> Anthology of Equinity > by Sollace > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Training > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Are you ready?” Starswirl the Bearded strolled out into the middle of the courtyard, trailing beside him a large crooked stick— his staff. He stopped roughly half way between the castle entrance and a small sapling planted in the far corner. Standing before him, but a few feet away, was his current pupil. A meek and pale, wide eyed little filly. She swallowed a lump in her throat, and casting a quick spell to push her pinkish mane out of her eyes, she nodded. “Aye” “Very well then,” Starswirl’s staff took up a cyan glow and levitated in front of him. It hung there for a moment and planted itself firmly in the dirt. It moved steadily around Starswirl, drawing a circle before returning to its master’s side. “Your task for today is to knock me out of this circle.” The filly wearily approached the circle and slowly began to skulk around its outside, eyeing Starswirl carefully. As she moved around behind her mentor she did a short spin on her hooves bucked back. Starswirl wasn’t fazed for a moment. He moved swiftly and fluidly, simply ducking out of the way as a white hoof flung past his head. Then with ease hooked the hoof with the crook of his staff and flung her over his shoulder and into the dirt on the opposite side. “Don’t be rash. Think out your strategy before you attack.” The filly refused to acknowledge, simply getting back up to her hooves and shaking the dust out of her mane, and resumed her pacing. This time she opted to use magic. She began circling far out but slowly drew in closer as she gathered magic in her horn. Feeling the energy reach its climax the filly closed her eyes and selected the spell, a dizzying spell, something that would surely knock him out. She was just getting ready to cast the spell, with all the details falling into place when her thoughts were broken by a sharp pang to her forehead and the distinct taste of raspberries. The filly recoiled and fell back onto her haunches rubbing her horn. She looked up to see Starswirl’s staff levitating back to his side. “Be swift. Don’t over think your strategy lest your foe takes the chance to strike.” After tending to her aches the filly got back up and resumed her circling. This time she chose to keep her distance and think more carefully. This time she chose a different spell, something she knew she could cast quickly. She formed it in her mind and jumped to action, letting loose with a weak beam of energy and rushing Starswirl from the side immediately after. The initial attack was easily deflected with a swipe of Starswirl’s staff, and he turned to block the second blow from the filly’s hoof. He lifted his staff to intersect but was mortified to find that the strike had never come. Rather, the hoof, and indeed the whole pony herself passed straight through his staff and vanished in a shower of sparkles. Starswirl had no time to react when the actual attack, a concussion spell, hit him from behind. Starswirl found himself disorientated and failed to keep his balance; he teetered for moment before toppling over unceremoniously, outside the boundary of the circle. The filly rushed over to him and offered a hoof to help, “Are you all right?” Starswirl caught a slight giggle in his throat and sat up on his haunches. “Impressive, Sunny; you’re illusions are improving. I dare say you will someday be as good as your sister.” Sunny ‘Celestia’ Skies bowed her head, trying to hide her profuse blushing, “Thank you sensei.” “Now,” Starswirl stood himself up fully with the aid of his staff and stepped back inside the circle, “Again.” “Again” Princess Celestia stated flatly, her smooth voice echoing though the same courtyard that she had trained in all those years ago. She got back up to her hooves, discarding the broken teacup, and stepped back into the circle drawn in the dirt. Several guards stood in the background pretending to keep guard but watching on eagerly. Before Celestia stood the ragged form of her previous student, now turned Alicorn; Princess Twilight Sparkle. She’d taken up a wide stance and was breathing heavily, as she wiped the sweat from her brow. “I still don’t understand this.” Twilight shook her head, “Why do I have to learn to fight? I’m already stronger than most Unicorns and we can just use the Elements of Harmony to...” Celestia shook her head, “It is our tradition, Twilight.” “Even in these times of peace, it is important that a princess know how to defend herself without the aid of the elements. Brute force is not always the only option, nor is it the best option.” Celestia waved a hoof, beckoning one of the castle staff over. A cream Unicorn mare approached from the sidelines, carrying a tray in her magical grasp with a pair of teacups and a teapot. Celestia grabbed one of the cups in her aura and levitated the teapot to fill it. She thanked the tea mare, and they waited patiently as she returned to her position on the castle veranda. Celestia took a quick