Overthrown

by Lunarx

First published 3rd of April, 2013

When pegasus, unicorn and earth pony meet for the first time. For Equestria.

Equestria: a place where ponies can live happily and peacefully. However, when one pony rises into monarchy, it elicits responses that aren't all supportive. Some are envious. Some want nothing more than the new princess to be dead, just to teach Celestia that pegasi and earth ponies can do great things too.

Terrorism, something fairly uncommon in Equestria, has started. A war is about to begin. Ponies are dying. Equestria needs soldiers. This is their story.

Chapter 1: Meet the Teacher

Every sexual fantasy I had ever dreamed of was coming true. He had a thick, brown mane, a sexy accent and was bending me over, thrusting my plot into the air. He put a hoof on each of my flanks, leaned over and whispered into my ear, “Let’s just see how tight you can get.” He then shot his incredibly long penis into my orifice. I began to moan as pleasure swept over me. My inner walls were contracting onto his dick, covering him with my feminine juices. I backed up my marehood into his hips as he pulled my mane and pounded me harder.

“OHHHH! YES! MMMMMM! Do me harder!” I shouted. Without any hesitation, his pace had doubled, his testicles slamming into my clitoris. My hind legs were getting weak, but I kept on thrusting backwards into his pelvis as hard as I could. He let go of my mane and gave me a hard spank. I screamed in pleasure as I felt his penis throbbing inside me. We were both about to cum when I said, “Mmmmm baby, explode inside me.”

Suddenly, he stopped and pulled out of my vagina before either of us could finish. Completely out of breath and completely flustered, I looked him in the eye with a confused and exasperated look. He took that opportunity to place his mouth next to my face and whisper, “I’m sorry, but I just won’t do.” I tried pushing back gasps, but before I could ask what was going on, he continued. “I could have been the one for you. I could have been the perfect stallion that you were looking for. Only those students of yours thought I was ‘too splashy.’ I’m afraid I’ll have to leave.”

“What?! No! They didn’t mean it! Please stay with me!” I couldn’t think. My head was ringing. I could hear an actual alarm going on in my head. Wait… alarm? No! Not now!

I buried my face into my pillow and slammed my hoof down against my alarm clock. “Just another dream?” With a groan, I slothfully slithered my way out of bed. “At least he didn’t turn into Big Macintosh this time,” I said to myself walking towards my bathroom mirror. My mane was a mess, and my expression didn’t look any better. “Cheerilee, all you need is a slutty dress and a doctor’s appointment, but first, you gotta do what you do best. Time to teach some kids the magic of friendship!”

My sluggish look completely shifted into a giant grin.

OVERTHROWN

“…and that, kids, is why I’m never going back to Las Pegasus.” The bell rang as soon as those words escaped my lips, and the foals all grabbed their saddle bags, racing to get out the door. “Don’t forget show and tell tomorrow! I can’t wait to hear about your most memorable vacations!”

I began to sort homework assignments and pack up my own things as a cream-colored filly drudged towards me, her head hung low. “Hello there, Twist,” I said with a smile, which quickly faded as the filly refused to make eye contact.

“Mith Cheerilee…” she began, fighting back tears. “I don’t wanna come to thkool tomorrow.”

“What? Why not, Twist?” I leaned down to her level and put a hoof on her shoulder.

“I jutht don’t theem to be making any friendth. Everypony already hath thomepony to hang out with, but I’m alwayth all alone.”

The filly immediately burst into tears. It was a very difficult topic for her, I could tell, and she seemed to be very sensitive about bringing it up. I brought her close into a warm embrace, patting her back gently. “Shhh shh shh. It’s going to be alright, Twist.” The foal’s crying had momentarily calmed down. She looked up at me with those big round eyes, glasses tilted to one side. “You know that you always have somepony here who can’t wait to see you every day.”

“Really? Who?”

“Me, of course! I’ll always be here whenever you want somepony to talk to. Plus, tomorrow is show and tell day. Maybe that will be a fun new way to get to know the other students. I bet if you found some way to help Applebloom find her cutie mark, she’d never leave you alone.”

Her frown had suddenly erupted into a smiling ray of sunshine. “Thankth, Mith Cheerilee! I’ll be thure to bring thomething ekthtra thpeshul tomorrow!” As she walked out of the classroom, I looked down at my cutie mark and smiled to myself. She was one of the many flowers in my classroom, and all she needed was a little help to fully blossom. I knew for sure I had found my calling. I was in the right place… but at the wrong time…

I galloped home, feeling great as rays of sunshine poured over me. Teaching a class wasn’t the only thing I was looking forward to that day. Later that night, I had a date with a very handsome business pony who owned a shop by the market. Maybe this stallion would finally turn out different than all the other stallions. There wasn’t anything particularly wrong with the other men that I had dates with; we just never seemed to have that special connection.

My rambling thoughts were momentarily interrupted as I saw a shadow block the sun above me for a split second. I looked up and around me to see what was going on, but I couldn’t see anything. I again continued trotting along the pathway, looking around until out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pegasus flying away. She had a bluish gray coat, a silvery blue mane and a pink bow. I had never seen her around Ponyville before, and there were no clouds in sight, so she couldn’t possibly have been a weather mare. If I had ever physically felt foreshadowing, it was right then and there.

For the occasion, I decided to wear my favorite black dress, which fortunately fit the mood of where we ate. It was a quiet restaurant lit by candlelight. It was definitely one of the fancier spots in the town, and he certainly knew how to impress a small town mare such as myself. They served some of the finest cider and the most delicious hay anywhere in the district.

My date was the one who was really catching my attention, though. I didn’t care so much for the money that he had or the exquisite tuxedo that he wore for the occasion. It was his genuine smile that was radiating. That was exactly what I was looking for. I spent all of my time with kids in the morning who are full of authentic grins. They didn’t have to pretend to be somepony else (even though they had a lot of fun with it). When they were happy, they showed it; when they were upset, they didn’t hide it. This stallion had that natural charm, and he clearly wasn’t trying to be anypony he wasn’t.

“So, let me see if I understand this correctly,” he started, keeping direct eye contact with me. “You were there all weekend, and they just didn’t have the budget to pay you? What happened next?”

“Well,” I began, “I actually got kicked out of my hotel room too. How I got home, though is a completely different story.”

“And all just because they didn’t have an organized budget? Well, I’m sure you’re never going back to Las Pegasus again.” We laughed heartedly as I took a sip of my delightful cider. “You sound like you have some of the best stories. You said you’re an elementary school teacher, didn’t you? What’s that life like? I mean, what were you thinking about as soon as you woke up this morning?”

My eyes widened, and I choked on some of the cider that went down the wrong pipe (and that’s not including the burning cider coming out my nose). The question caught me off guard, probably just because I remembered my vivid dream about the doctor who I had been eyeing from afar.

“Are you alright, Cheerilee?”

“I’m fine, I just…” I coughed out whatever cider I could, taking that moment to come up with something to say. “I guess I was just so eager to tell you about life as a school teacher that I forgot to swallow.” I chuckled awkwardly. He raised his eyebrow while trying to keep his expression polite. I knew he was attempting to seem concerned, but it just felt like he was looking at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was letting the pressure get to me. He was just genuinely so perfect that I had forgotten who I was supposed to be: myself.

He gave a slight chuckle in response. “Well, then, I’m eager to hear about it.”

“Let’s see… When I first got up this morning, probably the first thing I thought of was how messy my mane gets in the morning.” He laughed softly at my terrible joke. I couldn’t believe how perfect he was! “But to be honest, teaching those kids is the best part of my day. I just love every one of my students.”

“Best part of your day, eh? I guess I’m going to have to do something spectacular in order to top that. Have you ever seen a pony juggle while telling jokes before?”

I giggled hysterically. “You don’t have to do that,” I said, staring into his eyes and inadvertently moving my face toward his. “I’m already having a wonderful time.”

“As am I.” His voice had descended into a little more than a whisper. He began moving closer to me, and I was just hoping he couldn’t see how red I was probably getting. “You must really be a loving, caring pony, Miss Cheerilee.”

We slowly leaned in for a kiss, closing our eyes as our mouths approached each other’s, but just before our lips could touch, our waiter laid down a bill on the table. “Your bill, sir,” the waiter said. The two of us returned to the back of our seats, blushing profoundly. “I hope you two are enjoying your evening.”

“We definitely are, thank you,” my date said getting out his wallet. “You know, Cheerilee, I don’t think it would be fitting for such a romantic evening to be cut short so soon. Perhaps you’d like to come back to my place for a little while and get to know each other a little bit more?”

My heart was racing even faster now, if that was even possible. I nodded my head, and trying not to come off as too eager, I gently replied, “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

We walked to his home, and our conversations seemed like they would never end. As the evening breeze kicked in, he lent me his leather coat, which smelled intoxicating. I couldn’t tell if it was cologne or just his natural scent. Oh, I hoped that this night would go on for—

Suddenly, out the corner of my eye, I saw something in the sky. I had to check and double check to make sure that I had really seen something. After all, it was very dark out, and spotting something in the sky other than the stars and moon was practically impossible. Just before I was about to give up, however, I saw a pegasus flying away. It was the same one from earlier. How strange…

“Cheerilee?” The sudden realization of my date’s voice startled me so much that I jumped an inch off the ground. “I’m sorry if I scared you. Is there something on your mind?”

I looked around again, but I had completely lost where the flying pony had gone. “I was just admiring how lovely the moon looks tonight.”

“You know, personally, I’ve always been intrigued by the stars. The moon is always out there at night, radiating its beautiful light. The stars, though are only out when the area is dark enough for them to shine. Even candle light can keep you from seeing some of them. It’s almost as if they’re jealous of anything that radiates beautiful light.” He chuckled and turned his face towards me, whispering, “Maybe we should hide you before they notice.”

