//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Hatred is Magic // by smirker //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle tossed and turned in her bed as she dreamed about Queen Chrysalis, she had flashbacks of Shining Armor's and Princess Cadence's wedding, her alternate self when Starlight Glimmer changed history, she and her family and friends being held captive by them, and her last invasion of Equestria with Tirek and Cozy Glow. She sprung awake and sat up in her bed while covered in cold sweat, she panted while Spike and Starlight Glimmer went to go see her, "You okay, Twilight?" Spike asked, "Yeah, it's just ever since that news yesterday, I've been thinking about Chrysalis a lot recently, I still don't know who her killer is." Twilight Sparkle responded, "Why even bother looking for her killer? Chrysalis gave us a lot of trouble and rejected friendship." Starlight Glimmer reminded, "Because if hatred is spread, Equestria's defenses will weaken, we're at risk of the changelings going to war with us as well if this continues." Twilight Sparkle responded, "Sorry, Twilight, but I'm going to have to side with Starlight on this, she did threaten to rip my wings off, so I think Chrysalis got what she deserved." Spike stated, "Spike! How can you agree with that? After all of the years of teaching you love and friendship, you agree with someone getting killed?" Twilight Sparkle reprimanded, "Like I said, Twilight, Chrysalis gave us a lot of trouble, I think it's best that she was gotten rid of that way because there was always a risk of her breaking out of the stone." Spike replied, "True, Thorax said some of the changelings were still loyal to her and left the Hive, too." Twilight Sparkle recalled, "Get some rest, Twilight, you can continue investigating tomorrow." Starlight Glimmer said, and she laid back down and slept while Spike and Starlight Glimmer left. The next morning came and the foals were all murmuring in the school while Cheerilee came in with six new foals. The classmates looked at the foals and saw a unicorn filly who had a light pink coat, long purple and white striped mane and tail with a purple flower in the right side of her mane, blue eyes, and her cutie mark was a white flower with a green stem and two green leaves growing out to the sides. A Pegasus filly who had a light green coat, long white mane and tail, yellow eyes, and her cutie mark was a blacksmith's hammer. An earth pony filly who had a blue coat, long dark blue mane and tail, blue eyes, and her cutie mark was a blueberry. A unicorn colt who had a black coat, short black mane and tail, black eyes, his cutie mark was a black and white checkered racing flag. A Pegasus colt who had a light red coat, short light purple mane and tail, yellow eyes, and his cutie mark was a pink piggy bank. The last pony was an earth pony colt who had a red-orange coat, short yellow mane and tail, orange eyes, and his cutie mark was red broken heart. The foals stood in front of the class and all of them smiled except for the earth pony colt, "Quiet down, class, I know you're all uneasy after hearing about Queen Chrysalis yesterday, but we all need to focus on class right now, we have six new students today, go on and introduce yourselves." Cheerilee said, "I'm Tulip, my family and I grow plants and flowers for a living and a hobby." the unicorn filly stated, "I'm Ornamental Jewelry, I'm a blacksmith in training." the Pegasus filly spoke, "I'm Blueberry, making blueberry dishes is my specialty." the earth pony filly said, "I'm Monochrome, racing is my calling." the unicorn colt spoke, "I'm Banker, I can adapt to the city easily, but finances is my talent." the Pegasus colt said, "I'm Starburn, I'm talented at getting people out of bad relationships." the earth pony colt spoke, "Okay, now that you six have introduced yourselves, go ahead and sit at the empty seats of your choosing." Cheerilee instructed and they did. Class went on and Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle focused while Tulip and Monochrome sat close to them, they noticed Ornamental Jewelry and Starburn looking out the window, "Ornamental Jewelry, Starburn, please focus." Cheerilee reprimanded, and they worked. Recess came and they all played outside, the six new students saw Sandbar, Ocellus, Gallus, Yona, Smolder, and Silverstream walking by, they glared at Ocellus