//------------------------------// // 1. Getting ready for the finals // Story: The Elements of Disharmony: A Queen's Revenge // by Italibaso //------------------------------// It was total chaos in the halls of the School of Friendship. Students kept bumping into each other by accident, their school bags were packed with more books than necessary and some even had trouble staying awake because of all the studying they've been doing every night. Inside these crowded halls, six students were walking next to each other, trying their hardest to make their way through all the chaos. A light green pony named Sandbar, a light blue, reformed changeling named Ocellus, a blue griffon named Gallus, a light pink hippogriff named Silverstream, a yak named Yona and an orange dragon named Smolder. The six of them carried their school books with them, all while making sure not to run into anypony who nearly bumped into them. ''Are you sure there will still be enough room for us in the library, Ocellus?'' Smolder asked while looking at the many tired students walking around. ''I hope so,'' Ocellus answered while watching some students yawning with bags under their eyes, "We're gonna have to make every day count if we want to be ready for the finals.'' ''I can't wait to see what our teachers have in store for us!'' Silverstream said excitedly with a big smile on her face, "I bet it's going to be super fun!" Gallus smiled while rolling his eyes at the excited hippogriff, ''I just hope they will stop giving us homework after we pass.'' ''Homework, no homework,'' Yona said, ''Yona not care, as long as Yona is with best friends in Equestria.'' Sandbar was the first one to reach the door that led to the Library. He placed his hoof on the door knob and slowly pushed the right side of the door open. Silverstream was already about to walk into the Library, but she stopped as soon as her eyes could see what was on the other side. Her friends soon joined her and together they all looked with wide eyes at the state of the library. The place was even more crowded than the halls. All the tables and couches were already taken by other students, who kept their faces only millimeters away from their books. At every bookshelf on the bottom and the top floor were at least one or two students searching for books to read. ''Do you all think maybe we should find a less crowded place?'' Gallus asked as he kept looking with widened eyes. ''I'm gonna say.......yes.'' Sandbar answered him. They all sighed, exited the library and walked away from the open door with disappointed looks on their faces. ''Hey, don't worry,'' Silverstream said, trying to sound positive, ''We can always try again tomorrow.'' "I doubt that the library will be any less crowded the closer we get to the finals." Smolder said. ''Maybe we can go back to one of our living quarters and study there?'' Sandbar suggested to his friends. ''I'm not sure if that place is big enough for all six of us." Ocellus said. ''How about the Castle of the Two Sisters?'' Gallus suggested. ''Now there's an idea I can get behind,'' Smolder said with an optimistic smile, ''We could have the place all to ourselves.'' ''Do you think our teachers will be okay with that?'' Ocellus asked with a worried look on her face. ''Of course they will,'' Gallus said confidently, ''If we can save Equestria from losing all of it's magic, then surely one little trip to a castle should be no big deal, right?'' ''But what if we run into those pukwudgies again?'' Sandbar asked. ''We've become alot more experienced since then,'' Gallus reassured him, ''We can handle them now.'' ''I still feel like we should at least let them know,'' Ocellus said, ''Just in case something might go wrong.'' ''Relax,'' Gallus said with a confident smile, ''What's the worst that could-'' Suddenly somepony came from around the corner and ran into Gallus with full force, knocking him back and causing all of his books to fly out of his arms. ''Gallus!'' Smolder and the others all shouted at the same time. Gallus's friends all quickly went to check on him. Smolder held his upper body in her arms while Silverstream, Yona, Ocellus and Sandbar all looked concerned at their friend. It didn't take long before they saw the blue griffin slowly opening his eyes. ''Are you okay?'' Sandbar asked him. Gallus rubbed his head, ''Yeah, I'm fine.'' He said before standing back up. His friends turned their attention over to the pony who ran into Gallus and saw that it was none other then their guidance counselor, Starlight Glimmer. But she wasn't alone, next to her on the floor layed another unicorn. She was about the same size as Sandbar, the color of her fur was light green, she had a semi-long, frizzy mane that was a mix of light and normal brown. And on her flank was a cutie mark that seemed to represent a ladybug. ''Counselor Pony okay?'' Yona asked while looking over to Starlight. A few seconds later, Starlight opened her eyes, stood up and quickly shook her head back and forth. ''Ow, that hurt.'' Starlight said while rubbing the side of her head. She looked around and quickly noticed that she had caught the attention of the students that were passing by. Starlight let out a nervous chuckle, ''Don't worry, everypony,'' She said with an awkward smile. ''Your guidance counselor is doing just fine.'' The students all smiled at their guidance counselor and continued walking to their next classes. After most of them were gone, Starlight looked back at Gallus and his friends. ''I'm so sorry, Gallus.'' Starlight said while looking guilty, "I should really watch where I'm going next time." ''It's fine, Counselor Starlight,'' Gallus said before Ocellus gave him his