Rainbow Dash nervously eyed the masked ponies that were escorting them through the woods. She still didn’t trust them, and she was sure that her friends felt the same way. After all, they were the ones that were about to attack them in their sleep, and then this Aqua showed up and they just wanted to back off like that? How the hay did she know who they were? Why were they following and attacking those soldiers? Who were they all working for? What was this Legend of the Sun nonsense?
Applejack nudged Rainbow out of her train of thought, whispering to the edgy pegasus, “Would ya stop lookin’ like yer gonna tackle one of them to the ground and hold ‘em hostage? It’s not gonna make anything better. Besides, she said she’d answer our questions when we get somewhere safe, remember?”
Fluttershy moved close to them, her voice low as well, “And they said they’d give us food and shelter too. So they seem... nice, I think.”
Pinkie Pie hopped up next to them, avoiding the subtlety the others had managed as she shouted with her usual energy, “And then we can throw them a welcome party, well I guess they could throw us a welcome party, but maybe we could throw a ‘thanks for welcoming us’ party. Oh, but what if they don’t have balloons and streamers and cake leftover after the first party? I’ll have to work extra hard then to get the second party ready then.”
Rarity rolled her eyes at the hyperactive pink pony. “We should probably hold off on the parties until there’s something to celebrate dear; like finding our way home.”
“Oh, good idea Rarity! We can save the welcome party and ‘thanks for welcoming us’ party for when we get back to Ponyville, and we can show all our old friends our new friends.” Even in the oddest of situations Pinkie Pie was managing to put her joyful side forward, even if that seemed to be her only side.
Twilight was walking a few feet ahead of the others as they conversed about the strange ponies that were leading them through the forest. She had her own questions to ask, but they would have to wait like all of the others. Well, all of them except for one perhaps. She trotted for a moment to get closer to Aqua at the head of the pack. Breeze was still at her side, keeping a vigilant watch around them.
“Excuse me...Aqua was it? I’m sorry but, could you at least tell us where you’re taking us?”
She tilted her head back, still showing the same sincere smile to the confused unicorn. “Of course, we’re going to Gallant Hollow. It’s our village here at the base of the mountain. It shouldn’t be much farther.”
Breeze glared at Aqua. “Lady Aqua, we shouldn’t be talking about these things around them! How do we even know they’re n-”
Aqua cut him off quickly, “We have to have faith Breeze... it’s what makes us different from the others, who only believe in the absolutes She gave them. It is why we follow the creeds of the Legend and why we are still alive here today. However, it is still possible somepony, or something, is watching... Crimson Sky, fly ahead and let the guards know we’re coming with guests, and that Pollen was injured during the raid.”
The red-coated pegasus nodded as he took off just above the treeline, leaving the others behind. Aqua turned back to Twilight, “I do apologize for the secrecy, but given the circumstances...you’ll understand, I’m sure.”
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It was about thirty more minutes before they were greeted by a heavy wooden gate, which swung open with a loud creak at their arrival. Inside was a sight that they had never seen, like finding an oasis tucked away within the dark woods. Before them was perhaps the largest tree anypony had seen in a lifetime, hollowed out and bustling with activity. Lights shone from its windows, and a small stream of water encircled the tree before snaking deeper into the village. Several smaller trees were hollowed out the same, with ponies running between them urgently, carrying papers or small packages. There were numerous tents set up around the hollowed trees, lit lanterns hanging at their entrance. It seemed like the village extended all the way to the base of the nearby mountain, which towered over their heads through the thick canopy, blocking out the moon in the night sky.
As the gates closed behind them, two ponies wearing nurse capes came to the side of one of their escorts, a dark green pegasus pony whose wing appeared bound by gauze under his armor, stained a deep red. A white unicorn stepped up as the two helped him to a nearby white tent. “We’ll have things as good as new in no time Lady Aqua. Was he only grazed?”
“Yes, luckily. Are the others gathered at the Hollow?”
“Everypony couldn’t make it on such a short notice, but the majority are ready for your report.”
“Good, that will be all.” She nodded to the unicorn before turning to the six ponies. “Please follow me, and do not stray far. This place is larger than you think.” She looked at Breeze. “You are relieved, your help was appreciated as always.”
He nodded silently in return to her as he followed the white unicorn to the tent.
Twilight looked at her friends, who could only offer a shrug in response. They didn’t have any choice now, if they even had one to begin with.
Aqua led the group through a door at the base of the large central tree, with opened into a massive central room inside. All the way to the high ceiling they could see segmented floors, ponies running in and out of doors, some of which seemed to be meeting rooms, while the others were small offices. The open air leading up to the ceiling was filled with small objects floating magically in any given direction, or pegasus ponies quickly navigating from one floor to the next. Aqua began walking across the open room, a few ponies nodding in acknowledgement to her or exchanging a quick greeting. She took the six to a long staircase tucked into the corner, which ended at a large room above the ceiling at the top of the tree.
As the door swung open, the sounds of debate quickly filled the air, as nearly twenty or so ponies of various age and appearance were caught up in at least ten different conversations. Aqua only rolled her eyes as she stepped into the middle of the room, the six ponies filing in behind her. The talking slowly subsided as their attention was focused on the strange ponies, though some kept muttering between one another. Aqua bowed to the group as they quieted, clearing her throat.
