//------------------------------// // The Idea, A Hope // Story: EASA - Friendships Forged in Fire // by Star Scraper //------------------------------// Celestia stood on her balcony in Canterlot, overlooking a portion of the city and the distant valley rimmed by mountains. She felt the cold air, and watched the gentle white snowfall, backdropped by the dark evening clouds. How could my subjects forget so easily? She thought. Every winter they're reminded, by Hearth's Warming Eve, how important it is that they keep their love and friendship for eachother warm, and the terrible things that happen when that love grows cold. She sighed. How could my subjects forget so easily? The mild bickering, over such small matters, slowly wearing down the bonds of friendship. Then came distrust, and envy, and anger, then... She cringed. Hate. In the street far below, a pony walked briskly on an empty sidewalk, cautiously glancing at the unicorns on the other side of the street, keeping her distance. They never used to fear eachother... Once, I wouldn't even have to search, anywhere I looked, my sight would land on a pegasus... She looked around all of her view of the city before she finally spotted one. The pegasus was arguing with a unicorn. After a minute of back and forth bickering, the unicorn handed the winged pony a small pouch of coins, only then did the pegasus fly up, sloppily clear a small patch of clouds, then landed to receive another small pouch of coins. Both walked away with spite. Celestia's eyes were wet. They used to have such pleasure in serving one another, such love... A malicious voice echoed from behind: "You know, it's only a matter of time... Hahahahaha!" Celestia's blood ran cold. Discord! "Discord! What do you want!?" "Why, only some fun, my dear Celestia! And not to be frozen in stone by your little -ponies!... But no matter. I think you would've learned by now, you can imprison me in stone all you want, it's just another delay, in the end, I'll always come out to play! Don't you get it, Celestia? How could you not? I thought you were so much smarter than this!" "And every time you come out, you return to your prison. Don't you get that? Aren't you smarter than to keep fighting for something so vile as chaos?" "Oh, but where's the fun in giving up on that? You see, you turn me into stone, and there's harmony then I break out, and there's Discord! It's just another cycle, like night and day. Your little ponies get tired of friendship and harmony, then it's my turn! And... I think it's my turn, now!" "Then why don't you show yourself?!" In the street below, the same earth pony that was afraid, suddenly lightened up, ran towards a unicorn, and they cheerfully greeted eachother, both smiling and talking, then laughing together. Discord was silent. What is he up to now? Celestia returned to her chamber, closing the balcony doors behind her, and approached an enormous candle-lit map of Equestria. In three different places, near the Equestrian border, were clumps of wooden figures of griffon Avian army commanders, with pegasi soldier figurines spread across Equestria. If Discord is strengthened by disharmony as I suspect, then this war will make him unstoppable. At least he'll be playing games with reality, instead of so many dying in this war. She looked over the map. In place of one of the gryphon figures was Discord, dressed as the griffon supreme general. "Oh, look! It's the fertile lands of Equestria! Weakened by disharmony! Let's make it ours!" All the wooden gryphon figures came to life, slid onto the map, and started to tear apart the wooden figures of pegasi soldiers, then they tore apart newly appeared unarmed pegasi figures, and then earth ponies, unicorns, fillies - A small war of wooden figures erupted on the map, unicorns using magic, earth ponies using weapons. Broken figures and wood splinters almost covered the map. Celestia took a few steps back, rearing in horror. With a surge of magic from her horn, the wooden atrocities returned to their original forms, all except Discord. "This is wonderful!" Said the chimaeran wooden figure. "The only thing I love more than making chaos, is watching others make chaos for me! Oh, it's so cute to watch little mortals wreak what havoc they can!" The figure shot back to normal, only an instant before Celestia froze it in stone. "Oh, that was close! You little cheater! You're supposed to need the elements to do that!" his voice echoed form nowhere. "You're weak, Discord! You're still not as strong as you used to be!" "Looks like you aren't as dumb as you look! Oh, fine, fine! But It's only a matter of time... When they fight, I'll grow in might! And you'll be running from ME! Just like old times, Celly! Oh, hahahaha! I can't wait!" * * * Scootaloo's scooter was up in the top of a tree. Applejack looked in awe at the scooter, as Fluttershy hovered nearby. "How... In all of Equestria did it end up up there?" AJ asked. "I told you! The ramp!" Scootaloo replied. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle nodded. "Sugercube, no ramp would ever launch a scooter that high up there. How fast were ya goin'?" "Rainbow Dash fast!" "Huh. Well, I'll go get some rope and see what I can do." A few minutes later, a scooter, and a length of rope sat tangled up in the tree. Applejack sighed. "You musta been goin' fast, I've never picked an apple stuck in a tree THAT tight!" "What's going on down here?" Rarity trotted down from her nearby house. "What's with all this noise?" "Well, Scootaloo fell off her scooter pulling a stunt, and it ended up up there. And she hasn't seen Rainbow Dash all day, and Fluttershy wasn't strong enough to pull it out." Fluttershy, embarrassed, sheepishly grinned at Rarity. Rarity sighed. "Oh. Alright, then. This shouldn't be too hard..." Her horn glowed, they could hear and see the magic tugging on the scooter... She strained harder... Even harder, straining with effort. But to no avail. It was firmly stuck in the tree. "Good heavens! What were you doing to get it so stuck in there!?" "Oh, it's not her fault, she was just having some fun." Fluttershy defended. "Let's go get Twilight, she's a mighty good spellcaster. Maybe she can do somethin'." Applejack said. * * * As the sun set, it cast dim orange light on the scene of a scooter stuck in a tree, a surprised and hurt Pinkie Pie picking briars out of her mane, a young pony without her most prized possession in the world, and seven ponies and a baby dragon, all almost ready to give up for the day. "We could just wait until Twilight gets back and she can just teleport it out of the tree." Fluttershy said. Scootaloo eyed her with a pitiful, sad, almost crying face. "...Or we could just keep trying." "When did you say Twilight was getting back from that 'field trip' of hers?" Applejack asked. "She's gathering some rare herbs from Zachora for some experiment. She said she'd be back by sunset." Spike replied. They looked up to see the orange sun hanging low in the sky. A small streak of color flew overhead, stopped, and came back. "Rainbow Dash! Where have you been this whole time!" Scootaloo shouted up at her. "Uhh... I was just with some friends in Cloudsdale." The pegasus replied. "R.D. We've been needing your help here all day." There was concern in Applejack's voice. "Well I'm sorry! Is there a reason I can't have any pegasus friends?" "I'm a pegasus..." Fluttershy said. "Is there something wrong with having fun with pegasus friends in Cloudsdale?" "Rainbow Dash, would you be so kind as to help us please? Scootaloo lost her scooter in there." Rarity asked, nodding towards the tree. "Alright, why didn't you say so? Get ready for a Dash of Rainbow!" She flew back, rearing back to shoot through the tree. "Wait! Don't break it in half!" Scootaloo said. "Oh, yeah... Haha..." She flew closer. She reared back, then dashed towards the tree in a streak of color. "WAAIIIT!" Pinkie Pie screamed. Rainbow Dash came to a screeching halt right in front of the tree. "What, Pinkie!?" "It's full of sharp, prickly, ouchie briars!" Rainbow was shocked. "And why did no-one ELSE tell me first?" "Heh heh, I guess I just kinda forgot..." AJ said. "Okay, we can still do this, though!" Rarity said. She was silent for a moment. She eyed the tree from top to bottom, looked at everypony as she got lost in thought... "Idea! Applejack, you use that rope to pull on that big limb, to clear a way to the scooter. I'll use my magic to move the briars out of the way, Pinkie Pie can squeeze in there and grab the scooter, then Rainbow Dash can pull Pinkie Pie, and the scooter, out." "You want me to go back in the briars!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Uhm... Yes?..." Rarity nervously said. Pinkie Pie glared at Rarity. She smiled back nervously. The glare continued. Now Rarity's smile was a nervous grin. "Oke doke loke!" She said, smiling back. Rarity sighed with relief. "That's a brilliant idea, Rarity!" AJ exclaimed. "But it's getting dark! How are any of you gonna see anything?" Applebloom asked. "I'll be right back! Wait right here!" Rarity trotted off to her nearby house, and shortly returned with a lamp. "Fluttershy, hold this lamp, please. Now, is everypony ready?" They all nodded. "Then let's go... Ready... Now!" Applejack lasso'd the thick limb, struggling as she pulled it back. Rarity moved all the briars away with magic, making a clear path to the scooter. Pinkie Pie zipped in. "Ow! Ow!" She stepped on some briars. "Mhhmmm! Mhmm!" Applejack grunted through the rope in her mouth as she strained to keep the branch back. "I'm hurrying!" Pinkie replied, grabbing the scooter. "Now, Rainbow Dash!" "With pleasure!" Rainbow Dash grabbed Pinkie Pie, and pulled her and the scooter free from the tree, just as Applejack fell forward, the limb snapping back in place. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and a scooter landed in the grass, a short distance away from Twilight Sparkle, as she was emerging from the woods with a lantern and a bag of herbs. They all laughed. "Wow, guys! I forgot how cool you could all be! I guess you don't have to be a pegasus to be awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. They all grinned with joy and hugged, Scootaloo ecstatically bounced up and down with excitement. "I can't go to sleep now! We should all celebrate with an all-night slumber party together! We haven't all been together in, like, ever! Come on, Twilight!" Pinkie shouted to Twilight, who had just appeared from the forest. The unicorn smiled. It's been too long since I've seem them all this happy together... Way too long... -{[Luna]}- Celestia spoke to me as we walked: "Thousands of years of knowledge and wisdom... I believe I've read almost every book in this library. And we've both read many more, many that no longer even exist... Many things we've written are now nothing more than myths, legends, and old mare's tales, Luna." "Then, we will have to write some new histories!" I gleefully answered. We stopped in the middle of the library. "New history, is what we're here for. For your next lesson, I want us to work together to bring the