Chapters Element of Honesty
The first chosen to be the element of honesty was a unicorn stallion named Shale, who was the pony that discovered the Elements of Harmony. He came from a family who had been gem miners for generations, and was the first to mine for gems outside the unicorn tribe.
The element chose him not only for how truthful he’d been throughout his life but for what he did when the elements were in his presence. While in the mines some ponies would keep a few of the jewels dug up selling them to the few merchants that traveled near the settlement, or to the merchants in their own clans when given the rare chance to return home for brief visits.
Some of these ponies were caught and would normally be sent back to their own tribes were they’d be judged by their own law system and given the appropriate punishment. But with how small the settlement was the ponies there were already working at all times that they couldn't afford to send them back home. To try to stop the amount of jewels being taken it was suggested that guards should be posted at the mines but with the large amount of wild creatures beginning to venture closer and at times entering the settlement no soldiers could be spared to keep watch in the mines. There was no choice but to rely on the worker in the mines to report any ponies they saw taking gems.
This wasn’t fully effective even though the offenders couldn't be punished at the moment most of the thieves bribed witnesses to keep them quiet while others didn't want to get involved and just turned a blind eye. Many had tried bribing Shale who refused but though he felt he should turn over this information to their boss Shale didn't want this new land that was supposed to bring all the tribes together in harmony to have been built by dishonest ponies. He tried speaking to these ponies hoping to convince them to stop. He wouldn't report them if they changed their ways, but if he saw them continue to steal he’d have no choice but to report them if none of the other workers hadn't done so already ,or if they were caught by the one put in charge of the mine. Shale did manage to turn some of the thieves around.
Though he tried to help as many as he could Shale continued to work hard in the mines. On one normal day he felt drawn to a specific spot in the mine, though it was strange he began to dig uncovering the five strange gems. Since they looked different from the jewels normally dug from the mine they’d need to be cut a bit before being shipped to jewelers. But they wouldn't cut and the strange amount of power coming from them couldn't be ignored. Packing them in a bag shale went to the boss of his assigned mine explaining how he felt about the gems even giving money for them before turning them over to Clover the Clever.
Some time passed before Clover the Clever returned to the settlement with a few ponies the gems had chosen, finding that the elements had remembered Shale’s decision. He could have taken the jewels and sell them for his own personal gain. But instead turned them over not knowing what they were, maybe hoping they would be of help to the settlement. This made shale worthy to become the first element of honesty.
Element of Generosity
The first element of generosity was an earth pony mare named Swift Stroke. She came from a poor family, her parents did odd jobs around their village in the earth pony tribe to provide for her and her younger brother. As she got older Swift Stroke also took up some work around her village doing simple jobs for some of the shop owners and anypony who asked for her services.
But when she wasn't running about to earn some bits she's spend the small amount of free time drawing and painting. Since she couldn't afford to buy a lot of supplies she would often help out at some of the shops that made paints and other art supplies. The shop owners would let Swift Stroke have whatever paints and canvas materials left over along with a few brushes that had been damaged.
Over time her skills improved enough that Swift Stroke felt she should try selling her best work. Some were bought by those who wanted something to decorate their homes with while some saw how good she was getting asking her to paint a few things on the buildings walls, or to paint some signs for the front of shops. The paintings weren't big but she was paid so it helped out her family. She continued practicing over the years taking some paintings to the market place to sell, for on rare occasions ponies from the wealthier parts of the earth pony tribe would ride through the village. Most ignore the beggars and merchants but some of the younger aristocrats stepped off their carriages. They still paid little mind to the beggars and merchants, wanting to see what the lower class area was like.
On one of these visits one of them saw Swift Strokes paintings impressed that a commoner with no professional training had made such wonderful paintings. She hoped he’d buy one but instead offered to pay her to do a portrait for him. She took the offer the money would help feed her family. Her new client brought her to his estate supplying the canvas, paints and brushes. The money she earned from the job allowed her family to live in a bit more comfort, and soon another wealthy pony came to her for a portrait with a slightly larger payment. After a while her name had spread through the earth pony tribe bringing in more portrait requests, and having some of her other works displayed in museums. With the money she was earning Swift stroke was able to move herself and her family to a better home.
Even though she’d gained fame and money she didn't let it change her. She’d often visit her old village, she even gave money to help build houses and feed the beggars wondering the streets. She was always willing to give what she could to help others, and her generosity was shown to the elements.
