Marking the Generations – Part Three

by Glimbursts

Chapter Twelve – Element in Maretime Bay

The Marestream streaked its way through the darkness towards Maretime Bay. Inside was a group of very worried ponies.

“It's okay. It's okay. Everything's going to be okay,” Pipp gasped as she held her hoofs to the sides of her head.

“What happened to all your confidence?” Izzy asked.

“Oh, don’t be confused, this isn’t fear,” Pipp replied. “I'm just stressed. This is suddenly getting way too crazy. First Zephyr Heights and now Maretime Bay is attacked."

“It’ll be fine,” Sunny replied. "It doesn’t sound as bad as Zephyr Heights."

“I don’t know Sunny,” Hitch sighed. “Skywalk sounded pretty bad on the phone.”

“I know,” Sunny responded. “But we’ll both get our elements then we’ll be able to save Sunset and defeat Opaline.”

Starlight sighed but said nothing. Deep down she didn’t think it would be so simple. She looked at Sunny, noting she still hadn’t dropped her powers. She couldn’t help wondering if Sunny was becoming more comfortable as an Alicorn than Earth Pony.

Zipp took the Marestream directly into town and landed outside the Sheriff’s Office. As Sunny looked out the windscreen, she could see there were now two flowers by the Together Tree. The new one being in bud and had the flashing glow like the others. She completely missed the orange orb in the centre of the other had no glow at all.

As soon as the door opened, Hitch exited the Marestream and headed straight into the Sheriff’s Office. He gasped at the sight of the three ponies he found within.

Sprout had stains from the rubbish still stuck to his uniform, coat, and mane. He was tending to Frost Wing, who clearly had a large bump on his head.

Skywalk meanwhile was laid on a makeshift bed and appeared to be sleeping. She had a bandage around her head whilst one of her wings and legs were bandaged and splinted. Hitch couldn’t help looking shocked.

“Okay, tell me how this happened?” Hitch gasped after a moment.

“It was an attack by a fiery Alicorn,” Sprout replied. “I…It sounded like Sunset Shimmer though.”

“With two dragons,” Frost Wing added.

“That wasn’t Sunset,” Zipp responded as she stopped beside Hitch. “It was Nightmare Shimmer.”

“What’s the difference?” Skywalk croaked.

“Steady Sargent,” Sprout advised.

“At ease,” Skywalk chuckled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Something has happened to Sunset,” Hitch advised. “It’s not her who did this to you.”

“It’s not just that though,” Sprout sighed. “It’s Jazz and Posey, they were taken.”

Hitch’s eyes widened. “Taken?” he echoed.

“The dragons took off with them,” Sprout replied.

“Okay, describe what happened,” Zipp said as she got her phone out. “Leave out no detail.”

A short time later, Hitch and Zipp exited the Sheriff’s Office. Hitch frowned as he saw the number of ponies that had gathered. “Sheriff Hitch,” Phyllis said as she walked towards him.

“I’m sorry Phyllis, I have something of great importance I need to do,” Hitch replied. “The wellbeing of many ponies is at stake. Just like it was when Glory and Peach Fizz were missing.”

As Hitch said this, the flowerbud’s flashing green glow changed to a continual one. Hitch immediately looked straight at it with a vacant expression. Sunny meanwhile could feel the draw from the flower too, but she became concerned.

“Hope,” she said. “Hope for a brighter future full of friendship and unity.”

That seemed to do it as both Hitch and Sunny started to walk forwards alongside each other. Phyllis and the other townsponies looked on with interest as they progressed directly towards the flowers together.

However, just before Sunny got within touching distance, she found an invisible barrier. She shook her head as the trance was broken. Trying to move, Sunny found her hoofs were for a third time rooted in place. “W…What?” she gasped. “N…No we need all the elements. Why?”

Hitch meanwhile had no such impediment. He walked straight up to the flowerbud and there was a flash as it slowly opened. The same multi-coloured flower flopped open to reveal a grey orb with Hitch’s cutie mark. Without hesitation, Hitch reached out and touched the orb which disappeared with a flash. Around Hitch’s neck a necklace the same as the others appeared. The same golden band with intertwined inscriptions with his cutie mark as the charm at the centre. Hitch’s eyes had turned completely white, and he turned to face Sunny alone.

