Four groups of strange friends meet up. Eventually, it all comes together at the Castle of Friendship. Cancelled.
Post-Cancellation Note #1: People are still adding this story to their "read later" for some reason. I only have four prologues for this story written but it's a cancelled series. Also, this story's concept isn't going to the trash bin. It's just back in the drawing board. So it'll be back. So no offense to people who may like this story already, the compliments you may think of giving me in this story mean little.
The best friendships involve oddities that make them interesting.
There is the cowmare who lives relatively off the grid on a low profile and the countess star surrounded by a veil of celebrity fame.
A friendship was originally torn apart when one advanced far from the other. When one of them takes the initiative to make things right, original conclusions and assumptions dissipate into thin air.
A former vocal bully comes to the trio of crusaders who have recently attained their cutie marks and seeks their advice on how to mend stained family ties.
Two fashionable ponies meet in Canterlot Carousel for an unexpected reason.
Then, when the time becomes right, these four groups of friends will converge in the Castle of Friendship where a surprise awaits them...but only when the time is right.
Two mares stopped walking once they stood directly in front of the gate that welcomes into Sweet Apple Acres.
"...This is where you live, Applejack?" Coloratura asked her old childfilly friend.
"Mmm-hmm. You got it." Applejack nodded. "...This is where your written letters were sent."
Coloratura giggled. "You know, I'm sorry if this'll sound a bit mean but this place is actually a lot smaller than I expected. I was honestly thinking it would be bigger! Much bigger!"
"No offence taken, Sugarcube," Applejack reassured. She took a deep breath out of anticipation before continuing. "I seriously can't believe that you've chosen to stay here for vacation, Sugarcube. Here? Out of all places?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Coloratura blinked at Applejack.
Applejack spoke in a somber tone. "Well, it's not like living conditions for a pony like you are standard here. And...our ways of life are totally different from each other. I just think that...ya know? What if ya'll don't like it here as much as you thought you would?"
Coloratura shook her head. "Applejack, that's what Countess Coloratura would think. Not Rara."
"H-Huh?" Applejack tilted her head.
"Applejack, a while ago, you came back into my life and saved me from a life of possibly being undermined and used by my former manager, Svengallop. Once that night was over, I wasted no time cutting ties with him. I did what he wanted, not what I wanted. Applejack, I am my own pony now, and I owe it all to you. In fact...looking back on how we were...I actually owe you a lot..."
After she finished her sentence, Coloratura lowered her head.
"Rara...I..."
Coloratura interrupted Applejack by giggling again. "I think we should go meet your family right now because if we keep talking, we'll keep going until sunset, don't you think?"
"O-Oh!" Applejack said, startled. "Y-Yes, Rara! Oops... Alright. But brace yourself for my little sister. No doubt she'll go crazier than a bear disturbed from hibernation."
In the empty halls of the Castle of Friendship, Starlight Glimmer walked. She was supposed to meet up with Twilight Sparkle today. She had recently become her student and intended to make the most out of her lessons.
As she slowly walked through the hallway toward the throne room, a lot of thoughts ran through her head. The sheer thought of her twisted, distorted view of equality made her shudder. In fact, there would sometimes be nights where she'd have nightmares about it. Despite Princess Luna's counseling, her doubts persist. It is not helped from the fact that the village she once led now look at her with disdain and contempt.
Double Diamond has given her his forgiveness but it's clear she has a lot of work to do if she is to regain the trust of the ponies that she had deceived.
Then, there's the memory of her best friend: Sunburst. He moved to Canterlot once he got his Cutie Mark. She tried to convince herself that he turned his back on her but she knew the truth: She was selfish. Too selfish to congratulate him, or take her share of responsibility for their friendship, or even doing a simple thing such as writing.
She can't help but wonder how he's doing without her. Deep in her heart, she wished no misfortune on him in respect for him once being her one true friend.
SMACK!
Starlight Glimmer didn't realise that she had been lost in thought that she ended up walking into the wall that was next to the doors to the throne room. She shook off her dazed state. She reached with one hoof to open the door to the throne room but something stopped her.
There were voices...talking?
"Yes... I have been looking for her and I thought that you might have seen her since you're a Princess who watches over Ponyville. I heard that she was seen here recently..."
"Th-That voice...!"
Starlight Glimmer felt her entire body freeze for a moment before collapsing on the ground but not falling unconscious. Mere seconds later, a flood of tears ran down her face. She could feel the familiarity of the voice she heard very clear. It was Sunburst.
She got up off the floor and continued to listen through the door.
"...Yes. She's supposed to meet me today."
"T-Today? Here? HERE?! L-Let me talk to her! I haven't seen her in a long time... I looked everywhere in Equestria for her and if she's really here, I'd..."
