//------------------------------// // Tradition // Story: Murgröna's Testimony // by Powerdrainer //------------------------------// Edited by Slayerseba Tradition   <<>><<>><<>>   It had been a confusing year, to say the least, for all involved.  The moment they interacted with their shared mind, they gained the knowledge Apple Pie gave them. And in doing so, they went from poorly communicating and misunderstanding to being able to grasp at the meaning behind the sounds that flowed from the ponies' their mouths. Though it still took a long time before the full extent of Apple Pie's knowledge had taken root in their minds, and confusion was abundant as their newly gained knowledge grew. The images and memories they gleaned at still alien and unknown.  Of course, a similar thing could be said of the ponies, who discovered quickly enough that what they said was understood… even if what they said wasn't fully understood. But the sudden jump in understanding was startling to them. Except for Apple Pie who, after her interaction with their shared mind, had gained an understanding of her own and realized what was happening. Though her explanation to the others only added to their confusion. Still, it was with her help, slowly but surely joined by the others of her village, that they began to teach. Teach their language, then about themselves, who they were, how they lived, and anything else. And in turn, they learned about them. And as they learned, they grew.  Before they met, the other ponies knew about the world they lived in from the experiences they gathered, seeing the bright light, or sun move up and down, just like the large rock, or moon does the same. Plants sprouted and grew during the warming cycle, or spring, and blossomed during the summer. Then they withered and died during the fall and winter until the cycle began anew. But while they understood this, they never realized just how much they could use this. True, they were hunters and fed on the energy from the creatures living in the forest and, never had a need for such a thing. But when the ponies introduced them to the concept of farming, it spread a ripple throughout their minds. Take the seeds of the plants you need, put them in the ground near your home, watch them grow, then gather them when they were mature and repeat the process the following year.  Doing this ensured you would always have enough of this resource without the danger of venturing out in the wilds to find them growing in odd patches, or not at all.  And the plants they grew, in turn, were an eye-opening discovery to them as well. As well as how they were used. Wheat, golden stalks of grass they grew specifically for their seeds. Some of them gathered to grow more, while the rest was ground up into a fine powder, then used to make what they call bread. Lettuce, crops of tightly bunched leaves growing to the size of their heads, which they ate just as they were, or used in combination with other plants they grew. Tomatoes, green stalks on which grew small green orbs which turned red as they ripened. Carrots, orange roots they pulled from the ground. And so much more.  And then there was Apple Pie, who proudly showed the apple trees she and her family grew, which in turn grew the mentioned apples every cycle anew, before showing how to use them to make the object with which she shared her name. Of course, with such an abundance of food, they were eager to share, though the reception to this gift was mixed.  While not impossible to consume solids or liquids, something that almost always happened to some extent during a hunt while biting down on prey to drain them, they never once had done so to actually eat.  It was Buzz though, the first-named among them, who dared. Taking a cautious sniff off the slice of apple Apple Pie offered, then took a tiny, tiny bite; mimicking the process of chewing he had seen to ponies do before swallowing; feeling the mush slowly slide down his throat. A shudder went through his whole body and, his face turned several shades of green. What followed next though the ponies that the other ponies really did not, and probably could not eat solid food as they did.  But even if they could not eat the ponies' their food, the same could not be said about the strange energy the ponies gave off.  It was a strange thing indeed, and none of them understood it. Yet as they tried, they soon learned that not only did it feed them but, it also appeared to be harmless to the ponies as long as they didn't take too much. And so, over the weeks and months that followed, as they learned about one another, wonderful cooperation was developed.  The other ponies would come to their village, help with the chores; farm the lands, harvest the crops and, in turn, the ponies would share their energy with them.  And now, almost a year had passed since Apple Pie had first touched the living minds and, shared with them her knowledge. Now, once again in the midst of the cold cycle or, winter as the ponies called it in their strange flowing language, he stood in a white covered field just outside the village the ponies called Yoke.  He, along with the others of his burrow all had clothes wrapped tightly around them against the cold as they slowly approached.  Even with the memories of Apple Pie, there were still many things they didn't understand about the ponies' way of life, and this was one of them.  All of them, from the youngest to the oldest, were invited to the village to celebrate…. something.  They had asked what, of course, but the few answers they were given didn't answer much at all. Though the need for them all to be there was telling in its own way. This celebration was important.  Snow crunched underneath Buzz's hooves as he pushed onwards, already seeing several of the ponies looking out for them, with several of the foals running off to announce their arrival while, rising up from behind the buildings, but still hidden from view to them an animated rumble of voices could be heard. His ears twitched underneath the woolly hat he had pulled snuggly over his head, sharing questioning glances with the others.  His life-giver stepped forwards, several nymphs poking out from underneath the coat on her back. "Www… we ssshould nhot l-leth thhemm waiht," she spoke awkwardly, much like most of the older other ponies having difficulties with this spoken language. Buzz nodded and picked up the pace, closing the distance and entering the village alongside the rest. "THEY'RE HERE!" Apple Pie cried out, a streaking blur moving through the mass of ponies as she ran towards them and singled out Buzz amidst the mass, tackling him into a tight hug. "Happy Hearth's Warming!" she cheered. "Pony happy, why?" Buzz asked, his grasp over the ponies' their language better than his life-giver. "Because it's Hearth's Warming, silly," Apple Pie pulled back, looking at her friend with a large smile.  Buzz tilted his head to the side, confused.  