That was the sweetest things anypony had ever said to me. I smiled, but my mind was on other things… such as us getting to his place as fast as we could so I could give him the best sex he’s ever had.

Only a few short minutes later, we were walking inside his house, which had a very sophisticated surrounding for such a humble size. There was a fire place in the center of the room with a red couch a few feet behind it. On every wall was a portrait of somepony in his family with their coat of arms hanging beneath them. He also had several plants laid out throughout different parts of the room, and what girl doesn’t love flowers?

He lit some wood in the fire place and walked towards the kitchen. “I’m going to get us a pair of drinks. You just make yourself at home.”

I sat on the red couch and immediately fell in love with how comfortable it was. “Your home is really quite lovely! I love how much you’ve done to liven up such a small area.” Whoops? Was that the wrong thing to say? I really hope not.

He giggled, walking in with our drinks. As he handed one to me, he looked me dead in the eyes and said, “You know, Cheerilee, I’ve never had much of an opinion on having a castle or some great and spacious building. After all, it’s not the size that matters…” He leaned towards me, and once again leaning to my ear, he whispered, “It’s how you use it.” He pulled away, giving me the most attractive smile I could imagine. I bit my lip, trying not to show how aroused he made me with every last whisper.

I took a sip of the drink that he gave me, avoiding eye contact out of sheer embarrassment. I might have even been blushing, but my mind was racing too fast for me to know for sure.

“I’ve had a really nice time tonight, Cheerilee,” he said inching closer.

“I have too.” My breathing was getting subtly deeper.

“Is there anything I can do to make this night the best night ever?” His voice had again descended into a soft, quiet tone. Shivers were going down my spine uncontrollably. I hadn’t been in this spot for as long as I could remember, yet I kept chanting in my mind for him to do it. Make that move. I want it.

“Maybe…”

Both of our eyes closed. My cheeks were burning. My lungs were reaching for air. My blood was boiling as it soared throughout my body. I could feel my lower lips begin to clench and moisten. Most importantly, though, his mouth was caressing mine. I wrapped one hoof around his back and draped one over his shoulder. He grabbed me around the back and moved one hoof through my mane. For several long, sensual moments, our lips massaged each other’s in an enticingly romantic fit of lust.

I had been patient for long enough. Now it was my turn to show him how I felt. I pulled him closer and discreetly shifted my tongue into his mouth. His mouth opened up, welcoming it with his own. The soft touch of his tongue slowly slid down the top of mine. As our lips gently came apart, we forcefully pressed them back together.

He began pressing me down onto the coach, putting pressure on top of me. YES! Press me down! Dominate me! His hoof traced downward to my waist, smoothly running it across my hips. Inadvertently, I arched my back up off the couch a centimeter or two.

He took his lips off of mine and looked at me with those beautiful eyes. I couldn’t help but run my hoof through his mane again. He, on the other hand, was giving me a look that I took to mean, “I’m about to do something. Do I have your permission?” I nodded. He kissed down my body down further and further. I squeezed my eyelids shut, having a good idea what was about to happen next. With a gasp, I let out a quick moan.

He was kissing my vagina, putting his lips down further between my labia with each kiss. He licked between them, circling between my nether lips. He leisurely moved upwards until he made a stop at my clitoris, which he hugged with his mouth. My stub was on fire; the inside of my vagina got more and more damp.

“I’m guessing you like that?” he said with a short chuckle.

“Mmmm yes. Keep going.”

He did as I told him, compressing his mouth more violently into my marehood. Short, articulate breaths were becoming more and more habitual. Before long, they were turning into real moans seeping out of my lips. I couldn’t help it. His tongue was navigating inside me. He had spread me out and was searching for a spot he could press into, and he found it! More and more vaginal fluid was streaming down, but he licked it up as unhurriedly as he possibly could.

He returned to my mouth and kissed me again. This time, our kissing landed him on his back. He carried me back with him. He knew what he wanted, and I wanted to give it to him. I brought my hoof down and grabbed his cock. It was getting bigger as I held it. I could feel the blood pumping beat by beat, making it stiffer in my hoof. He returned the favor by rubbing circles around my vagina. I tenderly rubbed up and down his long, smooth shaft.

I gave him one last kiss, and with my lips, I worked my way down to his large, pulsating dick. I licked up and down the sides, getting it as wet as I could. I rubbed around it, making sure that it was moist enough, and if any area was drier than another, I went back to wrapping my tongue around it until I got to the very top. This was my turn to give him what I had wanted to give him practically this whole date.

I kissed the tip of his penis, which gradually turned into my mouth folding over top of it. My lips covered his tip and my hoof rubbed along his shaft. My head bobbed back and forth, putting more and more of his cock in my mouth. He was the one moaning now. It was long and deep with lots of air behind it. The louder he got, the deeper I went, and the deeper I went, the louder he moaned. I went further and further down, going faster and faster until I was deep throating him. I was normally a classy lady, but I wanted to prove that in the bedroom, I was his dirty whore.

Just as I felt he couldn’t take it anymore, I pulled my mouth off of him. He leaned me over so that we were both parallel to the back of our seat. We locked lips again, and he returned to massaging my lady parts. He then grabbed my leg, put it in the air as high as it could go and inserted his dick inside me. He went very, very slowly, sticking it in inch by inch. I let go of his lips so I could moan loudly. His penis, just as slowly as it went inside me, started making its way out and back in. He was keeping a steady pace. In and out. In and out. His pace then started growing faster. In and out and in and out. Suddenly, he was humping me with full force.

“OH! YES!” I shouted as my vaginal walls clenched around him. “Give it to me! Pound your cock inside me! Ahhhh. Oooooo. Mmmm yes!” My vagina got so tight around him that it even kept him from going as fast as he wanted, but that didn’t stop him. He pushed harder, moving his hips more violently against me, using my cum to slide into my orifice.

We both sat up and rearranged ourselves so that I was on top of his lap. I swayed my pelvis in circles up and down his shaft, bouncing on top of him. He leaned back and moaned even more loudly. I was bouncing on his crotch faster and faster. He picked up his own pace and started forcing me into the air. He grabbed me by the mane and pounded my marehood aggressively. “You wanna be my slut?” he asked me.

“Mmmm. So bad.”

“Then bend over.” With that, he got up and bent me over himself so that I was in doggy style. Without any second thought, he humped me again as quickly and as brutally as he could. I was now screaming at the top of my lungs. “Pound me, baby! Go deeper!” He went as fast and as hard as he possibly could, somehow managing to go deeper and deeper inside me. He hit the very edge of my vagina and just kept going harder.

“Mmmm, baby,” he said as he breathed more heavily. “I think I’m gonna cum.”

“Cum inside me! Ahhhh. Ahhhh! AHHHH! MMMMMMM!” His cock was now throbbing inside me, shooting what seemed like gallons of semen all over. I could feel the blood pumping in his dick as it throbbed in my soaking wet pussy. He filled me with so much cum that it started to drip out my orifice (although I admit, some of it may have been the result of my own orgasm).

I got back up weakly and planted a kiss on his lips. We both giggled tenderly. “This was truly the best date ever,” I said, caressing his cheek with my hoof. Suddenly, I looked around. “What time is it?” I looked at the clock above his fire place and saw that it was almost midnight. “Oh no!”

I quickly got to my hooves. “What’s wrong, Cheerilee?” he asked.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I have to get going. I have a class to teach tomorrow and I’ve hardly planned for it at all!” I gave him a warm hug. “I’ll get to see you again, though, right?”

With a smile, he replied, “Just stop by any time you want to see me.”

Unable to suppress my joy, I planted a kiss on his lips. “Thank you so much!” He reached to open the door for me. “I promise I’ll stop by again as soon as I can! Thank you so much for the wonderful evening! Good bye!” He waved as I walked out the door.

As soon as the door was closed, I couldn’t help but jump a foot in the air and squeal. This had been simply the best day ever! Oh, I couldn’t wait until the next ti—

I felt something hit one of my pressure points. Before I knew what was going on, my world went black. I fell to the ground. Just before I passed out, I heard a female voice saying, “Yuck! He really did a number on you, didn’t he? Oh, well.”

As I regained consciousness, I could hear a waterfall in the background. I was on the ground on what felt like dirt and rocks. I tried moving, and it seemed like I had control over my muscles again.

“See? I told you she’d wake up!” a voice said.

“Hmmph,” another replied. “She should consider herself lucky.”

“Oh, stop it. Neither of us died, did we?”

“You didn’t honestly think that—”

“Ugghhh…” I muttered, trying to open my eyes. As my vision came to, I saw two ponies standing next to me. One a unicorn and the other a pegasus. I was in a cave with a large waterfall in the background. Suddenly, I began to panic. “What?! Where am I?”

“That’s what we’ve been asking,” the pegasus replied.

“…Who… who are you two?”

Chapter 2: Meet the Wizard

I had once heard of zebras mastering the art of magic through patience, silence and solitude. I sat there with my eyes closed. The warm breeze of the Everfree Forest sifted through my mane, cape and tail. It was the closest thing to a noise other than maybe a tree branch shaking. For my next trick, I would need total concentration. No noise, no distractions, and no wandering thoughts could stop me. Otherwise, who knows what could happen? Let’s see if I really am the world’s most powerful unicorn. This is it…

“Draw!”

My eyes and horn shimmered in a brilliant blue light as the ground beneath me erupted into a massive earthquake. The very ground began to part. Streams of light left my horn, flying to different parts of the area around me. Something reached up above the ground. No! In two places! No! In three! Suddenly, seven cadavers pulled their decayed bodies out of the ground: two pegasi, two unicorns and three earth ponies. I stood my stance, waiting silently as the skeletons moved closer.

