Chapter 2
Separating the Elements of Harmony
Scratch opened his sore eyes as the cell door opened, showing the bright light from outside. Two unicorns walked in holding a third unicorn between them. They pushed the unicorn into the wall causing her to yell out. Scratch growled at this.
"Hey! Didn't your mothers teach you how to handle a mare?” Scratch yelled. One of the guards chuckled.
"Oh really?" The guard smirked and grabbed the unicorn's purple mane and pulled back hard, causing her to scream out again. He leaned into her face smiling as she tried to pull away. "I love to hear a mare scream."
"Tank!" Every unicorn in the cell turned to see the sixth unicorn walk up. Scratch snarled, recognizing the unicorn.
"Well, well, well, Trixie. Good day, aye?"
Trixie walked in chuckling, patting him on the head. "You are so sweet." She turned to glare at the unicorns. "You can mess with her when I say so. Get those manacles on her wrists and let’s go. Blueblood needs us to report to him. He has a new job for us."
The two unicorns shackled the third unicorn and left her. Trixie chuckled looking to Scratch. "Oh don't look so glum, Scratch. I'm sure Blueblood would have left you for a reason."
"You shut that stupid mouth of yours!" He snapped.
Trixie sniffed and raised her nose in the air. "You're lucky Blueblood ordered you to live. Or I would have cut out your tongue and had you eat it a long time ago!"
Scratch smirked. "You don’t scare me, unicorn traitor."
Trixie chuckled evilly. "Oh you'll get scared Vinyl Scratch, you will get scared and I'll tie you down and watch you beg for mercy." Trixie sighed and turned to the white unicorn. "Speaking of which, Captain Vinyl Scratch I'll like you to meet your cell mate, Rarity Belle. A traitor to her kingdom."
Rarity moved her tongue then spat, causing the unicorn to laugh back with an amused smirk.
"Go rot in hell!" Rarity threatened darkly, pulling away from the wall until the chain snapped taunt as she glared coldly at her. Trixie sighed.
"Well I'm not the one rotting in a cell right now." She laughed and turned away to leave the room and slammed the cell door shut behind her "Enjoy your stay in Hotel Rock traitors."
When the unicorn's footsteps receded Scratch turned to see Rarity now in tears as she stepped back into the corner and slid to the floor covering her face with her bruised hands. Scratch sighed looking at her.
"I'm sorry for everything that has happened to you, Miss." Scratch said formally. Rarity looked up with red eyes.
"It's not your fault sir, I wasn't on my guard and now I'm suffering the consequences for my past actions." She sniffed and wiped the rims of her eyes. "I'm sorry, my name is Rarity, well of course you know that. That horrible ruffian..." She growled. Scratch nodded.
"Yeah, I know." He turned to her. "Well if you didn’t catch her words, the name's Vinyl Scratch, just call me Scratch. No sir or mister to me, miss."
"Then you shall just call me Rarity, Scratch."
Scratch smiled at her. "So if you don’t mind me snooping,"
Rarity smiled and chuckled. "No, snoop all you want."
Scratch chuckled. "Alright, why are you here? Did she call you a traitor?"
Rarity snorted unladylike at the question. "Darling, I was called a traitor after the war just because I didn't want to fight in the army because I didn’t want to go back into service after being discharged. I was done with war." She said with distaste. Scratch smiled.
"Hmm, I was born before the war. My father fought and died in it."
Rarity sniffed. "Oh dear, I’m sorry for that. It was the most horrible war in known history." She paused and sighed sadly. "Thanks to my decision I won't find my sister."
Scratch watched as Rarity’s eyes start to water again and her lip trembling.
"Might I ask? You lost somepony in your family?"
Rarity sniffed and nodded. "My baby sister. She's the only pony in my family that I have left. She's so young and ..." She sniffed again. "She went to go play and she never came home."
Scratch nodded. "I would feel the same way if my daughter left and never came back."
Rarity sniffed wiping her eyes. "You have a daughter?"
Scratch chuckled. "Yep, she was a cannon when I last saw her."
Rarity frowned. "Where is she now?"
Scratch shrugged. "I was told she was alive. But I think Blueblood was just doing that to get me to talk. I keep on thinking about it and the more I think about it the more insane it was. I was fooled and now Trixie and Blueblood know my weakness."
Rarity gulped. "How old was your daughter the last time you saw her?"
Scratch sighed closing his eyes. "Eight years old, she still had time to go before she would get her cutie mark." He chuckled sadly shaking his head. "I promised her that I would take her sailing when she got older." Rarity smiled.
"She sounds like a nice filly."
"She was." He whispered. "She was."
Rarity and Scratch were silent for a long moment until Rarity sighed.
"Scratch?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you here?"
