//------------------------------// // Voyager's Arc: Beginnings // Story: Of Laurels & Lace // by WritingSpirit //------------------------------// "Hurry up, Pinkie!" "I'm trying!" Pinkie shouted from the powder room. To think of it, waking up late for the start of your first mission... It was five months since the pink mare had first met them, always engaged in their random acts of mischief around Canterlot, the most recent being, much to the Princess's amusement, thrashing down the Garden Party. She sighed with a chuckle. Good times... "Pinkie?" Primrose's voice rang out. "They've sounded the trumpets! Come on!" "Done!" Pinkie burst out the door, wearing a wide grin on her face. She saddled up her backpack, with Primrose helping her to shove everything inside. "You sure took your time," the caramel mare muttered. Her friend just giggled, before glancing around. "When are we supposed to step out again?" "After Princess Celestia finished her speech. Look!" Primrose slightly drew back the curtains, revealing the alabaster alicorn standing on the podium, facing the hundreds of ponies present for the occasion. "I can't believe the whole of Canterlot are going to see our departure!" Pinkie nodded in excitement. It was the first time in a year that she was able to step through the doors, but with her friends altogether... "I just can't wait! What are we going to see on our journey?" The caramel mare just chuckled. She has progressed far in terms of hanging around ponies, remembering how introvert and reserved she was when they first met. "I honestly have no idea, but I think it'll be wonderful!" she replied with a wink. "Says a lot of other ponies as well." The distinctive flap of wings caught their attention, with Charter now landing right next to the two mares. "You know this isn't all fun and games, right? We're busting out the corruption of the royal families, not heading off to thrash another party again." "Don't worry, Charty-Warty," Pinkie said with a giggle, making her friends chuckle. "We'll finish the job! Lickity split!" The pegasus just sighed with a warm smile. "If you say so..." "An event that will be the fore-frontier of spreading harmony across the whole of Equestria, the pioneer for the many generations to come! Please welcome: The Voyager Six!" "That's our cue," Primrose said, gently nudging the pink mare. Pinkie stumbled out from the curtains, a delighted grin on her wide face as she trotted towards the center of the stage, with Charter and Primrose following behind. The remaining three: Gypsum, Dresden and Harmony advanced from the other side of the stage, the both lines meeting in the middle. A wave of clops and cheers rang throughout the room, the six of them quickly bowing in unison. "Really intense, huh?" Gypsum whispered to Pinkie as they lifted their heads. "But really exciting as well!" the pink mare replied, her hooves fizzing hysterically already, wanting to just jump into the crowd. "I can't wait to go crusading! It'll be like adventuring! Exploring the deep depths of the dangerous lands of the north in another venture with the Voyager Six!" She let out a dreamy sigh, glancing ahead at the doors leading out of the palace. Freedom.... just a hoof away... "Voyagers in position!" the Princess's voice ordered, making them stomp their hooves in unison with a salute. Pinkie turned to the alicorn, who gave her a reassuring smile followed by a nod. "Make Equestria proud!" <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> "And where are we off to again?" "First stop... the Hollowcleft family," Primrose replied, gazing at the map. The six ponies were trotting down the path under the summer sun, all already eager on reaching their first destination. Pinkie breathed in the fresh air, the sweet, invigorating smell of freedom merging with the piney smell of the woodlands. "This. Is. The. LIFE!!" The caramel mare just chuckled, before returning to the map. "According to the map, the Hollowcleft had been living in Bleak Point Valley for almost three centuries now. Their current head is Baron Pitfall Hollowcleft. We're talking about a mining family here. Coal, jewels, even hard metals. You name them, they have 'em." "So it's a mining family? I suppose to extort their corruption, if there is any, we have to dig deep." Charter began to settle in thought, chuckling at his unintended pun before looking through the logbooks. "There's a chance they might have illegal trafficking. Complaints of illegal demolition..." Pinkie sighed. Charter's talent of judgement and order usually bores her, but having a Cutie Mark with a golden shield that symbolizes authority, that should be expected. She had remembered each pony's talents clearly, the first being Primrose's. The sprig of the herb shows