I smirked. “Let’s go, then.”

Without second hesitation, I sent a ray of light hurdling towards one of the earth ponies, who crumbled to the ground in a pile of bones. The other ponies looked at the decayed body lying on the floor, then shot a look back at me. At once, the other six ponies began charging at me. A unicorn sent a magical dart in my direction, which I dodged by jumping out of the way, tumbling to the ground. As I started to get up, one of the earth ponies was standing above me, hooves raised, ready to crush me. Before it got the chance, I shot a magical ray at the center of its chest. The pony’s bones suddenly toppled on top of me.

I had hardly cleared the bones away when I saw one of the pegasi in the air, flying at mach speed toward my body. In a flash, I disappeared and reappeared in a tree a few yards away. The pegasus crashed into the ground, lodging itself within the earth. I’d take care of it later, but I still had four other skeletons trying to attack me.

The other pegasus was still wondering where I went. As it looked around, I shot a bright light from my horn, hitting it in the back of the neck, causing it to crumple to the ground. No sooner did I do this than a magical aura soared past me, missing my cheek by half an inch. This was no time to get startled! Time to take care of the others!

I jumped out of the tree, hexing the last earth pony on my way to the ground. The sudden collision with the ground caused me to lose my balance for a moment, which both unicorns used to their advantage as they shot mystical lights from their horns. Before I could even regain my balance, I had to think of something quick.

An orb of light surrounded me, creating a force field too strong for the unicorns’ magic to penetrate. I got my balance back and closed my eyes, waiting for the unicorns to stop firing at me. No noise, no distractions, and no wandering thoughts. Just pure meditation. The unicorns fired rapidly and furiously at me for what seemed like several minutes, but soon enough, they realized that there was nothing they could do until I let down the force field. That gave me ample time to meditate on what to do next. I noticed that one unicorn was directly to my left and the other unicorn directly to my right. I took a deep breath and stood up on my hind legs.

The moment I let down the force field, the two unicorns lit their bony horns and sent beams of light in my direction. As the beams were just a few feet from their collision course, I shot my hooves towards both rays and lit my horn. Time seemed to stand still for that moment, and the next thing I knew, both spells were being redirected back to their owners, severing their heads.

I looked at the pegasus who was angrily thrashing to get out of the ground. Now, for my final trick, I would show that my magic is so powerful that not even the dead could survive. My horn glowed a bright blue, but as I put more and more attention into it, concentrating all of my thoughts into this one spell, my horned turned a dark red. The ground was shaking again, but this time I was being lifted into the air. With all the force I could muster, I screamed at the top of my lungs, sending lightning out of my horn in massive strikes. Thunder erupted throughout the forest. The pegasus was torn limb from limb in the blast. I had won.

As soon as the incantation ceased, I fell to the ground, feeling too weak to get back up. I was completely robbed of all my energy… but I did it. I took on seven cadavers by myself and dismantled them in moments. Though I never doubted it, this proved to me that I was not a unicorn to take lightly. My magic had more than improved. I had become the highest level unicorn. Giggling slightly, I laid my head to rest.

“What is this before my eyes?” My eyes opened slightly to see where the sudden voice came from. “Somepony has caused the dead to rise?” I lifted up my head to see a zebra walking in the midst of the pony bone yard. She looked me dead in the eyes and paced towards me. “How dare you wake them from their rest? Was this just to prove that you’re the best?”

I weakly stood up. I wasn’t expecting to be woken so early. “What is it that you want, zebra?”

“This useless boasting has to cease. Leave the dead to rest in peace. You’ll upset the balance of harmony. The departed must never be set free.”

“Don’t worry. Trixie just needed an opportunity to test her skills. I doubt I’ll ever need to use it again.” The zebra stood as still as a mountain, continuing to give me that icy stare. I looked around her, examining the broken ponies lying around the area. “Here, let me make it up to them.” My horn glowed a bright blue aura. The bones sunk into the ground. The zebra lifted a hoof and gasped at the sight she was viewing.

“Is this your idea of a burial, or is this some joke you’re trying to pull?” I felt a sudden surge of anger. I couldn’t help but scowl at the disrespect that the zebra had the nerve to show me. “Maybe you should come with me. We can talk about this over tea.” She turned her view and began to walk away.

“What?! You dare offend the Great and Powerful Trixie and expect her to come to one of your dinner parties?!”

The zebra stopped in her tracks. After a moment of silence, she dropped her head and sighed. “If power is the only thing you seek, your magic will never reach its peak.” I didn’t speak. Most unicorns understood nothing about zebra magic. Perhaps she knew something that I didn’t. “Tell me what is on your mind. Perhaps there are some answers you hope to find?”

“Well…” I started. The zebra raised an eyebrow. “I’ve heard only a little about zebra magic, but I do know the basics of fundamental meditation. Perhaps you could teach me more about your methods?” I admit, asking for a teacher was difficult for me. I had to swallow my pride. If I wanted to be the highest level unicorn, I needed to know all kinds of magical cultures.

The zebra shook her head, refusing to make eye contact. “I only use my magic for good, just like everypony should. I try to sooth others in their pain, but you only get stronger for your own gain. My wisdom cannot be focused on greed. What I teach you must only be for others’ needs.”

“You mean if I use my mystical talent to help other ponies in their infirmities, you’ll teach me about zebra magic?” The striped pony nodded. “Trixie accepts your wager.”

She smiled for the first time throughout this entire encounter. “A wise pupil I can already see. Now let’s get to my home and have some tea.”

Her home was filled with ornaments of a completely different culture. I had never seen anything like it. There were all kinds of masks, ceramic pots and natural herbs. Part of it was intimidating, but the other part of me was dying to know more about it. “You said your name is Zecora, didn’t you?” I asked. The zebra nodded as she mixed some leaves for her tea. “Well, what’s the first thing I should know about your culture?”

“The first thing you must do is close your mind. Leave all your thoughts and feelings behind.”

“So, you mean meditation?”

The zebra nodded again. “That is so. Now let everything go.” I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to think exactly of what to let go. I was about to open my mouth to speak when I was suddenly interrupted by Zecora. “Your ambitions of power fill you with anxiety. Focus on serenity, in all its varieties.”

I took in a large deep breath and exhaled slowly. The only sounds that could be heard were the soft noises of Zecora making our tea. I began to understand what she was saying. The sound of her hooves gently tapping against the ground as she walked from station to station filled me with a sense of peace. I don’t think I had ever been more relaxed in my life, but as quickly as it came, it managed to vanish into thoughts of pressure. I was suddenly bombarded with memories of performing for large crowds who worshipped me, being thrown out of Ponyville after being out-performed by Twilight, and how warped my mind became the moment I first put on the alicorn amulet.

“Cast out any unwanted memories,” Zecora said, noticing my face starting to cringe at the memories. “Self-forgiveness is what you need.”

The horrible thoughts continued to surge through my mind. It seemed like the harder I tried to push them out, the more severe the thoughts became. I was filled with the horrible emotions I felt as I continued to use the alicorn amulet. As I became stronger, I could feel a literal black color enter into my heart, almost as if the amulet was dissolving into me. I still wasn’t sure if all the black was out just yet, but whether it was or wasn’t, it was reminding me every day of the guilt, shame and embarrassment that I felt as soon as I was again out-matched by Twilight.

I expelled a breath that I had inadvertently been storing in my lungs. Breathing heavily, I looked into Zecora’s eyes sorrowfully and said, “I’m sorry, Zecora. I’m just not sure if I can do it.”

“I never said it would be easy,” she replied. “We’ll practice later, but for now…” The zebra poured a drink into a round, wooden cup. “…enjoy your tea.” She smiled, handing me the cup filled with the hot drink.

I slowly sipped the fluid. My heart beat had finally begun to slow down. “Zecora…” The zebra matched my eyes. “What exactly should I expect to learn? What exactly is zebra magic?”

Zecora granted me a friendly smile. “Zebras have a knack for others’ feelings, which is why our magic has been developed for healing.”

“You mean the only thing Trixie will get out of this is healing magic?” I blurted out, surprising the both of us with my bluntness.

“If strength and power is all that you yearn, then Trixie, my dear, you still have much to learn.”

I was filled with rage. How dare she talk to the Great and Powerful Trixie in such an insulting tone? I was about to use my magic to zip her lips myself, but then I felt something familiar… familiar and unwanted… The black had again begun to sink into my heart. It devoured every feeling of anger that I had, turning it into more anger.

I took a deep breath and recollected myself. “I think I understand now.” Zecora lifted an eyebrow. “Unicorns are taught spells, then are instructed to practice them until we perfect them. Our drive is personal accomplishment. Zebras, on the other hand, focus on unity and developing their own talents for the benefit of others. Unicorn magic is fueled by determination. Zebra magic is the result of patience, which is impossible if the user is filled with guilt, insecurity or anxiety.”

Zecora and I beamed at each other. “I must admit, I am very impressed. Now your next goal should focus on releasing some stress.”

My smile suddenly faded. How could I do that? My heart was contaminated. As hard as I try, I didn’t see any possibility of permanently expelling the black. My mouth began to quiver, and all of a sudden I had tears running down my cheeks. “I can never get rid of the memories…” I sniffled; my crying grew louder and more difficult to stifle. “Trixie will always have this virus inside her, and all just because I had to prove I was better than Twilight.” I began to sob hysterically into my hooves.