With the storm from the wendigo's still present in the three tribes Clover the Clever needed to find an inn after another day of searching. She’d never been in the area before and didn't know her way around. That’s when she met Swift Stroke who took the unicorn to her home offering her a place to stay for the night, and even though there was a food shortage she made Clover the Clever a big meal even packing her some extra food and money. Giving so much to a pony that she hardly knew and from a different tribe, without asking for anything in return activated the elements for they had found the pony fit to bear the element of generosity.
Element of Loyalty
The first to claim the element of loyalty was a pegasus mare named Jolt. At a young age she found an interest in jousting watching tournaments when given the chance. Soon Jolt began training herself signing up for a tournament held by some training camps for fillies and colts. She lost the tournament and a few more that were being held nearby but that didn't stop her from continuing to joust. Jolt practiced in her spare time entering a few more tournaments the following year lasting longer in each of her matches. But she didn't win against the last few opponents to move onto the finals, and claim the title as the tournaments champion jouster.
As she got a bit older Jolt’s jousting skills improved, winning a few tournaments she was able to go to. Some of the older competitors who were competing in other categories the tournament had, suggested she try a few of them out. She also watched a few of the sword fighting matches at times beginning to work on her swordsman skills for the tournament the coming year. She had help from a few older pegasi who usually entered that category.
Speaking with him Jolt decided to join the army traveling with Striker to one of the armies training camps. Striker helped Jolt improve her swordsman skills and the two had formed a friendship, and Jolt often looked up to the stallion seeing him as an older brother. After nearly two years in training she was placed in Strikers unit a few days before the great storm hit the three tribes. Once hearing the discovery of land that had been named Equestria, Striker offered his unit to be used in the settling of the land. Jolt was skeptical about it but knew the ponies who had to make it livable needed protection from the unknown creatures in the area. Also her friend was willing to help so she went along with little argument.
Once in Equestria she did all she could in order to protect the ponies in the small settlement. On one particular day Clover the Clever along with the ponies she had found returned to the settlement continuing their search. They’d found Shale in one of the mines who the elements had chosen ,and continued searching the mine for the last pony they needed but found nothing. The group continued to search the settlement only to come out empty hoofed, forcing the group further from the small town. With a few pegasus soldiers escorting them Clover the clever and her companions were led to the guard stations on the edge of the settlement.
She searched the small towers coming up with nothing forcing her to go after a few soldiers patrolling the woods. She met up with the small unit when a hydra attacked. With none of the soldiers experienced in battling against this creature they fled out of fear, leaving Clover the Clever and her group with only two soldiers Striker and Jolt to fight the hydra.
Jolt had been scared of the creature but wasn't going to leave her general and friend to fight it alone. The fight was long but with the help of Clover the Clever, and her companions the two soldiers were able to defeat the hydra with minimal injuries. Jolt had two choices in that situation, stay with her general or run back to the settlement. She chose to stay and fight beside her friend willing to die rather than just abandon him to save her own life. This showed that Jolt was the perfect choice to be the element of loyalty.
The first to bear the element of kindness was an earth pony by the name of Poppy Seed. She never knew who her parents were, she was found in the front of an orphanage wrapped in cloth with nothing but a poppy flower. Nothing else had been placed with the baby, So Lila the head of the orphanage decided to call her Poppy Seed. Growing up Poppy Seed wondered about her parents knowing that nopony at the orphanage could tell her anything about them. All she had received from them was the flower she'd been found with pressing it in a book to preserve it.
Feeling that it must have been important to her parents she started to work in the garden with Lila where she found a love for tending to the sunflowers in the small garden. Working with Lila helped create a close bond between them. She began learning from the older mare like a grandmother passing things she'd learned to her granddaughter. As she got older Poppy Seed began helping around the orphanage, and at times acted like an older sister to some of the younger fillies and colts housed there. She wanted to show them love and kindness they’d normally get from a parent. She continued this into adulthood, and was given the choice that all orphans who reached a certain age, she was free to leave and do what she wanted. Poppy Seed decided to stay at the orphanage to help care for the young ponies there, help them grow up happy and guide them down the right path.
She helped them realize their talents teaching them a few skills that they’d need when ready to leave. She also helped the nurse care for the young ponies who needed it. Besides the things she helped with one of her other tasks were to go into town and get supplies for the orphanage. With the storm still present in the three tribe’s food was still scarce, and with the small amount the earth ponies could grow the prices for goods had risen. Normally the orphanage wouldn't have much money but thanks to some of the generous donations from Swift Stroke they were able to give the young ponies proper care. Poppy Seed often wrote the artist thank you letters for her help since she had never met her in person.
