//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Glowin' Up // Story: My Little Pony (R:G5): Ponies Unite! (Book 1: A New Generation) // by Kibat Grenbuku //------------------------------// Hours had passed since the group had come up with the plan, but now was the time to take action, they were all in elevator ready to execute the plan but the Elevator was moving a bit slow giving the group the chance to talk to each other. Zipp smiled with confidence. “Alright are you guys ready!” “You know," Sunny told him, "You could make a leader to a team. Always a planner and organizer, and finding other angles.” Zipp smiled at her in return. "Thanks," He tells her, "but I think I'd rather take orders from somepony else, than just bossing ponies around.” The Earth Pony mare flashed a smile toward the him, before realizing they were near the top. Once they got up, they prepared to move out. “Let’s hope this works.” Sunny whispered hopefully. The doors opened allowing Zipp to walk down the path, a bunch of other Pegasi were asking Zipp questions to which he ignored them and smirked while looking behind him. Sunny and Izzy poked their heads out and looked left and right to make sure that it was safe to sneak across, when they realized it was safe they quickly darted out toward the right. They climbed on top of a statue and looked down to see some guards, they quickly got down behind a hedge and peeked around the corner to see Zipp walk inside. They then made it through past the guards to the Grand Hall, where they saw two guards standing by with one of them on their phone. They quickly hid under a table with accessories on top of it and quickly sneaked away from the guards, they ended following Zipp who opened a door to the backstage of the throne room, allowing the duo to quickly enter without being spotted. Once they were behind the throne, they looked around the corner and noticed lot’s of pegasi around which made them nervous. “Well, now we just gotta get that crystal, and we’re home free!” Izzy exclaimed with excitement. "Izzy, shh!" Sunny shushes her. "Oops, sorry." Izzy whispered. Sunny just shook her head with a smile. Of course, it wasn't her Unicorn friend's fault, she was just trying to be supportive. For now though, all they can do is wait. As Zipp was leaning against the rail, contemplating what could go wrong and other alternatives would be at play, he heard his mother say, “I hear you payed our guests a little visit.” Zipp, a little surprised, but at the same time not really, looked at her. He scoffs, "She told you, did she?" "Oh, you know she tells me everything," Queen Haven replied, while she was working on powdering herself. "I wish you would tell me more. You're going to be king one day. You'll wear this crown. And trust me, it is heavier than it looks." "I know, mom, I know." Zipp said with a nod as he leans on the rail again, "It's just... frustrating to say the least." "Of being king?" "No, of lying to the other Pegasi. Seriously, how do you believe we're going to keep up with this charade?" "Honey," Haven turns to look at him, "why would you want to disrupt things?" “Cause it’s a lie, and it's wrong!” Zipp exclaimed with frustration. Haven was still disappointed in Zipp. “It makes them feel safe." "Safe?!" He asked, now it was his turn to feel disappointed, "How is lying to them about our flying makes them feel safe?! When you married Dad, was he a royal? No! He never was! And he was a better pony than any other pony should be! Even when he went through all of this, he felt so stupid lying to our people!" Queen Haven replied with a huffed sigh, placing her forehoof on his cheek, "Oh, honey, one day you'll understand." Zipp, completely upset with her elongated brainwashed queen his mother had become, gently taking her hoof off of him, remarking her, "I completely understand everything. It's you who doesn't get it." As he went towards the door, he stops and sighed, "Sometimes I wished Dad was still here." He then left the room, passing by his sister as she was practicing her melody, only to get a scowling glance from him. Looking on at the upset stallion, she then looks at Haven and asks, "What's wrong with Zipp?" The queen sighed and told her while shaking her head solemnly, "He's just misses your father, sweetheart." She looked at the pink Pegasus and then asked her, "You ready?" "Yep. The audience is going to love me~!" She tells her in a sing songy tone. The dusty lilac Pegasus kissed her daughter's forehead as she says, "I know they will. As will I." Zephyr Heights Throne Room The entire room went dark with the pegasi looking upwards stuck in awe, music started to play for everyone to hear. Haven and Zipp were