Suddenly, I felt a hoof patting me gently on the back. With my eyes red and covered in tears, I looked up at Zecora, who was grinning motherly at me. “What happened with the amulet is gone and done,” she said. “This is not a battle that cannot be won.”

“Do… do you know about what the amulet does to ponies?"

“I understand that the amulet corrupts the user. The one who wears it is the biggest loser. When worn, the amulet will distort the soul, but once you remove it, you’re in control.”

Out of nowhere, a tree toppled to the ground just outside Zecora’s window. “This looks like trouble,” she said looking out the window. “We must move on the double!”

She quickly galloped out the door. So many things were happening at once that I just stood there, unsure of how to respond. “What? HEY! Wait for me!” I followed after her, but as soon as I got outside, I had no idea where she went. I looked in every direction, but the only things I saw were birds flying out of the trees and into the sky.

“Trixie!” I turned around promptly, expecting Zecora, but there was nopony there. This was starting to get creepy. I timidly took a few steps back, searching for Zecora. “Trixie! Follow my voice!”

This wasn’t Zecora’s voice. My entire body shivered in fear. “Who—who’s there?” I projected into the trees.

“We’ll have time for questions later! Just follow my voice! Trust me!”

Without taking time to think of the possibilities or consequences, I took a leap of faith and galloped toward the trees. No anxiety. “Keep going, Trixie!” the voice continued. “There should be a mountain up ahead! When you see it, wait for my signal!”

“And who are you to command the Great and Powerful Trixie?”

The voice stopped. I was at the edge of the forest, standing before a large mountain. I looked around to see where the voice had come from or why it had possibly brought me here, but I saw nothing. “Is this some kind of a joke?!” I shouted. “Because if it is, Trixie is not laughing!”

“Trixie…” the voice had suddenly gone soft. “I can’t explain everything right now, but I need your help.”

“WHO ARE YOU?!” My eyes and horn glowed red, lifting me off the ground. I was about to send a barrage of lightning bolts in random directions until I found out where the voice was coming from, but I was immediately stopped by—

“Trixie, innocent ponies are about to die.” I didn’t know what it meant, but it got my attention. I descended back to the ground. “I’ll fill you in on all the details later, but first, can you help me? Can you help me save their lives?”

Of course I wanted to. I wanted to correct every wrong that I had ever done, but I didn’t know how much I could trust this voice… Still… I couldn’t risk saying no if the voice was really telling the truth. “Yes, I’ll do it. What’s going on, exactly?”

“Thank you so much, Trixie. Now, I’m sorry to do this, but I need you to close your eyes.” I had no idea what was going on, and it was really starting to get on my nerves, but I complied nonetheless.

WHACK!

Suddenly, I was opening my eyes back up. I had just been asleep. No… I had just been assaulted! I was knocked out! I jumped to my hooves and looked around for my attacker. I was in a cave with no ponies or exit anywhere in sight. I had been tricked. Thoughts ran endlessly through my mind. Anger… fear… confusion… I couldn’t control myself anymore.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, sending flashes of red light in every direction. “Where are you?! Trixie knows you’re here! Show yourself!”

“Hello?” a voice called from afar. “Is somepony there?” It was a different voice than from before. It was much lighter, and it seemed as confused as I was. It couldn’t possibly have been my attacker… I wasn’t about to fall into the same trap twice, though.

“Trixie has had enough of this horsing around! Show yourself!” I called out.

I peered out into the cave, squinting my eyes to see with what little light that existed. Out of the darkness came a pegasus pony. She had a gray coat, a blonde mane and the most peculiar yellow eyes. “What’s going on?” I asked, feeling more anxious than angry. “Who are you?”

The blonde-maned pony smiled brightly, seeming relieved. “A friend.”

Chapter 3: Meet the Ditz

What a beautiful day in Ponyville! The sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky! Whoops. Except that one. How long has that been there? And there’s one over there too. Ugh. I can never manage to get them all the first time.

“Your shift is over, Derpy,” my weather manager said. “Don’t worry, we’ll get the other ones.”

“Other ones?” I asked quizzically. I looked around a little bit more and saw a few more clouds that I had missed in my attempt to clear up the sky. “Ugh. Thanks, boss! I’ll try to get them all next time.”

My boss smiled and waved, which I mirrored before taking off towards Cloudsdale. My home was Ponyville, but my work was in the cloud city right next to it. I worked two jobs: one as a weather mare and the other as a mail mare. I made a lot of screw ups at work, so they would never let me work more than part time, forcing me to take two jobs. I liked it, though. It meant that I got to see all my friends in both Cloudsdale and Ponyville!

“Happy Thursday, Derpy!” my supervisor said as I walked into the post office blissfully.

“Every day is a happy day, boss!” I retorted. “Any news?”

“Well, one of your packages from yesterday made it to the wrong house.”

Again? “Whoops. My bad.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just be sure it gets to the right owner on your route today, OK?”

“You got it boss!” Hardly able to contain my excitement, I grabbed my bag and flew out the door. Today would be the day that I showed my boss that I could go a whole day without anything going wrong! I could just feel it.

“Hey, Derpy!” a voice from bellow called out. I descended to see my friend Cloudchaser waving at me. “Oh, whoops. I didn’t know you were on your route already.”

“It’s OK. I’m sure the boss won’t mind if I chat for a minute. How’re you doing today?”

“Well…” she said averting eye contact to the cloud she was standing on, “I’m kinda worried about Flitter. Maybe not worried as much as concerned, I guess. You know how she is, always flying off on some adventure and not coming back for a while. This time, though, it’s been a week, and I still haven’t seen any trace of her.”

“Hey, cheer up, Cloudchaser,” I said with a bright smile on my face. She brought her eyes back up to mine and gave me a small smile. “I’ll tell you what! I’ll be on the lookout for her while delivering my mail today! If I can’t find her during my shift, then I’ll keep looking, and when I find her, I’ll let her know that she has a sister at home who can’t wait to see her again.”

Cloudchaser’s smile grew brighter. I seemed to be legitimately cheering her up. Good work, Derpy! “Hey, Derpy,” she started. “How are you so cheerful all the time?”

“I guess it comes from living in Ponyville.” I replied, holding my head up high. My cutie mark was a set bubbles because it represented my bubbly, optimistic personality. Optimism: my very special talent. “My friends have taught me that even when things go wrong, we can always make up for it. I just know things will get better. Soon, I’ll be a full time mail mare!”

Cloudchaser giggled and hugged me. “I know you will, Derpy. Promise me that you’ll never give up on what you believe in.”

“I promise.”I said returning the hug. “Just promise me you’ll help me believe.”

“I promise. I’ve got my own dreams too, you know. One day I’m gonna be a Wonderbolt. Let’s help each other make our dreams come true.”

“That sounds like a great—Oh horse feathers! I’d better get going! Bye, Cloudchaser!” I flew away, leaving Cloudsdale behind me and coming up to my home on the ground: Ponyville.

It was beautiful. Ponies were all out enjoying their day. Now it was my job to make sure that they got a letter from their loved ones and seeing their faces light up with smiles. “Let’s see,” I said to myself. “Who’s first?” I pulled out a letter addressed to Big Macintosh, and suddenly my smile faded. “Uh-oh.” I had always admired him, but had never gotten much of a conversation going with him. It seemed like he only ever said “yup” or “nope” to anything I ever said, but this time I was gonna get a conversation out of him if it killed me.

Knock knock! The door to Big Mac’s home opened up, and a small yellow pony with a bushy red mane peaked her head out. “Hey, there, Ms. Mailmare,” she said cheerfully. “What kin ah do fer ya?”

“Well, I uh… I have a present—LETTER for Big Macintosh,” I said with an embarrassed smile.

“Ah’ll give it to ‘im for ya.”

“NO!” The yellow filly took a step back, startled by my sudden outburst. “I mean uh… I can’t do that. It’s the postal code that I’m not allowed to give the letter to anypony but the letter recipient.” The filly gave me a stern look, causing me to look away nervously.

“Not even tah family members?”

“Well… How do I know you’re a real family member?”

Her expression suddenly went dull. “Really?”

“Well… you could be a changeling!”

“And how do you know my brother ain’t a changeling? And what in tarnation would a changeling be doin’ round these parts?”

I sighed. “Point taken.”

Just as I reached into my bag, I heard a deep voice ask, “Applebloom? Who’re you talkin’ to?” My whole body froze, yet I was burning up. I was shaking, yet I didn’t move. Maybe I should give Applebloom the letter after all before he sees me? Yeah, I’ll just—“Hello?” Drat. Big Mac popped his face out the barn door and looked me right in the eyes (at least the best he could). “Mail time already?” he said with a smile.

Shaking, I put my hoof into my bag and answered, “Eeyup.” I quickly pulled the letter out, catching him off guard with how quickly I reacted. Smiling as wide as I could, I handed him his letter. As he grabbed it, he didn’t look back up. My smile was starting to fade. “You have a good day now!”

“Eeyup.” Without looking back up, he casually shut the barn door.

I slumped down for a second, allowing my heart beat to slow down. “Awww. Another visit without any progress. Oh, who are you kidding, Derpy?” I flew away dejectedly towards my next house, which wasn’t too far away. “Who would want to have any conversation with a mare like you? You don’t have the looks of a princess.”

I didn’t mean to be down on myself, but it was something that had been bugging me recently. I hadn’t been on a date in years, and now that I was a mare, girls my age were starting to either find a perfect stallion or settle down so that they could get going on their career. I especially hated this feeling ‘cause it made me feel… well… vulnerable... But that part isn’t important right now.

