A brown earth mare looked at the sky. The sun was just there, not moving randomly or instantly swapping places with the moon. There was no chocolate milk rain, no soapy roads, and no floating objects. Everything was normal, and that in itself was extremely strange. “What is that bastard Discord planning?” she muttered to herself.
“Hazelnut, Hazelnut!”
The mare turned around, seeing a blue pegasus land near her.
“He’s gone!” the pegasus shouted as she grabbed Hazelnut, a large smile upon her face. “He is gone!”
“What?” Hazelnut replied, squirming. “Stormy, what on Earth are you talking about it?”
Stormy Gale let go, staring into the earth pony’s eyes. “Discord! He is gone!”
“What!” Hazelnut exclaimed. “How is that possible? Not even multiple armies could have stopped him! What force could have stopped him? Was it the dragons?”
“No,” Stormy replied, hugging again. “It was two ponies, a brother and sister, that stopped him.”
“H-how is that possible? How could two ponies stop that sick bastard?”
“You remember those rumors that something was challenging him for the past couple of months? Well, it was them. They were fighting him, and they finally beat him!”
“They were real? I thought it was some crazy story going around.”
“Well, it is real!”
“But, but how can two ponies stop him?”
“That’s the thing, Hazel, they're not ordinary ponies. I heard they are called alicorns.”
“Ali… alicorns? What are those?”
“Apparently, they are all three races combined! Think about it, an earth pony that could use magic and fly! Apparently, they can control the sun and the moon.”
“That is not possible!”
“But it is! The brother’s name is Solaris, and his sister’s name is Luna.”
Hazelnut blinked, dumbfounded. “It’s over?”
“Yes!” Stormy replied as she hugged her friend again. “It is finally over.”
“I can’t believe it,” Hazelnut muttered, a tear rolling down her cheek.
“I know,” Stormy said quietly. Suddenly, her ears perked up as she pushed away from her friend. “I forgot to tell you, they are coming here!”
“What?”
“Solaris and Luna are coming over to the castle. C’mon we gotta hurry, so we can catch them.”
Hazelnut jumped up. “Really?”
“Yes, lets go! I want to see what an alicorn looks like!”
Hazelnut tried to stand higher on hooves. She let out a grunt as she was shoved. The throne room was completely packed. The entire village tried to fit inside for the chance of seeing their saviors. “Stormy, I can barely breathe!”
“I know,” Stormy replied, grunting. “It is so damn crowded in here.”
“They better show up, or I am gonna—”
The doors opened, the room becoming completely silent. There was a soft click as a large pony walked in. She was a mare with a dark coat, a mane full of stars, and the moon as her cutie mark. With her chin held up high, she strutted into the room, exuding pride and confidence.
“Wow,” Stormy said quietly, “she is pretty.”
“Yeah.”
There was another sound, one of loud hoofbeats. A larger pony with a white coat marched in, his blazing mane and tail flowing in the air. His gaze was solid, strength emanating from him.
Just like that, both of them were gone, exiting through another door to meet the representatives from the three tribes of ponies. It took a minute, but finally, everypony in the room came back to their senses, murmuring to one another at what they just saw.
“Wow,” Stormy said, “that was something. Did you look at that stallion?” She turned to Hazel when she did not hear a response. “Hazel?”
Hazelnut was staring at the door that the two alicorns went through, a strand of drool dripping out of her open mouth.
“Hazel!”
Slowly, a smile curled up on the earth mare’s face as she wiped her muzzle with a hoof.
“Hazel?”
“I am going to make him mine.”
“What?”
Hazelnut grabbed her friend face with her hooves.
“Eww, your slobber is still on them.”
“Oh, sorry,” Hazelnut replied as pulled her hooves away.
“You were saying?” Stormy asked as she wiped her face.
Hazelnut gave a toothy grin. “I am going to make that magnificent bastard mine!”
“Skyhoof,” Hazelnut called out, extending out her forehooves. “Come here, come to mommy.”
The large, grey pegasus foal wobbled to his mother.
“There’s a good boy!” Hazelnut exclaimed, wrapping him in a hug. “Look at him, Stormy, he is only two years old yet is so much larger than other colts his age. I wonder where he got it from,” she said with a smirk.
“Yes, I do wonder,” Stormy replied as she rolled her eyes. The blue pegasus turned her attention to the colt, smiling and waving a hoof at him. The colt laughed in response as it clapped his hooves.
“I called you a crazy mare three years ago, yet here you are, consort of Lord Solaris, co-ruler of the newly-made Equestria,” Stormy said.
“I told you I could,” Hazelnut replied with a smirk. “Just had to use the ole’ Hazelnut charm.”
“Well sorry, I didn’t think he would even be interested in finding a mate. I thought he was some ancient being who was beyond such things.”
“Well my friend, I can assure he was very interested in finding a mate,” Hazelnut replied as she waggled her eyebrows. “And need I remind you he was only twenty-one when I met him. I was sixteen. All things considered, it was pretty normal minus the whole alicorn thing. He is just a regular pony at heart. ”
“I know, you already told me.”
