//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Doppelganger // Story: Those Who Fight For Harmony // by 561hank //------------------------------// Those Who Fight For Harmony Chapter 1: Doppelganger It was once again a beautiful day in the land of Equestria. There was not a cloud in the sky... probably from all of Rainbow Dash’s flying. The wind wasn’t strong at all, it barely even made the leaves in the trees move, and there was just a wonderful breeze blowing around all of Ponyville. Fluttershy was tending to her animal friends around her back yard as always. She always had loved animals, even before she had real friends her animal companions were always there for her. Today was like no other, and she was singing a small little tune she always sung while the birds chimed in with her in unison. The bunnies and squirrels were frolicking around and eating plenty of greens and acorns they had found in trees and on the ground. There was no other place in the world like this... at least to Fluttershy there wasn't. It was her utopia, the only place in all of Equestria that she felt she could be her true self. She was having a grand time playing with all of the animals when she noticed something strange. It was a rabbit, but there was something very strange about this rabbit. It was a different color than any other rabbit she had ever seen. Fluttershy noticed right off the bat the very differences it had, it was some strange purple colored rabbit, with sharp green eyes. It probably had the brightest and sharpest green eyes she had ever seen, and it kind of reminded her of how Spike’s eyes often looked. She quickly grew a liking to its interesting features, “Hewo der wittle guy.” Fluttershy said in her cutesy voice. She often talked to her animal friends this way, especially when she wanted to introduce herself. She tried to hold back shrieks of joy for this was a rare discovery for her! The shy pegasus always did love finding and befriending new animals, “Awww look how cute you are! How would you like to come back home with me?” The rabbit looked like he knew what she was saying and agreed to come along with her back to her house. She was as giddy as a little school filly, “Ohh yay! You are going to love living with us, I’m sure Angel will love the extra company as well.” They soon arrived at Fluttershy’s home. It wasn’t too impressive, just a tree on the outskirts of Ponyville. They entered the home and it looked a lot nicer on the inside than it did on the inside. It was a quaint little home, two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a cozy little living room with a fire place... perfect for when she wanted to snuggle up with Angel or some other animal she was taking care of at the time. Fluttershy was rummaging around the house preparing some things for her new friend. “I suppose I should give you a name now.” She said. The rabbit had a sly smile on its face, “There won’t be any need for that.” The rabbit said. Fluttershy was in a shock! She never knew that rabbits could talk, and his voice was so smooth and clear... it was amazing! Fluttershy knew this was no ordinary bunny, “Oh my!” she said with surprise, “I never knew that little bunnies such as yourself could speak so clearly!” “That’s because I am no ordinary Rabbit” he said. Fluttershy was confused by his remark; she asked him what exactly he was if he was no ordinary rabbit. The rabbit started laughing maniacally as he began to transform! Fluttershy was quite frightened by the scene that stood before her, for there was no strange looking rabbit, no, standing before her was something strange in of itself. It was a purple mare, with a unicorn horn... and Pegasus wings! Fluttershy was shocked and confused at what she was looking at, for the only other mare she knew who had Pegasus wings and a Unicorn horn was Princess Celestia. The strange mare walked forward towards Fluttershy, “Don’t be scared my dear pony! I just want your power!” Meanwhile Rainbow Dash was just enjoying another midday nap as usual. She was having a splendid dream about her becoming the best flier in the world, she even muttered it under her breath my sleeping “I'm the greatest flier ever...yeah!” But her dream would have to wait, because she awoke to the sound of someone screaming. Rainbow recognized the scream easily, “That sounded like Fluttershy!” she exclaimed. Rainbow flew as fast as she could towards Fluttershy’s house. When she arrived she slammed the door of Fluttershy’s house wide open and noticed a mare standing above Fluttershy. The mare was overpowering her with some sort of strange magic emitting from its horn. Rainbow quickly dashed at the mare to try and stop it from hurting Fluttershy, but it was no good. The mare put up a magical barrier around itself to protect it from Rainbow’s attack.The mare gave Rainbow Dash a slight grin, “I commend you for your bravery, but it is all for naught my little pony! I have already obtained this pony’s power! And now I shall obtain yours!” “What are you talking about?” Rainbow questioned. The mare gave a little snicker under its breath for her stupidity. “Are you stupid or something? Do you not remember what you are?” Rainbow Dash was still confused, it didn’t cross her mind that there was some special power that her friends and her possessed. “Ummm... we are ponies, duh?” The mysterious mare gave itself a facehoof and couldn’t believe that she was one of the special ones. “The elements of harmony you dolt! You and five of your other friends possess the incredible powers of the elements of harmony!” “Oh yeah…. I knew that!” She said trying to keep her composer. “Well what the heck do you want with my friends and the elements of harmony anyways you freak?” The mysterious mare gladly agreed to explain. “You see my dear pony; I am not what you think I am. I am no mare; I am what is known as a doppelganger.” Rainbow Dash just looked more confused than before. “Allow me to explain” The so called doppelganger said. “We doppelgangers have no identity of our own; we are born into with no name, no shape, and no past. We are just shapeless shells of a life form. So we travel through many dimensions and universes to try to find our place. We doppelgangers can take the shape and size of anything and perfectly copy ourselves to look like that. Not only can we copy someone or something’s image perfectly, but we can also copy their powers. It takes a while to copy an ability though... but thanks to the powerful magic you possess in this land I can completely copy someones powers without fail, and in a quick manner as well. I have traveled to many worlds, but then I discovered this place, Equestria. I soon and of course I learned about the elements of harmony. So I sought after these elements and gain their powers for myself! Including your friend here, I now have five of the elements of harmony. Now all I need is yours Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow had a distraught look on her face; he already has five of the elements? She thought to herself. She quickly questioned him in a worried fashion. “What did you do to my friends?” The doppelganger gave a menacing smile. “Oh don’t worry about your friends, I have some cohorts of my own to deal with them. You know, I'm not the only doppelganger that is interested in this power that you six have.” Rainbow soon gave a quick smile and looked at the doppelganger with the look of assurance upon her face. “Is that all?” she asked in a mocking manor. The mare looking doppelganger was feeling very puzzled by her statement? The doppelganger was wondering why her expression changed so suddenly. Rainbow Dash gave out a quick giggle, and burst out laughing. “Do you have any idea what you’re up against? My friends can totally take down your ‘cohorts’ any day of the week, and I think I'm plenty enough for you faker! So bring it on!” The doppelganger was intrigued by Rainbow’s challenge, while Fluttershy was still in the background whimpering and shaking while holding Angel in fear. Rainbow Dash and the doppelganger headed outside so that they could have their little showdown. A fierce battle between the heroes of Equestria and the world traveling doppelgangers was about to commence….. TO BE CONTINUED