CHAPTER 1 - New Element Bearers

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Celestia sat at a desk within one of the private reading rooms of Canterlot Castle’s Royal Library. The small space smelled musty. Old and rotten. The stain used for its walls gave off a vibe of weary drabness. Even the air within the room seemed to be affected as it made the feathers on her wings feel oily and heavy with each twitch of her muscles.

She breathed in the humid air as she placed a book on the desk. She looked at its leather-bound cover, studying its chipped corners and its loose binding. ‘The Elements of Harmony,’ she read to herself. ‘Written by Star Swirl, Continued by Clover’, humming a soft tune, she gently blew the dust off its surface.

“BIZZ!!!”

Celestia grumbled as she glared at the light fixture overhead. She stared at the single lightbulb, studying its pulsing glow. Listening to its mind-numbing song each time a surge of electricity passed through its filament.

She huffed.

She never liked the invention. She found it needlessly complicated. Having to wire the whole empire to accommodate for it seemed like a waste of time. Well, to her, at least. Her younger sister Luna felt otherwise, while her brother Terren was indifferent to the whole thing.

“BIZZT!!!”

She shuttered at the memories of tearing up the walls and floorings of historic landmarks just so they could replace oil lamps for electric ones…

“BIZZ!!!”

Groaning, she rubbed her brow at the base of her horn. “I hate them so much….”

Grumbling, Celestia opened one of the desk’s drawers and took out an ivory-tinted candlestick. Placing the candle on the counter, she activated her horn and lit its wick. Watching the flame dance about, she turned off the lightbulb with a pull of its chain.

Bathed in complete silence and with the glow of candlelight filling the room, Celestia gave a pleased hum as she returned her attention back to the book.

‘June 7^th, 1647.’ The page began. ‘Clover and I are on the eleventh day of our expedition into the Everfree Forest. I have to say the weather here is never a pleasant one… A lot has happened since I last wrote, however. We discovered several new species of plants and observed some wildlife….’ The writing on the page is smudged, about a sentence worth, but the quality returned. ‘Blasted pain… I broke my foreleg… Fell down a small ravine. It was a hard fall, but Clover is a good medic… Patched me up well enough, so we didn’t have to cancel our trip… But I have to say, the whole ordeal turned out to be a blessing in the end… Within a cave on the ravine’s floor, we discovered a crystal tree and on its branches, dangled six crystals of varying colors….’

“Still stuffing your face into that book?”

Celestia jumped in her seat from the sudden appearance of the deep-sounding voice. Composing herself, she glanced at the door to the reading room and saw her brother, an alicorn like herself, leaning against the doorframe. His wings loosely hugged his sides. His bright red-orange mane laid flat against the right side of his face.

He chuckled, sending a smug grin her way.

“Terren! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Celestia groaned.

He ignored her cries. “I’m surprised that book is still together after all these years? Especially with how much you’ve read it today alone! I’d expected it to fall apart long ago.” He walked up to her desk and stared at the book’s worn parchment with a skeptical glare.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m glad you’re so caring….” She closed the book sending dust into his face. Stepping away, he shook his head and rubbed his snout with a foreleg. Grunting out a sneeze, he glared at her with his fiery orange eyes. Celestia held a hoof to her lips. “So, how are you, dear brother? What brings you from your chambers anyway?” She giggled.

“You know the answer to that question.” Terren huffed. “Luna thinks the elements will be released tonight, and here I find you sitting in this drab room reading this book!” The moonlight shining through the library’s skylights highlighted his ridged features. “I know you’re nervous about them. You read that damn book every time you or Luna think of them.” He shook his head. “This is the tenth time you’ve read that book this day.”

Celestia blushed, looking at the book. “You’ve been spying on me?” She picked it up with her magic and sat next to him. “You know that’s not a nice thing to do.”

They looked up at the skylights together, gazing at the stars dotting the night sky.

“No…” Terren chuckled, “I just know my sister.” He gave her a cocky smirk. A smirk he’s trying way too hard to pull off.

Rolling her eyes, she stood and headed out of the room for the library’s exit. On her way out, she smacked his face with her tail, causing him to sneeze once again. Recovering, he followed her with a huff.

They walked down the main hall of the library in complete silence. Only the sounds of their hooves making contact with the tiled floor filled their minds as they passed many aisles of shelves filled to the brim with scrolls and books spanning ancient and modern Equestrian history.

Turning down one of these many aisles, Celestia made her way to a particular shelf. Terren sat back and watched her slip the book into a secret compartment on the fourth shelf. “Will you ever allow our ponies to read that book?” He asked as he heard the compartment’s lock engaging with a solid click.

“In time, dear brother, in time.” Celestia hummed as she headed for the exit with her brother.

The royal night guard standing watch by the library doors saw the royals approaching his position. He quickly opened the doors for them. “Good night, your highnesses.” His bat-like wings spread out as he bowed.

They returned the bow. “Thank you, Iron Wings.” Celestia smiled.

Iron Wings stood from his bow and closed the door behind them.

Cool spring air washed over the royals as they stepped outside the library. Their bodies shivered a bit as they looked around. The castle was quiet this night, well, except for the soft echoing hoof-steps of patrolling guards and late-night staff mulling about their tasks.

Celestia stretched her neck. A redesign for the library’s reading rooms swam through her mind, but she set aside those thoughts for another day. There were more pressing matters at hoof.

“So, you think tonight will be the night?”

Speak of the devil.

Celestia kept quiet as she mulled over Terren’s words. Her eyes never left the tunnel’s entrance that connected to the other half of the castle grounds on the other side of the mountain face. “I’m not sure….” She finally answered.

Terren looked at his sister with a raised brow. “Not sure?”

Exiting the tunnel, they strolled through the royal garden along a slate-laden path. Both of them enjoyed the aroma of flowers that dotted the garden’s grassy fields and the gentle sounds of the river cutting through the grassy lot towards the cliff’s edge. Stepping onto the small wooden bridge that went over the river, Celestia looked over its edge at the water below.

“Why aren’t you sure?” Terren asked.

“Well…” She began. “It’s been eight years since the bearer of Loyalty passed away.” She looked at the willow trees hugging the river’s edge. “Usually, there would be new bearers by now.” She frowned. “It worries me….”

“I guess the world has run out of good ponies,” Terren stated in a snarky tone.

“Terren! Please!” Celestia huffed. “You know the elements! Their other half! The one I fear!” She put her hoof in his face. “You shouldn’t say those things!

“It’s a joke….” He rolled his eyes.

“A joke all too real!”

He tilted his head. “That was in the past!” Before she could interrupt him, he put a hoof to her lips. “A past that will not happen again!” He gave her a stern glare. His orange eyes glaring daggers into her soul.

She dropped her protest and sighed in defeat. “Let’s head to the Chambers of the Elements…. Luna is waiting for us.” Terren watched her step off the bridge and towards a building at the other end of the garden. With a heavy sigh he followed after her.

Entering the main hall of the Chambers of the Elements, Celestia and Terren gazed up at six statues that stand in a simi circle within the center of the room. The statues were made of rich creamed marble and their bases of lapis-lazuli. The sculptures were of six ponies. They towered over all who gazed upon them. Their sitting posture looking down at pondering ponies with judging eyes. These statues were the first ponies to bear the Elements of Harmony.

Celestia eyed the statues’ chests gazing at the carvings of their elements and the shapes they took when they bonded to their bearers those centuries ago. With a hum, she read each of the statues’ plaques that were at their bases.

The first statue to her left was of Kepler, a unicorn stallion who bore the element of Generosity. The second statue to her left was of Knight Wing, a bat-pony stallion who bore the element of Honesty. The third statute to her left was of Gum Drops, an earth-pony mare who bore the element of Joy.

To her right, the first statue was of Clover, a unicorn mare who bore the element of Magic. The second statue to her right was of Axiom, a pegasus stallion who bore the element of Loyalty. The third statue to her right was of Copper, an earth-pony stallion who bore the element of Kindness.

Bowing for the statues, she gave them a smile and headed towards the door leading to the room that housed the elements.

Terren only nodded at the statues then looked at the walls on either side. Pictures of other element bearers that came after them adored the walls. Giving them a slight nod as well, he followed after his sister.

Entering the last room of the chamber, Celestia and Terren saw their younger sister Luna standing by a chest made of blackened iron, laden with priceless gems over by the back wall. She eyed the chest and the six colorful crystals floating within. Blue standing for Joy. Red standing for Loyalty. Green standing for Kindness. Yellow standing for Honesty. Purple standing for Generosity. White standing for Magic.

Sensing Celestia’s and Terren’s presence, the usually quiet elements began to get excited. They tapped against the thick glass of their ornate cage with renewed vigor.

“They seem to be active tonight,” Terren smirked as he walked up to the chest standing beside his sister.

“Hello, brother…” Luna looked up. “And you too, dear sister. Welcome!” She returned her attention back to the elements. “Yes, they are! You should’ve seen them a few minutes ago.” She tapped the chest’s frame with her front right hoof. “I surely thought the glass would’ve given out!”

Celestia stood to Luna’s right. She stared at the elements, watching as they tried to search for a way out from their captivity. Their magical aura licking the glass, studying its structural makeup. “Maybe tonight is the night….” Her words were cut short as the elements vibrated violently against the glass, moving the chest forward by two inches.

The royals stared at the chest with wide eyes.

“Tia!” Luna gasped with excitement. “They’re ready! They have to be!” The elements simultaneously threw themselves against the glass, causing a loud ping to ring throughout the room. “Sister! Brother! We must release them!” She looked at her siblings with glee.

“She’s right. It's time, Celestia.” Terren put a hoof on her shoulder. “They haven’t been this active in a long time.” The elements, frustrated with their situation, threw themselves at the glass once more. “CALM ELEMENTS!” Terren growled at the crystals. “Your time will come!” The elements let out a metallic hiss at his words.

Celestia stared at the elements as they licked the glass with their aura once more. “I guess you’re right….”

“Tia!” Luna grabbed her sister’s hoof. “Let’s open the chest!” She pulled on her arm.

Celestia pulled her hoof away. “Hold on, sis….” She looked over her shoulder. “Guards!”

Two guards rushed into the chambers. “Yes, your highness?” They bowed, speaking in unison.

Celestia affirmed the bow with a nod. “Alert the guards and the castle staff. The elements will be released tonight.”

“T-Tonight!? Ow…” The guard to Celestia’s left sputtered before the guard to her right smacked him upside the head.

“We’ll do so your highness.” The guard on the right replied, giving a bow before they both left the chambers.

Not long after they left, the bells sounded off, ringing their thunderous melodies throughout the castle grounds. The Royals heard the rumblings of the castle coming to life as its staff and guards moved about, preparing for the arrival of Equestria’s new element bearers.

With the castle consumed in its task, Celestia turned her attention back to the elements. She noticed that they’re glowing brighter than before. She could feel the heat radiating off the chest. “Luna?”

“Yes?” Luna smiled at her sister.

“Shall we?” Celestia smiled.

“Let’s!”

They stood over the chest and unlatched the lock… A shockwave reverberated throughout the room, shaking its foundation. The elements shot out of the chest, rocketing out of the chambers and into the night sky. Officials, guards and staff halt what they were doing and stared in awe as they watched the elements soar across the sky.

Celestia, Terren and Luna stepped out of the chambers and onto the grounds of the garden. They looked up at the night sky, watching the elements’ part ways, heading towards their destinations.

“Within the hour, we’ll have our new bearers.” Luna smiled.

“We should prepare ourselves, I’m sure their families will be in shock,” Celestia commented watching the elements’ colorful streaks fade into the night.

Terren laughed. “Shock, now that will be an understatement!”

The element of Joy flew through the warm night sky, over the high desert plains of the Appaloosa Basin. It passed the towns of Dodge Junction and Appaloosa, until coming up to the settlement of Rock Cove, a small geode mining village nestled in the foothills. Blinking in a rhythmic fashion the element of Joy soared down to its gravel streets and hovered quietly through the slumbering village.

Feeling the pull of a worthy individual, the element buzzed as it flew towards the individual’s location. Arriving at a worn and tattered two-story home nestled in between two others of a similar style, the element studied the home’s exterior looking for a way in. Seeing one it twirled in place as it floated up to the opened second story window and into the house.

Once inside, the element found itself in a small bedroom, a child’s bedroom due to the number of toys lying about. Further studying its surroundings, it saw a desk in the corner of the room. A dresser sat under the window, its top just kissing the window’s trim. Over by the bedroom’s door was a toy-chest made of oak. Blinking, the element looked down as noticed a queen-sized bed. To its surprise, four earth pony fillies slept under its covers.

Buzzing, the element hovered up to one of these fillies.

The filly it looked down upon was no more than eight-years-old. Her fur was a bright pink. Her magenta mane long and straight like a razor’s edge. The element of Joy hummed as it watched the filly chew some of her mane. The element tiled its body. It found her behavior quite entertaining. Is glow blinked softly as it scanned her aura. Feeling her spirt bursting with joy and wonder, the element’s glow began to brighten. Washing out the room in a brilliant blue hue.

The eldest of the fillies stirred from the light. With a groan she sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Who turned on the light?” Her eyes went wide as she saw the element of Joy hovering over her baby sister. She stared in awe at the hot arching jets emitting from its crystalline body. “MA!” She cried out. “PA!” The element hearing her cries hissed out an awful melody. The filly covered her ears as she watched the element slam into her sister’s chest.

