//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Player Number Three // by Candy-Sweets_12 //------------------------------// "C'mon Sweetie, it doesn't matter, we're going to be late." Sweetie was now two months and it was Thanksgiving day, and everypony decided to eat at the castle that year with Twilight's family. "I know, I'm just not sure about which scarf I should wear." she said, holding up both. Scootaloo came in and landed. "The one on you're left, now come on, we're supposed to get Apple Bloom, Pip and Imp, and meet Spike and Mina at the train station." She heard a whistling nose and saw the mimicker; wearing a dark blue coat, in the door way. Imp was a nymph, despite Twilight's book from when she first met the crusaders. After she settled on being a nymph, she started living in the Everfree Forrest. She had the same unmistakable blue eyes, and was a light; almost white, blue coat. She looked like a simple earth pony with short wavy sapphire blue hair. She had a cutiemark of her former self. However she was very well connected with nature (Especially crystals, rare gems and creatures). She rarely talked and always made little musical notes; although she did know sign language. "Hey Imp, how are you?" Imp whistled to Scootaloo. "Glad to see you too. How's your mother?" Imp smiled. "I'll head to Sweet Apple Acres, I'll meet you guys at the train." Rumble said. With that he shot off like a rocket and made a beeline for Sweet Apple Acres. The rest went to the train station. "So you're Imp?" Button asked. The nymph nodded. "Were you at the wedding?" Imp nodded. "She was there as herself, though nothing stood out but her eyes." Sweetie Belle explained. Imp whistled in agreement. "She had the light blue and sapphire dress. " Sweetie continued. They soon saw the station after waking for a while. There, Spike and Mina appeared, ready to get on the train. "Hey guys," Mina said. She looked at Scootaloo and noticed Rumble wasn't with them. "Where's Rumble?" "He's getting Apple Bloom and Pipsqueak." Button answered. "So how's the Wonderbolt's?" Spike asked. Scootaloo laughed at a memory. "I'll tell you at the table. How about you guys?" Spike looked and smiled at Mina. "Good." Was all he said. Button Mash looked over to Sweetie and nearly had a heart attack when she wasn't there. Almost as quickly as he panicked, he found her sitting on a bench away from the tracks. Button went over to his wife and sat next to her. He saw her shiver at the unusual cold winds of the late autumn. He took off his dark and light orange and brown scarf and wrapped it around the unicorn. Sweetie looked up. "Button you don't have t-" He stopped her. "I don't mind, I'm not that cold." Button said. He smiled when he saw Sweetie snuggle up to the warmth of the scarf. "You truly are the sweetest." She placed her head on his shoulder. Button wrapped his arms around her. Imp standing from the side rolled her eyes and smiled. She turned her head to find Pipsqueak and Rumble. Where Apple Bloom walking behind them with a yellow saddle bag with her cutiemark on each side. "Sorry we're late." she apologized. "Hi Imp, how's it going?" The earth pony smiled and made a little bird-like tune. "That's great. How about you Spike?" Rumble said. "Oh, we're fine, just enjoying life in Ponyville." Mina answered before Spike could. After the wedding, Spike and Mina grew closer and eventually moved in together. The dragon couple moved to Ponyville a year before from Fillydelphia; where Mina lived before she met Spike. They could've migrated with other dragons, but they were raised in cities, and decided to move to a smaller town with old friends and family. Though it took a while before Mina could walk in public without fangirling or fainting on the spot. As one would imagine, she and Rarity made great friends. Finally, after catching up with each other, the train arrived and the group boarded on with the other ponies on the platform. "Tickets please." The conductor said holding out his hat. Everyone looked to Apple Bloom who reached into her bag and pulled out the eight tickets. "Thank you ma'am." The stallion said as he moved to the side from the door. The group loaded onto the train. Laughing at a joke Rumble just made. They sat in their seats and faced each other. Laughing all the while as Rumble and Scootaloo told tales from the Wonderbolts. Apple Bloom and Pipsqueak explained an infestation they had in the orchard recently. Button and Sweetie Belle talked about their upcoming albums and videogames. Imp was asked a bunch of questions in which she