It was a beautiful day in Equestria. The sun shone, the birds sang, and on the train tracks between Ponyville and Canterlot a certain blue pegasus lay stretched across them tied down with thick strands of rope. As Rainbow Dash struggled against the bonds the perpetrator of this villainous scheme sat on a rock nearby, twirling his long thin mustache as he sipped at a glass of chocolate milk.
“Discord!” Dash screamed at him, “You won't get away with this!”
“Oh really Dash how cliché can you get?” Discord pretended to yawn.
“You're one to talk,” she fired back, “You're the one who dreamed all this up to begin with.”
“You really do need to learn the fine line between cliché and 'classic',” Discord replied, “cliché means doing something that has been done a million times before but nobody much cares for it. A classic is something that's been done a million times before but everyone loves it.”
“But I don't love this!”
“A matter of tastes my dear,” Discord waved his paw dismissively, “something else you need to improve.”
The sound of the train whistle interrupted Dash's reply. Discord pulled out an oversized pocket watch with hands that spun randomly yet seemed to make some sort of sense to him as he huffed, “Late again. They really need to work on their scheduling better.”
Dash could just see the smoke from the train coming around the bed when their came a loud yell from the rocks above. “I'll save you!”
From the rocks above came the clatter of hooves as a truly odd sight bounded down towards them. Applejack, minus her hat, ran pellmell down towards them. A saddle was strapped on her back while Pinkie Pie rode her friend, dressed in a strange double breasted red coat with a golden sash, blue pants, black boots, and sporting a wide, flat brimmed red hat.
“I'll save you, Nell!” Pinkie called again as they hurried down the mountainside.
“Who's Nell?” Dash muttered, but she didn't have much time to ponder it as the train was getting closer by the second.
“Miss. Pie-Right,” Discord smirked, “I should have known you'd show up. You shan't have her! If I can't have Miss Dash for my own then no one will! Nothing shall come between me and my love!”
Discord paused for a moment and thought, “Well, maybe not 'love'... let's just say I like her a lot.”
“You shan't get away with this Discord!” Pinkie called as they continued to race down the mountain, getting closer and closer as did the train.
The draconiquus sighed rubbing his paw over his eyes, “Really? Do I have to give you ponies lessons in creativity or something?”
Applejack had just landed on the level ground beside the train tracks as the train came around the bend. It would be practically a neck and neck race as she pounded down the road towards Dash as the train chugged along not far behind. Dash struggled at the ropes as best she could but they were tied really tight. She'd almost gotten a hoof free when her heart sank as Applejack tripped over a rock and she and Pinkie went tumbling to the ground.
“Aw,” Discord grinned, “Looks like I win.”
Dash couldn't help scream as the train was suddenly upon her.
*FLASH*
All three mares plus one draconiquus reappeared in the cabin of the same train where Twilight and Rarity seemed to be involved in a game of chess.
“No fare Discord,” Applejack muttered spitting out the bit in her mouth before walking over to a nearby bench where her hat sat waiting for her, “You put that rock there didn't you?”
“Now Applejack, don't be a sore looser,” Discord muttered as he floated nearby enjoying a nice homemade apple pie, “We agreed to the game and the rules. If you and Miss Pie could save Dash before the train got to her then I'd help you out next harvest season. And if I won I get free apple pies for life from your farm.”
“It's just apple pies,” Pinkie bounce up to AJ, now out of the silly clothing she'd had on before, “It's not he wanted free everything from your farm, or your Element of Loyalty, or to turn you to stone...”
“Thank you Pinkie, we get the picture,” AJ sighed as she pressed her hat back on her head.
“What I don't think is fare is why did I have to play the damsel in distress!?” Dash grumbled, “Why not Fluttershy? Or heck, Rarity would be better.”
“Do use your head Dash,” Discord sighed, “Fluttershy doesn't like these rough-n-tumble games and Miss Rarity is playing with Twilight. You were the only pony available to play the, heh, 'damsel'.”
“But why me?” Dash pressed, “Pinkie would be better, or Applejack.”
“Dash we drew straws fare and square,” Applejack sighed as she settled in, “You got the short straw so you had to be the damsel remember? Believe me, I'd rather have been the hero than the steed.”
“Fine,” Dash groused, “But next time we're doing it my way. I got the perfect set up for a Daring-Do style rescue. All we need are some penguins and a giant vat of fish flavored yogurt, and...”