The element of Honesty hovered around the outskirts of Ponyville, where farmlands and orchards lay. Buzzing softly, it made its way to an apple orchard. Stopping at its gate, it looked up at the sign overhead. ‘Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!’ It blinked twice as it bopped up and down. Buzzing to itself it floated up to the porch of the humble plantation home and through a hole in the screen-door.

Once inside, the element floated around the abode, studying the décor of the living room. To its left, a fire weakly burned in the fireplace. The element of Honesty listened to the fire crackle. It added a calming ambiance to the static night. Enjoying its warmth, it turned around and looked upon a young earth pony couple sleeping on the couch. The stallion slept on his back, while the mare slept on his chest. Floating up to the couple, it scanned them. Sensing the mare is eight months pregnant it let off several rhythmic buzzes.

The mare stirred in her sleep.

Silencing itself, the element eased away from the couple and up the stairs.

Floating down the second story hall, it passed two other doors before turning right and entering into a medium sized bedroom. On either side of room is two twin-sized beds. Sleeping in the bed to the element’s right was an earth pony colt no more than eleven-years-old. Sleeping in the bed to the element’s left was an earth pony filly no more than nine-years-old.

The element of Honesty floated up to the filly and studied her. The filly’s fur was a bright-cream-orange. Her wild mane was a rich-blonde. Her round cheeks were covered in white freckles. Feeling that her spirit was filled with honesty and strength the element shined bright, washing out the room in its yellow hue. Bright arching jets of yellow sparked out from its core. With a high-pitched hiss, it slammed into her chest.

The element of Generosity made its way through downtown Ponyville. It weaved its way through the mass of Germanic-styled homes and shops dotting the hilly landscape. Coming up to a three-story apartment several blocks from the center of town, it zipped around the building, scanning for an opening. Finding none, it buzzed a sigh. Determined however, it flew up to the roof and hovered around the air-ducts. Using its magical aura, it lifted one of the air-filters and slipped in.

It traveled through the metal maze, gently floating up, down, left, and right until it finally came up to the room of the pony it was looking for. Gently opening the vent’s hatch, the element of Generosity entered the kitchen. It hummed as it floated down the hall until it came up to the room at the end of the hall.

Entering through the opened door, the element was quite surprised at the room’s tidiness. It was rather spotless, well, except for the desk in the corner of the room covered in art supplies. Eyeing the mass of paper, glue, glitter and, crayons piled on the desk it hummed at the filly’s hunger for creativity. Floating up to the bed beside the window, it looked down at the sleeping eight-year-old unicorn filly. She slept soundly in her bed. Her spunky rich-purple mane laid flat against her face. Her white fur reflected the moonlight shining through her window.

Feeling a strong connection to her spirit, full of giving, the element shined brightly, illuminating the room in a purple hue. Bright arching jets of purple sparked out from the element’s core. The filly began to stir. Her limbs began to tremble under the bedsheets. The Element let off a hiss as it slammed into the filly’s chest.

The elements of Kindness and Loyalty flew high above the grand cloud city of Cloudsdale that floated above the snow topped mountains of the north. The elements dove down and soared through the towering Roman-styled cloud-made skyscrapers as they meandered towards the city’s suburbs.

Twirling as they flew, the elements made their way to a home on a street corner. Studying the cloud constructed home they flew up to one of its windows facing towards the front yard. Peaking in they saw three pegasus children sleeping by the coal-fireplace. Several board games, eaten snacks, black n’ white film reels and a bulky film-projector surrounded them, like guards protecting a castle.

The elements looked at each other. They buzzed at each other for a short time before the element of Kindness twirled happily in place. Nodding at its fellow element, the element of Loyalty flew through the cloud home.

A soft poof sound went off as the element of Loyalty made its way through the dense cloud wall of the home. Spinning around it blinked and saw that its companion was nowhere to be seen. Flying up to the window it looked out and saw the element of Kindness struggling to break through. Rolling its imaginary eyes, it flew through the wall once more and grabbed its fellow element and pulled it through.

Shaking off the clinging bits of cloud, they gave each other a little nod as they made their way on over to the trio sleeping by the fire. Floating above the children they looked down upon them and studied their features.

The pegasus on their left was a nine-year-old filly. Her canary-yellow fur contrasted vibrantly against her pink mane and tail. Sleeping in the middle was a six-year-old pegasus colt. His dull aquamarine fur was frizzy from his content dream. The pegasus on their right was an eight-year-old filly who was sleeping on her back. Her wings and limbs twitched about as she dreamt her night away. The elements tilted their bodies, studying her prism mane and tail. It was a curious sight to behold for sure.

Looking at one another the elements gave each other a nod and blinked as they floated above the children. The element of Loyalty hovered over the prism maned filly, while the element of Kindness hovered over the canary-colored filly.

Both elements shined bright as they sensed a strong connection with these fillies. Their glow consumed the room as it illuminated it in a hue of red and green. Bright arching jets of electric red and green danced across the elements’ bodies.

“Kids…. I told you to turn off the projector….” A pegasus stallion with a prism mane like one of the fillies stated with a yawn. “You better get back…. To…. Bed?” He stared at the scene in front of him with wide eyes. “Sweet Celestia!” His body went numb as he watched the elements slam into the fillies’ chests.

The element of Magic flew through Equestria’s capital city of Canterlot. Its wispy white colored magical aura left a soft graceful trail of light across the midnight sky as it searched for the pony it sought. Coming up to an eight-story apartment building, the element flew up to the seventh-story. It hugged the building as it flew up to the corner of the building. Looking through one of the corner windows, it saw the pony it was looking for.

She was a nine-year-old unicorn filly who slept soundly in her bed. Her dark-purple mane was unkempt from her constant tossing and turning which was limited due to the number of books on her bed forcing her to sleep close to the edge.

The element let out a soft hum as it found the filly’s hunger for knowledge amusing.

Blinking rapidly the element of Magic turned around and looked towards the westerly horizon. Five pillars of light shined towards the heavens. Red, blue, purple, green, and yellow. Blinking for each pillar, the element of Magic looked at the filly once more and let out another hum. Touching the window, it teleported into the room.

The soft pop and the glow of the element awoken the filly from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes and let out a soft moan. “Daddy?” Mommy?” She looked at her surroundings, her heavy eyes struggled to make out any detail. “Wha?” She stared in wonder, excitement building within her. “It’s! It’s!”

Sensing that her spirt had a strong connection to the raw power of magic itself, the element of Magic shined bright washing out the room in a brilliant white light. The filly put her hooves in front of her, trying her best to block out the harsh glare of the light. Reaching its apex of its ritual, the element let out a hiss and slammed into the filly’s chest.

Celestia stared at the element of Magic as it developed into its final shape over the filly’s chest its bonded to. Moving her gaze from the element, she eyed the wires hooked up to the filly. The bulky heart monitor sang its mechanical melody as it kept track of the filly’s heart rhythm.

“Your highness?” A doctor wearing a blue medical shirt spoke as he bowed.

“Y-Yes?” She replied, her gaze never leaving the filly.

“I wanted to let you know that the children are stable, but it is unclear when they’ll awaken.” The doctor picked up several folders from a nearby table. “I have to say, the elements did a number on them.” He too looked at the filly the princess was looking at. “Should I tell their parents.” He asked with a sigh.

“No….” Celestia looked at the doctor. “There is no need. We’ll tell them ourselves.” She smiled. “Return to your chambers for the night, you’ll need the rest.” The doctor bowed and exited the room.

Terren who was watching the six fillies with dull eyes from the corner of the room finally spoke. “So?” He walked up to Celestia and Luna. “What do the two of you think of our new element bearers?” He stared at the element of Magic’s pulsing glow.

“I find it interesting that the elements have chosen children of all ponies.” Luna quipped as she stared at the filly bonded to the element of Loyalty. “However,” Her smile faded. “I can’t think of a reason as to why they would have done so?”

Terren sighed as he looked at the filly bonded to the element of Honesty. “Well, all I know is that it’s going to take longer to train them into Equestria’s defenders.” He looked at the filly bonded to the element of Joy. “But I do prefer a blank slate….” He looked at Celestia. “What do make of it?” She doesn’t respond. “Celestia?”

“I’m concerned….” She finally looked at her siblings. Her eyes are drenched with tears. “What are the elements thinking? Young minds are easier to corrupt!”

Luna rolled her eyes. “But Celestia, them being young is a good thing!”

“What?”

Luna cowered under her sister’s tone, but she recovered none the less as she stared at her with a new resolve. “Sister, hear me out. With them being so young their minds will consume all that we teach them without question.” She worked a smile. “Think of the possibilities!”

“P-Possibilities?!” Celestia narrowed her eyes.

Lune gave her sister a half-hearted smile. “With them so young, they’ll have an advantage the other element bearers never had. They’ll start at a younger age, developing their skills sooner. Dear sister I believe they’ll be the greatest element bearers Equestria has ever seen!”

“Luna?” Celestia looked at her sister in shock. “I don’t doubt that but still….” A wave of anger flooded her thoughts. “You know the elements, their darker side!” She snarled. “Don’t be naïve!”

It was Luna’s turn to return the growl. ‘Tia! I know of their dark side! We all do! But with our teachings and indoctrination, they’ll succeed!”

Celestia shook her head. “Luna….: She looked at her brother. “Terren, tell her that she’s wrong!”

He pondered their discussion as he kept his eyes on the element of magic. Granted young minds were easier to corrupt, but on the other hoof, they wound have longer to learn, to be able to control the magic…. Maybe this time he thought. “I have to agree with Luna.” He sighed.

“What?” Celestia looked at her brother in disbelief.

Terren glared into Celestia’s eyes. “Young minds are easier to corrupt, I give you that, but like Luna said, with our guidance, they’ll become the strongest element bearers… Heck, they might even match our magical strength.” Celestia’s eyes trembled as her mind soaked his words. Not being able to speak, she lowered her head in defeat. Terren placed a hoof under her chin and lifted her head. They looked into each other’s’ eyes once again. “I know you're worried, but let the past go. This stress you’re bringing upon yourself will only drive you mad!”

“But…”

“But nothing!” Terren frowned. “The past you fear so much will never happen again! Honestly Celestia, after three-hundred-and-fifty-years of element bearers, nothing like you fear has happened ever since…. Then. And it will never be so!” He lowered his hoof and walked to the door. “So, drop this childish fear and act like the mare you are!”

Luna looked at her brother with a raised brow. “Um… That was a little harsh…”

“No… It wasn’t Luna...” Celestia looked at her brother. “He’s right, every time new bearers are chosen, I let worry overtake me… It’s stupid really… I’m just…”

Terren sighed. “It’s time to let go of that part of your life.” He gave Celestia a playful smirk. “Leave it to the dust of history.” He waved his right front hoof out in front of him.

“Yes… Leave it to the dust of history…” A sly masculine voice chuckled.

The Royals looked to their left and saw the head of a grey furred pony hovering over the filly bonded to the element of Kindness. “Discord! What are you doing here?” Celestia huffed.

Discord looked at her and sighed dramatically. “Oh, Celestia why so rude?” His whole body materialized showing that he’s an earth-pony, all be it a magically gifted one at that. He rolled his bright yellow eyes as he hovered up to Celestia. “You know tonight is a momentous occasion!” He stroked his white beard with his left front hoof. His short white mane and tail flapping about as he hovered around her. “You shouldn’t be rude to your guest.” He booped her snout with a hoof.

Celestia moved her head away. “What are your plans?” She huffed as she gave him a disapproving frown. “Already have plans to taint their young minds?”

Discord rolled his eyes as he gingerly floated on over to the filly bonded to the element of Honesty. Placing his hoof on the element, he let out a drawn-out sigh. “No…” The element glowed. “You know I’m the god of chaos. I pull harmless pranks on ponies and make some of their lives a little chaotic… Oh! There, I said it…” He giggled. “So, no… I’m not here to do what you think I’m going to do!” He smiled as he removed his hoof from the element. With a laugh, he floated on over to the filly bonded to the element of Magic. “I just want to see who will be Equestria’s new protectors.” He watched as the element of Magic grew over the filly’s chest like roots of a tree.

“Are you finished?” Terren asked as he watched the god stare at the filly with his yellow eyes.

“Almost!” Discord held up a hoof as he’s drawn to the filly bonded to the element of Loyalty. He stared at her prism mane. He chuckled. ‘What a strange mane color…’ He messed with his mane, ruffling it to cause it to turn prism as well. The royals looked at the god with raised brows. Not liking the look, he turned his mane back to its original color. Looking at the royals, Discord smiled. “They’re so young! It will be easier to indoctrinate them. I bet you’re thrilled!” He laughed.

Terren and Celestia looked at each other uncomfortably. Luna however, walked up to the earth pony. “Yes, we are. These will be Equestria’s finest element bearers the world has ever seen!”

Discord smiled at the young royal and rustled her flowing sapphire mane. “They will indeed…” He teleported next to Terren and Celestia and pulled them into a hug. “Well, I’m off, I have some ponies to mess with over in Manehattian.” He teleported outside the room. Manifesting a top hat and cane as he smooshed his face against the window and waved them a goodbye before teleporting to his destination.

The royals stared at the window for a few seconds before tearing their gaze from the glass back to their new element bearers. “Well, we should tell their parents that they are well.” Celestia quipped heading out of the room. Luna followed.

Terren stayed put.

“Aren’t you coming, brother?” Luna asked.

“No… I’ll stay, just in case they wake up.” His sisters nodded as they left the room.