I delivered letter after letter, seeing the smiles of everypony that I visited, and with every new smile came a new burst of joy for me. Although I didn’t know many of these ponies, they were still my friends. I’d do anything for these guys. Weird, right? Haha well, I guess that’s just who I am. I love every pony in Ponyville, and whether they were young, old, newly moved in, long-term resident or even left Ponyville years ago, they had a friend who they could always count on.

With my mood nearly back to the original warm feeling, I knocked on what seemed like my 50th door. My bag was almost empty now! Yay! I had never been to this pony’s house before, though. She must not get letters very often.

A yellow earth pony mare with a dark black mane opened up the door with an enticing appearance and a sultry grin. She was wearing some black eyeliner with dark mascara. Her hips curved in a way to make anypony’s legs give out. Wow! Now that’s what I wanted to look like! “Yes?” she asked.

Getting caught off guard (I have to admit, just looking at her was putting me in a trance), I quickly recollected myself and handed the mare her letter. “I have a delivery for you, ma’am.”

“How thoughtful of you!” she said. “You know what? Why don’t you come inside? I just made some homemade tea and cookies.” I noticed that the side of her flank had a picture of a loaf of bread. She must be good at baking! Score!

“Well, I guess I’m ahead of schedule anyway,” I said excitedly.

Inviting me in, she said, “How wonderful! It could be like a tea party!” We both galloped blissfully into the kitchen, and the aroma of freshly baked products filled the room. “You know, I’m actually kind of new here in Ponyville, and it’s so nice to have somepony over for a change.”

“It’s no problem at all, really. I love making new friends, and what better way to meet ponies than through their stomach?” She giggled enchantingly. Gosh, I wish I was her.

We passed the threshold which led to her kitchen, and the aroma of freshly baked products tingled all my emotions once again. (Boys, take note: If you want the path to a girl’s heart, food is way better than flowers.) I gazed at the variety of baked goods that laid all over her countertops with tea steaming atop her oven. “Now, what can I get you first?” she asked. “You strike me as a muffins kind of girl.”

My expression went blank. “You know, that’s not the first time somepony has said that to me before. Why does everypony think I’m such a big muffins pony?”

“My mistake,” she said, turning back to her selection of deserts with a disheartened expression. I heard her mumbling something, but I couldn’t quite grasp what she was saying. “Why don’t we start off with just some cookies and a glass of tea, then?” Her sultry look returned as she grabbed a plate of cookies in her mouth and put them on the table between us.

“I really shouldn’t stay too long, though,” I said. “I do have a route to finish up, and if I don’t get all my letters delivered on time—”

“Oh, don’t worry, dear,” she said placing the tea kettle on the table and taking her place in the seat across from me. There were already two glass cups set up. It was almost as if she had been expecting company. “Here, let me pour you a glass.” She grabbed the tea kettle with her mouth and poured it slowly into my glass, arching her back and tilting her head towards me, giving me a seductive look. I couldn’t help but get distracted at the sight. “Please, dig in.”

I shook my head to snap out of it and began eating my cookies. “My name is Derpy Hooves, by the way,” I said.

“Oh! How rude of me! My name is Honeysuckle. Pleased to meet you.” With that, a ding came from the oven. Turning towards it, she muttered, “Hope you don’t mind if I get that.” She turned around and pulled the oven door open, thrusting her backside into the air, lifting up her tail as far as it seemed like it would go, casually revealing her marehood. Upon putting an oven mitt carefully in her mouth, she returned to pull out a tray of cupcakes, spreading her legs wider to pull the treats out carefully.

I suddenly felt a clenching feeling down below. Remember that whole vulnerable thing I said wasn’t important earlier? It’s important now. Without thinking, I quickly crossed my legs, almost as if she’d be able to see that she was making me tighter with each seductive move that she made.

Upon putting the baked goods on top of the counter, she immediately began to apply frosting. Its color was a very odd shade of white, which she was squeezing out of a tube with her mouth. Just before decorating the fourth cupcake, she accidentally squeezed some of the frosting out onto her upper shoulder. “Silly me,” she said with a giggle, and very slowly, she let out her tongue and sensually licked up the white frosting, swallowing it with pleasure, even letting out a slight moan.

I was starting to get really wet. I’m a sucker for anypony being as casually sexual as that. I wanted her to lick me up just like that. I wanted her to put that long, moist tongue of hers between my lady lips and go as deep as she could. I wanted to put my legs between hers so I could show her just how good it feels to get her tail pulled.

OK, Derpy. Maybe that’s a little too far. “You know what, Honeysuckle?” I began, trying not to sound timid. “This has been great and all, but I really need to get back to my route.”

Honeysuckle puckered her lips while giving me a sad look. “Oh, won’t you just stay for a minute longer? I really do need somepony to help me… taste test a few of my delicacies.” She added a wink at the end, and I was hoping that this was just my imagination playing tricks on me. She wasn’t trying to turn me on… Was she?

She took a few steps closer. I took a few steps back until I had hit the wall behind me. “Uhh… Honeysuckle?”

“Just one more minute?” She leaned into my ear and whispered, “I just get so lonely sometimes.” As she pulled away, she slowly took a nibble at my ear, which caused me to accidentally let out a moan. Dang it! How did she know that was my weak spot? Giggling, she replied, “So I guess that means maybe deep down you really do want to stay?”

I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. Drat. She caught me. I was horny. Very horny, as a matter of fact. I didn’t know how to respond, so I just did what came naturally to me. I bit my lower lip, closed my eyes gently and nodded my head. “Do I make you wet?” she asked me as she nibbled my ear again.

Gasping again, I nodded my head. “Mmhmm.”

“Do you want to teach me a lesson?” Her voice was as soft as it could go. I was almost shaking from head to horseshoe. I nodded my head again, this time without being subtle. She turned her flank towards me and lifted her tail into the air. “Then do it. Do to me what I did to you.” She gave me a sultry grin and winked at me again, making sure I noticed her long, dark, sexy eyelashes.

I lifted a forehoof towards the direction of her private parts, slowly, seeing as how I was too intimidated to know exactly what I wanted. As my hoof got closer, she pushed her plot closer. “Honeysuckle?”

“Yes, Derpy?”

“I think I’d like one of those muffins now, if you don’t mind.”

She had a disappointed look on her face, but politely walked me back to her kitchen countertop where the muffins sat. “Thanks again,” I said, trying to sound as apologetic as I could. “I really should get going, though.”

“I understand. I know I’m not really in the position to be asking favors, Derpy, but could you taste test one for me? I mean actually taste test the muffin this time.”

Smiling at how well the situation had panned out, I replied. “No problem.” I sunk my teeth into it, getting the weirdest taste out of any muffin I’d ever had. It wasn’t bad; I just couldn’t tell the flavor. Cherry? Or maybe grape… Blueberry? “Your talent sure is baking!”

“That’s why I need to apologize in advance.” I tilted my head, confusedly. “Just to let you know, when you wake up, you’re not going to be in any danger. I’m sorry. This was just the only way to make sure everything was kept secret. Just remember, don’t panic! You’ll be OK. Somepony will be there to explain everything to you.”

“What are you talk…” The room started spinning. Suddenly, everything was blurry and my head started losing oxygen. “I guess it was my nap time anyway.”

CRASH!

I was laying on some hard, rocky surface when I woke up. I jolted up and looked around me. Where was I? What had just happened? “Hello?” I called out. Nopony answered. “Honeysuckle? Anypony?” My heart began racing. What was I doing there? “Somepony! Anypony!” There was no answer.

I flew up into the air to see if I could find the exit. No luck. I was in what looked like a cave, and there was barely enough light for me to see where the walls and ceiling were. Allowing my instincts to kick in, I bolted forward, flying as fast as I could. I didn’t know where I was going or if I’d ever get anywhere. I didn’t know if I’d ever make it out… “What if I never get to see Ponyville again?” Tears filled up my eyes, and I bawled hysterically. What did it matter? Nopony was around to see me. That was that saddest moment I had ever felt in my life. “Why me? What did I ever do to anypony?” I sobbed my lungs out as hard as I could, but even louder than my sobs came another sound.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!”

I snapped to my feet, looking for where the sound came from. I wasn’t alone. Red lights flashed in the distance in front of me. “What?” I asked myself. “I’m not alone?” I galloped towards the lights. I didn’t know whether or not it was safe. I just didn’t want to be by myself.

A pony was shouting from where the noise was coming from. “Hello?” I called out. “Is somepony there?” Out of the darkness, I saw a blue unicorn with a silver mane, wearing a blue wizard hat and cape. Yes! Maybe I had a way out after all!

“What’s going on?” the mare asked. “Who are you?”

Smiling, I replied, “A friend.”

“Where am I?” she asked angrily. “What’s your name? What am I doing here?”

My smile faded slightly. “Oh, you don’t know what we’re doing here either?” The unicorn’s scowl suddenly mirrored my depressed expression. “How did you get here?”

“I’m not sure. I was following a voice which led me to the end of the Everfree forest. It asked me if I would help save ponies’ lives, and well… I guess I fell for it. What about you?”

“Last thing I remember is a mare trying to get me to hoof her.”

“And that’s where we’re going to cut that conversation,” the blue unicorn said, whose expression had suddenly turned pale. “Maybe we should start looking for a way out.”

I nodded my head and lifted off into the air, following the mare as she walked. “So my name is Derpy Hooves. What’s your name?” I asked.

The blue unicorn scoffed. “You really don’t know who I am? Then allow me to introduce myself. The world’s most talented, daring and beautiful magician in all of Equestria: the Great and Powerful TRRRIXIIEEE!” She leapt to her hind hooves with her forelegs stretched towards the sky. She was smiling as though roses were falling all around her.

“Is it OK if I just call you Trixie?”

The unicorn sighed and slumped back onto all four of her hooves on the ground. “Sure.”

