Chapter One - Friendship is Magic

"What is so important that you incompetent slackers needed to come get me?" the foreman asked, passing his fellow Diamond Dogs in the narrow tunnel to reach the end of the hall.  The electric lamps strung up along the ceiling hung just above the heads of the miners.

"Sorry, boss, it's just... that," one of the miners said, gesturing with his pickaxe towards a small hole in the dead end of the tunnel, clearly made by a pickaxe.

"Yeah, I see it," the foreman replied, looking from the hole towards the worker.  "What about it?"

"Something about it just feels... wrong.  There's some kind of... I dunno... pressure coming from there.  I don't think we should dig any further in this direction."  The other canine miners nodded in agreement.

"Yeah..." the foreman slowly nodded his head, taking a step away from the rocky wall, his heart beginning to race.  "Yeah, I feel it too.  Somethin' ain't right here.  Okay, seal off this tunnel, we'll tell the higher ups the rock was unstable or somethin'."  The other miners sighed and relaxed as they all began to walk back down the makeshift hall towards the larger chambers they had dug.

That was when they heard the sound.  The cracking of rock that the Diamond Dogs took as the early warning signs of a cave-in.  When they turned to look back, however, all they saw were three small fractures appearing around the hole in the wall.  They were spreading.

The foreman heard an unusual sound vibrating through the rock, a low hum, that grew louder.  No, not a hum, as the foreman came to realize, and the cracks in the wall continued to spread.  It was a melody.  There was a voice beyond the wall, and as the cracks began to widen, fork, and multiply, it became all the more obvious that the voice was singing.

"Run," the foreman hissed, but neither he nor his workers seemed to be able to move.  Perhaps they were entranced by the melody, though their knees had begun to shake as well.  The stone began to crumble.  Fractures began to form along the walls, floor, and ceiling of the tunnel, making their way towards the dogs.  Instead of running, the workers huddled together.  One by one, the bulbs in the hanging lamps began to burst, until all light had vanished.

Amidst the sound of the breaking rock and the approaching voice that was singing softly, footsteps could be heard, and they were getting closer.  The workers gasped as a small pair of lights became visible, floating high above the ground and bobbing in rhythm with the footsteps.  As the distance between the miners and the voice lessened, the words it was singing became audible.

"Will you remember the famous men who," the voice paused for half of a second before continuing, slowly, as though it were singing a dirge, "have to fall and then rise again?"  It was then that the warden let out a high-pitched shriek and bolted towards the source of the lights, pickaxe raised above his head.  The other miners, their eyes not yet adjusted to the total darkness, heard only a pained yelp and a thud, before the glow began to bounce towards them again.

"So take a deep breath," the voice sang as it drew a foot closer, causing the Diamond Dogs to gasp.

"Pick yourself up," the voice became more forceful.  A stomp was heard just inches away from the pack, and the miners began to cower.

"Dust yourself off," a series of yelps mimicking those of the foreman emanated from the group, followed by a dead silence.

"And start all over, again..." the voice grew softer as the song concluded.  The footsteps continued towards the rest of the mine, until they vanished as well.  In the four years that followed the incident, there wasn't a soul in the world who knew what happened in that tunnel.

...

The sunrise over Equestria was always a sight to behold.  A beautiful and bountiful nation, Equestria had enjoyed a population of all different types of creatures, coexisting peacefully for many centuries.  Although it had suffered its share of hardships throughout history, its citizens endured those difficult times and always found a way through them.  As that Sun continued its climb into the sky, the ponies of Ponyville began to stir, one by one, and begin their days.

Animals commenced their instinctual routines, citizenry began their daily chores, and businesses opened, ready for a productive new day.  It was a small town, with a tightly knit community, free of the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities, and a place where everyone seemed to know everyone else.  Some might have called it a paradise, but for Twilight Sparkle and her friends, it was simply home.

"I can't remember the last time you weren't late for our weekly get-together," Fluttershy said, noting Rarity's atypical punctuality as she joined her in the waiting room at the spa.

"Yes, well," Rarity replied, with visible lines beneath her eyes, "I usually have to tear myself away from my work, but this morning, I couldn't wait to get away from the shop for a few hours."

"Is something the matter?" Fluttershy asked, frowning, as they entered the sauna.

"I've just been rather on edge these past few days," Rarity replied.  "With the Gala coming up, I've been overworking myself trying to meet all of my dress orders.  I haven't gotten a decent night's sleep in two days."

"It sounds like you really needed this break, then," Fluttershy said, nodding.

"Well, the isolation and lack of sleep started to get the better of me last night.  I think I may have had a slight breakdown."

"Breakdown?" Fluttershy asked, holding her hoof towards her mouth.