Alone, Terren listened to the heart monitors sing their melody. Each filly slept the night away. Their elements slowly fusing themselves to them. But soon the quite atmosphere began to fade as a soft moan left the lips of the lavender-colored unicorn filly. Her face contorted into a pained frown. Terren walked up to the filly and looked down at her, watching her element flicker. “Show your worth filly! Show your worth…”

CHAPTER 2 - Making New Friends in the Void

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A young unicorn filly with lavender-colored fur stood in a realm of white nothingness. No horizon, no landmarks to tell her mind how or where she stood. Her purple-colored eyes jumped back n’ forth trying to make out anything in the mind-numbing void. “Hello” She called out timidly.

Feeling uneasy, she took a step and jumped back in shock. The ground beneath her shimmered like flexible glass. She shivered at the static that coursed through her body.

“Hello?” She looked around at the white nothingness.

Low rumbles echoed across the void’s land.

Fear washed over the filly. Her horn sparked out of instinct causing purple-colored mana to swirl around its tip. The rumbling continued, deeper in a tone similar to the open tone of an E string on a bass guitar. The filly let out a little squeak as she ran to places unknown.

The ground’s shaking intensified causing her to stumble on the marble-like ground. She let off a cry as she slipped and slid across the ground. Letting out a huff, she got back on her hooves and stood on shaky limbs. Looking at the void’s sky she saw it was shimmering like diamonds. She couldn’t decipher whether or not to be awestricken or afraid.

The mood she felt was heavy and thick with dread. She cowered closer to the ground, as she felt like thousands of eyes were glaring down at her… Judging her… She couldn’t breathe. Her eyes were full of tears as she stared horror-stricken at the sky, watching it morph into a shade of midnight black. She felt weightless as the ground around her dissolved. She let out a sob as she flailed her limbs in a helpless attempt to escape a fate she doesn’t know of.

“WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” A voice that sounded unnatural to her spoke with authority, shaking the void with its powerful tone.

The filly whipped her head around, desperately searching for the voice’s origin point. “Where am I?” She cried out.

“WHAT IS YOUR NAME!” The shout of the voice took the air out of her lungs. The filly choked on her sobs as she swam through the black void to safety. Where ever safety was. “ANSWER! YOU PETULANT CHILD!”

“MY NAME IS TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” The filly shouted in a panic.

The voice let out a laugh laced with, amusement, kindness, anger, pity, joy, condemnation, and malice. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE…”

Twilight felt a sudden change in gravity. Her stomach twisted itself into a knot as she began to feel the cold winds rush across her body. She flailed her limbs in a panic as she fell through the void toward the endless bottom. Up, down, left or right, she didn’t know. She trembled as she felt like she was nearing the bottom. “AHHH!” She screamed out, her body balling up as she braced for the impact.

But nothing… No pain. No jolt. No boom… Nothing.

Feeling a breeze tickling her back, Twilight stood still, her limbs shivering. She forced her eyes open. “Hello?” She called out as she looked at her surroundings with tear-filled eyes. She felt confused. Was she dead? She didn’t feel dead. Swallowing her fears, she stepped forward into the black void. “Is any pony here?”

The static silence unnerved her young mind. Her bright innocent eyes scanned the endless abyss as she took little steps forward. She stopped as she felt a cold breeze wash over her as she heard a soft ghostly whisper echo in her ears. “Hello?”

Still nothing…

Twilight let out a soft sigh as she sat down. “Where am I?” She asked out loud.

“You are where you need to be…”

Twilight shivered as she stood up. “Who’s there?”

“Only us…”

Twilight’s eyes are drawn to a white misty figure of a unicorn mare in her late forties. Her main was short, resting just under her chin, and her tail was braided. “Who are you?” She pleaded as she stepped closer to the mare.

“You know the answer to that, little one…”

A low growl echoed all around Twilight. It felt like the void was falling upon her. Seeing the mare walking away, she let out a squeak as she gave chase. “Wait!” Twilight cried. Loud cracks thundered around her. Twilight shivered as she felt like the void was crushing her. “Please! Wait!” She huffed as she ran. “I need help!”

The mare stopped at looked over her shoulders at the filly. “You don’t!” The mare glared at Twilight with her fiery white eyes.

Twilight wanted to stop, but the fear of the void outweighed her fear of the mare. “Please!” She begged, trying to win over the mysterious figure. “I want my mommy!” The mare let out a laugh and faded as Twilight lunged for her. Twilight let out a groan as she slid across the crystal-like ground until she bumped up against a white crystalline wall.

Twilight weakly stood up and stared at the wall of crystal. Shivers danced across her body as she pondered the meaning of the wall. Nervously she touched the wall with a hoof. The wall shook and groaned. The ground around her cracked open and the wall grew around her enclosing her within a crystal cell.

Letting out a squeak, she looked around at her new tomb. “How do I get home?” She looked at the crystal wall and stared at her own hazy reflection. “How did I get here?” Hearing a cry not her own, her ears stood erect as she looked around. Gasping, she walked over to her left and squinted her eyes at a fizzy silhouette of a pony on the other side. From what she could see, the pony had pink fur and had a magenta-colored mane and tail. Her eyes were colored blue. “Hello?” Twilight placed her hooves on the wall. “Can you hear me?”

The filly on the other side lifted her head and looked in her direction. “Yes!” Her cheery squeaky voice called out. “What’s your name!’ She giggled. “I forgot to tell you, my name. My name is Pinkiamena Diane Pie, but my sisters call me Pinkie!”

“My name is Twilight Sparkle!” She smiled.

“Nice to meet you…” Pinkie let out a long-held humming sound. “Well sort of meeting you, with this wall in front of us.” Twilight could see her moving her head around. “How do we get out of here?”

“I don’t know…” Twilight stared at her hooves on the wall. “Try placing your hooves on it like me.”

“Okie dokie.” Pinkie placed her hooves on the wall. “High-hoof on a wall!” She laughed at her own words.

The wall began to shimmer where their hooves touched, but only briefly. The strange sensations they felt running up their arms died with the shimmering. Twilight let out a huff and pushed herself from the wall. “Didn’t do anything!” She sat back down and let out a sigh.

“It did something, though.” Pinkie countered. Hearing Twilight let out a defeated groan, Pinkie sat down and looked around. “We’re in a pickle.” She let a chuckle slip past her lips. “Pickle!” She started laughing.

Twilight raised her brow as she stared at the pink filly’s hazy figure on the other side of the crystal wall. “How can you be in a happy mood after all the scary things I’ve… We’ve seen?” She thought of her own question. “Did you see the same scary things?”

Pinkie hummed as she nodded. “Yeah, saw this blue ghost. She didn’t say a word to me, just floated away from me while something was chasing me!”

Twilight raised her brow at Pinkie’s tone. “And you’re okay with what you’ve seen?”

“No…” Pinkie laid her back against the wall. “I was scared, but Granny Pie always told my sisters and I to laugh at what you’re afraid of. Being scared gets in the way of solving the problem at hoof.”

Twilight squished her lips together and nodded slowly. No sense in arguing with that. “True, but I don’t think laughing at this will help us with getting out of here.”

“I agree…” Pinkie looked at the wall of crystal surrounding her. “Got a plan?”

“No… Not at the moment…” Twilight placed a hoof on her chin. “Do you remember…?”

“Hello!” A southern sounding voice called out. “Can y’all hear me?” Twilight looked to her right and Pinkie looked to her left and saw a hazy silhouette of an orange-colored filly, with a blonde mane and tail. “I heard your voices after I escaped whatever was chasing me.”

“Hello!” Pinkie smiled. “My name is Pinkie and the other pony in the other room is Twilight!” She jumped up n down. “Can you see us?”

“I can but you’re a little fuzzy?” The filly tilted her head. “The names Applejack.”

“Nice to meet you.” Twilight waved.

“Same…” Applejack took the time to look at the dome of crystal overhead. Hearing soft huffing, she looked to her left and saw the silhouette of a filly with white fur and a rich purple mane. “Hello?”

The filly’s ears stood erect as she looked over at the others. “Oh, thank goodness!” She let out a heavy sigh. “I thought I was alone!” She walked up to the wall and sat down. “Are all of you, okay?”

“Yep!” Pinkie hummed. Twilight and Applejack hummed as they nodded.

The filly let out a sigh. “That’s good.” She smiled. “The names Rarity.” She placed a hoof on her chest.

“The names Applejack.”

“My name is Pinkie!”

“I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

“Nice to meet you…” Hearing a soft whimper, Rarity looked to her left and saw the silhouette of a filly with yellow fur and a pink mane and tail. “Hello!”

The filly squeaked as she jumped in fright. “Whose there?” She called out, her voice coated in a sobbing tone.

“Just us!” Pinkie Pie called out before the others could respond. “My name is Pinkie, the pony to my right is Twilight and the ponies to my left are Applejack and Rarity!”

The filly on the other side walked up to the wall, her fuzzy silhouette sort of coming into focus. “Um…” She softly spoke. “I’m Fluttershy.” She looked around. “Where are we?”

“Fluttershy is that you?” A raspy voice called out.

Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack looked around trying to make out the location.

“Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy moved some of her mane from her eyes and looked to her left and saw the fuzzy silhouette of a filly with sky-blue fur and a prism-colored mane and tail. She knew the filly was a pegasus due to her wings that were extended out, showing signs of her panicked state.

“Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash walked up close to the wall, her wings fold to her sides as she studied the fuzzy silhouettes on the other side. “Who are all of you?” Her raspy voice filled with skepticism.

Before Applejack could speak, Pinkie dramatically took a deep breath. “Her name is Applejack, she’s Twilight, that’s Rarity, and I’m Pinkie!” She took in another breath as she held up her hoof.

Rainbow Dash glared at the silhouettes for a second. “HI!” She smiled. “I’m Rainbow Dash! The best flyer in my school!”

“Nice to meet yah!” Applejack nodded.

“Nice to meet you, well sort of.” Rainbow Dash looked at the foggy crystal wall in front of her. “How do we get out of here?”

“Not sure?” Twilight huffed.

“We’re stuck here in this scary place?” Fluttershy mumbled.

“How did we get here in the first place?” Pinkie wondered.

“What do you remember before waking up in this,” Rarity looked around at the white hazy crystal walls. “strange place?”

“Well,” Applejack rubbed the back of her neck. “My brother and I were helping my Ma and Pa work our apple orchard. Then we ate dinner and then I went to bed.” She tapped her chin. “Then I felt something warm on my chest.

“Well, I remember going to bed, then I felt a hot sensation in my, chest,” Pinkie commented.

“Same!” Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on her chest. “Very hot.”

“It hurt.” Fluttershy tapped her hooves together as she hid behind her mane, even though the others couldn’t see her.

“Same,” Rarity rubbed her chest. “It felt like I got kicked.”

Twilight pondered their words. She combed over her memories, trying to remember her own events before bed. ‘Bright white…” Chills ran down her spine. ‘A white crystal hovering in front of her…’ Twilight looked at the fuzzy silhouette of each filly. ‘There’s six, including me…’ She felt her throat tighten up. “Six…”

“Six? Six what now sugar cube?” Applejack looked over at Twilight, tilting her head to the side.

“I, I think we were chosen!”

“Chosen?” Pinkie wondered.

“Yes…” Twilight paced around. “I saw a bright white crystal floating in front of me. It woke me up before…” She rubbed her chest. “It hit me in the chest.”

“Do you know what it could…” Rarity’s eyes widened. “Wait… T-The elements!”

The other’s eyes widened.

“T-The elements?” Fluttershy’s body shivered. “Like the elements?”

Rainbow Dash rubbed her chest. “What?” Her eyes began to tremble. “But why?”

They sit in silence as their young minds tried to comprehend their situation. Twilight stared at the others’ fuzzy silhouettes. Her mind remembered when hers and Pinkie’s hooves touched the wall. It shimmered… ‘Six ponies…’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘If they were really the elements…’ She placed her right hoof on the wall. “Touch the wall.”

“What?” Rainbow Dash raised her brow.

Twilight narrowed her eyes. “There are six of us.” She swallowed. “If what I saw was one of the elements, then they are the reason we’re here.”

“But why touch the wall?” Rainbow Dash huffed. “What’s that going to do for us?”

“Because when Twilight and I touched it earlier, it shimmered,” Pinkie spoke up. “I think why it didn’t work is because it was waiting for all of us to show up.”

“Are they testing us?” Rarity pondered.

Twilight let out a sigh. “I-I think so?”

Fluttershy shivered as she stood up and placed a hoof on the wall. “We have nowhere else to go or do?” She softly spoke. The others nodded and joined her and Twilight and placed a hoof on the wall.

The wall shimmered a cascade of colors that illuminated the space they were in, casting them in a soft glow. The wall hummed as it dissolved into the ground. Blinking the light from their eyes, the fillies were able to get a good look at each other. Smiling, they proceeded to walk up to each other, when a low horn echoed all around them. “What’s Happening?” Pinkie whimpered.

The ground began to shake violently.

“WHAT’S GOING ON!” Applejack huffed as she tried to keep her balance.

The crystal that surrounded them shattered, sending large shards of gemstones into the endless black void. The fillies found themselves floating about. Their limbs flailing about trying to find some sense of security.

Squeaks of panic came out of Fluttershy’s voice. “Hold on!” Rainbow Dash tried to reach her friend. “Gotcha!” As she grabbed her, the black void they were in morphed into a complex spreading out in axis and orientations, similar to the madness of an abstract painting.