answered simply. Some of the replies got laughs out of the group. They all laughed and chuckled until the train pulled up to the Canterlot train station. There, they saw Applejack and Fluttershy there waiting for them. "Girls!" Fluttershy said gently flapping her wings to meet everyone. She had her daughter, who was happily cooing at the newcomers. "Howdy ya'll, nice to see ya'll made it." Applejack said as she trotted up to the bunch. "How come you had to come here before we did?" Spike asked. "We needed to cook the dinner and Princess Cadence asked that I helped. Speaking of which we still need ya to help us with the apple pie, Granny Smith told ya her secret recipe." Applejack said grabbing her sister's hoof and pulling it to the castle. Pipsqueak trotted behind. Leaving Fluttershy to get everyone where they were going to spend the day. "We'll have so much fun! We'll be eating outside with Princess Celestia, Luna, and Cadence and her family outside by the castle. I'm so excited." Fluttershy said as her daughter smiled in agreement. They reached a spot near the castle that overlooked most of Canterlot, and thankfully; it was warm enough to eat outside. They saw several tables on flat grounds, and saw Pinkie Pie and Cheese setting them and doing cart-wheels all the while. "Hey everyone!" Pinkie Pie said while stopping in the middle of the air. She floated down and greeted the seven of them. "Glad to see you made it, though a bit earlier than we expected, we're still cooking, and decorating, and making arrangements." She ranted. "Where's everyone else?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Well... Rarity is with Twilight to help clear up the Princess' schedules, Fluttershy is supposed to watch the kids with Discord, Soarin' and Rainbowdash in the castle garden, and Flash and Shining Armor are making sure that the royal guard are ready to fight off any monsters or what have you, and Applejack, Cheerilee, BigMac, and Caramel are supposed to be in the kitchen helping the chefs, wait where's Apple Bloom?" Cheese said. "Apple Bloom is with Applejack, and has Babs arrived yet?" Scootaloo said. "No, but she should be here within an hour." Pinkie Pie answered. "For now we can just wait for dinner." she said this before going back to doing summersaults with Cheese just for the fun of it. "We're super duper party ponies, Yes that's me and you, Who needs one party pony? When you can just have two!..." They sang. "I'm going to go check with Rainbowdash," Scootaloo said before gently flapping her wings towards the castle. Rumble wasn't too far behind. This left the other five looking for something to do. "Maybe I should go see how Twilight's doing." Spike said. "Good idea, I'll be here." Mina said. After leaving, the group started talking with each other. Imp started signing to Sweetie Belle, who decided to learn for her friend and laughed. "What did she say?" Button Mash asked. "She just told me that she's wondering about our foal is all." Sweetie Belle said. "How is your foal by the way?" Mina said. Deciding not to mention anything about the first one. "Oh, my little angel is just fine, and I'm grateful to have it." Sweetie Belle said while smiling. 'Speaking of which,' she thought while looking at the position of the sun. "I'll be right back." she stood up and walked to Pinkie Pie and Cheese. After a minute of conversation, she received a water bottle from Pinkie's mane. "Thanks..?" Sweetie Belle said. Pinkie giggled at her reaction. "No problem." she said before hopping off to another part of the grassy area. Sweetie Belle opened her saddle bag and took out her prescription pills, she then walked off to a farther distance. "Where is she going?" Mina asked. "The doctor said for Sweetie Belle to take the pills to make sure our foal stays healthy." Button explained. A minute later Sweetie Belle approached the two talking and found a rather bored Imp. "Hey Imp you want to go the garden? It's really neat." Imp nodded and smiled. "You want me to come?" Button said, overhearing the conversation. "No, I'm just going to look at the garden is all." Sweetie Belle said with Imp walking behind her. They walked in silence until Imp signed something. "What do you mean by what am I hiding?" Sweetie answered. Imp rolled her eyes and pointed to the saddle bag that was the same color as Sweetie's fur and had a cutiemark on it. "Oh, didn't Button tell you? It's my medicine for-" She stopped when Imp started signing again. "Ok. I admit I haven't been telling Button the whole truth about them." They approached a bench near the