sip of the tea and let it settle beside her. “Now, Twilight; knock me out of the circle again.” > War > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sergeant Celestia, the strong leader of the southern resistance, leaned over her makeshift desk. She was bathed in a dim and flickering light, cast by a rusty old oil lamp as it swayed silently against a support beam of her tent. Her brow furrowed. She was focused on the wide array of maps and figures splayed out across her table’s surface, and a scroll and quill floated at her side taking notes as she formed her plans. There was a commotion outside, and a short-maned stallion, clad in tarnished golden armour of the celestia resistance, poked his head through a tarp flap into the tent, “Princess.” “You know I dislike that title,” Celestia seethed, not looking up from her figures. “What is the matter? Why is there such a din outside of my tent?” “My apologies,” He bowed his head, and continued, “We have a pony requesting your presence, shall we turn her away?” “No. Let them through. We would like to speak with this pony.” “Very well, your highness.” Again with the regal terms, Celestia hoped to discourage such behaviour. She hardly thought of herself as a princess. Such an authority was beyond her. Celestia silently scowled in a way that the guard wouldn’t notice. They were only recently recruited, so it can be forgiven, but Celestia still made a mental note to bring this to attention next time they have a mass gathering. No sooner had the guard left, than he was replaced by a new figure, a dark blue Alicorn in heavy black armour and a multitude of jewels hanging around her neck. She also bore a helmet and coat bearing the sigule for the Lunar Resistance. “Greetings Sister” Sergeant Luna greeted as she strolled into the tent. “What business do you have here, Luna?” Celestia kept her attention to studying her maps. “My” Luna held a hoof to her chest in mock shock and she did her paces of the tent, “One cannot pay their beloved sister a friendly visit, in these times?” She stopped at a desk, the one Celestia reserved for storing books and beakers. She regarded the books for a moment, then continued on her way. “In these times that our factions are at odds, yes, state your business or leave me be.” Luna gave a sigh, “Very well then.” She had now covered most of the area, and was nearing beside, and a little bit behind, Celestia. “It is in my understanding that you are in possession of a certain... magical artefact.” Luna stopped upon spotting a globe beside the desk, Celestia’s favourite one, she imagined. “Artefacts” Celestia corrected, “And yes, but how have you come upon this knowledge?” “Three artefacts I understand,” The globe split open and Luna levitated a pair of glasses from inside. She also unstopped a bottle and began to pour them both a drink, “the remainder of a set of six.” Luna had air of smugness about her. “What is your point, Luna?” “What if I were to say that I knew where to find these remaining artifacts?” “Then I would call thee a traitor”— It is at this point that Celestia finally decided to look up —“for it is these artefacts that may hold the key to the downfall of the dark lord.” “Ah,” Luna swirled the glass slightly in her aura. The golden liquid had a strong pungent scent to it that faintly reminded her of a fresh spring afternoon. She strolled back to the front of the tent, all the while setting the other glass down beside Celestia on her desk, where it was promptly ignored. “But I am not a traitor” She exclaimed triumphantly, turning on her hoof to point back to Celestia with the glass, “For I have come forward with such information. For I have these artefacts, they are in this very tent.” “Then by all means hoof them over so as I might end this forsaken era.” “That… would be difficult.” Luna admitted. She gave Luna a questioning glance, now truly curious what her sister could possibly be up to, “And why so?” “You are surely aware of the nature of these artefacts. They are bound to me, and I to them, much in the same way that you are to yours. I cannot simply hoof them over so to speak.” “Then what do you propose?” Luna set her glass down, having not taken so much as a single sip, “An alliance, too long have our factions been at odds whilst the true enemy plays god with our peoples. You of all ponies should know that no one mare, even of Faustian descent, cannot wield all six of these, Elements of Harmony as you describe them.” > Rotten Apples > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK Applejack put her ear to the door waiting for a response. When none came, she glanced to her side where Big Mac is leaning against the wall. “Eeyup” Big Mac stepped over and positioned himself in front of the door. In a swift motion he kicked out behind him. The door splintered and fell inwards with a resounding CRACK Applejack strolled in first. “Well, well, well. What do we ‘ave here.” Before her sat two twin Pegasi, both a vibrant green and yellow. They were sitting at a small dining room table, a small pile of bits spread