Scratch shrugged. "I was used to find some type of treasure I was involved in as a colt. And now with word that Blueblood left that treasure trove, he's after something else now."
"Like what? I've heard of Prince Blueblood, the royal pain that hardly did anything in the rebellion. All he did was frame every Earth pony in his unit of treason and some all of them were tired and executed for crimes they didn’t commit." Scratch nodded with a glare.
"I know. I know." He paused and turned to her. "But don’t you worry Rarity," He whispered. "I'll get you out of here."
"What?" She whispered back with surprise.
Scratch smiled. "When I was free for a few moments I sent a distressed signal to an old friend of mine. If any pony can save us it's her."
"Who?"
"Let’s just say she has a reputation of being a loose cannon herself."
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Octavia stared at Applejack and Daring after they told her of the plan.
"Can this pony really help her?" She begged. Applejack sighed with a shrug.
"If any pony can help the Captain, it'll be her. It might take some time but Captain Scratch will be back in no time."
Octavia smiled and hugged Applejack surprising the ex-pirate.
"You don’t know how great this news mean to me." Applejack blushed and turned to see Rainbow walking up with a scowl on her face. A scowl that Applejack never saw except with their friends against their enemies. A scowl that says, "You mess with the bull, you get the horns." Applejack gulped, seeing how scary Rainbow looked with that glazed eye and the scar and her graying, rainbow colored mane. She looked scary.
Octavia turned and stiffened seeing Rainbow glaring at them.
Rainbow walked up as Twilight exited from the room and started feeling the intense energy suddenly. Rainbow cleared her throat even though everypony could see her.
"I hate to intrude on some good exciting news." She said with a fake smile on her face. She frowned looking to Octavia. "I would like to speak with Applejack alone please." She said with a glare at her old friend. Applejack pushed Octavia back gently as she turned to Rainbow.
"Sure RD, we can talk."
"Alone," Rainbow said tightly with a glare.
Twilight gulped and stood between them. "Now, Rainbow, I know Applejack might have done some things,"
"Stay out of this Twilight." Rainbow said now growling like a manticore.
"Now, now," Daring now intervened. "Let's not get upset here,"
"I want to talk to Applejack about her stupid, dangerous plan!" Rainbow yelled out causing everypony to jump in surprise. Sure Rainbow had a temper but this was worse than before. Rainbow pointed her finger at her. "I'm not going to allow you to continue this trip into Pirate Territory! Not with the princess on board!" She yelled pointed at Octavia now. Rainbow glared coldly like a manticore ready to attack.
The door opened silently. Rainbow growled, stepping forwards to yell when water was suddenly poured on top of her. She yelped and turned, knife at the ready. Then there was a dull thump and she fell forward, unconscious. All three ponies stared with shock then looked up to see Vinyl leaning tiredly on the door frame and glared at the unconscious pegasus. She quivered a bit, her legs looked like they would collapse any second.
"Vinyl?" Octavia asked with surprise. Vinyl let the bucket drop on the ground and spits to the side.
"Cool off would ya? I'm trying to get some sleep…" She fell forward in faint. Twilight caught her with her magic to keep her from falling face first to the deck. Twilight and the others let out a sigh of relief.
"What do we do with the Captain?" Daring asked pointing to Rainbow.
"I think I got an idea." Applejack said lifting Rainbow over her shoulder. "Captain Dash will be on sick bay for the day." The three nodded allowing Applejack to leave the hall and headed outside with Rainbow Dash over her shoulder. Daring sighed rubbing her forehead.
"I knew she would do something eventually." Twilight nodded as Octavia opened Vinyl's door allowing the unicorn to enter carrying Vinyl back to her cot.
"I'll call Apple Bloom to get this cleaned up." Daring said turning away and started down the hall. Octavia watched as everypony went about their business but what Rainbow dash said surprised her. Does she really care that much for her safety? She shook her head with a glare towards the hall.
Rainbow never shown caring or a heart. She was always cold and angry and hates everything and everypony.
“Except for your father,” Octavia jumped and turned to see the crystal heart pulsing. Octavia's sign that the guardians were talking to her again. Twilight noticed the crystal pulsing.
"What did they say?" Twilight asked intrigued.
"It's nothing." Octavia said quickly turning away.
“You seem to allow the two elements on the same boat but you can't stand Loyalty.”
Octavia bit her lip. "Who?" She asked in a whisper.
“Why that pegasus. She's Loyalty, one of the powerful Elements of Harmony. Our sisters.”
Octavia blinked several times. “You're sisters? Sisters how?”
“The Elements of Harmony were made from the same crystal that sits around your neck.”
