//------------------------------// // Disequilibrium part 1: the Canterlot vault // Story: Disequilibrium // by Jera_Sparkz //------------------------------// Day 138 It's hard to think about life like it used to be; foals would play in a world full of harmony and friendship. Friends would be their for each other through thick and thin - they may have some rough times but they'd always be friends again soon. pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies - everypony - would live together in peace and harmony. But now, since almost everypony was infected with greed, distain, malice, untrustworthiness...ever since they were infected with disharmony, Equestria has become nothing more than a post-apocalypticesque barren waste land. The ponies no longer take care of the world that is cracked and dry; towns are abandoned, animals are left helpless and the Everfree Forrest takes up just over half of Equestria. Outside it's nothing but dull ghost towns, brown hues and the dust that's dragged through the air. But right now - since 27 days ago - me and princess Celestia have been inside the Elements of harmony vault in the Canterlot castle. I'll admit, spending 135 days with the princess has been interesting and I've picked up on a few words. Before I started writing this journal I wasn't much of a writer, though it has improved my literature dexterity. It wasn't just me and the princess though, and yesterday was just as difficult as all the other times it's happened. Every day me and my five friends - Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Twilight - had been living in fear of us being next. One by one HE would capture us while we least expected it. Fluttershy was the first to go, only on the third day. He had taken them away from us and every time, the horror in their face, the powerlessness of their futile attempts, even their incapability to fathom what was happening, always struck me straight in the heart. It hurt to see them taken Away, screaming, begging and pleading for... Rainbowdash dropped the quill that she used as her bottom lip began to tremble and her eyes were surrounded by rushing tears streaming down her face; past the grimace that locked itself into her. Impaling her spirit and imbuing her with pain. "I just want my friends back." She laid down on her chest as she thought about her friends as they were taken away from her, about how each time they lost someone; it hurt a little more, and each time they lost someone... She lost a part of herself. " I just want my old life back." she grasped a heart shaped dark blue necklace around her neck. She opened it to look at the picture inside "I have to find you." Celestia noticed the dismal mood strike as she turned to Rainbowdash. She stood up and started to walk towards her, slowly any gently, she sat down. She looked over her shoulder to read the most recent paragraph Rainbowdash had written in the journal and as she did, she let out a light gasp. Not only had they lost five of the six elements of harmony bearers, but also they lost four of the five princesses - Luna, Twilight, Cadence and Flurry heart. She wrapped a wing around Rainbowdash in an attempt to comfort her. she flinched at first but didn't retaliate. Celestia had to keep up her confident demeanour, she has to stay strong even just for Rainbowdash. "I understand how you feel." She spoke seriously and almost monotonous "but I know that we will get them out somehow," she had a light, genuine, small smile as she stood back up "we will free them from imprisonment, and Equestria will no longer be enslaved by-" "But what if I can't," Dash spoke quickly and quietly, devoid of almost all emotion but doubt, yet completely sincerity. "We will. Trust me." She replied whilst bringing dash's face-up "I know we will." "But how do you know that?" "I don't, but I do know that you'll never do it, if you don't believe you can." Rainbowdash quickly took her head off of Celestia's hoof, looking her directly in the eyes. "But," "Rainbowdash, just trust me." She intervened as the two stared at each other for a prolonged amount of time. "Ok..." She might be stubborn but she'll never match Celestia's stubbornness, so she just gave up on the conversation. "Come on now," she moved towards a small self of candles and lit a match. "Where's that burning confidence you usually have." Celestia lit the wick of a new, makeshift, candle and threw the old one toq the rubbish corner of the room. "It's gone!" Dash began to raise her voice "just like my friends, he took it away from me." Celestia gyrated to her, remaining calm. "Well, you need to get back your confidence, just like we're going to get your friends back. Everpony, back." She turned back around and placed a saddle bag on herself. "Listen Rainbowdash, we're currently running low on food supplies so I'm going out to see what I can find." "Wow wow wow! Alone?" Dash's tone seemed different from before, more concerned and anxious. "Yes, I can not risk us both to be subdued, so I must entertain the thought that if I am to be captured, then you must still be fine, like I said, we can't both be captured." "All due respect ma'am, if you get captured and I don't, I'll probably have a full-scale search going for everyone. your currently the only reason that I'm not out-doing my own limits right now." Rainbowdash inhaled a deep breath of air and stood up straight, facing the princess "besides I'd prefer to stop you getting caught in the first place." Celestia raised an eyebrow. "And you think if me - the alicorn Goddess of the sun can't beat them, that you can?" Celestia giggled to herself as Rainbowdash was quick to respond with, "This is me were talking about, of course I can." Celestia smiled to herself. "I know you can." She edged her head in the direction of the door, advocating dash to join her. Rainbowdash didn't waste a second picking up a purple scarf and her saddle bag, which she emptied for space. She flew next to the princess as she ignited her horn unleashing the lock and allowing the vault door to open. And they stepped through.