gardens and sat on it. Imp continued. Sweetie was silent afterwards, searching for a way to answer her friend's question. "I know that I can trust you Imp, but if you're ever asked, please don't mention this to anyone." Imp nodded and did the motions for the Pinkie Promise. "The truth is, that there's a really slim chance that both me and my foal will live." Sweetie Belle said. Imp's eyes grew wide in shock. She motioned once again and Sweetie Belle sighed. "I just don't want him to worry about losing me. I know he'd do anything for me to stay alive, but I want to do this. I'll do whatever it takes for tis foal." Sweetie Belle replied. Imp nodded in understanding, worry in her eyes. "Don't worry Imp, I wont let anything happen to my foal or myself. You promised not to tell a breathing soul." Imp nodded. From a distance, she heard Scootaloo playing with her niece and nephew; who were begging her to race them. "Please?" Rainbow's young daughter asked and gave her a puppy dog stare. "Whoa kids," Rainbow Dash said as she flew to them. "Aunt Scootaloo is tired and needs a break." she said. The kids groaned. "Don't worry, soon I'll be playing with my favorite niece and nephew" she said rubbing the latter's mane as she sat down. "We're you're only niece and nephew." he said before fixing his navy blue, red, and purple mane. "Which is why I need to save my energy to play with you later." Scootaloo said. The kids sighed a defeated sigh and went to see how the others children were doing. Scootaloo spotted Sweetie Belle and Imp from afar and waved them over. Without a minute to lose, they walked over to their friend. "Sweetie Belle, is it normal to have such a bad headache?" she asked rubbing her head with her hoof. "You'll have to get used to it, right now you look like you need to lie down." Sweetie Belle said. Nodding, Scootaloo flapped her wings to sit on a low cloud near the ground. She collapsed onto it, curling her tail around and immediately falling asleep. "Hey ya'll, Babs is here!" Apple Bloom, who came up to them, exclaimed. The Manehattan stylist appeared shortly afterwards, blowing on her bangs and smiling. "Thanks for invitin' me here, it's an honor." she said. "No problem, Ah' need to get back to the kitchen, c'mon Babs, we need your help with the main course." Apple Bloom said before rushing back. Babs followed close behind. "I don't understand why I can't just poof our dinner right now," Discord complained. "Where's the memories in that? It's not just about the food, it's about remembering what we're thankful for." Fluttershy said. "It is?" Zany asked. "Of course it is," Rainbow Dash said as she landed next to him. "Can you tell us why?" Cheesecake said excitedly. "Maybe later." Fluttershy said. All of the foals started crowding around her. "Please?" They all asked. "Alright, alright sit down and we'll tell you the story." Rainbow Dash said wrapping an arm around Fluttershy. "It all began about a year after Hearth's Warming Eve," Rainbow Dash began. "There were the ponies of the new found land Equestria, but there were new creatures entering the land, the gryphons, the crystal ponies. There was also lots of creatures they had never seen before, who were already living there..." The new kingdoms were trying to take over the new land, a war nearly broke out against the Crystal Ponies, Dragons, Gryphons, Ponies and just about any other species that wanted the land for it's self. Clover the Clever, decided to put a stop to it immediately, she had recently been exploring with her new friends into a magical forest, where they found a small magical sapling. "Maybe we should-" Smart cookie started. "Wait, we don't know what this is, it could be the same dark magic as the Windigos, even worse." Commander Hurricane warned. "It's a new discovery, I must alert Star Swirl about this, he might know something about it." The young unicorn and her friends raced back home to their village, where they were making the capital of the new land. Star Swirl was in his study, silently listening to his young apprentice. "I'm afraid I've never heard of such a thing in all of my years." The wise stallion said. " Do you think that maybe it could be important?" "My dear, if I've been hearing you correctly, I don't think that this crystal sapling could be worth anything, it's probably just another new species we've never seen before." he suggested. "Ok, thanks anyway." Clover sighed before going back to her friends. She went to Princess Platinum first, who had urgent news. "My father just got out of a meeting with King Glover, and the