Octavia blinked looking down at her purple crystal with her cutie mark. The Luna’s Tear is one of the Crystal Guardians from the Crystal Planet. From what she had learned from the crystals, they harbor souls of the original guardians and protectors of the crystal heart and the jailers of the demon called Sombra. If it weren’t for the crystal guardians, Princess Luna would have been dead centuries ago. Now she was alive thanks to the crystals’ guidance.
Now the crystals are talking to her the second time since she brought them to the ship. She gulped. “Do you know of the Elements?” She asked mentally.
Twilight could see Octavia was deep in thought talking to the crystals as they pulsed with light. Twilight left her alone and went to check on Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Octavia turned realizing she was now alone and let out a sigh of relief. She’d rather be alone while communicating with the crystals.
“We do, they’re our sister crystals.
"Can you tell me about them?" She asked out loud quietly as she took a seat on the counter next to the guardians and the crystal heart.
“The Elements were created before us.”
"Really? How old are you?"
“Very old, but the Elements are much more older and more powerful in the right hands.”
"Meaning?"
"Whoever the crystals pick as their owners, so to speak, they will protect. But these crystals are a little pickier than us.”
Octavia blinked looking at her crystal again in her fingers. "So why?"
“The Elements were designed to pick the pony with a powerful virtue that is similar to the crystal's design.”
"Huh?" Octavia asked with confusion.
“Stay with us here, the Elemental Crystals were designed with six different virtues. Each crystal was forged by six different ponies with six powerful virtues. These virtues are: Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic.”
"So these six virtues ... what’s so important about them."
“Togetherness in a group of comrades can create powerful magic that can destroy any disharmony.”
"Wait, you mean friendship is magic?" She was in bewilderment. "There's no such power. Not today." She said sadly.
“Oh but you’re giving up too easily. You've already met the Element of Magic, Honesty and Loyalty.”
"Hmm? Who?"
“You know them as Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash.”
"Rainbow Dash is an Element of Harmony? I don’t believe that!" Octavia whispered angrily.
“It's true, Close your eyes.”
"Why?"
“Like we said before. The Elements of Harmony were created before us with the same crystals. We can connect with them. Their past and their powers. Thanks to you, we can now reconnect with our crystal sisters. Close your eyes, Princess.”
Octavia sighed and closed her eyes.
"Okay now-" She stopped when her vision turned colorful and she was separated from her body and floating in space. She gaped holding her throat.
“No need to fear! You are safe.”
Octavia blinked several times then took a cautious breath, she can breathe in space? Outside the ship she can breathe! If she was in her body she would have died if she was far enough away from the boat. She gulped looking around and gasped to see colorful ponies floating nearby. She looked down at her hand to find herself in a purple aura. The ponies around her were in colorful auras connecting to the crystal guardians.
"Where's the Crystal Heart guardian?"
The five other ponies looked grim.
"She is not connected with us. Only by spirit." The green guardian said. He was a stallion by his long green-white beard. Octavia blinked, hearing only him speak. She turned to all of them to see different stages of age of all the stallions. The red one was a young colt, he looked like he was ten years old. The orange was a middle aged stallion. The yellow was a teenager by his stature. The green was an elder stallion. The blue was a young teenager too. And they were all earth ponies, but the shimmers in their manes and tails prove them to be Crystal ponies.
"Wow, forgive me but I never imagined you to be like this." Octavia said with blush.
All of the stallions smiled at that. "We get that sometimes." The red colt said with a smile.
"Aye we do," The orange stallion said strongly with a wink at Octavia, causing her to blush.
The blue stallion cleared his throat causing everypony to look at him. "We are here for one thing and one thing only. Show her the Elements."
The other guardians nodded quickly then returned to serious guardian mode again. The yellow stallion stepped forward then waved his yellow hand over and pointed to the side. Octavia turned and gasped to see what looked to be a battle field below.
"Is this ..." Octavia whispered.
"The Second Discordian War." The colt answered grimly. For such a sound to be heard from a child was unnerving.
"Not the rebellion?"
"The ponies," The green stallion started. "Made sure to confuse history for ponies like yourself to get confused. The Discordian War was the deadliest and bloodiest war in the history of this galaxy."
Octavia gulped and watched as ponies were dying by the diamond dogs, griffins, manticores, even other ponies dressed in black armor as the Celestial Army dressed in gold armor attack was just as deadly. Octavia gulped back bile watching the fight.
"The Elements of Harmony were brought together by Princess Celestia, the last holder of the Elements." The orange stallion said.
Octavia turned to see the scene change to reveal Queen Celestia. By the look of her face she was younger and happier than the portraits and hologram videos she had watched during her childhood. She also saw something that surprised her. Six young mares bowing or saluting to her before her throne. They wore medallions around their necks with colorful crystals that were shining in a magical aura that nopony but Octavia and the Guardians saw.
"Those are ...”
