The group stood there awkwardly for a moment as the young ponies held onto Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy who didn't exactly know what to do.
"How about we head to the castle." suggested Twilight breaking the silence. The others nodded as did the younger ponies before heading to the castle.
Once in the throne room the three younger ponies looked around in wonder.
"They're sure curious, ain't they?" said Applejack with a smile.
"I suppose it is natural." said Rarity with concern.
"What's wrong?" asked Applejack.
"I'm just concerned." replied Rarity. "They said they awakened in the Castle of the Pony Sisters with no memories."
"Maybe they just hit their heads really hard or something." suggested Rainbow Dash.
"That's unlikely." replied Twilight. "We took them to the hospital and the doctor didn't mention anything about finding any trauma to their heads."
"Well what did he find?" asked Applejack.
"He said they'd been experimented on and tortured." replied Twilight sadly surprising the three. "Spike."
"Yeah?" asked Spike.
"I want you to take a letter. I just realized I left my saddlebag in the market." said Twilight. Spike left and returned with a quill and a scroll.
"Alright. I'm ready."
"Dear Princess Celestia,
Earlier today two of my friends, Fluttershy and Rarity, and I found some young ponies who were badly injured. We took them to the hospital and found something horrible. The three had been tortured and experimented on. Their vocal cords were also severed so they're unable to speak. We gathered the rest of our friends to see them in the hospital but some strange creatures attacked the market. We fought but were overwhelmed until the three came to our aid. The three displayed power unlike anything ever heard of before. The first of the three is a young colt who seems to be able to control and breath fire like a dragon. The second is a young filly who displayed the ability to control water and freeze things. The last is another young filly who somehow manipulated the ground making rocks come out of the ground. In addition strange bracelets appeared on our forelegs and that's not even the strangest thing. For some reason these devices turned the three of us and the three of them into humans. We were able to defeat the threat but we're uncertain of what to do with them. They've communicated they awakened in your old castle with no memories of who they are or how they came to arrive there. They also seem to think of us as their mothers but we're uncertain of what to do. We will await your response.
Your fellow Princess,
Twilight Sparkle."
At that Spike rolled up the paper and sent via flame breath.
"So what do we do in the meantime?" asked Rainbow Dash. It was then an exclaimation mark formed over Blitz's head causing question marks to appear over Frost and Gem.
"That wouldn't be a good idea." said Twilight.
"What'd he say?" asked Rainbow.
"He suggested we play hide and seek." replied Twilight. "But the castle hasn't been here long so we could get lost." he added before remembering something. "Hey Flame Blitz." He turned to her with a question mark on his head. "I remember that during the battle you stopped yourself in mid air. Does that mean you can fly?" The question mark spun.
"How would he fly?" asked Rainbow Dash. "The kid doesn't even have wings."
"Maybe not but if he was able to stop himself in the air it's possible he might be able to use fire to propel himself to fly." explained Twilight. Blitz looked at her for a moment. "So do you think you'd be able to?" Blitz jumped and fire began shooting out of his hooves keeping him in the air which completely shocked the others, but none as much as Rainbow Dash. Blitz hovered a few feet off the ground for a bit before the fire vanished and he landed on his hooves. "It wasn't a bad first try."
"I agree." said a voice. The nine turned to the door where they saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna looking at them.
"That was quite impressive." said Celestia. "So these are the ones you found?"
"That's right." replied Twilight. Celestia and Luna went up to inspect the young ponies.
"What are your names?" asked Luna.
"Luna I forgot to mention before that these young ones are unable to speak." said Celestia.
"I see." said Luna. At that question marks formed over their head surprising the sisters. Twilight chuckled a little as she, Fluttershy, and Rarity went up to them.
"Kids they're the rulers of Equestria. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." said Twilight. "It seems that because they're unable to speak they have the ability to project their thoughts as images made of whatever they're able to control."
"Fascinating." said Celestia.
"And they told you they awakened in our former castle." added Luna.
"Yes." replied Twilight.
"Do you think you might be able to show us what part of the castle you awakened in?" asked Celestia. The three nodded. Blitz turned to Twilight as a question mark formed on over his head.
"I think that's a good idea." said Twilight smiling at Blitz.
"What did he say?" asked Pinkie.
"He asked if we should go now." replied Twilight.
Not long after they walked to the Everfree Forest where they made their way through to the old castle which was starting to collect a little dust. The three youngest members of their group led the way until they got to what should have been the basement but to everyone's surprise there was a large hole on a one of the walls. Gem pointed to it.
