday ponies risk the lives so that others can still have hope to see another day. And I want to do that." "If that is the case. Why didn't you go to the harbor and apply for the position instead of asking me this then?" "Well, to be honest, I didn't think I would get to talk to you if it weren't for Twilight. And if I do become a crewmember onboard one of the ships, I won't be able to stay here and continue my studies as your student Princess. So, in the end, if this works out and I do get the job. I would have rather told you in person rather than in a letter. I guess I am trying to say that I no longer want to stay here as your student princess." "What!" Twilight exclaimed, "But Sunset! You can't just do that!" "At ease, Twilight, it is ok," Celestia said. "But!" Twilight continued but stood down when Celestia lifted a hoof towards her. Celestia then turned her attention towards the other mare. "Sunset before you pack your bags and leave Canterlot; would you like to hear about a proposal of mine first?" This causes Sunset to pause for a moment. The last time this happened, she became her student. She can only imagine what the Princess has in store for her this time. "What is it, Princess?" "Recently, on the island of Los Pegasus, an important item was discovered, and a ship is scheduled to depart in two days to retrieve it. Perhaps you would like to go on this expedition to get a feel for the seas before you make your final decision?" Sunset thinks about this for a minute and agrees, "Yes, I would like that." She picked up her teacup to drink but paused, "So does that mean I am still your student princess?" "That is for you to decide once you have returned." Celestia smiled as she finished her tea. "Also, I would like Twilight to join you on this expedition." "WHAT!?" Both students said, "Twilight, I want you to oversee this expedition as my student, not as a pony looking for a new career. And the trip alone would benefit your studies." "Oh! Well, if you put it that way. It will be an honor to go with Sunset." A guard pony could be seen outside the room that Celestia noticed. "I am afraid our time is up," Celestia said as she got up from her seat and walked to the door. "If you have any further questions about what to take. Please talk to Captian Shining Armor. Have a good day, my ponies." "Bye!" everypony said in unison as Celestia left the room, closing the door behind her. "Well, that turned out better than I expected," Sunset said as she was packing a suitcase. Twilight was coming into the room with some supplies she took from the closet and setting them on the bed. "Maybe for you. I didn't even predict this outcome would happen from meeting Celestia." Twilight said, looking between two raincoats. Sunset saw what Twilight was doing and sighed. "Twilight, just take both; you can never be sure if you aren't going to need a spare." "Oh! Good idea." Twilight said as she put both in her suitcase. "So, how long will we be gone again, Sunset?" "Hum? I'm not sure, but if we are heading to Los Pegasus, it will probably take a whole week for the entire trip." A low whistle could be heard across the room as the mares turned around to see Spike packing a suitcase. "Sound like we are going to be gone for a while. It's a good thing I am bringing plenty of snacks for the trip." Spike said as he tried to close his small but over stuff suited case and failed. Twilight walks over towards him as he started to use his body weight to close the case before jumping on it. "Uhm, Spike, what are you doing?" Twilight asked, causing him to momentary stop what he was doing before resuming. "Uh, what does it look like I am doing Twilight?" he started to jump again. "I am… getting ready… for the… trip" *Click* *Click* "There! Ok, I am ready to go." He said, standing proudly next to his bag. However, Twilight gives him a sad smile as she shakes her head. "Sorry, not this time Spike." She said as she used her magic to lift his suitcase away from him. "Huh! What, why not Twilight?!" Spike said, shocked by what he had just heard. "Yes, why not Twilight?" Sunset said, joining in on the conversation. Twilight looks at them and realizes that she is now the pony in the middle. A sigh leaves her mouth as her ears fold against her head. "Ok, you two, I am not trying to be the bad pony here. I don't think that the ocean is a safe place for a baby dragon to go to." "Uh? Twilight, you realize that we aren't any better off than he is." Sunset said, "Not to mention that Dragons are one of the few species that can still use their natural gifts out at sea, right." This gave Spike some hope in his eyes of a chance to change Twilight's mind. "Yeah, I can totally help your girls out!" "Spike, listen, we will only be gone for a week. Nothing bad is going..." Twilight was stopped by Sunset putting her hoof in her mouth. "Don't even think about completing that sentence, Sparkles." Twilight looks back at her, confused. "Look, I am not one to be superstitious, but I have seen that anything can happen, no matter how hard you plan for it. There will be a chance for the unexpected to accrue. So, Don't JINX it, got it." Sunset said as she released Twilight. "Ok, I got it. However, I still stand by my statement earlier." Twilight said as she went back to packing. "Oh, come on, Twilight, when is he ever going to get a chance to do something like this again." Twilight remains silent. "You are going to be by his side all the time. And if you still don't feel that it is safe for him after the trip, then we never bring the subject up again." Spike was going to say something, but Sunset cut him off. "And if you don't, he will probably find his way on the ship and come with us anyways." Twilight then turns to look at Spike with a glare. Spike then gives a glare towards Sunset. "Hey, stop putting words in my mouth!" "Don't even try to deny it, Spike. You would."Sunset said, grinning back at him before looking towards Twilight, "Think about it. I am right, aren't I?" Twilight lessened her glare as she took in Sunset's words. "Yes, your right" Twilight then went over to Spike and gave him a playful noogie. "There is nothing I can say to change your mind, Spike?" "Haahahaa noop" "Alright, then, but I need you on your best behavior, Spike, and always listen to what we tell you." "Yes, ma'am!" he said with a salute, Sunset then looked at the clock as she finished packing. "We better get going then. It will take us a day to get to the harbor by train, and then we are off." The others agreed, and they all grabbed their respected suitcases as they left the room, closing the door behind them. Unknown to them, a lamp on a table was no longer there, and a window was closed quietly.