"The Elements of Harmony." The blue stallion said with a smile on his face. "Those six were by far the best of the Guardians of Harmony."
Octavia gasped to see their faces for the first time. She recognized Twilight as a sad filly. Applejack who was reaching for something on her head, only to salute with a blush on her face. Rainbow Dash was standing with her hands behind her back with a determined scowl on her face. Octavia blinked staring at the rainbow pegasus the most. She had never imagined Rainbow to look like this. She was young, scar free, her ear was still intact, both her eyes sparkled and her rainbow mane was long compared to what it was now and well maintained. She looked pretty for a soldier. Octavia shook her head suddenly.
"What's your point?" She asked.
The guardians looked to one another with worry. They could feel Octavia's resentment towards Loyalty. The green stallion walked up to hold onto Octavia's shoulder. He point to the six mares.
"We felt their presence, their power all the way to the Crystal Planet. We knew by that power that Celestia had chosen the perfect team of ponies to take the Elements and use them for good."
The scene changed suddenly to a battle. Octavia was shocked to find Twilight hiding in a foxhole crying, holding her helmet over her head. It was hard to hear the talking since all around them they could hear explosions and screams. Octavia gasped to find Rainbow jumping into the hole and glaring at Twilight as she cried. But Octavia could see that same Rainbow Dash in those young eyes. She watched with shock to see Rainbow slap Twilight in the face.
"Get your ass up there and get moving!" She screamed into the filly’s face. Twilight obeyed, grabbing her musket and climbing out of the hole. Lasers hit the ground before her as Twilight jumped back into the foxhole shaking her head, crying.
"Damn it all!" Rainbow screamed out, grabbing Twilight by the arm and pushing her out of the hole, following behind her. As the left the foxhole, it exploded in a ball of light and heat. A ship had shot an artillery grade laser at their position. Twilight stumbled from the force of the explosion then started to run.
"Good, good, get running!" Rainbow screamed out as the scenes faded away.
Octavia blinked trying hard to think. The guardian as remained silent. The colt looked to the green and he nodded. The red colt walked over then waved his hand and the scene changed. The six mares were standing together, their medallions glowing in their hands or on their chests. Octavia blinked watching the power around them intensify. Their eyes squeezed shut from the bright light as a rainbow aura spun around them. The enemy then started to run for their lives as the aura grew brighter and brighter, causing all six mares to float in the air. Octavia was in awe. Each of them held hands connecting their powers, then a beam of rainbow like a giant laser cannon hit what looked to be a large castle destroying it instantly.
The scene faded away revealing another time. It looked like it was a couple of years after the war.
"What am I looking at?" Octavia asked.
"Just watch." The colt said cryptically.
The scene was from a city scape that resembled Canterlot. The six mares were together and they looked battle worn and scarred, and a little older. Ponies were watching them warily, especially Applejack and the pink Earth pony.
"I don’t like this.” Applejack said fixing her Stetson hat on her head.
"Me neither.” The pink pony said with worry.
"Aw come on guys," Rainbow Dash said smiling with her hands behind her head. "We're heroes, they must have heard about our power of friendship. They don’t want to mess with us."
Twilight, the smallest of the group walked over. She looked older than the last time Octavia saw her in the flashbacks. "Rainbow, Applejack is right to be worried."
"What's wrong?" A white unicorn asked.
Twilight sighed. "I have been hearing things from the new Celestia University. There are rumors of rebellion and everypony, even the commoners, are getting worried."
"Rebellion?" A yellow pegasus asked standing close to Rainbow Dash.
"Rebellion of what type?" Applejack asked curious.
Twilight shrugged. "I don’t know. It started while we were in the war."
"How far back?" Rainbow asked now worried feeling Fluttershy take her hand, squeezing it.
"It started two years ago. And it’s getting worse."
The five other mares looked at one another with worry.
"Not to worry," Rainbow said proudly wrapping her arm around the yellow pegasus then around the white unicorn. "As long as we stick together, nothing will happen to us. United we rock, separated we fall."
The yellow pegasus was blushing with a loving smile on her face. The white unicorn was nodding along.
"Precisely, I agree with Rainbow Dash. Just like when that horrible Discord tried to turn us all into monsters, together we can overcome anything!"
The pink pony jumped up and down nodding. "Oh yeah, yeah, yeah! Let’s celebrate! Friends Forever!"
Applejack smiled and wrapped her arm around the pink pony. "You said it Pinkie. Let’s go and get to a tavern and let’s make it official."
"Agreed." The white unicorn said.
"Rarity," the yellow pegasus gasped with a grin. "You, of all ponies, want to go to a bar?"
Rarity sniffed fixing her beautiful purple mane. "I'll let it slide. As long as they have wine instead of that disgusting cider you drink." She said pointing to Pinkie and Applejack.