lowered down for everyone to see. “Remember to smile.” Haven said with a smile, making the prince just scoff in disgust. "Yeah..." Zipp retorts quietly, "Because that's all we do." They took their seats and the lights went dark. Zipp looked at the right side to get a peak behind his mother's throne, seeing both Sunny and Izzy, ready to make their move. Just as Zipp had said, his sister, Pipp, made a grand entrance above her adoring fans, as she proceeded to sing, and "fly" to further captivate the audience. All eyes were all on Pipp's performance, including Queen Haven's. Though, even the light purple Unicorn couldn't help but whistle as she bopped her head to the rhythm of Pipp's singing. "Wow, she's got nice sets of pipes!" Izzy commented. "Psst, Izzy!" Sunny whispers to her, getting her attention. As Izzy was giving her friend support, Sunny managed to change the queen’s crown with no problem, she looked at Zipp who looked back at her and they both nodded. They started sneaking away from the throne. As they got to the door, both mares were caught off guard by a familiar face. "Sunny!" Hitch exclaims, only for said mare to shut the door in his face, but a painful yelp could be heard as her foalhood friend's forehoof was wedged in the door. "You alright?" A male's voiced asked. Sunny's ears twitched as she opened the door again to see in a double take surprise that it wasn't just Hitch that followed her and Izzy, it was the silver stallion back from Maretime Bay. As the two mares went out the door and closed it quietly, the apricot mare then asked them in a panic, "What are you doing here?!" Hitch looks at his friend and tells her, shaking his forehoof through the pain, "I went through all the trouble of finding and warning you, and you go slam a door on me?!" "I was trying to escape with the Pegasus Crystal!" She stops and asks curiously, "W-wait, warn me? About what?" "Aerovad," Argyle explained, "He's coming to here to destroy you." Sunny's eyes went wide as she exclaims, "WHAT?!" Her eyes went wide, realizing that she just shouted, she covered her mouth with her forehooves. And this was going so well! she thought to herself. "We need to get you out of here, now." Hitch told her. "Wait!" Sunny said to him, "We need to get Zipp! He has to know too!" Suddenly, they heard, "AH!!! INTRUDER!!!" A Pegasus ran out through the door and accidently bumped into Sunny, who knocked off her glasses. Now noticing the Earth Ponies and Izzy, the Pegasus then exclaimed, "AH!!! IT'S THE PRISONERS AND THEIR COMRADES!!! WE'RE BEING INVADED!!!" "Oh, great.." Hitch said with a deadpan tone. "Where are my glasses?" Sunny asked as she slowly got up. Izzy picked them up and said, "Here." Sunny thankfully took them and placed them back on and said, "I really got to stop getting myself in situations that involve losing my glasses." Before the escape could continue, the spotlights began to flicker out of control, interrupting Princess Pipp's performance. “What the…” Pipp asked herself. All the spotlights pointed at the single black cloaked figure. Looking through the opened door, Argyle whispered, "No... It's him... Aerovad." "Good evening mares and gentlecolts." The emerald green Alicorn greets in a somewhat regal manner, "I hate to interrupt tonight's entertainment, but unfortunately, I'm looking for somepony. Somepony, quote on quote, 'special,' and I know you're keeping her away from my eyes." Pipp continued to stare in confusion as she kept her wings 'flapping'. “What is happening?” Aerovad looked up at the pink Pegasus Princess and tells her, seemingly impatient, "What is happening, Princess, is I'm on a pony hunt, and eliminate her from existence." Queen Haven got up from her throne and she told him cautiously, "I'm sorry to inform you, but no such pony of another tribe had come through here. And even as such, hunting another pony is extreme forbidden. You're only wasting time here for a pointless hunt." The Alicorn wasn't having it as he turns his head towards the control panel, firing a translucent green arrow-like spell at it, causing Pipp to start flying all over the place while screaming. The group and the rest of the Pegasi to look up in shock. "Pipp!" Zipp exclaims as Pipp continued to zoom around before finally stopping, hanging upside down for all to see the wires, this caused a commotion to start as all of the Pegasi gasped and jeered. “She’s a fake!” One exclaimed. “Fake!” Many more yelled which caused terror to fill Pipp’s face. Pictures were being taken as well. "Ah... the truth hurts, doesn't it Princess?" Aerovad asked menacingly as he began to take off his black cloak, revealing a set of metallic green, black, and silver armor, his horn