> Segregation in Equestria > by decembuary > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Comet's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I spread my wings and glided down to the ground. I enjoyed the feeling of the earth under my hooves, it was very different from the clouds that I usually stood on. I arrived at the school just as the bell was ringing. The foals didn’t run out of the building like usual, instead they were lingering around to watch two fillies that appeared to be arguing. A pegasus and a unicorn. After a while an earth pony joined the fight. “Pegasi are sooo much cooler than earth ponies. We can fly!” The pegasus bragged “No earth ponies are the best” shouted the earth pony “Both of you are wrong” retorted the unicorn. “Pegasuses and earth ponies can’t do magic. Therefore unicorns must be the best because they can” “NO” Shouted the other two ponies “I can totally do magic” said the pegasus. “Yeah then prove it” yelled the unicorn. “Girls, girls, there’s no need for arguing, you’re all special in your own way” The teacher had come out to see what the fuss was, and was now trying to break up the argument. “Everyone, you can go home, I will deal with these three” the teacher said. The group dispersed. Eventually my sisters, Winter and Snowflake found me. Their friend Dewdrop, a unicorn was with them. “Hello, you lot” I said cheerfully. “What was that all about?” “Well, in class we were learning about the different types of pony, and a couple of the fillies in the class decided that their type of pony was the best” Snowflake explained. “Yeah, there’s no point in arguing over it, everypony knows pegasi are the best!” Winter said. I sighed. This was the reason my parents took the twins out of the Cloudsdale school I attended. Because earth ponies and unicorns can’t come into Cloudsdale, the pegasi have got it into their heads that they are the best, and were teaching that in schools. “No they’re not” I said to Winter. “Unicorns and earth ponies are equal to pegasi. Like your teacher said - they’re all special in their own way. Anyway, lets go home” “Bye girls” said Dewdrop. “I’ll see you at the formal tonight” “Bye” The twins replied in unison. Once their friend had trotted off, they jumped onto my back. “Lets go!” I jumped into the air and spread my wings. I flapped them, and rose further into the air. I rose a bit further, until I was in the clouds, then glided. The wind ruffled the pale blue feathers, but my orange and purple mane hardly blew around, it was tied back. A few moments later we arrived in Cloudsdale. The twins jumped off my back onto the fluffy clouds. We trotted down the road until we reached our house. We are lucky enough to live on the edge of Cloudsdale, so we have a view of all of Equestria. It also means we don’t have to go deep into the city when we get to Cloudsdale. The city can be incredibly dangerous, there are rumours of foalnapping and murder, proving that Cloudsdale isn’t the idyllic city everypony who doesn’t live here makes it out to be. I trotted into the house, the twins bounding ahead of me hovering slightly above the floor, their wings on hummingbird mode. “We’re home” I yelled, then I nearly tripped over the girls school bags which they had left in the middle of the hallway. Again. I kicked them to the side, then continued inside. It didn’t look like anypony was home. That wasn’t too odd. With Dad’s weather pony work, he wasn’t often home, and Mum was usually helping with that. The best she could with one wing anyway. My mum, Cobalt, was an ex-Wonderbolt, but she’d only had one show. In that show she had a really bad crash, and ended up with a wing so mutilated that it had to be amputated. A quick end to a career. I headed into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Yet again there was no food. Hopefully Mum or Dad would pick some up on the way home. I hovered up the stairs to see what Snowflake and Winter were doing. When I got to our room (all of us share a room) I found them searching through their cupboard. “What are you doing?” I asked. “Searching the cupboard for something to wear tonight. We need something for the formal” Winter explained. “You are coming tonight aren’t you?” Snowflake asked “Of course! I’d go with you to Tartarus if you asked” I exclaimed “Really” Snowflake said “Well you are my little sis, I’d never leave you. Anyway, you two want dresses, right?” The two fillies nodded. “Well, lets see if I have anything we could sew to fit you. Only if you don’t have any dresses. Keep searching your cupboard, I’ll search mine.” I poked my head into the cupboard. I chucked the first dress I found onto the bed. I’d wear that one tonight. Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything for the twins to wear. I pulled my head out and saw that the girls had something to wear anyway. The were both in matching silver dresses. “So what time do we have to be there?” I asked “Sometime around 6. Can you please do our hair” Said Winter. We had about half an hour before we had to leave. “Sure” --------- Half an hour later we were landing in front of the Ponyville town hall. On the front of the building was a banner saying ‘School Formal’ so I figure it was the right place. That and I could hear the music playing. It was an upbeat song that I knew would be stuck in my head for the next few days. When I went inside nopony was dancing. Strangely there were no pegasus, besides the twins and me. The unicorns and earth ponies were standing on different sides of the room, looking at each other like they might contract a deadly violence if they went near each other. Something was definitely wrong. The teacher ran up to me. She looked like she was about to burst into tears. “Haven’t you heard, the head of the unicorns, Prince Blueblood, has declared war on the Pegasi. He says he’s tired of their elitist attitudes, and the fact that only they can go to Cloudsdale. All the pegasi have been ordered to retreat to Cloudsdale, even the ones who don’t live there” She explained. Something was wrong. -End chapter 1- > Chocolate's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Those unicorns think they’re so amazing. Trotting around with those great big horns sticking out of their head. Earth ponies do just as much work without wings or a horn. Which makes us better “Chocolate!” yelled my mum Neo. “Get in here! Now!” I sighed. Mum was a great pony, but she could be frustrating sometimes. She is the Icecream Horse of Ponyville. She goes around town every day selling icecream to everypony. One day I will grow up and inherit the icecream trolley. Maybe. I think she’s pregnant again I trotted downstairs. Mum said into the phone, “Okie. Bye” and hung up. “Choc, I have something very important to tell you,” she said gently. “The-” “Mum, don’t worry. I’m thirteen, I won’t get traumatized or anything.” “Fine then. The pegasi have retreated to Cloudsdale. Which means only the unicorns and earth ponies remain. Now, I don’t want you to have any contact with any unicorns anymore. They are dirty, vain creatures full of dark uncontrollable magic. Got it?” I’d never heard Mum speak like that before. “Uh- okay then.” “Good. You can go now.” I went back to my room. I drew a tiny unicorn and labeled it “Octa”. Octa was my ex-girlfriend who was now probably telling all her friends I was an ungrateful little colt who used every filly he could find. I stabbed the pony several dozen times and pushed it away in disgust. She was the ungrateful filly. What a loser. I looked out the window and saw three unicorns beating up a little blue earth filly. The leader seemed to be the spiky haired purple colt who was kicking her. I opened the window. "Hey!" I yelled. "Leave her alone! She did nothing to you!" "She did so!" shouted the purple unicorn. "Oh yeah? What then?" "She's an earth, she exists, she is worthless!" "So what are you then, a rhino? How does that make you better?" I snarled. "Shut up! You don't know anything about me!" "Don't I?" I said viciously. "Pretty sure you're just an ignorant unicorn who thinks they're so bucking great because they can do magic. Well I've got news for you, horn-face! You and your silly horned friends can just go buck yourselves back up to Canterlot, because nopony gives a hay what you think!" “What in the hay is- Oh my lawrd!” A familiar southern accent sounded in the street. Applejack. She was so hot with her blonde mane, loosly tied like her tail, and her deep green eyes...How I wish.....never mind. She helped the bruised and bloodied earth pony up. “You ‘kay sugarcube?” she asked. The filly murmured something in return. “Good.” She turned to the spiky haired colt and his friends. “That’s it! Ah’m sick to death of yer cuttin’ comments and yer magic. Run back to yer mama Celestia because I’m declarin’ war on the unicorns!” They stood there gormless, mouths wide open. “GO!” Applejack roared. They ran away. Applejack turned to me. “You - You have the right idea. What’s your name, little colt?” “Ah - Chocolate, Orange Chocolate Chip” I stuttered. “Well Orange Chocolate Chip,” she said, “come to one of the army open days at some point. Standing up to the horns like that, you’d make a great soldier” “Th-Thank you, Applejack” I said. ---------- The next day there are rumours the unicorns will be barricading themselves in Canterlot because of the pony wars. There are only a few horns in school. There’s Lightning, who’s pretty much a smart Pinkie Pie with musical talent, and Cadence, a horn