"Hey I like the cider." Rainbow complained as the group laughed.
Octavia blinked again at the shock of seeing such a friendship between the three different races. It was strange. Two pegasi, two unicorns and two Earth ponies together laughing, not yelling or wanting to kill each other.
"But what happened?" Octavia asked now curious. The orange stallion sighed with a snap of his fingers. Octavia gasped watching the scene before her. It started with the Pink pony, Pinkie Pie was pushed into a wall. Applejack gasped and pulled off her hat.
"Alright buck I don’t care if you are royalty, you don’t push around my friend like that!"
The royal pony looked horribly drunk. "Oh yeah? You Earth pony shit need to learn your place. That pink one there will come with me to my chambers,"
"No pony's going anywhere!" Applejack snarled.
Suddenly friends of the royal pony came up and they looked sober. "Hey, this is the Duke of Canterlot Cross and you will show him respect! And follow his wishes."
Applejack stood in front of Pinkie as she slowly sat up holding her head.
"Nopony touches my Lieutenant!"
"Why, you love her?"
Applejack growled. "Watch yourself, I'm superior in rank than you boys."
"Rank to an Earth pony?" The three unicorns laughed.
Soon there was a crowd. One half royal soldiers and the other half was Earth ponies or others from the bar backing up Applejack.
Then out of nowhere an attack was caused and everypony went into a brawl. The scenes flashed to Applejack being pinned to the ground being choked by the same drunk lout that attacked before. Octavia was in shock to see Applejack loosing. There was a pop from a pistol and a laser went through the royal’s head. Applejack pushed the dead royal away breathing hard as Pinkie dropped the pistol and grabbed hold of Applejack pulling her up.
"Come on, we have to get out of here!"
Applejack nodded feebly being lifted up to her feet as they limped away from the fight only to be caught by pegasi guards.
"Halt!" The two ponies looked up at the pegasi royal guards, glaring at her.
"Finally some sane ponies.” Applejack breathed out smiling. "Great to see ya'll."
"Arrest them!" The mare ordered.
"Huh?” Pinkie yelped out as two pegasi guards grabbed Applejack, then Pinkie. "But, you don't understand!" Pinkie yelled out, fighting back.
"On what charges!" Applejack yelled out now wide awake.
A pegasus drop down and smiled.
"That's them ma'am!" A pegasus that was covered in bandages and dressed as one of the royals from the fight. He pointed his finger at Pinkie "She killed the Duke of Canterlot Cross. I saw her do it!"
"But, I did it to save Applejack! He was killing her!"
"Still," The leader said smirking. Applejack struggled.
"Arrest me, not Pinkie!" Applejack said getting the attention. Pinkie looked scared.
"Applejack but-"
"No, you stay quiet Lieutenant. I'm taking the fall. You just go get the others."
"No, you’re both under arrest for the murder of several royal guards tonight."
"What’s your proof?" Applejack spat.
The pegasus leaned forward to smile sweetly in Applejack’s face. "Proof is all over you Earth pony."
Applejack gasped. "What?"
"You’re an Earth pony, that's why. Take them to HQ."
"What? You have no authority in doing this!" Applejack screamed out as she was held tighter by the pegasi.
"Oh I believe I do." She pulled out her knife. "Cut off their stripes, they’re now dishonorably discharged." Applejack was pushed into the wall, so was Pinkie and held firm as a pegasus smiled, greedily cutting off the stripes and medals off of their red coats.
"Take the medallions too." The pegasus ordered.
"No," Pinkie whimpered. "You can't!"
The pegasi took the medallions snapping them off their necks. The two earth ponies at the same time slowly drop to the ground looking sick and slow. The same feeling Octavia felt when her crystal was taken off of her. Octavia gasped seeing the two glowing orange and blue crystals slowly flicker then turn dark and cold. The magic was severed without Applejack or Pinkie's consent.
"Take them to HQ."
The scene flashed, showing a huge stone hallway with lights fixtures on the walls. The pegasi were pushing Applejack and Pinkie into a cell where they were shackled by electric cuffs to the wall.
"Ma'am!" Somepony called. The leader turned to see a pegasus running up and saluting.
"What?"
"It's Rainbow Dash ma'am, she heard the news and is coming to HQ."
The leader cursed. "Try and keep her at bay. Colonel Dust wants to make sure Rainbow doesn't know of this. Keep her occupied. Tell her she must have an appointment to come in."
"Yes ma'am." The soldier nodded with a salute as he leaped in the air and flew straight to the ceiling with other pegasi.
Octavia blinked with shock.
"Sadly, this would be the beginning." The yellow stallion said sadly.
"The beginning of the rebellion?" Octavia asked.