"That's where you awakened?" asked Rarity. Gem nodded. The three began leading them again but as soon as they crossed the threshold they collapsed. Immediately they ran up to the three.
"Are they okay?" asked Applejack.
"It looks like they're fine. Merely unconcious." said Luna.
"What in tarnation happened to them?" asked Applejack. Twilight looked at the opening and then closed her eyes a minute.
"There's magic here." said Twilight. "I think there's a spell of some kind in place."
"But why aren't we affected?" asked Rainbow.
"I think it was made specifically for them." replied Twilight.
"Right you are." said a voice. They looked around as the ground began lighting up forming a path.
"Who are you?" asked Princess Celestia.
"It has been too long princess." said the voice. For a moment the voice sounded familiar but Celestia and Luna were uncertain as they followed the lights. Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy got the young ones on their backs before following. At the end of the trail of light was what appeared to be a mare with yellowish green fur and a magenta mane. She turned to them revealing her dark pink eyes.
"Who are you?" asked Twilight.
"In my time I was known by a number of names but my birth name was Wyld Streak." said the mare.
"You..." said Celestia surprised as both sisters looked at the mare.
"Do you know her?" Twilight asked Celestia.
"Wyld Streak, here, was Clover the Clever's younger sister." replied Celestia surprising the others.
"B-b-but..."
"Jeez. You'd think think an ascended princess would be able to talk clearly." said Wyld.
"Why is she not in the history books?" asked Twilight.
"I can answer that." said Wyld. "You see.....heh. I just realized how time perception works." she said with a light laugh. "Anyway I found out about somepony who had some really bad plans and she asked me to find out more but I couldn't exactly do much with my sister being the ever popular student to Starswirl so the Princess had to scrub the records of my existence." explained Wyld.
"Wyld how are you here?" asked Celestia.
"You know better than anyone there's more than one way to keep knowledge in hidden." said Wyld. "What you're seeing is a projection I made to ensure I could give them guidance."
"So you know what happened to them?" asked Fluttershy.
"I'm afraid I was powerless to stop it from happening." said Wyld.
"What can you tell them about them?" asked Luna.
"A long time ago there was a pony....at least we believed he was a pony, named Balthasar. At least that's what he wanted others to call him." began Wyld. "I wasn't brought in until much later but it seems he found a number of young ponies who had a unique connection."
"What kind of connection?" asked Twilight.
"Do any of you other than the Princesses know of the legend of the Elements?"
"You mean like the Elements of Harmony?" asked Rainbow.
"I'm guessing not." said Wyld.
"The legend has fallen into obscurity." said Celestia.
"So what's this legend about?" asked Applejack.
"A long time ago, before even Luna or I were born, there was a great evil. Though I don't quite remember its name our parents attempted to fight it but were not strong enough so they tried to find a new way to fight it. Eventually they made contacts with a group of spirits known as the Elementals. They embody the Elements of Nature."
"The Elements of Nature?" asked the six.
"Yes." replied Luna. "They became encarnate through a spell and became ponies. Their efforts allowed this great evil to be banished and after they elected to live as normal ponies, thus they each had families. As there was no need for them to use their powers they became legends but as Tia has mentioned their legend fell into obscurity."
"So what does this have to do with the young ones?" asked Rarity.
"They're descendants of the Elementals." replied Wyld. "Balthasar wanted to make servants of them. Warriors with the powers of the Elements and thus they were fused with the spirits of the Elementals."
"So that's why Flame Blitz was able to spit fire like a dragon?" asked Twilight.
"Yes." replied Wyld.
"How long ago was this?" asked Celestia.
"Around a thousand years give or take." replied Wyld. They became shocked.
"B-but how...?" asked Fluttershy looking at Frost on her back.
"I was able to keep them from becoming mindless killers but I realized their power would be needed one day so I put them all in stasis." explained Wyld causing most of the others to become confused.
"You mean these three have been asleep for a thousand years?!" asked Twilight shocking the others.
"That's right." said Wyld turning to a place with three very large but broken crystals.
"Can you explain these darling?" asked Rarity holding up her hoof.
"Ah yes. Those are Bio-Links." replied Wyld. "Due to some of the things they went through their powers are significantly weaker. Due to this it seems they developed the ability to link with somepony but because the mergence of the Elemental Spirits with their own Souls caused their memories to go white."
"So they have no memory of who they once were?" asked Twilight.
"I'm afraid not."
"So that's why they think we're they're mothers." said Rarity.
"Say what now?" asked Wyld surprised.
"The three of them seem to think we're their mothers." explained Twilight.