greedy griffons want to go to war or have the land for themselves!" she said. They alerted the others who agreed to talk about it with the her. They met up with him in his room. "What do you wish to alert me about?" he asked. "Father, we request that we don't go to war over our new land, can't we make a deal?" The king shook his head. "I'm afraid that I tried that, but the gryphons won't agree, they're as greedy as those dragons." "Surely we can share the land," Smart Cookie exclaimed. "As I said the first time, I have tried reasoning, they want to either take us into their empire, or we fight for the land." he sighed. "I thank you all for your concern, but I'm afraid that there's nothing more I can do. You're dismissed, Commander Hurricane and Pudding Head, I request your assistance." The rest left the room. "What are we going to do?" The pegasus asked. "I don't know." Clover said, she started running with her friends right behind her. "But I think that the sapling has something to do with it. Tell the others to meet me and Princess Platinum at the location of the sapling tomorrow." she turned as sharp corner and ran into her study, taking her notebook. The next day the six of them met at the sprouting tree. "What should we do with it?" Pudding Head asked. Clover took out her notebook and flipped through it to the last entry, which described Hearth's Warming Eve. "I feel a connection to this tree, I think that it can help us." Clover said. "Um... that's a tree dear." Princess Platinum said. "Not just any tree, I think that it could be magic." Clover said. "Magic?" They all asked. "Yes, I took note of all of the dangerous plants in the forest, but none of them are coming close to this tree." "Come to think about it," Pudding Head said. "I thought that it was kind of funny how no weeds are around this tree and were around every other one." "So I thought that if this tree could protect its self with it's magic, maybe we could use the magic somehow. You remember when I got that magical surge from our friendship in that cave don't you?" "How could we forget? We acted so childish instead of being friends with each other." Smart Cookie said. Princess Platinum blushed remembering her actions from that night. "Yeah, so you were saying?" she said. "Maybe, we can use that same magic from inside that cave and use it to settle an agreement, but I think that this sapling," Clover pointed downwards. "will help us do so." "How do we do that?" Private Pansy asked. "Remember the times you were a great friend, like when you were generous or kind." Clover said. "There's the time I was honest about our crops not growing because I was distracted for a few weeks." Smart Cookie said. "Good, just like that," Clover said. The group threw out suggestions on how they were a good friend, laughing at the mistakes they had to learn from. It wasn't until they ran out of things to say to see the tree growing with each word, a branch growing longer with each lesson. "I think that it's working." Chancellor Pudding Head said. There before them, stood the Tree of Harmony. Only, they didn't know at the time. "It was our friendship that brought us together and our tribes, "Clover explained. "From those lessons we learned from being friends, we were able to grow like this tree." She noticed that each branch had a jewel in it, and wrote in her notebook. "Do you think that we could make an agreement?" Princess Platinum asked. "Maybe, but I don't think that we need the tree to help us with that situation." Clover said. "So we came here for nothing?" Commander asked. "I wouldn't say that, if we can make harmony with the other creatures of the land, then I believe that we can share it and that it will come to our benefit." "But what about the tree?" Pansy asked. "I think that we may be connected to it, if our friendship helped us grow and learn, and the tree grew from our friendship, then I think that the kingdoms can grow, together, and that we may create our own magic, from harmony. We can say the tree still helped us." Clover simply said. Not noticing a glowing from the tree and the edge of it's branches as she said the word, harmony. "Whatever you say Clover," Pudding Head replied. They walked away from the tall standing tree, leaving the newly formed Elements in it's place. They went back to the capital city, where a dispute between the kings and queens of the land were discussing an agreement on conquering Equestria. "WAIT!!!" Clover exclaimed as she ad her friends opened the door. "Daughter, I have told you and your friends that I can't control