//-------------------------------------------------------// The Elements of Fate -by Quryix- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 “Ugh. I’ll be late for my meeting with the princess. Spike help me clean up,” a lavender unicorn called as she ran around what looked to be a library. Bookshelves covered almost every inch of the walls. All with books, put in their perfect place alphabetically by subject and title. The only exceptions to the bookshelves were a small locked door, an open way to a small kitchen and a staircase leading higher up into the library. From the kitchen walked a small purple and green dragon. “Twilight, she’s only downstairs. I don’t think you need to clean the entire library, for her coming upstairs,” the dragon stated, obviously irritated and rather obviously male. “But Spike, she said this would be a very important meeting. I don’t want anything to go wrong,” Twilight pleaded. “Twilight, you’ve got to calm down. Bad things happen when you don’t calm down,” the dragon known as Spike said calmly. “I know Spike. I know. I’ve been trying to keep my emotions under control. It’s just... Whenever I become angry or upset. My magic flares up and destroys something. I think I’m actually getting the hang of it, but I’m still not sure,” “I really hope you do. Because I have some bad news for you,” “Just tell me Spike. Please don’t beat around the bush. It will only make whatever it is worse,” “Well... The dragon council is trying to get their land back from the Changeling Empire, and to do so they are recruiting ponies... So they are looking for a dragon that knows pony customs, and well... I’ve been chosen. I have to leave now,” “WHAT! That’s great Spike. Do you know when you will be back to visit again?” Twilight jumped at Spike pulling him into a crushing hug. “That’s the catch. I won’t be back. It’s a life job, and it’s dangerous work. I might not survive the first year they said. I’m taking the job no matter what you say Twilight. I’m already packed and everything,” She fell out of the hug, sitting on the floor, defeated. “You might not survive the first year.Why would you do this to me Spike,”She cried. “Because I’m tired sitting idle. I want to help defeat the armies of chaos and changelings,” he pulled a small red hobo bindle from around the corner, in the kitchen and walked out the front door with four parting words, “I love you, Twilight.” Once, the door closed, Twilight continued to sit on the floor of the library, and cried. She cried until her body ran out of tears. Her horn glowed a faint purple, every once and awhile but nothing happened. She just cried. After about an hour of lying on the floor crying, she felt a slight nudge on her head. When she looked up, staring back at her was the magenta eyes of her mentor,Princess Celestia. “Congratulations, Twilight,” The princess said. “What, do you mean princess. I just lost another friend. Everyone I’m close to just leaves me. First my parents, then my brother,” Twilight trailed off after that with more tears. “But, Twilight. You passed,” “Passed what?” “The test to see if you could deal with grief. You are overcome with sadness, but you haven’t destroyed anything. You are now ready to move on to the next part of your training,” “You’re... You’re right. WAIT! You set this all up to see if I could deal with grief?!” “No, Twilight. What Spike told you was true. It was just convenient that I want to test your emotions around the same time,” “If you say so, princess. If I’m ready what’s next in my training,” “Luna and I will tell you. Follow me,” The large white alicorn walked towards the door near the kitchen and walked through the doorway down a set of stairs. I guess it is now or never. Twilight thought, as she followed her mentor down the stairs. ————————————————————————————————————————— Down the stairs of the library, behind a wooden desk sat a dark blue alicorn, as dark as the night itself. Princess Celestia, walked around the desk, before sitting to the left of the smaller alicorn. “Hello Luna,” Twilight said, as she bowed to the sisters. “Hello again, Twilight. No need for the formalities. There is much to be discussed,” said, Princess Luna. “Well let’s get down to business, now shouldn’t we,” Celestia deadpanned. “Yes, we should sister,” “Ok, well Twilight. We have brought you here, for a very special mission. We need you to locate, the Elements of Harmony. As well as find where Chrysalis stored, Princess Cadence and your