Luna curled herself in her bed. She left her window open in order to hear the celebration outside. One would this this would be a great time for her. After all, the Grand Galloping Gala took place at night. Everything in the garden was in full bloom under the full moonlight. Still, she took no pleasure in attending. Luna had always been the more…introverted of the two ruling alicorns. She felt overshadowed anyway and spending a thousand years on the moon only stunted her growth further. She was anxious and depressed, though she knew very well she didn’t have to be. Perhaps, it was indeed just the longing for those she knew so long ago.
Ascension seemed to be the easy part. She saw ponies come and go in her long life. Then, with an absence of all those years, she lacked the closure of mourning friends properly. She let out an annoyed huff. The thoughts brooding in her mind were annoying. They hurt and made her feel dizzy. Past…future…it was all coming to a head and she didn’t even know when. Then again, was she really worried for Twilight Sparkle, or was she just so terrified and anxious to see him again?
She rolled onto her back with another huff. The world didn’t look much better upside down either. Her stomach growled, hinting that it would be nice to eat a little something. Was it worth it? Did she really want to get up and taste those foods? Would she simply just make something for herself? Did she really have to get up?
“Heads up!” She heard the familiar cry of…who was that again? It was one of Twilight Sparkle’s friends… Oh yes, Pinkie Pie. Luna’s eyes shot back open and she hurried to the window to peer down into the courtyard. There she was, that crazy pink mare, with huge frosty glasses of juice. A squint made it clearer that it wasn’t the punch, but a sort of apple juice. An…apple medley? She saw that one colt, Static Shock setting up the fruits around the bowl before a moment of panic.
“ Wait! Wait! Miss Pinkie Pie! That isn’t nec…no!”
The young Zebra’s cries went unheard as Pinkie Pie pitched glasses to party-goers who had been waiting and wanted something fast. Luna wanted to cover her eyes as she made a panicked face yet…couldn’t take her eyes off of this train wreck in progress. It was a mess. The snooty elite was so unaccustomed to her ways that they didn’t know how to respond to her speed…and were therefore soaked. At least apple juice didn’t stain. However, one stallion went for a fast high pitch and managed to catch it with great enthusiasm.
“ Woohoo! Got it! That was an awesome pitch!” The Pegasus cheered. He guzzled his drink in mid air and licked his lips in satisfaction.
“ Soarin, get down here!” Spitfire called. Ah yes, figured the craziest responder would be a Wonder Bolt.
“ Yes!” Pinkie Pie cheered. “ I did something for Rainbow Dash!”
Luna sighed. That one…that one was just so random. No telling what went through her head. In fact, Pinkie Pie reminded her of somebody. However that somebody was a big more rude and aggressive, but the basic zest and zeal for life…that love of the party…
She took in the other sights. Could she find Twilight Sparkle’s other friends? Could she find the Zebras? Yes! There was Fluttershy in her green and pink dress looking into a bird’s nest. There was Rainbow Dash in her ensemble muscling her way to the Wonder Bolts clique. There was Applejack, the most rustic of the bunch, talking to a small group. Luna knew those ponies were businesponies. Many were light colors, as if to show a physical sign of their superiority. A green earth pony was the most vocal. He seemed intrigued by anything Applejack had to say. Luna couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
Who else could she find. She smiled, realizing that this game was actually sort of fun. There was Rarity in her glimmering gown, talking with Fleur de Lis and Fancy Pants. Good couple. They had the elite respect and status of most in Canterlot, yet had the down to earth approachability that was perfectly compatible with that of Rarity. They’d be a useful influence if she needed it.
Oh, and there was Twilight Sparkle practically salivating on the hooves of Monochrome and Antiquity. That pony loved knowledge. Luna couldn’t help but feel a little envy. What about the stories? She wanted to hear Antiquity tell the stories about the old days. She’d even sit through cutie mark anecdotes so long as she could hear those old accounts.
Ah, and there was Zecora in a glimmering white gown with gold hems. Rarity really went all out on her, didn’t she? Obviously it was a little more than Zecora would have expected. Zebras were much simpler and less…froofy. Zing Wing only wore some accessories and Nightsong looked sleek and sassy, rather than done up in a ball gown. Even Zulu was simple. Luna made a face, finding that one to be a bit…boring. He was just as stuffy as the elite, yet with the overbearing reminder that he had earned it. She didn’t like it. That just wasn’t the proper way for a Zebra to act… at least not in these modern times.