what this war." The King said. "I know father, but we have a solution." "Surely this is probably some big game to you, we are trying to discuss important matters." The King of Gryphons snapped. "I am Princess Platinum, and I demand that you listen to my offer that I don't think you'd like to refuse." she said sternly. "Fine, what do you propose we do?" "We live in peace together." "No. That is just silly." King Glover replied. "I didn't explain my reasoning yet, and I'd appreciate if you weren't so rude." she snapped. The king said nothing. "Thank you. I've been discussing the matter, and I think that if we lived on the same land in harmony, we could all get what we want. We don't have to go to war and end up having thousands die from such a silly matter, if we were to live in peace as friends with one another, we could all stand strong and get what we want." she announced. "Gems?" The diamond dog queen and dragon queen asked in unison. "Precisely." "A place to grow crops and settle down?" King Glover asked. "Of course." "We don't need to take control over one another? Or change another's life choices? " The Crystal Princess asked. "No, we don't. We can make cities and towns where different creatures can live as friends. Only together can we get what we want." Clover the Clever said stepping in. "We should seal the agreement." Smart Cookie proposed. "By signing a document!!" Pudding Head agreed. Clover the Clever summoned a quill and paper and gave it first to the unicorn king. He took them both. "I, previous king of the unicorns hereby decree that all creatures that live upon our great land, shall live together in harmony. We will trade crops and goods to one another and live under our own beliefs. We may live with the ponies of Equestria, or have our own Empires that are welcome to any creature there is. When a new threat arises, we shall work together to defeat it. We will be given equal rights no ruler shall overpower another. But instead, make agreements. " He looked around the room "Anyone want to make any changes?" No one did. The document was passed around and signed by a king, queen, Princess, or Prince, all of which signed the document. "We shall celebrate our new friendship!!!" Pudding Head said happily. "With what?" The Crystal Princess asked. "A feast of course!!' she exclaimed. "Very well, but first we must discuss trade and settlement." The king said. Pudding Head was a bit disappointed but nodded understandingly. "You are dismissed." he said. Once outside the friends cheered. "We did it!" Clover said. "I didn't know you had such a way with words." Commander Hurricane said. "I have to do something if I'm a princess, what do you think I do all day, get pampered?" he laughed. "I'm just grateful that we don't have to go to war." Private Pansy said. "So am I." Smart Cookie said. "I've got it! We'll call it Thankful day!" Pudding Head exclaimed. "How about Thanksgiving?" Smart Cookie said. "Thanksgiving!!" Pudding Head said. The following day, the kingdoms had a great feast, every griffon, pony, dragon, crystal pony, any creature that would live in a town or Empire celebrated the day everyone lived in harmony in Equestria. They'd give their thanks and say how relieved they are to live in peace with the other kingdoms. From then on, Thanksgiving was declared as an official holiday. "Ever since then, it has been tradition to say what you are thankful for other than being at peace with other citizens." "So, if it wasn't for that, we wouldn't have all of our cool things or friends?" Applejack's son, Johnny asked. "Yeah, I wouldn't be friends with Gilda." Rainbow Dash said. "And we wouldn't have Spike or Princess Cadence either." Fluttershy added. "Wow." The foals said. "C'mon ya'll it's time for dinner!" Applejack said as she, Caramel, Cheerilee, Babs, and Apple Bloom balanced their dishes on their backs. Behind them a bunch of gourmet chefs were carrying several varieties of foods. Apple Pie, squash, mashed potatoes, carrots, salad, It was a gold mine. The biggest dish was carried by two chefs; one of which being Big Mac. It was tradition to make bread. Simple as it sounded, it was filled up with many vegetables and spices and stuffing that made it as good as any turkey in the human world. Everyone was hypnotized by its scents, it was so strong and delicious that it woke Scootaloo up, who flew safely down and followed everypony to the tables. Once they reached it, They found the Princesses sitting at the tables. The group was so large, They had at least six large tables. A different number of chairs at