//------------------------------// // InHarmonius Decisions // Story: United We Stand! // by pinkudesuu //------------------------------// Rock Trolls “Come on Barb,” Rainbow Dash pleaded, “I’ve been here for ageeees!” “You’ve only been there for 3 hours, dude,” One of Barb’s ‘friends’ said. Riff, if she remembers right. The one that caught her by the hair. 3 hours too much! Rainbow Dash grumbles around in her cell. Barb was outside, probably rocking by the sound of it. 3 trolls were left inside, stitching back some things after their rock n’ rolling session of destroying stuff. “Why are you guys even still here? Are you guys her maid friends or something?” Rainbow Dash said, annoyed. She might as well start a conversation. “Pfft, gods no,” Carol had said, “We’re interns. We have to follow her around for our college applications. Being Queen and all.” That had Rainbow Dash stopping still. What? “Yeah, we can’t really be friends with our Queen, you know?” Riff said with a sniff, “I mean, she’s Queen and we’re just her subjects! She doesn’t need friends around.” “But… I thought she called Carol her best friend?” Rainbow Dash was confused. Carol snorted lazily as she spritzed some cheese ca to her mouth, “Yeah, no. She just prefers calling me that ‘cuz I’ve been here the longest. We’re not really friends like that. Don’t even hang around as one.” “That’s… lonely…” Rainbow Dash looked down, “She doesn’t have anyone at all?” “Pfft- Lonely? Barb? Nah,” Sid Fret said, “She’s the Queen! Queens don’t get lonely! Plus, she has her old man with her.” They said more stuff after that, but Rainbow Dash drawled on the phrases that were said that she couldn't help but see what Twilight had been fearing since. “Queens don’t get lonely!” “She doesn’t need friends around!” Thing is, Celestia had her Sister to rule with her. Cadence had her family with her. But Twilight… she can’t have them around her all the time. They have lives of their own, too and now, Rainbow sees what Twilight had been fearing. The change. The loneliness she potentially could feel when she rules.  And now… she feels bad about Barb. She must’ve felt so lonely in the middle of being a Queen and wanting to act her age. Making friends and spending genuine time with them. Not with interns and subjects who feel obligated to be around her. That’s not loyalty. Would they stay with Barb genuinely when she shares her problems with them? Friends shouldn’t be like that. Rainbow Dash makes a plan. She’d be a damn bad friend if she were just ignoring someone who’s clearly not being seen properly. If she fails Queen Barb, then what would that say about herself towards Princess Twilight? Pop Trolls “Isn’t she just the cutest, Branch?!” Poppy gushed, “She’s all nice and sweet, even the critters love her!” True to her words, numbers of critters circled around her. Even the Dust Bunnies seemed calm around her which… Thankfully they aren’t destroying things. Branch had carried the yellow troll to the clinic. Unfortunately while on the way, many trolls had seen the figure of the mysterious Troll. Hard not to when a lot of critters were following after them. The Doctor had told them that she was not hurt in any way. Just fainted in panic and stress. Milton Moss, the village Critter Keeper, had come by asking why a lot of Critters, both wild and the ones being taken care of inside the village, had assembled in one place. Poppy explained how they had followed after the Troll that had mysteriously appeared slash landed in the middle of the village, the one they mistakenly took as a Shooting Star. “A shooting star in broad daylight?” “It was yellow and going fast! Have an imagination, Branchifer.” Milton Moss left in a daze. A troll that can naturally attract critters! He’ll have to talk to her when she wakes up. And wake up she did a day later. A. DAY. LATER. “Why isn’t she WAKING UP!” Poppy stressed, not meaning to yell out the last words. “Poppy relax,” Branch calmed her down, “And be quiet when you’re in her room. Something must’ve happened to make her so tired.” “I’m sorry,” Poppy put a hand in her mouth when she realised and sighed, “I just… You know how I am when meeting new trolls. And she came from the sky! How does that happen? I have sooo many questions for her.” “And I’m sure the other Trolls in the village, too,” Branch said, remembering Milton Moss’s excitement in meeting with the new troll, “But we have to make sure we don’t overwhelm her once she wakes up. And I mean that seriously! We don’t want her fainting again, do we?” “Yeah! Pff- That’s so easy, Brach,” Poppy waved him