Quest To Unite

by JazzieQ


Discovery

MLP: Y U NO BELONG TO ME?!
I don't own it, really I don't...
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For five hundred years the lights observed the past events.
Celestia and Luna, to keep the unicorns and pegasi life forces in balance, decided to manifest themselves as alicorn avatars in Equestria after the rule of Princess Moonstone. Their avatar counterparts have no memory of them being the lights or the actions of Terra, but their wisdom was insurmountable. But they still could not help the dire situation that the ponies were facing as Terra alone possessed that magic.

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Murmurs surrounded the stranger who had washed up ashore.

The unicorn group that found him looked in curiosity at the sleeping pony. He was tan coated with a sandy blonde mane and his hat right next to him.

“He’s got no horn or wings mama!” a filly said.

The stallion slowly regained consciousness. He opened his bright green eyes and saw all the faces around him.

He quickly sat up with a throbbing headache.

“W-Where am I?”

Nopony said anything that they were shocked to see a pony without a horn or wings.

The stallion caught hold of his hat, placed it on his head and stood up and looked around.

“Dadgumit! Imma kill Spurs when see ‘im again”

“Mama what is he? He’s not a unicorn or a pegasi!” the filly spoke again.

“’Course I ain’t no unicorn or pegasi! I ain’t wanna be one of those! I’m an earth pony!”

“An earth pony?!... Quick, go tell the mayor!” a stallion said to one member of the group and he left darting off in the direction of the town.

“Where am I anyway?”

“Equestria. What’s your name?” the unicorn stallion said.

“Braeburn’s the name! Wait… this here’s Equestria? Are you by chance unicorns?” Braeburn looked at their horns, “No no no!… I gotta get back home!”

“Where’s your home?”

“’Cross the sea. Hmmmm, say... any one of y’all know where I can get me a boat? I need to get back real quick, it bein’ harvest season an’ all… dad gum… if I don’t get back the fruit bats’ll run wild and Applejack’s gonna kill me!” Braeburn started walking off along the coast as if hoping to see some type of ship nearby, “How the hay did I end up here? Last thing I remember is the alarm goin’ off on mah ship.”

The unicorns followed him.

“Braeburn wait!” the stallion said.

“What now?”

“Please come with us. You must be tired or hungry and the mayor will want to speak with you.”

“Look, I appreciate yer offer but I really gotta get back.”

“Please…” the stallion said.

Braeburn somehow couldn’t turn down the offer any longer.

“Okay okay. But it gotta quick yer hear!”

Braeburn went with the crowd to the small town just off the coast. He noticed the area was devoid of trees. It was mostly rocky but he thought nothing more of it. As the group entered the town, the stallion led him to the biggest house that was in the middle of the town.
All eyes were on him but their expressions were one of a sort of hopeful longing. Braeburn noticed an older unicorn stallion was scribbling a note which he gave to a pony with wings. Her eyes were crossed. Braeburn wondered if she can see in both directions.

“Don’t get lost this time Derpy okay! This is urgent express mail. Fly fast! Remember this goes straight to Canterlot!”

“Right!” and she flew off at an amazing speed. Braeburn was amazed at the pegasus. He’d never seen one before.

Then the stallion came huffing up to him and quickly grabbed his hoof shaking it vigorously.

“Welcome! Welcome uuuuh…”

“Braeburn.”

“Welcome Braeburn to our town! I’m the mayor, Red Tape. Are you hungry? Tired?”

“A little hungry, yes, but I gotta get me a boat soon, I’d appreciate it if y’all got one.”

“Of course! Please sit! Comet! A soup for Braeburn over here!”

Braeburn thought that these ponies were being awfully nice to him but he really wanted to get back. He could already picture Applejack’s prickly words about fruit bats. He needed a boat so he thought he’d play along a little longer. Comet came out with a hot steaming bowl and placed it front of Braeburn. He looked at it and batted his eyes. The soup looked a little strange.

He slowly lowered his head and tasted the soup. It was really watery and the vegetables were a bit rancid.

“How is it?” the mayor asked.