The fillies feeling gravity once again fell onto the grassy texture of the maze’s floor. Blinking her eyes, Twilight stood up from the ground and stared in awe at the enormity of it all. The walls of the maze were like polished obsidian and the grass was white in color and soft to the touch.

“A maze?” Rainbow Dash asked as she eyed the maddening alternate paths going on for eternity.

“Looks like it sugar cube.” Applejack stared up at some portions of the maze that were upside down.

“Sugar cube?” Rainbow Dash looked at the earth pony filly with a raised brow.

“It's what I call everypony.” Applejack smiled. Rainbow Dash only looked forward and gave a slight nod.

“It’s quite lovely.” Rarity hummed as she walked forward. “Ooh!” The grass lit up from her touch. “Interesting.” She touched the grass once more and watched the light shimmer out like ripples on a pond.

“This is incredible!” Twilight walked further down the maze.

“Where are you going?” Fluttershy asked nervously as she eyed the maze with terrified eyes.

Twilight looked back at her and the others. “Well, I don’t see anywhere else we can go.” She waved at the maze with a hoof. “We obviously have to go this way.” The others looked at one another, somewhat weary of their situation. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Fluttershy followed Twilight. The others shivered as they followed suit.

They trekked through the maze. It's an eerie place. A static rumbled within their ears. Metallic groans echoed all around them, causing them to think that the maze was a living creature, but one made of gears and metal. Pinkie and Twilight looked at the walls around them, watching them ripple like split-flat displays.

“This is the darnest maze I’ve ever seen!” Applejack ears folded back. “It’s so unnatural!” She jumped as the walls made an eerie groan. She watched with wide eyes as they morphed into themselves as the ripple traveled up and down its length.

“I agree…” Rarity kept her eyes on the grass watching as it lit up around their hooves with each step she took.

Twilight scanned the different paths of the maze above them. Seeing a few ghostly figures of other ponies walking the paths, she shivered as she studied each and every one of them. They were glowing in different colors. Red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and white. The colors of the elements.

“You see what I’m seeing?”

Twilight looked at Pinkie and saw she was looking at the figures as well. “Yeah…” She recognized one as the same figure she saw just moments ago.

“W-Who are they?” Fluttershy moaned as she tried to hide behind her mane. Rainbow Dash frowned at the figures and got close to her childhood friend.

Twilight pondered through her thoughts. “If it was the elements that chose us, then they must be past element bearers?”

“Aren’t they dead?” Applejack looked up at the wandering figures.

“Yes.” Twilight’s ears folded back.

“A part of them must’ve stayed with the elements?” Applejack questioned.

“What do we do if we run into them?” Rainbow Dash looked at a red shimmering figure of a pegasus stallion walking slowly along a sideways path to her left.

“Well, we’re going to have to say hi… AH!” Pinkie screamed. Twilight quickly grabbed her rear legs. Both fillies looked over the edge of the cliff, staring at the other half of the maze below with wide eyes. “Whoa!” Pinkie giggled.

“Well, shoot!” Applejack mumbled.

“Where do we go now?” Fluttershy looked at the endless maze that consumed the whole void.

Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest. “I’ll just fly up and look for a way out!” She lifted herself off the ground with a flap of her wings and took off. “AH!” An electrical current shocked her whole body sending her to the ground. “Ow…”

“Are you okay?” The others gather around her.

“Yeah…” Rainbow Dash huffed as she looked up at the maze. Her eyes shrank as she saw the countless figures had stopped walking and were staring down at them. The hollowed glowing eyes glared at them.

“What are they doing?” Rarity watched magical aura leaking out of their eyes.

“I don’t know?” Applejack felt her fur stand on end. “I have a feeling it ain’t good…”

A loud groaning echoed all around them. The maze shook causing the fillies to lose their balance. Hearing a horrid noise, they looked down the maze where they came from and saw that it was being torn apart by a cloud of endless black abyss.

“What do we do?” Fluttershy cried.

Rainbow Dash stood close to her as she stared up at the figures staring down at them. Seeing them disappear as the maze paths they stood on were torn apart, she swallowed her fears. “We need to go!” Her raspy voice cried out.

Looking over the edge of the cliff and at the black abyss approaching them, Rarity shivered as she thought of the unthinkable. “Follow me!” She jumped.

“Rarity!” Twilight yelled. Her eyes widened as she saw Rarity’s body readjust to the new orientation from the vertical path’s gravity taking hold. Stumbling over her hooves, Rarity got her balance and looked over her shoulders, giving the others a shocked but ecstatic smile. “WHAT!” Twilight yelled as she stared at the clear violation of physics itself.

“It’s getting closer!” Applejack yelled as she dove off. “JUMP!”

Seeing the others falling past her, Twilight shivered as she heard the ungodly sound of the abyss approaching. Twilight groaned as she let go of Pinkie and slipped off the cliff. Stumbling from the change in gravity, she got on her hooves and stood beside the others. “Is everypony okay?” The others nodded.

Hearing an awful moan, they looked up and saw the black abyss consuming the top of the cliff. “RUN!” Pinkie shouted. The others follow as they ran down the path.

“What happens if we find a dead end?” Rainbow Dash cried.

“DON’ THINK ABOUT THAT!” Fluttershy yelled.

Rainbow Dash looked at her usually timid friend with wide eyes. “U-Uh… Understood!”

Twilight stared at the different paths of the maze morphing into themselves. “We’re going to have to work together!”

“How?” Applejack huffed.

“We need to agree on where to go!” Twilight looked over her shoulder and saw the black abyss gaining ground.

Feeling a chill run down her back, Pinkie looked over at Twilight and Applejack and saw a fork in the road. “RIGHT!” Pinkie felt another chill.

“What?” Twilight asked.

“Turn right!” Pinkie ran up ahead of the group and turned down the path.

The others follow suit. “Why did you pick this way?” Rainbow Dash asked as she flew low to the ground.

Pinkie felt another shiver as she looked at the decaying maze overhead. “Just a feeling!”

“A feeling?” Twilight blathered out.

“Just trust me!” Pinkie looked back at the others. “You trust me?”

The others looked over their shoulders watching the endless abyss ripping apart the maze with extreme fervor. They looked at Pinkie and gave her a nod. “We trust you sugar cube!” Applejack smiled. Pinkie nodded as she looked forwards and turned left leading them down a decline.

Their little legs that were running with all their might began to speed up from the angle of the decline of the path they were on. Soon the decline became so extreme that they began sliding down it like a slide. The soft white grass provided some resistance, but their speed kept increasing. “No! No! No!” Twilight cried.

“WEE!” Pinkie cheered with her front hooves in the air.

“Really?” Applejack glared at her. “You find this fun?”

“Yep!” Pinkie laughed. “You got to find the fun in everything!”

“Even with a big scary… Thing! After us?” Fluttershy looked back at the abyss making its way toward them.

Pinkie nodded as she saw a ramp. Seeing a hexagonal platform past the ramp, her eyes narrowed as she stuck out her tongue. ‘Just like sledding with my sisters!’ She giggled as she dug her rump into the ground and tilted her body to line up her trajectory. “Get ready to jump!”

“JUMP!” Rarity looked at the ramp in the distance. “Oh, you got to be kidding me!”

“No, she’s not!” Rainbow Dash extended her wings and lined herself up. The others followed suit, manipulating their bodies to the right orientations until it was too late. Each filly launched off the ramp with little swooshes as they soared through the air, landing on the glass-like floor of the hexagonal platform with soft thuds. Except for Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy who landed softly with several flaps of their wings.

Groaning out the soreness that danced across their bodies. The fillies stood up and saw the black abyss had stopped a few yards from the platform. They stared at the swirling mass just mindlessly floating, staring at them like a hungry lion glaring at a meal it can’t reach.

“T-That was close…” Fluttershy whimpered as she cowered from the black abyss.

“Can’t believe we did that!” Rarity sputtered.

“We did though.” Applejack chuckled due to her nervousness.

“Let’s do that again!” Rainbow Dash and Pinkie cheered.

“Let’s not do that again!” Twilight grumbled.

“Rainbow Dash and Pinkie giggled at her plight. “Come on Twily, it wasn’t that bad!” Pinkie waved a dismissive hoof.

“Hey! Only my brother calls me Twily!” Twilight huffed.

“You have a brother?” Applejack smiled. Her tail wagged from her excitement about the prospect of bringing up the subject of family.

“Y-Yeah…” Twilight let her frustrations subside. “He’s my older brother.

“What’s his name?” Applejack tilted her head. The other fillies tilted their heads to the side too.

“Um. Shining Armor.” Twilight blushed as she found herself the center of attention.

“That’s cool!” Applejack smiled. “I have an older brother as well and another sibling on the way!” Applejack smirked pridefully. “Mah brother is name Macintosh. And for my future baby sibling, well I’m not sure of it yet. We’ll just have to find out when they’re born.” She looked over at Fluttershy. “You know, my brother is shy like you.” She smirked jabbing her elbow against Fluttershy’s shoulder.

Fluttershy blushed. “Oh…” She tried to hide behind her mane.

Applejack and Rarity giggled at her reaction. “So, do you have any siblings?” Applejack asked.

Fluttershy nodded. “I have one, his name is Zephyr Breeze. He’s my younger brother…” She managed to say.

“I have three sisters!” Pinkie jumped up n’ down. “There’s Maud, my big sister. She’s very smart and loves rocks! Then there’s Limestone, she can be mean sometimes, but she has a soft spot, especially for pie! And then there’s my twin sister Marble, who's my baby sister by a minute!” She giggled as she skipped around the group.

Rarity watched her curiously. “Well since we’re on the topic. I have a baby sister named Sweetie Belle whose one-years-old.”

The others looked at Rainbow Dash. Her ears folded back as she looked at the ground. Her head was downcast as her magenta eyes stared at the shimmering black surface of the platform they stood on. “I have none…”

The fillies’ smiles left, except for Fluttershy who gave her friend a warm smile.

Not liking that Rainbow Dash was in a sad mood, Pinkie scooted up close to the pegasus and laid her arms around her neck. “Cheer up silly-willy!” Pinkie hummed, rubbing her cheek against Rainbow Dash’s “Because you have us as your friends!” She tightened her hug.

Rainbow Dash blushed from the affection. “Friends! But we just met?” She stared at the pink-colored filly with a skeptical eye.

“SO! Pinkie sighed dramatically. “We survived running from a crazy void thingy, I think that’s enough to put us into the friend zone!” She and the others looked at the calm mass of the abyss swirling around the platform. “And besides, we need to work together to get out of here and why not do that as friends!” She started bouncing around them once more, her long magenta mane and tail flowing with her movements.

The others laughed at her antics.

“Well shoot, I can’t argue with that!” Applejack smirked, “Count me in!”

“Same.” Rarity hummed a tune.

“Me too!” Twilight nodded.

Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy, her closest friend and schoolmate. “Fluttershy?” Her ears folded back as she rubbed her hooves together. “W-What do you think?” Fluttershy looked at the other fillies. Looking back at her friend, Fluttershy gave a nod. “YEAH! New friends!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she reared in excitement, her wings fluttering.

The others giggled at Rainbow Dash.

Looking around at the platform, Twilight started walking along the outer perimeter of the hexagonal ring. “Come on fillies, let's figure out how to get off this platform.” She looked over at the black abyss still swirling around them, “Before that thing starts to move.”

Rarity studied the gazebo within the center of the platform. It was hexagonal in shape similar to the platform. It was twenty-five feet tall and fifteen feet in diameter and made up of white marble with black specks. The platform itself was made of polished obsidian. “What a strange gazebo?” She muttered out loud as she wandered up to the structure.

“Why is it here?” Applejack questioned.

“Not sure?” Twilight stepped onto the gazebo’s platform and studied its underbelly.

“It looks like the only thing here?” Fluttershy looked around the bare platform.

Rarity stared at the trim along the six sides of the gazebo. Seeing six different symbols, her right brow raised as she tilted her head pondering their meaning. “I think it’s a puzzle?”

“A PUZZLE!” Twilight giggled as she ran up to Rarity and stood beside her looking up at the underside. Her smile grew the longer she stared at the symbols scarring its surface.

“What kind of puzzle?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I’m not sure…” Twilight tilted her head. “I’ve never seen symbols like this before?” The six symbols were in the shape of a circle. Each contained a different number of lines and dots that distinguished themselves from one another.

The first symbol was a circle with a vertical line running through the center with dots on the right and left of the line within the circle. The second symbol was a circle with a plus sign in its center with dots at each end. The third symbol was a circle with a triangle in the center with each corner of the triangle poking out of the circle and containing a dot in each exposed corner. The fourth symbol was a circle with four lines in the center. The fifth symbol was a circle with five dots in a similar arrangement to the five side of a die. And the sixth symbol was a circle with a star in the center with a dot in the center of the star.

“They’re so pretty! Ooh!” Pinkie stared in awe as the fifth symbol lit up.

The others stared at the symbol’s blue glow with wonder-stricken eyes.

“Pinkie! How did you do that?” Twilight asked, her voice cracking with excitement.

“UH?” Pinkie jumped at her tone and stepped back. The symbol’s glow dimmed and slowly faded away. “I didn’t mean to!” she cried. “It just looked pretty!”

“Pinkie, wait! Do that again!” Twilight held out her front hooves.

“Uh… Do what?” Pinkie looked at her skeptically.

“Walk back to where you were!” Twilight mentioned with her hooves.

