//------------------------------// // The Origins & The 'Second' Abduction // Story: Pegasus Feathers // by Vanilla Mocha //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle and Irothrust stood underneath the massive white tree. The orange, blue, and purple leaves glistened in the sunlight as Irothrust began to answer Sweetie Belle's question. "To understand everything, I must tell you from the beginning. A long time ago, about a thousand years, before Celestia and Luna came and saved us from Discord- well, before Discord even came- there were the three tribes. The unicorns, earth ponies, and pegasi. As we all know, the unicorns raised the sun and moon. The earth ponies attended the fields, and the pegasi controlled the weather, much like today. Before the two alicorn sisters found Equestria, we had to depend on each other for everything. The pegasi had a special place to call meetings from their weather committee, and other things like such. This place wasn't too far from were the sisters built their first castle, and it was hidden away in a forest." "Is it this place?" Sweetie Belle interrupted. Irothrust nodded, and continued, "There were three very special ponies that could connect with nature with an even stronger magic than normal pegasi ponies are supposed to possess. One, the color of gold, could control fire. Another one, the color of silver, had the power to control wind. The last one, the color of bronze, controlled ice. The only ways they could use their magic was to sing, and even sometimes dance, and the magic would appear." "Ooh, beautiful!' Sweetie Belle commented. "However, the silver one became frustrated. She felt like her wind powers weren't good enough. She hungered for the golden fire magic, one that only the pegasus with that gift could possess. She became furious, and turned her majestic wind powers into frightening storm magic, one that only the evil pegasi use." "Storms aren't really that hurtful. I mean, they cause damage and such, but a small rain-shower every now and then..." Sweetie mumbled. "That is what a lot would think, Sweetie Belle. But these storms weren't like that. They will never be how she continues to get stronger. Her storms are invisible. You can't see them, but they can hurt you intensely. She has the ability to electrocute, to drown, to freeze, and to melt ponies." "That's horrible!" "And that's not even the worst on the list." "How does this have to do with the tree, though?" "The snowflake, on the left, represents the ice controller. The fire represents the golden one, and the purple part represents what used to be the wind pony. As she abducts more magic and transforms it into evil for her own use, she can only get worse. Her leaves will turn black, and the tree trunk will to. It will begin to wilt, and eventually die." "But, what does it matter if the tree dies?" "The tree unites the three ponies. If it dies, our powers will die. We can't allow that to happen, because magic can't just disappear. We don't need her to get any more dark magic, because that can only lead to more trouble. Without the tree, we may not be able to stop her." "Oh, okay. Well, how do we stop her?" "Oh, well, I didn't mean to say 'we'. What I meant to say was- oh, forget it. Sweetie Belle, I can trust you, can't I?" "Sure, why not?" Sweetie Belle smiled. "I am the golden pony that has fire magic, and Ryon is the bronze pegasus with the ice magic..." "And the wind pony is- Loviatar?!" Sweetie Belle gasped. Irothrust nodded once more. "Ohmygosh! This is so cooooooool!" Sweetie Belle shouted. "Sssh." Irothrust whispered. "Right. Sorry." Sweetie Belle whispered back. "Promise to not tell?" Irothrust asked the unicorn. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. May I ask you some questions?" "Sure." "Why are you so young?" "Our magic keeps us fillies and colts as long as we have it. We aren't immortal like Celestia and Luna, so we needed a way to stay around for so long." "And why aren't you gold?" "The more magic Loviatar abducts, the less color I have. Instead, she gets it. That's why her mane is golden." "And, why do you wear that cape?" "I like to be secretive. I don't want anypony to know- I just don't want them to see me." "Do you have a cutie-mark?" "No, not really. I guess you could say-" "That's why you wear your cape! You don't have a cutie-mark! Hey, wanna join our cutie-mark crusaders club? It's a lot of fun. We go out and venture into the wilderness to find our special talents." "Maybe. And if you want that be why I wear my cape, go ahead and think that. I'm completely fine with that." Irothrust let out a small smile. Then, reaching behind her cape she pulled out some seeds. "Hey! I know those! I've seen 'em at Apple Bloom's farm before!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. "Yes, they are apple seeds." "What are you going to do with them?" "Plant them. The more health, the more happier this place gets. Good defeats evil, and health is good. It's a small experiment I am working on. Maybe it'll work, maybe it won't. But it's worth a shot." "Why did you force Apple Bloom to give them to you? And the bloody nose? Now she has a grudge with you." Sweetie said. "Sometimes you must force. I cannot let anypony know about this place; it's too risky. I trust you, Sweetie Belle." "Okay." Irothrust planted the seeds, and then the two ponies made their way to the exit. Before they got to the gates, Irothrust began to shake. Her pupils got tiny, and her irises became bright red. Tears formed in her eyes again like last time, but she didn't hold them in. They rolled down her cheeks, and at once like steam, evaporated into the air. A small white light like before surrounded Irothrust, but it shone even brighter than the first time. Sweetie could see that the brighter it was, the more it looked like yellow than white. Then, she went back to normal, except for the fact that she now looked even more pale. "Another abduction?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Yes. And she took a lot of magic. You aren't safe, Sweetie Belle. Go home. And remember your promise." Irothrust said, her voice sounding hoarse. Then they left.