brother’s soul. This is our only hope, to save Equestria,” “WAIT! My brother is ok, and you never told me?! Why have you been keeping secrets from me?” “It’s for your own good. I don’t want you to know too much of what fate has had in store for you,” “Twilight, Celestia and I only want the best for you. We didn’t want you to become upset with us,” “Whatever, Luna. Just tell me where to start, looking for them,” “Well—” “I asked Luna to tell me!” “Well Twilight. We want you to head to Trotingham. Princess Cadence’s hometown. We have arranged an escort, to help you get there. She should be outside in a few minutes. So get packed quick,” “Ok, Luna,” “Oh yeah, be wary. Your guide is quite... eccentric,” Celestia chimed as Twilight ran up the stairs. “Do you think she will be ok?” Luna asked. “She should be just fine,” Celestia responded. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 As soon as Twilight reached the top of the stairs, she started packing her saddlebags for the journey ahead of her. She packed food,water as well as a book on the Elements of Harmony and some bits. She wouldn’t need any weaponry, being such a talented spellcaster as she was. She was the princesses protégé after all. Right as she finished packing. There was a knock on the door. When Twilight opened the door, there before he stood a pink earth pony with hair as pink and poofy as cotton candy.Her cutie mark was three balloons. She took a big breath before saying, “Hi my name is Pinkie Pie and you must be Twilight Sparkle I’ve been ordered to guide you on a secret mission I’m not sure what the mission is but I know it will be super secret fun and we’ll have lots of fun on the way I was a baker before those awful nasty changeling bugs and weird creatures of nasty evilness ruined all the fun hopefully we won’t run into many on our way I have a map we should plan our super fun route of funness before we leave the safe safeness of Ponyville so the princesses live in your library that must be fun do you do lots of fun with them I never met them before two days ago but they seemed really fun and nice and fun when we’re done we should throw a party I love parties and I love meeting new ponies don’t you just love having lots of friends with you to have fun with all my friends call me Pinkie and since you are my friend you can call me Pinkie as well,” They were right about her being excitable. “ Hello Pinkie. So let’s see that map, might as well plan ahead,” “Okie dokie lokie,” she pulled out a map from her saddle bags and bounced over to the closest table, “Where do you think we should go, I think we should go towards Cloudsdale, we can gather supplies there and then we can continue towards Trotingham. Also we should stop at this cottage here”— she pointed at a point on the map on the way to Cloudsdale— “I have a friend there who is an accomplished healer, she is a little bit shy but she will be great on your super secret mission, the only problem is that we will be in close proximity to the Everfree forest but hopefully no evil nasties come out,” still in shock of Pinkie Pie’s mannerisms Twilight responded. “That sounds like a great plan, but how did you come up with such a perfect route in such a short time?” “Hmm I’m not sure but if I figure out I’ll be sure to tell you so our we all ready to go on our super fun super secret mission,” “Let’s go, Pinkie,” Twilight and Pinkie left Twilight’s home in relative silence, the only noise being Pinkie as she landed from her bounce,skip walking thing. “Pinkie, why do you walk like that. You know by bouncing up and down,” “Hmmm I’m not sure but its fun you should try it sometimes its super duper fun once you get the hang of it,” “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass,” “Okie dokie lokie,” Twilight and Pinkie walked for another half an hour before reaching the edge of Ponyville. About a mile away was a small cottage, with animals running and playing. “Here we are the outer edge of Ponyville after this point evil nasties and changelings roam free we should start to be careful the cottage over there belongs to my friend Fluttershy all the animals are out having super duper fun so I guess Fluttershy is outside as well let’s go,” Pinkie continued her bounce/walking motion as Twilight followed behind her. About half way there Twilight noticed a small yellow pegasus with long pink hair covering her left eye. She seemed to be feeding some of the animals. “Hello Fluttershy!!!” Pinkie