ponies of Equestria back together, to weave their hearts back into one, and rekindle the flame of friendship." I had barely managed to get them to not fear me! How was I supposed to help Celestia unite all of Equestria, when I couldn't even unite a single village, without the help of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony? "Me? How can I help you? You're so much wiser..." I felt the shame of my rebellion, so long ago. My eyes were wet. I turned towards the floor. "I will always be a fool compared to you..." She cast a warm smile at me, one that I could feel. "Luna, how many times need I remind you? Never forget you are forgiven, little sister..." I faced her again. She continued; "Now, we need to find some way to unite Equestria. First, what brings ponies together?" There was a short pause. "I... don't know..." I answered. "Your highness, your honor, the Appaloosa v. Flim Flam case awaits your jurisdiction." said a colt in a red vest, walking in. "I thought you were going to stay here with me..." I said. "Luna, I told you we would go to the library... And you would learn a lesson. How could you learn if I did it for you?" "Couldn't you... help?" "Luna. I know full well you can do this.", She put her hoof on my shoulder "Have a little more confidence. I know you can do it." she turned and walked out the doors. When the doors closed, the library was dark, the skylight overhead only let in starlight. I sighed in the cold air, suddenly felt my eyes become heavy, and sat down. I couldn't help but think. How could I ever hope to do this? An entire library of books, and a mission to change the course of history. I shivered, it suddenly seemed so much colder as I thought about it. How much longer will I have to wait for Celestia? I sighed, and, lying down, rested my head on the ground, and felt my eyes growing heavy... No! I am not going to fall asleep! I have a mission to do for Equestria, and for Celestia! But the questions came back, running through my mind. Where can I even begin?... The last question, what brings ponies together?... I'll answer that! I'm in a library! I shot up, and trotted towards the non-fiction section. * * * I woke up, lifting my snout out of the latter end of an open book on the floor, with a low-burned candle nearby and another stack of two books on psychology. Where?... For a few moments I sat in total, drowsy-delirious confusion. Then I suddenly remembered - The library! I expected to see sunlight coming in from the skylight, but instead, it was still only starlight, with a faint hint of dawn. I yawned. I may have fallen asleep, but I got what I needed from the books. Thank you, William Manes! I mentally said as I put the books away. William Manes had written that "Wherever you are it is your friends who make your world.", so maybe, I should do the reverse. I should make the world, friends. Or, I guess, Equestria. But how do I make all of them friends? I can't make them all suddenly treat eachother more nicely. In a green flash, a scroll appeared in front of me, with a note attached. I read the note: "I do not trust Equestria with a ruler too tired to keep her eyes open! - So off to sleep for me, sister, I am afraid I can stay awake no longer. Although I can't help you for now, I have read this letter, and I believe it will help you, so I have sent it to you. (what are my students doing sending me letters this early in the morning?) Your sister, Celestia" I curiously opened the scroll. "Dear Princess Celestia, it has been far too long since we have sent you a letter! But today we remembered how magical friendship is, and how wonderful it is! We had taken each other for granted, and forgotten how much we mean to each other. But today yesterday we all had to work together to help Scootaloo get her old scooter out of a tree, and by all of us being together with a common goal, something that was impossible to do alone, that was so very incredibly hard, but together we worked hard and pulled through and remembered how fun it is to work, and be, together. Your faithful students, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Spike." My jaw dropped open. This was about how to bring friends back together again! This is exactly what I needed! But it wasn't written clearly... I have to analyze this to find out exactly what happened, I thought to myself. How is it they "came together"? What did they mean by "together we worked"? Maybe I can even write back to them and ask... * * * I yawned as I woke up. This time I remembered everything as I woke up, evidenced by the small stack of psychology books, an enormous pile of historical books I had skimmed through, the parchment, quill pen and scrolls and letters from and to Twilight Sparkle... But I was snug under a blanket, and had no idea where it came from, or the cup of hot apple cider sitting beside me... But I couldn't help but grin, lying in a cozy corner of the library, covered with a blanket, drinking hot cider, with an orange morning sun shining on me through the skylight. Morning? It is hard to tell if it is a morning sun or an afternoon sun, but there's no way I could have slept all night... I thought as I took a sip from the cup. "Luna," came Celestia's voice. "You are becoming as involved in your studies as Twilight Sparkle was! Do you like the cider?" She gave it to me! I smiled. "Yes, thank you." "Good. It was the least I could do, all of your ideas are brilliant. And you have been most devoted to your work! Now, it is time you have a little rest. I am very, very proud of all the hard work you've