//------------------------------//
// Prelude #IV (Final): The Armed, The Deadly, The Unbound 
// Story: Magical Intentions, Vol. I 
// by Aureane 
//------------------------------//

		As the whole crowd of ponies are staring upon this newfound trio, the Tree of Harmony's map ingrains their cutie marks: rocks, eclipse, and a star.  

"Wait.  There's one more thing," Celestia notes.  "Luna and I have decided to give you these as a sign of our thanks.  

The three turn around.  The sun princess has three massive lockers to the left of her.  She looks back at them with a proud look in her eyes.  Then, she begins.

"Trixie, do step forward."

The trickster complies and bows her head as everyone observes in silence.  An unsteady stillness fills about the room as the crowd wonders what the Sun is about to do next.

"Arise."

Trixie looks forward.  "Your highness?"

"Although you have attempted to take over Ponyville once before, seeing that Maud wishes for you to go along with her, we trust that you will hold your word and regard the actions of your friends.  There is no doubt that whatever you encounter in those lands will not be merciful.  Luna and I thus bestow upon you this forbidden spell."  The day mare flicks her horn and outlines the furthermost locker-- with a firm shake, it busts open, and Celestia raises the scroll out of its container as Trixie receives it with her magic.  She is speechless.  The scroll is a sky blue color, and is tied in the middle with an elegant, clover green string.  Supporting it is a golden roller to hold it together.

"You... you actually... trust me with this?"

"Twilight and I have held our discussions, and we deem you as so; now go on, try the spell."

"I trust you, Trixie."  The purple alicorn states.  To this, Twilight and the blue mare both smile at each other warmly.

Trixie looks down at the scroll, and after a considerable while of hesitation, she unties the knots using her teeth, and the ancient spell reveals itself without holding back.  "Astonishing," Trixie whispers.  The scroll reads:

By the cast of Tareth,

Only she whom has learned that friendship does not come through envy, but through balance-- only she whom has learned to not only accept her own achievements, but recognize that of others- to each their own path- may wield the unyielding power of this scroll.  May this be as such, marked in blood and stone alone; 'til the day the perfect one arrives.

Trixie places her horn upon the scroll, and immediately, a sudden shock of power travels throughout her whole body, tingling every one of her cells, shaking them to the very foundation of the dark matter from which they were made.  Closing her eyes shut, the mare focuses as the shock wave surges about, through her very bones, and to the end of her tail-- everyone gasps as what appears before Trixie's eyes are several, ethereal rapiers.  The sideshow mare opens her eyes, and jumps back in overwhelming fascination.  The swords stay at an exact distance away from her, maintaining a constant position.

Celestia nods.  "We were waiting for this day, Trixie.  There are three hidden elements that we haven't been able to link to anyone before-- and we believe that you three are fit enough to understand the responsibilities of such a power.  Trixie.  You are the element of Respect.  Your weapon is known as 'Tareth', created by Starswirl the Bearded himself.  May you use it wisely."

The blue pony looks about the room as the swords twitch and flicker about with an otherworldly energy floating about them.  "I am honored, Celestia.  I won't let you down."  Trixie steps back to join the others, keeping her head low until she reaches her friends, storing the scroll into her pouch as the weapons continue to float about.

Celestia moves on.  "Starlight, do step forward."

"Y-yes, Princess."  The violet mare steps up, not following the same formal rules as Trixie; instead, she walks forth, looks Celestia in the eye, and doesn't bow down.

The whole room stands shocked as they look at her in disbelief.  However, Celestia only lets about a chuckle.  "I see someone has yet to learn of proper etiquette."

Starlight looks around, and eventually locks eyes onto the mane six.  They're quietly signalling for her to bow down.

"Oh!"  Starlight lowers her head, blushing.  

"Arise."

Starlight complies.  The princess goes on.

"Although you have attempted to equalize all ponies here about Equestria, we are happy to have you here along our side, and seeing that you have taken to Trixie and Maud, bestow you this mighty weapon, originally an experiment of Luna's.  We believe that you have learned to not only re-bond with others for the actions that they have done, but within an overall resolve-- the rebuilding of your own self.  You, Starlight, are the element of Forgiveness."

Without another moment's pass, Celestia bursts open the second locker, and out reveals a bracelet, complete with a dazzling, orange look, and several additional adornments of dark blue, green, and black to accompany its overall look.

"A bracelet?"  

"Yes.  Luna has dubbed it to be known as 'Emran'."