each one. Sweetie Belle followed Rarity to where their family was siting, her parents, in-laws, and niece and nephew were there sitting at the table they had different foods of different kinds served to them from the chefs. Scootaloo and Rumble sat at the same table as Rainbow Dash's family and were served the same foods along with, of course, apple pie. Apple Bloom sat at a much bigger table than everyone else. They had the same foods, only with a lot more apple treats. Princess Twilight was sitting with her family and other Princesses along with Spike and Mina, Fluttershy with her family, Pinkie with her sisters, parents, and children with Cheese. She saw Imp standing in the middle awkwardly, and headed to Scootaloo's table. Last year was Apple Bloom's and the year before Sweetie Belle's. She switched from year to year. Sweetie Belle returned to the conversation. "...How about you Sweetie, how was your trip to Manehattan?" Button's mother asked. "Well, it was fun. We went to the spa and saw the statue of liberty. We also ate at a gourmet restaurant, it was fun." Sweetie Belle simply said. "That's nice." she said. "What about you Button, played any new games lately?" "I wish could say so, but with the recent news, I've been distracted." he said. He looked at Sweetie Belle who looked up at him. His nephew stuck his tongue out. "Ew, I hate lovey-dovey stuff." The young colt said. "That's exactly what I said before I became friends with Sweetie Belle" Button replied. "You mean I might fall in love too?" The light orange colt said. "Maybe." Button's brother said before ruffling his son's mane. "That's enough you three," Button's mother said. "What about you Rarity? Anything interesting going on?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I'm glad you asked, I'm making a new clothing line for a fashion show." she said. "That's great! What's the style?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Winter clothing." The unicorn said. "And I'm going to help!" Platinum said nearly hopping out of her seat. "Calm down darling," Fancy Pants said. "You're not done with your dinner yet." he said before primly eating his meal. The group continued talking for the next hour as everyone, especially the former crusaders, devoured their meal. By the time Twilight noticed everyone was done, she stood up. "Attention everybody." she called out. Everyone immediately looked up to the purple princess. "Thank you for coming here everybody, this has been a great Thanksgiving, and there's nothing I'm more thankful for than sharing it with all of you." she said. "Don't tell me you're going to get all sappy on us Twi," Rainbow Dash joked. This made everyone, including Twilight chuckle. "Let's say what we're thankful for. Applejack," she stated, looking at the closest table to her. "You can go first." Applejack cleared her throat and stood up. "Ah'm thankful for being here with mah family n' friends today. And even if Granny isn't here," she took of her hat and held it to her chest. "rest her soul, I'm thankful for all the lessons I have learned from her about the importance of family." she sat down. And everyone applauded, after everyone at the table got a turn, Fluttershy was next. "I'm thankful for my beautiful family and wonderful friends, and also to have my loving and funny husband Discord here with me." she smiled up at him. The next table was Pinkie Pie's. "I'm thankful for all of the smiles that came to anyone's face because of me, and my family that I love so much, for making me smile just as much." Rainbow Dash went next. "I'm thankful for getting my dream job where I met Soarin' and ended up with a pretty cool family, and I'm also thankful for my wonderful friends." Finally came Rarity's table, Rarity stood up first. "I'm thankful for every generous being that was ever kind and loved me no matter how dramatic I can be, including my family and friends." she said. By the time it was Sweetie Belle's turn, she stood up tall. "I'm thankful for my parents and siblings, my wonderful husband and in-laws, and my new family coming soon." she said. Once everyone was done, they all cheered. Luna rose the moon and Celestia set the sun just as fireworks started to ignite the darkening sky. Everyone was amazed as the vibrant colors burst across the sky. Families huddled close; wives leaned into husbands' shoulders, foals sitting close to their parents watching the light show turn the skies into beautiful colors. "This is the best Thanksgiving ever." Sweetie Belle said while leaning in closer to Button Mash, who hugged her tightly.