Pinkie looked down at the obsidian floor and slowly stood on the spot she was just on. The symbol on the trim and a copy of the symbol on the floor beneath her hooves lit up blue in color.

“That’s it!” Twilight shouted with a wide smile.

“That’s what?” Applejack looked at her crazed look with some hesitation.

“We each have to stand in front of the symbols!” Twilight giggled at herself. Proud that she solved the mystery.

“Well, that’s easy enough!” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Come on fillies! Pick a spot!”

The fillies nodded and picked a symbol that caught their fancy. Twilight picked the fourth symbol. Fluttershy picked the second symbol. Applejack picked the sixth symbol. Rarity picked the third symbol, and Rainbow Dash picked the first symbol.

Rarity’s symbol lights up, glowing a rich purple hue. However, the other symbols remained unlit.

“I think we picked wrong?” Applejack huffed.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash grumbled in frustration. They looked sadly at their symbols. “I guess we switch places… I mean if you want to…” Fluttershy murmured.

“We have to, Fluttershy.” Twilight sighed, stepping off her symbol. Studying the others. “I guess I’ll stand here.”

Twilight stood on the second symbol. Applejack stood on the first symbol. Fluttershy stood on the sixth symbol, and Rainbow Dash stood on the fourth symbol. Fluttershy’s symbol lit up green and Rainbow Dash’s lit up red. Seeing theirs were not lighting up, Twilight and Applejack quickly switched places. Applejack’s lit up yellow and Twilight’s lit up white.

They stared at the glowing symbols with smiles on their faces. They solved the puzzle; they were proud of themselves and sat down. But as the minutes passed with nothing of note happening, their excitement fell. Then five or more minutes passed. “Now what?” Rainbow Dash huffed. Her wings twitched from her building anxiety.

“I’m not sure…” The ground shook, interrupting Twilight.

“What’s happening!” Fluttershy shouted.

“I don’t know?!” Rarity whimpered. Her ears folded flat against her head.

The gazebo suddenly broke apart, launching the fillies into the air. Gravity abandoned them as zero-G’s took control. They floated around in the vast starry void, trying their best to avoid the razor-sharp shards of obsidian and or marble that surrounded them. “What’s going on?” Rainbow Dash cried out as she flailed her legs and flapped her wings in a desperate attempt to flee.

“MOMMY!” Fluttershy sobbed. “DADDY!”

Twilight watched in fear as an all-encompassing white light rolled across the void above and below them. The starry void faded as the light consumed it. Bathing them in bright light, they covered their eyes. But as soon as the light came it faded and a pitch-blackness engulfed them. Feeling the pull of gravity once more, the fillies screamed as they fell toward the bottom of the black abyss. Or what they thought was the bottom. Panic wrapped their young minds in its embrace as the wind sped up around them. Feeling like they were about to slam into the ground, they shut their eyes.

Twilight felt a warm breeze gently blowing over her. She shivered as its touch. Her legs trembled as she stood. Forcing her eyes open, she was shocked that she found herself surround by foothills covered in grey colored grass, and a white sky that stretched for miles, beyond what she could possibly see.

Confusion took hold of Twilight’s mind as she began wandering this strange place. “Pinkie? Applejack?” She whipped her head around. “Fillies?” She ran, her heartrate increasing. “Fluttershy? Rainbow Dash? Rarity?”

“I’m here!”

Twilight looked over her shoulder and saw Rarity making her way up the hill she stood on. Her small legs propelled her at a steady pace. “Are you alright?” Twilight asked.

“I’m, okay?” Rarity looked at her surroundings. “W-What is this place?” Her ears folded back.

“I don’t know…” Twilight looked towards the horizon. “I’ve never seen anything like it… It’s like a dream.”

“You think we’re dreaming?” Rarity pondered. “You think it’s not the elements?”

Twilight could hear the desperate tone coating her question. She wondered the same. It was obvious that it was the elements that had chosen them, and that they were being tested. All orchestrated by the elements themselves. Still, the overwhelming weight of stress that they are the new element bearers, especially for ponies their age… It scared her.

“I’m not sure Rarity.” Twilight sighed. “I know what I saw. We all felt the same thing…”

Rarity nodded. “I know…”

“Come on let’s find the others.” Twilight nodded, “We’ll figure this out, one way or another.”

“Of course…” Rarity’s eyes lit up. “Hey, I see the others!” She shouted, running towards the others that were down the hill in a little valley.

“Hey! Wait for me!” Twilight grumbled as she gave chase.

Meeting up with each other, they all sighed in relief.

“This place is just as strange as the other.” Applejack stared up at the white void and grey grassy hills.

“Oh… I want to go home!” Fluttershy began to sob. “This place is scaring me!”

“Me too!” Pinkie’s optimistic mood seemed to be gone as she started shivering.

“Calm down you two! We’ll be home soon…” Rainbow Dash’s ears folded back. “I hope?”

Twilight looked towards the horizon once again. Her eyes squinting, searching for something in the endless hilly landscape. Her spine shivered as she laid eyes on six figures standing on hill tops four-hundred yards away. These figures glowed the colors of white, green, red, blue, purple, and yellow. ‘Six figures, six colors, six elements…’

“They’re back?” Pinkie sighed.

“Yes…”

“Who are they?” Rainbow Dash asked, giving them a stern glare.

“The first element bearers.” Rarity stated matter of factly.

“I was about to say that.” Twilight let a small smile adore her lips.

“I also like to read… And they do teach about the element bearers in school.” Rarity smiled.

“But they don’t look like the statues in Canterlot.” Fluttershy softly commented.

“I’m sure they changed once they died and fully bonded to the elements.” Twilight watched as the figures just stood emotionless. “We need to go.”

“Where?” The group asked.

Twilight looked over her shoulders and scanned the hills. Seeing a large tree, the only tree in the land of grass, she smiled. “This way! To that tree!”

“Tree?” Applejack started to question until her eyes laid upon it. “Never mind, I see it.”

“Maybe it’s another puzzle?” Pinkie smiled. “Maybe the puzzle is that the tree wants a friend?” She hummed. Twilight rolled her eyes at her playful ramblings.

“OW!” Rarity shouted as she stooped and clutched her chest with a hoof.

“You alight Rarity?” Applejack stopped and looked at the unicorn with a raised brow.

“No… My chest hurts… Ow! It burns!” She began to panic.

Twilight felt the burning sensation swelling in her chest as well. “Ow…” She glared at her chest. Her left eye twitched from the pain. ‘Why its it hurting? Why now?’ Pinkie and Fluttershy started sobbing as they rubbed their chest to rid themselves of the pain, to no avail. Rainbow Dash breathed in her discomfort and Applejack took shallow breaths to dull the pain.

“GO… TO… THE… TREE…”

The fillies felt their spines tingle as they shivered in fear. “Who said that?” Twilight looked around franticly. Her teeth clenched as she kept a hoof on the spot that was causing her chest pain.

“Could it be them?” Applejack looked over her shoulder at the figures still standing on the hill tops.

“Maybe?” Twilight felt her eyes begin to water.

“If the voice said go to the tree!” Pinkie growled through her pain. “Then we need to go!”

“W-Will it s-stop the p-pain?” Fluttershy mumbled as she followed them.

“I hope so!” Rainbow Dash huffed with each step she took.

Glaring at the tree, Twilight forced herself to move forward. The pain coursing through her chest intensified. Choking on a cry, she looked back at the figures. Seeing a few more appearing, just like in the maze, she felt a chill run down her spine. ‘What test is this?’ She asked herself. Seeing more glowing figures appearing out of thin air, she turned around and kept walking to the tree.

“I-I can’t do this!” Fluttershy’s legs trembled. Her head hung low to the ground. Her pink mane covering her face as she cried.

Rainbow and Applejack looked back at their friend. “Come on Fluttershy! We need to get to the tree…”

The ground began to tremble. Horrifying trumpets calls echoed all around them. Afraid, they turned around and stared at the countless mass of figures standing behind them on the foothills. The figures narrowed their eyes as they morphed into each other, creating a horrifying crystal worm similar in shape to a blood worm.

“RUN!” Rarity yelled. The others waist no time and followed her command as they made a mad dash towards the tree. Ignoring the pain that was slowly building with in them.

Nearing the tree, they were able to see its features in full. Their eyes lit up and their mouths hung opened as they gawk at its beautiful appearance. It’s a tree made of a white frosty crystal. Its leaves are crystals as well and are pinkish purple. But what caught their eyes were six round shaped crystals familiar in colors to the figures they have seen. Red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and white.

“Ow! Ow! Ow!” Pinkie whined through clinched teeth as the pain in her chest became to much for her to bear.

Applejack hissed through the heat that felt like a hot rod-iron was being plunged into her chest. Her strong limbs, for a nine-year-old collapsed, sending her to the ground. Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow Dash had to stop and huddle close to the ground so they could find a pose that would allow them to breathe.

“AH!” Fluttershy screamed out in pain. “I can’t!” Panic consumed her. “It hurts! It hurts!”

“PATHETIC!”

Fluttershy whimpered. Rainbow Dash growled as she looked back at the monstrosity that was the crystal worm creature. “My friend is not pathetic!” She managed to stand up on all fours as she gave her best stare down at the monster.

“ALL… OF… YOU… ONLY… CARE… FOR… YOURSELF…” A voice boomed across the void.

“FOR… THAT… YOU… WILL… FAIL…” Another voice, feminine in tone shouted with venom.

Pinkie gritted her teeth. “I care for my friends!”

“FRIENDS… THAT… YOU… JUST… MET…” Another voice laughed.

“WHAT… IF… THEY… ARE... NOT… WHAT… THEY… SAY... THEY… ARE…” A deep statistic filled voice asked.

“I trust them!” Applejack looked at her fellow ponies, before glaring at the crystal worm monster.

“LIER!” The worm screamed, causing the void to shake violently, knocking them off their hooves. The void’s imaginary walls shattered like glass and spider webbed out, flickering like a static-filled television screen.

Tears swelled in their eyes as the pain overwhelmed their young minds. Rainbow Dash fell to the ground. Her wings extended out and laid flat. Her breathing was heavy. She desperately sucked in air as she kept her eyes of the worm making its way towards them. Its teeth filled maw tore through the grassy foothills like a hot knife through butter. She watched in horror as the hills disintegrated from the worm’s touch.

Looking at her friends, she saw they were struggling to stand. Feeling a pulse shoot through her body, she growled out a hiss and closed her eyes. Reopening them, they glowed red for a split second. She felt the pain reside. Letting out a shallow breath she stood up. Feeling like she could take on the world she walked over to her friends. “COME ON! STAND UP!”

“I CAN’T!” Fluttershy cried.

“You have too!” Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.

Fluttershy felt a warm sensation wash over her. She shivered as the pain lowered to a more tolerable level. Slowly standing up, she looked at her friend and smiled. “I’ll help them!” She pointed her head at Twilight and Pinkie. Rainbow Dash nodded and ran over to Applejack and Rarity and tapped their shoulders with her hoof. Fluttershy did the same. The fillies shivered from the wave of warmth that swam through their bodies.

Looking at the monster that was now a hundred yards away. Twilight and her friends narrowed their eyes and ran with all their might. “Hurry! Before that thing gets us!”

“If they’re the past element bearers, why are they trying to kill us!” Pinkie huffed.

“Beats me!” Applejack growled at the worm.

“I think they’re testing us?” Twilight moaned as she saw the worm approaching with wild vigor.

“SOME TEST!” Rarity yelled with a whine in her tone of voice.

“We’re almost there!” Fluttershy yelled happily.

“Yes, we are…” A wave of heat slammed into them sending them to the ground hard. They laid on the ground, slowly gasping for air. The sounds of the worm tearing up the foothills in the distance echoed in their ears, causing shivers of fear. Twilight slowly forced herself to her hooves, but the weight of her pain was too much for her to bare. Crying, she fell into a fetal position.

“I don’t want to die!” Pinkie cried.

“MOMMY! DADDY!” Fluttershy sobbed.

Looking at her friends with panicked eyes, Rarity huffed and activated her horn. Blue aura washed over her friends. Feeling her magic, Twilight knew it wasn’t strong enough. ‘I can do this…’ She took a deep breath and activated her own horn. Lavender aura mixed with blue, but soon their magic’s natural color faded and morphed into white and purple.

Feeling a soft warm sensation on her chest, Twilight looked down and saw it was glowing white. With wide eyes she looked at Rarity and saw her chest was glowing purple. “Woah?” She spoke softly.

Seeing their glowing chest, Rainbow Dash swallowed her fears and channeled her thoughts and remembered the warm feeling she felt just seconds ago. ‘If it is the elements, help me…’ Her chest began to glow red and the pain she felt slowly faded away.

Pinkie, Applejack and Fluttershy looked on at the trio then looked at each other. “I guess it is true…” Applejack looked on with wide eyes.

“You’re just now accepting it?” Pinkie questioned.

“No… I just wanted to believe I was just having a bad nightmare.” Applejack sighed.

“Well, it’s real…” Twilight saw the crystal worm approaching. “Channel them! We need to get to the tree!”

Pinkie, Applejack and Fluttershy sighed as they closed their eyes. Slowly one by one, their chests glowed the colors of their elements. Blue for Pinkie. Yellow for Applejack. Green for Fluttershy. Feeling their pain fading, they all looked at each other and smiled as they ran for the tree.

“NO!” The crystal worm shouted. Thousands of razor-sharp spiked tentacles popped out from its body. With a roar it flung them at the fillies. Seeing their impending doom, they coward and closed their eyes, expecting the worst.

