//------------------------------// // A Peaceful Day // Story: A tale of Harmony // by LonnaKitty //------------------------------// Some time before, before the Tree of Harmony existed. "Harth, we are trusting this with you this, you and your family are to forever protect this secret, not even my students know of this, though I left some clues, if they ever need it..." an old stallion looked to the young black stallion with such seriousness. All he could do was nod, and then with the old stallions magic, a blessing was placed, and the black stallion, after swearing this, not only became the first protector of the tree, but became what is known as an Alicorn that day. The old pony left in a hurry, with others following him quickly. The black stallion looked at his small village and smiled. He had a lot of work cut out for him, but it was something he was going to do with pride. -----Many years later----- "Come on Solano! It's Tree Day!!!" an excited and bubbly young voice shouted. The little filly was bouncing up and down on her brother's bed, her white mane bouncing along with her as she tried to rouse the young stallion. "Argante please.....It is barely morn, let me sleeeeeeep..." he groaned trying to pull the covers above his head. He was as excited as she was but, the festival would not start till the afternoon, and from what he saw from his window the sun had not been lifted yet. He moaned as she jumped onto his flank. Thankfully she was not heavy enough to harm, but he knew he would definitely have a nice bruise later on. "Come on brother! I am too excited to sleep! I want to see the preparations and and and.." she was caught short by a hoof to her mouth. She looked to its owner with glittery hopefully eyes, a small giggle coming from her hoof covered mouth. The stallion looked at her with a playful glare, launching into a counter attack and tickling her. "You little devil, I cant believe you woke me before the rising of the sun." he snickered as his younger sibling squealed with laughter and kicked around. "You are such an eager beaver you silly filly!" He chuckled and let her go, leaping off the bed. She sat up and giggled her mane a mess from thrashing around. He sighed and grabbed a brush, brushing her mane out, back into its more presentable way. He nodded at his hoofwork, then shifted to holding the brush with magic. Brushing his own long mane free of tangles and putting it into a braid. He took the brush back into his mouth and brushed his tail out to make sure he was presentable to be seen outside. After all, if his mother saw her children look disheveled on such an important day she would have their hides. He looked to his sister who was running around and motioned her to stand still, brushing out her tail as quickly as possible so she wouldn't have to sit still for very long. He smiled with the brush in his mouth, quickly placing it back on the dresser. He stood beside his sister, playfully nudging her towards the door, she took off, he was close behind, the giggling down the stone hallway his indicator to find and follow her. They arrived outside where a few of the staff were working on putting the festival together, Solano quickly grabbed his sister by the tail, quickly moving her out of the way of passing workers. She looked distressed as she was pulled, quickly realizing she could have tripped the passing ponies. She looked towards her brother as he sighed. "Now listen Argante, if you wish to watch you have to stand by me do you understand? We have to stay out of the way as much as possible so they can do their jobs and maybe help out where we can." he motioned to the hard working ponies doing their jobs. His sister looked up at him and nodded in silence, rubbing her forehooves in embarrassment for being so quick to go outside. She might have gotten somepony hurt. He smiled softly and nuzzled his sister, "It's okay, just try to calm down the excitement,". She nodded and they started to walk along the courtyard grounds. Everypony was hard at work, building stalls, setting up banners and poles. Every once in awhile a pony would notice the siblings and bow at them and get right back to work. The siblings nodded back to anyone who did so, giving them the same respect and regard. "Your majesties!" someone yelled from across the courtyard and ran up to them, it caught the siblings by surprise and they looked to the pony running towards them. She was a old mare, her eyes kind and wise with age, her body a bit portly, her once red coat was now dappled with grey bits here and there. She panted a bit and then looked to the two as she came to a stop in front of them, her grey and orange mane was starting to come out of its bun from the running so some of the hair covered a bit of her face. "What are you doing out here this early? We are still prepping." she looked to the two of them with slight worry. Solano chuckled at her and offered a reassuring smile. "Oh trust me Orange Blossom I would love to be in bed asleep but this one," he nudged his sister with his back hoof and smirked down at her, "refused to let me sleep cause she wanted to she the prepping for her favorite festival." he looked down to his sister who was blushing from embarrassment, the small bit of red creeping on her grey muzzle made her look adorable. The older mare laughed, her laugh was haughty and warm. The young filly turned away in more embarrassment. "I see I see, well who am I to stop you two from your adventures, just please make sure to eat soon, you will need your energy for the festival" Mrs.Blossom smiled at the two with utter kindness, like a mother would her own children. The two nodded, as they were leaving Argante turned and gave the old mare a quick hug before joining back to her brothers side. The old mare looked softly to the two she cared for, watching them walk away teasing each other. She nodded, satisfied they would stay out of trouble and went quickly back to her own work. "Brother, do you think this year I might get my mark?" Argante asked as they walked. Her brother looked at her and then to the rising sun, thinking about his answer carefully before he spoke. He was unsure on how to answer the young fillies question. He then stopped and turned towards her. "Is the reason you want yours today because I got mine on this day?" he asked carefully, looking closely to her, judging her reaction. She looked towards the ground, taking a hoof and drawing in the dirt a bit as she nodded slowly. He sighed a wistful sort of sigh and then looked up to the dawning sky. "I don't know, but what I do know is that you should not get your mark just cause you want it on the same day as me. You should get it for doing something wonderful." He looked towards his own grey flank as he recalled how he got his own mark. It happened only a couple years ago but the incident was clear in his mind like it happened yesterday. The festival was well underway when a pack of Timber Wolves appeared out of nowhere. These creatures were foreign to the ponies and no one knew what to do, that's when the attack started. Soldiers fought as well as they could, swinging their blades and throwing spears at them, but when it started to look like they were winning the wolves combined. The fear was apparent and no one knew what to do. That's when the king and the young prince stepped in, even though the prince was told to let the king handle it, he refused. The want to help his people and father greater than the need to be safe. With their combined magic as well as the helpful magic from the Great Tree. They were able to blast away the wolves. His mark then appeared upon his flank. Just like his father, it was that of a crystal, it was square in its shape and what looked like a light shot from it. His father, and his people beamed with pride, their prince was strong and had also gained a pair of wings to go along with his new mark. Making it even more apparent that he was going to be the future protector of the Great Tree. Solano shook his head free of the memory and smiled at his sister who was looking at him with a confused look upon her face, not really getting what her brother was talking about. "Come on, let us go and get something yummy to eat, I am sure mother and father are awake now and wondering where we are." he pushed her towards the castle, he knew in his heart she wouldn't quite understand what he meant, maybe one day she will though.