//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Pony Veracity // by keithsterling //------------------------------// "Huh? What is wrong, Miss Starscout?" Cadence asked, seeing the tears run down Sunny cheeks as Sunny wipes the tears off her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I don't know, Miss Borealis. I suddenly got sad. This has happened back in Bridlewood forest to me. I have no idea why this happing to me?" Sunny said, somewhat fearful as Sunny friends began walking into the mess tent for breakfast and met the newest family member from the Silverlight family dig team. “Sunny! What happen?”Izzy asked, concerned with her friend Sunny mental health. "It happen again, Izzy, that deep sadness like back in the crystal tea room," Sunny said shakily as Hitch, Pipp, and Zip looked at each other very confused. "Pipp and Zip, do you know what she is talking about?" Hitch asked the two Pegasus. "I am sorry, Hitch, but I don't know?" Pipp answered "That goes for me as well, sheriff," Zip answered "Izzy, you better start talking! what going on with Sunny?" Hitch asked as the unicorn shook her head. "Back in Bridlewood Forest, Sunny started to have bouts of intense anger and sadness for no reason. It would last for a few moments, and Sunny would return to normal. If you asked her why she would have that emotion, she would say I don't remember." Izzy explained as Cadence excused herself and walked outside the mess tent to talk to her uncle about what happened to Sunny Starscout. “Uncle! Hello Blueberry.” Cadence yells as she finds her uncle standing by the extinguished campfire talking to his younger daughter Blueberry. “Yes, niece.” Justice answer "Hello, Cousin." Blueberry friendly "Hello to both of you," Cadence said, her voice breaking as the two unicorns looked at each other. "What is wrong, cousin? Do not forget you taught me. So I can tell something is troubling you, teacher." Blueberry asked, knowing as a smile formed on Cadence's snout. "Indeed, my student," Cadence said, knowing as she took a deep breath. "Aurora told me the full plan went I woke up from hibernation. I feel I might know what spirit is in that earth pony Sunny Starscout. And that very dangerous." Cadence explains as two unicorns gasp. "Who, teacher?” Blueberry asked "It Queen Twilight Sparkle spirit in that earth pony," Cadence says, concerned. "Now I understand, niece, and you are right; it is perilous for that earth pony. A unicorn is a very emotional breed, and as we all know, our magic is based on our emotions. But Alicorn more so. If Queen Twilight Sparkle spirit is in that mare, it could overwhelm her, and it might kill her." Justice explains his face grows haggard with worry as he slams his fist into his open hand with a loud smack. “Mr. Silverlight! Miss Silverlight! Miss Borealis! Come quickly! Something is wrong with Sunny!” Izzy scream as the three ponies run into the mess tent. In the Mess tent, Sunny Starscout begins to have an emotional breakdown with the overwhelmingly emotional state of the Spirit of Queen Twilight Sparkle inside her. “The plan is now over! Cadence sees if your white crystal magic can calm this earth pony before her mind is too damaged!” Justice commands as Cadence takes on her Alicorn form and calls on her white crystal magic. "Blueberry calls your sister and brother. Tell them to come to the campsite now. The plan is over!" Justice orders Blueberry to call her brother and sister to come to the campsite. “Who are you?” Sunny’s friends asked simultaneously. "I am Prince Justice Silverlight! That unicorn is Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight! And that Alicorn is Princess Cadence Sparkle; we are all part of the ancient Equestria royal family. It was my wife who sent Twilight Sparkle to learn about friendship in ancient Equestria." Justice explains as Sunny's friends reel with astonishment. (A few hours later at the campfire) “Miss Starscout is stable, your imperial highness. But my spell can’t last forever. We must find a way to get Queen Twilight Sparkle spirit out of the earth pony. Before it too late." Cadence explains joining the other two Alicorns at the campfire. "Wait, she calls you your imperial highness and not your highness? What are you?" Hitch asked, looking at Prince Justice Silverlight. “I