named after the cross breed Mi Amore Cadenza, are the only one’s I know. Applejack instructed me on language yesterday, Unicorns are horns or hornies and alicorns are just cross breeds. Earths are the one true, pure race. Pegasi are feathers or wingers. More other, ruder words which I won’t say too, which are only used when talking to a horn or a winger. Lightning asked me for a ruler. I reply with a rude suggestion. Her eyes tear up and she gallops to the other side of the room. Her horn friends glare at me and I glare back. Miss Cherilark, Cherilee’s older sister, is trying to teach, but none of the horns are listening because she is an earth. They begin to talk. “SHUT THE BUCK UP!” I yell “MISS CHERILARK IS TRYING TO TEACH!” I get a few thankful smiles from the earths, but only snarls from the horns. I smirk at them. They make rude gestures, but I don’t care. I’ve hurt them. That’s what matters. A messenger pegasus bursts into the class. Before any of us can ask what it’s doing here it says, “All unicorns have been ordered to Canterlot and any earth ponies over thirteen must repot to Applejack immediately to train for the army” it puffed. -End chapter 2- > Dewdrop's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Canterlot? Seriously?” I said incredulously. If there was going to be a war, Canterlot had to be the worst place to go. All it would take is one of the magical supports gone, and bang, Canterlot is sliding down the mountain. But then if all the unicorns in Equestria were there guarding it, it might be a little safer. “Yes. Blueblood’s orders” The royal guard replied. I don’t think he knows what a rhetorical question is. All of the unicorns in the Ponyville school were rounded up in this classroom. Surprisingly it wasn’t that crowded. Most of them were already in Canterlot. Things would have been a whole lot simpler if we could just catch a train there, but no, we have to wait for a unicorn strong enough to teleport us there thanks to Applejacks stupid new rule that unicorns weren’t allowed in Ponyville. She didn’t even give us the day to pack up our things. After five minutes of sulking in the corner of the room, I’m bored. Since all of the games in the classroom were educational and boring, and the royal guard had confiscated my camera since I kept taking photos of him, I had nothing to do. I decided I should at least try to talk to some of the other unicorns in the room. Not wanting to get up, I shouted to grab the attention of the unicorn next to me. “Hey you! Bluey! Come over here!” “What? Why?” The blue and black unicorn asked. “I’m bored, I want somepony to talk to. Will you talk to me?” “Okay, sure. What do you want to talk about?” She asked. “I dunno. Wait! I do know. What’s your name and special talent and what do you think of this whole situation?” “Well, my name’s Lightning and my special talent is making ponies smile” the filly that I now knew was called Lightning said. “My name’s Dewdrop. My talent’s photography. And I think this whole war with the Pegasi and Earth ponies is pretty dumb. I mean, what’s the point, what will we get if we beat the pegasi? What will the earth ponies get if they beat us?” I say “I agree” Lightning says. “And why do we have to go to Canterlot anyway? I just want to stay here with my friends, who happen to be earth ponies.” “Yeah, I don’t want to go to Canterlot either. I just moved here from Canterlot, and now I have to go back. Oh well. My sister’ll be happy. She didn’t want to move from Canterlot in the first place, but I’d got kicked out of all the schools there and she thinks I just wouldn’t be good enough at magic to go to Celestia’s school. Won’t even let me try out for magic kindergarten cause she’s ashamed that I’m better at magic than her.” I say, but I stop before I start ranting about my awful sister. “I’m sure your sister isn’t that bad” Lightning offers. “You haven’t met her. She’s awful to me and she was mean to my friends - thats why I have none - But she stuck up to her teachers and acted so perfect around them. No wonder they were so shocked that I was her sister. Anyway. Neither of us want to go to Canterlot, so why don’t we not?” “Wouldn’t we get in trouble? Anyway, where would we go?” “I don’t know. We’d probably get in trouble if we got caught, but it’s worth it if we don’t have to go to Canterlot” “Okay, but if we get caught, I’m saying you made me come with you. When will we go?” “Soon, I just need to grab one thing. I’ll be back in a sec” I got up and wandered over to the burly guard. “Hey, can I have my camera back!” I yell. “No” He grunts “You sure? What if I tell you about a secret spell to allow unicorns to walk on clouds?” That got him interested. “Okay then, what is it?” He asks. “Camera first” I