off confidently, “I can be gentle. Who says I can’t be gentle? I’m the Queen of Gentle!” “Ugh…” A small sound of grumble was heard inside the small room. A cuddle-pup barked excitedly and jumped on the mattress of the Troll. It’s small fluff of tail wagging excitedly when a soft giggle echoed around the room. “Oh, hello. Yes, it is so nice to meet you. What a nice pup to wake up to!” The troll cooes. When Poppy and Branch carefully approached her bed, they witnessed her talking to the critters as though she can understand them. “Yes, I can hear you. I haven’t met anything like you guys before,” She said to a wild Grinchilla, “And you remind me of my favourite pet, Angel! Oh, you’re so cute.” “Uhm…” Poppy coughed to get her attention which made the Troll freeze as though she was caught, “Hello!” “Poppy…” Branch reminded her. “Right! Gentle…” Poppy inhales a load of air and exhales to calm her excited nerve, “Hi! I’m Queen Poppy and this is Branch. We’re in a clinic right now because you suddenly fainted the other day. I hope you’re feeling fine now! Oh, I have a lot of questions about you! And it is so nice to meet another Troll! What’s your name?” Fluttershy looked at Poppy’s outstretched hand, taking in her appearance and excited expression. It really reminds her of one of her friends… “Uhm… I’m Fluttershy..” “Come again?” Poppy said, coming closer to hear. Fluttershy had done this many times before so she calms her beating heart. Nothing productive will come if she continues her shy behaviours. “Fluttershy,” She said a lot louder than she expected. She covered her mouth in shock, fearing that she might offend the Queen, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell.” “You weren’t yelling! It’s okay,” Poppy assured her, “So, Fluttershy was it? Cute name! Great name! Do you think you can walk now? Stand up and sing stuff?” “Uh…” Fluttershy was unsure as she buried a cat-looking animal to her chest for comfort (A Grinchilla), “I think so?” “That’s grea—!” A hand clasped Poppy’s incoming shout to Fluttershy’s relief. She could’ve sworn she heard a song coming in. “Why don’t I take it from here, Poppy?” Branch said with a cough, “So, Fluttershy. Nice to meet you. Again, I’m Branch. Poppy’s…. Friend.” Fluttershy saw how he cringed at the word. Like how Discord would look like sometimes everytime she addressed him as her most important friend. “Ehem— Do you know where you are?” Branch asked to which Fluttershy shook her head ‘no’. “Okay, so you don’t remember what happened before you passed out?” Fluttershy tried to remember but, again, she shook her head no. This was an interrogation, wasn't it? It’s not like she did anything wrong, so she’ll just answer them honestly. It wouldn’t be kind to lie to them. Though… It is a bit scary to talk to a Queen. “There was this big explosion of rainbow that happened in the sky,” Branch showed him a picture of Rainboom that had Fluttershy remembering how they had been falling before, “And then moments later after that, we saw a yellow falling star, which, now we know wasn’t actually a star, but it was you falling. You fell in the middle of our village, then almost every critter in the vicinity rushed to your side. Then you woke up for a moment before you fainted. And you woke up a day after that, which is today.” “Oh,” Was all Fluttershy could say, “I see…” “Do you… have any questions?” Branch implored gently as he could. “Was there… no one with me?” She asked, looking down as fear came to mind. “Like any other 5 pon— anyone? Uhm…” “No, sorry, Fluttershy,” Poppy answered honestly, a bit sad now having the idea that Fluttershy ended up here alone, “You were the only one that appeared here,” “Oh, that’s… that’s not good,” Fluttershy said, scared, “My friends, I… I have to find them… I—” “Fluttershy?” Poppy called, worried when the girl suddenly tried to stand up, her light soft pink hair fell by her back as she tried to stand up. They had to take a double take at the sight of it before remembering what Fluttershy was doing. “Whoa, whoa, Fluttershy, be careful!” Poppy said in alarm as she tried to assist her. Turns out she could not yet stand. Having not yet eaten a food in almost a day. “I can’t stay still when my friends could still be out there! They… a troll… wait, I’m a troll. Then they’re… Oh…” Fluttershy clutched her head when she felt pain. She doesn’t even know what they had looked like aside from hearing what Pinkie Pie had been saying. They all looked different, how would she be able to tell who they are when she had her eyes closed the entire time? Tears flowed out of her eyes as realisation struck her. She could feel Poppy bringing her in for a hug. After all the adventures they’d gone through together, she would’ve thought she was stronger than ever now. But once again, the universe reminds her how weak she still is alone in the worst way possible. Never mind how she managed to befriend the God of Chaos, because in the end she’s still the same Klutzershy.  “It’s okay, Fluttershy. We’ll help you find them once you’re all healed up!” Poppy consoled her. Poppy’s personality was a reminder of a friend she might lose. Are they all together except her? Did they encounter someone evil? She heard small voices from the critters while she wept. And she went still as she locked eyes with them. “Why don’t you bring her to your pod for now, Poppy?” Branch advised, worried despite his trust issues. Fluttershy seems to be a kind girl if any of the critter’s behaviour were anything to go by. “Yeah, let’s do that,” Poppy said, patting Fluttershy’s back before letting go slightly, “Do you wanna stay at my place? We don’t want to leave you alone while you’re here,” Seeing no other choice, Fluttershy nodded as a cuddle pup barked softly her way. An encouragement and assurance that these two were nice trolls. Poppy led her outside the clinic with her puffy eyes, fresh from crying. Fluttershy heard someone try to approach until Branch stopped them. “Not right now, Milton.” She ignored the hushed whispers from around the village as they glanced at her. Choosing the moment to look around the place. “How pretty! Look at her hair!” “She looks like an angel! I wonder how smooth her hair is? So pretty with all those flowers!” It was full of trees that made it look like they’re the size of a Breezy if not bigger, minus the wings. Instead, she saw some colourful trolls use their hair as a way to quickly travel from branches to pods. They can stretch their hair! Can she do that, too? Some were using critter bugs for transportation, being on top of them and flying high in the air. Fluttershy was almost in awe had the situation been different. She wished she could explore this new world with her friends together, instead of alone. ‘You can’t leave yet!’ She had heard one of the critters say when she cried. ‘No one had been able to hear us before, understand us!’  ‘You were the first troll we felt a real connection to!’ ‘Please don’t leave us.’ ‘You aren’t gonna abandon us too, are you?’ ‘Please don’t cry.’ ‘Please don’t leave.’ Maybe she’s not really completely alone in this. She looked behind them to see some critters following, and some critters going back to their homes after a series of goodbye to her way. After all, it’s not kind to just leave these critters lonely after knowing someone can understand them. Funk Troll “Oh, such style! The architecture, the music, everything here is simply UNIQUE!” In the middle of VIbe City, A white Funk troll named Rarity could be seen running around shops and sites as she took in everything. “Is there a boutique around here? I must simply check the trends and fashion you have here!” Rarity said to Prince Darnell who had been assigned to assist and tour her around the City. “There’s loads of them here! I’ll take you there and help yourself with anything you want,” Darnell offered. Rarity’s eyes shined at the offer, “What a gentleman! That’s a true Prince if I ever saw one. Ugh, the ones I’ve met before were quite dreadful, I tell you.” Darnell chuckled at that, “Are they really a Prince if you described them like so?” “I thought so as well,” Rarity huffed at the memory as she strutted off inside the boutique the Prince had led her to. She took quite the stuff, helped herself with jewellery and changed her basic looks. Now she wore two gold huggie earrings by her right ear and blue diamond stud earrings by her left ear which is more seen with how the curl of her hair directed more to her right. Her previous basic purple body coat is now covered with an ombre of purple to white tinsel segments, styled to look like a high-low dress. Her hair now had some yellow, fuschia, and light blue bands in them now. Her eyeshadows have some glitters and now with longer eyelashes. “Looking funky, Miss R!” Prince Darnell said as Rarity showed him the final look. “Like the new look, Miss R!” A female troll had said, “Looking prettier than ever!” “Oooh stop it, all of you,” Rarity gushed as she swayed her hair with her hand (the hands she had manicured!), “It’s just me, little Miss Rarity in the flesh!” “You really fit in with us, Miss R,” Darnell said, “We Funk trolls can only understand each