On one of her visits to the market place she met Clover the Clever, and Swift Stroke. During their conversation a pony ran from the crowd snatching Clover the Clever’s money bag running off. Because of the shortage of food many ponies had turned to stealing in order to survive. The three chased after the thief cornering them at the main gate. The culprit was only a colt about the same age as some of the colts at the orphanage. In cases like this if caught thieves would be handed over to the guards for punishment but because of his age Poppy Seed chose to reason with him.
She spoke to him in the same way she’s speak to the others in the orphanage, turns out he was living alone on the streets his parents left for something but never came back a few years ago . He felt abandoned feeling he could trust nopony but himself. Poppy Seed Continued to talk to him, till he finally broke down letting her mother him, openly forgiving him for stealing and happy to give him a home at the orphanage. Showing love and compassion to a young pony who’d forgotten how it felt to experience it awoke the elements in Clover the Clever's bag, dubbing the simple earth pony as the element of kindness.
The first element of laughter was a pegasus stallion named Pali. He was born in a gypsy caravan traveling around never staying in one place for more than a couple of weeks. Many of the ponies were from the three different tribes, mixed together to make up the caravan. With the different races of ponies they brought their own type of skills. The earth ponies made small simple charms and toys, while the unicorn’s brewed potions and other forms of remedies. The pegasi were entertainers using their flying skills to perform tricks. The Earth ponies and unicorns sold their wares to the town’s residents the pegasi had drawn over with their aerial acrobatics in the town square.
But the pegasi weren't the only type of ponies who performed, a few earth ponies and unicorns had a few tricks and talents used to entertain others and earn money. Pali had showed interest in becoming an entertainer like his parents. He was being trained by them along with a few of the other pegasi in the caravan. Though he enjoyed watching his parents and others go through their routines, he was fascinated with the ponies who performed but couldn't fly. Pali would go over to the center of the camp after flying practice to watch the unicorns use their magic to juggle objects, and create optical allusions. It was interesting to see but the ones he liked to watch most was the earth ponies. Without the ability to fly or use magic they had different ways of performing.
Pali began going to the earth ponies learning how to play the lute, balance on a large ball walking up right to make it move or while doing a hoofstand. He began finding ways to incorporate a few things he learned into his aerial acts. Pali had been taught to play a few instruments but favored the lute, liking the way it sounded when played and had gotten good at it. Pali was also known as a bit of a prankster playing jokes on the residents of the caravan. Besides playing instruments and performing on the ground, and in the air he also liked doing a few comedic acts for the ponies in his caravan as well as for the town’s folk in the area they had chosen to stop at.
Once Pali had reached adulthood he had developed routines that would entertain the audience the most leading to a larger payment. On one of the caravan’s travels they stopped at a town nearly at the end of the earth ponies’ territory settling down ready to sell their wares while a few performers went out to attract the ponies in town and earn money. Usually the performers would go to the center of town where it was more crowded but the storm had the towns folk held up in buildings. Pali and the other entertainers spread out searching for inns and taverns.
He managed to find an inn where Clover the Clever and two of the other elements were staying. He began playing a few songs on his lute taking a few request when a group of pegasi entered the inn. After a while hostility between the earth ponies and pegasi edging toward a fight. Using a few of his comedic acts Pali worked to lighten the crowd and after a while all the ponies were laughing and drinking together. Seeing that a simple gypsy performer used his talent of making others laugh to eliminate a violent situation and bringing the ponies together showed that the pegasus was the perfect choice for the element of laughter.
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Element of Magic, and The Birth Of Two Rulers
At a young age Clover the Clever was fascinated by magic studying hard enough to catch Starswirl the Bearded attention seeing that she was worthy enough to become his apprentice. Years later she accompanied her tribes representative to a new land helping to dispel the Wendigo’s , before being chosen to search for the ponies that could help bring harmony to the three tribes, and the new land of Equestria. She was given little information through a dream and never realized her important role involving the elements.