The tree roared a beautiful melody. Its thin branches morphed into six girthy ones and covered the fillies just in time as the tentacles slammed against them with a loud crack. The worm growled as it slithered around the tree. The tree let out a soft melody as its branches opened up. A warm sensation, similar to honey pouring out of a bottle washed over the fillies. Their eyes opened glowing the colors of their elements.

Levitating off the ground, the fillies hovered around the tree and glared at the crystal worm.

“EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE MUCH TO LEARN… I PUT MY FAITH IN THEM…” The tree spoke.

“THEIR TEST WAS A WAIST! THEY HAVE FAILED!” The worm growled, its tentacles flailing madly.

“I ONLY NEEDED A SMALL SAMPLE OF THEIR HARMONY THAT FOLLOWS THROUGH THEIR HEARTS!”

“YOU ARE NAÏVE! THEY MUST CONSUME THE DARK EMBRACE OF TRUTH!”

“YOU’LL NOT TAINT THEIR YOUNG MINDS!” The tree shimmered in and out of reality.

“THE SAME GOES FOR YOU!” The mass lunged at them. Its roar shook the void to its core.

The tree channeled its magic through the fillies. “SPEAK AS ONE MY CHILDREN!”

The fillies glared at the monster. “WE ARE THE BEARERS OF THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY!” The elements appeared on their chests. “AND WE WILL NOT FAIL!” Beams of hot white light erupted from their chests. The beams converged and mixed with one another as they rocketed towards the worm. It slammed into the beast. The heat burned through its darkness. It screamed out in pain as the beams ripped through it. With one final burst of energy, it died.

Twilight opened her eyes. They’re heavy and caked with discharge. “Mmm?” She heard the beepings of a heart monitors. With a pained groan she tried lifting her head up, but her body refused to do so. With a sigh, she rubbed her eyes so she could look at the ceiling in detail. For some reason, tears swelled around her eyes. ‘Was it… a dream?’ She blushed. ‘Did I hurt myself because of the dream?’ She looked at the IV bag to her left.

“You’re awake.” Twilight felt her spine tingle. She looked at the foot of her bed and saw Terren sitting by the entrance to the room. “How are you feeling?” He walked up to her bedside.

“Uh… I…” The presence of her prince was intimidating. She had never been this close to any of the royals in all her young life.

Terren laughed. “It's alright little one.” He smirked. “You took a beating.” He pointed at her chest.

Curious and confused, Twilight forced herself to lift her head once again, just enough to look at her chest. She jumped as her body shivered from the white crystal sticking out of it. “AH!... mmm!” Terren put his hoof to her lips.

“Quiet child!” Terren said in a low tone as he patting her head. “I don’t need the future bearer of the ‘Element of Magic’ to hurt herself even further.”

“E-Element! Ma-Magic!” Again, Terren covered Twilight’s mouth.

“Yes, little one.” He points at the others. “You and the other five have been chosen to be the bearers of the Elements of Harmony.”

Twilight looked at the other fillies laying in their own medical beds. Her eyes went wide. She knew these ponies. She’s seen them in her… dream? She studied their chests and saw their elements were pulsating like hers. Instinctively, she placed a hoof to her chest. ‘It wasn’t a dream… It really was the elements…’

“Don’t worry, they stopped growing hours ago.” Terren chuckled as he stepped away from her bed.

“Prince?!” Twilight asked.

“Yes?” Terren looked back.

Twilight cowered a bit. His fiery-orange eyes scared her. She felt like their ripping her heart out. “Where are m-my parents?”

Terren sighed. “You’ll see them soon. Just rest, continue to bond to your element.” Twilight tried to counter him, but she closed her mouth and laid her head back down on her pillow from the look he gave. “That’s what I thought!” Terren huffed. “Now sleep Twilight Sparkle, starting tomorrow, your life and the others start anew.”

CHAPTER 3 - We Train to Fight. We Train to Talk.

View Online

-6 Years Later-

“ERAH!” Twilight threw a ball of white plasma with her hoof at a floating stone ball. Her attack missed, slamming into the concrete barrier of the forty-foot diameter inground arena. Glaring at the burn scar her attack left, she activated her element once again and tracked the stone ball. Her chest warmed as her element glowed bright white. Pulling aura from her element, she gathered it around her hooves once more. Forming another ball of hot plasm, she glared at her target. “ERAH!”

Her attack slammed into the stone ball, shattering it into a million pieces that skipped across the soft tan soil of the arena.

“Nicely done!” Terren praised from the edge of the arena as he looked down at Twilight and her fellow element bearers. He picked up another stone ball with his magic. “Alright, we have two more who need to step up to the plate… Fluttershy, you’re next!” He enchanted the stone. It flew down into the arena and began to float about randomly.

“Come on Fluttershy! You can do this!” Rainbow Dash and Pinkie cheered. Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight smiled, clapping their hooves.

Fluttershy stepped up to the plate. Her eyes followed the stone’s movements. With a nervous sigh, she talked with her element. The green glow of her element brightened as she called upon its magic. Focusing on her target, she squinted her eyes, her lips flattened as she manipulated her magic. “ERR!” She squeaked. The beam shooting from her chest was thin – about an inch in circumference. The beam skimmed the stone causing it to spin out of control, crashing into the wall.

Fluttershy smiled and looked up at her prince. She cowered however, when she saw his dull expression. “Why the long face, Fluttershy?” Terren asked, not looking up from his notepad. Fluttershy felt her voice was stuck in her throat. “Speak!”

“You seem disappointed your highness…” She mumbled.

Terren looked at the timid teen-filly. “You hit the stone ball, did you not?” Fluttershy nodded. “Then you did what I asked?” Terren gave her a soft smile. Fluttershy nodded, returning the smile with a smile of her own. “Then why would I be disappointed?”

Fluttershy bowed. “Thank you, your highness.”

Terren nodded. “Pinkie, you’re next.”

Stepping off the plate, Fluttershy hoof-bumped Pinkie before taking her place next to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. She tried to smile, but she still felt like she failed her prince. Her friends gave her smiles, trying to improve her mood. Fluttershy acknowledged their kind gestures and returned them with a small smirk.

Ignoring her nervousness with a shake and a shiver, Pinkie stood on the plate and watched her stone ball fly into the arena. It bounced around in a haphazard pattern. With a smirk, Pinkie charged her element. A mass of blue aura pulsated over her chest. Locking onto her target, she released her magic. Small oval shaped balls of hot blue plasma rapidly spewed from her chest. A couple of her shots missed, but others hit, forcing the stone ball to the ground. Pinning it, she unleashed the rest of her charge, finishing off the stone ball.

“Interesting? Changing it up, are we?” Terren looked at Pinkie with a raised brow.

Pinkie bowed. “Yes, your highness.”

Terren let out a chuckle as he looked at the large clock tower behind him. Seeing the time read eleven-twelve a.m., he stood up and stretched his back. “Alright bearers off to your chambers.” He stretched his neck, his wings twitched from the soreness he felt. “Take showers and make yourself presentable. You have court duty with Celestia at two today, so make lunch quick.”

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie grumbled at the news. Applejack and Rarity giggled at their reaction. Twilight and Fluttershy just rolled their eyes.

“Rainbow Dash! Pinkie!” Terren growled.

The element bearers cowered at his tone.

“Yes?” Rainbow Dash and Pinkie mumbled.

Terren lightened his tone. “Element bearers must be just as skilled with words as they are with a weapon!” He gave them a smirk. “Is that understood?

“Yes, Prince.” They bowed – speaking in unison.

“That’s what I want to hear.” Terren chuckled as he stepped away from the arena. “Don’t be late!” He shouted as he made his way to the east-wing of the castle.

With their prince gone the element bearers gave tired sighs.

“Oh, man, I’m starving!” Pinkie moaned as she rubbed her stomach.

“We did have a long morning of training.” Rainbow Dash fluttered her wings as she stretched her neck. “Five hours or so…”

“I could take a nap!” Applejack yawned.

“Let’s get going fillies.” Twilight looked at her friends as they headed up the steps of the inground arena. “If we want to enjoy lunch let’s make our showers quick.” Her friends nodded and followed her to their chambers.

Exiting the arena, they made their way to the west-wing of the castle toward a circular-shaped two-story building. The building’s foundation was made from tan colored concrete. Its walls were made of white limestone. Its pillars supporting the red-shingle laden roof, were cream hued marble. The face of the building was adorned with eight-feet tall windows spanning the full length of front of the building and it’s two floors. In-between each of the windows hung six banners with the patterns of their elements embroidered on them.

Seeing the approaching element bearers, the guards standing watch by the building’s entrance opened the doors for them. “Hello, mighty bearers.” The guards bowed.

Twilight and her friends bowed in return. “You know you don’t have to be so formal.” Twilight stated, wary of their formality.

“Oh, Twilight, they’re just doing their job.” Rarity smiled at the guards. The guards blushed at her sly expression.

“Okay, Rarity!” Applejack groans, dragging her into their home. “You’re too young for them!”

“What?! I can’t tease them?” Rarity sighed. “You’re no fun!” She huffed in mock sadness. Pinkie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy giggled at her fake plight.

Applejack and Twilight rolled their eyes. “Oh, brother…” Twilight groaned.

The guards tried their best to hide their flustered faces as they shut the doors.

Alone within the large grand hall, the teen-fillies settled down and let out soft sighs. Looking at the grand staircase leading up to the second story, Twilight ran a hoof through her mane. “Let’s get to it.” She headed up the stairs.

“Don’t take your time, Rarity!” Applejack teased.

“Applejack!” Rarity groaned, “I will show you I can take quick showers!” She got to the top of the stairs and galloped to her room. Applejack took off for her room as well. Rainbow Dash and Twilight laughed at the two as they walked at a gentle pace to their rooms.

Pinkie’s element glowed. “Mmm?” Pinkie snickered from the warm feeling on her chest.

“What’s so funny?” Fluttershy wondered. “What did your element say?” She walked alongside Pinkie as they headed to their rooms.

“Oh…” Pinkie leaned closer to Fluttershy and whispered in her ear. “It said that Applejack and Rarity act like a married couple.” She snickered. Fluttershy held a hoof to her lips as she joined Pinkie in her laughter.

Rarity hummed a tune as she scrubbed her mane. Her hooves scratching her scalp as she worked the shampoo into her mane. Delighted by the warm water washing over her back, she gave a satisfied sigh as she stuck her head under the showerhead. Her element glowed, warming her chest. “Oh yes… Showers are quite lovely.”

Her element sang a buzz.

“I’m not taking a long shower, dear…” She removed her head from the shower and moved some of her wet mane from her eyes. Glancing down at her chest with one eye open – She eyed the pattern of her element. Its shape was a diamond. Squinting her eyes from its bright purple glow, Rarity looked away and grabbed a loofah and worked a glob of fur-shampoo into it. “I have to prove Applejack wrong!” She huffed, groaning out her sigh.

Her element murmured.

“I’m not upset…” She mumbled.

Her element vibrated as it blinked.

“I… I guess I am…” She looked at her element once again. “I have been a little down in the dumps for the past week or so…”

Her element let out a little moan.

Rarity stared at her element, watching the soapy water run across its surface. Looking up at the bronze shower head, she eyed the water droplets spewing from its array of holes. Hearing the muffled groans of the emptying water heater tank behind the wall, she shut off the water and shook her head twice. Sliding the curtain to her shower open, she grabbed a towel with her magic and dried herself off.

Again, her element moaned. Its glow warming, her chest.

Running the towel down her face, she huffed, biting it as she stared at herself in her bathroom mirror. “I’m missing my family…”

Her element hummed in a questioning tone.

“Yes… It’s been a long five years…” Rarity saw tears forming around her eyes.

Her element blinked.

“You’re missing them too?” Rarity wiped her eyes.

Her element hummed – blinking for each hum it sang.

Rarity touched her element. She let out a long sigh. “Maybe we can ask the royals if we can see them again?” She smiled. The thought of seeing her parents and her baby sister, warmed her heart. She felt her chest getting tight as the hope of visiting them overwhelmed her emotions. With a heavy breath, she finished drying herself off.

Rainbow Dash sat at her sink mindlessly brushing her teeth. Her eyes stared back as she looks in the mirror. They’re judging her tired joyless expression. Seeing her element glow, she took her toothbrush out of her mouth and looked at its thunderbolt shape pulsing a soft red glow. “What?” She asked mindlessly.

Her element groaned.

“No, I’m not looking forward to the court hearings,” She brushed some more. “Are you?”

Her element gave a low hum.

“Thought so…” Rainbow Dash spat out the toothpaste into the sink. Washing her mouth out she stepped away from the sink with a groan. Stepping into her room she made it up to her makeup table. “Uh?” Seeing an object in her peripheral vision, she looked out the window and saw several Wonderbolts flying across the sky by the white cliffs of Canterlot.

Her element buzzed.

She frowned at the distant pegasi as they faded behind some clouds. “No, I’m not mad that I’m not a Wonderbolt…” She sat down, her eyes staring at the clouds passing by. “Or ever going to be one.” She rubbed her element. “I’m very honored you chose me to be your bearer.”

Her element glowed and hummed.

“Nothing’s bothering me.” Rainbow Dash huffed as she blew her bangs away from her face.

Her element warmed up as it groaned in return.