“Uummmm greeeat.” Breaburn said scrunching his face.

“Really?” Comet said, “it usually tastes like sh-“

“COMET!”

Braeburn continued, “now how ‘bout that boat? Imma kinda in a rush…”

“OH HO! A tour! Let’s give Braeburn here a tour!”

“But there isn’t anything to see! Just rocks!”

“COMET! Uuuh, please ignore Comet, Braeburn. She’s quite… um…”

“Frank?”

“ANNNOYING! Ehem…. Anyway! Let’s get to that tour huh! What do ya say?”

“Can I get home after this?” Braeburn asked with a raised brow.

“Sure! I promise!” Red Tape said wiping his head with a hanky from the cold sweat.

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Twilight Sparkle sat in her usual corner at the Canterlot Royal Library double reading two books: ‘The History of Equestria’ and ‘A History of Rare Unicorn Magic’. After finding no book she could use at her Ponyville home, she decided to visit the royal library. It wasn't much of a library anymore as all the taxes was going into food. Many buildings lay in ruins or has been patched up with mortar or substituted with cut rock. Books also were fading as trees to make paper were scarce. Everything was not taken for granted considering the high cost of living in Equestria. Twilight was hoping to find a few spells she could use successfully that scientists have not been able to figure out for five hundred years, Agri-spells.

Her friends were also in Canterlot at the time too. Rarity and Rainbow Dash had to accompany Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo on a field trip to study about growing and collecting food. Fluttershy was hoping to purchase some strawberries and lettuce, only available at Canterlot market. She had been saving for a year just to buy a few.

The famine had gotten so bad that good quality food was now considered a luxury. Ponies were paying extremely high prices for food. One apple was sold a price of twenty bits. While Equestria wasn’t completely devoid of vegetation, it was in small amounts and poor quality, Equestria had become for lack of a better definition, a barren wasteland. It had minimal security as Equestria could not afford a large army. Most ponies were underweight or malnourished. This made them very much on edge. Some had tried migration to the zebra and griffon lands, but it was harder for them there being a lone pony in a strange land.

“Taste enhancement spells, Pest-away spells, Hydration spells, Manure spells… Yuck!” Twilight cringed and sighed, “Nothing about growing.”

Twilight levitated her cup of hot tea and took a sip. She was quite lucky. Tea was quite expensive and Twilight had two cups so far. She decided to sip a little to avoid wanting a third.

A pile of books came up walking towards Twilight.

“Found anything yet?” spoke the pile.

“Nothing yet Spike,” Twilight dipped her head onto the book, “hopeless…”

“Come on Twilight, I’m sure you’ll find something soon.” Spike said and put the pile down.

“What if I don’t Spike? This famine has lasted for five hundred years! What it keeps getting worse and worse. Even the griffon and zebra crops are dwindling. Prices will keep going up and we won’t be able to eat! We're getting anxious Spike. Last week two riots were about to break out! Only because of Princess Luna, the ponies dispersed. Pretty soon there will an anarchy and we’ll all surely die!” Twilight looked exasperated.

Spike touched her shoulder and tried to cheer her up.

“I found these in the rare and historical archives section!” he knew she loved rare books.

“Thanks Spike” Twilight gave him a little pat on the head and glimpsed a page in The History of Equestria book. She levitated the book for better reading.

...After the first pony war, a balanced society was created to allow each pony to do their job. The unicorns held government positions; the pegasi held military posts and the earth ponies were experts in agriculture. This stabilised society was disrupted by two earth pony rebels, Grey Willow and Silver Oak, who had massacred at least twenty five unicorns and pegasi soldiers. Their aim was to overturn then unicorn run government in favour of placing earth ponies on top. In search of the rebels the Equestrian army had no choice but to kill all who were brainwashed into creating their own society. Grey Willow was never found. It is believed he fled Equestria with a group of his followers. General Gustnado was awarded the Equestrian Platinum Shield medal for valour...

“Haaa, Grey Willow. We’re in trouble because of you...”

Twilight looked at the pile of books Spike brought and the one that caught her eye was red leather bounded with gold letters: The Diary of a General.
She opened the dusty book but before she could have read anything, she jumped.