that the caramel mare has a talent in herbal medicine, even more so when she helped cure the pink pony's flu with a mixture of elderberries. Dresden's one was a purple swirl surrounded by a circle of dots, showing his knack of witchcraft; one that she and Gypsum herself had been mesmerized by. The light green mare had a flute as her Cutie Mark, symbolizing her talent of music and cultural arts. There wasn't a time where she wouldn't hit a dusty record on the gramophone and just clap her hooves with a tambourine into the air. Harmony's Cutie Mark was a lace napkin, showing her talent for making dresses. She had made dresses for them before for a few occasions, the most recent being the Garden Party. Though the mare had never expected them to toss them around like rags. Pinkie turned to the mare in question, who was still irritated by the events of that night. The party pony just gulped. After all, she was the one that turned the party upside down. "Harmony?" she called her friend, who just snuffed her nose to her. "What is it, Pinkie?" Harmony scowled, raising her eyebrow. "I haven't got all day speaking to you." "You're still not... mad... about the Garden Party... are you?" The mare just let out a disgruntled sigh, shaking her head with a frown. "I'm trying not to think about it, but you just had to remind me." "Oh...O-Okay..." The pink pony turned back to the front. Harmony was never that keen on being nice to her since the first day they met, much less even actually looking at her. "Just give her some time..." she told herself. "Bleak Point Valley, eh?" Dresden mused. "Sounds like a desolate place." "It was, until the family colonized it and started a few plantations." Primrose flipped to the next page, scanning through the pages. "Then more ponies came and build a town below the valley, yet they still kept the name 'Bleak Point' despite how lush and green the whole place is right now." "Oh well!" Gypsum said with glee as she nudged Pinkie, the both mares letting out similar giggles. "At least we'll have some fun there!" Charter just looked ahead, his smile fading into a somber expression. "Fun..." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> The night was exceptional in the Everfree Forest, despite the dangerous environment they're in. Pinkie laid her hooves back, appreciating the warmth of the blanket over her body as she gazed up into the sky, still filled with clusters of stars. The moon was full as well, with the image of a unicorn evident on the surface. The pink mare pondered for a moment. She had heard stories and legends of the Mare on the Moon, with a few speculations that there was another alicorn on the moon. Some ponies even said that the alicorn was Princess Celestia's sister, banished to the moon by the alabaster mare herself. She sighed: why can't anypony just get along? "Pinkie?" Her ears perked at the voice, turning to her back. Primrose was rubbing her eyes, before stretching out her hooves with a tired yawn. "You're not asleep yet?" "Nah," she just replied, gazing back the the sky. "I'm just thinking of stuff..." "Stuff, huh?" The caramel mare just shuffled closer to her friend, gazing at the night sky with her. "I know you really miss them." "I... I guess..." Pinkie replied, starting to sniffle. "It's unfair..." "At least your sisters are found alive and safe." "But the pony... he... he wasn't..." "Caught. I know," Primrose finished her sentence. "But I'm sure the Princess is trying everything she can. Even Charter had did a little research on it." The two mares turned to the sleeping pegasus. He was more like an older brother to them, sometimes in control of them, yet sometimes joining in their fun. Pinkie sighed with a tremble, wiping her fresh tears away. If only... "If only everything were that easy." The caramel mare blinked for a moment, looking at Pinkie yet again. "I'm sorry?" "If only everything were that easy... you know?" The pink mare just whimpered, biting her lip as she gaze up at the sky. "I would just wish that it never happened... that my parents are still here..." "There are things that just had to happen, Pinkie," Primrose said with a warm grin. "Take me, for example. My life isn't all smooth sailing, you know." "R-Really?" "Well, at first, yeah," she said with a shrug. "But then my sister had cancer..." "I... I'm sorry..." "I'm over it, Pinkie," Primrose replied, trying not to tear up. "It was hard to cope with. This is just life running its course." "A very bumpy course," Pinkie retorted, making the both mares laugh quietly. "I didn't know you were that thoughtful of life." "So were my thoughts on you," her friend replied with a stretch of her hooves. "I guess it's what we have in common. But you making other ponies happy... it's a rare