am Imperial Alicorn and Imperial Prince," Justice said "Never heard of imperial Alicorn. But I know in ancient Equestria all Alicorns are the ruler of Equestria." Hitch said, knowing as Izzy; Pipp and Zip's eyebrows shoot up in surprise with Hitch. "Well, Sheriff?"Zip said surprised “I am never going to tell Sunny. But I did listen to her father, more to disapprove that all ponies’ breeds were friends.” Hitch explains as Justice chuckles softly into the back of his hand. "You are correct, Mr. Trailblazer; Alicorns are the rulers of Equestria. History didn't tell you that four Alicorns ruled Equestria. Each one was a very powerful magic user and the embodiment of one aspect." Justice explains as Sunny’s friends gape in stunned silence as Justice gestured toward his niece. "That light pink Alicorn, Princess Cadence Sparkle, was the embodiment of the power of love in Equestria. Went the crystal reformed, you released her empire's lights bring back magic to Equestria." Justice explains as Cadence shakes her head. "Whoa, did you say Sparkle? Are you related to Twilight Sparkle from our stories, your highness?" Izzy exclaimed as her breath caught in her throat, looking toward Cadence. "Queen Twilight Sparkle is my sister-in-law." Cadence answers as Sunny's friends are shocked by Alicorn's response. "Then are the Silverlight related to Twilight Sparkle as well?" Izzy asked as Cadence shook her head 'no.' "No, Miss Moonbow, I am related to them from my aunt's side of the family and not from Queen Twilight Sparkle's family." Cadence answers as she swallows a lump in her throat. "(Raise her hand in the air, stopping Izzy next question) All these ponies promised never to reveal my aunt's identity unless she so orders it to be revealed." Cadence, firm as Sunny's friends, agreed not to ask, and Justice watched Cadence explains what was going on with Sunny. "So your highness, you are saying each of us has the spirit of element holder in us. I don't believe that, your highness." Hitch said, trying to disprove what Cadence said, but know it might be true. "In your case, Mr. Trailblazer, you have two spirits of the element holders in you," Cadence says, gesturing toward the small animal coming out of the forest to be around Hitch, and he quickly shoos them away. "If I believe you, your highness. Whom?" Hitch asked, not wanting to know the answer. "One of those spirits is Miss Flutter Shy, the holder of the element of Kindness and the other one is Miss Applejack, the holder of the element of Honesty an earth pony and Pegasus." Cadence's comment started to make sense for Hitch why the Maretime bay citizens trust him so. "As for you, Miss Moonbow, you have the spirit of most precious element holder to my uncle's family in you," Cadence comments as Izzy notices the tears coming to the eyes of the Silverlight family members. "Miss Rarity Radiances, the holder of the element of generosity. She was a very creative unicorn mare. Ran two very successful clothing businesses in Equestria, one here in Ponyville and one up in Canterlot. At times she could be a huge drama queen…." Justice said as he didn't notice Rarity's spirit taking control of Izzy Moonbow's body. "You take that back, Justice! I was not a huge drama queen! I was enthusiastic, darling. Besides, why would you say that about your friend, Mr. Silverlight?” Rarity said, poking Izzy's finger against Justice's chest, upset. "So you didn't freak out went you lose some of your mane?" Justice comments as Izzy blink with surprise. “Huh! I told Twilight not to tell anyone about that.” Rarity exclaims as Justice hugs Izzy as Rarity's spirit goes back into the back of the mind of Izzy Moonbow. "Oh, a hug! I love hugs!" Izzy said, eager as she returned Justice's hug. “Miss Moonbow?” Justice exclaims as Justice release his hug on the unicorn. "Oh, come on, that was the best hug I ever had," Izzy said, a bit disappointed as she went back to her place. "As for you, Miss Storm, you have the spirit of Miss Rainbow Dash, the element holder of loyalty. A very athletic and daring Pegasus." Cadence explains as Zip gulps, figuring why she is an adrenaline junkie looking for the next great adventure. "As for you, Miss Petals, before I say let me just say my uncle has healthy fear of this spirit. Not because she is bad, but