and while they walked by, "Now, now, you six, I understand you all still have bad memories of the changelings, but remember that not all of them are like that, she's one of them." Cheerilee stated, "The memories of their invasions are still fresh in my mind." Tulip remarked, "I understand you all are still mad about it, but you all must remember, she and the other changelings renounced their loyalties from Chrysalis." Cheerilee reminded, "But did she have a role in the invasions?" Monochrome asked, "You'll have to ask her after school ends if she's available." Cheerilee replied, and they all went back to recess and played until it was time to go back in. Class resumed while Ornamental Jewelry and Starburn continued to look out the window when Cheerilee had her back turned and writing on the chalkboard, they continued working while the foals noticed Starburn looking at the School of Friendship, he looked back when Cheerilee finished writing and took notes with the rest of the class, the bell rung shortly afterwards, "See you all tomorrow, everypony." Cheerilee said, and the foals left the classroom. The foals walked home and the six new students walked separate from one another, "They're not friends?" Sweetie Belle asked, "I guess not." Scootaloo answered, and they watched the six new students leave. They exited the school and the six foals went their separate ways, the Cutie Mark Crusaders followed Tulip home and she arrived at a small house with flowers and plants surrounding it, "Mom, dad, I'm home." Tulip hollered, two adult unicorns walked to her, the stallion had a green coat, short light green mane and tail, green eyes, and his cutie mark was a green stem, the mare had a red coat, long pink mane and tail, red eyes, and her cutie mark was a red rose. The Cutie Mark Crusaders watched them tend to their plants, "You think one of them could be the culprit?" Scootaloo whispered, "We won't know until they use their magic. Applejack told me the culprit has a dark green magic aura." Apple Bloom whispered, "Rarity told me that, too." Sweetie Belle whispered, "So you two were told the same thing Rainbow Dash told me." Scootaloo whispered, they watched the three and they used their magic to take care of their plants, Tulip had a purple magic aura, her father's magic aura was pale green, and her mother's magic aura was pink, "Okay, so none of 'em are the culprit." Apple Bloom whispered, "Come on, let's go check Monochrome." Scootaloo whispered, and they began to walk away, "Ahem." Tulip cleared her throat and the Cutie Mark Crusaders turned around to face her and her parents, "Care to explain why you three are here?" Tulip asked, "We're tryin' to help our sisters and Scootaloo's friend find the culprit to Queen Chrysalis' killer." Apple Bloom explained, "Well, it's not us, none of us have dark magic auras." Tulip stated, "Sorry for snooping around, we thought you or your family could've been the culprit due to you disliking changelings, Tulip." Sweetie Belle said, "We have our reasons for disliking them." Tulip's mother uttered, "Can y'all tell us why?" Apple Bloom asked, "Due to the changelings invading us, our plants and flowers have been destroyed by them several times, it's our living, our hobby, selling them is how we make money, and those changelings destroyed our displays and shops!" Tulip's father vented, "Are y'all famous?" Apple Bloom questioned, "I'm Rose, and this is my husband, Vine, we ran a flower shop called Equestrian Flora, we sold our flowers and plants outside Equestria, we were pretty well known." Tulip's mother answered, "Why did you three come here?" Scootaloo asked, "To set up shop, ever since the School of Friendship has opened, Ponyville has become a tourist attraction for other creatures, now if you three don't mind, I have to start my homework." Tulip replied, "Okay, sorry for bothering you guys." Sweetie Belle said, and she, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo walked away. The Cutie Mark Crusaders walked around and looked for Monochrome's home, they listened and heard him counting, they trotted to where they heard him and saw him outside stretching his legs with a unicorn mare watching him, she had a pink coat, long dark red mane and tail, and light pink eyes, her cutie mark was a black frying pan, "Oh, hey, you three wanna race?" Monochrome asked as he and the mare saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders, "Sorry, but we don't have the time right now, we're trying to help my and Apple Bloom's sisters and their friends." Sweetie Belle responded, "Oh, well, in that case." the mare stated, and she used telekinesis alongside Monochrome, the mare had a dark red magic aura while Monochrome had a black magic aura, "See, we don't have dark green auras." the mare spoke, "Is it just you two who live here?" Scootaloo asked, "Yeah, this is my mom, Haute Cuisine, she's a chef." Monochrome responded, "Where's your dad?" Apple Bloom questioned, "Dad's... not with me and mom anymore." Monochrome replied as he looked down, "He was killed by the changelings when they invaded during Shining Armor and Princess Cadence's wedding, we were near Canterlot at that time, Monochrome was about to do his first track racing, too, his father and I were really looking forward to it, but the changelings ruined the event." Haute Cuisine explained, "Oh, sorry Ah asked." Apple Bloom said, "No, it's alright." Monochrome replied, "Go on now, Monochrome has to train." Haute Cuisine spoke, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders left while Monochrome stretched and began running. The Cutie Mark Crusaders walked around Ponyville while looking for the homes of remaining four new students, "Okay, so Queen Chrysalis' killer isn't any of them or their guardians." Sweetie Belle stated, "Which means whoever did the deed ain't in Ponyville." Apple Bloom deducted, "But who can say that these changeling hating new ponies won't try to attack the remaining ones?" Scootaloo brought up, "Good point, let's see what they're doin' and learn why they hate the changelings." Apple Bloom responded and they walked more. They walked around Ponyville as they looked for the new students, they heard a hammer hitting metal and looked around, "Look! There's Ornamental Jewelry!" Sweetie Belle chirped as she pointed at her and they trotted her. Ornamental Jewelry pounded with the hammer while a stallion watched her, she saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders coming and stopped working, "What are you three doing here?" Ornamental Jewelry questioned, "We're mostly just greeting the new students." Sweetie Belle responded, "Oh, well, I'm Ornamental Jewelry, as you know, and this is my dad, Anvil Striker." Ornamental Jewelry introduced, "Hi there." Anvil Striker said, he had a light gray coat, short black mane and tail and a goatee with the beard and mustache connected to one another, his eyes were blue, and his cutie mark was an anvil and a hammer, "Where's your mom, Ornamental Jewelry?" Apple Bloom asked, Anvil Striker inhaled and exhaled sharply while glaring, "Those changelings injured my wife! Who do they think they are?! It's their fault my wife's in the hospital, they attacked us and robbed us of our weapons and armor, and destroyed our shop and supplies afterwards! It's no wonder why Queen Chrysalis was killed!" Anvil Striker ranted, he then hit the anvil with a hammer really hard and sparks flew everywhere. The Cutie Mark Crusaders reeled onto their hind legs' and watched with widened eyes', "Sorry, ever since mom was sent to the hospital due to the changelings attacking us, bringing them up has been a sore spot for us." Ornamental Jewelry explained, "How is she?" Scootaloo asked, "She's recovering, but she won't be out for a while, changelings gave her injuries all over her body." Ornamental Jewelry replied, "Sorry I acted like that, what happened to my wife still makes me mad, and you three should go on, Ornament here needs to train and we're on a deadline for making our next armor for our current client." Anvil Striker spoke, "Oh, sorry, come on, you two, let's go." Sweetie Belle responded, and she along with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked away. The Cutie Mark Crusaders walked around Ponyville as they looked for the remaining three new students, they heard Banker's voice and trotted to where they heard him. They arrived at a small home and saw Banker with a stallion, they conversed about money and bank related things that they did not understand, the stallion soon left and Banker turned his attention to them, "Would you three like to deposit some bits?" Banker asked, "Huh?" Apple Bloom asked, "Wha?" Sweetie Belle asked, "What are you talking about?" Scootaloo questioned, "Hmm? You three not here for anything bank related?" Banker asked, "No." Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle answered together in unison, "We're here to learn about you." Scootaloo spoke, "What would you like to know?" Banker asked, the Cutie Mark Crusaders looked around his home, "Are you livin' by yerself?" Apple Bloom asked, "Oh, no, no, I live with my aunt. Auntie, we have visitors." Banker called out, and a mare walked out of his home, she had a yellow coat, dark orange mane and tail tied in buns, bright yellow eyes, and her cutie mark was a bit coin, "This is Bit Counter, she's my mom's younger sister." Banker stated, "Hello, you three." Bit Counter said, "Wait, did your parents get killed by the changelings. too?" Sweetie Belle inquired, "No, no, my parents are away at Saddle Arabia on a business trip." Banker responded, "Why did you move here for?" Scootaloo asked, "Because those changelings destroyed my home in my hometown, it was after the invasions of have been stopped and King Thorax became their ruler, but the remaining changelings still loyal to Chrysalis, they destroyed parts of my town in order to make hiding places for themselves, one of them was a room where I stored bits for my customers, because of that, I lost my home and bits for my customers. My parents and I had to issue an apology to our customers while facing their anger at them losing their money, they left for the business trip shortly afterwards to expand their company while I moved here to live with my aunt since the six defenders of Equestria live here, so I hope it's safe here." Banker explained, "Banker's been trying to start over and redeem himself with finances ever since he came here, Banker's reputation's on the line, too, he's hoping he can make his parents proud when they come back from their business trip." Bit Counter added, "Well, that's why we came here, we wanted to know why Banker hates the changelings." Apple Bloom stated, "And I told you, because they destroyed my home and stole my customers' money." Banker replied, "Well, that's all we wanted to know." Scootaloo spoke, "Okay then, go on now, I have to get ready for my next customer." Banker stated, "What about your homework?" Sweetie Belle asked, "Already finished." Banker answered, "Oh." Sweetie Belle said, "Come on, you two, let's meet the last two." Apple Bloom spoke, and they left. The Cutie Mark Crusaders walked and looked for Blueberry and Starburn, they saw a stream of steam in the air and they smelled it, "Hmm, something smells good." Sweetie Belle chirped, they followed the scent and arrived at a home, they saw Blueberry baking in the kitchen, she noticed them and spoke to a mare in the kitchen with her, she had a red coat, long green mane and tail, green eyes, and her cutie mark was a strawberry. Blueberry walked outside to go see the Cutie Mark Crusaders, "Can I help you three?" Blueberry asked, "We were wondering why you moved here." Scootaloo replied, "I came here because my family's trying to expand our baking business across Equestria, we don't have a shop here yet, but I'm helping my family with small things on setting it up." Blueberry explained, "Uh..." the Cutie Mark Crusaders stammered, "What?" Blueberry questioned, "You do realize yer gonna have to compete with Pinkie and Sugarcube Corner, right?" Apple Bloom asked, "Oh, don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Cake are helping me and my family set up our shop." Blueberry responded, "Wait, really?" Sweetie Belle asked, Blueberry nodded, "Is that your mom cooking with you?" Scootaloo questioned, "No, that's my big sister, Strawberry." Blueberry replied, "Where are yer parents?" Apple Bloom asked, "What's with all of the questions?" Blueberry inquired, "We've been a bit alert ever since what has happened in Canterlot, and we've been wondering why you hate changelings." Sweetie Belle answered, "I hate them because not only did they destroy bakeries and shops owned by my family, they stole our treats as well, my family and I have been having a hard time rebuilding and opening new shops to replace the destroyed ones, maybe if I have the time, me and Strawberry will show you three our old shops." Blueberry explained, the Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at Strawberry and she waved at them, they waved back at her, "Well, I have to get back, I have a tart in the oven." Blueberry