out for all to see. Just behind them was visible a saddlebag slumped against the table leg, overflowing with yet more bits, and a half full satchel of apples bearing the apple family insignia. Both pegasi gasped and both made to speak in unison, “I-" "It’s-“ Applejack silenced them with a motion of her hoof. Taking the piece of wheat from her mouth, “Ah don’t want to hear it.” She glances back to Big Mac, “Won’t ye go check out the outhouse. Ye can go through the kitchen.” She winked to Big Mac. “Eeyup” He turned and left in the direction of the kitchen. She turned back to the two Pegasi cowering in front of her, “Now-” Applejack pauseed in thought for a moment, “Ah’m feeling’ a might generous today. Keep the bits, as a gift.” The Pegasi’s faces lit up, one showing visible signs of relief, “Oh thank you. I promise; this is the last time-” “You won’t have trouble from us again” The other sister squeaked. “Indeed ah won’t” Big Mac walked back in from the kitchen, “All clear?” Big Mac nodded, “Eeyup.” “Let’s get outta here.” Applejack gestured to the two Pegasi before her. “Here’s hopin’ ya ‘ave a good life.” She flicked the piece of wheat onto the ground turned on her heel to leave, grinding it into flower as she did so. Applejack and Bic Mac were walking down the trail away from the farm house when, faint in the distance, there was a deafening boom. A ball of flames and smoke erupted into the sky raining pieces of timber down on the surrounding fields catching the corn alight. Big Mac paused to look back at the destruction. Applejack just kept walking, “That’ll be the last we ’n hear from the Corn family.” Big Mac replied with his usual “Eeyup” and followed her sister back to the main road. > Pony 24 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trottingham - 8.59 PM “Come now, everypony. It’s time for the show.” An evidentially very tired, and very worn out mother mare with a brown mane and a lighter, but still brown coat, called out to the children. Hearing this, all of the party guests dropped what they were doing and crowded around the stage set up at the back of the garden. One little filly, still trying to attach her birthday hat and struggling to fit the elastic over her horn, was ushered to the front and set atop her father’s shoulder where she can see the entire show. A low drum roll began, quickly quietening the chatter of the audience. “Come one, come all” The announcer starts, his deep voice reverberating out past the stage. “Be amazed! Be astonished!” A blanket of thick smoke poured out past the curtains as they began to part. “By the one; the only” A mare can just be made out through the smoke, her shadowy figure just visible with a long flowing cape and a tall pointed hat. “The Great and Powerful” The pony jumped forward on her hind hooves, flinging a shower of sparks into the air. As she does so she announces her name with as much vigour and flare as she could muster, “Luna!” Canterlot – 8.45 PM Fluffle Puff stood at the outside face of a large ornate door emblazoned with the insignia of the lunar diarchy. “Pffft” “No!” Trixie’s muffled voice shouted from inside, with the faint hint of being shoved into a pillow as a mare sobbed, “The sun can wait, I won’t come out! Not until I have my moon cakes!” “Pffft” “I certainly will not apologise to the kitchen staff for that spaghetti incident. It is not my fault. Those meat balls were tainted.” Ponyville – 7.15 PM Dear Princess Fluffle Puff What in the bucking Tartarus is going on? Signed your most faithful student, Chrysalis. The scroll glowed with a faint green aura as Chrysalis levitated it away from the writing table. She carefully rolled it up and wrapped a red ribbon around the paper to keep it in place. Chrysalis called out for her assistant, “Oh Twilight!” Not too soon does the little purple dragon arrive, holding a broom in her claws. “Yes, Chryssi.” Chrysalis levitated the letter over to her assistant, “Could you send this to the princess for me?” “Another friendship report already, didn’t we send her one just yesterday?” Chrysalis shook her head, “Oh no Twilight, this one’s just a letter.” “Ok then, bring it here.” Chrysalis levitated the letter slightly closer to Twilight. Twilight did a few stretching moves then, with a loud belch, the letter was consumed by a small purple flame. It disappeared in a puff of smoke and a thin wisp of magic sent it on its way out the window. > Sanity > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Princess of the Night, hah, Queen of the Night. That is what they shall call us. Princess Luna sat alone, her silhouette illuminated in the dim light of her moon in the middle of her bed chambers. Books and scrolls lay scattered around, her bookshelf toppled and her bedspread tattered and torn. She stared down at her reflection in the polished stone floor, though the mare that stared back was not any she recognised. She was a shadow in the night; a dark Alicorn, clad in black armour, her piercing yellow eyes cutting deep into her soul. It had been a long time coming. Luna silently thought to