talent." "Really?" The pink mare turned to Primrose, tilting her head in befuddlement. "But I thought all our talents are there to make other ponies happy!" "To make ponies happy, yes. But truly happy... now that's entirely different." "You're special, you know that? You're capable of something..." Primrose let out a sigh, Pinkie still giving her a confused stare. "Who am I kidding, actually. You're only seventeen." "But I'm old enough! I'm mature!" "And you are!" the caramel replied with a laugh. "Just wait. I think you'll see more things in the future." "What things?" the pink pony asked, clopping her hooves together in anticipation. Pinkie sat there in bewilderment, watching her friend give a smirk, before settling back into her respective blanket. "You know...just... things." "Huh?" <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> "So... five weeks and we've got nothing." Charter sighed deeply, tossing another scrump of paper across the room, landing right next to Pinkie, who flicked it towards the dustbin. "Seriously... this is one heck of a job..." Dresden shouted his lungs out of boredom, muffled by the soft pillow his face was buried in. "For Celestia's sake," he said, his hoof pounding onto the bed. "What are we doing right now?" "Hanging around?" Gypsum replied with a giggle. "Come on! It's just a little bit of time for each of the family to open up!" "Open up, huh?" Primrose said with sarcasm. "I don't think they would ever open up from their zip-locked lips of theirs." Pinkie sighed at the dullness, her hoof trying to twist into a cookie jar. It suddenly sucked it in, much to her friends' amusement, before she tried to shake the jar off. "Why's everything so... tippity... tight!" With a slam against the table, the jar shattered apart into a mountain of porcelain shards, a cookie nesting on top. "Finally!" the pink mare exclaimed, before popping it into her mouth. "Mmmm... scrumptious!" Primrose chuckled along with the rest of the ponies as their friend licked her crumb-filled lips. "You're so random, Pinkie." "Where's Harmony?" Charter suddenly spoke amidst their laughter. "She's missing all the fun!" "Ooh! Ooh! I'll go look for her!" Before they could start, Pinkie had already raced out of the room, scattering the crumpled papers all around the ground in the process. She giggled with glee. It was fun running off before they could start talking. "Now... Harmony, Harmony..." the pink mare pondered as she trotted down the exclusive corridors. The mansion hallways were always filled with rows of steel knights, their glaives glinting like a spark from a match as they held them high. The carpet below her hooves was a dark red. Any more complicated on the design it would become a Persian carpet. The warm, cheerful afternoon outside contrasted the dreary, rotting walls inside, the wooden panels no doubt infected with swarms of termites. "Yes...." "Harmony?" Pinkie's ears perked at the sound of the voice. She turned a circle, nearly tripping over with her hooves flailing, before calling out again in a singsong voice: "Harmony~?" "Right there! That's the spot!" There was no doubt that it was her friend, although for some reason she was screaming, as if deep in pain. A bead of sweat fell from Pinkie's head. Was someone trying to hurt her friend? "Deeper! Harder!" The pink pony nervously trotted down, her ears perking at every door she passed by, stopping right in front. Her heart started to thump louder as she peeked through the thin crack, before gasping in shock. "Faster! FASTER!" Pinkie quickly turned back, a deep blush tingling on her cheeks. She couldn't believe what she just saw. Was her friend... A loud snarl emanated from Harmony... or, at least, what she think it's Harmony. The pink mare quickly darted off, the moans and growls chasing her away from the room. She tried to picture her friend: how reserved and elegant she was... to the mare she just saw. "Harmony..." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> "And I presume you were told of this?" Charter just nodded grimly, his snout wrinkling at the pony before him. "We know of many things, you know. We just didn't bother to show them." "I see..." Pitfall Hollowcleft just let out a chuckle, his cuffed hooves tied to the back of the chair. "In only six months? Some ponies took forever to figure it out." "Forever huh?" the pegasus said with a flap of his brown wings. "Then we're a lucky bunch." Pitfall just scoffed, gazing at the six ponies that sat before him. The six ponies he had kindly invited for a stay after hearing they were sent by by the Princess... these backstabbing, filthy... Especially that one mare. He could still remember that sultry pose on the bed... that intoxicating smell of wine and roses flourished