WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM SEASON 4 PREMIER.
The Feast of Steven
Late at night,
RD couldn’t sleep. She had curled up in a sleeping bag in the middle of the library and was tossing and turning. It wasn’t for her lack of trying though. A strange light seemed to be coming from a room of to the side and was shining straight into RD’s eyes.
“Stupid light,” RD whispered, getting up to investigate the source. As she made her way to the door, she failed to notice another pony in her path. The subsequent trip and fall were relatively quiet.
“Rainbow, get off me,” AJ said rather annoyed that her friend had just woke her up. “What ya doin’ up anyways?”
“Checking out that annoying light,” RD said pointing at the illuminated door.
“That is a mighty strange glow,” AJ said, noticing the door for the first time.
Both ponies made their way over to the door and slowly opened it.
Inside the room was a hexagonal box with six key holes standing on a pedestal.
“What do you think it is?” RD asked, her sight remaining fixed on the unusual box.
“Ain’t got a clue.” AJ replied.
“Looks important,” Shy whispered. AJ and RD jumped in freight at Shy’s unexpected arrival. “I’m sorry,” Shy said, seeing her friends react.
Taking a moment to regain themselves, AJ was the first to speak. “What in tarnation are ya doin’ up Fluttershy?”
“Oh, I was just getting a glass of water, um, if that okay with you,” Shy said with her usual amount of self-doubt.
“It’s fine,” RD said, “Just don’t go around scaring us like that.” RD took a moment to process what she just said. “I mean, it’s not like we were scared, it’s just that lesser people might freak out if they saw you come out of nowhere.” RD said with a fair share of pride and deflection mixed in.
“Well, since ya here, what do ya make of this here?” AJ said, returning her attention to the mystery box.
“Uh, would someone please turn off that light, you’re making it very difficult to get some shut eye,” Rare said off in the distance.
“Sorry Rarity,” Shy said.
“Hey, Rarity, since you’re up why don’t you get a look at this.” RD said.
“If I must,” Rare said somewhat annoyed at the prospect of getting out of bed. She made her way over to the other three.
“Hm, quiet interesting. Do any of you know what it’s for?” she asked.
“If we knew, we wouldn’t be-“RD began.
“Well, if I had to wager a guess, which would be rather silly since you don’t wager guess you, I’d say it has something to do with the Elements of Harmony,” Pink said, coming out of nowhere.
“Pinkie what are you doing up?” RD asked.
“Well I was having a wonderful dream where I was skiing up a giant frozen waterfall of soda when my stomach started doing differential calculus, which normally means several people are getting together to discuss something not related to the plot of this fanfic but really important in the show, so I decided to get up and see what you were up to,” Pink replied.
“Oookay then,” RD said looking at her friend with concern while rubbing a hoof behind her head.
“Well, anyways darling, what were you saying about the Elements?” Rare asked.
“I was saying that this box is some kind of super puzzle which has to do with the missing Elements of Harmony,” Pink replied.
“How ya know this?” AJ asked.
“I read it from Twilight’s journal. See?” Pink said. She pulled out a spiral bound notebook and read. “11/23/63. After giving the Elements of Harmony to the Tree of Harmony in order to save it from the seeds of Discord, said Tree produced box of unknown origin. Contends are also unknown at this time as box cannot be force open with ether magical or conventional force. Will investigate further.” Pink smiled as she looked up from the journal.
“So, is this some kind of replacement for them then?” RD asked.
“Ah doubt it,” AJ replied. “If the Tree no longer needed the elements, it could have just handed them back.”
“So what do you think is in there, then?” RD asked.
“Probably nothin’” AJ said.
“Well if there’s nothing in it, why does it have so many locks?” RD retorted.
“It’s just some kind of heart of pureness test or somethin’ like that” AJ responded. “Ya know, like when the hero faces a huge problem and needs somethin’ only to discover he had in him all along sort of thing.”
“I doubt it would be that cliché,” Rare said. “More than likely it contains the ultimate source of the Tree’s energy.”
“Why would the Tree give up something way more powerful than the Elements if it needed them to survive in the first place?” RD question.
“Well, since the Tree was threaten in the first place, maybe it figured to condense all its power in order to ensure it would be well guarded once Twilight brought it back here.” Rare mused.
“Maybe it contains the Eye of Harmony,” Shy said to no one.
“What was that Fluttershy?” RD asked.
Realizing she had been overheard, Shy retreated into herself. “Oh, um nothing,” she replied.
“It was something about the Eye of Harmony, right Fluttershy?” Rarity asked.
“Oh Shy that’s really silly, everyone know that harmony has a least two eyes.” Pink stated.
“Um, well no, the Eye of Harmony is actually a collapsing supernova being converted into a black hole while held in stasis and provided unlimited energy.” Shy said. “I was just think about it since a lot of thing here are also called the X of Harmony.”
“So then what do you think is really in the box then?” RD question Shy.
“Well, since the Tree was attacked by the seeds of Discord, maybe the box contains the seeds of Harmony, sort of like Rarity’s idea except that once it’s opened, new Trees would sprout up from the ground. And since there would be more of them, they wouldn’t likely be as threatened by incoming enemies.” Shy replied. “I mean if I had to guess. What do you think is in it Rainbow?”
“It’s got to be some kind of Pandora’s Box,” RD responded. “You know, like all the evil the Tree had been storing got placed in the box as it cleansed itself and the six keys are to make sure that whatever’s in there doesn't get out.”
“OOO! Or maybe the Tree has a really embarrassing Christmas photo. You know, like one where it got drunk on too much maple Schnapps and starting hitting on that sexy spruce across the clearing.” Pink chattered. She got confused looks from
her friends.
“Well, anywho we ain’t gonna figure it out tonight,” AJ said, making for the door. “Maybe we can ask Twilight in the mornin.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” RD replied heading back to her sleeping bag. “Gonna grab this first.” She grabbed a bunch of extra sheets and after everyone else had found their respective sleeping bag, RD shoved them into the crack at the bottom of the door. “Much better.”
RD soon wrapped herself up in her own bag as was read it hit the hay, when one more thought about the box entered her head.
“Hey guys?” RD whispered.
“Yes?” Everyone else replied.
“What if the box actually turns all of us, or our counterparts anyways, into alicorn princesses like Twilight over her?” RD said with a smirk on her face and a tone of amusement in her voice.
“Okay, now you just talkin’ crazy,” AJ responded.
“As much as I would love to be a princess, I would have to agree with AJ,” Rare retorted, “There would just be no way that would happen. There would at least have to be some kind of built up towards it.”
“And it would probably wreak the entire Equestrian government if it suddenly had five new rulers come in out of the blue,” Shy stated. “I mean I don’t think the people would be so willing to accept five new princesses so easily.”
“Yeah, and just imagine what would happen here if I got ahold of magic and flying, let alone my counterpart.” Pink stated.
“Guys, settle down. I’m just kidding,” RD said. “I know there’s no way that would happen. It would be a total copout. I mean it would almost be like we would be made princesses just so we could be more like Twilight instead of us going on some deep personal journey where we learn that our differences are what makes us unique and that we don’t need to be alicornes or princesses in order to be important or follow our dreams or something like that. Well anyway it’s late enough as is so good night everyone.” RD shifted in her sleeping bag.
“Good night,” AJ, Rare, Pink and Shy replied.
Settling down, RD now found it much easier to fall asleep and soon was.
Next Time: The Chase (For real this time)