“Phew, that’s much easier to remember.”

Suddenly, her ear twitched and she moved her head in several different directions. “WAIT!” she interjected.

“Awww, but I just put Trixie into my memory. Don’t tell me you changed your mind.”

“Quiet! I hear something!” I just hovered there silently. “…Water…”

“What?”

“Water, Derpy! I hear a stream! Do you know what this means?” I shrugged. “It means that it will probably lead us somewhere! Maybe it will help us find a way out!”

“A stream?! Let’s go!” Trixie galloped towards the sound and I flew behind her, happily. I could see just a hint of water being reflected against the cave walls up ahead. Looks like this day wasn’t gonna turn out so bad after all! As soon as we got to the area where the water was, we could see a large waterfall coming from several stories up where a cliff towered over us. There was no real sunlight or sign of any outside world, but at least we knew where to start. “It looks like we’re gonna have to get to the edge of the cliff first.”

“Well, you have wings, don’t you?” Trixie asked bluntly. “Get up there and see if you see anything!”

“Okie dokie, Trixie.” Upon getting half way there, I looked down to see how far up I had gotten, just in case I needed to carry Trixie all the way up with me. No sooner had I done so when I saw a body on the floor several yards behind where Trixie stood. Gasping, I bolted back to the ground.

“Derpy! What are you doing?”

“Trixie! Look!” I pointed in the direction of the body. Trixie looked away in disgust.

“Congratulations. You found a dead body. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to not catch rabies and find a way out of here. Both at the same time, preferably.”

“What if she’s alive, though? We should go check.” As Trixie expressed her lack of enthusiasm, I galloped toward the body. She was a lavender-colored earth pony mare with a pink mane. Her cutie mark was of three sunflowers with smiling faces. She didn’t look dead (although I don’t know what a dead pony looks like, exactly). She just looked cold and alone… kinda like me when I first woke up in this cave. “I think she’s gonna wake up, Trixie. I think she’s just passed out like I was when I woke up in this cave.”

“And Trixie thinks that you’re just wasting your time.”

I ignored her and tapped the pony gently on her shoulder. “Come on, my little pony. You can do it. Open those eyes of yours and let the sunshine in.”

“Or lack thereof.”

“You’re not helping, Trix—”

The pony’s eyelids squeezed together. I gasped, smiling at Trixie. “See? I told you she’d wake up!”

“Hmmph. She should consider herself lucky.”

“Oh, stop it. Neither of us died, did we?”

“You didn’t honestly think that—”

“Ugghhh…” The lavender pony slowly got to her hooves, rubbing her neck. As soon as she opened her eyes to see my brightly lit smile, her eyes widened with fear. “What?!” she exclaimed. “Where am I?”

“That’s what we’ve been asking,” I replied.

The mare looked at both of us confusedly and stuttered, “Who… who are you two?”

“The name’s Derpy Hooves, and this is Trixie.”

Trixie gave a disapproving gaze to the pony. “Charmed,” she said with hardly any sincerity to her tone.

“My name’s Cheerilee…” She sadly looked around her, taking in her environment. “So… neither of you know just where we are or what’s going on?”

“Well,” Trixie began, “Derpy was about to look over that waterfall over there to see if she could find a way out, but she got distracted on the way up.”

“With what?” Cheerilee asked. Trixie gave her a blank stare. “Oh, it was probably me, wasn’t it?” Trixie’s stare held. “Well, Ms. Derpy, why don’t you try it one more time?”

“That won’t be necessary,” a fourth voice chimed in.

“That voice…” Trixie started. “Trixie knows that voice! YOU!” We all turned and looked at the top of the waterfall where a mysterious pegasus looked down at us. Her coat was a pale, light grayish blue. Her mane was light blue. She was wearing a pink bow and had a black eye patch over her right eye. Wait a second. I knew this pony too.

“F-Flitter?”

Author's Notes:

About the muffin thing, I understand why people say she's such a big muffins pony, but personally, I think it was just the fandom grasping at any line they could get out of her so that they could make a meme out of it. Thus, in my story, she thinks muffins are good, but she doesn't love them any more than the average pony.

About the whole wanting to have sex with Honeysuckle part, let me clear some things up. In my Equestria, sexual orientation does not exist. They have relationships with members of the opposite sex so that they can reproduce. However, they can get horny from any pony who knows how to turn them on. Thus, Honeysuckle could give Derpy the best orgasm she's ever had, but you would never see them in a relationship.

Chapter 4: Meet the Recruiter

“Welcome to orientation, cadets,” Flitter said, smiling over the three ponies. Trixie glared at her as Cheerilee and Derpy simply stared in confusion. “I guess you’re all wondering what you’re doing here.”

Trixie gritted her teeth and yelled, “Trixie would like to hear that before she puts a hole in your—”

“What Trixie means, Flitter, is yes, we’d like to know,” Derpy interrupted. Trixie shot her glare towards Derpy and slowly calmed down as she looked back up at Flitter.

Flitter’s smile faded. “Listen, this isn’t going to be easy to hear, but I need the three of you to hear it.” A long pause filled the cave as Flitter tried to collect her words. “Ponies are dying. Pretty soon, they’ll be dying by the hundreds, and it won’t stop there.”

Cheerilee gasped, not sure how to react. “I’m sorry,” the teacher announced, “but what does this have to do with the three of us being stranded in a cave?” She tried to seem as polite as she could, but a hint of anger couldn’t help but make its way out.

Flitter took a deep breath and recollected herself again. “Let me explain some things first.” She descended to the ground in front of the other three ponies. “You two,” she said motioning towards Cheerilee and Trixie, “may not know me, but my name is Flitter.”

“How do you know her?” Cheerilee asked turning towards Derpy.

“Flight camp,” Derpy responded. “She was always top of the class. I always wondered why she never made a career out of her flying talent. I remember walking into flight camp the first day, and she was the only one who had her cutie mark.”

Cheerilee and Trixie gazed at Flitter’s cuite mark. “Dragonflies,” Flitter responded. “It means I have the wingpower of two sets of wings. Some dragonflies can fly up to 36 miles per hour. Think of how fast a fully developed mare could fly with that kind of talent.” She smirked. “But I didn’t bring you all here to brag about my accomplishments.”

“What are you doing with that eye patch?” Derpy asked.

“Oh, this?” Flitter chuckled. “I got that about two years ago. Lost my eye when somepony sent a manticore to keep me from sneaking into their castle. That’s Saddle Arabia for you.”

Cheerilee pushed off all the confusion she had to smile at the achievement. “Sneaking into a castle? Making it past a manticore alive?” She and Derpy gawked at the recruiter with enthusiasm. Trixie stood behind them, still holding an icy stare for being knocked unconscious.

Derpy’s expression suddenly returned to confusion. “But I’ve seen you lots of times over the past 2 years, and you’ve never worn an eye patch.”

“Glass eye,” Flitter replied with a chuckle. “Hurts like a dickens, but I have to make sure nopony finds out about my job.”

“And just what is it that you do?” Cheerilee asked.

Flitter replied with her casual smirk. “Ladies, what you are about to hear is completely confidential and is to be kept such. Understood?” Cheerilee and Derpy nodded their heads, but Trixie kept her solid figure. “I asked if I was understood.” Trixie’s eyes grew even glacier, but she nodded nonetheless. “I’m the head sergeant of Equestria’s Royal Espionage Crew.” The three ponies gasped, Cheerilee covering her mouth with her hooves. “That’s… why I brought you all here…” The three ponies looked on, confused and scared. “Ladies… we need soldiers.”

“What?!” Cheerilee exclaimed. “I can’t fight a war! I have children to teach! OH NO! Class has probably started by now! Oh, they must be wondering where I—”

“Taken care of,” Flitter responded to silence the frantic earth pony. “A substitute was sent to the school this morning. She’s probably teaching your class as we speak. Nopony suspects a thing.” Cheerilee sighed in relief, but still couldn’t shake off the tension she was feeling. “Don’t worry, after this meeting you will all be allowed to return to your homes whether or not you comply.” Before Trixie had the chance to retaliate, Flitter cut her off saying, “You will also all be kept safe so long as you make sure that nopony knows about this place, about me, or about this organization. Understood?” The ponies all nodded their heads.

“I’m sorry to keep butting in like this,” Cheerilee said, “but why would you want us as soldiers?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Trixie said with her own smirk. “It was about time somepony took notice of the Great and Powerful Trixie’s magical prowess.”

“Actually, it’s quite the opposite,” Flitter responded, getting the usual glare from the blue unicorn. “We need somepony we can train. It seems as though most ponies have been taught how to train wrong and are thus at a disadvantage. I wanted to get three ponies with as little training as possible. That’s when I found you three.”

“What?!” Trixie shouted.

Flitter got in Trixie’s face. Trixie would have responded, but deep down, she knew she couldn’t attack a head sergeant. “Trust me,” Flitter continued, “by the end of all your training, you will be the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria.” Trixie’s glare was suddenly disrupted by widened eyes and a quick heartbeat. “Now, I wouldn’t want you to go into this without knowing exactly what you’re fighting for, so let me explain.” The three ponies sat back and listened intently to the pegasus’ tale. Flitter took a deep breath and began her sermon.

“About a week ago, a unicorn showed up dead on royal grounds dead. It wasn’t a day later when we heard of another unicorn being beaten until death. Then two more popped up. Upon investigating, we determined that these deaths were no coincidence. They were all linked together. A fifth unicorn’s body showed up on the grounds of the Crystal Empire. He had a note tied to his horn. This is no longer an attack on Equestrians or even unicorns in general. This is a planned terrorist attack on Princess Twilight Sparkle.