stick out my hoof expectantly He reluctantly gives it back to me. “Tell me how to do it.” He orders. “I said I’d tell you about it. I already have. It allows ponies besides pegasi to walk on clouds” I say putting the camera strap around my neck. “Thanks for my camera!” I shout on the way back to my seat. The guard glares at me furiously and signals to his colleague. “Now would be a good time to run” I whisper to Lightning. “Where to?” She replies “Wait I have a better idea” I light up my horn. “What are yo-Aaah” Lightning hollers We teleport. Suddenly we are surrounded by dense forest. “Do you know where we are?” I whisper to Lightning. “I don’t know, but it looks we’re in the Everfree forest. I thought you said you were no good at magic?” She whispers back. “That’s what my sister says. Anyway, more important, we’re in the Everfree forest, lost. Celestia knows what lives in here” As if to answer a loud roar came from behind me. Lightning and I screamed and ran. -End Chapter 3- > Plumage's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I’m so sick of this discrimination already. Who do they think they are? Ordering us around like this. I’m a free spirit! Nopony can tame me! I don’t care if being fifteen makes me eligible for the army. I don’t want to do it, therefore I won’t! Cloudsdale is already divided in half. I’m on the side against the racism. Duh! SO is my mum Feather, the top weatherpony, and she has made all the clouds come right up to Ponyville in protest. She is the BEST weatherpony since Rainbow Dash! Well I think so anyway. I fly away from Canterlot quickly. I need some alone time. I spot the Everfree forest and glide down. Even though it’s dangerous and evil, I love the Everfree. It’s beautiful, the creatures are nice, even the bigger and scarier ones, and the trees are really strong. They can easily hold a pegasus. I land in my favourite, a huge, old, twisted oak and settle down. I re-tie my hair, loosely at the end of my mane - like Applejack’s, her style is great - and plump up my orange tail. I’m halfway through sorting out my beautiful violet wings when I hear a roar and two screams. “What-” Two ponies galloped past, followed closely by Lauren the manticore. She is very mad at those ponies. I can tell. “Hey!” I yell. “Lauren!” Lauren stops. Turns. She recognizes me. “Grraah?” She says. “What did they do?” She makes a noise between a protest and a growl. “That doesn’t mean you have to scare them out of their wits! Be nice.” She makes an apology purr and pads away. The two unicorns are hiding. I can see the tips of their horns. I fly behind them. I lean in real close and yell really loudly. “GRAAAH! I’M COMING TO GET YOU!” The white one jumps like a metre into the air screeching it’s head off. The other one flinches, then realizes what happened and smiles. I grin back. “Hi,” she says while the white one is hyperventilating. “I’m Lightning” She’s a metallic blue with an Octavia-Style manecut and a half-leg tail. Her mane is shiny black, her eyes a pinky red. Her cutie mark is a lollipop with a smiley face on it. “I’m Plumage” I say. She points to the white one. “That’s Dewdrop. She teleported us here. Apparently her sister’s really mean to her, so she didn’t want to go back to Canterlot with her” Dewdrop is snowy white with a turquoise mane and greeny-yellowy eyes. Her mane looks like a colt cut; She’s cut it short up her neck, but it flips over her eyes. Her cutie mark is a camera. She doesn’t seem to have recovered from the fright I gave her. “Looks like she’s easily scared” I say “Am not!” Dewdrop protests. “Please lets not fight.” Lightning says. It begins to rain. Hard. “Mum!” I yell at the sky. “Not now!” A hole opens up in the sky. Mum’s head pops out. Violet eyes, blue feathers, red and orange mane. “Yes hon?” “Making new friends here?” She looks at Dewdrop and Lightning. “Sorry. Try not to scare them again” I laugh. “Sure” She leaves the hole in the clouds. Lightning smiles. “Cool mom,” she says. “Mom?” I ask. “I’m from Las Pegasus” “Nice!” Dewdrop gets up. “Tell us about you, Lightning. I never let you talk, did I?” She smiles. “Not really, but it doesn’t matter” “Get on with it” I say “Well.... I was living in Las Pegasus until Mom got a new job as a.... You know, those ponies that record everything in the libraries? The Canterlot ones? Yeah. I was twelve and a half. “Two months ago we moved here after Dad broke up with Mom and now......Now I guess I’ll have to live with Mom. She’s a unicorn you see. “Wait... Who’s your dad? I ask. “Fragment.... Fragment Broken. “The Fragment?” “I guess.... I never knew he was anypony special. If there was a ‘Most up himself dad’ award, he could win that, though!” “My mum talks about him sometimes. She used to have a major