Who else could she find? Celestia…Cadence…Shining Armor…Dr. Whooves…Blueblood…a looming shadow… Wait, what?! Luna shot her head up to her glowing moon only to find that it was beginning to go dark! The entire Gala was starting to go dark and thunder rolled in the sky. “ What?! No! What is going on with my night?!”
She could hear the confusion below and she turned to gallop towards her doors, only to stop short and realize…oh right, she had wings! So back to the window she went and flew from her chambers to the grounds to inspect from this angle.
“ Luna, what is going on?” Cadence asked as she approached.
“ I didn’t do this!” Luna hissed. A bang sounded which gave way to screams. She turned to see a cloaked figure standing on the banquet table.
“ My juice!” Pinkie Pie cried as she brought her hooves dramatically to her face. Static Shock pulled her back and stood in front of her with a snort, as if to warn this strange, tall figure. He wasn’t the only one ready to fight. Guards began to close off the courtyard. The figure stood tall, lightening adding a dramatic effect to its presence.
“ Hey!” Twilight Sparkle shouted as she inched closer. “ Who are you?!”
“ And what do ya think you’re doin’?” Applejack chimed in as she flanked Twilight Sparkle’s left.
“ Are you looking for some sort of trouble?!” Rainbow Dash added on her right.
“ Stand down!” Zulu shouted, warning the guards. Honestly, who did that Zebra think he was giving orders to the Royal Guard? Still, Shining Armor acknowledged him, yet still put himself in front of his sister.
“ Don’t worry, Twilie. I won’t let anything happen to you,” he assured. This seemed to annoy the figure. Its eye looked over the guards, the prince, the young princess, her friends gathering to defend her. It grinned and let forth a stream of vermillion colored magic. It smoked about its hooves and reached like tentacles to the crowd. Suddenly, Shining Armor was lifted in a prickly whirlwind. He let out a grunt of protest as he was flung aside. A zap of electric power then knocked Rainbow Dash aside as she charged, as it did to Applejack when she tried as well. Soon, a wall of magic blocked off the guards, zapping any that came too near until it was just a ring of princesses.
“ Who are you?!” Twilight Sparkle demanded as she stomped down a front hoof. “ Show your face! How dare you attack my friends!”
The eyes seemed to glow under the hood as the figure studied Twilight Sparkle wordlessly. However, it came to a halt as it was suddenly knocked off the pedestal of buffet table.
“ Luna!” Came the cry of the other princesses. It was Luna, indeed, that had used her body as a battering ram to tackle the strange figure. She stood over her, holding down parts of the cloak with her hooves as she leaned her head down, her horn almost like a light saber glowing over the figure’s head.
“ Who are you?! What have you done to my moon?!”
“ Ah, Luna…as prickly as ever,” a female voice laughed. She was taken off-guard and it was enough for her to be lifted and tossed aside. As the figure got back up, the hood fell off, revealing a white unicorn head and a short purple mane, straight, longer on one side, almost covering the unicorn mare’s right eye. Her intense purple eyes stared accusingly at each princess.
“ It’s you!” Luna gasped. She grit her teeth and galloped towards her again.
“ Luna, wait! Stop!” Celestia called to no avail. Horns locked like swords as Luna glared angrily into the tall unicorn’s eyes. A smirk grew on her opponent’s face as she held the dark princess back. Then, without warning, she zipped out from beneath her, sending Luna toppling idiotically to the ground. The tall unicorn mare began to laugh, but good naturedly rather than maniacally.
“ You will never learn, will ya, Moon Runt?” She then loomed over Twilight Sparkle, who was unsure how she should react or feel at this point. “ State your name, Runt!”
Twilight Sparkle was a little offended, yet still not as full of herself as one would expect. She was herself before she was an alicorn, right? “ I… I’m Twilight Sparkle…”
“ What is the key to your ascension?” The tall figure asked as the wall of magic began to fall.