"I guess it makes sense." said Wyld.
"Can you tell us anything about the creatures we fought earlier?" asked Twilight.
"Not a lot. I know that there's something they called Seeds of Devastation which can create monsters by merging with any living creature. " replied Wyld. "Once they do merge with a creature the resulting monster is called a Destroyer. Each Destroyer is able to create minions called Shades and that's about all I know. Truth is each of them was meant to lead an squad of Destroyers but I was able to hide all of them."
"So how many others like them are there?" asked Rainbow looking at Frost.
"There's a total of nine of them." replied Wyld.
"Can you tell us where to find them?" asked Celestia.
"Unfortunately no." replied Wyld. "I had to be sure that if one was found the others wouldn't be so I placed them in different hidden locations. Each one has a projection of me with the information needed."
"So then what exactly are we to them?" asked Twilight.
"Well...I guess technically you could be considered their masters or tamers if you wanna get technical though personally I like the term Operators." replied Wyld. "Essentially they'll be relying on you for strategy in battle and to help them learn. Please watch over them."
"Is there anything we should know?" asked Fluttershy.
"Well their bodies were modified so it's near impossible for them to get sick but remember that this only reduces the possibility of them becoming ill." explained Wyld. "If they do fall ill just place them within in their elements. Other than that each of them has individual abilities they shouldn't use outside of battle. For example Gem's able to make any gem she touches explosive." Hearing this made Rarity worry. "Don't worry. She should be able to control it so she'll only do it in her or your defense." she explained before turning to Fluttershy. "With her I'd be careful about a few things. First she can breath under water. Second be careful not to let her sneeze because if she does she'll freeze whatever she sneezes at."
"Is there anything else?" asked Twilight.
"Yes. Keep him..." said Wyld pointing at Blitz. "...and her..." she said pointing at Frost. "...from getting too angry. At their current age he'd make things around him hotter to the point they might burst into flames and she might cause things around her to freeze.
"Wyld." said Celestia causing her to turn. "How exactly did you get this place here without us knowing?"
"I'm curious about that as well." said Luna.
"You think we're in your old castle?" asked Wyld. The others looked at them confused. She sighed and then pointed to where a window opened. "Take a look." They walked over ot it and became shocked.
"Wh-What is this?" asked Twilight in shock.
"Just where the hay are we?" asked Rainbow shocked.
"We're hidden deep within Yakyakistan." said Wyld causing them to turn. "When I hid the Forgotten I had to make sure It couldn't find them before they found their operators."
"The forgotten?" asked Twilight.
"I called them that because their pasts were taken from them and because of it they remained erased from all history." replied Wyld.
"Is there anything else we should know?" asked Celestia.
"Yeah. I'm not sure how they did it but all nine of them were instilled with some sort of fighting spirit so they have an impulse to fight. In other words if you see them fighting each other it's not out of hostility."
"So they fight for fun?" asked Pinkie confused.
"Pretty much." replied Wyld. "They have skills set for both forms but keep them from fighting anypony other than one another because they could seriously hurt others. Physically they're all stronger, faster, and have a much higher level of endurance than anypony their age."
"That will be a problem." said Twilight.
"Yes but I believe you will be more than able to watch over them." said Wyld with a sad smile.
"Wyld Streak." said Celestia causing her to turn. "You mentioned that the others were hidden but how are you certain they will find their....operators?"
"Didn't you wonder why I had these three together?" asked Wyld as she looked at the three younger ponies. "Their awakening acts as a signal for the others so once they awaken they'll be drawn to where ever they reside."
"Then the others will be drawn to Ponyville." concluded Twilight.
"Correct." replied Wyld. "It is time for you to return but before you do I must ask something of you." she said causing them to turn. "Please watch over them. They may be empowered but they are still children. In battle you will need to be their operators but at home they'll need guardians...parents." she said sadly. Before anyone could respond there was a bright light and they found themselves back at the castle but to their surprise the hole they'd gone through was now gone.
"So what now?" asked Applejack a bit confused.
"I guess we take care of them." said Twilight looking at Flame Blitz.
"If the three of you wish I can have adoption forms sent to you homes to make it official." said Celestia.
"I'm willing to watch over Frost." said Fluttershy.
"Given the circumstances I'll make sure to watch over Gem." said Rarity.
"Then we're in agreement." said Twilight. "We'll be sure to watch over them." she added as she looked at her former mentor.
"Alright. Be careful Twilight. Everyone." said Celestia. "I'll send the forms as soon as they're ready and have others ready for the missing ones."