Laughter rose up as the other ponies came to greet them. "Apple Pie, I think you might need to explain a few things first," the village's school teacher, an older stallion with thinning mane named Wind Whisper told her. "By the look of things I'd say they don't know what you're talking about," he chuckled. "Though we didn't really explain much, to begin with when they did ask." "How else could we surprise them?" Apple Pie asked, completely serious. She then looked back at Buzz, seeing the confusion in his eyes, and all the other ponies as well.  His life-giver stepped forwards, looking around the village, taking in the changes; the strange decorations hanging on the walls, the numerous fires burning throughout the town for warmth and, most confusing of all, a stage of sorts standing in the center of it all.  She looked back at the ponies, "Wh-hat-t isss thhisss?" Apple Pie slowly detached herself from Buzz and, looking at all of them explained with her now all too familiar enthusiasm. "Today is Hearth's Warming," she threw her hooves in the air with a cheer. "The day we celebrate the bond of friendship between everypony. There are songs, games, food and, a play we perform to remember why our friendship is important, and what would happen if we didn't have any. And you're our friends, too. So, of course, you're all here with us to celebrate!" Buzz blinked as he tried to process everything Apple Pie had said, silently working together with the others through their linked minds to figure it all out when Apple Pie interrupted him. "Ooh, I know that look," she poked him in the chest. "You're using that mind talk thingy with the others to figure this out, right?" she grinned, then grabbed one of his hooves and pulled him along. "Why don't we show you instead." The few sputters in protest fell on deaf ears as Buzz was pulled along, neither he or any other of his pack understanding. Even then, as he looked back at his life-giver, despite the confusion he felt coming from her, he also saw the smile she and, the nymphs on her back had as he was half-dragged into the center of town, then was sat down before the wooden stage with a set of worn curtains closed shut. "Come on you all!" Apple Pie gestured to the rest of the other ponies. "There is room for all of you!" Confused, but no less interested what was happening, one by one the group of other ponies moved to the stage, then sat down with the youngest closest to the front, joined a moment later by most of the ponies. Though Apple Pie, most of the other foals and some of the adults were nowhere to be seen. A mixed murmur of excitement from the ponies, and questions of what was happening from the other ponies rose up, which lasted for several minutes until Wind Whisper walked up on the stage, wearing a strange outfit which immediately drew the oter ponies' their attention, and before long a hushed silence fell over all present. "A long time ago," Wind Whisper began, speaking loud and clear for all to hear. "Before Equestria was founded, the ponies were strangers to harmony. It was a strange time, a dark time. A time when ponies were torn apart by hatred," the curtain slowly pulled open, revealing several of the foals, all dressed up, some wearing fake horn or wings as they stood in three separate groups.  "There were the earth ponies," Wind Whisper pointed to the first group of foals wearing rags for clothes. "The unicorns," he presented the group wearing fine clothing. "And the pegasi," he finished with the group wearing armor.  "These three groups of ponies did not care about the other tribes, and only worried about their own needs and wants." As he spoke, the group behind him began to bicker and fight. "But of course such hostility would not benefit anypony," the curtain closed behind him, "which would be a lesson these ponies of old would learn in the harshest of ways." The curtains opened again, and the scene had changed. And as the play continued to the enjoyment of the adults watching their foals and, the other ponies confusion but strange fascination, the history of the ponies was retold.  Apple Pie showed up eventually, playing the part of Chancellor Puddinghead, while Iron Nail was Commander Hurricane. And Princess Platinum was played by a young colt barely big enough for the fake crown on fit on his head.  There were shock and laughter, and general confusion. Both by the other ponies, as well as the foals as they did not always remember their lines, but with the help of each other they played out their parts with full enthusiasm. The windigoes scared some of the nymphs, who were also the loudest to cheer when they were finally defeated as the pony tribes discovered the power of friendship, while the mentioning of Princess Celestia and Luna drew some confused questions of the life-giver. In the end, as all performers joined on the stage, the other ponies were surprised when the ponies sitting with them began to stomp their hooves on the ground, but soon joined them as they caught on to the purpose of this.  Then, when everything fell silent again, Apple Pie stepped forward. "As dawn shines on us every morn," she began, joined with the rest on stage.  "The fire of friendship is reborn. And all the friendships we have made, We cherish it in every way. Loyalty binds us and makes us strong, Honesty shows that we belong. And kindness shared will unite us through each day. The fire of friendship lives in our hearts, As long as it burns, we cannot drift apart. Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few, Laughter and singing will see us…" All the ponies joined their voices. "...through." "Will see us through." "We are a circle of pony friends. A circle of friends we'll be to the very end." Only some of the stallions continued, their heavy voices giving a strong rumble to the song. "Though the winter brings all its cold and storm, The glow in our hearts keeps us warm. The friends we now call our family, Will always see us through." Everypony continued. "Loyalty binds us and makes us strong, Honesty shows that we belong. And kindness shared will unite us through each day. The fire of friendship lives in our hearts, As long as it burns, we cannot drift apart. Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few, Laughter and singing will see us…" "...through." "Will see us through." "We are a circle of pony friends, A circle of friends we'll be to the very end." "The fire of friendship lives in our hearts!" Apple Pie sang proudly. "As long as it burns, we cannot drift apart!" Iron Nail continued. "Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few!" the colt playing Princess Platinum sang nervously as all eyes were now on him. "Laughter and singing will see us through!" Apple Pie paced a hoof on his back as everypony joined their voices one last time as a strong flow of energy moved from them to the other ponies. "We are a circle of pony friends! A circle of friends we'll be to the very end!"