//------------------------------//
// A Plant's Life 
// Story: Roots 
// by Frekser 
//------------------------------//

I remember when I broke the surface of Root-Home, feeling the Life-Giver's warmth for the first time.

I remember growing big and strong with my friends around me, ignoring the Leaf-Eaters' attempts to stop us.

I remember when we became a great forest, enjoying our care-free, passive existence.

I also remember when They came.

Ponies, they called themselves. They disregarded our will to live just as they do, and they used us for their own interests.
They cut down the forest around me, and I was incapable to stop them. I was forced to watch them turn my friends into their homes and burn them to keep warm. As a final insult, they left me alone, grieving in the middle of my former family.

I loathed Ponies.

For years I watched them grow and strive through the exploit of my kin. They continued their merry existence, and I could do nothing but attempt to ignore their voices drowning my thoughts as they spoke, unable to understand them. Not even the Little Ones nesting in my body brought me solace, and death would not come. The Ponies even had the nerve to tend to me to prevent it!

But everything changed when the Life-Pony arrived.

The Life-Pony approached me, radiating warmth much like the Life-Giver itself. It comforted me, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity I didn't feel hatred towards one of Them. I could not hate the Life-Giver, how could I hate the Life-Giver's spawn?
The Life-Pony examined me as I savored in it's radiance. I felt it touch me with it's Sharp-Bone, and suddenly I felt a peculiar magic wash over me.

Then, it spoke.
"Oh, great oak. I come to you today out of need, for I have had a vision. I have a task for you," it said.

It was unsettling. I felt my leaves rustle without the aid of the World-Breath - I understood the words of the Life-Pony. Clearly, the Life-Pony was truly a spawn of the Life-Giver, and was sent to me for a reason. I listened as it continued.

"My vision told me that a student of mine is to come here, to Ponyville, to fullfill her destiny. She needs a home."

I felt my roots tense inside the Root-Home. Was the Life-Pony going to use me as it's kin used mine?
Somehow, it seemed to feel and understand my discomfort. The Life-Pony smiled.

"You misunderstand, oh great oak. I will not harm you. I shall transform you into an abode for her to reside in, and I ask you to protect her. You will continue life, but with a new resident - not unlike the squirrels on your branches," the Life-Pony said, nodding it's head at my leaves. "I will enchant you with my magic to further protect her - but in return, I offer you magic to protect you aswell. No parasites will ever ail you, no lightning will ever strike you. Fire will not burn you, and you'll always receive enough nutrients, water and sunshine to enjoy your life."

I could hardly understand what the Life-Pony was offering. The Life-Pony promised to provide me a care-free existence without fear of being cut down, burned, eaten or anything of the sort. All I had to do was...
... Protect a Pony.

The Life-Pony gave me some time before it's Sharp-Bone began to glow. I felt magics wash over me and my shape twisted - I felt no discomfort, for the Life-Pony's magic aura was like the rays of the Life-Giver upon my bark and leaves. It comforted me as I was molded into a hollow, but still living form.
Satisfied, the Life-Pony added some things not part of me. It summoned things inside my hollow trunk and it shaped the Root-Home around and, to my surprise, below me. Finally the Life-Pony washed it's magics over me again and I felt renewed and stronger than ever, my bark stretching over the holes of the Peck-Fliers, and my leaves consumed by the Leaf-Eaters grew back.

Then, as quickly as it came, the Life-Pony's warm glow left me and it was gone.

In the next few days many unknown Ponies visited me. I was horrified to realize they were filling me with objects from which most were made of my former kin! They were not magically transformed as I was - they had been brutally shaped, not surviving through the ordeal just like the homes of the Ponies around me. They were merely lifeless husks, used by the Ponies for their own needs.

Had the Life-Pony tricked me?

My fury was not quenched when the Purple Pony arrived - the inhabitant the Life-Pony wanted me to protect. It brought with it even more of the objects, and adding insult to injury it brought with it a Firebreather! The Pony dared bring a wielder of my kin's destroyer inside me, to live within me?!
... But, alas, I was unable to do anything. I had accepted the deal of the Life-Pony without doubts, and I suddenly wished I hadn't. Death would now never come, and I had to house creatures I hated within me.