Celestia hovers it on over to her, and equips it onto Starlight's arm.  Instantly, the compelling power of the night embraces the mage, and she takes a step back at it channels throughout her core.  Several of the onlookers are worried that something unfortunate may happen to her, but to her own will, she is unscathed.  Starlight examines as the bracelet folds upwards, into her arm, and becomes that of a massive cannon on the right side of her body.  Surprisingly, it is completely weightless, and still retains its same, orange and black color.  Without a single sound, the plasma cannon charges up, and is ready to fire.  It spins about in anticipation as it awaits the choice of its wearer.

"Thank you, Celestia."  Starlight steps back in line with the other two mares, remembering to bow before reaching her original position.

Celestia looks to the grey mare.  "Maud Pie, sister of Pinkie Pie," she emphasizes.  "It is not you who should be bowing.  It is I."  She lowers her own head, and the spectators about the room gawk at this site.  A royal alicorn, bowing to a plain, green-eyed pony.  But, acknowledging her actions, all of them bow as well, and so do Maud's friends.  After fifteen seconds of silence, the masses arise.  

Maud bows to them in return, holding to the formal rules.  

"Arise," Celestia requests.

The grey mare looks up to the sun princess.

"It is you, through that of your actions, and scarcely your words, who has saved Equestria, just as my dear student has, countless of times."  She looks to Twilight, and then back.  "As silent as you may be, you are still all the more louder.  And to that, I am more than proud to hand you this weapon.  Luna truly sends you her gratitude with this."

Celestia cracks open the final locker, and a familiar pair of horseshoes falls out.

"My old gauntlets?"  Maud asks, tilting her head.

"Yes.  Luna has taken upon it to restore them to their prior condition for the past few days you were in recovery.  She hopes that you find the improvements to your liking."

The alicorn lowers them unto the floor in front of Maud, and she jumps into them.  They feel exactly the same, grey color and all.

Suddenly, however, as the boots unfold among her hooves, new, blades unsheathe themselves on the outside of either of the grey mare's arms and legs.  They fall limp to the floor, visibly attached to chains.  

"Luna has proposed the name, 'Asterus'.  It was created by Discord, that of the draconeqqui.  Originally a parasitic weapon, we worked hoof-in-hoof to remove that feature, thus leaving you with the chain boots."

But, the blades are limp on the floor, Maud thinks.  How do they retract?

Upon moving a single hoof, one of the blades reattaches itself to the boots.

Ah.  I see.  If I utilize my muscles, they work like whips.

She strains her body slightly, and all of the blades gather upon their respective places.

Testing her theory out, Maud throws a hoof into the air and relaxes it, causing the chain blade to immediately fly out into the air and stab into the high ceiling up above.  She then tightens it, and surely enough, she flies dozens of feet into the air as everyone watches in wonder.  She then repeats this to latch on to the chandelier several feet below her, letting and straining in order to land just above the decoration.  Hooking her two hind blades to the edge of the decor, she relaxes her muscles and releases herself, and the whole crowd gasps as she begins to fall towards the floor.  However, predicting the exact required tension to cushion the blow, Maud barely strains her legs, and she starts to slow down before slamming into the ground, essentially falling at a controlled, steady speed.  She lands promptly on the floor, leaving everyone silent once more.

"Thank you, Celestia."  Maud bows as she rejoins her friends.

"Now, these are only the powers we know about the weapons," Celestia notifies them, "however much else you discover-- scroll, bracelet, and gauntlets alone-- is up to you.  Maud, you are the element of Integrity, in recognition of your astounding moral demeanor, and your world-mending actions.  We, citizens of Ponyville, thank you for saving not only our town, but those from around the world as well.  I am sure they also render unto you their gratifying thanks."

The three bow and allow their weapons to rest in front of the cheering crowd-- ethereal rapiers, Tareth, vanishing into the air, plasma cannon, Emran, compacting into the wristband, and chain blade gauntlets, Asterus, reforming into normal, everyday horseshoes.  

"We wish a safe journey upon the three of you, but as for now, I recommend that you take a moment to gather together and get to know your weapons before heading out into the restricted areas.  Luna, Twilight and I-- and the rest of the citizens-- welcome you to this castle.  Your living quarters will be down the hall, and to the right.  Once again, thank you for aiding us."

The crowd cheers as Maud, Starlight, and Trixie exit the room, curious to see what Twilight and the others have put aside for them; Integrity, Forgiveness, and Respect alike.