crush on him. Until she met Chord, of course.” “Chord?” asks Dewdrop. “My dad. Best dad ever!” I say. “So since we’re having a confession session, I have to go next, right? Cause I talked first. That’s how it works in Cloudsdale, anyway.” “Wait - Lightning - any crush?” Asks Dewdrop. “One” she says. “You gonna tell?” “No” “Okay. Plumage?” “I... I was born in Ponyville because Chord is a unicorn. But Feather showed him as much of the pegasus magic as she could. Basing things on that, he managed to cast a permanent cloud walking spell on himself. Feather brought him to Cloudsdale along with me. Chord helps with music and making rainbows. But, because of these stupid new laws I don’t know what will happen to Dad, or whether I’ll ever even see him again” My eyes tear up. Dammit! Tears are for sissies! I thought of Dad. The only unicorn in Cloudsdale. Now probably surrounded by racist pegasi. That breaks me and I begin to sob. Dewdrop looks like she’s just been slapped. “And what will the pegasi do?” “If Dad’s smart he’ll stay with Mum, b-but he said he was going to be at the rainbow factory late tonight,” I sobbed. “The-they might kick him out.” “They can’t!” Said Lightning. “They would. They’re pegasi.” The b-” A loud shout drowns Dewdrop as three ponies burst through the undergrowth: One blue, one pink and one orange. “AHA!” -End chapter 4- > Strawberry's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The three of us clamber out of the undergrowth. The bushes are scratching my legs, it hurts, but now’s not the time for complaining, especially with unicorns around. They could pick me out as weak and then eat me. Well....... Maybe not eat me, but Mum says they are dangerous and stay away from them. I’m hiding behind Comet and Chocolate, but not too far behind, there’s plenty of dangerous creatures in this forest that could sneak up behind. I probably sound really paranoid. I had crashed into my two companions on the entrance to the forest, literally crashed, I thought I had seen somepony going into the forest, so I followed them. I was just about to go in when Chocolate stopped me, then suddenly, out of nowhere, Crash! Comet dropped out of the sky and landed on Chocolte. Comet turned to fly off again, but Chocolate had grabbed her tail in his teeth. He was pretty strong, even for an earth pony. “Stop right there!” He yelled. “Pegasi aren’t allowed in Ponyville!” Comet stopped trying to fly away and turned to face him. “Last I checked, this was the Everfree, and the last time I checked, Pegasi were allowed here.” She retorted. They argued like that for a few minutes. They only stopped when they heard a very high pitched scream coming from the forest. Immediately they ran in to see who, or what was in trouble. So here we were. “Comet?” Dewdrop’s surprised voice came from the group. I’d met her in passing once or twice at school, so I knew her name. I didn’t know the others’ names. “Where are the twins?” Asked Dewdrop. Comet’s voice softened. “At home. Mum’s with them” “Oh well, at least I have a few other friends with me.” replied the unicorn, gesturing to the other unicorn and the two pegasus. “So where are we anyway? I need to get back, I have to give this one,” he pushed Comet, “to Applejack” Said Chocolate gruffly. “No! You can’t do that!” Whined Dewdrop. “Yeah, like I said earlier, I. Wasn’t. In. Ponyville!” Comet said angrily. “Please, please ponies. Don’t argue, be happy. Like me!” The purple pegasus said. While saying: “happy like me” she did a little flip. “What’s up with her?” Dewdrop suddenly said pointing at me. “Oh, um, I just followed them, I’ll just leave now. Please don’t eat me” I squeaked then edged back into the bush. “No, you won’t” Comet’s voice followed me into the bush, then she swooped down, picked me up and brought me back to the group. “Stay” She said. She sounded like she was talking to a dog. It took all of my willpower not to go “woof woof” With that odd thought, I started to giggle. “What!” Comet said. She crossed her eyes trying to look at her nose. “Is there something on my face? GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!” She flew in circles desperately brushing her nose. “Relax. There’s nothing there” Said the violet pegasus. “Phew” gasped Comet. “So what were you laughing at?” She said, glaring at me. “Nothing. I was just thinking” I replied. “Hmph” “So, back to the important topic. The way out. I need it.” Chocolate said. “Anyone know how to get back to Ponyville?” “Nope” said the purple pegasus. “Actually, I might, but not if you’re handing Comet to the Earth army” “Anyone else?” Chocolate looked around at everypony. They were all shaking their heads. When he looked at the blue and black unicorn she blushed and looked down. “Well, if we’re