> Lord of the Ponies: The Fellowship of Harmony > by ColvaMoon5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue: The Last Alliance > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The world is changing I feel it in the water I smell it in the air Much that's once was, is lost For few now live, who remember it It began with the forging of the Great Rings. Three were given to the Alicorns. Immortal, wisest, and fairest of all beings. Seven to the Diamond Dogs, great miners and crafters of the mountain halls. And nine. Nine rings were given to the three races of pony, Unicorn, Pegasus, and Earth, who, above all others, desired power. For within these Rings was bound the strength, and will, to govern each race. But they were, all of them, decieved. For three other Rings was made. In the lands of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord, Dark Curse, forged, in secret, a three master Rings, to control all others. And into these Rings, he poured his malice, his cruelty, and his will do dominate all life. Three Rings to rule them all. One by one, the free lands of Equestria fell to his changeling armies, to the power of the Rings. But there were some..... who resisted. A last Alliance of ponies, and alicorns, marched against the armies of Mordor. And, on the slopes of Mount Doom, they fought for the freedom of Equestria. Changelings snarl, growl, and roar as they charged at the Alliance. Even though they we're outnumbered 2-to-1, the Alliance had to win, no matter the cost. Unicorns fire volleys of magic at changelings on top of ridges, killing many. That did not stop the ground forces advance, however. The alicorns, with Celestia at the front, ready a volley of magic. She shouts commands in alicornian, and the volley fires, killing many of the first wave of changelings. Yet, the demonic creatures still pushed forward. What compelled to surge forward. Was it fear, or courage. The alicorns summon swords, and slash down the second wave as they clashed. The Alliance has suffered little to no losses...so far. The ponies join their alicorn compatriots. With their superior fighting skills, it was clear the changelings, while outnumbering the Alliance, had no chance. Victory was near. But the power of the Rings...could not be undone. Dark Curse, holding a mace in one hoof, strolled to the front lines, his own forces falling back, to stay out of curse's way. He towered over the ponies, being doubled the size of even Celestia. The Rings rested on his horn and, with a single swing, killed dozens of ponies and alicorns instantly as they were sent flying away. He swung again, and again, and again. Starswirl the Bearded, King of the Crystal Empire, and Ruler of the Free Ponies, would not stand this slaughter. He charged at Dark Curse, conjuring a shield bubble to block Curse's mace so he could strike with his sword. However, it was futile, as the Dark Lord smashed through it in one swing. Starswirl paused for a second, shocked his most powerful defensive spell broke in one strike. That was when he made his mistake. A mistake Dark Curse wasn't going to let go unpunished. Smirking behind his helmet, he swung at Starswirl with the force of a mountain, slamming the king into a rock wall, dead before he hit the ground. A blue pegasus with black armor flew to the dead king's side, taking it off as the pegasus reached him. It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, that Commander Hurricane, daughter of the King, took up her father's sword. As she roared reaching for the sword, Dark Curse smashes it into four pieces, breaking it. He then reaches out to the pegasus, intending to make an example of her. Yet, in a final act of defiance, Hurricane unleashed a bloody curdling scream, and swung the broken blade at him. And it found it 's mark. Dark Curse reeled back in pain, as his horn, with the Rings attached to it, fell to the ground. Dark Curse began to glow, sucking energy all around him. Realising he had been beaten, Dark Curse made one last attack to punish the world, to teach them a lesson. If he couldn't have this world, he would make sure the winners wouldn't survive to celebrate. He exploded, sending a shockwave out in all directions. The alicorns used their magic to shield the ponies from the blast, but they themselves were vaporized because of it. The only alicorns to survive were Celestia, Luna, and Cadence. Their rings protected them from the blast, but just barely. Dark Curse, the enemy of the free ponies of Equestria, was defeated. The Rings passed to Hurricane, who had this one chance to destroy evil, forever. But the hearts of ponies, are easily corrupted. And the Rings of Power had wills of there own. It betrayed Hurricane, to her death. And somethings, that should not have been forgotten, were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the Rings passed out of all knowledge. Until, they ensnared a new bearer. The Rings came to the creature Gollum, who took it deep into the Misty Mountains. And there, it consumed him. The Rings brought Gollum unnatural long life. For five hundred years they poisoned his mind. And with him, they waited. Darkness crept back into the shadows of the world, rumors grew of a shadow to the east, whispers of a nameless fear. The Rings knew their time had come. They abandoned Gollum. But something happened the Rings did not