school books back, ''But why are you in such a hurry?'' ''And who is that pony with the funny mane?'' Silverstream asked as she pointed at the pony that was still laying on the floor close to Starlight. ''I don't know,'' Starlight said, ''But I'm not sure if she's doing well. I found her laying at the entrance of the school and I was about to take her to my office. That's why I was in such a hurry and-'' ''Hello?'' Somepony said in a very soft voice. They all looked over at the little pony, who had already woken up and was standing close to Starlight with a confused look on her face. ''Are you alright?'' Starlight asked her. The young pony stayed quiet for a moment before she nodded. ''Good,'' Starlight said before reaching out her hoof to the young pony, ''Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Starlight Glimmer, I'm the guidance counselor of this school.'' The young pony stood there, looking doubtful at Starlight's hoof that was only a few inches away from her face. She eventually reached out and slowly shook her hoof with Starlight's. ''It's uh....nice to meet you, Starlight Glimmer.'' The young pony said, sounding like she had trouble getting the words out of her mouth. ''And what's your name?'' Starlight asked while giving her a warm smile. ''My name...is uh....Cosette.'' The young pony answered nervously. ''It's nice to meet you too, Cosette.'' Starlight said. Cosette gave her an awkward looking smile before she stopped shaking her hoof with Starlight's. ''How did you end up in front of our school?'' Starlight asked her. "I came here to meet Princess Twilight and her friends,'' Cosette said with an seemingly innocent smile on her face, ''But I must have fallen asleep while I was waiting for the school to open." ''Why do you want to see them?'' Starlight asked curiously. ''Well...It's just that I'm a really big fan of them,'' Cosette explained while sounding a bit nervous, "And I've always wanted to meet them myself." Smolder looked over at Sandbar, ''Now who does that sound like?'' She asked with a smug grin on her face, to which Sandbar couldn't help but chuckle. ''Oh, I see,'' Starlight said, ''Sorry, but I'm afraid they got their hooves full with the finals right now.'' ''Oh....'' Cosette said with a dissapointed tone in her voice, ''And just when I was really looking forward to finally meeting them.'' She sighed while having a very sad look on her face. ''Hey, it's okay,'' Starlight reassured the sad looking pony, ''You can stay with me in my office until they're available if you-'' ''NO!!'' Cosette suddenly said out loud. Starlight, Gallus and his friends all stared at Cosette with surprised looks on their faces. ''Why not?'' Starlight asked, still slighty taken aback by Cosette's reaction. Cosette quickly regained her composure, ''I uh...I don't want to distract you from your job.'' She said, talking again in a calm and soft voice. ''Pfft, don't worry about that,'' Starlight said confidently, ''I got plenty of time to-'' ''Does the line to Starlight's office seriously start all the way here?!'' Starlight heard somepony saying in a frustrated tone. She turned around and saw a long line of students standing in the hallway, all of them looking either bored or irritated. Starlight looked back at Cosette and let out a nervous chuckle, ''I need to remember to put a break sign on my door next time.'' ''So when can I talk to Princess Twilight and her friends?'' Cosette asked Starlight kindly. ''Probably in a few hours.'' Starlight answered. Cosette sighed, ''I see.'' She said while sounding dissapointed. ''Maybe you can hang with us until then.'' Sandbar suddenly suggested. ''Really?'' Cosette asked him while sounding slighty confused. 'Sure," Sandbar answered casually, 'We don't have any classes today, so we got all the time in the world.'' ''Thank you," Cosette answered with an innocent smile, "That's very kind of you.'' "Alright then, I'll see you in a few hours," Starlight said to Cosette, ''Now if you'll excuse me, I better go decrease the line in front of my office.'' Sandbar and his friends watched as Starlight lit up her horn and closed her eyes before she disappeared in a flash of blue light. Once the unicorn was gone, they turned their attention back to Cosette, who was still standing there looking very puzzled. ''Oh, that's right,'' Sandbar said, ''We should probably introduce ourselves first.'' ''Ooohh! Roll call time!'' Silverstream said excitedly. ''I'll go first,'' Sandbar said to Cosette, ''I'm Sandbar.'' ''I'm Ocellus.'' The blue changeling said with a shy smile. ''Yona!'' The small yak said with a happy smile. ''Name's Smolder.'' The orange dragon said while giving Cosette a thumbs up. ''I'm Gallus.'' The blue griffin said. ''And I'm Silverstream!'' The young hippogriff said to the little green pony with a bright smile. ''It's uh, nice to meet you all.'' Cosette said nervously. ''Alright, roll call is over,'' Gallus said, ''Can we head to the Castle of the Two Sisters now?'' ''The what?'' Cosette asked. ''The Castle of the Two Sisters,'' Ocellus repeated, ''It used to be the home of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna over a thousand years ago. But the place kinda got left behind after their confrontation.'' ''What is in that castle?'' Cosette asked with an intrigued look on her face. ''Lots of things according to Headmare Twilight,'' Sandbar answered, ''Like a giant library. And even many secret rooms and passages.'' Cosette's eyes widened, ''Did you say giant library?'' Silverstream nodded, ''Probably ten times bigger than the one in this school. Amazing, right?!'' ''Well if that's the case, then I'm coming too.'' Cosette said