gonna be stuck here for a while, we might as well get your names. We should also find some shelter, it’s starting to rain.” Comet said I looked up. Sure enough the clouds had filled up the hole that was there before. “Mum! You still there?” The purple pegasus yelled. There was no answer. “Great. I don’t learn weather control ‘till next year. What about you Comet?” “Nope, I’m taking stunt flying 101. No weather until 103, and that’s not for a while” “Oh! So you go to Cloudsdale College too? What year?” The violet pegasus asked. “I’m year 10” “Same! I’m surprised I haven’t seen you around. But I supposed we’re studying different things.” “Can we please get out of the rain?” Dewdrop is not amused. “Oh, right. Rain. Let’s go. I think I saw a cave back there. Let’s go there” We all headed off in the direction Comet had pointed. As we walked we shared out names and told everyone our special talents. I was a bit left out of that conversation since I don’t have my cutie mark. I’m getting used to the unicorns too. They aren’t scary now. Turns out they aren’t carnivorous! Eventually we reached the cave, just as the rain was getting heavy. The cave was very dark, but Dewdrop and Lightning lit their horns, so it wasn’t that bad. We all sat down, but Comet and Plumage didn’t. They flew around the small space. I asked why. They said something like “Hate saturated feathers, drying them off.” I’m not sure that’s true. I think pegasus just don’t like enclosed spaces. We were just getting settled in the cave when there was a loud voice saying, “WHO GOES THERE?” The voice echoed around the cave. -End Chapter 5- > Princess Luna's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tia has been so difficult lately. She is all for this evil discrimination, this gross miscarriage of justice. She is aiding the unicorns, which is silly, because can they fly gloriously across the sky, or buck stronger than the strongest bull? All breeds have different qualities, and as alicorns we should see that more than anypony. Water drips from the top of the cave. I sigh. Tia will not see sense, I know it. But she is the elder, is she not supposed to know better? I watch a spider crawl up the wall and think about my feelings. I remember the hatred from Nightmare Moon. She is still there, waiting in the back of my mind. Occasionally she squeaks “let me out!” angrily. I hear chattering from the front of the cave. It sounds like little fillies, but there is a lower voice that may be a colt. “Why are you flying up there?” “Oh.....I, um, hate saturated feathers, I’m, um, drying out my wings” “Who goes there?” I say They quieten down. “Shh, maybe if it can’t hear us it will leave us alone,” “We should fight it,” whispers the colt. “I’d kick it’s butt” “Shut up!” “Shut up yourself!” “It is I, Princess Luna....?” “PRINCESS LUNA?” “Yes, come to the back of the cave” “Princess Luna” The purple pegasus said and knelt. “Princess” The one with the Octavia-like mane style said. She knelt. “Nuh... Puh... Lun.....Luna” The small pink one mumbled. She knelt clumsily. “Oh, Uh- Princess?” Said the orange colt. “Hi” Said the blue pegasus. Instantly I see in them the raw power of the elements. What happened to Twilight Sparkle, Fair Fluttershy of the quiet voice? Applejack, whom everyone liked? Yet these ponies are quite truly the next elements. What will happen that will force them to come into their powers? Suddenly I am afraid. Will Nightmare overpower me again? Will she take over? What will I do? I am afraid the Elements might not be able to stop her this time. Twilight Sparkle barely stopped her before, and now....... -End chapter 6- > Comet's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Princess Luna was looking at us warily when she looked, no, stared at me. It felt like she could see right into my soul. I hoped not. That would be slightly creepy. Plumage was the first to speak. “So, uh, Princess, what brings you to the Everfree. I assume you’re not just taking a casual stroll” She obviously wasn’t the best at conversation starters. “Plumage, you featherbrained moron! We’re speaking to a princess, you don’t speak like that to a princess!” I hiss at her. “What else was I supposed to say!” She cries. “Quiet young ones, there is no need to argue” Luna says. “I am quite happy to be asked questions like that, in fact, it’s quite refreshing” I breath a sigh of relief. I don’t think I could speak all fancy for too long. Or at all. “I’m here because I needed a break from my dear sister” Luna continues. “I’m afraid she’s become quite blind to the fact that all of the pony races are equal.” “Do you think that? But, Captain Dash said you were supporting the pegasi!” I exclaim. I didn’t actually believe the captain, but it was worth