intend. They was picked up, by the most unlikely individual imagined. Granny Smith, of Ponyville. A elderly light green Earth pony picks up a ring on the cave floor. "What's this?" she says as she observes the rings, "Three rings? Ha." The mare then hears a loud scream say as she places the rings in her coat pocket, "My precious is lost!" For the time will come, when the smallest things, will decide the fate of all. > Chapter 1: Concerning Ponyville > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Near the edge of the village of Ponyville, a young white filly, with a light purple and pink mane, was reading a book up against a tree. She then began to hear a quiet sound of singing. The road goes ever on and on, down from the door that we began. Sweetie Belle, knowing what the voice belonged to, bolted for the road. When she arrived, she saw a stallion pulling a cart, and, sitting on the cart, was a blue mare with a aqua mane. "You're late," Sweetie Belle said, sounding quite annoyed. The mare had the cart stopped, and then looked at her with an equally stern look. "A wizard is never late, Sweetie Belle," the mare said, "Let alone an alicorn. Nor is she early. She arrives PREcisely when she means to." The two just stared at each other for moments, keeping stern looks. But soon the two faces were fighting the urge to laugh. It was the alicorn who broke the stand off, and she began to laugh. Sweetie Belle began laughing in response. "It's wonderful to see you, Luna!" Sweetie Belle yelled as she jumped into Luna's front hooves, and the two hugged. "You didn't think I would miss Granny Smith's birthday, did you?" The two then continued on the path into Ponyville, where some of the residents even stopped to say hello. "So," Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "tell me what's going on in Equestria, tell me everything." "Everything?" Luna replied, both shocked and honored by her curiosity, "For a simple Ponyville unicorn, you are far to curious, very unusual, but a good unusual. Well, what to tell you? Life in this world has been much like it has been the past centuries. Full of it's comings and goings. Not a trouble for miles that concerned Ponyville." Luna then sighs, "For which I am very grateful." Luna then notices the Ponyville School. "Shouldn't you be at school," She teased, already knowing why she wasn't. "Luna," Sweetie playfully whines, "school's out for the summer!" She then had a look of both curiosity, and concern. "Luna?" "Hhmm?" "Why do are you such good friends with Granny?" "After the incident with Nightmare Moon," Luna said, a small frown forming on her face, "as well as your sister and her friends 'curing' me, I was ridiculed by most of the ponies." "But what about the flowers those fillies gave you when you came back?" "They just did that out of respect, since my sister was there. Besides Twilight and her friends, no one even wanted me around." "How does this relate to..." "I'm getting there. One day I visited Sweet Apple Acres, most of the Apples just bolted at the sight of me. Not Granny. She yelled 'Quit your bellyaching, you yellow-belly nucklebrains! If the princess is sorry for what she did, then you should forgive her.'" Luna then smiled, "She became my second true friend." "Who was the first?" "A little, blind pegasus. I'll tell you more about her later, but, how is the old rascal? I hear it's gonna be a party of special magnificents." "You know Granny. She's got the whole place in an uproar." "Oh, no surprise there." "All of Ponyville's been invited, as well as half of Canterlot." "Oh, by my sister." Luna feigned surprise. "Granny's planning something." "Uhhu." "Okay then, keep your secrets. I'll just have to ask that coltfriend of yours." Luna then went on the defensive, "Oh, you leave him out of this, you little squirt." Luna yelled playfully. Little children started calling out to the Night Princess as they gathered a short distance behind her cart, to see if she would talk to them. Luna, however, just kept going, and the children began to groan in disappointment. "Watch this," Luna whispered to Sweetie Belle. Luna then bucked one of the three large boxes located in the back of the cart, causing it to open. Small fireworks then bursted out, delighting the children. Sweetie Belle could only smile as Luna gave a light chuckle. "A gift from Trixie, since she couldn't make it to the party." As the cart neared Carousal Boutique, Sweetie began to jump off. "Luna," she said, jumping off, "I'm glad you're back." "So am I, dear Sweetie, so am I," Luna said as she had the cart directed towards Sweet Apple Acres. > Chapter 2: Old Friends > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweet Apple Acres. With it's large, red barn and open fields of apple trees, it was the central food distributor for all of Ponyville. It was a sight that brought Luna some of her first good memories since returning to Equestria. She paid the stallion extra to move her cart to the party location while she strolled up to the barn house. She passed by a sign that said 'Party Business Only'. She then proceeded to knock on the front door. "No, THANK you!" a voice from inside boomed, "We don't want anymore wishes, 'well dones', or distant relatives until the party!" "And what about royal friends?" Luna said in response. The door opened, revealing an elderly green mare with a white mane, wearing a light brown coat. "Luna?" the mare said in shock. "Dear Granny Smith." "Oh, dear Luna." Granny and Luna hugged each other with varying degrees of tightness. "Hard to believe it," Luna said as the two finished their hug, "One-hundred and thirty-three years old, by Celestia." Luna then placed a hoof on Granny's shoulder. "You seem to be getting younger every day." The two then laughed as they entered the house. "Would like some tea, or maybe something a bit stronger," Granny said as she took one of Luna's bags, and placed it on a shelf. "I've got a bottle of the old Winniage glass. 