"More than that." The green elder said with sadness. "The end of a friendship."
Octavia turned when the scene changed. Showing Twilight sitting in a small room. It was tiny, like a dorm room, with a desk, a book shelf, and a closet. There was a knock from her door. She used her magic to open the door. Rarity, the white unicorn, came in and gasped closing the door behind her then ran to Twilight hugging her.
"Are you alright?" Rarity asked worriedly. Twilight sniffed looking at Rarity.
"Can't you feel it?" She whispered. "The pain, suffering," She started to cry, burying her face into Rarity’s chest. Rarity hugged her tighter.
"I can feel it, too Twilight. Applejack, Pinkie and now Rainbow Dash. They're all in pain."
"Did you know" Twilight whispered. Rarity nodded.
"Fluttershy told me. She's distraught Twilight, I need your help before she does something." Twilight sniffed sitting down on her bed wiping her eyes.
"Where's Rainbow Dash? She’s the one that can calm her down the most."
"She's been at that Pegasus HQ for weeks since the fight. Nopony will let it go. It’s as if they can't." Rarity sat on the bed next to Twilight.
"We're to be seeing Celestia soon." Rarity said with worry. Twilight jumped turning to Rarity with shock.
"Why? I thought she didn’t want to be disturbed."
Rarity nodded. "She came out from her chambers and ordered for the rest of us to come in."
"For what?"
"A briefing she said."
Twilight blinked bewildered. "What? She never said that word just for a talk."
Rarity gulped. "I know. I think something happened."
Twilight nodded then stood up wiping her eyes. She grabbed her uniform jacket from the war with her rank of Sergeant on the sleeve.
"Let’s get Fluttershy and go to the castle." Rarity smiled and nodded.
"There's the Twilight I know and love." She said hugging the unicorn then turned for the door. They opened it and gasped to see unicorn guards at the door. One was ready to knock the door.
"Ahem, are you Rarity Belle?" The soldier asked.
"Why yes," Rarity said a little surprised. Twilight stepped up with Rarity.
"Officer what's wrong?"
"The Queen has requested your presence."
"Queen?" Twilight and Rarity asked as one confused.
"Yes, hurry now." The soldier pointed to the two soldier next to him. Rarity and Twilight looked at one another with fear then nodded following along for now. There were two soldier in the front with them in the middle and the other two guards behind them.
"What’s going on?" Rarity whispered.
"I don’t know."
The scene shifted to one revealing the inside of the Canterlot throne room. Octavia was amazed by the look of it. Sure she has seen a picture of the throne room from her father's books but it was grander in person or in a vision.
She turned back to the scene to see Twilight and Rarity stepping up with a yellow pegasus. This must be Fluttershy, Octavia thought seeing the pegasus’ with puffy red eyes. Rarity and Twilight immediately ran to her holding her.
"Rise for Queen Celestia!" A guard ordered shoving Rarity to the side.
"Don’t you dare touch me! I am a lady!"
"Stand at attention unicorn, as ordered!"
Rarity gasped by the shout but did as ordered, military training kicking in. Twilight stayed with Fluttershy, but she was grabbed by her elbow and forced up to her feet.
"What are you-"
"That order goes to everypony Sergeant Sparkle, and that includes you." The mare shoved her to the side. Twilight looked violated, rubbing her elbow as Fluttershy was forced to stand up again. Twilight looked to Rarity with fear. The queen entered the room and looked at the three ponies with a heavy scowl on her face.
Celestia gave them a look. The three friends looked at one another then slowly saluted. Rarity bowed since she was the only one not in uniform. Celestia nodded and sat down in the throne.
"As you all have known, I give horrible news. Your companions Applejack and Pinkie Pie have been arrested and were guilty of murdering royals."
Twilight and Rarity looked at one another as Fluttershy gasped with fear and new tears.
"Please," Twilight begged. "Princess-"
"She's the Queen now!" A unicorn guard yelled out, scaring Twilight. "Call her as such."
Twilight was in shock, staring at the guard then at the Queen with mixed feelings.
"Hmm, I see being with such rebellious ponies has changed your view, Twilight Sparkle." She paused to turn to Rarity and Fluttershy. "Even you two it seemed."
"Please your high… Majesty," Fluttershy whispered with a sniff. "Please release our friends. Whatever they did they did it to protect each other. They don’t kill in cold blood as ponies are claiming."
"Oh I'm afraid they did Fluttershy." The Queen said with anger in her voice. "They both murdered, along with rebels, against me and my royals they attacked and killed them. As such I will keep them locked up or executed as I wish."
Octavia gasped with the three mares in shock.
"It gets worse." The bleu stallion said with sadness. Octavia watched as a guard walked up, a unicorn holding a blue box. The three mares gasped seeing it.