“ I…what?” She was getting nervous now. “ Who are you?”
“ I will ask the questions!” She said dramatically, as if overly rehearsed.
“ Mardi Gras!” Luna growled as she pushed herself to her hooves. “ Leave her alone!”
The strange mare glared over her shoulder, unamused at Luna. “ You are an absolute party pooper, Moon Runt.”
“ How is an unicorn able to subdue an alicorn?” Rarity asked from the sidelines.
“ A unicorn can’t,” Luna hissed. “ She’s an alicorn too.” That sparked a sea of gasps and questioning noises. Mardi Gras rolled her eyes and sighed. Luna has stolen her thunder and it was pointless. She tossed her cloak aside to show a slender white body with merlot swirls up her legs, 3 purple dots on her cheeks, large merlot and purple wings sprouting from a purple vest. While her mane was short and one color, her tail was wavy with stripes of purple and merlot. Her cutie mark was a feathered mask on a stick.
“ The magic of friendship,” Celestia suddenly said. It caught Mardi Gras attention.
“ What was that?”
“ I…” Twilight Sparkle suddenly snapped back into a logical state. That brought Mardi Gras’ attention back to her. “ My key to ascension was mastering the magic of friendship!”
“ Friendship…” Mardi Gras hissed. She narrowed her eyes and shoved her face into the young princess’. “ Friendship?! You are the princess of the magic of friendship?!”
Twilight Sparkle gulped a moment, intimidated by Mardi Gras’ assertiveness. “ Uhm…yes?”
Mardi Gras glared a moment longer, adding to the intensity before zipping back upright with a bright smile, “ Oh, awesome. That’s a new one.” This left Twilight Sparkle, and several onlookers a bit confused. “ Well, Magic Runt, welcome to the world of ascension. How’s the alicornhood treating ya so far?”
“ It’s… fine. Still getting used to the wings.”
“ A unicorn originally, right? I can tell,” Mardi Gras stated. “ I had to deal with a horn and the wings. I tell ya, if you’re not born a unicorn, having a horn suddenly appear can be a real pain….sometimes literally. A whole new lifestyle adaption if you’ve never had either family of magic before.”
“ So… you were an earth pony originally?” Twilight Sparkle guessed.
“ Sort of. I was a zorse. I can’t imagine not having all this now, though.” She reached out with her wing and yanked Twilight Sparkle closer as she began to walk with her. She ignored the strange stares.
“ You didn’t answer me!” Luna shouted. That one…she always knew just how to get under her skin. Celestia tried to calm her, but it was no use. “ What did you do to the moon?!”
“ Oh, geez!” Mardi Gras huffed. “ I was told to block it out. Don’t get your tail all in a knot, Moon Runt. It’s temporary. You’ll get your stupid moon back soon.” She then faced forward again. “ But, what about that thunder and lightning, eh, Magic Runt? Dramatic, right? Added a mysterious creepiness to it?”
“ Well, it certainly scared everyone. We weren’t sure if the changelings came back or something.” She then paused. “ I didn’t know there were other alicorns. I thought Luna, Celestia, Cadence, and I were the only ones.”
“ Yeah, well, you’re young and being young makes stupid to a degree…”
Twilight Sparkle bit her tongue. She wasn’t sure what this one was capable of, but boy she sure could be rude. Perhaps she didn’t realize it? Perhaps she was just from another culture entirely? However, she couldn’t stand the thought of anyone as her as stupid. “ Mardi Gras, I’m actually very well read. Granted there is a lot I don’t know, but I wouldn’t consider it being because I’m stupid.”
“ You’re not overly sensitive, are you?” Mardi Gras asked.
“ No. But, I think I deserve some level of respect. I mean I know respect is earned and you probably don’t see me as equal to you or anything, but…I’m still a pony with feelings. I deserve common courtesy.”
Mardi Gras stopped and considered the little alicorn pony. “ Well, since you were so polite about it, I suppose I’ll do my best.”
Luna’s eye twitched. She would be respectful to Twilight Sparkle, whom she only knew for five minutes, but not her whom she knew for years?! Celestia gave her a nudge, “ Don’t think too much about it, Sister. You knew this was coming.”