“Canterlot next stop!” came the call of the conductor down the cabins, “Please secure your personal belongings and prepare to exit the train!”
Dash groaned loudly as Discord chuckled, “better luck next time Dash.”
When the group finally disembarked at Canterlot they were met by royal guard and lead to a carriage that would take them to the castle, if for no other reason that it mad the local citizens feel a little safer to think Discord was being watched at all times, even though they knew he could turn the whole city into pudding at any time.
“Not a bad idea...” Discord muttered under his breath.
“Say something, Discord?” Twilight asked glancing up at the draconiquus.
“Oh nothing my dear,” he smiled and gave a wink seemingly at nopony present.
“I just wish you three hadn't played such games all the way to Canterlot. You gave the engineers several panic attacks with how close you cut it.”
“Oh come now it can't be all bad...”
“One of them suffered a minor heart attack and had to be hurried to the Canterlot general Hospital after we arrived.”
“Alright alright, no more tying ponies to railroad tracks.”
As they continued across town Twilight couldn't help yawning several times, almost dozing off once or twice.
“Twilight dear, are you alright?” Rarity asked with more than a touch of concern in her voice, “You could barely focus on the game on the way here and now you're practically dozing off. You look like you haven't slept well in days.”
“That's because I haven't,” Twilight muttered through another yawn, “I keep having these startling dreams. I can't remember them but every time I wake up I feel so shocked I can't get back to sleep. I've looked through every book on dream analysis and self hypnosis I can find but nothing seems to work.”
“Well, um, maybe Princess Luna could help?” Fluttershy ventured tentatively, “You know, if she isn't too busy or anything. She is the guardian of dreams...”
“Now that's the ticket,” Applejack smiled, “I'm sure the princess can fix whatever problem you're having with these nightmares Twilight.”
Twilight nodded somewhat noncommittally as they approached the plaice gates. Once they stopped before the doors the royal guard stood ready as everyone piled out and trooped inside. As usual the plaice was beautiful but Twilights eyes were so bleary she could barely taken in the decor as her shuffling hooves guided her automatically to the throne room.
“Announcing the arrival of Princess Twilight Sparkle and company!” one of the guard stallions shouted making Twilight wince at the noise.
“ 'And company'?” Discord huffed, “What am I, chopped celery?” Immediately after saying so his torso turned into an oversized can with a label stating 'Chopped Celery' as if to highlight his question.
The guard and the ponies present payed him no mind though as Discord huffed, switching back to normal (or as 'normal' as he ever got).
“It's good to see you all,” Celestia smiled as she and Luna stood from their thrones and approached the group. Tired as she was, twilight couldn't help noticing the bags under Celestias eyes as well. It seemed the princess of the sun had been lacking in sleep too.
“Sister?” Luna asked looking at Celestia.
“Yes Luna,” Celestia replied, apparently agreeing to an unheard question. Turning to look at Discord the sun princess stated, perhaps a bit more formally than necessary, “Discord, would you please go with my sister for the moment? She has some questions she needs to ask you.”
Discord perhaps for the first time Twilight had ever seen, looked a little uneasy, but nodded as he followed Luna out of the room. As soon as the doors closed behind them Celestia sighed and turned back towards her throne, beckoning Twilight and her friends along the way, “You'll have to forgive me Twilight, the last few days have been rather stressful.”
“Well what the hay has been goin' on princess?” Applejack asked her normal straight forward attitude cutting to the point.
Celestia managed a weak smile as she sat on her throne again, “Always the honest one Applejack... If you must know, Luna and I gathered you here because we need your help once again.”
“You can count on us Princess,” Dash grinned throwing out her chest as she fluttered above the group, “We can handle anything the universe can throw at us.”
“I hope so Rainbow Dash,” Celestia sighed, “Because if not, we could very well be facing the end of the world.”
The silence that followed seemed to ring in the great hall for an eternity. Dash visibly deflated somewhat as the weight of the words was felt. Interestingly it was Fluttershy who spoke first, her timid whisper seeming far louder in the quiet space, “Th-The end of the world?”
“I'm afraid so Flutershy,” Celestia sighed as her horn glowed with a soft gentile light as six ornate blue cushions appeared in front of the thrown. “Please, sit down. This will take some explaining for you to understand."
