//------------------------------// // Episode Six; Look Before You Sleep // Story: The Heroes of Equestria; Season One // by TechDragonX //------------------------------// [Ponyville Park, April 25th...] Several months after the trip to the Equestrian Fair, Rarity and Applejack are helping the other citizens of Ponyville tending to the trees in Ponyville Park for the upcoming storm. “Eight months without any rain, EIGHT MONTHS!” screamed a earth pony with a pale golden fur color and a orange mane and tail, with three carrots for her cutie mark. “Now, Carrot Top, I’m a farmer too, but I’m sure the emergency pegasi weather team has it covered with this storm,” Applejack said trying to calm down the almost hysterical carrot farmer now known as Carrot Top. Rarity was using her magic and some shears to trim designs on the tree branches, that was until Applejack used her lasso to remove them from the tree. “Why did you do that?” Rarity asked slightly annoyed. “We’re supposed to be removing any loose branches and sticks, not designing them,” Applejack scolded. “Well at least leave them intact,” Rarity said slightly upset, and levitated the removed branches, taking them with her. [Two Hours Later...] Ponyville Park’s trees were now finished and won’t cause any damage from the influence of the storm winds. Applejack was admiring their hoof work. Rarity was casting spells on the designed tree branches, which preserves them and also makes them small enough for them to be placed inside a house. Suddenly and without warning it started pouring down rain. Rarity ducked under the outside table, and landed in some mud, but ended up being covered in mud when Applejack slid where she was at. “Great now I’m completely dirty, thanks a ton Applejack,” Rarity said completely upset. “Heh, sorry ‘bout that Rarity,” Applejack said giving her apology. “We should get out of the rain,” Applejack said spotting Twilight’s House. Rarity agreed and they both made a dash towards their goal. Luckily for them Twilight opened the door allowing them to safely enter. “Hi girls,” Twilight greeted. “Hello darling,” Rarity said wiping her hoofs, before hugging Twilight. “Howdy,” Applejack said shaking off her body getting muddy water everywhere. Twilight quickly jumped into action and casted a evaporation spell which evaporated all the water in the air around her, her books, and her friends. Upon noticing that she was dry, Applejack looked outside. “That sure is a mighty storm,” Applejack said, then she realized something, “Are you sure it’s safe to be inside and tree during this storm?” asked Applejack. “It is if you have a magical lightning rod, so if you want, you can spend the night at my place,” Twilight said. “Thank You darling, I cannot go another second covered in mud or being wet,” Rarity said. Applejack rolled her eyes at Rarity’s statement, and noticed someone was missing. “Twilight, where’s Spike?” asked Applejack. “He is on a royal mission in Canterlot with Dawn” responded Twilight, “Its just us three.” Twilight then levitated a book off of a bookshelf and hovered it towards Rarity and Applejack, inviting them to read the cover. “Slumber Party 101; How To Throw Your First Slumber Party” they both read. “See girls, this is going to be my first Slumber Party!” Twilight exclaimed. Then out of nowhere Pinkie popped out from Applejack’s hat. “I heard the word party,” Pinkie said. Everypony looked at Pinkie in shock as she proceeded to pull a entire snack cart from her mane. “Pinkie, how did you get here?” Twilight asked. “I just popped out of Applejack’s hat,” Pinkie said. Twilight decided not to press the matter as Applejack and Rarity were talking about the book. “Let’s put our differences behind us for Twilight’s sake, truce?” Applejack asked. “Truce,” replied Rarity. Rarity then opened the book and the first activity of the night was to give each other a makeover. Applejack looked upset that Rarity didn’t want to be covered in mud, but they were all putting this mud on their faces. She was about to say something then Rarity put cucumbers over her eyes. “Cucumbers, don’t mind if I eat these,” Applejack said. Before any of the others could tell her, Applejack ate both of the Cucumbers, she then fell on the floor groaning in pain and her fur was changing colors from red, blue, yellow, and back to orange. Twilight picked up the package with her magic and read the warning on the side. Warning; DO NOT EAT Causes primary color change in Earth Ponies, Wing Lock in Pegasus Ponies, and Magic Freezing in Unicorn Ponies. “What just happened to me?” Applejack asked. “What you just recently ate was a Home Spa Cucumber,” Rarity said. “Well, how about we do the next activity, telling ghost stories,” Pinkie said read the book. Without warning Twilight turned out the lights, lit the fire place, and levitated Pinkie’s snack cart to the group. This was followed up with a CLAP of thunder and a flash of lightning, spooking everypony in the room. “Eww, I just touched something wet!” Rarity exclaimed leaping into the fire light. “What you