other with our style, I tell you!” “That, I agree!” Rarity said, and then remembers something, “And I promise I will find a way to repay you for your generosity! That is my element after all, so you have my word!” “You don’t have to, Miss R,” Darnell said with a smile, “Just happy to help a lost friend out.” “Oh, but I insist!” Rarity said, insisting, “I’ll find a way to pay you back, and you don’t have to worry about me anymore now that you’ve shown me around.” Rarity ignores Darnells words of assurement as she looks back around the city with a determined look on her face. The Royal Family assured her that they’ll be assisting her in finding her friends while she stays here, she must simply do something to help them in her own ways as well. “Now, it’s time for me to learn my ways around here and find a way I can be in my own element! For I am not Miss Rarity without my Generosity!” Rarity declared, “Tooda-loo Prince D! I’ll be on my way to be Miss R!” Darnell was left outside the boutique with his hand raised and mouth open, about to say something else but Rarity had left pretty quickly before he could say a word. “What she mean about being an element?” He asked himself, flabbergasted. Techno Trolls Pinkie Pie’s heartbeat was still beating fun after that super fun party, she can see her heart beating out of her chest! It’s so bright and blue too. “That was so fun, when’s the next party happening?!” Pinkie Pie squeals as she does a somersault. “Hi there new friend!” “Hi new friend!” Pinkie Pie quickly responded on instinct with a huge smile on her face. She came face to face with the troll she recognised was the DJ from earlier, “Oh you were the DJ! I’m Pinkie Pie, nice to meet you!” “Nice to meet you, Pinkie Pie! I’m King Trollex!” Trollex met her arm and both animatedly shook their hands in a quick way, never stopping even as they talked, “I’ve never seen you around Techno Reef before, are you new here?” “Super new!” Pinkie Pie said, still animatedly shaking each other's hands, their rainbow arms seemingly creating a hologram of a rainbow with how fast they’re going, “I actually just woke up somewhere close from the party but did you know that before that, we were falling in the sky?! Sadly you’re so below in the ocean you must not have totally seen, which is a bummer for you because Rainbow Dash’s rainbooms are crazy cool to watch. I think I also fell with a Pink trail, I could’ve been super obvious but again since you’re below the Ocean and partying and all, you must not have seen me! But it’s okay because then I found you! And that was all. just. a. hunch!” “That’s so cool! Totally bummed now about the rainbow explosion!” Trollex replied instantly, other onlookers watch in awe at how they’re not just moving animatedly, but also talking animatedly, the screens can’t keep up! “Are you alone? What brings you here then? Have you heard about me before? Do you think we’re related, because I mean look at us! We look like twins if we put aside our skin colours! I was so excited when I first saw you, cuz you just remind me of me! Like a girl version of me! We should totally hang out more!” “I was alone before I got here! I was with my 5 friends when we suddenly started falling from the sky!” Pinkie Pie replied excitedly, finally their handshake stopped as Pinkie Pie swam around as she explained her story to Trollex, “You see, before this I looked tooootally different, I wasn’t a troll! I was singing with my friends in front of this magical tree we were led to, which is a totally longer story, and then a portal opened up below us and sucked us in! And then my friends and I started looking soooo different. I started looking like how I do now, then Twilight’s body became all glittery, small and quite chubby. She looked so cute! And then Rainbow Dash looked so rocking, Fluttershy’s hair became softer and longer, then Rarity’s neck became longer! And Apple Jack… hmm well she didn’t change much except for the fact that despite having 4 hooves, she also had 2 hands! That’s like 6 limbs!” “I see, I see! From your explanation, I can tell that you and your friends became 6 different kinds of trolls! Twilight became a Classical Troll, Rainbow Dash became a Rock Troll, Rarity became a Funk Troll, Apple Jack became a Country Troll, you became a Pop Troll, and that leaves Fluttershy becoming a Pop Troll!” Trollex excitedly supplied, having fun at how their conversation remains giddy despite how serious it is. “Oh my gosh we’re in different tribes! That sounds sooo fun. We can just go to where each of them are to visit them and say hi! Also I haven’t really heard about you before? I mean, we’re from another world so I guess that alone explains a lot of it? But maybe we’re like soul twins! Which would make sooo much sense, I mean, I like throwing parties! Making people laugh with joy and bring their life upside down when they feel sad!” Pinkie Pie said as she twirled around Trollex excitedly.  “That sounds so upbeat! I’ve never heard about Soul Twins before!” Trollex said excitedly. Neither of the two realised how they’ve been almost swimming in circles for a long time now, just looking at each other with a big smile on their face. “It still sounds like having a sibling, but with soul!” “Yeah! I have a biological twin in the real world, but we don’t really have the same vibes when it comes to partying! Still love her, but I think it’s different with you!” Pinkie Pie said excitedly, “We just connect instantly! Like the feeling of not being alone partying anymore!” “You get me! It’s like there’s no way to stop now that we’re together!” Trollex said with genuine happiness he would just explode into bits of confetti. “Sometimes I wish my life was like a photograph,” Trollex started singing “Double tap the good ones and just Photoshop the bad,” he led Pinkie Pie to a high view where they can see the whole of Techno Reef. “Put 'em in my wallet, in my pocket, if I need 'em, then I got 'em,” He glanced at Pinkie Pie with a sad expression. “But life don't work like that.” Pinkie Pie felt how lonely it must’ve been for Trollex to lead the country with no one actually understanding him sometimes. “Sometimes I feel like I'm a Sailfish on a track,” Trollex tried to swim fast but Pinkie Pie was able to keep up with him easily, shooting him a comforting smile. “Even when my feet are up, my mind is runnin' fast (Fast)” “When I'm home, I get impatient, when I'm gone, I kinda hate it” “'Cause my life works like that.” He sent a tired look to Pinkie’s way. “Sunsets and open water” Trollex swam near the surface, his hand reaching up. “Skies full of technicolor” But then he stopped, as if constricting his freedom. “Beauty right in front of you” He sang longingly. “There's so much to discover if you–” He was about to swim back down when Pinkie Pie grabbed his hand in her to stand on the surface of the water. Showing a breathtaking view of the sunset and ocean. “Stop,” Pinkie Pie cut him off as she sang, “breathe it in for the moment.” “Stop, give it a minute and you'll own it,” She sang as she gestured to the view. “Stop, only just begun” She sang as she held both of his hands with hers. “Soon it'll be almost over so just” She urged him with a huge comforting grin. “Stop, see what comes into focus” Trollex continued singing “Stop, kind of crazy what you'll notice” He sang as he glanced at the beautiful setting sun once again. “Stop, like a setting sun” They both sang together in sync “Soon it'll be almost over” Then, Trollex showed off his skills with his control over the ocean and water alike. Making fountains as Pinkie Pie watched in aw. Trollex urged her to mimic him, and that’s when she felt the connection. The connection between her, the ocean, and Trollex. “Stop, breathe it in for the moment Stop Stop Stop Soon it'll be almost over” [you can pause the song here and read through it first, and enjoy your imagination running wild!] She raised her hand and summoned a large splash, one mimicking that of fireworks but with water. It was just for a moment, but it was enough to make her giddy. Making familiar objects and animals alongside Trollex who did the same by summoning neon fishes to light up the figures. Pinkie Pie’s hands stopped to look at how she had unconsciously made water figures of her friends, each having the colour of their Harmony Necklaces by their necks with glowing small fishes with their respective colours. This made her remember about her friends. Trollex appeared behind her quietly. Putting his hand over her shoulders for comfort, knowing how much she must be thinking about her friends at this moment. [continue song here!] “It's like I'm looking through the window of a train,” Pinkie Pie sang “But my vision blurry, so it all just look the same,” She missed her friends but then she remembers how it is back home. How she plans hundreds of parties by herself. Her friends surprise her on her own birthdays too, but… “All the people and the places, all the voices and the faces,” There’s always a thought that it could’ve been better, but they genuinely tried their best. They’re not like Pinkie Pie when planning a surprise party. “They all just stare right back,” And