//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Scroll… // Story: The Lost Element // by Lienia Harmony //------------------------------// Chapter 1: The Scroll… My golden magic wrapped around the handle of the library door, and I trotted in. “Twilight. I’ve brought back those books—” I paused when I saw a scroll on her desk. I walked over—surely just looking at it wouldn’t hurt. I slowly opened the scroll as I set my books on the desk, and examined the text, and gasped. This is Cervidian—What is this doing here?! This should be in the Cervidian Royal archives! I read quietly, softly speaking the language as if it was my own. “Mae deiliad y testun hwn yn dal yn eu dwylo hanes o amddiffyniad cryfaf y deyrnas Marchogaeth - yn Yr Elfennau o Harmony. Mae rhai yn credu bod chwech, ac er eu bod yn gweithredu gyda dim ond yr elfennau o Magic, Gonestrwydd, Teyrngarwch, Caredigrwydd, Haelioni, ac Chwerthin, mae un elfen nad yw hyd yn oed yn gwybod Chwiorydd Brenhinol y...” In my mind, I translated the words, which were. The holder of this text holds in their hands the histories of the Equestrian kingdom's strongest defense--The Elements of Harmony. Some think there are six, and while they function with just the elements of Magic, Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, and Laughter, there is one element that not even the Royal Sisters know of... “This is ancient Cervardian…” I whispered, slowly and gently opening the scroll more. “What are you doing?! Get away from that!” Twilight got between me and the scroll rolling it quickly and careless, making me panic. “CAREFULL! THAT’S A CERVIDIAN ARTIFACT!” I shrieked, taking it away and making sure it was not damaged, then carefully rolling it back up slowly. “Who the buck taught you to handle ancient scrolls?” “What were you doing snooping through my documents?” the purple alicorn snarled. “I wasn’t snooping! I saw it open and happened to noticed the text was in Cervidian, so I was curious,” I snapped. “And I can tell you it talks about the Elements, and it’s in Ancient Cervidian.” Twilight gave me a look, and she huffed. “Thank you for that information. Now it makes sense that Celestia sent it to me.” I watched as she started to walk away. “Twilight, I can read ancient Cervidian. I could translate it for you right now, and it would be easy for you to go over it.” “Thank you for the offer,” She growled, trying to stress she had dismissed me. “But Princess Celestia sent it to me. Not you.” “Just because you’re the Solar Princess’s star student AND a princess as well does not mean you have to do everything yourself you know! I am offering to translate something for you because the language is second nature to me—” “I said no,” she turned and yelled. “SPIKE! Find the Cervidian to Equestrian Dictionary please!” I gaped at her stupidity. How the buck was this foal the princess’s protégé? “Twilight, did you not hear me? I said it was in Ancient Cervidian, which means the modern Cervidian dictionary will be useless! There is only three modern words in that paragraph I read. The rest are all non-existent anymore. I can read Ancient Cervidian because as a foal I studied old scrolls in hopes of working in the Archives. You will be lost if I don’t translate if for you.” “I am sure I can manage. Now please leave, Lienia,” Twilight walked away again. “SPIKE! The dictionary!” “The young dragon followed walked up to her. “Twilight I think you should listen—” “SPIKE!” “Yea, yea… I’m on it…” Lienia sighed, and walked out, taking a deep breath. That alicorn is such a pain in my rear! Why does she have to be so prideful! I made my way towards my adopted sister’s boutique, and sighed as I entered. “Rarity? Do you have my Gala dress ready yet?” “Ah there you are, Lienia!” The fashionita appeared virtually out of nowhere. “I’m almost finished. Come try it on and I’ll see if I need to adjust it.” I stood up on the platform, and waited as Rarity helped me into the gown. Rarity and I had originally started off on the wrong hoof. She hated me and my “country bunkin” attitude, I hated how disdainful of me she was. For a while in our adult lives, the two of us never saw eye to eye, until we both realized we were different, but were still family. That and we needed to set a good example for Sweetie Belle. Now, Rarity and I were good friends, I gladly attended the spa days with her and Fluttershy every week, and I also became the live model every now and then for Rarity so she could see how the dresses and outfits she made moved with a pony in them. Back to the gown she was making me. I had won a gala ticket, and I was mainly going to join my sister and friends to see what the hubbub was about. The gown, Rarity and I both took the time to design, and it was my style with Rarity’s flare. It was dark emerald green, with fabric white poppies on the ribbons and collars. “Rarity I love it! It looks wonderful!” I smiled at myself in the mirror. “Thank you darling. You know I love to make things perfect. Now hold still, the hem is coming loose.” I stood still as she start sewing. “Is it fun?” “The Gala? It can be,” Rarity said as she kept sewing. “But I suppose it will be better considering Celestia is allowing popular bands to play.” “That’s cool. Is Pinkie planning it?” I asked as I turned my head to watch her sew. “She’s sending ideas.” “That’s nice of her.” “She wants it to be fun.” The two of us laughed, and once Rarity finished, she promised she’d have it clean and ready the night of the gala, so I said goodbye and trotted home. It was a quiet walk, and allowed me to try and guess what that scroll was about…