“ I didn’t know she would be coming. She didn’t show up when Cadence became a princess.”
“ Cadence didn’t utilize the Elements of Harmony,” Celestia reminded.
“ Right. You two were utilizing them at the time, remember?” Cadence added. “ Really, there’s no need to be so bitter, Luna. Nobody was hurt, except maybe your pride. I don’t think she’d a dangerous pony to have around.”
*
Mardi Gras seemed to love the change in mood. Everyone had gone back to their Gala personas and the party carried on as normal as possible. A lot of intrigue came about over the strange alicorn. She sat in a soft spot in the garden with Twilight Sparkle and her friends surrounding her. She had a lot of catching up to do with this world.
“ So, all of you are the Elements of Harmony,” she stated, hoping she understood right. Pinkie Pie dropped from a tree branch, having finally reunited with her friends as if they’d never been out of her sight.
“ Yep! Fancy that! We all ended being the Elements of Harmony and then >poof! We end up defeating Nightmare Moon! Oh, and we took down Discord too!”
“ It was so cool!” Rainbow Dash added. “ But then again, we are awesome, aren’t we?!” Her gaze turned to Fluttershy who responded quietly, “ Uhm…yes?”
Mardi Gras clapped her front hooves together with excitement. “ Well, how about that?! Ooh, ooh, lemme guess who is who!” She examined each of them, trying to take in as much information as possible. “ Hmmm,” she pointed with her hoof, “ You are Rainbow Dash, right? My guess would be…Loyalty.”
“ Wow! You got it on the first try!” Rainbow Dash declared happily.
“ And this here is…Flutterby?”
“ Fluttershy,” the timid one corrected.
“ I bet you are…” She rubbed her chin and looked at the others. She closed her eyes and seemed to listen to nothing before smiling again, “ Kindness. And you, Rarity, right? You’re Generosity. And you…you had a funny name. A tipsy one…Applejack! That would make you Honesty!”
“ Wow, it’s like she’s psychic!” Pinkie Pie cheered. To that, Mardi Gras seemed to go from a beaming smile to a thoughtful one as she watched the pink earth mare. “ Are you?!”
“ Not entirely,” she admitted. “ But, I would bet everything that you are Laughter.”
“ That’s right!” Pinkie Pie cheered. “ Now Twilight! Guess Twilight!”
Mardi Gras looked to the young alicorn and tilted her head this way and that before shaking her head. “ I’m afraid that one, I don’t know. You see, in my day, there was only five elements.”
“ Right,” Twilight Sparkle agreed, despite not knowing when Mardi Gras became a princess. However, there <i>were</i> only five when she went to find them. “ The element of magic was added to them when we faced Nightmare Moon.”
“ Nightmare Moon,” Mardi Gras repeated as she shook her head. “ Moon Runt has issues.”
“ Don’t you like Princess Luna?” Rarity asked.
“ She was pretty scary as Nightmare Moon, but she’s just the plum nicest princess you could meet,” Applejack chimed in.
“ I like her. She’s just so tense,” Mardi Gras admitted. “ I like teasing her.”
“ What was it like when you became a princess?” Fluttershy asked.
She stood and shook herself free of any grass before stepping over them and looking at the party. She saw the Zebras coming together. Well, some of them. She saw Zecora, Zulu, Zing Wing, Monochrome, Antiquity, and Static Shock. “ There is a lot to tell, as all of you ponies have forgotten where you come from. A lot of lost knowledge. They know. They know what’s coming. That’s why they are here.”
“ I don’t think that quite answered my question,” Fluttershy sighed. Applejack patted her back with her hoof.
“ The answers will come soon. Everything you want to know. Princesses must be educated in the old ways. So now too the Elements of Harmony.” Mardi Gras peered back at them a moment before she smiled and spread her wings. “ The finale will begin…and then the education process. He is coming.”
“ He?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “ He who?”
“ Another alicorn?” Rarity asked.
“ Wow, a real alicorn party!” Pinkie Pie cheered. The others stood and followed, Pinkie Pie the last in line. As they approached, the Zebras bowed their heads to Mardi Gras and seemed to know what was coming. Nearby, Shining Armor perked and noticed the strange behavior.