they don’t… always understand Pinkie Pie’s chaos… “Long talks and cups of coffee,” Trollex sang as he empathise with Pinkie Pie “Waking up and saying sorry,” Pinkie Pie sang as she looked at him. “Love is right in front of you,” They now know someone can see through them as they put their palms against each other, smiling. “We can finally see each other if we–” In the last moment, they jump-pushed against each other as they both gracefully back flipped back into the ocean and met with each other’s grinning faces. “Stop, breathe it in for the moment Stop, give it a minute and you'll own it Stop, only just begun Soon it'll be almost over so just Stop, see what comes into focus Stop, kind of crazy what you'll notice Stop, like a setting sun Soon it'll be almost over” They swam together as they sang. Happy that someone finally gets them. See through them without thinking how crazy they are, because this is the norm for them! “Stop (Oh yeah) Stop (Oh, just stop) Stop Soon it'll be almost over” “(La, la-la-la) When you love somebody” Trollex sang as once again, they swam in circles together softly this time. “(La, la-la-la) When the moment hits” Pinkie Pie sang with a giddy tone “(La, la-la-la) When the music's playing” Trollex sang “(La-la-la) And it goes like this” Pinkie Pie sang as they both summons colourful dolphins for each “(La, la-la-la-la-la) When you love somebody” Pinkie Pie continued singing “(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la) When the moment hits” Trollex sang as they surfed with the dolphins under the water without waves. “(La, la-la-la-la-la) When the music’s playin'” Pinkie sang with her arms raised “(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la) And it goes like this (La, la-la-la-la-la) Listen to the music, yeah” Trollex sang as they then jumped away from the dolphins “(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la) Oh, it's playin' in your ears,” Pinkie sang as they gently landed at where Trollex had led her to with the best view of Techno Reef. “(La, la-la-la-la-la) Oh, playin' in your ears,” Trollex sang “(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la) If you Stop.” With the song finishing, they ended it with a hug, happy to have found each other as Twin Souls. Pinkie Pie had never felt so happy before, she could swear this had been the happiest she’d felt in her life! Was she having too much fun on her own?  But she’s not alone. Not anymore.. Classical Troll “How can you guys even survive up here?” Twilight asked in horror, just now realising that they’re literally above peaks of a mountain and clouds in Symphoville. Sure, they can fly, but what if they get tired suddenly?! “The clouds catch us!” Trollzart answered in glee, happy to converse with their Princess, “We have special affinity over clouds and weather unlike other Trolls, so we can always prevent rains if we don’t want it.” Twilight thinks their affinity is familiar with Pegasuses in Equestria. “But… you can’t just destroy rain clouds and the like, you have to actually move it away…” Twilight thought of the knowledge, “Where do you put the clouds in?” “We put it in different Troll Tribes,” Minuet Sonata says casually, like how the sky is blue and they put rain clouds on different troll tribes so they can have the perfect weather all day. “WHAT?!” Twilight exploded to which the other trolls had to recoil with how loud it was. Twilight coughed in embarrassment, she had accidentally used her Canterlot voice on these babies! “I’m sorry, ehem. What I mean is, what? Why?” Twilight said, “Putting rain clouds over other Trolls? That’s mean!” “But it’s the only way we know, I mean, where else can we put the rainy clouds over?” Trollzart genuinely asked. Twilight feels bad for them. Without a proper leader, had they all been doing unexplainable things because it had been what’s convenient for them only? Lacking empathy for other tribes? Was that the friendship problem here? Twilight sighs, “We have a lot to work with. Starting with your personality!” She said, pleased that the Classical Trolls were listening to her intently. Twilight thinks that it’ll take a really long time and a long list of textbooks she’ll be writing before she can be reassured that these cute little Classical Trolls will be able to live on their own without having to rely on her. In a good way this time. She makes a mental list of what she should focus on teaching them, getting into the role of a principal and princess. In the middle of it all, Twilight was surprised by her actions. Has leading always been so natural for her