“Thank you all very much for coming here on such a short notice. I have a few things to report. The first is that two new villages has been finished here in the Everfree Wilds. Both of them are far from the reach of Equestria, and Gallant Hollow still remains our closest stronghold to the borders. We have sent enough volunteers to aid them in stabilizing their food supplies and security, and their leaders will have more detailed reports within the week. We have also gained the support of another of the minor noble houses within the Kingdom, and every precaution is being taken to keep Her eyes averted from the exchanges.”
It seemed surprising given the sounds of arguing beforehand that nopony had even attempted to interrupt Aqua during her speech. She continued on with various accounts that were beyond the comprehension of the girls. Politics, military movements, supply routes. What exactly were these ponies planning?
“Which brings us to our most pressing development... Sir Breeze’s squad led an assault under my command on a convoy about 30 minutes away from here. When we noticed their movements we had thought that these troops were attempting to locate a village, but upon observation it seems their mission was one more pressing. They were searching for the Elements from the Legends, and I believe that we managed to find them first.”
Every eye in the room turned to the six young ponies gathered near the door. All of them seemed confused still, Fluttershy hiding behind Applejack meekly as the others tried to stand tall. After only a few moments the room exploded into debate once again.
“You can’t expect us to believe that these are the same from the legends, can you? That nonsense is over five hundred years old!”
“We’ve followed the Legends for centuries, you want us to lose faith now?!”
“A war cannot be won on faith alone. We need strength and supplies, not superstitions and prayer.”
“If we deny their existence and they really are the Elements, we’re as lowly as those that serve Her!”
“Enough!!!” Aqua’s voice echoed through the room as silence returned, “This meeting is adjourned for now. Any debate over this subject will have to wait for now. May the Sun’s Majesty see you all home safely.”
It took a few minutes for the ponies to file out of the large room, still muttering amongst one another. Aqua stood alone as she let out a sigh, turning to the six.
“I apologize that you were placed under such scrutiny, but not all of our members are as... faithful as I am. You may ask your questions now, if you would like.”
Rainbow Dash had barely waited for Aqua to finish as she flew through the air, stopping a few inches from her. “How do you know who we are?”
“From the Legends of the Sun, which speak of a brighter time in our history. A time when two sisters helped one another rule over this Kingdom in Harmony.”
“What are you ramblin’ on about? We ain’t never heard of anything like that before,” Applejack interjected.
“Because the six of you are from that time... it’s the only way. A thousand years ago, before the Usurper stole the throne from her sister, when the kingdom of Equestria shone bright like a beacon of hope. When light shined in this world, other than from a cold emotionless moon.”
Fluttershy stuttered over her words, “W-what? A t-thousand years? But... we were just in Ponyville before Twilight cast her spell...”
Rainbow Dash shrugged, chuckling at the thought, “Right, it’s just some kind of joke, isn’t it? There’s no way we could be gone for a thousand years... we’d be, well, long dead by now!”
Aqua sighed heavily, shaking her head, “I know that it sounds odd, and I know that you don’t want to believe me, but this is the only explanation I can offer. Whatever that spell you cast was, it has brought all of you here today, and the Usurper knows about it.”
Twilight walked up next to Rainbow Dash, pushing her back. “You said Usurper... Who are you talking about?”
“You probably know her by her true name. Nightmare Moon. She who subdued the Sun’s Majesty and shrouded the world in darkness since that day one thousand years ago.”
Everypony’s jaw seemed to drop as Rainbow Dash hovered back down to the floor. “That’s impossible, we beat her in the Everfree Forest, and Luna went back to normal, didn’t she?” She looked at Twilight questionably.
The unicorn was at a loss for words as she turned to Dash, “I... don’t know. I mean, she seemed fine, and Princess Celestia spoke about her feeling well.”
Applejack stamped a hoof onto the ground furiously “That little... She was just playin’ everypony for foals! I can’t believe we all fell for it.”
Aqua stomped her hoof down a few times, hoping to keep the six focused as she continued, “Regardless of why she returned, she has been in control for over a thousand years. She destroyed most signs of her sister’s reign and let the Everfree Wilds overtake them. Every book that mentioned her, every city that stood as a sign of her rule, it was all crushed without question. Those that resisted her were either banished... or sentenced for high treason, but there were more than enough ponies willing to sell themselves to evil for a chance at survival and luxury. And so she rebuilt Equestria in darkness, a society where only those that served their queen without question were worthy of importance, or happiness. A world of cold machinery and oppression.”
Rarity gasped, “T-that’s simply dreadful!”
Fluttershy moved from behind Applejack. “B-but the Princess... How could she be defeated? She used the Elements of Harmony before when Nightmare Moon came.”
“But you were all the Elements, in a physical form. Without you to call upon, the Princess had to stand alone against her sister. And in that hour she was tricked as well. The Legends say that her magic was taken from her by Nightmare Moon in the heat of battle, and then she surrendered wholly. Now you know why those soldiers, Nightmare Moon’s, were searching for you. Because you are all awake again, you are the only thing standing in her way, and she will do anything to stop that.”
Pinkie Pie actually seemed depressed as she spoke up, “How are we supposed to do anything against a whole army of Black Snooty’s meanie pants soldiers? We’re only six ponies.”
“That will have to wait until I can speak to the other Council members of the resistance. We may not be a part of Equestria anymore by name, but we will not see our brothers and sisters oppressed with no hope in sight. For now, I will lead you to your quarters for the time being. We are already overcrowded with a few refugees, but the village’s library has been quartered off for you. You can take a chance to read up on what you have missed after you get some food and sleep. What little there is to read at least...”