in her mane... "No doubt it was Miss Harmony that informed you of this?" he suddenly said with a chuckle. "She was informative... how did you know?" Pitfall began to speak, before noticing the change of atmosphere as Harmony struck a sharp glare at him, her nose wrinkling and her teeth gritting fiercely. "I... have my own methods..." "Looks like your methods failed to notify you of our origins then." Charter bemused a grin. "I surely hope you're aware of the charges they'll place." "Slavery wasn't in the book-" "It is now," the pegasus scowled. "Even if it isn't, you can't say for the dozens of other charges I can place on you." Pitfall Hollowcleft just growled in response, huffing his head away from the pegasus. "Then I'll expect the Princess to arrive any minute now." Charter just gave a cold nod. "Let's go," he said to the others. The Voyager Six slowly shuffled out of the room, leaving the baron glaring at them from the chair. Pinkie just glanced at Harmony. She had never told anypony else about what she saw all those months ago, but that tingling feeling in her gut every time the mare excuses herself from the group... Then there's that look of uncertainty. The one that crosses her unicorn friend's face every now and then. "Harmony?" Pinkie called to her friend. "Are you alright?" "I'm... I-I'm fine," she said with a wave of her hoof. "What is there to worry, right Pinkie? We've got Pitfall down in chains! Our mission is complete! We should celebrate with one of your happy parties, don't we?" The unicorn felt a bead of sweat crawl down her forehead as Pinkie's eyes squinted slowly with suspicion. Harmony's jaw started to hurt, her forced smile widening with each passing minute. The pink pony just sighed, but shot her one, last, skeptical stare. "Okie-dokie-lokie..." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Present Day Kanov'hin grumbled under his breath, the shackles around his claws clanging against the marble tiles of the Princess's bedroom. His patience was stirring, on the verge of erupting from beneath his smooth scales. "To squander my days, chained to the floor of the abode of these... these ponies!" He spat at the floor with disgust, his paws shivering from the cold, aching for freedom. The dragon glanced longingly at the windows, the sensual warmth of the sun shining through the glass panes, landing just out of his claw's reach. The traipsing snow outside only incited, out of his absurdity, his jealousy for the freedom the crystalline pieces of ice possessed. "Havin' fun, pardner?" Applejack chuckled, entering the room with a scarf wrapped around her neck, her trademark hat tilted to the side. "Ya know it's easy to just give in than to just shiver in the cold." "Give in? Pah!" Kanov'hin's nostrils flared with a growl from under his breath, his tongue flicking with intimidation at the orange pony, who just raised her eyebrow in response. "No matter what you ponies do to me, I, Kanov'hin, will never bow down to your decrees!" "Shucks..." she replied with a shrug. "Like a stubborn filly you are, dragon. Much like Apple Bloom." "Apple who?" "Apple Bloom," she repeated, noticing his piqued interest. "M'ah sister? The yellow filly your fellow mates chased like we're in some sort of Appleloosa corral?" Kanov'hin just blinked in amusement, prompting the pony to ask: "What?" "Nothing. It's just your... accent..." "Ah know, Ah know. It's a family thing." Applejack shrugged a little, before shaking her head. "Anyways, you're still thick in the skull, which means it'll take a while before you'll be set free." The dragon just growled, wanting to stifle a yawn. "Suit yourself." Silence filled the air, the two of them minding their own business, with Applejack flipping through a book with a whistle and Kanov'hin just staring into the sun. The dragon glanced at the falling snow outside. There were many times in the past that he mesmerized the grace and delicateness of each flake, all peculiar in their own design. If there was a carver of these crystals, he would pay his utmost respect to him. With another trembling sigh, he closed his eyes, his tail curling up with a shiver. The temperature of the room was falling slowly, judging from the ice starting to form at the side of the windows. Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open in surprise as warmth suddenly engulfed his body. Kanov'hin turned to the side, bewildered at a giant sheet of cloth draped over his body. He quickly turned to Applejack, who was now walking back towards the armchair. "W-Why...?" he could only manage to stammer. "Cause you're freezin' right here," the orange mare replied. "Ya shiverin' like a leaf." Kanov'hin blinked for a second, before laughing out his deep laugh. "I know what you're trying to do, pony. You're just simply acting polite to lull me into showing mercy for your kind." "Ah'm just doing it 'cause yer now in Equestria," she hissed. "We ponies respect you dragons more than you can ever imagine! It's our custom!" "By chaining us to the floor?" "You're a scoundrel," she replied callously. "Equestria ain't treatin' any scoundrels right!" "What about you?" the dragon shot back, infuriated. "Ah'm just a pony doing my job!" "You mean committing treason!" "And what of it? Raging through our country isn't?!" she shouted, tossing her hat aside. "There isn't anything ya know of us! In fact, Ah reckon ya never bothered to know how we live as well, fiend!" "And you bothered to know ours?! You SKANK!" Kanov'hin snarled, flashing his sharp fangs. The distinct sound of a rope snapped, striking him across his eye as he let out another yowl. The dragon stumbled backwards, before tumbling completely from the powerful kick slamming into his chest, making him roar in agony. He collapsed to the floor, the chain strangling tightly at his feet with his paws clutching against his searing chest as he looked up at Applejack, who was wrinkling her snout in cold hate. "Ah gave you a chance by bein' nice. Ah gave you a chance to see how wrong you were of us!" The orange mare raised her hoof yet again, before retracting it back with a sniffle. "Ah... Ah th-thought you would see... you w-would understand!" She wandered across the room, picking up her hat and dusting its brim, before fitting it up on the top of her head. "It looks like Ah'm... Ah'm wrong about that..." Then she said something. Something that instantly stopped the dragon in shock. Something that immediately stormed through with guilt in his head. Something that, for the hours to come, would throw the dragon into a state of despair and confusion; of undying regret for the words he had carelessly spilled out of the corners of his mouth. "You disgust me." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> The colt raced down in his scooter, feeling the wind ruffling his short mane as the wheels rattled and jerked over the slate pavement of Fountain Square. He had never felt any more free in his life; the only thing keeping him in control was the watchful pair of eyes of his mother sitting by the bench. "Wooo~!" he shouted in a flurry of excitement, swiveling and swerving through the square, scattering the flock of pigeons that nestled around, awaiting for the sprinkle of bread crumbs from the hooves of their feeders. He nearly stumbled as his scooter bumped over a stray brick, grinding to a halt right in front of... "Be careful with that vehicle, young man," Stellar Lionheart said with a chuckle. "Somepony could get hurt." "Sorry," he replied, a sheepish grin filling his face. "I'll be more careful." The butler just smiled back, before reaching into his collar. "Listen kid, the Patriarch has something special planned, and the whole town's going to be invited." "Really?" the foal said, nearly dropping his scooter in anticipation. "Yes. As a matter of fact, I worked with the Patriarch myself, and my job is to send out invitations to everypony in town." Stellar held his breath, realizing the responsibility he's passing on to the child. "So my question is: with that vehicle of yours, would you be able to hand out the invites? I'm sure you'll do it faster than I can." "Me? I don't know...." "I'm such an old and frail pony. I need somepony to help carry out this task." The colt stopped to ponder, before exclaiming: "Alright then! But my mom's gonna know about it, though." "Get your friends to help as well," Stellar said with a grin. "Your mom could help too!" "Okay then!" the colt replied, racing off to his mother in a scooter. Stellar chuckled, glancing at the enthusiastic, young foal, jumping with glee as his mother gave him a nod, before darting off on his scooter across the pavement. "Children these days..." The foal kicked back on his scooter, before skidding to a halt. "Here ya go! Invitation by the Patriarch! Everypony's invited!" he said, handing out an invitation to a pony right beside him. The pink mare received it, a smile creeping up to her lips. "Thank you," she replied gently, watching as the young colt race off, no doubt to pass the letters to everypony else around the plaza as well. She opened the purple, decorated envelope, scanning through the inked words on the parchment. "Winter, Winter..." the mare muttered to herself, "you've outdone yourself this time." The mare continued her leisurely journey, admiring the clear afternoon whilst glancing at Palgiot Palace, standing in pristine excellence on Hoovingaar Mountain. She chuckled quietly, before asking herself: "So, Harmony..." "What would you wear to your ex-coltfriend's ball?