and wings ignited with elemental energy, scaring the Pegasi in attendance. He walks towards with his horn forming a cutlass-like blade. He then looks at the queen and threatens her, "Now, tell me where the Earth Pony is, or your precious daughter won't have her wings for an eternity." Everyone gasps. Izzy tells them, "We gotta get them out of here!" "How?!" Hitch asked, "We don't have any magic of any kind! We don't know how to even fight this guy!" Sunny was thinking any plans that could get the Pegasi out safely, but then she heard, "I'll distract him." They turn to Argyle in shock and Hitch insists, "No way! That guy'll tear you apart by the moment he sees you!" "Then I'll improvise." He shrugs as he went to the door. "Be careful, uh..." Sunny said, but stutters, then she remembers, "I'm sorry, you never told us your name." The silver pony looked at the apricot mare, giving her a friendly smile as he said, "My name is Argyle Silverline." Her eyes went wide from hearing the name, and without saying another word, the silver pony went to the throne room. She and the others leaned by the doorframe as they watch Argyle, pulling the hood of his cloak down. “Start talking!” The emerald green Alicorn demanded, “Where is the Prophecy’s Child!?” “If you’re looking for her,” Argyle shouts through the crowd, getting everyone’s attention towards him, “You’re found the wrong place to find her.” Aerovad moved his horn away from the frightened Princess, and slowly and cautiously walked towards the silver stallion. Upon his inspection of said stallion, he then said, “You… don’t look like any pony that I’ve seen before. Either you’re really brave to face a god like myself… or you’re really foolish.” “Or maybe I’m not stupid for defending what I believe.” Argyle tells him boldly, as he took off his cloak, unveiling himself to everypony in attendance that another Earth Pony is here. They backed away from him in fright. He sighed in disappointment and tells the Alicorn, “Your sister had caused quite mess centuries ago, didn’t she? All of these… rumors. Rumors about the three tribes blaming and shunning each other for who they are.” “In case you’ve forgotten,” Aerovad retorts, “We Alicorns of Nature only observe. We don’t set off a chain reaction such as this. This was only a work of a mortal like yourself to make that choice.” “If it was a pointless argument between the three tribes,” the silver pony questions, “how and why isn’t it possible for the Guardians of Harmony to reform the tribes trust?” He gave him an all knowing smirk as he reveals the answer, “Opaline was the source of that problem, and you kept the truth hidden.” Now all eyes were gazed back upon the Alicorn as he went silent for a moment. Then… his lips curved into a wicked smile, “You’re clever than I’d give you credit for.” More gasps were softly heard as he continues on, “Yes, Opaline was the reason why the tribes split. She had every intention to seek power for herself… but I specifically told her to only separate them to find the Prophecy’s Child. She will pay dearly with her life for her act of treason.” “That’s all you’d really do, isn’t it?” Argyle asked, “You, the master of storms rather take a life, innocent or not. You don’t care who gets hurt, you just do this to satisfy your goals.” The green Alicorn chuckles uncaringly, “You say it as if was a trait of mine.” “Because it’s true, isn’t it?” Sunny asked as she came on the stage, the Pegasi gasped at the sight of her, Izzy and Hitch, but she wasn’t bothered by it as she was more focused on Aerovad, “You allowed and permitted Opaline to spread these lies about the tribes in a negative way. I was told that Opaline had done all of that to seek power… but to hear you talk about how everypony’s lives doesn’t matter to you. How could you be so cruel?!” “Ah…” Aerovad said, his smile grew wider, “So the Prophecy’s Child comes out of hiding at last.” “If you want her, you’re going to have to go through me!” Izzy proclaims as she stood by her friend’s side. “And me!” Hitch joins, staying close to his foalhood friend as possible defensively. The Alicorn laughs, “You two? What could you possibly do against me? I have control of the wind, and you have nothing.” “We might not have our magic,” Zipp spoke up as he joins the mares and sheriff, “But if there’s one thing they have what you, and your siblings lack centuries ago, is Unity. My father told me that there’s always a possibility that the three tribes can reunite again, and here we are.” He looks at Queen Haven and proudly proclaims, “And if anypony else tells us otherwise, we will find a way to prove them wrong.” “Lord Aerovad,” Argyle boldly concludes as he stood by the group, “You