said, "Oh, sorry, go on then, Blueberry." Sweetie Belle replied, and she went into her home while they walked away. The Cutie Mark Crusaders walked and looked for Starburn, he was nowhere to be found, they checked every window of every home until they saw him in a room, he was meditating and floating in midair. They gasped in awe while Starburn opened his eyes and then stood on the floor, he walked out of his home to see the three, "What brings you three here?" Starburn asked, "You living on your own?" Sweetie Belle questioned, "No, I live with my maternal uncle." Starburn replied, "Can we meet him?" Scootaloo asked, "Uncle, you have visitors." Starburn called out, they heard walking and a stallion arrived, their attentions were caught when they looked at him, he had a dark yellow coat, moderate yellow eyes, his mane and tail were short and were mostly light orange, with a small moderate yellow streak and a big dark green streak in them, he also had bangs, his eyes were a moderate yellow, and his cutie mark was a black pentagram, "This is my uncle." Starburn stated, "Hello." the stallion said, "What's yer name?" Apple Bloom asked, "Daylight Dimmer." the stallion responded, "Where did you two come from?" Apple Bloom inquired, "I grew up on a farm, Starburn here was abandoned by my sister and brother-in-law, so I adopted him." Daylight Dimmer responded, "Why did you two come to Ponyville?" Scootaloo asked, "Uncle and I are travelers, we're exploring Equestria and this place was just the next place for us to visit." Starburn answered, "You two don't have a permanent residence?" Sweetie Belle questioned, Starburn and Daylight Dimmer shook their heads, "What do ya do for work, Daylight Dimmer?" Apple Bloom asked, "Mostly odd jobs, I don't have a permanent job, it's usually manual labor." Daylight Dimmer replied, "Okay, one more question, why do you two hate changelings?" Scootaloo inquired, "Because they're constantly causing trouble, invading us, destroying homes, stealing, killing, giving others a hard time, we've had enough problems with the changelings, and the ones who are still loyal to Chrysalis are still out there causing trouble, it's no wonder why ponies hate them." Starburn explained, "Wow, so they didn't do anything to you two personally?" Sweetie Belle questioned, Daylight Dimmer and Starburn shook their heads, "Well, we're not sure if they did anything to our family because uncle and I haven't stayed in touch with them." Starburn spoke, "Oh, wow." Scootaloo exclaimed, "We have to go back in now, Starburn needs to start his homework." Daylight Dimmer said, "Alright, see ya at school, Starburn." Apple Bloom stated, and he and Daylight Dimmer went back into their homes while the three fillies walked away. The Cutie Mark Crusaders walked together, "Well, look at that, none of the new ponies here are the culprit." Apple Bloom spoke, "That's good, we can let our sisters and their friends know that the new ponies here are innocent." Sweetie Belle replied, "Yeah, well, let's go home and start our homework, I'll see you two later." Scootaloo added, and they went their separate ways. Twilight Sparkle and her friends were in Canterlot and Princess Celestia and Princess Luna walked to them with four unicorns, "What? This is all of the unicorns in Equestria with a dark green magic aura?" Twilight Sparkle questioned, "Believe it or not, Twilight, but yes, dark green magic aura is a rarity in Equestria." Princess Celestia responded, "Alright, guys, state your names in occupations." Twilight Sparkle stated, "Green Magician, I'm an illusionist." a mare responded, she had a light blue coat, long pale white mane and tail braided into a ponytail, pink eyes, and her cutie mark was a magician's staff, "Absinthe, I'm a bartender." another mare stated, she had a light green coat, long green mane and tail, dark green eyes, and her cutie mark was a transparent bottle with green liquid in it, "Ginger Ale, I'm a store clerk." a stallion said, he had a dark yellow coat, short green mane and tail, pale green eyes, and his cutie mark was a green soda can, "Lemon Lime, I'm a fruit farmer." the other stallion stated, he had a yellow-green coat, slightly long green mane and tail, yellow eyes, and his cutie mark was a lemon slice and a lime slice, "Alright, come with me, you four." Twilight Sparkle instructed, and they followed her into Canterlot's castle.