“Twilight Sparkle!”

A unicorn guard came running up to her panting, “You are wanted at the castle immediately along with your assistant and friends!”

“Me too?”

“Come on Spike!”

Twilight and Spike dashed out the door. On the way, they caught hold of Fluttershy on her way to the castle suite from the market. By the time they got to the castle, Rarity and Rainbow were also approaching looking exhausted from a long day while Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were swooning holding tiny cups with plants that seemed to be dying.

“Hey Twi. What’s up?” Rainbow asked.

“No time girls. The princess wants to see us!”

As they walked up, they saw mailmare Derpy flying away with two royal pegasi guards but Twilight had other important matters on her mind. What did Princess Celestia want?

Canterlot was formerly Platinum City but changed when Princess Moonstone took over. All the monuments and glamour it had that represented unicorn and pegasi dominion in the past were gone. The arena was torn down and the library was built over it. Any books regarding the past actions of unicorn and pegasi were destroyed or rewritten. Simply put, the unicorn and pegasi had forgotten why earth ponies left in the first place.
Rarity and Rainbow put Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to sit in the lobby area while they, Twilight and Spike headed to the throne room.

“You both stay here and don’t go wandering off. Stay out of trouble okay?”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded.

The group entered the brightly lit throne room and Twilight announced her presence, “You wanted to see me Princess?”

The tall, regal, white pony smiled at Twilight and her friends. They calmly approached her with Twilight in the lead. She was composed on the outside while anxious inside.

“Twilight Sparkle, my prized pupil! I have some astonishing news!”

“What is it princess?”

“An earth pony has been found.”

“An earth pony?! But I thought they went extinct five hundred years ago! Oooooh I was just reading about them in “A History Of Equestria”. They knew how to grow food, but they rebelled and left.” Twilight’s eyes suddenly lit up with enlightenment, “Princess…”

“I believe that book is not what it all seems to be Twilight Sparkle. Events have been rewritten. A past that has been twisted or long forgotten, but should not have been.”

“What do you mean Princess?” Twilight looked very concerned.

“That is an assignment I leave to you Twilight Sparkle and your friends, to find out the real truth. However, the reason I have called you here is for a much greater task. I believe it is time for unification.”

“Unification?” Rarity repeated.

“Yes, the earth ponies have been apart from unicorns and pegasi but they are ponies like us. Important in every way. Once the truth and history is out, then steps can be taken to unite us all. But, I have a very important task for Spike.”

Spike eyes opened wide.

The princess turned to him, “Spike, it up to you to make contact with the earth ponies.”

“Me? But how...”

“I believe there is a deep, ancient magic that protects the earth ponies. In the past unicorns and pegasi have tried to locate them, but failed. I do believe however that others can.”

Spike looked at Twilight then back to Princess Celestia.

"Spike," Celestia said softly, "with this task the fate of all Equestria lies with you. You must not fail in this."

The princess then addressed the group as a whole.

“You all must meet this earth pony. But be warned, move with caution. Earth ponies have complete distrust and may bear hatred for unicorn and pegasi alike.”

“Why?” Rainbow asked.

You will learn why in time to come Rainbow Dash.”

Twilight pondered. “We can do this Princess.”

“I know you can, Twilight, I have complete trust in you and your friends.”

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“And these are our quartz mine fields!” Rap Tape was walking merrily droning on about rocks for the past two hours.

Braeburn wanted to get away quickly but the mob that was also accompanying in the tour was just too overwhelming. He was smack dead in the middle of the group of unicorns and a few pegasi. He felt very uncomfortable.

Then in the distance three pegasi came soaring toward the group.

“It’s Derpy!” said a mare.

Braeburn really started to panic when he saw two royal guards accompanying the post-pony.

“Uuuuuuuuh... I think I’ve seen enough thanks, but I really gotta get back now y’all hear?” he slowly started to back away from the group and turned.

The pegasi guards landed right in front of him.

“We’ve been ordered to bring you back to Canterlot.”

“Look now, I don’t want no trouble alright... I just wanna get home.”