"I was overcome with the absolute worst sensation of paranoia," Rarity explained, "and I kept feeling as though I were being watched.  I know that I wasn't, of course, because I couldn't stop looking out my windows."

"Goodness!" Fluttershy said, "Well, I think you should take the day off, and get some rest after we're done here."

"I wish I could, but this is about the only distraction I can afford today," Rarity replied, shifting in her seat.

"Your work will suffer if you aren't at your best, Rarity," Fluttershy replied, lowering her brow.

"I suppose you're right, as usual," Rarity smiled.  "I need to rest for a few hours in order to be more productive later!"  Fluttershy nodded, smiling widely.

...

"Let's see, now," Twilight Sparkle said to herself, levitating a quill inches above a stack of blank sheets of paper.  She was sitting at her desk in the Ponyville Library, which doubled as her home, her eyes glued to her work.  "Addendum to Elements of Harmony:  A Reference Guide, by Twilight Sparkle'," she began writing.  "In recent years, far more information has become available regarding the fabled Elements of Harmony.  I have decided to submit the knowledge that I have attained about them to the general public."

"The sixth Element, which was unknown until recently, is Magic.  This was revealed to me the moment the Elements were truly activated."  She proceeded to recount the events surrounding the Return of Nightmare Moon, her adventures with her five friends in the Everfree Forest, and the activation of the Elements.

"The Elements of Harmony are, indeed, fueled by the friendships shared amongst those who wield them, but there is more to it than that.  It is about friendships that are based on more than similarities in personality or overlapping interests.  Indeed, the ponies who currently wield the Elements of Harmony are all vastly different from one another."

"However, this does not mean that simply setting our differences aside is enough.  True harmony, as I have come to understand it, is based upon finding common ground with those who are different.  It is based upon a celebration of the things that make each of us unique, and the willingness to learn new things from one another.  It is based upon a true, unconditional love for one's fellow ponies."  Twilight set the quill down on her desk.  The library's front door swung open.

"Howdy, Twilight!" Applejack declared loudly.  "Was wonderin' if I could have a moment of your time."

"Of course!  What's up, Applejack?"  Twilight asked, turning her attention away from her work.

"Well, we just finished harvestin' the latest crop of Zap Apples back at the farm.  Got a letter from Princess Cadence herself this morning!"  She reached into her saddle bag and produced the letter.  "She ordered several dozen crates of 'em, on behalf of the Crystal Empire."

"Well, I did sort of talk them up the last time she and I spoke," Twilight replied, blushing.

"Then I have you to thank for advertisin'!" Applejack said.  "Anyway, I'm handlin' the delivery personally, hoppin' a train tomorrow.  Cadence wanted you to come, too!"

"Sounds great!" Twilight replied.  "Spike can watch the library for a few days, I'm sure."

"Then it's settled," Applejack replied, "tomorrow we leave for the Crystal Empire!"

...

"Mornin' Pinks," Rainbow said as she entered Sugarcube Corner.

"Hiya, Dashie!" Pinkie Pie replied, a wide smile on her face.  "You're up really early.  What'll it be today?"

"Nothing right now, I'm actually here to invite you on a trip," Rainbow Dash replied.

"A trip?" Pinkie asked, placing her hooves on the counter and leaning closer to Dash.

"Yeah, I'm leaving tonight for Las Pegasus, gonna spend a few days relaxing there," she replied, placing her elbow on the counter.

"I've always wanted to go there!" Pinkie exclaimed, hopping a few inches off of the ground.

"There's a catch, though," Rainbow said.

"Hm?"  Pinkie tilted her head to the side.

"We'll be spending the trip with Gilda."

"I dunno, Dashie, she was a total meanie when she was here," Pinkie replied, frowning.

"I know, but she sent me this really long letter, see?  She actually wrote it to both of us."  Dash handed her the message.

"Wow, she literally apologizes for everything she did wrong, here," Pinkie noted as she read the message over a second time.

"I guess she's had a lot of time to think about it.  She wants to make amends with us, so I say why not give her a chance?"

"Well, when you put it that way," Pinkie said, carefully tapping her hoof against her chin, "let's go to Las Pegasus!"

"Right on!" Rainbow shouted as they bumped hooves.

The rest of the day was spent with Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash preparing for their respective journeys.  Rarity, heeding Fluttershy's advice, spent the afternoon catching up on some much needed rest.  Fluttershy tended to her animal friends as she always did, lamenting that Rarity's paranoia had somehow become contagious, as she, too, felt as though she were being watched, and was constantly compelled to set her gaze upon the Everfree Forest.

...