After finding the five ponies the mysterious gems had chosen they had learned things about one another, and a bond had formed between the six ponies as they traveled back to the unicorn kingdom. When reaching Princess Platinum castle she brought the five ponies to Starswirl the Bearded and despite the research he had been doing while Clover the Clever was gone, he couldn't find anything in the historical records of the jewels being found before. Though the dream she had only told her what the gems were and that she needed to find the ponies the elements chose but nothing else.
Starswirl examined the gems but the only difference was that they slightly glowed in the five ponies presence. Despite how little they'd learned about the gems the two other tribe leaders were summoned in hopes that one of them could figure out what to do with the magical objects. That night Clover the clever was spoken to again in her dreams giving her directions once the tribe leaders had arrived.The next day she spoke to Starswirl about it and though skeptical the dreams were the only thing they had that could tell them what to do.
A few days later once all three tribe leaders were present they along with , Starswirl the Bearded, and the five ponies followed Clover the Clever to the woods near the castle. Stopping at a clearing Clover the Clever arranged the ponies along with the gem that chose them into a circle with herself in the center, using her magic to lift the gems over each pony. She stated at the sky as voices spoke to her. They were called Philia spirits of love. Nopony had heard of them for all the three tribes felt when around each other was hate which brought the wendigo's. But seeing the incident in the new land of Equestria while the tribe leaders were frozen , showed that some ponies from different tribes can stop hating each other and join together in peace allowing the spirits to be set free. After it spoke the Philia took the elements transforming the gems into golden necklaces with a gem in the shape of the wielders cutiemark in the center.
The Spirits told what each one represented before the other elements created a sixth which was a tiara with Clover the Clevers cutiemark. This was the element of magic. The spirits saw that Clover the Clever had dispelled the wendigo's with the magic awaken within her by the two other ponies she had spoken to. She proved herself more with how determined she was to help bring peace between the three tribes by accepting the job of finding ponies the elements chose and also using what she'd learned in the cave to turn the gems back to normal when they'd turned to stone. These reason made her the best choice to be the element of magic.
But revealing what to do with the element wasn't the only thing they had summoned the ponies for. Two bundles had been brought from the sky and into the circle that held two fillies. They had horns like unicorns but also had wings like a pegasus. Philia said their names were Celestia and Luna, these young fillies would also help in bringing the tribes together in the land of Equestria, moving into a new era of peace and harmony. It was up to the wielders of the elements to show the two young ponies what they needed in order for them to insure harmony in Equestria. The six ponies accepted the duty sharing what they had learned over the years and what they learned from each other to the two young princesses helping to build Equestria into the world it is today.
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Introduction, Settling Equestria ,and Discovering the Elements
Introduction, Settling Equestria ,and Discovering the Elements
You know the history of how Equestria was founded, three different tribes of ponies only working with the others to get what they needed. The Pegasi controlling the weather, unicorns bringing up the sun and moon, while the earth ponies grew the food that served as payment for the others services.
You know about how food became scarce due to the furious snow storm resulting in the three tribes fighting over the dwindling food supplies leading to a gathering of the tribe leaders. But unfortunately this just worsened the situation, the leaders left in anger all coming to the conclusion they'd have to find a new home. Each leader found a new land only to discover the other tribe leaders had found the same land wanting to claim it for their own clans causing more arguing and hatred bringing the snow storm they tried to escape to the new land. And well you know the rest from all the pageants on Hearths warming eve performed in every town.
Now let's talk about another thing you may know of, The Elements of Harmony. You know that these magical objects were used by the princesses Celestia and Luna to turn Discord into stone and to imprison King Sombra in the arctic. Eventually Celestia was forced to use the elements to banish her own sister Luna to the moon breaking the connection the two princesses had to the elements.
The Elements of Harmony lay forgotten till they were needed once again. You know who the wielders of the elements are now, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, AppleJack, and Rainbow Dash. These six ponies have used the elements to save Equestria on a few occasions. As expected this is all anypony knows of the elements, after Celestia banished her sister the elements faded into memory even the history of these gems before the princesses wielded them were forgotten. Until now Nopony realizes how important the Elements of Harmony were in the building of Equestria.
After Clover the Clever cast the wendigo's hateful spirits with a surge of magic, and the leaders were thawed from their ice prisons, they all came to an agreement that in order to keep the wendigo spirits from returning with another storm, all three tribes must learn to live in peace and harmony with each other.This was easier said than done. The tribe leaders returned home to tell their tribes of the new land they'd found and what happened in the cave they had been trapped in, along with the realization of what the three tribes needed to do in order to stop the blizzard and preventing other storms in the future. As expected many of the ponies in each tribe didn't want to associate themselves with the others, after all the fighting they've done during and before the storm the three tribes never were around each other unless they were fulfilling the bargains they'd agreed on. Despite the outrage of what their leaders suggested there were a few ponies in the three tribes who were willing to give it a try trusting their leader’s judgment, wanting to see if getting the tribes to live in harmony would lift the storm and lead to a better future.