Sunburst and Twilight Sparkle's conversation was interrupted by the sound of the doors to the throne room bursting open. The two looked over to see Starlight Glimmer overcome with tears.
"Y-Y-You...c-came back for me...?" She struggled to say through sobs.
"S-Starlight Glimmer! Y-You've grown!" Sunburst said in shock of how beautiful she looked as a fully grown mare in spite of her tears.
The two ran to each other and tightly embraced. Starlight Glimmer sobbed audibly into his chest as Sunburst's own tears emerged as he cried silently.
Twilight Sparkle only stood there, quiet, silently smiling at the emotional reunion between what was once the dearest of friends.
Three little fillies laid around and spread out in their clubhouse feeling very, very bored.
Apple Bloom groaned. "So...any ideas on what to do?"
"I don't know..." Scootaloo said in a dull tone.
"You know, I'm starting to think it was more exciting when we were trying to get our cutie marks... But now that we got them...it's like we instantly ran out..." Sweetie Belle said in a similar tone.
Scootaloo glared at Sweetie Belle. "Come on! Remember how scared we were of never getting our cutie marks? I mean, helping others see what's inside is what we're really meant to do! The problem is...NOPONY IS COMING TO US THESE DAYS ANYMORE!" she finished with a shout.
Knock, Knock, Knock
Immediately, the three fillies sprang into excitement with lifted expressions.
"Somepony's knocking and it ain't me!" Apple Bloom said with glee.
"Who could it be?" Sweetie Belle asked with morbid levels of curiosity.
"Open the door! Hurry!" Scootaloo urged.
Apple Bloom opened the door to see that it was none other than...
"Diamond Tiara?!" they all said astonished.
"Yes, that is my name, crusaders. What else would it be?" Diamond Tiara asked in that snarky tone that she was most known for.
"W-Well, uh, did you come to us for something? Help, maybe?" Sweetie Belle asked her.
"N-No! M-Maybe, but-no! A pony like me should not have to beg help from anypony that isn't rich!" Tiara said defensively.
"So why are you here, then? Just to talk?" Scootaloo pressed at Diamond Tiara.
The regal filly took a deep breath and sighed. "S-Sorry... I-I'm not really used to being the pony I wanted to be... Um..."
"What is going on, Diamond Tiara? You can tell us what's bothering you." Apple Bloom said as she walked closer to her.
"U-Uh...you're sure you won't change your mind?"
"Yup! We're the crusaders! We don't give in no matter what!" Apple Bloom reassured as the other members nodded in agreement.
"Okay." Diamond Tiara took a deep breath once more before letting out. "C-Can you help me with...getting back together with my mom?"
A grim silence filled the room as the genuine smiles of the crusaders gradually started to become forced grins.
It has been a while since she last visited Canterlot Carousel, a branch boutique ran by Sassy Saddles, her current manager. Rarity traveled a long way from Ponyville but she was pleased to arrive at last in Canterlot. She eagerly made her way through town, occasionally stopping to greet fans who admired her work.
It couldn't be a better day for travelling either. Almost perfect, even. When Canterlot Carousel came into her view, Rarity's face beamed with joy. It looked as if the store was well-maintained, at least on the outside. But what about inside? She could only hope to see that customers were eagerly shopping around for the clothing that speaks to them the most.
Rarity opened the door to Canterlot Carousel to see a modest amount of shoppers looking around and seeing what fits them best. She smiled with a slight sense of relief, considering she was once actually thinking about closing the store once due to a mishap with her manager, Sassy Saddles. But where was she?
"Um..."
She looked up at the upper level of the store where Sassy Saddles usually resides to overlook how business is going but, no sign of her. She shrugged. Maybe she was busy with something. Perhaps in her office? She hate to interrupt someone hard at work but perhaps a simple "hello" wouldn't hurt anypony.
"E-Excuse me... It's been a while..."
Well, of course it wouldn't hurt anypony! They've established a worker relationship, after all! Rarity thought she'll say hi to Sassy Saddles and get a summary of how business is going.
"P-Please don't ignore me!"
Startled, Rarity turned around. "My apologies, dear. I didn't realise you were talking to-Coco Pommel?!" Her eyes lit up from seeing her sister-in-fashion.
"Hi, Rarity. It's been a while." Coco said while giving a modest wave with one hoof.
"B-But wait!" She frantically looked around while making funny gestures to express her confusion. "You're supposed in Manehattan! I...what happened? Why are you here? Not that I'm complaining, but why? I never expected you to visit us here so soon!"
Coco nervously scratched the back of her head. "W-Well, if I can be honest... I was thinking of moving from Manehattan."
Shocking words for Rarity. Her? Move from Manehattan? The metropolitan place where ponies go to pursue their dreams? Why?