asking. “No. I most definitely am not. May I inquire into why six foals are in the Everfree? The last time I checked ponies feared this place.” Lightning and Plumage launch into a slightly exaggerated version of the events leading up to now. “I see.” Luna said quietly. She turned to me and said, “Rainbow Dash is in charge of the pegasi army, correct?” I nodded and she turned to Chocolate. “And Applejack is in charge of the earth ponies?” He nodded. “This is interesting. Both these ponies are elements of harmony. Could that be something to do with............” Luna mumbled, then, realizing we were still listening said, “I need a few moments to think.” She turned and trotted further back into the cave. There was silence for a few minutes and then, surprisingly, Strawberry was the first to speak. “What are Elements of Harmony” She whispered. “An old mares tale,” I replied. “ Apparently they were used to free princess Luna from an evil spirit called Nightmare Moon, but that’s not true. I don’t think it is anyway.” “Yes it is!” Dewdrop said suddenly. “My sister once told me about a Summer Sun festival a few years before I was born. She said the night lasted much longer than usual. She said it was Nightmare Moons return. I didn’t believe her so I did some research. It’s true!” “Well that just proves Nightmare Moon exists, not that the elements do” Chocolate said. “And even then, I wouldn’t be so quick to believe a horn” “What. Did. You. Call. Me.” Dewdrop glared at Chocolate, obviously offended. Everypony fell silent. We sat quietly for a few minutes, but they felt like hours. Dewdrop and Chocolate glared at each other the whole time. Finally Luna came back. “You’re all awfully quiet!” She commented. Anyway, have you all heard of the Elements of Harmony?” We all nodded. “Well this is very important so listen carefully. I believe the six of you are the new Harmony bearers. This most likely means something bad is about to happen, or is happening right now. Any questions?” > Lightning's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chocolate puts his hoof up. “Yeah,” He said. “Just one. What are the elements?” I realized I was staring. I blush furiously. You can’t have a crush on someone in your element groupie, right? Luna smiles. “If you wish I could tell you the origins of the elements.” “Sure, why not?” Chocolate says. Celestia, he’s so damn handsome. That creamy orange mane, hastily smoothed down, but still sticking up slightly; That bright orange pelt, those deep green eyes. Damnit. I’m staring again. I cast my eyes down. They focus on a rock. It’s a very boring colour. Grey. Luna begins her story. “In the beginning there were six ponies. Six god-ponies to be exact. Merlin, the magic one, Kiana, the kind one. Liam, the loyal one, Henris, the honest one, Garon the generous one, and Lara, the one of laughter.” “These six fillies and colts decided to create two beautiful ponies. They based them on themselves: Liam and Kiana gave them wings, Merlin and Garon gave them magic, and Henris and Lara gave them strength.” “Liam named them Malicorns after himself - Mali is an anagram of Liam - But Merlin thought that was unfair and took away the ‘M’. These two baby ponies were the first alicorns” “Merlin gave them the task of raising the sun and moon - in return for this huge responsibility, he gave them immortality.” “The god ponies decided the two babies needed something to raise the sun and moon for. So they created a race of smaller mortal ponies. Liam gave some ponies wings, and Garon gave some magic.” “Merlin was angry at these alterations. He had needed all of them to be equal, because he knew they were a flawed race and would fight.” “And so Merlin created a form of protection. It was so the ponies could know, could see the truth when it was used. Merlin created six elements and infused a little of his friends into each” “Into one, he infused loyalty, for Liam. Into another he infused honesty, for Henris. Into the third went kindness, for Kiana. Into the next he put generosity, for Garon. The fifth held laughter, Lara’s element. And the sixth, the most powerful of all, was his. Magic.” “The god-ponies vowed never to interfere again, and sealed off their world from this one.” Well if we’re the elements, then who will be who? Chocolate might be loyalty, he’s very loyal.... Strawberry. Um. Kindness maybe? And Dewdrop is magic for sure. She’s so good at it. Maybe Comet is honesty....... But Plumage could be honesty too. I don’t know what I would be. Laughter maybe? “Next.” Says Plumage, “What’s this great big problem you’ve been talking about?” “I think it may be something to do with the segregation Equestria is experiencing at the moment. It’s spread as far as Brismane! I’ve even got news of