done, you may have saved Equestria." I started rambling; "But, I'm not done. I'm onto something now, I've read about these cycles in pony history, big huge achievements like building Canterlot, a marble city on the side of a mountain! Or, the first railroad to connect all of Equestria through the bison deserts, and every time all the ponies are together on it, and they feel excited and united! We just need a big thing to do, and they can feel united again! But I'm trying to find out what, I've looked at bridges, railways, no need for any amazing cities like Canterlot..." Now I started to feel confused. It was while I was looking at all that had been done, trying to find a new idea, that I had fallen asleep. It was all too complicated, there were so many different complicated factors that had factors and they all connected to different things and other factors... "Luna, I know what you know, you have written quiet a bit, and I have been writing to Twilight, as well, especially since earlier today. I'm very, very proud of all you've done." Now, bowing, and me bowing back, she tapped her horn on my shoulder, my eyes were wet as she honored me with this graceful gesture, I felt the warmth of her warm smile once more, but so many times stronger. "But now, your work is finished... for now. I know what we will do, Luna. And I think some of the local ponies want this section of the library back." I blushed a little. Three ponies carefully peeped around the bookcase at the end of the row, carefully peering at the two regal alicorn monarchs. I started to get up from my sleep, "Oh, no, there's no hurry, you can finish your cider first, if you want." She smiled good-humourdly and walked off, almost brushing the small, intimidated ponies. "Good afternoon" she calmly told the trembling ponies as she passed. They must be awfully shy!... Wait, did she say afternoon? -/[Gilda]/- I stood, facing down into the mud, the rain pouring on me, dripping down my light helmet onto the ground. Beak open, I was wide-eyed and panting. I couldn't believe I had done it. I lifted my right claw and looked at it. Weak! Weak! I looked up at the earth pony running away in the distance. I still couldn't do it. I couldn't get myself to chase down the innocent creature, and end her life. When she had seen me land, and I pinned her into the ground, that was my chance to kill the witness, so I could complete the mission. But I lost that chance. There's no doubt my light armor and battle claws were a dead giveaway, and soon pegasi soldiers would be coming after me, and whatever information our informant had on Equestria's soldier movements, wouldn't make it back to Avia. My tears were lost on my soaked face. What can I fail at next? Oh, yeah, Gilda, you can kill alright, you can kill helpless tied up griffon prisoners, but not pony civilians! I knew I could fly away. I had to inform the rest of the troop to go back to Avia, that the mission was compromised. But I couldn't get myself to do it. Instead, I just stood, trembling in the rain. This wasn't me. I'm a jerk, but not a killer... This is it I told myself. This world gets rid of me now. A jerk, a coward, a weak excuse of a soldier... I looked at my prestigious bronze-plated armor, earned by the blood of anarchists, in defense of order in Avia. An elite soldier? Who am I kidding? I'm no soldier. I have no honor, no courage, no excuse to keep breathing.And some part of me knew I was fighting for a ruthless kingdom... In the distance, through a cluster of trees, I saw two fillies running and playing in the mud. I could see them, I had the eyes of an eagle, but they could not see me. They were laughing, rolling, playing in the mud with eachother. What kind of cruel world is this? It reminded me of when I had known Rainbow Dash at flight camp. Things were so different... She was just a filly, then, and I was an innocent chick. That was before Krugen had taken the Avian throne, before the anarchists, before I was stuck working for the abusive Kona at the butcher's shop... Before I tried moving back to Ponyville, and was forsaken by the only true friend I had ever had. And I knew I deserved every bit of it. I was a jerk then. But at least I wasn't a killer. There were five notches on my shoulderplates, yet most of the anarchists I had won against, many more than five, would live to fly again. But those few notches weren't murder, that was policing, keeping order in Avia... It was the captured, bound, unarmed anarchist, and Tura's demands I prove my loyalty to Avia that had made me a killer. And it was then, in my anger at having done the deed and betrayed what little integrity I had left, I tore the promotion scroll she had given me in half, then I was assigned these insanely dangerous missions. It was all a dead end. Like the clouded sky, hopeless. I had betrayed my only true friend, and deserved her rejection, I tried to become strong, and I became a coward and a griffon murderer. It was now time, I was ready to die in battle and leave this disgusting world behind. The rain stopped, I cleared my eyes and scanned the sky for pegasi, but saw something else. I gasped in amazement; in such darkness as the storm, I had forgotten it's sheer beauty: a distant hole in the clouds let out a brilliant beam of pure, bright, azure sunlight, revealing the beautiful billowing sides of the white ethereal cumulus mountains far above. The rain started again, the hole quickly closed, and now I saw the small team of armed pegasi approaching. My heart was racing. I spread my wings ready for flight.