“Ow!...” Rainbow Dash snapped at the heat forming on her chest. “Fine!” She felt her chest get tight as tears began to form around her eyes. “I’m missing home…” Her wings went limp. Her ears folded back. “I miss my parents…” She blinked, forcing tears to roll down her cheeks.

Her element hummed, gently warming her.

She let out a huff. “Don’t tell the others about this.” She smirked half-heartily.

Her element rolled its imaginary eyes.

Applejack sat at her makeup table staring sadly at herself as she slowly braided her mane into pigtails. Seeing her element flicker, she halted her task and turned her attention to it. Her element’s shape was similar to a red apple that conformed with her chest’s curvature. “I’m alright sugar cube.” She told it, returning to her task.

Her element shocked her a little.

“Ow!” Applejack frowned. “What was that for?”

Her element blinked and vibrated.

“Err!...” Applejack moaned. “I know I’m a terrible liar!” She placed her hooves on her makeup table. She stared at herself and saw the sadness bubbling up – breaking the damn. “I’m afraid…’

Her element hummed in confusion.

“I… I miss mah family!” She cried. “I only saw mah baby sis once!” She fought back a sob. “It’s been five years since I’ve seen them!”

Here element comforted her.

“Well…” She looked at her element, her eyes full of tears. “I’m afraid to asks the royals if I can see them again!”

Her element warmed her.

Applejack felt her worries fade. “I know Luna would say yes…” She laid her head on her table. “But I’m not sure about Terren or Celestia…” Her element hummed as it continued to comfort her, quelling her emotional teenage mind.

Pinkie laid on her bed. Her straight magenta mane was sprawled across her bed. Her lips quivered as she watched her ceiling’s fan blades spin slowly, mixing the dense air lingering in her room.

Her element glowed blue, humming a soft tune.

Pinkie groaned as she looked at her element and its round shape poking out slight from her chest. “I miss my parents…” Rolling over, she laid on her stomach – her limbs sprawled out and her head hanging off the bed’s edge. “I miss making rock-candy necklaces with my sister Maud! I miss Limestone and her grumpy no-nonsense attitude! I miss the long night conversations Marble and I use to have…” She sobbed, looking at the fibers of her carpeted floor.

Her element warmed her.

Pinkie felt the warmth and bit her lip. “Why did you pick me?” She asked as she rolled over and looked at her element and watched it shimmering in the light radiating off her ceiling lamp.

Her element hummed softly.

“I don’t feel joyful at this moment.” She grumbled.

Her element buzzed a melody.

Pinkie smiled. “Silly me…” She laughed at herself. “Why didn’t I think of that!” She groaned rolling over again, stuffing her face into her pillows. Her long magenta mane laying haphazardly over her and pillows. “Stupid me! I should just ask the Royals!” She groaned into her pillows.

Fluttershy rested her arms on the window-seal as she gazed out the window watching clouds float on by. Her ears twitched as she listened to the birds sing their sweet melodies. Seeing a pair of birds approaching her, her heart skipped a beat. They flew up to a birdseed dispenser hanging beside her window. “Hello little birds.” She cooed, holding out her right hoof. The bird closest to her tweeted and hopped up closer to her. Fluttershy smiled as she rubbed the bird’s cheeks, her eyes widening as the bird hummed and sang in delight.

She could feel her element’s warm glow. She felt its magic coming from her chest, through her arm and up to her hoof. Green aura oozed out from her hoof and formed into the shape of a soft round nub. The bird shivered, its eyes nervously staring at the pulsating mass of magic. “It’s okay, it won’t hurt you.” Fluttershy mumbled, scared that it would fly away.

Her element hummed softly as it pat the bird’s head.

The bird ruffled its feathers in delight. But it doesn’t last as a small spark of electricity shocked it. Its feathers fluffed out, making it look fat. Small bits of smoke wafted off its body, its black beady eyes stared off into space. “Oh…” Fluttershy put her hooves to her lips. “I’m so sorry Mr. bird.” Her element glowed sadly. The bird chirped and flew away in a drunken manner. Its fellow bird looked at its friend with concern. Fluttershy blushed and hid behind the wall. “Oh… I need to control my magic better!”

Her element grumbled.

“You picked me!” Fluttershy looked down at her element. Its heart-wing shaped design shimmered in the light of her ceiling lamp. “I suck at this!”

Her element hummed sadly.

“Nothing’s bothering me!”

Her element kept warming. She groaned as she felt the vibrations under her skin.

“Oh…” Fluttershy moaned, giving into her element. “I’m sorry, I’m not angry at you… I’m, I’m…” Tears swelled around her eyes. “I’m scared about my future… I miss my parents! My brother!” She sobbed. “I don’t know if I can do this!”

Her element hummed sadly.

“I don’t know if I can be an element bearer… A warrior!?” Her element glowed, sending its magic to her heart and mind, calming her woes. She placed her hooves on her element. Her wings twitched as she let out a sobbing sigh. “Oh… I hope I can see them again…”

Twilight sat at her makeup table residing in the corner of her room. She stared at her element through the mirror eyeing its ten-pointed star shape as she grappled for control over her mane’s appearance. Returning her attention back to her task, she checked her work, making sure her bangs were styled just right. Liking what she saw, she set down her brush and eyed her element once again. A shallow breath slipped past her lips as she placed a hoof on it. It felt warm. It always did.

Her element blinked from her touch.

A frown came to her lips. “What?”

Her element blinked twice.

“I’m not sad.” She sighed. Slipping off her makeup chair, walking to her walk-in closet.

Her element hissed.

“I guess I’m a little worried…” Twilight stopped in her tracks and looked down at her chest. She could feel its hissing throughout her whole body. “I’m just worried about my friends.” She looked at a picture of her and her fellow element bearers. The photo was of when they first arrived at the castle. “For the past few weeks, they haven’t been acting themselves lately.” She looked down at her hooves.

Her element grumbled.

“Yes… I haven’t been either…” She groaned, stepping into her closet and walking up to her jewelry chest. Opening it, she rummaged through a large number of necklaces with a fine-tooth comb.

Her element grumbled some more.

Twilight sighed, stopping her task. “I miss my family…” She looked at a ruby necklace with tears in her eyes.

Her element blinked.

“I guess we’re all missing our families.” Twilight picked up the necklace with her magic and studied it. The glow of her aura around her horn filled the closet in a warm purple glow.

Her element warmed her chest.

She smiled and she put on the item. “I guess it’s time we see them!” She looked at her element, but her smile left as soon as it came. “Even though it’s against the rules…” Her ears folded back.

Her element sighed sadly.

Looking at the clock above the doorway to her room, Twilight sighed and walked out of her closet. “Time for lunch…” Stepping out of her room, she saw her fellow element bearers exiting their rooms as well. “Hello, fillies.” She forced a smile as she noticed their solemn expressions.

“Hey, Twilight.” Pinkie smiled half-heartedly.

“You fillies feeling the same thing?” She asked walking up to her friends who gathered at the top of the stairs.

“I sure am…” Applejack groaned. “I’m mightily missing mah family.” She rubbed the back of her neck.

Rarity let out a sigh. “I know we can’t see our parents, but just this once I would like to break the rules…” She ran her hoof through her mane.

“What a stupid rule!” Rainbow Dash grunted. “We have to wait until we’re adults to see our family and friends!” She ran her hooves over her cheeks. “We’re going to have no childhood! For crying out loud!”

Twilight frowned slightly. “I agree with you Dash, but the rules have been established for hundreds of years!” She rubbed the base of her horn. “Besides, the elements have never chosen children before, and I highly doubt the Royals would’ve changed tradition just for us!”

“Well, they should’ve!” Rainbow Dash huffed. “I mean past element bearers didn’t have to wait this long!” She sat down and crossed her arms. “They only had to wait four years! But us, we have to wait until we’re adults!”

“They’re just making sure we adjust to our new lives.” Pinkie smiled, trying to brighten the mood. “It’s like Twilight said, the elements have never chosen children until now.”

Rainbow Dash grumbled, staring at her tail wag about from her frustration. Her friends sighed and looked at each other’s elements fused to their chests with glossy tired eyes.

Their elements not liking their moods, glowed bright and hot, sending a shock that coursed through their bodies, jerking them awake. Shivering from the lingering static, they looked down at their respective elements with mixed emotions. Letting out long sighs, they looked at each other once again. “Let’s just get through the court hearings.” Pinkie huffed.

“And then after, we could ask the royals to let us see our families!” Fluttershy mentioned. Her friends looked at her with raised brows, surprised by her tone of voice. Stunned herself, Fluttershy blushed and hid behind her mane. “Well, I mean… If you want too…”

Twilight and the others smiled. “Of course, well will.” Twilight smiled.

“I’m so hungry!” Pinkie moaned through a mouthful of cranberry salad smothered in blue-cheese vinegar dressing.

“Pinkie, please! Chew with your mouth closed!” Rarity huffed at her friend’s lack of table manners.

“What?” Pinkie swallowed her bite. “Terren trained us hard this morning! I worked up a massive apatite!” She giggled taking another bite.

Twilight rolled her eyes at her friends’ discussion. Taking a bite of her corn, she watched her fellow element bearers eat their meals in relative silence. Swallowing her bite, she turned her attention to the door to their private dining room and eyed the castle’s grand dining hall. It is in full swing as she watched dining staff running to n’ fro, serving government officials, guards, generals and dignitaries from the ten territories of the Equestrian Empire.

“Watch’a looking at Twilight?” Applejack asked.

Twilight looked at the earth pony. “Just some generals sitting over there.” She nodded her head at the ponies in question.

Applejack looked at the generals through the archway. “It still feels kind of strange that we have a room all too ourselves.” She studied the grandness of the room’s décor. Rich-crimson sheer-curtains with gold tassels hung from the two windows that sat to her left – allowing the light of the afternoon sun to fill the room, illuminating the birch walls and mahogany flooring. An iron-chandelier dangled above the round oak table they sat around. The chandelier’s ivory candles flickered and danced with the ambient air lingering in the room.

Oil-paintings of the first element bearers hung on the walls. If one would to enter the room, they would see the paintings of Axiom, Kepler and Knight Wing on their right and the paintings of Clover, Copper and Gum Drops to their left.

Rainbow Dash looked at the painting of Axiom, eying the pattern the element of Loyalty formed when it had bonded to him. Smiling at its ring shape – with lightning bolts shooting out the sides, she hummed a tune looked at hers. It wasn’t as impressive as his… Feeling her chest warm she sighed and looked back at his painting, studying his stoic features. ‘I hope I’m as great as him?’ She pondered.

Her element hummed.

Rainbow Dash looked down at her element and smirked. ‘Thanks.’

“Yes, thanks.” A masculine voice chuckled.

The element bearers’ ears stood erect as they looked for the source of the voice. “Discord! Show yourself!” Twilight huffed.

“Aw… You’re no fun.” Discord materialized beside Rainbow Dash. “You’re just like Celestia, grumpy!” He floated above the table, swinging the chandelier with his hoof.

“You’re the god of chaos.” Twilight looked up at the god with a frown.

“And you’re the muffin queen.” Discord mocked. Pinkie snickered at his joke. Even Rainbow Dash could hold back her laughter as she let a chuckle slip past her lips. “Ah, at least they understand me!”

“Why are you here?” Rarity wondered.

“Oh, just checking up on you, element bearers.” He looked at them sternly, studying their facial expressions. “Why are all of you down in the dumps?” He groaned floating in front of Pinkie, looking directly into her blue eyes. “I haven’t done anything to you today to warrant such behavior!” He stroked his lengthy soul patch.

“We’ve been missing our families.” Pinkie stated, staring into the god’s yellow eyes.

“Missing your families?!” Discord raised his brow. “Really? That’s it?” He rolled over on his back and frowned. “Your hearts are not broken up from an evil monster destroying a town?! From bank robbers stealing all the gold in Manehattan?! No romantic break ups?!”

“Discord please, it’s a no to all those things… And besides you know we can’t date.” Twilight groaned staring at him with a dull expression.

Discord stared back. His body rotated but his head stayed put. “I know...” He huffed. Twilight stared at him with mortified eyes at his display of defying anatomy limitations. But who was she to question a god’s abilities.

“Its true Discord, we’ve been missing our families, a lot.” Applejack chimed in.

Discord looked at her and gave a huff. He floated on over to Fluttershy and Rarity and got in-between them. Manifesting a small pink cloud and a glass cup he smiled at the group. “Who wants some of my signature cotton candy chocolate milk?” He squeezed the cloud with his front hooves, forcing it to release its chocolaty contents into the glass cup.

“Ooh! I do!” Pinkie cheered, raising her front hooves in the air.

The others nodded as they looked at the glass, licking their lips. With a laugh, Discord manifested more clouds with a clap of his hooves. The clouds unloaded their chocolate milk into their glass-cups before twisting themselves around a stick. Each filly grabbed the cotton candy clouds and began consuming their treats. “So?” Discord put his hooves on his hips.

“Good as always!” Pinkie hummed.

“Very yummy.” Fluttershy nodded.

Twilight looked at the god and gave him a smile. “Thanks…”

Discord smiled. “I knew I could get a smile out of you.” Looking at the clock over the door, he chuckled. “You fillies better hurry. You have court duty in five!” He laughed before vanishing into a cloud of white mist. Twilight and her friends looked at the clock and gave defeated sighs.