“ I think she’s up to something,” he stated. “ The Zebras are acting strange. Should I get the guards ready?”
“ If she were dangerous, Celestia and Luna would have expelled her, wouldn’t you?” She looked concerned upon the other two princesses. Celestia smiled and gave a gentle nod, but Luna was tense, almost frozen as she watched Mardi Gras speaking to the Zebras. “ Luna?”
Luna refused to answer but hurried to be a little bit closer, but not too close. After all, she didn’t want to interact with Mardi Gras any more than she had to. That gate crasher was now commanding the band. Percussion began to play as the Zebras started a chant in their first language. They stomped down their hooves on the ground as Mardi Gras lifted off the ground. Luna swallowed hard. She was nervous, waiting in anticipation. What was she up to? Even the animals of the garden began to act strangely, chirping and chattering in a tribal-like sound.
As the music played and the chants rose, so too did Mardi Gras, higher and higher into the sky. Something akin to fireworks began to his and spark about the darkness, triggered by her magic. It gave way here and there to strange shadows. The “firework” display of her magic took on ancient tribal shapes. Then lightning dashed through the clouds, showing what seemed like another figure ever so briefly. The guests of the Gala were intrigued and every eye was to that place. As this aerial display progressed, the sun soon began to glow once again until it was finally bright with the alicorn-like shadow before it.
“ Who is that?” Twilight Sparkle asked breathily, knowing somehow that nopony would answer. The strobe effect of the lightning flashed a few more times before the figure began to descend.
His hooves touched the ground in the circle made for him by the Zebras. He was taller than all the princesses, though only by maybe a couple hands. Twilight Sparkle found herself stepping backwards into her net of friends. “ He’s…a Zebra!”
That he was. He was slender and tall with a wavy striped mane and tail. He had a thin black mustache, large black and white wings and a long horn. He wore a twine about his neck with a rodent skull. On his head, he wore a large predator skull like a war helmet. Jagged teeth framed his face and his dark plum eyes stared from the eye holes. His cutie mark made him even more intimidating. Not only did he wear bones, but was defined by them in some way. The skull and crossbones graves each flank. Somehow, though, everypony doubted this alicorn was a pirate of any sort.
Mardi Gras landed and all went eerily silent. She bowed herself respectfully. It was then that Celestia and Cadence joined Luna by her side and the three of them also lowered their heads respectfully. His eyes looked to Twilight Sparkle, and in a fit of panic, she bowed so quickly that she slammed her nose into the grass. A cry of pain accompanied her swing of her head, back into the heads of her friends as she rubbed her nose and knocked them over to rub their noses in a strange domino effect.
He then looked about the Zebras. He offered them a smile and then came to inspect Twilight Sparkle closer. “ A unicorn.” He then took a side peek at her cutie mark. “ Magic.” He then lifted his head. “ It is a pleasure to meet you, Twilight Sparkle. I am Voodoo. I’ve come to see just what sort of alicorn you are.”
“ How…do you know who I am?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“ I know many things In time, you will know many things too,” he replied.
“ You…don’t speak like the other Zebras,” she noted.
He arched a brow before chuckling, “ Oh, that. Perhaps it would intensify meeting for the first time, I perhaps I spoke in rhyme?” Another chuckle. “ What I have to say can be said quicker without Second Tongue.” He stepped back and looked to see what was left of the buffet table. “ Ooh, chocolate…”
Twilight Sparkle blinked a few times as Voodoo helped himself to finger foods. She wanted to find comfort by Celestia’s side, by Shining Armor’s side, and Cadence’s and those of her friends. Luna, however, sucked up her courage and marched over to the snacking Zebra King. “ It’s been a long time, Voodoo.”
He licked his lips and swallowed some chocolate before looking to her. “ That it has, Little Luna. Glad to see you back with everypony again. What is your opinion on your new little addition?”
This surprised her. He was rather direct. “ I think she will do fine. She embodies the magic of friendship and I believe she has proven herself worthy of it.”
“ Well, winning <i>you</i> over is saying a lot,” he teased. “ I don’t recall Nightmare Moon needing any friends.”
“ It will not happen again,” Luna said in a pleading tone. “ I apologize. I really do.”