herself. For many years the ponies of Equestria, the ponies that by all rights should be hers as much as her sister’s, had never given her the recognition she deserved. They always loved Celestia, they would come out to play during the day and celebrate her sun. But do they ever celebrate the night? No. When the night comes everypony goes indoors, they go to sleep and they wish that the day may come again. In her eyes the night is really the best time. She spends all her time carefully crafting it, studying history and creating constellations to honour those that had fallen in the final hours against the lord of chaos. But yet, nopony pays it any due. They don’t look up at the night and see it the way she does, they simply see it as the time between the days. But no longer. Luna’s expression turned to a scowl, and the reflection in the floor before her formed a twisted sneer. A black helmet levitated off of the dresser and over to Princess Luna, securing itself snugly over past her ears and around her horn, completing her transformation. It was time that they grew to love the night as she does. > Fluttertree > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am; a tree. I pretty, pretty tree. Behold my pink blossoms as they sway gently in the breeze, so beautiful. See my yellow bark, gnarled, pitted, split, protecting my delicate soul. I am a tree. A faint shuffling of leaves is heard, and I see a brown squirrel jump out of a nearby bush. He scampers across the ground and stops at the base of my trunk. He cranes his neck and looks up to me, his tiny black eyes blinking and his squirrely nose twitching. Hello, little squirrel, what are you doing here? Are you here to keep me company as I stand sentinel over this darkening forest? The squirrel grabs a nut lying on the ground, near the base of my roots, and scampers away once more. No, you simply wanted my nut, to take it back to your burrow where you might squirrel it away for the coming months. A cold breeze runs through my branches, making them shiver and squeak. I can feel the winter, breaching on the edge of fall. Soon my pink blossoms will be no more. But that does not bother me, for I am a tree. Come spring the blossoms will return anew. A new I will spring forth from a nut such as that one the squirrel took. Such is life. It does not bother me for I am a tree: a stoic, timeless, never ending tree. ~ ~ ~ “Fluttershy?” A crackly voice sounded behind me, breaking me out of my reverie. I realise I’d been standing there in the clearing for who knows how long. It was getting dark, and cold. I shivered. “Fluttershy, what are you doing out here?” The voice came again and a cyan wing was draped over my side, bringing with it the hints of warmth. Rainbow Dash stood next to me, frowning with a look of concern. “H— How long have you been there?” I ask, little over a whisper and with a faint shiver in my voice as I speak. “I just got here, is everything okay? You were just standing there staring into the distance.” “Y-yeah,” I nod, “I’m okay.” And allow myself to be lead away out of the clearing. “Come on Flutters, let’s get you inside.” Rainbow Dash leads me out of the clearing, out of the edge of the Everfree and back to the warmth of my cottage. Yes. I am; but a tree. > Earth Ponies [Poem] > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Down trodden; Under hoof; From the Earth; We are birthed; All night, all day; Our ponies slave away; We work the soil; plough the land; Give it life; make it grand; Out strength is unrivalled; Steady as a rock; You watch us work; Only stop to mock; You think us weak; You point; You laugh; And then they fly away; And leave us on this summer’s day; But then come the unicorns; Mighty and proud; Their heads held high, they barely stop to trot; They walk us past; without a nod; They think us nothing; They think us weak; Without their magic; They would surely be meek; Thus they leave us; to work our land; Thinking us all too bland; But we do not rise; We do not speak; For we know we are not weak; For the Earth we are; For the Earth we stay; We work and toil; every day; Earth Ponies; we work away; For we know the truth; And without us; They will surely pay; > Change > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- First I got my wings, and it... wasn’t so bad, great even. For once I could finally look my mentor in the eye, as an equal. Then I got a castle. It was amazing! A little sad, I’m going to miss the old place, but the new castle was much bigger, far more fitting for a princess of my stature. Plus I have my friends to fill it in. With them around the place will never feel empty. Then came more: Princess Flurry Heart, the dear, and my very own students, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, and her student, Trixie. Never before has the castle been so full! Filled with the sounds of laughter, cheers, hooves stomping, and just life. But then—then things changed. Princess Celestia, she— There was no— I had new responsibilities. Flurry Heart is in school now, whilst Starlight Glimmer and Trixie