“The note said, ‘The government has become corrupted to where only unicorns can find favor in the eyes of royalty. Not even the most talented pegasi or earth ponies will ever meet your requirements. It is our plan to show you that we are not a force to be reckoned with. Prepare your troops, because your princess is about to be overthrown.’

“You may be wondering right now why the princesses don’t take this threat on by themselves. After all, the princesses have, without a doubt, the most powerful magic in Equestria. Unfortunately for us, though, we can’t allow them to have any part in this war. Their lives are far more important than any of ours. They can’t fight an entire war by themselves. Take the changeling invasion of Canterlot last summer, for example. Celestia couldn’t even stop the Chrysalis Queen by herself, and that’s just one threat. Twilight and her friends were thwarted just by the mere number of her subjects. Princess Cadence was only able to stop them due to Prince Shining Armor’s help. If she didn’t have him, Canterlot would be gone right now, and to make things worse, one of our sources is telling us that the enemy’s forces are growing in number. It’s estimated that soon, there will be thousands of terrorists looking for any opportunity to take down the princesses.

“Needless to say, there’s bound to be another attack any day now. We need ponies that we can train now. That’s why I needed the perfect pegasus, unicorn and earth pony. The three of you, should you all consent, will become the top soldiers of the military. You’ll be their leaders. You’ll be my leader. You need to understand, though, that this is in nowise safe. We are prepared to give our lives to protect the princesses. In doing so, though, we ensure a safe and peaceful Equestria.

“However,” she got up in Trixie’s face and gave her a stern look. “We are not one hundred percent sure who the culprit is, and we are keeping a close look out on anypony who might hold even the slightest grudge on Princess Twilight. If any of you have even the smallest ounce of respect for Equestria, you will tell me if any of you know anything.” She backed away slowly and turned to face all three of the enthralled ponies. “Cheerilee, Trixie, Derpy, knowing all of this, will you help me—No…” she bowed humbly to the ponies. “Will you help save Equestria?”

Cherilee stood with a strong posture, looked at Flitter like a cadet and replied firmly, “Yes, ma’am.”

Flitter smiled at her. “Thank you, Cheerilee. Don’t worry. This training won’t take you away from your children; not until there’s an actual terrorist attack, anyway.”

“Count me in,” Derpy said rushing over to hug her friend.

“I knew I could count on you, Derpy.” Derpy, Cheerilee and Flitter then all shifted their gaze at Trixie. “Well? What do you say, Trixie?”

Trixie’s stern stare turned into a brief smirk. “Trixie already agreed before you knocked her out, didn’t she?” the wizard said with a smile. “Just don’t forget what you said about me becoming the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria.” The others cheered and clapped their hooves.

“Thank you so much, all of you,” Flitter said. “Our first training session will be here tomorrow evening at dusk. I’ll show you the way out, but it’s your responsibilities to remember how to get back. I look forward to seeing you.” Flitter saluted her new recruits, who returned the gesture.

“You really don’t know who the pony behind all of this is, though?” Cheerilee asked as Flitter began to lead them out of the cave.

“We have an idea, but we aren’t one hundred percent sure, and until that day comes, we can’t disclose that information.”

Once Flitter had guided them all out of the cave, Derpy turned to Flitter and said, “By the way, you have a sister at home who’s worried about you.”

Flitter smiled politely and said, “I know. I miss her too. Hopefully I’ll be able to return home soon.” Derpy nodded her head and flew off with the other two recruits. Once Flitter knew that they were out of earshot, she brought her head down and slumped gloomily onto the ground. She then looked into the sky and mumbled to herself, “Lightning Dust, what are you thinking?”

Chapter 5: Dual Lives/Meet the Terrorist

As soon as I opened the door to my home, I immediately collapsed onto the floor. So many thoughts circled my mind that eventually I just felt exhausted. Slothfully getting up, I closed the door, moved my way to my bed and collapsed again.

“Cheerilee, what were you thinking?” I asked myself. “You just enlisted in a war! You’ve never been in a fight in your life! Maybe I should just tell her that I changed my mind…” As my eyes wandered, they rested on a picture that sat on top of my nightstand of all my students. “I can’t do it. I’ll be killed! Plus all the training that I’ll probably have to do—it just wouldn’t be fair to the kids. After all, they’re what matter most, right?”

Then Flitter’s words rang in my head.

“Pretty soon, they’ll be dying by the hundreds, and it won’t stop there…”

I covered my face in my pillow and screamed at the top of my lungs. “Oh, what do I do? I can’t abandon anypony who needs me. If a pony like Flitter thinks I can do it… but should I trust her? I’ve hardly even met her, and I just put my fate into her hooves! But I believe her…” I screamed into my pillow again. I laid there motionless for a few moments more. It didn’t seem like it was enough. I was still feeling panicked. I screamed again. Nothing changed. I screamed until my voice cracked, but all that was left was a lavender earth pony, sobbing into her pillow.

More thoughts flew through my mind, making things more complicated.

“You know that you always have somepony here who can’t wait to see you every day. Me, of course!”

“Ponies are dying.”

“You must really be a loving, caring pony, Miss Cheerilee.”

“Will you help save Equestria?”

“I DON’T KNOOOOW!!!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, resulting in more sobs. “I just… I just don’t know…”

Suddenly, a knock came at the door. I jolted up, wiping my tears away. I really hoped nopony heard me screaming. I forgot to muffle the last one with my pillow. After quickly fixing my mane so that it was presentable I opened the door, revealing an earth pony, pegasus and unicorn.

“Hey there, Miss Cheerilee!” Applebloom exclaimed.

“We saw that you weren’t at school today and just wanted to make sure you were OK,” said Sweetie Belle.

“I uh…” I started, trying to think of an excuse off the top of my head. Lying was not my special talent. “I actually woke up terribly sick this morning.”

“Really?” Scootaloo chimed in. “You don’t look sick.”

“You don’t sound sick either,” Sweetie Belle said.

I gave a fake cough, trying my hardest to make it sound legitimate. “Oh, I’m definitely sick. You know I wouldn’t miss class for just any reason. I promise I’ll be there bright and early Monday morning.”

“Well, OK,” Applebloom added with a sympathetic tone. “We just wanted to let you know that we love you and that we hope you’re OK.”

“And that you’re the best teacher ever!” Scootaloo added.

“And that we missed you so, so much!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, her voice cracking at the end.

My eyes started to tear up. “I love you too, girls.” I cleared my throat, wiped a tear from my eye and smiled back at the fillies. “Thanks for stopping by. It really means a lot to me.”

“No problem, Miss Cheerilee,” Scootaloo said with a smile. “We gotta go now, though. We’re having a slumber party with Applebloom’s boyfr—OW!” Applebloom sent a swift kick to Scootaloo’s ribs. Scootaloo winced in pain as the earth pony tried to seem as casual as she always was.

“She means uh…” Sweetie Belle started. “We’re sleeping over at Applebloom’s tonight. Well, we gotta go! See ya!”

The three fillies then ran off as fast as they could. Although I couldn’t hear what they were saying, it sounded like Applebloom was scolding Scootaloo for almost revealing whatever they were hiding.

Closing the door, I slowly slid to the ground. Everything was clear now. “I’m going to do it. Those kids look up to me, and I’m going to make them proud.” Walking back into my room, I took one more look at the photo atop my nightstand. “Thank you, girls.”
*
Once the other two went their separate ways, I continued walking. I didn’t have any specific direction or goal. All I could do was put one hoof in front of the other. I couldn’t think; there was too much on my mind. In fact, the very last thing on my mind was that I had just signed myself up to be part of some stranger’s military scheme.

After hours of walking as the sky turned red and bronze, I finally stopped in the middle of the Everfree forest, crying into my hooves. What that pegasus said cut down to my very core. Even through all the humiliating things that I had been through, nothing pierced my soul like what she said.

“I wanted to get three ponies with as little training as possible. That’s when I found you three.”

I was never a lady to cry. I thought it was unnecessary and juvenile. It was a way for little girls to seek out attention so that other ponies would know that they were hurt. This time, though, I was the one who was hurt, and like a little girl, I cried out in despair.

I wasn’t keeping track of the time. I just knew that the sun had gone down completely over an hour ago, and the whole time, I sat in that spot, reflecting over what happened. I didn’t even bother looking around to see if anything or anypony were around, at least not until I felt a hoof gently lay on my shoulder. With my eyes still in tears, I turned to see the concerned look of a tender, yellow pegasus.

“Oh, my goodness!” she exclaimed. “We need to get you out of here quick! Night is when all the scary creatures come out. Follow me. I’ll take you to my cottage.” Without saying a word, I nodded and began to follow her to her home.

On the way there, I didn’t speak. The yellow pegasus was trying very hard to be polite and make casual conversation, but I just was having no part of it. “My name is Fluttershy,” she said. I couldn’t even make eye contact. Never in my life had I felt more miserable than I did during those past few hours. After a few moments of silence, she asked, “Your name is Trixie, isn’t it?”

Somepony knew my name? “Yes,” I replied looking up for the first time. “How did you know?”

“Well, you see, I live in Ponyville, and—”

“Oh… that’s right…” I remembered back to when I had ruled as a dictator over the town. I continually tried telling myself not to worry about it. It was just the alicorn amulet. It wasn’t really me that put the town in bondage… was it? Suddenly when I thought I couldn’t feel any worse, I did.

“I hope you know that I forgive you for what happened,” she said after a few more long awkward moments.

“You do?”

“Of course. I know about how the amulet corrupts the user. You must not have known what was going on.”