A lone traveler cautiously made his way into the Everfree Forest under the cover of darkness.  It was an unusually calm night, given the dangers that such a place normally presented, and he was able to arrive at the old castle ruins ahead of schedule and without incident.  Clarion Call entered the chamber where the Elements of Harmony had once been hidden away. His horn ignited, and a sterile white aura illuminated the dark room.

He lowered his head and pointed his horn at the floor, a beam of energy extending from the magical appendage and hitting a small portion of it, forming a large mass of light, hovering inches from the ground.  He repeated this process two times more, erecting these manifestations so that they faced one another.  As their forms began to stabilize, they adapted the properties of windows, and in each panel, a face appeared.

"Communication established," Clarion said.  "Verify your identities."

"Must we do this every time? You already know who we are, Rion," a female voice said, her words echoing from the mirror.

"The protocol was decided a long time ago.  When discussing sensitive material, you can't be too careful," another, masculine voice replied.

"And we have this argument about it every time we have one of these little chats," said the third participant, in a very gruff voice, "so can y'all please keep this short so we can get down to business?"

"For pony's sake," Clarion shouted, beginning to perspire, "would you idiots just identify yourselves already?  I mean seriously, those windows I made for you don't just sit there, y'know?  I have to actively maintain them, and it's a pain in the butt, so cut to the chase already!"

"Your lack of respect never ceases to amuse me," the second voice said.  "Very well, let's all identify ourselves for the glorified telephone operator."

"Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings, making contact from the Great Hive."

"J'aggerdov, King of the Griffons, making contact from the Griffon Kingdom."

"Mahugpin, Alpha Male of the Diamond Dogs, makin' contact from the Big Deep!"

"And Clarion Call, your moderator for another edition of 'Let's Take Over Equestria', a show with an admittedly small viewership of three, but one that everypony will be talking about soon enough!" Clarion declared.

"Makin' contact from?" Mahugpin asked.

"Oh yeah, heh, making contact from the Everfree Forest."

"And you're positive that nobody followed you?" J'aggerdov asked.

"C'mon," Clarion replied, "how long have we known each other, Jagged Beak?  Give me some credit, here!"

"Call me that one more time, and when next we meet face to face, I'm going to maul you."

"Right, sorry, Jaggerdov," Clarion replied, a smirk on his face.

"I cannot help but notice that our fourth is not here," Chrysalis noted.

"Yeah, he's off taking care of some other junk," Clarion replied.  "Spent the last couple of nights checking up on our targets one last time."

"Fine by me," Mahugpin said.  "Guy creeps me out anyway."

"Those eyes of his do tend to make one feel uneasy, don't they?  Especially in the dark," J'aggerdov noted.

"And that smile of his, those teeth..." Chrysalis shuddered.  "Didn't they have dentists in his era?"

"Guys!" Clarion shouted, laughing softly.  "I'm friggin' exhausted over here!  Can we move this along!?"

"I suppose we can overlook his absence for now," J'aggerdov said.  "After bringing the three of us together and coming up with our wonderful plan, I'd say he's earned a little personal time."

"Fantastic," Clarion said.  He then turned his attention to Chrysalis' window.  "How are things on your end, Queenie?"

"My spies are moving into position," Chrysalis replied.  "The targets will be acquired tomorrow."

"Big Dog?" Clarion asked, turning to Mahugpin's window.

"I got a pack of our outcasts who had set up shop in Equestria to help out with our catch.  They ain't too bright, but they should do this up alright."

"Jaggerdov?" Clarion asked, swiveling his head towards the final window.

"Regarding my targets, one of our Wanderers was recently reacquired and repurposed to that particular task.  We will have them in custody by the end of the day tomorrow."

"Good news all around!" Clarion replied.  "Whelp, I'm gonna shut down this meeting of the talking heads and go pass out.  Have a good night!"  Before any of the three could respond, the windows vanished, and the room grew dark.  "I totally know you're here, by the way.  I get why you didn't wanna talk this time, it's a good idea to gauge what they say about you behind your back, but please, if you were planning to just sneak up behind me or something, don't, okay?  Your face still freaks me out if I don't see you coming, no offense!"

"Sounds like everything's on schedule," a deep voice said in reply, reverberating through the stone in the large chamber, its source marked by a pair of glowing, featureless eyes floating high above the ground, the rough outline of a bipedal figure behind them.

"Looks like it," Clarion replied.  "They're probably gonna turn on each other once the dust settles and it's time to divvy up the country.  You know that, right boss?"

"That's fine."  The glowing eyes dimly illuminated a newly formed grin, filled with an array of misshapen and unaligned teeth.

"You ready to jump?"

"Yes."

"Then off we go!" Clarion declared as his horn flared up again.  The room was illuminated a final time, and then it was empty.