Sunny meanwhile was struggling as hard as she could, twisting her body this way and that in an attempt to free her hoofs.

“I am Hitch Trailblazer,” Hitch said in the ethereal voice. “I represent the Element of Wellbeing.”

Sunny stopped struggling and looked at Hitch with dismay. “What about the Element of Hope?” she cried.

“Sunny Starscout,” Hitch said in the same voice. “It does not work that way. You need the spark.”

“Spark?” Sunny repeated with confusion. "What spark?"

There was a blinding flash from Hitch, and he immediately fell to the ground.

Sunny meanwhile screamed as she was flung away with such force and speed that she quickly found herself over the sea. She tried to open her wings, but just like in Zephyr Heights they were stuck to her sides.

Eventually, she started falling as the momentum wore off. She cried out as the black inky sea seemingly came rushing up to meet her. Just in time, her wings opened and slowed her decent, but this wasn’t enough.

Meanwhile, Izzy and Misty had run to Hitch’s side. They all heard a splash as Sunny impacted the sea. Pipp and Zipp looked to each other with worry before taking off to find Sunny.

“I thought you said these flowers weren’t dangerous?” Phyllis asked Hitch.

“They’re not,” Hitch replied as he shook his head.

“Apart from if your name is Sunny Starscout and you’re being judged by some magical force,” Izzy responded. “We’re pretty sure there’s only one pony that’s happening to.”

Elsewhere, Peach Fizz paced around and around in her bedroom. Scowling and looking at the floor as she breathed deeply trying to calm down. “I’ll show Poppa,” she scowled. “He won’t stop me speaking with Mistress Opaline.”

She walked over to her little dressing table which had a mirror above it. Her horn glowed as she activated the spell Opaline had implanted in it and touched it on the mirror.

Her reflection within the mirror started to swirl, after a few moments it cleared to show an image of Opaline.

“Ah, Peach Fizz darling,” Opaline cooed. “What have you to report? You look upset.”

“I’m sorry Mistress Opaline, Poppa grounded me so I can’t leave the house,” Peach Fizz replied. “I won’t be able to come and help you without him knowing.”

“Ah, I wondered how long it would be before he became suspicious,” Opaline responded. “Fortunately, the plans are well advanced now, therefore your need to keep up appearances will be lessened.”

“I have something else to report too,” Peach Fizz added. “Nightmare Shimmer failed.”

“Oh?” Opaline blinked looking surprised. “How so?”

“Her attack on Zephyr Heights, it didn’t sow fears as hoped,” Peach Fizz explained. “Princess Pipp turned them into confidence and hope. The ponies are more united than ever.”

“That is unfortunate,” Opaline sighed. “That means the ponies may still have some fight in them. Fortunately, I know what to do to counter that, maintain your cover for this evening. Tomorrow will be a different story.”

“Certainly Mistress,” Peach Fizz answered.

The mirror swirled again as it returned to normal. Peach Fizz looked at her reflection for a moment before sighing. “Sorry Poppa, I must be there for my mistress tomorrow.”

With that, she headed to the bathroom to start getting ready for bed.

Author's Note:

So Hitch. Why Wellbeing instead of Kindness?

Well, this is mainly due to my desire to try and combine his Make your Mark and Next Generation personalities. It's no secret that he changed between the two.

I believe to truly care for someone's wellbeing you also need to be kind. Therefore, Hitch is still supposed to be kind here but also has that harder edge to him we saw in the movie.

Please do tell me what you think here. Have I been successful or should I just followed the Kindness route. All feedback and comments on this most welcome.

Comments

[Comickook]

Still another really well-done chapter with great dialogue, characterizations and future chapter set-up. REALLY appreciated the check-up on Maretime Bay as well as the reactions to Jazz and Posey getting taken as well as the fact that the assailants were Nightmare Shimmer and two dragons, though I definitely felt for Sunny when she was told she was still missing the spark needed for her Element, even when Hitch got HIS. But, yeah, Starlight was right in that it wasn't going to be that easy. Opaline taking Peach Fizz's news about Pipp providing a bit of a setback in stride, well, yeah, that's expected all things considered. But yeah, it will be great seeing Opaline get hers in the end. And I definitely see your points about "Wellbeing" instead of "Kindness".