"Guards, please secure them."
"What?" Rarity yelped out as two guards grab Rarity's arms holding her still. More guards came out, pegasi and unicorns grabbing the three ponies to keep them from running away.
"What's going on?" Twilight begged fighting back.
"Stop resisting. This is for your own good." Celestia said seriously nodding. One guard nodded and walked up to Twilight first and reached for the golden chain of the medallion and pull it out of her shirt, seeing it pulse brightly in a heartbeat. The mare smirked as she pulled the medallion off her neck. Twilight let out a cry of pain as the magic was severed. She fell on the ground, the guard releasing her as she fell forward, out cold.
"Twilight!" Rarity screamed out trying to fight back. "What are you doing?"
Fluttershy's medallion was pulled off and she too let out a cry, shaking her head from the horrible pain. She fell on her knees, holding her head.
"What's happening?" Fluttershy whispered sleepily, falling onto her side. Rarity watched helplessly as the guard snapped off her medallion. Rarity groaned falling onto her knees, she braced her hands on the ground trying to stay awake. She looked up at the queen with tears of fear, pain, and worst of all, betrayal.
"You don’t know what you just did! If you do this-"
"I'm well aware." Celestia said darkly as Rarity’s medallion was dropped into the box, Rarity watched her crystal fade to dark purple. Rarity looked to her friends to see them unconscious and pale. She tried to sit up but felt lightheaded. She fell to her side staring at the guards seeing them chuckle and smile at her as her vision faded to darkness.
Octavia stumbled back holding her chest now feeling the pain. She turned to see the other five guardians each holding their own chests as if they were feeling chest pains.
"It was always painful for us to remember that day." The orange stallion said rubbing his eyes.
"Why do I feel this way?" Octavia asked feeling sadness now as she slowly goes down on her knees feeling tears in flowing from her eyes.
"We are from the same crystal and we all share the same feelings as our holders. And we can feel the Elements and their feelings." The green stallion said pointing. Octavia sniffed and turned to see six different scenes. Each one depicting one of the Elements of Harmony.
She looked at the top to see Applejack sitting in a tiny dark jail cell. It was tiny, maybe a solitary confinement cell. She was at the tiny slit in the wall as the guards laugh at her. She was filled with hatred.
The second window revealed Pinkie Pie in another jail cell, this one looked bigger and brighter than Applejack’s cell, with a cot and a bucket. Sitting in the corner of her dark cell was Pinkie Pie in tears. All over her face was a porridge, slowly rolling down her flat pink mane to her face with her tears. She’s filled with sadness as she cried silently staring at the ground. But Octavia could feel another emotion, rage. Cold relentless rage as she clenched and unclenched her fists.
The third window was of Rarity packing her things into a suitcase. The room she was in looked like a simple cabin room, but clothes and items were strewn around while she packed. She stopped her movement to see a picture showing all six of the ponies together, it looked like a party of some sorts and their smiles were of merriment.
She placed the picture inside her suitcase and closed it. She grabbed a pair of shears and stared at her hair with sadness. “It’ll grow back, I just can’t been seen.” She whispered to herself as she stared to cut her purple mane shorter. After she was done she quickly dusted herself off, seeing the remains of her purple mane on the floor. She swept it up fast then dumped the pile into a waste basket. She placed her war helmet on top of her now short purple mane then headed out the door. She ran down the stairs of the cabin then ran to the door where she stopped. She turned to look behind her into the cabin to all her happy memories were made. She let out a soft sob shaking her head. She closed the door then ran away. She was filled with guilt.
The fourth window was of Fluttershy running in the streets of Canterlot as a riot was breaking out in the city. She stopped her running to hide in an alley, breathing hard between sobs as she fell onto her knees as she kept whispering, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” Over and over again. In her hand was a military knife. She was shaking badly with tears pouring from her eyes as she placed the knife to her neck crying. Octavia gasped seeing despair on Fluttershy's face as she tried to cut her neck but couldn't do it. She dropped the knife after making a shallow cut on the side of her neck. She heard yells down the alley then made a dash effort to fly away. She was truly desperate.
The fifth window was of Rainbow Dash, she looked shocked and about to cry. Octavia gasped seeing several dead pegasi dressed in mutilated blue and gold uniforms. Rainbow went down on her knees and carefully lifted up a yellow pegasus with a dirty wild fiery mane in her arms, seeing the dried dark blood on the yellow mare's neck, her neck was slit in a deep cut, she would have died in seconds. Rainbow started to cry, holding the pony close to her chest, actually sobbing. Another pegasus walked in with a grin on her face. Octavia stared at her for a long moment, the pegasus looked about Rainbow’s age with her golden mane cut short and her teal face looked evil as she smiled. She masked her smiling face into one of anger and sadness as she placed her hand on Rainbow's shoulder as Rainbow continues her crying.