1296, very good year. Almost as old as I am. Haha." Granny then proceeded towards the kitchen. "Just tea, thank you." Luna responded as she walked towards the kitchen, but stopped in a room between the entrance room and the kitchen. It had a fireplace on one side, and a table in front of a window on the opposite side. A book laid on the table, which drew Luna's curiosity. She walked over to it, placing her sword against the wall. She opened the book, and it detailed one of Granny's journey 'The Journey to the Foal Mountain'. Can't keep the past in the past, can you, old mare? Luna thought playfully. "I can make you some pies, if you~" Granny began to say, but found that Luna was no longer in the room. "Luna?" "Just tea," Luna said as she popped out behind her, "thank you." "Oh, right," Granny sighed as Luna took a seat at the kitchen table. "You bon't mind if I eat, bo you?" Granny said as she had bread in her mouth. "Not at all." A loud banging came from the front door as Granny quickly swallowed the bread. "GRANNY!" a cranky voice came from outside, "Granny Smith!" "I'm not at home," Granny whispered to Luna as she walked further into the kitchen. "I've got to get away from all these relatives, fans, and ponies wanting my land, never giving me a moment's peace. I want to go on mountains again, mountains, Luna. I want to see Blackwall Birchshield. And then I want a quiet place to finish my book." Granny then notice the kettle slightly popping. "Oh, tea." "So, you mean to go through with your plan." Luna said as she took a sip. "Yes, yes," Granny said as she slid a cup of tea to Luna and sat down, "everything's been arranged." "Sweetie Belle suspects something, and I bet Applebloom does, too." "Of course Applebloom does," Granny said as she poured herself a cup of cider, "She's an Apple, not some clueless foal from Manehatten. And Sweetie Belle, well, she may not be related by blood, but that filly's got a heart as strong as any Apple." "Sweetie looks up to you, nearly as much as she looks up to her sister." Luna replied as she finished her cup. Granny kind smile made a disappointing from, "Yes, that much she does. She probably would come along if I asked her, if she got past Rarity." Granny then walked towards the kitchen window. "I think, in her heart, Sweetie Belle still loves Ponyville. Her crusaders, Miss Cheerilee, Sugarcube Corner." She then placed her two front hooves under the window. "I'm old, Luna," she said as she walked towards Luna, having a hoof in one of her pockets, as if holding something, "I know I don't look like it, but I feel..." Granny then sat down next to Luna, "thin. Like butter placed over too much bread." Luna saw that Granny had a 'thousand-yard stare' in her eyes. "I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't think I will return. In fact, I mean not to." Granny then noticed that the sky was getting darker. She looked at Luna, and saw her horn was glowing. "Enough with sad talks," she said as she got up, "Let's go outside and enjoy the sunset." "Or the moonrise," Granny said, earning a grin from Luna. As they lights of the party site in Ponyville began lighting up, Granny and Luna sat on top of a hill overlooking most of the town. This was something of a pastime for Granny and Luna, when Granny couldn't get any sleep. Granny was using what appeared to be a smoking pipe. "So," Granny said, taking the pipe out, "how is that colt friend of yours? What was his name? Bolva? Cotra? Carvo?" "Colva," Luna replied, stopping Granny from taking any more guesses, "and, from what I heard, he said that he would be somewhere in Iridia." "Iri-what?" "Some territory north of here, between Canterlot and the Crystal Empire. Based on what I found out from the Crystal Empire's archives, Iridia is a large, open territory, with towns like Appleossa in it. Since all the other lords couldn't spare anything to govern this land when it's king died, my sister decided to make a pony by the name of Fancy Pants it's new lord. It is a kingdom which prides itself on ground forces. From what I read about how they battle, no matter what the challenge is, they face it head on." "Sounds like somepony I know," Granny said as she noticed a blue, rainbow-mane pegasus flying around and setting up decorations. She then noticed that Luna was eyeing her smoking pipe with interest. "Special new thing some inventor made in Vanhoover," Granny said as she blew a ring of smoke out of her mouth, "Only a quarter as enjoyable as actual smoking, but nonlethal in the long run." Luna summoned a small portion of a could, forming into an airship, and had it fly through the ring. "Luna, my friend," Granny said as she chuckled, putting the pipe back in her mouth, "This will surely be a night to remember."