He took her face in his hooves and pulled on her cheeks, “ You are still such a filly. But, they say the moon never grows old.”
“ Who says that?” She asked.
“ …They,” he replied before clearing his throat and shifting his eyes about. “ Celestia!” Once he had the other sister’s attention he came closer and puffed out his chest. “ Prepare me a place! There is a lot to be said, and I’m sure I’ll have quite an audience. Make sure they have the three C’s.”
“Uhm…what…were the three C’s again?” Celestia asked with a hint of confusion.
“ Cupcakes, cookies, and cocoa!” He declared. “ I love chocolate. I especially love it during story time. Go, go, be off!” He looked over his shoulder at the on-looking Zebras. “ Ladies! The foals. Let the young not forget! Mardi Gras, I want strawberries!” He then looked to the group of friends. “ Meet me in the place set aside for us. You don’t know enough to appreciate what it is you are, Twilight Sparkle. You don’t understand why it is that the alicorn ascension is special. However, I will educate you bit by bit until you understand what sort of power you have been given.”
*
“ Well, that was rather boring,” Apple Bloom sighed as she sat on the floor. “ I really thought the Grand Galloping Gala was going to be…grand.”
“ It’s just a bunch of grown up ponies doing grown up things,” Sweetie Belle added. “ This event was not made for little ponies.”
“ That’s what my daddy says too,” Trinkets stated, catching the attention of the three blank flanks.
“ Trinkets!” Scootaloo cheered. “ We thought you’d be out there.”
“ No. Only Antiquity and Static Shock get to go out there. The rest of us were left in here with that dragon.”
“ Spike?” Apple Bloom asked, peeking behind her to see poor Spike being dragged about by a turquoise earth pony and, who was that other colt? White Noise? In fact, there were quite a few foals in this place, and more than the ones presented to the princesses. “ Are those all your brothers and sisters?”
“ Yeah,” she sighed.
“ Oh, there are other foals here,” Tarot observed as she approached. “ Who are your little friends, Trinkets?”
“ Uhm…Apple Bloom… Sweetie Belle… and Scootaloo.”
“ We’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Apple Bloom declared.
“ We’re on a never ending quest to find our cutie marks!” Scootaloo added.
“ We’re…still looking, Sweetie Belle stated.
“ Then Trinkets is in good company. She’s the only one of us without her cutie mark. Those brats over there always give her a hard time about it.” She turned around, “ I’ll introduce you. Hey! Leave that dragon alone and get over here!”
Spike dropped in heap when the two colts galloped away. He was grateful to finally get a break from being the playmate. Those two played so rough. Two other fillies approached as well. White Noise stretched his wings and looked the new girls over. “ Hey, they cover all the bases. One from each tribe.”
“ White Noise, stop being an idiot,” Tarot sighed with a roll of her eyes. She took a deep inhale through her nose before motioning to the earth pony. He was dark turquoise with pale yellow markings on his face, rump, and legs. He had a dumbbell cutie mark, suggesting he was a lot stronger than he looked “ This is Hodge Podge. He’s the oldest of the Nightsong stock.” Trinkets and White Noise couldn’t hold back a few snickers.
“ You’re just jealous that we get to do more than you,” Hodge Podge remarked before shaking hooves with the new girls.
Next was a dark indigo Pegasus filly with powder blue spots. Her mane and tail were a swirl of pink and midnight blue. Her cutie mark was a quill. She had narrow eyes and a smile that almost made her seem superior in attitude. “ This is Nightwish,” Tarot introduced. Then on to a small filly, yellow in color with black stripes. She reminded the CMC of a big bee, even with the striped feathered wings. Her mane and tail were full and slightly curly with orange and black stripes. Her cutie mark was a bee hive with a bee. “ Honey Bee,” Tarot said. “ Talk about hitting the nail on the head with a name, eh?”
“ Wow, so you all know what you’re going to do?” Apple Bloom asked.
“ I give readings,” Tarot explained. “ My parents insisted I learn a traditional trade. Luckily, I love doing it.” She nudged against Hodge Podge. “ This is our mule,” she teased. “ He always has to help carry the heavy stuff. White Noise…he just…gets in the way.”
