End of the Elements

The warm sunlight lit the narrow avenues of the bustling city. Another day in the packed city of Canterlot. Trade filled the busy town square, as ponies went about their day-to-day business. Several travelling ponies gaped at the gorgeous city. This was the greatest city in Equestria. Built into the mountains, Canterlot had prospered in the early days, an old mining city, only to be left in disarray during the climactic reign of Discord. Although decades had passed since his reign, there were still some remnants of the days when the world had been ushered into an age of Chaos and disharmony, the occasional house that was completely upside down. But that was the past. Now, Canterlot was busier than it had ever been, a player on the global stage, as was the prosperous small Equestrian Nation. The city's white walls shone against the sun, a pearl in the green mountains.

It was a great life in Canterlot. The Canterlotians were proud of their ancient city. And no place were they more proud of than the latest architectural masterpiece, Canterlot Castle. The beautiful castle shone over the city, its towers, still partially unfinished, though work was nearing completion on it. At the Castle entrance, a magnificent drawbridge lowered, as a large carriage rolled in, drawn by large, strong, yellow ponies. The carriage rolled in to a marble courtyard, where a small group of ponies stood waiting for the new arrival. The doors opened as a unicorn exited the carriage. Her skin was light gray, with a cutie mark of crossed farming tools, a shovel and a hoe, with an apple above it. The same icon was on the back of the carriage. The pony cantered up a set of stairs, where the ponies stood back, applauding quietly at her arrival. Before she reached the large double doors at the top, they flew open, to reveal another pony, this one an alicorn. She was white, with a golden sun cutie mark.

"Celestia!" cried the unicorn galloping up the last few stairs to nuzzle the alicorn gently.

"Duchess Daffodil, of the Plains of Everfree!" said Celestia politely. The Duchess raised an eyebrow at her.

"Don't pretend you haven't gained some power after all that you've done, Princess of Canterlot," she said jokingly.  Celestia broke, laughing at her friend's antics. The two laughed, heading back through the doors.

"So, how was your trip through the mountains, I do hope it wasn't hard getting through to here,"

"Oh there was no trouble,"

"I do hope you don't mind, I was hoping construction would be finished by the time you all arrived but I'm afraid that there still is a little more. Construction's been slower than I might have hoped, I've heard Luna's finished her castle already.

"It's fine,"

"You're so early, I hadn't even gotten someone to make the tea, and I'm sure you've had a long-"

"Celestia! Please calm down. Don't get so overexcited!" said Daffodil, leaning forward at Celestia, putting a hoof over her mouth. Celestia nodded, taking a deep breath.

"So...how is life out in Everfree?" Celestia asked, trying to veer towards actual conversation.

"It's been going just wonderfully. We've been supplying the nation with grain, apples and our famous Everfree Exclusive stock, the zap apples,"

"In what ways are the zap apples any different in terms of production from standard apples?"

"Well, first, you have to make sure that you ba-," Daffodil caught herself, smiling a little at Celestia. "Oh no, you don't Celestia...that is a secret of my province," Celestia chuckled.

"You got me." The doors flew open again. Celestia and Daffodil turned to see another pony. An orange pegasus, shot in to the  room, crashing into Celestia." Hey there Celestia," said the pegasus, giving the alicorn a playful noogie before leaping off of her. "Am I first? I flew here all the way from Cloudsdale in two hours and forty-five minutes...against the wind too,"

"Alas Cirrus, I got here first." said Daffodil, tapping Cirrus on the back. Cirrus whirled around. She raised her eyebrows.

"Daffodil? You beat me. Rats...I thought if anyone was going to beat me it would be Cumulus, what with her being another pegasus.

"What makes you think a unicorn or earth pony couldn't beat you?"

"The whole trip is uphill," Cirrus reminded her.

"Oh...right," said Daffodil.

"How is work on Cloudsdale? Wasn't the city completely destroyed under Discord.

"Yep...it was turned into Cotton candy and broken into a thousand pieces. We didn't actually find the pieces so we've been making new clouds. You might have noticed that skies have been clear for a long time, except over Everfree, which needs the rain. We've been working around the clock, but we're nearing completion within the next year."

"Oh...I see," said Celestia. Truth be told, she hadn't minded the lack of rain Equestria had been getting. Aside from the vital rain needed in the North, where the crops Daffodil's Everfree province was famous for, Equestria didn't really need too much rain. Rain had been schedule twice every four months, which had been fine.

"So what kind of a city are you making?"

"A large one...It's actually bigger than your Canterlot. Though, admittedly, less populated.as of yet," said Cirrus. She looked across the room. It was large, with a high, vaulted ceiling. They all paused for a moment, looking at the massive window which boasted a magnificent view over the city, at the bustling streets.

"Yes, I should get some architect ponies to get to work building another extension to the city. It's getting pretty crowded." But conversation was halted once again as another ,  Pegasus,this one baby blue, flew in, gasping for breath.

"*gasp* hello there everypony....sorry I'm late,"

"Cumulus!" said Celestia. "Glad you could make it!"

"Glad I could come! Life has been getting very busy."

"How are all the ports?"

"Great!" said Cumulus. Cumulus was in control of the most heavily populated areas of Equestria, the Southern Bay, which was rimed with dozens of the wealthiest, not to mention busiest, ports in Equestria such as Manehattan, Baltimare, and Fillydelphia. While Canterlot was bigger than any individual town in Equestria, with perhaps one exception, Cumulus controlled the greater part of Equestria's population and economy.

The doors flew open again, and two ponies entered. The first was a bright purple  earth pony, who leapt in happily. The second was a dark blue alicorn. Celestia trotted over, hugging both. "Sugarcube! how's everything been going in the west?"

"You should ask Luna, she's been so helpful." Celestia turned to the dark alicorn happily. The pair hugged again.

"How is everything sister?" Luna opened her mouth to respond, but did not get the opportunity to before the doors were violently thrown open. Another pony, this one a Crystal pony, stood in the gates. The Canterlot guards were rushing to stop him, but, before anyone could react, he collapsed, breathing heavily. Celestia took a step forward.

"Who are you?" she asked the exhausted pony, curious. The Crystal pony either didn't hear, or didn't care.

"H...Help us," he gasped, before fainting at the gates.