“Braeburn please...” Red Tape said but Braeburn was already in a panic.

The guards took hold of Braeburn and flew off with him screaming, “PUT ME DOWN NOW, Y’ALL HEAR!”

“We’re sorry but the princess' representative would like to speak to you.”

Braeburn closed his eyes and remembered Granny Smith’s stories of the evil pegasi that dropped ponies from great heights. He breathed hard and prayed for his life to be spared.

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Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo was already feeling bored from trying to nurse some baby plants that looked beyond help.

“Hey let’s go to the garden! I heard it has a maze there!” Scootaloo suggested.

“Yeah, maybe we can get our cutie marks in finding our way?” Sweetie Belle was being sarcastic.

“Then what do you wanna do?” Scootaloo said.

“Hmm, I heard there’s a really cool room in the castle, full of armor and really scary stuff! Wanna check it out?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re not scared are you?” Sweetie Belle said with a jeering look.

“Of course not!”

“Let’s go then!” and the two fillies ran off but something made them stop in their tracks just at the hall leading to the inner ward. They quickly hid behind a statue of Princess Moonstone, just as the two Pegasus guards were leading a strange pony with no wings and no horn into the castle. He looked absolutely horrified.

They waited until the guards were well ahead when they just smirked at each other and followed.

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The four ponies and Spike waited in a large room where they were to speak to Braeburn.

Just then, the door opened up again and the royal guards were escorting Braeburn into the room. Braeburn stopped and was taking slow breaths. The guards backed away leaving Braeburn in the presence of Twilight and her friends.

“My apologies. We didn’t mean to startle you with the guards.” Twilight began, “I am Twilight Sparkle, and this is Spike, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity. Each pony or dragon gave a little nod.

Braeburn looked at the ponies but said nothing. He was taking slow heavy breaths and stared at the group with a touch of repulsion. There were a few minutes of tense silence. Twilight looked at the others who were also exchanging discomforting glances at each other. Rarity checked herself to make sure she was well groomed. Twilight wondered if he was deaf.
He then finally answered, “Braeburn.” He thought that if he managed to get through this talk he might just leave the room alive. Twilight looked at Braeburn and no doubt, she saw the look of complete distrust in his eyes.

“Braeburn, the princess has summoned you here at a desperate request.” Twilight continued tenderly. She thought she had better tread carefully with this conversation, “The ponies here in Equestria have been under dire circumstances for a long time. If you have noticed, there is hardly any vegetation that grows here. We survive by importing food from other lands. It has become a situation where it is almost impossible to live worrying about how we will afford the next meal. For a long time, we have tried growing our own but we lack the ability to do so.”

Braeburn said nothing. Then Twilight approached him. He slowly took a few steps back.

“Please, can you help us?”

“W-Why?”

“The earth ponies used to live here before, something happened to make them leave. We too suffered a long time. We have searched for a long time for the earth ponies to extend a hand in friendship and we ask for your help otherwise we will all die.”

Braeburn looked at the ponies a pondered. Then he spoke, “I can’t.”

Rainbow dash interjected. “Why not?!”

“Look, I sympathize with yer situation an’ all that but Imma not sure I’m the right pony you should be talkin’ to. You probably should be talkin’ to our Princess. I’m just tryin’ to get back home. My ship went down in these here seas...”

“What were you doing in these parts?” Twilight asked.

“Uuuuuuuuuuh fishin’” Braeburn thought he shouldn’t say too much, “yeah so if y’all got a boat I can use to get back home...”

“Then if we get you a ship, can we come with you?” Rainbow asked.

“Huh? Where? To my home?” Braeburn asked.

“Yep.”

“You can’t.”

“Why not?” Fluttershy finally spoke.

“Granny Smith always said unicorns and pegasi can’t come into Argil. They ain’t allowed to.”

Why not?” Rainbow asked with an annoyed tone.

“Cuz’ you just can’t! That’s just it! I ain’t a historian. There’s no reason or at least... I think there is but all I know is that unicorns and pegasi can’t come into Argil.”