-Canterlot Royal Courthouse-

Celestia sat in a judge’s chair made of cherry-oak wood and soft velvet fabric for its seat and back. From her perch she sat ten feet above the court’s marble laden floor. Below her on the second rung of benches were two Major judges – one a unicorn mare in her late thirties and an earth pony stallion in his late seventies. Below them were ten minor judges representing the ten territories of the Equestrian Empire.

Hearing the muffled voices of eager ponies looking to plead their cases – large and small, Celestia sighed and looked at the last row of seats that were in front of the ten-minor judges’ seats. Six empty benches graced her vision. Looking to her left she eyed a set of double oak doors and the two royal guards standing watch beside them, looking like emotionless statues.

The doors swung open.

Celestia smiled as she saw Twilight and her friends entered. Her smile fades however when she notices their solemn expressions. “You alright little ones?”

Twilight and her friends looked up at their princess and bowed. “Yes… Your highness.” Twilight spoke for her friends. They took their seats and eyed the large mahogany doors before them at the opposite end of the courtroom.

Celestia frowned at the response. Twilight’s tone and their demeanor told her otherwise. ‘I’m going to have a talk with them afterwards.’ Taking a breath, she looked at the guards by the main entrance to the courtroom. “Guards, let the first case enter!”

The guards bowed and opened the doors.

A stallion and mare entered the courtroom and bowed. “My princess, my name is Fancy Paints and this is my wife, Fleur de Lis. We are here to ask if you or one of your siblings can be one of the speakers for our fundraiser in Vanhaven?”

Celestia smiled. “And what is this fundraiser for?”

“For the orphanage ‘Hope and Hearts’.” Fleur de Lis stated with a hum.

Celestia pondered. “I can see if Luna could do it. She’s not that busy.” She smiled, “Yes I’ll look into your request.”

“Thank you.” Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis bowed.

As they left a tall regal unicorn colt in his late teens walked into the courtroom and up to the bench. “Blue Blood, what are you doing here?” Celestia wondered.

“Auntie!” Blue Blood bowed. “I come to request funds…” He eyed the element bearers. Applejack caught his eye. Feeling his gaze, Applejack blushed and looked elsewhere, biting her lower lip. Her friends giggled at her embarrassment.

“Blue Blood?” Celestia huffed, giving her nephew a smirk.

His cheeks blushed. “Um, yes… I request funds for a project.” Blue Blood smiled. “I want to build a golf course in the Red Poppy Hills.”

Celestia raised a brow. “And why do you wish to build a golf course?”

Blue Blood swallowed a lump in his throat. “My friends and I want to add another course to the Equestrian Golf Club.” He gave his aunt a smile. “I have the plans ready to go, but we’re short… On the money side of things.”

“By how much?” Celestia leaned back in her seat.

“Four-thousand bits…” Blue Blood gave a sheepish smile.

Celestia gave a long sigh and looked at her nephew. “Do your parents know of your startup?” Blue Blood nodded. “Have they helped you?” He nodded again. Celestia scratched her chin. ‘I need to have a word with his father…’ She thought of her older brother Oceanitius. Shaking her head, she looked at her nephew. “Then… I will give you half.” She saw the glow fade from his face. Before he could protest, she raised a hoof. “You need to ask your uncle for the rest. As you know he loves golf and would gladly help.” She gave her nephew a sly smirk.

The judges maintained their expressionless posture. The element bearers however snickered and giggled at her tone of voice.

Blue Blood blushed from the fillies’ laughter. He looked at Applejack once more and swallowed a lump in his throat. “Thank you, auntie…” He began to turn around but stopped to look back at Celestia. “Where would uncle be at this time of day?”

“Oh, talking with the captains of the royal guard.” She hummed.

Blue Blood’s ears folded back and his facial expression went pale. “Oh…” He moaned as he left the courtroom.

Hearing about the royal guard caused Twilight to frown as painful emotions worked their way to surface. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and thought about her brother. He had joined the military, because of her. They always had a competitive nature between themselves. ‘I bet can be a better soldier than you.’ She smiled as she remembered the letter he’d sent before joining.

Her friends watched her emotions trying to manifest themselves. They looked at one another and let out their own defeated sighs. Looking at the clock they read the time. “An hour and a half more!” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“We just started…” Fluttershy sighed.

“We’re asking the princess once we're done!” Applejack huffed with a whisper.

“We need to see our families!” Rarity added softly.

“I think I’m going to go loopy-doopy if I can’t…” Pinkie moaned.

“We’ll get through these remaining hours…” Twilight sighed. “Just take deep breaths fillies.”

Celestia could hear their woes. They’re faint, but she could clearly make out their frustrations. Her smile faded. ‘I knew they wouldn’t last without seeing their families…’ She looked at the doors and watched another pony enter. ‘Brother would never agree to such a thing though…’ The pony’s voice was muffled as her thoughts were elsewhere. ‘I hope he does… For their sake.’

The element bearers groaned as they rubbed their tired eyes. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash felt like they’re dying. Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity managed to keep a professional appearance, but they’re quickly fading. Celestia and the rest of the judges sat at full attention, making the whole ordeal look easy. Way too easy.

“Your highness!” A guard came running in. She stopped and took a deep breath. “A special guest has arrived to see you!” She bowed, gasping for air.

The court heightened their attention. “Who is it soldier?” Celestia asked.

“Ivory Gorge of… AH!” The guard yelled as she’s pushed aside from a seven-foot-tall dragon bursting into the room.

“CELESTIA!” Ivory Gorge shouted. His silvery-white scales shimmered in the court’s soft white light. “It’s been a while!” He laughed. “Sorry I waited so long to see you.”

Celestia smiled. “Ivory!” She hummed a tune. “Long time no see.” She stood up from her seat and flew up to the dragon giving him a hug. “How’s the family?”

“All is well!” Ivory Gorge laughed as he stepped up to the bench and looked down at the element bearers. “So, these are the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony?” He studied them, his long under-teeth sticking out as he grinned at them. His rich blue eyes piercing their souls.

The element bearers cowered a bit, but quickly regained their resolve and stood their ground, studying him right back. “Hello!” Pinkie cheered. “Mah name is Pinkie Pie, and these are my friends, Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash!” She giggled as her long-straight mane covered the right side of her face.

He laughed. “Nice to meet you all!”

“How do you know the princess?” Rarity pondered.

“We go a really, really long way back!” He slyly eyed the princess.

Celestia blushed. “Ivory, how rude to assume my age…” She giggled, rolling her eyes as she sat back in her judge’s seat. The element bearers have a hard time controlling their laughter. Even the stout judges let some snickering and giggling past their lips.

“Oh, that never gets old.” Ivory Gorge wiped his eyes.

“Why are you here?” Celestia gave him a playful frown. “I know it’s not to tease me!” She laughed.

“You got me!” Ivory Gorge held up his claws. “I came here to introduce you to my youngest son, Spike!” He stated pridefully. His tale moved, pushing someone out from their hiding spot. The court eyed a small, dragon with purple-colored scales. He’s short for a dragon his age. He looked up at them with his large green eyes.

Celestia smiled. “How old is he?”

“He’s seven.” Ivory Gorge stated, patting his son’s head.

Celestia gave a knowing hum. “Let me guess, you want the element bearers to teach him?”

“Wow, how did you know?” Ivory Gorge laughed. “Yes, I do, just like the last element bearers did, with my eldest daughter.”

Celestia looked down at the element bearers, studying their reactions. “Fillies?” They looked up, giving her nods of approval. Fluttershy and Pinkie were nearly shaking their heads off their bodies. With a pleased sigh, she looked at her friend. “Of course, they can, they seem interested enough.” She looked at Spike. “Do you have a love for books little one?”

Spike nodded. “Yes, your highness.”

Celestia smiled. “Twilight’s going to love you.”

Twilight blushed as she hid behind the oak barrier of the bench. Spike blushed at Celestia’s comment and eyed Twilight. He saw her rich-purple eyes peaking behind the wall, staring at him. His blushing increased forcing him to look away stare at his feet.

Ivory Gorge chuckled as he bent down. “Son?” Spike turned his attention to his father. “Remember what I told you. You behave yourself, be an open book and absorb all that is taught to you.” He laid his claws on his son’s shoulders. “I’ll be back to pick you up in eight years. So, be a big dragon you hear?” Spike nodded, though his eyes began to water. “Now son, no crying.” Hearing the bells ringing their song, Ivory Gorge stood up. “Looks like the court is adjourned.” He stretched his back. “Well I’m off. I must attended to my kingdom.”

Celestia stood from her seat. “You must come and visit more often, you, big goof.” She gave him a sly smirk.

Ivory Gorge nodded. “Yes, I should. I’m so, sorry my dear Celestia…” He returned her gesture before looking down at his son. “See you soon.” He left the courtroom. “Love you son!”

Watching the doors close as his father left, Spike let out a long sigh and looked at his new mentors. “What do I do now?”

“I know! We can go get some ice-cream and then show you to your new room!” Pinkie cheered.

“Not so fast!” Celestia shouted. The element bearers, Spike and even the judges shivered from her tone. “Judges you may leave. As for the bearers, we must have a talk.”

“A talk?” Fluttershy murmured.

“Talk about what?” Twilight asked, her ears rest flat against her head.

“About your solemn, downtrodden moods,” Celestia stated dully.

The element bearers looked at one another and gave long nervous sighs.

The walk to Celestia’s chamber was long and uneventful. The element bearers walked in silence behind the royal. They kept their heads down, eyeing the white tiled floor they walked. To them at least, it felt like the walls on either side were closing in, ready to swallow them whole. Pinkie gulped as a shiver ran down her spine.

Spike walked alongside Celestia as he looked back at the element bearers, studying their worried expressions. He’s worried as well, from the tone of Celestia’s voice, she sounded displeased with them.

“Enter!” Celestia activated her horn, throwing open the doors to her chamber. The element bearers shivered as they stepped inside. “Spike, wait out here.” She smiled at the dragon, giving him a loving pat on the head. Spike nodded and sat on the floor, leaning his back against the wall.

With a sigh, Celestia shut the door. Turning around, Celestia studied the young element bearers. “What is bothering you, little ones?” She sat on the floor, her eyes softening their harsh gaze.

Twilight and her friends looked at one another. Nodding, Twilight gave their mentor a serious stare. “We’re missing our families, princess.”

Celestia closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. “I knew this day would come…” She groaned. “How come you waited so long to tell me?” She got closer to them. “I knew something was bothering you fillies. For the past week, you’ve been down in the dumps.”

They blushed. “I guess we need to work on our ‘poker faces’?” Pinkie laughed, giving her a sheepish grin.

Celestia shook her head, holding in her laughter. “Oh, you fillies make me laugh.”

They smiled. “So, is it a, yes?” Applejack hoped. Her and friends’ eyes went wide in anticipation.

Celestia’s smile faded. “I can’t give you a direct answer.”

“Why?” Fluttershy whined.

Celestia sighed. “I would gladly allow you to see your families. Even Luna would. But Terren, he would be the one to say no.”

“Why do we need his permission?” Rainbow Dash groaned as she gave the princess a frown.

Celestia returned the gesture. “Rainbow Dash!” She hissed. Rainbow Dash cowered. Even her friends find themselves, joining her, their heads hung low to the ground. “We are a triarchy if you’ve forgotten. All three of us must agree on a decision.”

Twilight swallowed a lump in her throat. “Could we ask him?”

“We’re going to have to,” Celestia stated flatly. She activated her horn. An audible hum rang out, filling their ears. “Ah…I called my siblings to my chamber. They should be here shortly…”

Two consecutive flashes of light filled the room. Terren stood on Celestia’s right and Luna stood on her left.

“What is it, sister?” Luna asked.

“Yes, what is it?” Terren huffed. “I was busy making our nephew beg for his mommy…” He noticed the element bearers. “Why are they here?”

Celestia sighed. “The element bearers wish to see their families.”

“For how long?” Luna wondered.

“Yes, how long?” Terren frowned at the element bearers. They dared not look at their prince directly.

Celestia pondered their questions. They never told her a time frame. “Two weeks.” She smiled as she watched the element bearers faces light up with joy.

Terren huffed. “They want to go against tradition?”

“Terren, they’re teens!” Celestia groaned. “You know how much I value tradition, but this is the first time the elements have chosen children. We’re asking them to give up their childhoods!” She rubbed the base of her horn. “I believe it would be healthy for them to see their families while they're young. Who knows how they’ll cope in the real world if they’re not allowed to see their families until adulthood?” She gave her brother a hopeful, yet stern glare.

Terren growled, his eyes glaring at their elements, studying their pulsing glow. With a grizzly huff he closed his eyes. “Luna? What do you think?”

Luna smiled. “I agree with Tia.” She smirked at Twilight and her friends. “I think we can bend tradition, after all, this is a unique situation.”

Terren huffed as he opened his eyes. “Fine, but only after they go on a diplomatic mission!”

“Where to?” Celestia raised her brow.

“Wingbardy.” Terren kept his stern glare on the element bearers. “The prime minister called for a favor. He wants the element bearers to be a mediatory for the parliamentary session with the opposition.”

“Can they do this after their visit with their families?” Luna asked.

“No,” Terren frowned. “One last test before their ‘vacation’. If they can do this little diplomatic endeavor, then they can see their families.” Terren gave them a small smile. “Element bearers must be skilled with words just as efficiently as they are with a weapon.”

MLP Harmony Fallen

by DILLYbOd

CHAPTER 1 - New Element Bearers

CHAPTER 2 - Making New Friends in the Void

CHAPTER 3 - We Train to Fight. We Train to Talk.