have moved on to greater things. They’re now studying elsewhere, teaching their own lessons, and spreading the magic of friendship where they go. Apple Bloom has taken to running the farm. I’m actually quite impressed with how well she’s doing. Sweetie Belle, likewise, has had moderate success with her sister’s boutique. Those lessons from Rarity really paid off. And Scootaloo has already laid plans. She wants to get into the Wonderbolts Academy. Her dream is to fly up there, right next to her hero. I’m... happy, really, I am. Just look at me, the Princess of Friendship, surrounded by all of her friends, loyal old Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Spike, my little baby dragon. Spike’s getting too heavy to ride on my back... > Getting Warmer [FlashFic prompt] > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- How many years had it been? Hundreds? Thousands? Celestia didn’t know. All she knew was that she was alive, somehow. Even as the days turned to years, the years to aeons, and beyond, she remained unchanging. The world around her is dead, long since gone. No life left to live, and to think, it just seemed like yesterday that she was here with her little ponies, helping them live their lives under her warm sun. Nopony saw it, perhaps, except for Luna—poor Luna. She didn’t want to think about it, but she was right. Every year that passed, the sun grew hotter, more humid. At first they were grateful. Harvests grew strong, and Celestia, herself, denied fears for the strength it brought. But then it kept going. Fields died, oceans boiled, soon the ponies, and eventually the dragons. They were gone. All that remained was she, weeping tears of flame. > Night [Poem] > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Darkness, shadows, cold, and candles; Pinpricks of light; They fill the night; Dancing like fireflies; Oh sister; Why must they not see; the beauty of my night? They see it; they do I love it, too But they sleep They do not see They sleep I work all night, sleep in your day That my night be perfect in every way Yet still; they do not see They sleep They do not see I see, we see No You do not see Every day; I live my night Alone is my plight But every night; they do not see I rise, they fall You rise, they rise Your moon shines bright But nothing compared to your might They adore thee; every day They follow thee; in every way But no more I will not stand It is time for the night; To become something grand > Fire > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- What was it that made the flames so enchanting? Was it the light? How they flickered and danced, like a beautiful ballet of brilliant bright light. Or was it the sound? That sharp crackling, the soft click, clack, crack, of it consuming its unsuspecting pray. Or maybe it was the danger. Fire, the forever obedient slave, once the master of nature, and the unrelenting cleaner of all, bent to ponies’ will to do their bidding. It played well, but it didn’t play nice. No, given the first chance fire would come back on you, to bite the hand that feeds it, so to speak. Maybe it was a mixture of all of those things that drew ponies towards its oh-so alluring embrace, or none of them. Twilight Sparkle, a foal barely old enough to reach the lowest shelf, stood in a quietened awe. Her mouth opened, a silent word on her mouth unuttered, and her eyes sparkled, shimmering in the dancing soft light. Shining Armour shifted uncomfortably beside her. He breathed deeply, taking his sister’s hoof in his own as he pulled her away, and turned their backs to the flames. In the dead of this night, only one sentence was uttered, their meaning solemn. “Come, Twili,” he said, barely a whisper. “It looks like school might be cancelled...” Twilight’s ears drooped slightly. She glanced back, staring at the school, a forlorn look on her face to tell the story. She was disappointed. Maybe next time she’ll burn something bigger. > [Outtake] Very Loopy Interludes 1: Works on Rock Farm > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interlude 1 “Well I think that went well.” Luna chirped as she clipped her briefcase shut and stood up to leave. “Oh... I don’t know.” Princess Celestia was reclining in the couch of the recording studio, with a newspaper sprawled out over her face. She flipped it aside and got up to join Luna at the exit, “You don’t think I was a little out of character?” “You weren’t in this chapter.” Luna replied as the two walked down the would-be lavish corridor of the recording studio. She stopped at the exit, held it wide, and waved a hoof for her sister to go first, “I’d say you couldn’t be more in-character.” “Hardy, har, har.” Celestia found it hilarious, so much so that she forgot to tell her face. “I’ll be waiting in the chariot.” “Right,” Luna nodded and was just about to follow when she was halted by a sudden pink hoof to her chest. “What do you think you’re doing?” It was Pinkie Pie, donned with a fedora and an unsettlingly serious expression. “Um, what?” The mare pulled off her fedora and stood on the