very unpredictable. That spirit is Miss Pinkie pie, the element holder of Laughter. She was a tremendous earth pony entertainer and party planner." Cadence explains as Justice's face just pales with the name Pinkie pie after all this time. "Ok, your highness, that all of us. What about Sunny?" Hitch asked, looking toward Cadence. "Miss Starscout has the spirit of Princess Twilight Sparkle, the element holder of magic in her. An Alicorn…earth pony is a very hearty breed. As for unicorns and Alicorn, we are emotionally driven by how our magic works and the Alicorn more so. Right now, Sunny is going through the worst emotional roller coaster any pony can, and if that spirit stays in her, it can kill her.” Cadence explains as a sickening wave of terror wells up from Sunny's friend's bellies. "Your Highness, is there anything we can do to help Sunny?" Zip asked; her voice breaks as she looked toward Cadence. “I can enter Miss Starscout subconscious through the dream dimension and try to extract the spirit of Princess Twilight Sparkle from her mind...But!” With some trepidation in his voice, Somnus said his face was etched in desperation. "There something wrong, your highness? Something you are not telling us?" Izzy said, knowing as she looked at Somnus. “If Miss Starscout’s mind is in turmoil as I think, that makes it even harder to locate and extract the spirit successfully. If my teacher was still around, she could do it easily because she the master of the dream dimension." Somnus's voice was a lifeless monotone as his stomach contracted to a tight ball and tears rolled down his cheek. In the large octagon-shaped room on the second basement floor of the castle ruins with the two finely decorated large stone altars with rectangular frosted crystal sarcophagus. The second rectangular frosted crystal sarcophagus begins to glow with intense light. A moment later, the unmistakable sound of grinding gears echoing in the room as the lid of the second rectangular frosted crystal sarcophagus slides. It crashes to the ground on one side of the sarcophagus releases great billows of puffy white clouds from inside the sarcophagus; through the clouds rises elongated black shadows that turn at an unnatural angle. It shoots straight for the fresh food sitting on the small table in front of it; as the shadow passes over the food, it suddenly disappears from the plates on the table without it being touched. A disembodied, very unladylike belch echoes in the chamber before it shoots outside the castle toward the campsite. The elongated black shadow soon arrives at the campsite; it hovers in the air for a few seconds before landing and transforming into heavenly looking dark blue Alicorn mare with a glossy black mane and tail; she scans the campsite with her dark cyan colored eyes try to figure out where to go. Her elegant 6ft 5in equine figure was attired in light purple short-sleeved midi length fit and flare dress with silver flat leather sandals on her feet. She walks upon a pair of twelve-inch long dark blue wonderfully shaped bare feet with ruby red toenail polish. Folded on her back was a pair of large dark blue feathered bird wings. This Alicorn mare was Princess Luna Borealis, the dual ruler of ancient Equestria. 'Over there is where my student is, and he needs my help.' Luna thought as she walked toward the mess tent, leaving her shoe prints in the soft dirt of the campsite. As the tent flap is pushed open leading into the mess tent, collective gasps went; the larger Alicorn mare walks in from Sunny's friends, who can feel her goddess's level magic coming off her. “Auntie! You are awake!” Somnus exclaims as Luna walks up to her nephew and hugs him. "I am bound to you, my little Somnus; if you ever need me, nothing will stop me from coming to your aid. That is my promise to you." Luna said, caring as she looked toward the four new ponies gathered around a fifth pony lying on a cot. "Hmm? I have never seen those ponies before? But if you are here your imperial highness, then those ponies are friends. I am Princess Luna Borealis, co-ruler of ancient Equestria along with my sister." Luna said politely in a regal voice, looking at the fifth pony lying on the cot and looking up. “The co-ruler of ancient Equestria!" Sunny's friends say simultaneously, shocked.