"They were murdered by Earth ponies Rainbow Dash. They will be revenged." She said severely
Rainbow looked up, straight at Octavia. Octavia gasped to see Rainbow’s eyes burn with anger and vengeance. Rainbow was covered in foolish vengeance for the death of these ponies.
"I need you Rainbow Dash." The pegasus said sweetly. Octavia gasped to see a unicorn standing behind the pegasus with a glowing pink aura hand. Octavia could see Rainbow faintly covered in a magical pink aura as she blinked then snarled, her eyes glowed pink.
"They will all pay for this. All of them."
Octavia turned to see the final window. Twilight was sitting in the dorm like room looking through a journal that matched the one she had now. Octavia looked over the unicorn’s shoulder to see drawings of the other five mares. Twilight glared as she snapped the book shut and tossed it to her suitcase next to her on the bed. She looked at the scroll next to her on her pillow. She reached for it then unrolled it to read it. Octavia peeked over her shoulder to read it quickly to find out that the letter was a force invitation for Twilight to return to active duty in the Royal Guard.
Twilight gritted her teeth then ripped the scroll into tiny pieces and threw the pieces to the door, leaving a mess on the floor. "I won’t let you ruin my life again." She growled as she pulled off her school uniform and pulled on a shirt, pants, and jacket then her hat. She grabbed her suitcase and backpack and locked her door, so nopony will come in while she escape her room through the window. She used her magic to make a branch from a tree grow towards her. She leapt on the branch then hand over hand, she swung herself the trunk of the tree and slide down to the ground. She turned and started to run out of the school grounds.
"I'll find them all, one day." She whispered. "And there is nothing she can do about it. Friends forever; not even the army can keep us apart forever."
All of the windows faded away leaving Octavia feeling cold and depressed. She sat down on the ground. "Where are the others?"
The guardians all shook their heads.
"We can't say for sure." The blue stallion said sadly. "We can’t feel their presence any longer since they parted so far away and their Elements were taken away."
Octavia stood up glaring at them. "Where are the Elements?"
The guardians looked at one another thinking. Then the green guardian stepped up.
"We recently felt their presence in a horrible dark place."
"Where?"
"Before we could think of where they were, they were put somewhere where we cannot feel them."
Octavia stared at him for along moment. The orange guardian stood up.
"That box Celestia placed the Elements in. That box was remade with canceler crystals to keep unicorns from finding them with their magic."
Octavia blinked. "But why? If the Elements were needed again they must be found."
"Maybe she doesn’t want them to be found." The red guardian said with worry. "She wanted to make sure nopony will use them again. Or against her, maybe?"
Octavia blinked then remembered what eveypony said about the government.
"The corrupted Government..." Then she saw the unicorn in the background of Rainbow's window watching her use her magic. "They were brainwashing the Elements?”
"Maybe, but you can tell Loyalty was fooled. If you make sure the Elements are against each other and their virtues, they can be what we called Discorded."
"Discorded?"
"Yes it happen before, the Elements were Discorded into their opposite virtues and it was horrible!" The orange guardian exclaimed shivering.
"So in a way Rainbow Dash was Discorded? To hate Earth ponies?"
The guardians nodded. "Discorded can be loosely fixed with brainwashing or some such." The blue guardian said like it was simple.
Octavia sighed and nodded rubbing her head. "Alright so what should I be doing then?"
The five guardians stared at her confused.
"Well since I helped free Luna, and now I have half of the Elements on this boat, what are you suggesting I should do? Help find the Elements of Harmony?"
The five were silent as they thought, then they nodded.
"Yes," The red guardian said walking up to her. "We suggest that you help Twilight Sparkle continue her mission in finding the other three Elements of Harmony then find the crystals themselves. For if you must succeed in your goals as a Princess, Octavia. You must have the Elements of Harmony by your side."
The blue guardian nodded. "Yes, there are dark forces in work in Canterlot that will do anything to prevent you from succeeding. They will kill you if possible to keep you from winning."
Octavia nodded feeling her spirit start to get sucked back to her body.
"It's time we part for now, Octavia." The yellow guardian said with a smile. "We will lead you if it is important."
"Thank you for telling me this." She frowned as her feet sank into her sleeping body. "But I'm still not convinced that Rainbow Dash is loyal."
The five looked pained by that. "We tried."
Octavia shook her head as her spirit sank into her body. Octavia gasped sitting up almost falling forward off her seat. She glared at the crystals as they shimmered.
"Warn me to sit on the floor or lay in my bed before you bring me to the heavens."
“Sure.” The voices answered causing Octavia to shake her head. She groaned moving her sore muscles from siting for so long.
"How long was I sitting I here?"