called from down the road “Eep!” Twilight noticed the yellow pegasus flinch at the noise, ducking behind the bear she was feeding. She peered from behind the bear to notice Twilight and Pinkie walking towards her cottage. Once the two ponies got to the cottage, Twilight actually heard the butter colored pegasus apparently named Fluttershy actually whisper something from behind the bear. “Oh, Pinkie you scared me. Why must you do that,” she had a very soft and quiet voice. “Sorry Fluttershy but you are such an accomplished healer and the old princesses asked me to lead this pony here,”—pointing to Twilight— “on a super secret mission and we would like you to come with us,” “Oh, Pinkie I’d love to but I must stay here and watch the animals,” all at once the animals made noises at her. “Oh, you all think I should go,” more pleasant noises came from the animals this time. “If you all insist. Ok, Pinkie and oh I never caught your name?” “Twilight Sparkle. Pleased to have you joining us Miss Fluttershy,” “Ok, let me go get some things from inside,” She quickly flew off inside her house. When Fluttershy went inside a small white bunny rabbit came up to Pinkie and Twilight, handing Pinkie a vial of a clear liquid. “Thank you Angel, you know it’s my favourite,” Pinkie stated before putting the vial in her saddle bags. “What was that all about?” Twilight asked as the small bunny hopped away. “Oh nothing to worry your pretty little head about, but let’s say Fluttershy brews her own healing potions,” Twilight was very confused now. Fluttershy flew out of her home now, still flying rather low to the ground before landing in front of Twilight and Pinkie. Her cutie mark, turned out to be three pink butterflies, her saddlebags matching. The difference in her saddlebags though were they had loops on the side holding a viscous red liquid, in each of the eight vials. “So where are we off to now,” Fluttershy whispered. “Cloudsdale!” Pinkie cheerfully answered. “Ooh Cloudsdale. I haven’t visited home in years,” “Well then let’s go,” Twilight deadpanned, before the trio of them started walking north, parallel to the Everfree forest. Author's Note I'm sorry the chapters have been so short, hopefully I can think up more content for later chapters. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 The three mares walked north towards the pegasus city of Cloudsdale. The Everfree forest seemed to radiate a darkness that could be felt by all three of the mares could feel physically. They ignored it and continued to walk north still. After about an hour from leaving Fluttershy’s cottage they heard a rustling from the Everfree forest. “Eep,” Fluttershy jumped backwards almost falling into Pinkie Pie. Pinkie and Twilight looked intently into the dark twisted forest. “Come out, come out wherever you are nasty,” Pinkie cooed into the forest. Out of the forest jumped a twisted corpse made of both ponies and changelings. Its eyes were a stallion and a changeling. It’s hooves being one of each race and gender of pony and changeling. It pawed at the ground like a stallion and it holes in its body like a changeling. It reeked of death and decay. “Ugrgh,” the creature grunted looking at all three of the mares in front of it. Pinkie quickly grabbed a pie from her bag and threw at the creature. “Pinkie why are you giving it pie?!” Twilight yelled. An explosions was then heard from the direction of abomination. “I’m not I’m blowing it up with pie,” Pinkie responded with a giggle. Twilight looked towards it to see all of its legs were blown off. “I did not see that coming. We should probably walk away from the forest,” “Yes, yes we should,” both Pinkie and Fluttershy responded. They moved over a little before continueing to Cloudsdale. They walked another two hours before reaching Cloudsdale. “Ooh Cloudsdale. It’s been so long since I’ve been here,” Fluttershy whispered. “I see travelers!” yelled a female voice from above. “Get General Dash!” yelled a male voice voice. They then saw an armored pegasus fly down from Cloudsdale, landing right in front of them. “Hello mares. I’m Captain Dust, my daughter went to go get General Dash for you, but if you don’t mind me asking what are three pretty mares like yourself doing this far from safety?” “We’re just here gathering supplies,” Pinkie responded quickly. “Well can I get anything for you?” “Some food and water would be nice,” right at that moment another pegasus flew down this one with a rainbow pluum on her