kept listen to the wind so much, you’ve forgotten about the currents that help guides it with Nature itself.” Aerovad just scoffs and retorts, “You are very unbearably naive.” “Well…” the silver pony said, seemingly lost in thought for a second as a smile curved on his lips, “I was given a name just today.” Aerovad has heard enough and unleashed a powerful blast of magic act the group towards them, causing the everypony to look away, expecting the impact… but it never came. Sunny was the first to look, her expression had shifted in awe. “The Unity Crystals!” She exclaims excitedly. Floating right in front of them are the Earth Pony and Pegasus crystals, forming a shield of white glowing energy, surrounding the group. “That…” the green Alicorn stutters, “That’s not possible!” “Yeah, why don’t you return to your master and tell them this,” Hitch warns him, “As long as we live and breathe, the Champions of Unity will always be there to those in need.” The Alicorn growls at them, “This… is not yet over Child! Do you hear me?! I will not hesitate to destroy you and your friends the next time I see you! You will never beat against the wind! NEVER!!!” He then ascended and shot a blast of magic at the ceiling, soaring through the night in retreat. The Pegasi all looked at the group for a moment and they started gossiping. "They drove that Alicorn back!" "They saved us!" "Their magic protected us!" Then a little Pegasus foal cheers, "Hip hip hooray for the Champions of Unity!" "HIP HIP HOORAY!!" "HIP HIP HOORAY!!" "HIP HIP HOORAY!!" The crowd cheers for them as their chant continued. Nopony in the group, newly named the Champions of Unity, couldn't believe it, let alone Sunny. She never gotten such praise before, all she and her friends did was stand up to an insane Alicorn with a tyrannical and cynical pursuit of his conquest, without any magic, and drove him away from the realm of the Pegasi, given a heroic name in the process. Queen Haven couldn't believe it either. All of those fairytale, all of those stories of Ancient Equestria... it was all real. She couldn't find the words as she got up from the marble floor. Haven found her voice as she stutters, “Y-you… you really did saved us.” The group looked at her, they were just as amazed as they were. Izzy piped up and said, “Well, yeah we did! That’s what heroes do!” Then she looks at Sunny and asks, “Do they?” “Uh, a little help please?” Pipp asked, sounding embarrassed. Fifteen minutes later It took a while to calm the crowd and convince the guards to not arrest the royals, thanks to Sunny's negotiations, and after clearing out the throne room to make sure further discussions were held behind closed door. Haven sighed as she starts, "I must thank you four again for protecting my subjects. To think that the three tribes had lived in this lie, caused by Alicorns out of all ponies." “It’ll get worse if Aerovad, or any of his siblings, decide to go after the Unity Crystals.” Argyle tells them. “He’s right,” Hitch tells Sunny, placing his hoof on her shoulder, “He won’t stop hunting you until you’re truly gone. We need to get you somewhere safe.” Sunny took the Earth Pony and Pegasus crystals out from her bag, putting them together as they did when they formed that magical shield not too long ago. She let out a sigh to herself. On the one hoof, they were right. Aerovad is one of the most powerful Alicorns, and the journey will continue to get difficult for them if they keep going forward. On the other hoof however, this was her choice to leave Maretime Bay and achieve her father’s dream of Unity. If she wasn’t going to, then who would? She placed her hoof on top of Hitch’s as she tells him, “Hitch, we’ve came this far. What good will hiding me do for everypony? He can trace my magic whenever I trigger my Alicorn form… if I can ever figure it out how that works.” She stood up and continued on, “Besides, you said so yourself: As long as we live and breathe, the Champions of Unity will always be there to those in need.” “Yeah!” Izzy exclaims, “Besides, there’s one more Crystal we need to get!” “And two more tribes to unite,” Argyle tells them, “If the Crystals are indeed going to work, we’re going to need everypony’s cooperation, and Sunny’s negotiations.” Sunny’s ears went flat and was about to say something, but they were interrupted by the Pegasus Princess, "Can somepony explain why those things are so important that you had to ruin my whole show over it?" “Really Pipp?” Zipp asked annoyed, “Now?” “Yes! Now!” She retorts, pointing to him, “You left me hanging there in the spotlight, now everypony knows we can’t fly! And I had to be saved by them!” Her brother just looked at her irritated, but