tips of her hooves to bring her face close to Luna’s. Their muzzles were almost at touching distance as she sneered at the princess. “Nopony breaks the fourth wall around here but me.” Luna suddenly knew what this was about. “Oh, uh.” She pulled away and averted her eyes from the accusing mare. “But it was in the script?” “Don’t give me any butts! Do it again and I’m going to slap you with a cease and desist!” “You can’t do that!” “I can do too! My dad works at Hasbro” “I thought he worked on a rock farm?” BRRRRRRRRREAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR “He does, work on a rock farm.” BBBREEEEEEEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE “I’m talking about my other dad, the one who doesn’t. Work on a rock farm.” BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH They both halted their argument to look around. Luna was the first to speak, “Where is that coming from?” Pinkie Pie shrugged, and conducted a quick test. “Rock farm!” Nothing. “...” “...” “... I guess it’s—” BBBREEEEEEEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE > War Part 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A rhythmic beat drifted across the landscape, caressing the barren rocks with its gentle melodic tune: a soft, thump, thump, thump of drums as the contingent of guards picked their way between rubble and scarred bones. The generals, Celestia and her sister, Luna, stood at the head of the rag-tag group. Their gold and silver armour glinted in the afternoon sun, dented and beaten by the ravages of battle but still emitting an air of grace around them. Celestia especially; as the older of the two, she towered above her sister by nearly a foot, her prismatic mane tied into a bun only adding to her stature. In the weeks since the ceasefire they had both agreed to stand together, stronger against the encroaching thread of the Discordian armada—a force they feared had yet to show its true form—yet nothing much had changed. They still heard the errant grumble from among their ranks, both on the side of the ponies, those who feared for their lives, and the fanged beasts of the night—The sarosians—that accompanied Luna’s troops. Tensions were high. They both knew that, and even now, Princess Luna glanced to her sister with contempt. “Sister”— she practically spat the words—“How much further must we go? You have said time and again that these charms are within hoof’s reach, the same charms we had previously observed to be in your possession, why must we continue walking into the wastelands if there is nothing to find?” Indeed there was nothing in the wastelands, nothing but death and misery. The scarred rock stretched out in all directions, nary the slightest landmarks not seen, nor even the faintest signs of life. She herself had passed through this several weeks ago with a contingent of nine hundred guards to reach her sister’s encampment. Twelve arrived. “Patience,” said Celestia, “We are drawing near.” Her eyes remained trained on the horizon, her gaze unwavering as she watched for any signs of change. There was shimmer in the air, almost the familiar taste of copper—or ozone. She licked her lips. “We are drawing close.” “But close to what, as we?” Luna stepped up beside her sister, drawing ahead by a few inches so she could glance out in font. Her eyes met the same old landscape, nothing but rocks, and sticks. Even the dark clouds of Discordian descent on the horizon seemed more interesting than this. “I see nothing, and we have patrolled this land countless times on our own. What say would be different now?” Celestia smirked. For the first time in ages, she tore her gaze from the horizon, smiling as she turned to look her sister in the eye—a knowing glint in her own as they marched. “Before you were not with us.” “What are—“ “Halt.” Luna’s voice was lost in the din of metal clashing, and a loud commotion as the contingent of ponies ground to steady rest. Celestia, her hoof raised, looked back over her shoulder at the group of guard behind them. Each of them looked grim—too grim for her liking. Their ears were lowered, spears raised, and shield held ready. It was their training, after all. She still hated it. “We’re here,” said Celestia. Luna huffed, pushing ahead of her sister and rounding on her. “And where is here?” she asked, steaming. “All I see is—” “Here is here,” said Celestia. She stomped a hoof, adamant, then pushed her sister aside as she trotted past her. “As I have said multiple times, I will take you to the remaining Elements. If you cannot trust me now, in a truce, then there is no truce.” Breathing a heaving sigh, Luna conceded. Her ears were flat as she sized up her sister, gritted teeth as she seethed. “Very well,” she said. Luna crossed her hooves. “The Lunar Alliance will follow with this ruse of yours for a little longer. But know that our patience with you is wearing thin.” Celestia simply nodded, and in silence, lifted her horn to the sky. It glowed a soft yellow hue, and she whispered, “Good.” With a step forward, the air seemed to shimmer around her, and