//------------------------------// // Friends Together Part 1 // Story: The Search for True Harmony // by Dragonfire2lm //------------------------------// Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy all stared at the older versions of each other as they met up in the centre of ponyville. The trip there was not pleasant. the ground was dusty and bare of all plant life, and in some places cracked and upheaved as though an earthquake had hit the small town. buildings lay ruins, some nothing more than a pile of rubble, others mere shells of what they once were. Even though it was the middle of the day clouds covered the sky, the once bright sun was now dimmer than a light bulb, barely giving off any heat or light. Ponyville was a ghost town, even amongst the more stable buildings not a soul, pony or animal could be seen, the only noise was sound of their breathing and movement as the six mares gathered in a circle in the town square. "The others should be here soon" The Proffessor said calmly. "When everypony arrives we'll answer any questions you may Twilight". "Hold yer horses Im'a comin'" a southern accent drawled as two ponies approached the group, one noticably Applejack, the other bore a striking similarity the farm horse, with the diferences being a larger stetson, a piece of wheat sticking out of the older mare's mouth and something being strapped to the rear end of larger pony. "Oh no Applejack..." Twilight cried out as she realised what was strapped the hind quarters of Applejacs older self; a strange harness attached a contraption not unlike a wheelchair to the orange mare, her hind legs unmoving as the wheels attached to the device allowed her to walk without much trouble. "You..You lost your back legs!?" Rainbow yelled out. "Rainbot, could you please tell your younger self that I didn't lose mah legs, they just stopped workin'" the parapelgic mare replied, offended by the outburst. "Um sorry.." Rainbow replied sheepishly, while Rainbot looked apologetic. "How have you been Jackie?" The Proffessor asked. "Jackie?" Applejack asked her older self. "Just fine sugarcube, now AJ we all decided to give ourselves nicknames so that when you lot arrived we all wouudn't be gettin' confused and stuff, I'm Jackie, and this here is Rainbot Dash, Professor Sparkle, or just The Professor, Flutters is well...Fluttershy and all we have to do is wait for Gem an' Diane to get here" Future Applejack explained. "Oh I thought I heard voices, over here girls" the prim and refined voice of Rarity reached the group as two white unicorns walked up to meet them. "Woah Rarity..what happened to you..or what will happen...My head hurts' Rainbow began but soon got confused. The Older Rarity had the same white coat and diamond cutie mark, but as with the others, there was still a difference, her mane and tail was now platinum silver and hung loosely, with only the slightest waves to tell it had ever been styled in the curls the girls knew so well. her eyes also seemed to lose their vibrant blue, clouded over and unfocused. "I don't mean to be rude..." Twilight began "but are you-? "Blind? Yes dear I am, but not to worry I've adapted my gem finding spell to allow me to 'see' by sensing vibrations instead of gems" the white unicorn replied. "Gem here was telling me of all the marvelous spells she's been able to craft over the years from the simple ones I use..or we used in dress making" Rarity explaned. "So Rarity's older self is Gem...so Diane must be Pinkie's...where are they?" Applejack asked.