helmet. “Well here comes General Dash. I’ll go get those supplies for you,” the new pegasus landed right as the new one landed. This one’s armor looked different and it two short swords strapped to the sides of the armor. It seemed to be colored all of the colors of the rainbow. “Hello travellers. I am General Rainbow Dash of the Cloudsdale guard. How may I help you?” “Well Rainbow we just came here to get supplies but it is nice to see an old friend,” Fluttershy responded. “Oh, hello Fluttershy, long time no see. What are you doing back in Cloudsdale?” Rainbow then took off their helmet to reveal a mare with a long rainbow mane styled much more wildly than Twilight’s but of a similar style. “Supplies and I’m on a quest with my friend Pinkie who is escorting Miss Twilight here on something important for the cosmic princesses. So you are now high up in the pegasi military I see,” “Not really I’m just general of the ponies who look over the side of Cloudsdale to watch for changeling swarms and abominations. But I do my job well and I’ll be loyal to the job until the very end,” “That’s too bad. We would love to have your combat prowess join us in our quest,” Twilight said. “Well I would make your quest go even faster and I have a lot of sick days I can cash in so... Hmmmmm I don’t know. My loyalty is with my job but my job is meant to keep the ponies safe and your three are the ponies...Hmmm sure why not,” at that moment General Dust flew down with food and water in saddle bags with a cloud and a rainbow lightning bolt on them. “Sorry General but I couldn’t find anything else to hold it in,” “It’s fine Dust. I’m going with them anyway. Until I come back you’re in charge. Got it,” “YES MA’AM!” he saluted before flying back up to Cloudsdale. “Well girls, let’s go,” Rainbow said as she put her helmet back on. “Next stop. Manematten,” Pinkie said as they walked eastward. Author's Note Sorry for the wait, and it being a short chapter. Hopefully I'll start having more to write about eventually. //-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue //-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue With Canterlot and the rest of Equestria over run with changelings, the princesses of the sun and moon have been forced to take shelter in a library in Ponyville, the last safe haven in Equestria. The princesses have only one hope left in all of Equestria. Twilight Sparkle and the Elements of Harmony. ————————————————————————————————————————— In a dusty, old room no bigger than the average bedroom stood two horned pegasi. One larger with a coat as white as snow with a translucent rainbow mane, and the smaller one a midnight blue with a matching translucent mane. Their perfect, regal posture contradicted the state of the room they were in quite nicely. Bookshelves and scientific gizmos lined the walls of dirt. The two alicorns stood behind a desk of polished wood. “Sister, do you think we will ever be able to save our people?” The smaller one asked. “Luna. It is not our fate to save them. It is Twilight's,” The larger one replied, in a kind yet commanding tone. “But Tia, when will she be ready?” The one named Luna whined. “Luna, I’ve told you many times, call me Celestia not Tia. As for Twilight, she is is almost ready, all she needs is a little extra push,” Celestia replied, with a hint of mischief in her voice. “Tia, don’t tell me you’re thinking what I think you are thinking. She loves that dragon as much as life itself. You wouldn’t dare,” “Just to see if she can handle heartbreak. Last time her heartbroke the entire world shook with her sadness. You remember don’t you? Her brother’s wedding?” “How could I forget it? Her magic summoned a literal tidal wave which destroyed the entire castle. Better she destroyed it then those rotten changelings!” “Also remember her parents she tried to bring them back to life, with terrible consequences,” Luna seemed to literally shudder at the memory, “if she can’t handle grief, she will never be able to free the world, from Discord and Chrysalis’ tyranny,” “I now understand sister. I’m still not sure how you plan to have her save Equestria though,” “Remember when we defeated Discord 1000 years ago?” “Yes, I do... WAIT! You don’t plan for her to use the elements. Do you?” “I do Luna,” “But, the sheer power of the elements would destroy her,” “Oh, sister. I don’t plan for her to use them alone,” Celestia giggled. “Sometimes I think you know too much for your own good, sister.”