“Still,” Hazelnut said as she hugged her foal, “I am surprised I am only two years younger than Luna. Not going to lie, I too thought they were some ancient beings from another time when I first saw him.”
“Yeah. But here you are, some old mare living in a castle.”
Hazelnut rolled in her eyes in response.
“So, how have you been?” Stormy asked.
“Busy,” Hazelnut replied, “it takes a lot of energy to deal with this bundle of energy, but I am happy.”
“Can’t you just get a hoofmaiden?”
“I could, but I don’t want to. Skyhoof is my foal, so I will take care of him.”
“And your husband?”
“Same as usual, busy with his sister rebuilding all the damage Discord caused. But still, I couldn't be happier. I have my foal, I have my stallion that I love, can’t complain really.”
“That’s good.”
Hazelnut sighed, a smile forming on her face, her eyes distant. “I remember it so clearly.”
Stormy groaned, her hoof hitting her face. “Hazel, I don’t need to hear how you met Solaris again.”
“It was a great day,” Hazel continued, her smile even larger. “I was working as the castle gardener, and I just finished setting up the flower bed. But then he came, all alone, looking for a break.”
“Please, Hazel…”
“I threw the ole’ charm at him… you know, gave him a flirty look, a flick of my tail.”
“Hazel…”
“And then I ruined the flower bed that day… and a few others. I was sore for a week, but it was so worth it.”
“I can’t believe you just said that in front of your son. You’re lucky he is too young to understand.”
Hazel looked down at Skyhoof, giggling in her hooves. She lifted him up, rubbing his nose with hers. “Don’t you worry, Skyhoof, mommy will tell you how you were made when you get older.”
“You’re a crazy pony.”
“Maybe I am.”
Skyhoof laughed, his small wings beating.
“Aww, look at that.” Hazelnut cooed and she hugged him again. “Already trying to get into the air. I can’t wait till your father teaches you to fly.”
Welp, here is that short lil story about Hazelnut. Sorry it is not much, I cranked this in an hour when I realized I didn't talk about Hazelnut in the last chapter. So I made this fun, short thing to compensate.
As I said before, now with the backstory more or less out of the way, I can focus on HC in the later chapters.
For Hazlenut, I just combined RD and AJ personality as a reference point.
All the feels.
All.
Of.
Them.
*ded*
Luna was in her 30s?
Did she even age when she was on the moon
4481232 Unless you really don't give a crap about the mortals. Then it's like watching pesky buzzing flies dying off... and knowing there's just more of them coming.
Oh how I know the feeling....
*Alondro, the Dark God of Evil Blackness and Doomnation*
Well Hazelnut is adorable. That's really all I got this round... SAN DiMUS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!
Nice to see somepony with priorities, be it a very...interesting priority.
4481736
Brilliant, really. Makes for much over-determination and the will to do it, but also a lack of wings.
4482310
*ded*
*burid*
Whaaaah! Why would you write this? It only makes me sad knowing that Hazelnut is dead and gone
Also, holy crap! Another update? So Soon!
I luv it
This is good man, keep on writing!
4482310
Well glad you like the story! I wanted to show Hazelnut be a more rebellious pony. She definitely tempered Solaris.
4482383
30s?
What do you mean? Luna was 18 and Solaris 21 when they took over Equestria. I feel they stop aging when they hit their prime.
4482481
Lol
4482508
What rules are those?
4482544
Yep, she knew what she wanted when she first saw it XD.
4482658
?
4482672
Yeah, I wanted to make this because I realized I didn't mention her during the last chapter. So I cranked this out for fun, and to show that not ever marriage Solaris had was bad.
4483096
Thanks
Also, wonder if people like the ending I put in the chapter XD
4483210
Hey u never stated their exact ages
4483220
I think I have Hazel said she was 16 at the time, and Solaris 21. Then she mentioned Luna is only two years the elder
Great story ya got here.
4483210 I was quoting Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. The line uses "rule" as a verb meaning "to exercise dominating power or influence"
As a point of reference they are not using the word "rule" as a noun meaning, "a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, or arrangement"
God damnit.
Aww... This chapter is so happy, but we know that she dies somehow... 0-0
I'm pretty sure you can Hazelnut. Just take one look at his teaching methods.
4483210
She wanted it, she got it. That is what Nightmare Moon likes to call 'reaching one's insanely insane goals.'
4484227
Oh dear... that last line. I don't know whether to be terrified or scared. I think I'll settle for both with a side order of guilt for laughing at the poor mare.
A very nicely done little chapter.
Skyhoofs going to be launched of a tower.
Nice to see more of Hazelnut and Company. :)
4483315
Thanks!
4483535
Ah
4483678
A Solaris specialty!
Hazelnut was not amused...
4483969
She is a mortal after all, but she did live a long life. She had six children.
4484227
And on that day, the kingdom heard Solaris chewed out by his wife like no other.
4484296
Huzzah!
4484315
Eh, she will get her revenge, Skyhoof will be fine. All normal...