I'll most assuredly be looking forward to the remaining chapters of Part Three as well as the entirety of Part Four.

[Phetiamwantip]

Whoa, Hitch's element is wellbeing, that's... SO COOL! And Sunny needs to figure out what spark for her element and I'm at the edge of my seat to see what element will she get. I'm so excited I could just explode with excitement anytime soon!

[Glimbursts]

11861553
I hope you don't explode too early or you’ll never find out.

I think it is pretty obvious what element Sunny will get. However, will she get it in time? That is the question.

I'm currently working on multiple things. A first draft for Part Four is underway. However, I'm also proof reading the final chapters for this. Additionally, I'm going through Part One hunting out errors. Not making any changes that would affect the story specifically mind. But making those changes that add the final polish that I managed to miss.

[HuskToFawn]

Best one ever. It seems like Sunny still can't get her element. Wellbeing instead of Kindness suits this Hitch better! Thought it would've been Justice if not Kindness but still amazing!

Sunny needs the spark, like Twilight in Season 1 of FiM? Actually, I see it! I'm happy Hitch didn't go hurt Sunny Wait, nevermind. I reread it... hopefully this is the last time Sunny gets hurt.

I think, when Sunny gets her element, she'll become full alicorn but it's just a theory.

Can't wait for the next part And can't wait for the Opaline fight soon (probably in 4 or 5 chapters).

I feel like Part 4 will be with Allura because I'm sure we're gonna defeat Opaline this part.

[Phetiamwantip]

11861554
You're making a Part 4 story?! AWESOME!

[Glimbursts]

11861562

hopefully this is the last time Sunny gets hurt.

Sunny was fine, she just took a late night swim.

I think, when Sunny gets her element, she'll become full alicorn but it's just a theory.

Now that is something I thought about but I have been thinking about follow up stories. Which include Sunny still turning her powers off.

I think I mentioned I've mainly written for another series before. This was therefore supposed to just be a break from that. However I've enjoyed the change so much I'm hoping to keep writing for both.

I feel like Part 4 will be with Allura because I'm sure we're gonna defeat Opaline this part.

No I'm sorry, I have no plans for including Allura.

I'm aiming for Part Four to be the last for Marking the Generations. Follow up stories will have different titles but follow the same continuity as started here.

[Glimbursts]

11861568

Yeah, I was hoping for just 3 parts but part three was getting too long.

I don't want Starlight and Sunset to dissappear too quickly at the end. There are things that need sorting first.

However, I won’t say anymore or I'll spoil the next chapters!

[HuskToFawn]

11861571
So, it looks like the Auroracorns stay slaves, I guess

I guess Sunny got a free swim, so that's a plus Also I did not know you wrote for other series I'm having trouble writing my one story I'm thinking to just rewrite it but FiMfiction says I have to make rewrites in my OG story, so that's gonna be hard.

I really hope Sunny doesn't become full earth pony permanently again.

[Phetiamwantip]

11861573
Don't worry; I'm all right with longer chapters in your part three story.

[Glimbursts]

11861574

So, it looks like the Auroracorns stay slaves, I guess

They might not, who knows if they even exist in this continuity? This is an Alternative Universe to the cannon one.

As for writing your own story. Advice I give new writers in the other fandom I write stories in. Keep it simple.

Sometimes, just sticking to the cannon characters will help massively. You don't need to build their characterisation from scratch, you already know how they act and so do your readers.

Keep it short too, there is no need to jump right in with an epic 20 chapter story. Keeping things shorter whilst you learn will help massively. It helps you build your confidence and you can build up to the big stuff.
Stories I've written in the other series are a total of 1200 words each.

There is no way I'd be jumping in writing Marking the Generations if it wasn’t for the experience I've had elsewhere.

[Sunrise10]

I can't wait for the chapter where Misty finds out that Alphabittle is her father.

[Glimbursts]

11861892

That will come eventually. Although with how Opaline's plans are gearing up you will need to wait until Part Four to see it.

[Sunrise10]

11861908
It's okay, I just know that I'm looking forward to seeing this moment, not only this moment, but also until the end of the series.

[Draco Dei]

Anything that keeps more of Hitch Trailblazer's movie competence and authority has my approval!
Seriously Hasbro, just because it is targeted mostly at girls doesn't mean you have to make the adult males incompetent...