//------------------------------// // Field Trip // Story: The Crass Menagerie // by Coyotek4 //------------------------------// “STAIRS!!! SO MANY STAIRS!” Starlight glances back at her field-trip attendees, confused as to why everyone else is getting a chuckle over Silverstream’s observation. She shrugs and continues leading Sandbar and Yona down the long flight of stairs towards the valley below, with the rest of the party fluttering down at a similar pace. “How come seapony not make big deal over stairs in Friendship School?” “Oh I do, but there’s just so much other stuff to get excited about at the school, like walls and floors and ceilings, and everything just being all warm and dry!” Silverstream’s response elicits a satisfied ‘hm’ from Yona. “I still can’t believe we missed these stairs the last time we were here,” Smolder admits. “The Castle of the Two Sisters is right there, for Torch’s sake.” “It’s easy to miss this valley if you’re not looking for it,” Ocellus replies. “We were more focused on the castle, and didn’t even know about the importance of this place.” She smiles sheepishly before adding, “… also, I hadn’t read far enough ahead yet.” “After what we just went through, I’m sold on the importance now,” Gallus wryly comments. “I still find it hard to believe that a tree could do all that.” “It’s not just any tree,” Starlight points out as she and the flightless students reach ground level. “It’s the Tree of Harmony. The very tree sowed by the Pillars themselves.” “And it contains the Elements of Harmony, right?” Sandbar asks. “Indeed … the very elements that your professors wielded to defeat both Nightmare Moon and Discord.” “And counselor pony, right?” Yona’s quip causes Starlight to frown briefly, but she quickly brushes off the comment as a smile returns. “Actually, the Elements had nothing to do with my, *ahem*, reclamation. But either way, I do have your headmare to thank for helping me become the pony I am today.” Smolder adds to the conversation: “Is it ponykind’s goal to make friends out of every enemy to Equestria?” Starlight chuckles. “It would be nice if that were true. I did make a pitch to Chrysalis not too long ago, but to no avail. And we still have a number of powerful foes now locked away in Tartarus … including your former classmate.” Her comment causes the others to pause in reflection over what they knew of Cozy Glow. “To think, someone that young and innocent could become allied with someone as evil as Tirek,” Sandbar muses. “If she could end up in Tartarus, anyone could.” “Even Yona?” the yak innocently asks. “If Chancellor Neighsay had his way,” Gallus plainly responds. “Or at least, before we ended up saving Equestria.” “Funny how saving the world gets everyone to think differently of you,” Smolder replies, causing the others to laugh. “We won’t be long,” Starlight states as the laughter dies down, “but I want you all to enter the cave and take in the sight of the Tree of Harmony. Let it inspire you to push beyond your perceived limits. Let it remind you of what we are all capable of, regardless of preconceived notions.” Halfway across the field, the students soon make out a cave in the distance. Silverstream’s wings flutter in anticipation; she turns to Starlight, who closes her eyes and nods. The hippogriff turns back and takes off towards the cave entrance, the others instinctively giving chase. “Enjoy!” Starlight calls out. The lush green of the grassy field abruptly gives way to the cold, grey cavern floor. “There it is!” Silverstream exclaims upon entering. Moments later, the six stand in awe of the well-regarded Tree of Harmony. Each stares up in stunned silence at the majesty of the tree, eyeing each of the Elements embedded within its branches. “We have to be the first non-ponies to ever get this close,” Ocellus remarks, her focus on the tree as unwavering as that of her friends. “It’s remarkable,” Smolder adds simply. “Yona awed.” “You and me both,” Sandbar replies. “I’m …” Silverstream’s voice trails off. “… speechless?” Gallus asks. Silverstream utters a brief ‘uh-huh’ in response. … After sufficient time for quiet reflection, the six begin to shift their focus from the tree to each other. “Anyone ever told me a year ago that I’d wake up early one morning just to stare in amazement at a tree, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Gallus admits. “I’m still having a hard time believing it,” Smolder adds. “I mean, I could have seen staring at a large hoard of gemstones as something important, but not a tree.” “Just part of the wonder of the world we live in, I guess,” Sandbar states. “We should probably head back soon.” The others nod and turn toward the cave’s entrance. As they turn, something catches Gallus’s eye. “Waitaminute … what’s that?” “What’s what?” Ocellus asks as she follows the griffin’s gaze toward something lying on the ground. “What is that?” The students all close in on what appear to them to be brightly-colored miniature logs. As they get closer, they discern six pieces of wood, each bearing a color identical to that of their headmare or one of their professors. Smolder turns to Ocellus. “Do our textbooks mention anything about the Tree of Harmony shedding wood?” “Not that I’m aware of,” the changeling replies. “And even so, the bark isn’t colored like that. I don’t think these logs came from the Tree.” “Well there aren’t any other trees in here,” Gallus points out as he reaches down and picks up the purple-colored piece to inspect it. “Anyone else starting to think Counselor Starlight brought us here to discover these? You think this belongs to Headmare Twilight?” Ocellus follows suit, grabbing the white piece. “If it does, then this piece must belong to Rarity.” “Ooh, I want Pinkie Pie’s log!” Silverstream eagerly asserts as she grabs the pink piece. “Yona want log related to Rockhoof.” The yak ponders for a moment. “That mean Yona want log related to Applejack,” she concludes as she picks up the orange piece. Sandbar turns to Smolder. “Dragon’s choice.” Smolder shrugs and opts for the blue piece, leaving the yellow piece for the lone pony among them. Each student peruses the minilog taken from the pile, their minds searching for a rational explanation. An instant later, each student freezes in place, their eyes wide open and vacant. A dim glow begins to emanate from each piece as the colors quickly fade to a dull grey. Moments later, the logs wither within the hooves and claws of the six, each quickly crumbling apart and turning to dust. As the last shard disappears to nothingness, the six come out of their induced trance. “What just happened?” Ocellus asks the group. The students turn to one another, each seeking answers from another only to be met with shared looks of confusion. “We’re wasting time just standing around,” Gallus finally declares as he turns towards the cave’s entrance and trudges out, the rest of the party in tow.