//------------------------------// // Friendship Rebuild // Story: No Elements, No Harmony // by Fret //------------------------------// "Twilight..." Celestia called, trying to keep up with her. The young mare didn't slow down though. "Twilight!" "What?" she grunted, turning her head back to her. "Why wouldn't you think your friends exist in this world? And even if they do, what does it matter?" Her mentor finally caught up with her, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "What does it matter?" Twilight echoed. "How would you feel if you saw your friends suffer under the rule of two ponies who in your own world you look up to? And considering we're the Elements, what if they don't even exist? Are we throw away characters that were taken out of this universe because they were the one thing that could stop your sister and yourself from wrecking Equestria? If you ask me, Princess, that's a lot to take in." She shook her hoof off of her shoulder and continued towards the castle. "Okay, I get it, you're confused. But just because the tree doesn't exist here, doesn't mean your friends don't." "Why would they? We're the spirits of the Elements of Harmony. Why would we exist?" Celestia squinted, then teleported in front of her. "You're ponies. Just like everypony else. Those two other universes you went to... you six existed. And it's not just them suffering under... well... our rule, it's everypony... no, everyone! That includes Discord for Harmony's sake!" Twilight looked up at her. "I... I guess. But this world works so differently..." she sighed, turning away from her. "You'll never know unless you find out." The lavender mare paused. "...You're right, Princess," she admitted, looking back at her with a smile. "Sorry for flipping out like that." "It's alright Twilight. It's nothing compared to my breakdown yesterday," the alicorn giggled. "Oh, and Celestia?" "Yes?" "About Discord..." Twilight began, only to be interrupted for the third time. "Hey you two, can you not leave me behind like that?" Luna growled, panting as she galloped towards them. "It's so hot... I feel like I'm melting." "Says the Princess of the Night." Celestia said. "Be quiet. I'm used to the cold," she grunted, "anyway, are we going to find a quill or what?" Twilight chuckled, "Sure, off to Ponyville we go!" She grinned, trotting the opposite way she had ran before. Luna looked at her curiously. "Since when did she change her mind?" she muttered to her sister. "I don't know. I guess I'm just persuasive." Celestia shrugged, following her student. --- Fluttershy carried her tray which held tea and biscuits, then set it on the table, in front of the draconequus who slouched on his seat. "Is it really that bad?" she asked him, pouring out her tea. "Bad?" Discord repeated her words, "It was a nightmare persuading Cadance to let me even be here for ten minutes," he groaned, watching as the teapot poured it's liquid in his cup by itself. "I remembered her less of a pain, if you ask me." "Well, I'm sure Celestia, Luna and Twilight will come back soon. Spike sent them a letter, and it should get to them, wherever they are," she reassured. Discord wasn't so sure though, and sipped his tea, holding it with his tail. "How long ago was that exactly?" "Um... about three and a half hours ago," she said. "Ugh... I can't believe I actually miss Celestia and Luna," he mumbled under his breath. "Twilight not included?" Fluttershy leaned forward over the table a little, having heard his words. "She's my friend now, remember? You all are," he replied, using a fishing rod to hook a cookie out of his teacup. "I know. But why be surprised to miss Celestia and Luna?" A tiny smirk started to show on the little pegasus' face. "Um... complicated," Discord simply said, wrapping his tongue around the cookie and dragged it in his mouth. Fluttershy just giggled, "Whatever you say." Discord gave a confused look at her. "What do you mean by that?" "Nothing." --- Being under the shelter of the Everfree forest was bright enough, but being out in the open was like standing in a fire. They had to shield their eyes from the bright sun, which seemed to be in every corner of the sky. Twilight squinted her eyes, trying to get used to the brightness. She looked around her, realizing Ponyville was just ahead of them. "Okay, so we'll get some ink and a quill, then come back?" Luna summarized, starting to trot ahead. But Twilight stopped her with her hoof. "Um... don't you think it would be wise if you two stayed hidden?" the young mare suggested. Luna raised a brow. "Why is that?" "Well, you're both alicorns that share cutie marks with these ponies' rulers," she explained, "imagine their reactions, they'd be quite confused. And like Celestia said, we don't want to cause a rift." The two sisters looked at each other, then nodded. "Alright, but what if something come's up?" Celestia asked, trotting up to Twilight. "I doubt anything will. What could possibly happen in a town like this?" she scoffed, pointing at the dull and wrecked village. "Good point. We'll stay here, meet us back at this area soon," Luna told her. Twilight nodded, then started to gallop towards Ponyville, when Celestia stopped her. "Twilight!" "What is it?" She turned around. "Do your best to hide your wings. Or horn... one of them." Twilight took note in what she meant. She wasn't even sure if Cadance was an alicorn in this place, never mind herself. She looked around, looking for something she could cover her wings up with. At first, there was nothing usable, but as she kept walking, she spotted an abandoned