I drifted my gaze back to the ground and said softly, “I really hope so, Fluttershy… I really do…”

Fluttershy’s cottage was almost immediately adjacent to the forest. She opened the door, flicked on the light and led me inside. She had quite a wonderful home. I felt like I shouldn’t have been there, though. “You know, I don’t mean to impose,” I started.

“Oh, nonsense,” Fluttershy replied with a smile. “I insist that you stay here for the night. U-unless there’s somewhere else you need to be.”

“Well… No, I guess not…” I sat down on a couch near the door. “But… why are you being so kind to Trixie?”

“I guess you could say that kindness is just my special talent.” She sat down next to me and patted me gently on the back. “Now, do you wanna tell me what’s been on your mind?” She gave me a tender smile.

I wished I could tell her everything, but I gave Flitter my word that I would keep everything secret. “Just a… Just a long day at work, you could say.”

“You mean at being a magician?” I couldn’t help but cry again. Fluttershy held me close, wrapping a wing around me and letting me cry on her shoulder. “Oh, I’m sorry if I said something wrong.” Unable to speak, I simply shook my head. “Trixie?”

I lifted my gaze towards hers, sniffling. “Yes, Fluttershy?”

“You can stay as long as you’d like. I’m always welcome to company.”

Somehow, she knew exactly what I wanted to hear. I had never had somepony show so much kindness toward me before. To be honest, I wasn’t even sure if I had ever had a friend before. Although I felt undeserving after what I had done months earlier, I felt like this was where I was supposed to be for now. Wiping a tear from my eye, I whispered, “Thank you.”

Finally, all the sorrow was temporarily out of my system. Training started now.
*
Ohshootohshootohshootohshootohshoot!

Once the girls and I separated, I suddenly realized that I had work! Honeysuckle must’ve knocked me out for almost a full day! I was already going to miss my shift for cloud-clearing, but I still had a chance to make it to the post office before my shift started. Then I remembered that I didn’t finish my route yesterday, either.

“Oh, jeeze, what do I tell the boss?” I thought about telling him the truth, but Flitter told me to keep everything secret. If I told him that a mare gave me some kind of poisonous muffin, he’d definitely need an explanation. “I’ll be OK. I just have to wing it. Twilight told me that that’s what she does when things don’t go as planned, and things turn out fine for her. You’ll be fine, Derpy. Deep breaths.”

Today I had been abnormally anxious. It wasn’t like me at all. Still, how was I supposed to be acting with all that had happened in the past 24 hours (the majority of which I was in a coma for!)?

Just before flying into the post office, I took a few deep breaths. I was just going to waltz in there like it was any normal day. Nothing about today was different than any other day. Then, as I flew in, everypony stopped what they were doing and surrounded me.

“Are you OK?”

“I thought you were hurt!”

“How are your wings feeling?”

“Are you sure you can work today?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! What’s goin on here?” my boss said as he tried fanning his way through the crowd. “Derpy? OK, everypony, you can talk to her after your shift. Back to work.” The large crowd surrounding me had suddenly dissipated as the pegasi all returned to their stations. “Derpy, what are you doing here? I thought you were in the hospital!”

“You thought… what?” I asked quizzically.

“A pegasus came by with your mail bag yesterday and said you accidentally crashed into an apple tree while doing your route. She said you hurt your wing pretty bad, too. How is it feeling? Can you flap it OK?”

“I’m fine, boss. I can do my route today.”

“Oh, no. I don’t care how tough you think you are. From what that pony told me yesterday, you got beat up pretty bad.” I scratched my head in confusion. Who was he talking about? “Look, Derpy, I know you want to prove that you can be a dependable mail mare, but I’m putting you on medical leave for the month.”

“What?! The whole month?!”

“Derpy… your wing got twisted all the way down. You may look fine, but I’m not gonna take any chances, you hear me? I’ll just get Blossomfoth to cover for you until then. Go home. Relax.” He put his hoof on my shoulder. “You work hard enough as it is.”

Suddenly, an idea came to my mind. I slowly met my boss’s eyes and asked, “Boss… what did this pony you were talking about look like?”

“Well, she was about your age. Light blue mane, kind of a grayish coat. I’d say more of a shade of periwinkle. Oh, and she had this pink bow.”

I looked away, remaining silent for a minute. “I guess she really does need me…”

“Huh?”

“What? Oh, nothing, boss. I just… my wing was just giving me problems.”

“You see what I mean? Take some time off. Rest that wing of yours. Come next month, I want you flyin at top speed.”

“Yes, boss. I guess I’ll get going, then. See you later!” I waved my boss off, about to start flying until I realized that I was supposed to be faking an injury. Pretending like I was in pain, I limped out of the post office.

I flew my way over to the weather station to try and explain why I wasn’t there this morning either, but I was met with the same reaction. They told me that they heard how I had crashed into a nearby apple tree and that my wing was twisted from top to bottom. Then I was put on medical leave so that my wing could get better. Flitter must really have done her homework.

Upon leaving the weather station, I was greeted by a friendly, familiar face with a spiked mane. Oh, no. “Hey, Derpy!” Cloudchaser said gleefully as she pranced toward me. “You working at the moment?”

“What? Oh. No, I was put on medical leave. I uh… twisted my wing up pretty bad yesterday.”

“Oh, wow! I’m sorry to hear that. Can you fly OK?” She was about to examine my wing, but I pulled it away sheepishly, hoping she didn’t find out that I was a big fat liar.

“Not really. It really hurt getting up here to Cloudsdale to tell everypony that I got hurt. I uh… I crashed into a…” This story got more and more embarrassing the more times I went over it. “…a tree.”

“I’m really sorry, Derpy. How long are you out for?”

“A month, but I uh… I gotta get going. My wing is starting to give me problems and I should probably go rest it.” I really just couldn’t stand lying to one of my best friends. “I’ll talk to you as soon as I can fly again, OK?”

As I turned away, Cloudchaser quickly interjected. “Wait!” I flinched at the sudden burst of sound. “I’m sorry, I-I just have to ask… Did you see Flitter at all?” She sounded so worried.

A tear ran down my cheek. I didn’t know anypony who loved their sister more than Cloudchaser loved Flitter. I couldn’t even turn to face Cloudchaser. “No…” I lied, trying to sound as casual as possible. “I’m sure she’s fine, though.”

I could hear her fighting back tears. “I just miss her so much.”

Before I let her see that I was crying with her, I took off. I didn’t say good bye, wave or even look at her. I just flew away as fast as I could while still trying to fake a wing injury. “Flitter…” I said to myself, “I really hope you know what you’re doing.”
*
Later that night…

“We have been lied to, fellow pegasi. We have been told that we have been living in harmony in Equestria for millennia. We have been told that pegasus, unicorn and earth pony have all inhabited the land as equals. Well, I am here to tell you that it was all a lie.

“We pegasi are the reason that Equestria exists. We are the ones who give water to the crops. We are the ones who clear the clouds to let the sunshine in. Weather pegasi alone are responsible for the agricultural well-being of every city, town and field in Equestria. Can you tell me any unicorn that can do all that?

“Now, we have lived with them for thousands of years without any war or conflict. Some would say it was because we had good relations. Maybe it was because we were all friends. OR MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE ALL LEFT IN THE DARK!”

Several voices chimed in throughout the room. Pegasi had quiet conversations between themselves.

“Let’s get to the point: Princess Twilight Sparkle.” She spoke with malice as the words escaped her lips. “I for one must say that I respected her. She was great at what she did, but what she was was a UNICORN! Don’t you see? The kingdom has shown that they hold favoritism for their race. No matter how talented we are at flying or, heaven forbid, our JOBS as PEGASI, we will never find favor in the sight of the princesses, at least not in the same way as a unicorn would. What are the possibilities that any of us will ever become a monarch? I don’t see any, and do you know why? It’s because to the princesses, magic is more important than being a pegasus or earth pony!

“Fillies and gentlecolts, this is where we step in. This is where we make our mark in history. We are going to show once and forever more that pegasi are just as strong as unicorns. If we can’t show that we can rule a kingdom with our talents, then we’ll show it to them in a different way. We are going to overthrow the kingdom and take control as pegasi and earth ponies! That will prove once and for all that we are far more capable of ruling a kingdom than even the princesses. We are going to make an example out of them, and do you know how? We are going to kill Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

The room roared in conflicting thoughts. “Be still, everypony! I understand your dilemma. Princess Twilight has been an example and a friend to many of us, but to what degree are we going to let the kingdom trample over us? At what point are we going to say ‘I wanted to be treated as an equal’ to even our closest friends? We need to stick up for ourselves, and if we don’t do something now, the oppression will just build up. Soon we will tell our children about what life was like before the unicorns took control. Princess Twilight’s coronation may not seem like a drastic change at the moment, but what do we do when all pegasi and earth ponies are mistreated by the unicorns? Have you not seen how the Canterlotians carry themselves about? Their pride has brought them to a point where they think that everypony is beneath them. Now, let me ask you another question. How many pegasi have the luxury of living in Canterlot?

“If I can leave just one thought in your hearts this evening, my friends, it is that you think about it. This idea may seem radical at the moment, but if you ponder over this message, you will begin to see what I mean. We’re not doing this because we hate Princess Twilight. On the contrary, actually. Many of us love Twilight with all our heart, but where do your loyalties lie? With Princess Twilight or Equestria?

“I, for one, believe in a new Equestria! Many believe that we are equals already, but that is just our goal. Our goal is to put a pegasus and earth pony in the government and GIVE OUR RACE A VOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and began chanting, “LIGHTNING DUST! LIGHTNING DUST!”

The spring green pegasus smiled at all of her followers. It was really happening. She was creating a new world order, and soon, nopony would be able to stop her.

“My friends…” She smirked. “We have a lot of work to do.”