The Purple Pony brought trouble with it. Soon after it's arrival the Cold Orb usurped the Life-Giver's throne and I was left in the cold darkness. Now even the flora on the surface of the Root-Home had to suffer, and still I was unable to die with them.

I could only blame the Purple Pony.

Of course, the Life-Giver prevailed. It returned to it's rightful place on the High-Above, and I felt joy again. With it, the Purple Pony returned aswell - but different. I sensed a magic on it that was not there before. Something strong. Something that reminded me of Life-Pony.

Around this time I noted that the Life-Pony's enchantments seemed to be flawed. The Blue One would often fly through my See-Through holes. It did not harm me, but allowed intruders inside. Such an obvious mistake troubled me.

Not that I cared about the inhabitants' safety.

As time went on, other Ponies visited. Sometimes they took some of the objects on my walls away, but they always brought them back. It worried me - did my kin die for nothing? Were these objects not important enough to keep?

I learned their story through the Ponies' speech. They called the objects Books. They claimed these Books held knowledge, and the statement lifted my spirits. We trees are happy in our passive lives, but we always seem to lack a purpose. They would be satisfied knowing they have one in their death.

Over time, I noticed the Purple Pony's love for the Books. I was conflicted again. For all intents and purposes, the Purple Pony seemed... Good. It cleans my insides, it organizes the Books... And it loves them. It seems to collect more and more every day. Is it a Keeper of these Books? A Keeper of Knowledge?

Or does she love the trees the Books were made of?

Over time, I started to feel... Affection towards my inhabitants. They appreciated me and considered me their home. They had done nothing against me, yet I felt hatred toward them? They kept my kin's remains safe and shared their knowledge, and I resented them for giving them a purpose?

I grew on them, I presume. I could no longer ignore the affection my inhabitants had for me. Sometimes, the Life-Pony would visit too and talk to me. It told me how important the Purple Pony - Twilight Sparkle, the Life Pony called it - is. An Element of Harmony.

I harbor the defender of Equestria within me. I could only feel proud.

I can't bring myself to forget the day Chaos appeared. I could feel Chaos' magic - so wild and twisted - as it entered me. I was unable to stop it, and so were the enchantments.
Chaos noticed them. And it noticed me.

"Ah, Celestia always had a thing for these kind of projects. A safe haven inside a living tree? Totally her style." it said, chuckling. "Don't worry, oak. I won't dabble into your enchantments - you're a fine memento of her. The Celestia I used to know, that is."

I didn't know who "Celestia" was, but I knew Chaos planted something inside one of my Books. Before I knew it, the Chaos left me.
I tried to alert the Life-Pony immediately, but I did not feel her. By the time Chaos was defeated, I knew what I had to do. I had seen what my failure had done to the Purple Pony - it had broken it and it's friends. I had to concentrate.

I had to prevent events like this from transpiring again.

I focused on my task once I accepted it fully. I more actively participated in protecting my inhabitants with the enchantments. For example, once the Purple Pony seemed to lose it's mind - it ran off with a lifeless Pony in it's magic. In my worry, I alerted the Life-Pony through it's enchantments - I don't know what happened, but the Purple Pony returned fine. The Life-Pony even congratulated me for a job well done. I was happy.

Since then, I've protected my inhabitants valiantly...

No.

My family. I've protected my family - the Purp-... Twilight Sparkle, the Books, Night-Flier, and even the Firebreather and Fire-Flier.
I've kept them safe. I've grown further, a shining example in the middle of Ponyville. 

Twilight Sparkle grew aswell. I watched proudly as it became stronger and grew wings. Twilight Sparkle grew emotionally, too. I didn't feel angry when I was pulled from the safety of Root-Home and thrown at the High-Above during it's wrath. The enchantments kept me safe and I wasn't harmed. Thus, I could continue keeping my family safe and all was well.

The problem is, I alone am not enough. The enchantments provided the means to protect us.

And now, they're gone.

I can no longer feel the Life-Pony in the distance, and I can no longer feel the enchantments. Instead, I feel dread.

I can no longer understand your speech, Twilight Sparkle.

I can feel the warmth of the Life-Pony inside you, now. I feel the magics inside you, stronger. Maybe you no longer need me.

I hope you don't, Twilight Sparkle.

Because I, like you, know exactly where that ball of fire is headed.

And I'm not strong enough.