curtain that she could tie around her body. Using her horn, Twilight covered her back with the grey-ish blue sheet, and tied a knot around her neck. With that out of the way, she slowly made her way through the seemingly abandoned town. There weren't many houses, mostly just farms and small huts. And it was nowhere the size of Ponyville in her own world, in fact, this village probably wasn't even named Ponyville. That wasn't the main focus right now though. She needed some tools so she could contact her friends before they worried about her and the other Princesses even more. But there wasn't a library or anything similar in sight. She'd have to find a pony and ask. If there was a pony around, that is. She refused to knock on any of the doors around her, they'd probably give her a weird look to why she seemed so desperate for a quill and some ink. But the further she walked, the less crowded it seemed to be, despite there being nopony around. It took her a while to realize she wasn't exactly in the village anymore, instead surrounded by trees that seemed half dead. Everything was all the more silent. There wasn't even a breeze. And yet, that seemed to be a good thing. From far off, Twilight could hear a slamming noise, most likely from a pony. She slowly started to walk towards where it was coming from, being careful not to startle who or whatever it was. Eventually, Twilight could make out the image of a pony with a ruffled coat and untidy mane. She seemed to be bucking the trees behind her, but not much fell from any of them. Then Twilight stopped in her tracks as she realized who stood in front of her. Applejack! The violet mare wasn't sure how to react. The farm pony looked so different to her healthy counterpart. It actually hurt to even look at how ruffled she looked. But she needed something to write back to her friends with, and asking Applejack seemed like the best option. "Err... excuse me?" Twilight asked awkwardly. Applejack jumped at the sound of her voice, then looked around drastically to look for where it came from. Once Twilight came into vision, she calmed down. "Oh... err... yes?" she asked, "Who are ya? Haven't seen you 'round this place before, I don't think." Twilight blinked in surprise. Applejack didn't know her? Did any of her friends know each other? For now, it would be best to play along. "Err... no, I'm not from here..." she answered, trying to act normal. "Thought so. I didn't really expect to see anypony out at the sun's hour," she didn't stop bucking the trees around them as she spoke. Twilight noticed drops of sweat rolling down her face. "Uh... sun's hour?" she echoed. Applejack looked at her with surprise. "Haven't y'all heard that phrase before? It's just our name for when Queen Solar Flare raises the sun." "Oh... no I didn't know that. Heh..." she trailed off, not knowing what to say. "Uh... can I ask you a question?" "Err... sure, go ahead," the mare shrugged, not stopping her bucking. Her tone surprised Twilight. She would of thought she would act differently to her original counterpart, but she was pretty much acting the same. "Well... uh... why does the sun get raised, exactly?" Applejack paused, and gave her a curious look. "Uh... you're not from Equestria, are ya?" Twilight's eyes widened. "Um... technically no..." she laughed nervously. "Well... every now and then, the sun must come up so the plants down 'ere can make at least a bit of food. There's no date for it, it's just raised randomly," she explained. "But... I was walking through the town before... and it was empty. Don't the ponies like the daylight?" Twilight tilted her head. Applejack scoffed, "I dunno where you're from, sugercube, but the only daylight we're allowed to know is the moonlight." That did make sense. Nightmare Moon wouldn't want her ponies eagerly waiting for the sun's return. "So why are you out?" The farm pony sighed, "I have to gather all the food we can, whether the moon or sun's up." "When was the last time you slept?" Twilight only just noticed the bags under her eyes. Again, Applejack shrugged. "A while back. Last time my brother Big Mac was awake. He's havin' a break right now." Twilight looked at her hooves. This was a mare who was overworking herself. Without a choice. "Surely you can take a break now?" She shook her head. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm afraid I can't." Wait, why was Twilight here again? Quill. Ink. That's what. "Oh... uh, one last question." Applejack nodded. "Yeah?" "Do you have some ink and a quill?" The mare gave her a curious look, but nodded and motioned her to follow. --- Twilight spotted Celestia and Luna sitting in the shade of a surprisingly healthy tree, and sped up her pace. When they noticed her coming towards them, they got up and went to meet her half way. "Oh hey, you got them," Luna looked in surprise at the writing tools she levitated. "Yep, but that's not all," Twilight grinned, "I got them from Applejack." "Your friend?" Celestia raised a brow. "No, the muffin mare. Yes, my friend," Twilight rolled her eyes, a slight smirk picking up on one side, "but I got some information about this place too!" The two Princess' interest perked. "Really?" They both asked. "Yep. Apparently Solar Flare raises the sun randomly so that the plants can only just survive. Oh, and ponies aren't aloud to enjoy daytime." Celestia gave a huff, "Can they even? Not even I'm enjoying it." "Yeah, it's way too hot. Anyway, here's your paper," Luna levitated a blank page ripped from either the journal or the spell book, and gave it to Twilight to start writing.