tries to keep his calm and says, “Pipp, I was in shock. We all were. You saw the spell bolt that Aerovad shot. Plus, he’s an Alicorn.” “That doesn’t excuse you for you to recover from shock and stand with-with them!” “I had to show the Pegasi that we can stand in Unity with the other races, showing them that we were wrong about them.” “So you would choose to side with strangers over your own family!?” “I SIDED WITH THEM BECAUSE I’M SICK OF LIVING THIS LIE AND BEING UNFAIR TO OUR PEOPLE!” Zipp snapped, having enough of his sister’s think headedness, “Living in fear doesn’t keep us safe! It keeps hurting us without our flight!” He shook his head as he continued, “I can’t believe that of all days that I would have to say this in front of you, but I’m sick of living this life where I have to wear a crown where’s built on lies. You want that crown? You can have it!” Zipp storms off out of the throne room, and his mother thought she saw a tear or two streaming down his eye. Everyone in the room was silent for a moment. The queen rubbed the side of her head, almost having a migraine from the argument. A part of her hoof touched her crown. “I can’t believe that he just yelled at me!” Pipp broke the silence, clearly irritated. Haven took off her crown and gave it a look at it and sighed, “Perhaps he was right…” “Huh?” Pipp asked. “Zipp and your father told me that one day it was going to bite us in the flank.” Queen Haven then looked at the thrones that she and her children sat upon daily as she continues, “When I took the throne after my mother died, I thought nothing could ruin our family tradition… but then came in your father. Kind, understanding, caring… but when he found out about our fake flight, being such a detective he is, he wanted me to come clean. I told him that it kept us all safe, but he then told me the same thing Zipp told me tonight.” She looked at the crown, it’s metallic reflection of her as a tear as she began to cry, “Oh, my beloved Horizon… what have I done?” The Earth Ponies, the Unicorn, and the celebrity Pegasus could only watch in sympathy. Sunny went to the queen and placed her hoof on her shoulder as she said, “It isn’t too late. You can still lead the Pegasi, but we all need to work together in Unity in order for that to happen. Once we return magic to Equestria, you’ll be able to fly again, without the use of wires or lights. My dad had a huge hope for Unity to happen. I believe your husband wanted the same thing.” The dusty lilac Pegasus looked at her, gave it some thought. She nodded to the young Earth Pony mare and tells her, “You’re right… you’re absolutely right.” She looked at her daughter, who also now wore an apologetic look on her face. “Go check on your brother, please.” Pipp nods and left the room. Haven rose to her hooves as she looked at the group and said to them, “I think it is time that the Pegasi to stop living this life of fear. If it is Unity that you want Ms. Starscout, then that is what you shall have.” Sunny’s eyes went wide. “Y-you mean it?!” She asked excitedly. “As long as I have my wings, and prayed for the day when magic returns, I sincerely mean it.” She told her. She turns to her friends, a joyous look on her face. She ran to them and hugged them as tightly as she could. Argyle, who wasn’t in the embracement group, replies to them, “It took us centuries, but it was worth it. And so the path of Unity begins.” Pipp went to the door that led to her brother’s room, who she could hear him sobbing from the other side. She felt guilty about everything that happened today, especially when she doubted him for years. She began to knock on his door and says, “Zipp? Can I talk to you?” “Go away!” A muffled shout from his brother could be heard. “Zipp, please?” She asks again, “I know you don’t want to see me, and if you still don’t, that’s fine. I just want you hear this from me.” She took a deep breath and began to tell him, “I’m so sorry. Okay? I know it might not be good enough for you to hear me say that after all these years, but I really am. I’m sorry that I drive you crazy. I’m sorry that I had to make your life hard that it was already. I’m sorry that every time when I go out do my performances that I don’t give you any credit. I’m sorry for being a terrible sister! I’m-“ The door opened as they looked at each other. Zipp wanted to say something, but this only allowed Pipp to continue on, tears streaming down her eyes, “I’m really sorry, Zipp… I really am…” Without saying a word, her brother wrapped his forelegs and wings around the both of them, allowing the light pink Princess to bury her face into his chest. He rested his chin on top of her head and said quietly, “I’m sorry too.”