the barren plains suddenly seemed less barren, more hospitable. A chill ran up Luna’s spine, and she heard the guards behind her clang their shields, a murmur of panic washing through them like a wave of uncertainty. Cool air grazed past Luna’s main, and she watched with wide eyes as her sister stepped into... nothing? The plains vanished for a split second, as if the very air itself was a reflection on a pool’s surface, and Celestia was a stone sunk to the bottom. The sunlight flashed and rippled, dancing across Luna’s vision as her sister vanished from all existence, leaving nothing behind her but the barren wastelands of old. “S- Sister?” Her stomach dropped as that wave of uncertainty reached ahead.She glanced around, hurriedly scanning the horizon where Celestia had been. “Sister?” She breathed. “Wh-Where are you? Where did you go?” Now growing frantic, Luna’s eyes danced over the rocks. Still nothing. She couldn’t sense any magic at play, and especially not Discord’s. Though, anything of the sort could easily be masked. She asked again, this time with trio of sarosian rushing to her side—their sudden move inciting protests from the ponies around. “Sister, please!” She was hyperventilating, “Where did you-where did you—“ “Don’t be so overly dramatic, Luna.” Celestia’s voice drifted in from the voice. Like a ghost of the wind, it sounded distant, filled with echo. Luna’ snapped her head up, looking around. Teas rolled at the corners of her eyes, so she sniffed, and wiped them away with a hock. “Sister?” The air rippled and split, revealing Celestia’s visage hanging in space. With it came a second wash of fresh air and the sounds of running water. She had a very clear deadpan look about her, but she remained composed as she addressed the group. “This way,” she said, and then pulled the doorway further open with her magic. “The Elements of Harmony can be found in here.” > A Gift For Nopony > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nopony was in the storm drains, minding her own business, when they were caught off guard by a loud, metallic clattering thundering through the pipes. She slipped in the slime and almost face-planted into the mush, but managed to catch herself with a hoof against each wall just in time to see a golden locket come tumbling out of one of the pipes and land directly in front of them. "...What's this?" Nopony asked. Releasing herself from the walls, she squatted and levitated the metal locket into the air, where it was illuminated by her golden aura. It was covered in mud, but wiping away the grime revealed what used to be a pair of photos inside, though they were long since lost to water damage. Turning the item over, though, brought to light something more revealing. A tiny engraving on the back of the locket read: Scootaloo. Tears started to well in the corners of Nopony's eyes as she wiped the excess grime away around the name. Remembering the numerous adventures they had together, Nopony couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Squirt." > DoH 3: Ch.23 Post-credits Scene > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The flames and burnings lights pulsated and waved in a tumultuous froth, turning and writhing as the scorching heat of the sun poured out in every direction, awash in the powerful magics of arcane enchantments and glowing sigils of containment and harmonic restraint. Power flowed all around, and curled in the middle of this chaotic embrace, a dark and twisted figure emerged from the sea of flamed, contorted in unnatural ways. Its tail whipped and its many limbs strained harshly against its magical restraints—claws and vicious jaws, snapping and sweat glistening in the fires of their hellish wrought. And beside all of this, the creature was still. A smile curled on is grotesque face, with a single tooth puncture its smirk and a claw and paw wrapped over another as he run his fingers. It had taken many moons of planning, of manipulation, but long had his plans been laid. Starlight’s spell would have failed anyway—even a foal could have seen that—but it had taken a unique recipe of crazy to come up with such a plan. All it needed was a little nudge, a small smidgin of chaos squeezed between the cogs to make it fail in the right way. After all, how else would one be able to create a stable time-loop on accident? And then, of course, Dawn. He’d played his part well. A simple, convenience, happenstance, that the stallion would be exempt from the spell’s influence—he could thank Twilight for that—and all that was needed was a few little suggestions, an illusion or two, and then, of course, the tantabus. Oh the tantabus. Never had be before formed such an immaculate creature—close enough to be mistaken for the real thing, but far enough that not even the Princesses would be aware. The creature stirred, pulling on its chains as the magics, the harmonic energy surrounding him began to give way to a distinctly... Now that Dawn had the secrets to control Chaos... Discord laughed a vicious, bellowing cackle. “I’ll be seeing you soon.”