happily. ''Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!'' Gallus said to his friends with great enthusiasm. ''Don't forget that we have to be back in time for Cosette, okay?'' Ocellus said to Gallus with a concerned look. ''I know, Ocellus,'' Gallus said confidently, ''Stop worrying so much, we'll be fine.'' Ocellus sighed, ''Okay, sorry.'' ''Um, are we going or what?'' Cosette asked, seemingly ignoring Ocellus's reaction. ''Oh, right. Let's go, everyone.'' Gallus said. They all made their way to the entrance of the school. Cosette kept her distance a little bit as she followed them. After taking the safest route through the Everfree Forest they could think of, the bridge that hung above the giant ravine close to the Castle of the Two Sisters was finally in their sight. Cosette watched the castle with a confused look on her face as she and the others got closer to the ravine. It was laying mostly in ruins and even the roof was completely gone. It looked as if it wasn't even half-finished. They walked out of the forest before Cosette stopped right in front of the bridge. ''That's the castle?'' Cosette asked, sounding very unimpressed, ''It looks kinda....messy.'' ''Well, It is over a thousand years old.'' Smolder said. ''Hey guys,'' Gallus said, who was already walking over the bridge, ''Are you coming or what?!'' Gallus's friends all followed him across the bridge, which quickly started shaking more and more with each step they took. While making their way across, Cosette got distracted by something sparkly when she looked down into the ravine. It looked like some kind of crystal tree with five brances attached to it. Cosette eagerly kept her eyes glued to the shining tree until she finally reached the end of the bridge. Cosette eventually reached the entrance of the castle and entered through the broken door. She could already see Ocellus and the others waiting for her in the main hall. ''What took you so long?'' Gallus asked. ''I uh.....get nervous when walking over a bridge.'' Cosette answered as she walked over to the six creatures. ''Why didn't you tell us?'' Sandbar asked, ''We could have helped you.'' ''It's fine,'' Cosette quickly responded, ''Let's just keep going.'' ''I remember the way to the library, follow me.'' Ocellus said. She flew over to the flight of stairs at the end of the main hall. Her friends and Cosette quickly followed her up the steps. As Ocellus led her friends through a hallway, she noticed a familiar open door on the left side in the distance. ''There it is!'' Ocellus said as she quickly flew over to the open door. Her friends soon joined her and looked on the other side. ''Now this is more like it.'' Gallus said. He and his friends all entered the gigantic library, looking at the many tall, book filled shelves that surrounded them. ''This place perfect for studying!'' Yona said. ''I agree. Now we can definitely prepare ourselves for the finals.'' Sandbar said. ''We are totally gonna get A pluses!'' Silverstream said in excitement. ''And you actually had your doubts about going here.'' Gallus said to Ocellus with a smug look on his face. Ocellus looked down at the ground somewhat somberly. Everyone except for Cosette took a seat at one of the wooden tables in the middle of the library. They placed their school books on the wooden board and were about to start reading in deep concentration. ''I'm gonna take a look around the Library, if that's okay.'' Cosette said to the others. ''Sure. Just be back in time, okay?'' Ocellus said. ''I will!'' Cosette said with a happy smile before she walked further into the library, ''Good luck with studying!'' For the next hour, Ocellus and her friends were all able to study for the finals in peace. Eventually they realized it was time for them to leave. They all started packing their school books in their bags. ''Say, what are you all going to do after we finish school?'' Sandbar asked while still packing his books. ''I'm just gonna head back home, I guess,'' Smolder answered, ''How about you, Yona?'' ''Yona gonna tell Yakyakistan about how great School of Friendship is.'' Yona answered happily ''Me too!'' Silverstream said, ''I can't wait to tell my family about everything that I've learned!'' ''Well, I'm just happy I got to learn so much about friendship from the six most amazing ponies in Equestria,'' Sandbar said, ''And from my five best friends, of course.'' ''So am I,'' Ocellus added before looking over at Gallus, ''What about you, Gallus?'' Gallus waited awhile before answering, ''To be honest, I just wanna stay with-'' Before Gallus could finish, a loud, high-pitched scream started echoing throughout one of the parts in the library. ''That sounds like Cosette!'' Sandbar said with a surprised look. "Come on!" Smolder quickly said to the others. They all ran off to where they heard the scream and ended up in a small, round shaped room, where all of the walls were filled with books. ''I could have sworn I heard her scream coming from here.'' Smolder said as she looked around the room. They all started searching around the room for clues before they noticed a small hole in the ground. They looked inside the hole and saw a descending flight of stairs, leading to what seemed like a pitch black underground cave. Yona gulped, ''Did green pony fall into spooky cave?'' She asked nervously. ''I guess there's only one way to find out.'' Smolder said determinedly before she headed down into the cave. ''Come on, everyone.'' Sandbar said before following Smolder into the hole. Ocellus, Gallus, Silverstream and eventually Yona followed the two into the hole. They descended down the stairs and walked into the cave as they began the search for their missing friend.