Spike came up. “What about me? I can go, right?”

“Imma not sure ‘bout that...”

“Please we need your help.” Twilight said.

Braeburn pondered. If he said no, he may not get a ship to go back and if he said yes, then ponies back home will resent him for helping unicorns and pegasi. He didn’t really have a choice.

“Okay, the little, funny, purple, spiky-headed...”

“Dragon.” Spike said most annoyed.

“... can come. But I gotta leave soon.” Braeburn looked a bit apprehensive.

The group lit up and cheered.

“Applejack’ll kill me.” Braeburn muttered but Rainbow heard him.

“Who’s Applejack?” Rainbow asked.

“Mah cousin.”

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Twilight spent at least an hour arranging for a ship to set sail the next day. Meanwhile, Spike gathered a few things for his journey especially some of his mouth watering baby blue sapphires.

Rarity had introduced Braeburn to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, while the rest were eager to question him.

“I got a lil’ cousin round yer age! Her name’s Applebloom. She’s sweet and sassy like sprinkles on a birthday cake.”

“Does she have her cutie mark yet?”

“Nope!”

“WOW!” both fillies yelled in unison.

“So what’s it like in Argil?” Fluttershy asked.

“It ain’t like nothing’ here. Here’s just mostly rocks and yer buildings too. Ain’t much tuh see. Not even a flower. Then again, I ain’t spent much time here. Back home, we got acres an’ acres of forests, grasslands with the flowers in bloom, apple trees, corn, pumpkins, taters, all kinds of fruit and veggies. By the time harvest season is in, which is now, there is the Willow Celebration and there’s lot’s to eat, YESSIRREE! Apple fritters, apple tarts, apple turnovers, caramel apples, bakewell pudding, cherry pie, cream horns, cream puffs, éclairs, cinnamon muffins, pumpkin pie, corn bread casserole, Zapp apple jam, secumber salad, mashed taters, apple cider that’s gonna give yer a buck in the face.... aaaaaand my personal favourite Granny Smith’s APPLE PIE! WHOOOOO-EEE! I can’t wait to get home to have me some!!

“Eeeeew! Rainbow Dash! Put your tongue back in your mouth! How uncouth!” Rarity exclaimed as Rainbow was just lost in the thought of food that she was slobbering all over. Rarity and Fluttershy themselves were wiping a bit of drool off from their own mouths.

Twilight walked back to the group and informed Braeburn that everything was ready for the next day.

Back at their suite, nerves began to hit Spike. He was panicking about going on a journey without Twilight.

“Spike, you’re gonna be fine. All you have to do is deliver this message to the eath pony princess, no big deal.”

“Yeah, but...”

“But what?”

“What if they don’t like me? Or I mess up? Or I deliver the wrong message and I get kicked out and I fail?”

“You only got one message. And you’ll be fine! You’ll see! Now stop pacing and get some sleep okay?”

“Okay.” Spike crawled into his basket and Twilight put out the lights. Almost instantly Spike fell asleep.

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The next day was a bit cloudy as the pegasi set up for some rainfall.

An escort chariot had given the group a ride to the coast to wish Spike a safe journey. It was a small boat, as a ship could not be hired on one day’s notice.

Spike gave each pony a hug but the special hugs went to Twilight and Rarity.

“Bye Spike! See you soon!” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo waved.

“Oh Spikey Wikey! I’ll miss you come back soon, you hear!”

“I will” Spike answered most adoringly.

“You’ll be fine Spike, I promise.” Twilight assured.

“See if you can bring back some of that apple cider for me okay?” Rainbow added.

“Have a safe trip Spike,” Fluttershy said with a smile.

Spike went onto the boat with Braeburn and the captain, Gangway, released the sail. The boat took off and thanks to that cloudy day, it was windy enough to reach a good distance. The group did not leave till the boat was just mere speck almost ready to disappear.

“Okay girls, we got work to do in the meantime. Let’s go.”

“Come on Sweetie belle and Scootaloo. Uuuuuh Sweetie Belle?”

“Squirt?” Rainbow called.

Everypony looked around.

“Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They’re GONE!”