that it’s almost auto-pilot for her? She should be focusing on finding her friends! Not teaching friendship and practical stuff to random people (Trolls!) she just met! But the beauty of this all is knowledge about the world and its magic. How can Trolls rely on strings for their music to be alive? Are there like sub-genre trolls? Ones that don’t rely on strings? So many questions yet she thinks she doesn’t have the time to think of such things. But… These Golden Baby Classical Trolls need someone to lead them first. Then after that, she swears she’ll leave and look for her friends. As soon as possible. She can do this. It’s just a Musical Tribe full of Baby Angels. She can do this. She’s just gonna lead them alone like how Celestia did to all Equestria since all those moons ago. She can do this. What else can she learn from this world? Country Troll “There you go, Sugar. Freshly cooked Apple Pie!” Delta put down a smoking serving of Apple Pie in front of Applejack. “Thanks a lot, Delta,” Applejack said, grabbing a piece for herself with her… hand. “You really don’t have to look after me all day, don’t y’all have errands?” “Nah, don’t mention it,” Delta assured her as she put Clampers down to eat, “And errands? Not really. All I do is look after the string and take charge in the village!” “Which, I’ve heard, is such a huge responsibility,” Applejack looked down in thought. She had heard the story about the string from Delta. 6 strings, 6 tribes, 6 genres of music not being in harmony anymore. A familiar concept that can be solved with friendship, she thinks. Maybe that’s why they were brought here? “Don’t look so down, Apple,” Delta said when she noticed Applejack’s quietness, “We’ll find yer friends. If they’re as strong as you’ve said they were, I’m sure they’re also gon be searching for each of ‘ya too.” “Yeah. Y’re right, Delta,” Applejack’s spirits lifted at the reminder of her friends’ bonds, “We’ve been through so much worse before, and we’re still here standing after all. It just worries me that this is the first time we’ve been truly separated from each other amidst all this… problems.” “So you’ve said,” Delta said with a raised brow of curiosity, “You’ve never told me the full picture of how ‘ya got here, haven’t ‘ya? I know I can’t force ‘ya, but it’s really buggin’ me thinking how ‘yer so unfamiliar with the world and ‘yer body.” “Well… How do I start this…” Applejack can’t really lie to save her ass. So she told her as much as she can explain in simple terms. Not going on to over explain the how’s and why’s. Just that they came from another world so unlike this one, while also being familiar to this world. How they’re elements of harmony and that each of them embodies one of said harmonies. Why they’re here and how they became separated. “And I have this strong feeling that we all got separated and each appeared in the tribes we each represent,” Applejack said, “Magic works complicated like that. It’s not pure coincidence that I happen to land in ‘ya Country Folks as I am also a… Country Troll now. Wouldn’t pass it to Rainbow Dash that she happens to appear in the Rock Trolls, she has dem vibes for it.” “So 6 Strings, 6 Tribes, 6 Harmonies, and 6 Friends,” Delta listed off in interest, “Really far convenient for each of ‘ya to be seperated in each tribe to work off this friendship thing, huh?” “Heh, yeah. Though I really do still worry,” Applejack sighs, “We’ve always been together when solving problems, each time being accompanied by another, never alone. So I worry what separating and settling in this new world for us would result in… and what it’ll mean for us.” “Oh, AJ, I really do wish I could help ‘ya out more. But I don’t believe you and ‘yer friends can do anything in this divide between tribes.” Delta said honestly. “I fear the same thing, Delta,” Applejack said with a defeated sigh. “That’s why I don’t want any of us to separate when dealing with problems as much as possible. ‘Cause from what I can remember, shit happens whenever we become separated.” Applejack shudders, remembering Discord’s manipulation on each of them, reversing their Harmonies and making them the opposite of who they are. Was it right to tell Delta all of this? To say it all out loud? “Well I say, this pie is everything!” An unfamiliar voice chimed just beside Applejack appeared as they snatched a pie on their table. “Hickory, save some for the others!” Delta said jokingly to the newcomer. “I jest, Delta,” ‘Hickory’ said laughing, he then turned to Applejack in greeting. “The name’s Hickory. I hear ‘yer the new Troll around?”