salve cows!” “So..... What do we do?” “Locate the elements,” says Luna, “and stop the segregation. And if I’m right, which I should be having experienced it before, you must get to Applejack, Rainbow Dash and whoever is leading the unicorn army -” “It’s either Twilight Sparkle or Prince Blueblood” I say. “That toad. Anyway, you must get to Applejack, Rainbow Dash and that little toad Blueblood and harness the power of the elements - the same way the Mane Six got Nightmare” “Why will we need to use the elements on them?” Asks Chocolate, always curious. “Because chances are they have been corrupted by racism of superiority. Henceforth they will revert to a chaotic form of themselves looking somewhat like Nightmare” Luna replies. “Um... Chaotic Applejack?” Says Chocolate. “You bet.” Says Plumage. “Looking forward to that, aye Orangey boy?” “Don’t call me Orange.” Chocolate growls through gritted teeth. “My name is Chocolate.” “Oh - Luna?” I ask. “”Yes?” “I - Um- Where are the Elements?” “Celestia hid them from me right after the Nightmare thing. I’m sorry, you have to ask on of the elements that would never be corrupted because she is much too intelligent.” “I know who,” Says Comet. “And I bet you know to, Plumage” “Do we really have to talk to that boring old pony?” Asks Plumage sighing. “I think I know who you mean.” Says Dewdrop. “Me too,” Says Strawberry. “I think I get you......” Chocolate says hesitantly. “Could somepony please tell me because I haven’t a clue who you’re on about!” I say frustrated. “Oh, silly!” Says Luna. “Ponies, You’re all wrong. You must talk to Fluttershy!” -End Chapter 8- > Strawberry's perspective > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’d left the Everfree forest. I was so glad when we finally left the horrible place. Fluttershy’s house was not too far from the forest, as soon as we got out I could see it. It was a small cottage, surrounded by flowers and little animals. We galloped forward and knocked on the door. “Go away Rainbow Dash. I don’t want to join your army” A small voice squealed from inside. “We’re not Rainbow Dash! Let us in!” Chocolate ordered. “Go away!” At that moment Chocolate decided there was no point in reasoning and busted down the door. I stayed behind, scared of what Fluttershy would do. “Please don’t hurt me. I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ll go to Cloudsdale I promise!” Fluttershy squeaked. “You idiot. We’re not here to get you in trouble, just to ask if you know where the Elements of-” “No! I won’t tell you where they are!” She shouted. “Anyway, only the elements can use them, your Earth army won’t!” “Relax.....We don’t wan’t them for the armies. I’m a pegasus, see?” Plumage spread her wings. “We want them because Princess Luna told us to get them” Luna had told us not to tell Fluttershy about being the new elements. She thought that would scare the yellow pegasus. “Really? Oh. Sorry...... They’re in Canterlot. In a chest. Only an alicorn or one of the elements can open it. I hope that has helped” “Yeah, thanks.” Comet said. Everypony left but me. “Uh. Thanks, that was very helpful” I squeaked then galloped after the other elements. I still wouldn’t call them my friends. Especially not Chocolate. He’s been so mean to everypony. ------------------------ Eventually we arrived back at the dark, gloomy cave. “Do you know where the elements are?” Luna didn’t even say hello. She cut straight to the important things. “Yes, they’re in Canterlot. In a chest” Comet answered. “Huzzah! Now you need to get them. It would be best if only the unicorns went, the rest of you would be caught easily since there’s only unicorns in Canterlot at the moment” “WHAT! You live there, couldn’t you get them! You could probably order everypony to do as you asked without asking questions!” Dewdrop complained. “I’m afraid it’s not as easy as that. The moment the magical alarm in the chest goes off, ‘Tia will immediately suspect me and send guards after me.” “Magical alarm! Have fun with that Lightning!” Said Plumage. “ Wait..... How did you know about the alarm? I thought you didn’t know where the elements were.” “I know of the chest Fluttershy spoke of” Luna said. Even I knew that was a lie, there had to be dozens of chests in Canterlot. Actually...... “How will Dewdrop and Lightning know they’ve found the right chest?” I asked. “They’ll know.” Luna said sternly. “What will we do once we’ve got the elements?” Dewdrop asked. “It’s not as if I can teleport us through a forcefield, and you said the guards would be watching for us.” “Enough questions. BEGONE!” Luna shouted. We hurried off. I wonder why the Princess was so twitchy, she had been since Plumage asked her that question. Was Luna hiding something from us? -End chapter 9-