4484446
Not launched. Just gently...pushed.
4485673
He is an old pony entrenched in his ways. In short he is extremely stubborn.
4486142
Thanks!
4487077
Well, don't tell her!
That day was a day like no other.
4487395
CRAP, I meant Hazelnut!
They both start with H!
4487411
AHHHHH!
TOO MANY CHARACTERS WHOSE NAME STARTS WITH H IN TOO SHORT A TIME!
Jesus Christ this two chapters were heavy with feels...
Well, at least she did truly loved him, maybe someday Solaris will realize that once again.
4487425
I KNOW. I REMEMBERED HAZEL FROM WATERSHIP DOWN SO
4488389
I know what you feeling man. Why I am planning something stupid for Enter Nurse Luna.
4488426
Honeycomb...
Hazelnut...
Hazel...
Yeah, I'd be confused, too.
Here's what I have to deal with in my stories:
Crystal...
Crystalia...
Chrysalis...
Celestia...
4488546
All too similar.
4488590
Ouch. Does it help by saying there is a reason and not just my personal preferences?
4488613
I know.
Two are Alicorns.
Two are Changeling Queens.
Three are Princesses.
One looks like Celestia.
One looks similar to a younger Celestia, but with a number of differences.
Challenge:
Can you tell me which is which?
4482310
4482658
Your story just killed two people!
How could you?!
4488426 But ENL has a completely different tone, so something like that would fit gladly, while trying heavy-feels stuff on it would seem out of place, at least without a proper set-up.
I can't help but imagine Raul's Wild Kingdom.
...Poor poodles.
4488802
Yo, let me see if I can answer your questions.
First, for the faking of the defeat and knowing about the changelings. They don't know that changelings exist, they knew that something was there. If they knew about the changelings, i think they would have taken Twilight's warning more seriously. So they didn't know it was changelings, but something.
In terms of faking defeat, I feel that for this story, it is better to have someone else other than Solaris and Luna save the day. I want to feel that they believe that they step in only when no other option is left. They are the trump card. And the reason for that is when they fight, they don't hold back. The collateral damage would be quite bad if they had to force every changeling by hand one at a time. Solaris with the griffons, Solaris and his sister during NMM. It would be better if they had said magical love shield that simply forced them all out but leaving everything else intact. Both of the rulers also wanted to show their subjects don't need to rely on them.
As for the invasion, I think the changelings dive bombed the city, so crashing into a building, a stray piece of debris or changeling could have hit someone. So yes, if the changelings wanted to harvest as much love as the could, they would try to spare them, but there probably was a few incidents. That and guards defending.
For the punishment, yeah you are right about that. It is not fair for a mere messenger. Yes better than life in a cell or worse, but still harsh. That is why everyone but Solaris sees a problem with it. Solaris is, well, kinda picking on Honeycomb at first. He is pissed at the changelings. His pride is damaged, he doubted Twilight, his nation is attacked. He wanted to finish the job, but was stopped by his sister. So, he in comes in Honeycomb. Solaris is clinging on his pride and anger. But the thing is, no one can really challenge on him. Luna can only make her case. She can't pull the plug from the start, she has to wait first.
The thing is, I am not trying to say Solaris is right, I think he is wrong in a lot of things. Yes their is the ideals such as justice and fairness to his subjects, but cmon the changeling is useless to Equestria.
Does that help?
4488907
What I meant was, I want to write something fun and silly, and why I am doing a ENL chapter next.
4480433
Thanks for the praise!
But I must say, I think On a Cross and Arrow is better. It is a really great story.
4492673 Oh, alrighty then
4492931 It's the best example of R63 there is without degenerating into smut, but you gotta admit, the last few chapters were lackluster compared to the rest.
And that unfinished sequel, focusing on the ponies people were least waiting for, the CMC...
4503611
From last chapter?
Also thanks!
But I am going to change something to make it more clear.
Bucephalus is the griffon ambassador.
4508170
Wooo, wooo, wooo.
What is going on here?
4508251
Solaris is a royal arse lol
4508701
Ohh...
Also what picture?
4508703
i.imgur.com/06W9l4c.png
Where did this chapter come from? :O
4508810
I thought you meant the picture I had in the blog post, if you want to know what he looks like.
XD
Also, I made the chapter because I realized I didn't mention anything about Hazelnut in the previous. So I quickly made it for fun.
Wow this story is powerful.
That is all.
4624030
Well to make a long story short, it is not that I am altering Celestia, but rather replacing her with a new character entirely. I made a blog post explaining all my thoughts on the matter. In short, in order to avoid having Celestia be out of character, I swapped her for a brand new character. A character that is similar in that they rule the same nation and what not, but different personalities. I don't think Celestia would do what Solaris does in this story. There similar in some regard, but different characters entirely.
Does that explain it? I hope that helps.
4624130 Bold. I like it.
Finally got around to reading this! Really enjoying the story so far, and looking forward to seeing how Honeycomb and Solaris' relationship is going to develop over the year she's working here. Looking forward to more, and keep up the good work!
Update ?