touched was me, that window got blown open and mud flew in,” Applejack said. Twilight cut on the lights in order for them to see better. She closed and locked all the windows and directed Rarity and Applejack to the bathroom, so they could wash off the mud. [15 Minuets Later...] “Rarity, you done in there?” Applejack asked, “I need to wash up too.” “Applejack, darling a mare must have clean and soft fur,” Rarity responded through the bathroom door. Applejack grumbled and walked outside to wash the mud off using the rain. She later went back inside and was told it was her turn to tell a ghost story. Applejack sat down and began her tale. “Back in the founding days of Ponyville, there was a mare from the capital city who came to visit her brother,” Applejack began, “This mare was a unicorn mare, with a long golden yellow mane and tail, beautiful amber fur, and a magnet for her cutie mark...” “Oh, I have a better one,” Rarity interjected. Applejack glared at Rarity and was being glared right back too. As if detecting negative emotions everypony’s CHWs shot out a cube which sucked Rarity and Applejack into itself, then disappeared. “Applejack, Rarity?!” Twilight and Pinkie cried out in surprise at their friends disappearing. “Hello?” Luna said. “Luna, what happened to Applejack and Rarity?” Twilight asked. “Yea where did they go?” asked Pinkie. “Calm down, they are safe,” Luna said, “The Elements of Harmony felt like the bearers of Honesty and Generosity should work out their differences in order for them to return here.” “Oh, well that’s a bummer, we were in the middle of telling ghost stories,” Pinkie said sadly. “Ghost stories, I got tons,” Luna said proudly, “Put your CHW on the table Pinkie.” Pinkie took off her CHW and placed it on the table as instructed to. Luna’s holographic form then increased in size as she got into a siting position, Twilight sat down and used her magic to turn off all the lights and lit the fire place. “Back in ancient Equestria,” Luna began... [Magical Cubes...] Applejack and Rarity finally opened their eyes and saw a wall with three doors, each door was made from a light blue crystal material and each had a different symbol. The first down had a candle symbol, the center door a crown, and the last had four gems. “Where are we?” Rarity asked. “You’re inside the Cube of Companionship,” said a voice, that sounded like it belonged to a stallion. “Now that we know where we are how do we leave?” Applejack asked. “Who or what are you?” Rarity asked. “I’m the previous bearer of the Element of Courage, or his spirit,” the voice said stepping into the light. Where did the lights come from?Applejack thought. “My name is Cobolt Star, Royal Knight,” the voice now known as Cobolt. His fur was a lighter variation of the dark gray of Cobalt’s fur, his mane and tail although translucent was a golden yellow, which allowed the tip of his horn to show, his cutie mark was a bright blue star with a dark blue lightning bolt in the center. "Wait, you're Cobalt's ancestor," Rarity said. "Ah, so my daughter did have some kids, I'll take it that Cobalt is my great-great-great grandson," Cobolt said. "So how do we get out of here?" Applejack asked. "Pick a door and solve the trials, it's important that the both of you work together," Cobolt said disappearing. Applejack and Rarity both looked at each other and turned towards the doors. Unfortunately they ended up smacking into the crown door and landed inside of the room behind the door, which closed after they fell in. The room they had fell into contained a pedestal which housed a silver crown with magenta gems decorating the crown. The room also contained three statues of alicorns. "Woah, this must be the first trial," Rarity said looking at the statues. "Hey, come look at this," Applejack said waving Rarity over to her. I may not exist yet, but my crown holds my Harmonic Power, find me and you shall pass. "So these three are princesses?" asked Rarity "I guess, try to look for the odd one out..." Applejack replied before she started walking towards the center alicorn statue. Rarity noticed Applejack's growing silence and saw what she was looking at. The center statue was Twilight, but as an alicorn. "This must be the statue!" Rarity excitedly said levitating the crown towards them. Rarity and Applejack both placed the crown on top of alicorn Twilight's head, which caused the statue to move allowing the two mares to enter the next room. [Twilight's House...] After having been told that their friends were going to be alright, Twilight and Pinkie were preparing some snacks for Applejack and Rarity safe return. Suddenly the lights flashed off the back on as a bolt of lightning hit the tree. When the lights came back on Twilight was face to face with Robomare Moon. "Nice to see you again, Twilight," Robomare Moon said. "What do you want?" Twilight asked. "I want your dragon friend," responded Robomare Moon. "Spike isn't here," Twilight said trying to send out an alert to any available members of Team Harmony. "But I am!" Pinkie said as she