“ Hey! I do not!” He defended.
“ Honey Bee is a bee keeper,” Trinkets explained. “ And…Nightwish writes poetry.”
“ Poetry?” Scootaloo repeated with a face as Nightwish tried to bask in the glory. “ Well, I guess everypony likes different things.” That seemed to surprise the blue Pegasus and she turned up her nose with a huff.
“ So, Trinket, why don’t you join the Cutie Mark Crusaders?” Sweetie Belle asked. “ While we’re all together, maybe we can finally find our cutie marks.”
“ She won’t find it,” White Noise laughed. “ She doesn’t have any talents.”
“ You don’t have any talents,” Tarot sighed with a roll of her eyes.
“ I do so! I just can’t do it inside! Otherwise, I’d show ya!”
“ Hey, I have an idea!” Scootaloo announced. “ Tarot, you said you can read the future, right? Why don’t you tell us what our cutie marks will be. Then we can do it.”
“ It doesn’t quite work like that,” Trinkets frowned. “ I already tried it. The cards never say exactly what to do, but just assures that there is a talent and that the cutie mark will show up when the time is right.”
“ Oh, that’s what everypony says!” Apple Bloom whined.
“ It’s just how it is, I suppose,” Tarot replied with a shrug. “ I got lucky. I tried doing it too. It wouldn’t give me a direct answer either, but that’s also when I got my cutie mark. Talk about convenient.”
“ Maybe we should try the things that they do,” Sweetie Belle suggested.
“ I have my cards,” Tarot offered. “ I think it’s really the only thing you can do in here…if you don’t like poetry.”
“ Hmph!” Was all Nightwish could muster for that.
Tarot sat down and began to shuffle the cards. “ I’ll show you how first. Then you can try.” They agreed and she set down three cards. “ It says that a treat is around the corner. It says that there is going to be a time of rediscovery.”
“ Neat! My turn!” Scootaloo declared, taking the deck and shuffling it. She set down three cards and looked at them confused. “ Uhm…it says that…we’ll get…swords and drinks from a fool.”
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom weren’t much better. Perhaps it was for the best. It was more fun to experience it than learn it. “ I think we’ll just leave the card reading to you,” Sweetie Belle sighed as Tarot put them away.
“ Wait! Do one for me,” Spike asked as he raised his hand. “ I want to know if somepony likes me.”
“ You want to know if my sister likes you,” Sweetie Belle teased. He blushed.
“ No! I… It can be anypony…or…dragon or… I…”
The foals giggled at Spike’s embarrassment as the doors opened. In the doorway stood all three of Zulu’s wives. Nightsong’s non-zebra brood rushed to her and huggled her legs.
“ Do not act very slow,” Zing Wing said. “ We all have someplace to go.”
“ Does this have something to do with that treat of yours, Tarot?” Apple Bloom asked.
“ Only one way to find out, isn’t there?” She giggled in response.
“ He’s here! He’s here!” Antiquity gushed as she galloped up and down the halls. “ There’s no need to fear; His Majesty is here!!!!!”
The Ponyville girls looked to one another in confusion. The Zebras and…one would suppose, zorses seemed very enthused about something. His Majesty? Since when was there a patriarchal ruling body? Did they mean Blueblood? Shining Armor? Was it Zulu? Those were the only male leaders that they could even think of.
“ You, we will not exclude,” Monochrome added as she eyes the girls, “ for you are to be invited too.”
“ Us too?” Sweetie Belle perked. This seemed to excite the fillies and they were quick to join the small herd of foals about the hooves of the adults. “ What’s going on?”
“ A curious trio, these little three,” Zing Wing laughed. “ Patience, little ones, and you will see.”
*
Celestia had been “displaced” from her throne. This would normally never occur, so confusion at her passive behavior was evident in the Ponyville herd. The throne room had been redecorated crudely, but with a lot of comfort. It was like a big slumber party with pillows to sit on and the grand treats. The party had ended and despite a long and tiring day, Voodoo and Mardi Gras kept the excited audience awake. It didn’t seem too hard.