Once all of them had chosen their spots Celestia began, “I'm sure you all know the story of Hearthswarming Eve by now...”
“Of course,” Pinkie smiled as the other girls shot her glares to not interrupt, which she promptly ignored, “The three representatives of the three pony breeds led the way out of their frozen lands to a new land only to learn all the fighting they'd been doing was what caused the winter in the first place by those mean windigos and only by being warm and friendly could they keep the ice spirits away.”
Pinkie beamed obliviously as Celestia managed a polite chuckle at her antics, “Yes that is the version they tell in the history books, but I'm afraid it's not entirely true.”
All eyes turned to Celestia then, “What do you mean princess?” Rarity asked, “How is it not true?”
“Please, let me start at the beginning,” Celestia once more composed her thoughts.
“You must know first of all that as old as I am, and as long ago as this happened, I was not there for most of the story. So what I know I've had to peace together in the time since. Long ago, long before Nightmare Moon or Discords first appearance, this world was far different. Inhabited by another race altogether."
The girls were fascinated to learn of this, though perhaps only Twilight was wishing desperately she'd brought a quill and paper to write down this information.
“These creatures were much like ponies in some ways," Celestia continued, "far different in others. For one thing they lacked Cutie Marks that ponies receive, so they could spend whole lifetimes looking for their personal talents. And some would never find them. There were also far more of them than ponies now. A city like Canterlot or Manehattin would be a drop in a pond compared to the sheer numbers these creatures possessed.
“Perhaps that is one reason why they fought so much. You see, while ponies can fight to protect their homes or loved ones, these creatures could do the same but were more militaristic than the gryphon nation in some ways and would fight for anything and everything they were passionate about just as easilly.
“They had many wars in their species history, but those were nothing compared to the last war. Tens of thousands died in the first few hours. Hundred of millions died within months.
“The beings created more powerful and more dangerous weapons to fight each other with each more devastating than the last. The most dangerous were created in the last days of the war. Terrible things that could wipe out the entire opposing side in minutes, but thankfully they were never used. The war ended with the last few places where this species hid being wiped off the map and the final weapons were never deployed.
“The lands these creatures called home were abandoned and left desolate. Pony kind was just beginning to evolve by that point and had formed rudimentary society, but the devastation left by the species that caused it was what caused the climate change, forcing ponies to flee the land and travel overseas to what we now know as Equestria in refuge.
“However, the weather change was so bad that it followed us across the seas, so the best and brightest of pony kind worked together to craft a spell which would protect our land for millenia to come.”
All the six looked pale and somewhat ill after Celestia had finished her explanation and it took a minute for them to recover.
“So... the fires of friendship is a lie?” Twilight asked looking weak.
“Not at all Twilight,” Celestia smiled, “The ponies that crafted the spell were indeed good friends, and their powerful friendship was what gave power to the spell for all the years they lived.”
Twilight sighed in relief but still looked concerned, “Why are you telling us all this now princess Celestia?”
The princess of the sun chuckled gently, “Just Celestia now Twilight, you are a princess too after all.”
Twilight blushed a bit but smiled warmly.
“And to answer your question, I believe one of those ancient weapons has survived these long years since the war. If it becomes active it could bring about great destruction on our lands. It must be found and stopped before it can do so.”
“Wait, so that means...?” Applejack looked worried at the implication.
“Yes Applejack, you will all have to travel beyond the borders of Equestria, beyond the realm of the Gryphons over the seas, and into this forgotten land to find this weapon.”
Twilight looked about to say something when suddenly the side doors burst open open as Discord went flying across the room, though not by choice as he impacted the far wall hard enough to leave a deep imprint of his body in the stone. Luna stood in the doorway fuming as her tail and mane flickered looking more like blue fire. The cause of her irritation could be seen as a little scribbling on her flank had turned her crescent moon cutie mark into a a broad, somewhat creepy grinning smile.
“If thy dares touch mine royal flank again, I'll shalt see to it that thy next imprisonment lasts two thousand years more!” Luna bellowed in a level just shy of the Royal Canterlot Voice.
“Well hey,” Discord grinned weakly as he pealed himself off the wall, “At least I know how to make a good 'impression',” he chuckled indicating his outline in the wall.
When nobody so much as chuckled Discord Sighed, “Philistines.”