unleashed a burst of confetti from her hoofs. Robomare Moon flew into one of Twilight's bookshelfs with a solid THUD before crashing into the floor. Twilight rolled over towards Pinkie and summon her Harmony Armor. "I'm not done with you two!" Robomare Moon as she charged up her horn for an attack. Twilight's Harmony Armor was still golden, but in a mage robe like fashion, which included a mage's hat. Twilight's Harmony Armor also had a six pointed magenta star outline, and her staff was replaced with a hovering crystal. "This is what Luna added to the CHWs?" asked Twilight. "No time for questions," Pinkie said avoiding Robomare Moon's ray blast. The crystal that was hovering beside Twilight flew into the ceiling enchanting the room. When the crystal returned Twilight, Pinkie, and Robomare Moon were transported to an area with a mystical feeling to it. "Welcome to the Battle Zone," Luna said, "This way you don't destroy something." "Ok, Luna," Pinkie said, before launching a party popper at Robomare Moon. "Magic!" Twilight called out as the crystal fired off a magenta beam at Robomare Moon. "Laughter!" Pinkie called following Twilight's lead, which caused Robomare Moon to retreat. "I will return!" Robomare Moon yelled as she disappeared. Twilight and Pinkie returned their Harmony Armor to their respective CHWs, as the room slowly faded away. Twilight then went to get her notebook and quill. [Applejack and Rarity...] "Welcome to your 2nd trial," Cobolt said as he faded away. "Wait, do you have anything you want to give to your descendent?" Rarity asked. "Give him this, he'll know what to do with it," Cobolt said summoning a yellow star shard and levitating it towards Rarity. "Thanks," Rarity said, as they turned to face their next trial. This room unlike the last only housed two maps a crystal map with all of Equestria displayed as if it was a hologram, and a map that displays a detailed map of the Everfree Forest. "Wow, this is cool," Applejack said in awe. "I found the riddle, darling," Rarity said. I'll show you where you need to go. But I lead you to your next adventure instead of your destination. Touch your starting location, for more information. "Well that sounds a bit to easy for a trial," Rarity said. "Maybe, we're not supposed to touch Ponyville, but something else," Applejack suggested. The duo looked at both maps and noticed that the Castle was only visible on the second map, and pressed down on it. With that both maps fired off a beam of light which allowed for the next door to appear. "Looks like we're going on to the next trial," Rarity said walking into the door. "See we can put of differences behind us," Applejack said following behind Rarity. Suddenly Cobolt materialized in front of Rarity, causing her to fall forwards on her face. "Oh, sorry about that, Rarity," Cobolt said as he helped her up. "It's alright," Rarity said. "Well this is your last trial, good luck!" Cobolt said vanishing from sight. The last room was vastly different from the previous two, It was covered in mud, which made Rarity jump back in horror. The only way out was to walk through the mud to reach the totem on the other side. Without warning Applejack tossed Rarity on her back and ran full force which covered Rarity in mud. Unfortunately a creature made of mud blocked their path sent them flying with its sudden appearance. "Applejack!" Rarity called out towards her missing friend. Rarity then ran over to Applejack's hat, only to find her unconscious from her run in with the wall, which had another riddle on it. Your biggest fear is being unclean. But to defeat your dirty opponent you must start cleansing your gear. Before she could react Rarity was knocked into another wall by the mud monster. Getting up she activated her Harmony Armor. Instead of being golden it was a golden purple with a light purple diamond detailing. The armor was lighter and looked like there was a skirt attached. Rarity's cannon were replaced with two bracelets one on each hoof and a magic enhancement ring on her horn. "Bring it," Rarity said taunting the monster to come closer. The monster fell for Rarity's taunt and came charging at her, which she dodged dodged by teleporting around monster's body. "Separation Cannon!" Rarity called out as she fired off a beam of light blue magic towards the monster, effectively splitting the monster into water and dirt. The monster disassembled itself with a SPLAT, which after drying up the water, Rarity grabbed the totem in the magic and both her and Applejack were transported back to Twilight's house. [Twilight's House...] Twilight was awoken by a flash of light and were met with the return of her friends. She ushered them over to her desk and showed them her designs for their new base. "Twilight, we should get some sleep, look at the time," Applejack said. Twilight looked at her clock an saw that it was 11:50 PM. "Your right, we should get some sleep," Twilight said summoning sleeping bags and pillows along with a sleeping Pinkie. "Good Night, girls," Applejack said as the fell asleep.