Voodoo sat himself comfortably on Celestia’s throne with Mardi Gras sitting beside the throne like a loyal dog. A whole audience then settled before them, including all the royalty: Celestia, Luna, Zulu, Blueblood, Shining Armor, Cadence, and Twilight Sparkle. All of the embodiments of the Elements of Harmony were present. The Zebras, the foals, and Nightsong were present. At one moment, Twilight Sparkle and Antiquity were practically in Voodoo’s lap, much to his surprise. Mardi Gras simply laughed, but Voodoo hadn’t met such eagerness in a while. He couldn’t help but smile, which grew into a laugh as he watched Applejack take hold of Twilight Sparkle’s tail and pull her back silently as the alicorn gushed. Antiquity was no better, and Static Shock had to pull her back in the same manner before settling himself between Rarity and Pinkie Pie, intruding among the gaggle of girls happily. They sure didn’t seem to mind. The foals were set up front, allowing them the best view and best hearing.
“ Hey!” Scootaloo gasped. “ It’s a Zebra!”
“ I’ve never heard of a Zebra alicorn,” Sweetie Belle chimed in. She looked to Trinkets, “ Did you know that?”
“ Yes. My parents talk a lot about him.”
“ That’s King Voodoo,” Tarot whispered to them. “ He’s the most important Zebra in our history. He’s really, really old. Even older than your princesses!”
“ Wow,” Apple Bloom said breathily.
“ So, he’s practically seen everything,” Spike finally chimed in. He let out a cry as Antiquity nearly glomped him.
“ Everything and anything!” She squealed. “ He has lost knowledge! Stuff that even the books don’t have written in them!”
“ Whoa, Twilight, calm down!” Spike urged and then paused, “ Uhm, sorry. I’m used to Twilight doing that…”
“ I’m so excited!” Twilight Sparkle added, causing Antiquity to turn and get rather giddy and unintelligible with the alicorn like itty bitty school fillies. Pinkie Pie tackled the both of them, unable to hold back the chance to feed on their joy.
“ Pull in them reigns, Sugar Cubes,” Applejack smiled. “ I think he’s waitin’ for us to get quiet.”
“ Quiet is nice,” Fluttershy said softly.
And quiet it eventually came. Voodoo cleared his throat and looked over the group. Nice size. He could see Zulu urging his foals to pay attention before scooting back to give them ample space. He cleared his throat again and took a deep breath, “ It’s been a long time before I’ve placed a hoof in this world. Equestria has grown, and the very beginnings of outreach are upon us. Old, forgotten worlds will soon be discovered, as will a lot of your roots. My congratulations to you, Twilight Sparkle, for reaching a state of ascension. It is not something to be taken lightly.” This caused her to blush a little. “ Many will live their whole lives and never reach even a fraction of the state. Some come so close…and just never make that final reach. Ascension is not something that can be striven for. One does not decide it for themselves. So, when it occurs, it is indeed a very joyous thing. You are a step closer to connecting with the ancients. Your journey is not over. In fact, if anything, it has reset, and a new destiny is before you. Ponies that reach ascension normally experience a purpose that contributes to this world. You will come to understand this in time.” To that, Mardi Gras nodded, as if to emphasize his point. “ But, will you appreciate it? Ascension has been attained, but are you worthy to join the ranks of the eternal ruling bodies? Destiny chose you, but can you live up to your fate?”
Now, Twilight Sparkle was a little nervous. He made it sound really…scary, in a way. “ I think,…with the help of my friends, I can accomplish anything. Friendship is a strong magic.” She gave a firm nod, to punctuate her statement.
“ Confidence…not cockiness. Good,” he chuckled.
“ Are you going to tell us about the history?!” Antiquity squealed. She then cleared her throat when she realized just how much attention she got. “ Uhm… I mean…uhm. I…can’t…think of a Second Tongue phrase.”
Voodoo chuckled as she scrunched herself back onto her pillow with a sense of embarrassment. “ I like to see that sort of enthusiasm. Forgetting history is the reason so much knowledge has been lost. Now, everyone get comfortable. I am sure you are all wondering who I am and where I came from…how I know things. I’ll tell you. Equestria wasn’t even a thought. Everything that you take for granted hadn’t even come into existence yet. Here’s how it began…”
To Be Continued…