The next few months were spent searching for ponies willing to help create a settlement in the new land they had named Equestria. But the tribe leaders were busy trying to run their homeland during the crisis their people were in so they sent their assistance, Clover the Clever, Private Pansey, and Smart Cookie instead, trusting that they'd be able to handle the job since the three had banished the wendigos when they had all been sealed in the cave. The three ponies scoured their cities for ponies willing to be the first to help settle Equestria to make the land livable. They had to finish up their search fast the storm was still present in the tribe’s territories, having a new place to live and brining the three tribes together to create harmony to stop the blizzard was the only way to insure ponykinds survival. Luckily those who wanted to help sought out one of the three ponies once they knew of their arrival speeding up the search. But only so many volunteered ,and many didn’t have the skills they’d need to build a community in Equestria forcing the three ponies to go to other ponies in hopes of convincing them to assist them. Again they didn't have to search long for the few who volunteered spoke with their families, friends and neighbors that had the skills needed for this task. Many agreed to help only because somepony they knew asked for it, and sooner than expected each tribe had gathered the ponies needed to make the new land livable.
From the pegasi Private Pansy brought some soldiers to help protect the settlement from wild creatures living there, along with scouts to explore unknown areas and map them out. She also managed to get a few weather ponies to help regulate climates so food could be grown. Along with the soldiers a few combat trainers agreed to come along to make sure the pegasus soldiers stayed in shape and if other ponies wished to have combat training. From the unicorns Clover the Clever brought a few of their powerful magic users that the unicorns could spare, and miners for Princess platinum had seen the land was rich with jewels. She also brought along a few teachers for when a school house was built and if the settlers wanted their children to attend it. And from the earth ponies Smart Cookie brought blacksmiths, to repair weapons and equipment, carpenters to build housing and shops, and lastly farmers to cultivate the land. The three tribes also brought others whose skills would come in handy for regular tasks.
Within a few months a small community had begun to form in equestrian and the three different tribes had learned to work together some even sharing skills they knew with others, and to keep the peace between the three races of ponies, Clover the Clever, Smart Cookie and Private Pansy remained in the small community sending progress reports to the tribe leaders who sent news back to the settlement. One report stated that the storm back home was starting to let up, the pegasis managed to move a few clouds that allowed the unicorns to raise the sun letting a few rays shine through so the earth ponies could grow a few crops but it would be awhile till the storm was fully lifted. For the time being the blizzard hadn't returned to equestrian.
About two months after the last progress report something had been found in Equestrias gem mines. While digging a miner detected a cluster of gems digging them out from the ground. These gems were the finest to come from the mine and would be cut and used for jewelry. But when he placed them in the cutting devise it couldn't even make a scratch on them. It was said that he felt power emitting from the jewels immediately he told the owner of the mine taking them to Clover the Clever. She studied them before taking them traveling back to the unicorn kingdom for Starswirl the Bearded to look at. But once he received them the gems incased themselves in stone but they didn’t want to try and break them out in fear of damaging the jewels. While her mentor studied the mysterious gems Clover the Clever did what she could for her tribe, occasionally going to Starswirl the Bearded to help, while still keeping contact with the settlement in Equestria.
On one of her visits to check her mentors progress and as usual he hadn’t been able to find anything new about them or break them from the stone encasing them no matter what spells he tried to use. And he couldn’t find any information about them in any of the books or scrolls in the library not even in the scrolls and books from the other tribes he’d sent for. But after another uneventful night of helping her mentor it is said Clover the Clever had a dream telling her what they were called and what she needed to do with them. First she managed to perform the spell that had banished the Wendigos focusing on how she felt when trapped in the cave restoring the gems to their original form.These were then named the Elements of Harmony.
Starswirl the Bearded didn’t agree with the thought that his pupil was told this information in a dream but she still left to do what she’d been told. So Clover the Clever set out to all the tribes and the settlement in equestrian searching for the ponies the Elements chose to wield them and the chance to bring everypony together to insure everlasting peace.
