CHAPTER 1: i HAVE AWOKEN

“Take this cur away!” Princess Celestia glared intensely as the deranged stallion was led away. “I want him locked away where nopony will ever find him!”

Iron fittings glared at the princess.
“You think you can stop my work Celestia? You barely stopped the Pegasus Device MK I 3 years ago. Now I managed to slaughter the entirety of Sunnyvale city with the MK II.”

“Silence!”

“When I get out, I’ll continue my project and when I-UMPH!” Iron fitting’s mouth was magically sealed shut and he was taken away.

“I want nopony to know of what happened, understand Harbinger?”

Celestia spoke softly, without turning towards the earth pony royal guard captain.

“Of course your majesty.” He rumbled.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Your Majesty!”

Celestia opened her eyes and glanced at Harbinger, who was staring at her from beneath his eyebrows.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Milady, we are in the middle of the royal court, I know you prefer the more informal approach, but this is important.” Harbinger stated, scanning the audience before them.

“Yes….you’re right, I apologize….” The sun goddess trailed off as she stared blankly out the window.

“Milady? Is something the matter?” Celestia turned her warm gaze towards the captain and smiled.

“Yes, I’m fine Harbinger, just remembering some old adventures….” She trailed off again, and after a moment’s pause, spoke. “Everypony, I have decided to postpone this audience for another day, I am tired and would like a break.”

The nobles all chuckled as there princess grinned sheepishly at them. Harbinger on the other hand stared in confusion.

[she never cancels like this, taxes are important, something’s wrong….]

Just as the last noble had left, a trail of ash flew into the room and formed into a letter, hovering in front of Celestia.

“Ah, it must be from our new princess.” Celestia giggled as she unrolled the parchment.
Her eyes widened as she read the letter, once, twice, thrice before standing abrubtly.

“Harbinger, fetch Captain Shining armor and Captain Barricade, then send word to ponyville for the elements, NOW.” Without pausing she strode away quickly towards Luna’s chambers.

“The devil’s got her all worked up?” One of the unicorn guards asked as she levitated the letter towards her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria and former student of Princess Celestia, sat cheerfully reading a book.

"Hey, Twilight. Are you done yet?" Spike, her number one assistant asked impatiently.
Twilight glanced at him with a dull expression.

"No Spike, i'm not. but while you're here, why don't you get me that book about Equestria History."
Spike looked at her curiously.
"You mean that book by Smokeout Knight? Isn't he your old history teacher?"

"Yep, i remember each of his lectures, but i'd like to catch up on them, just in case."

Spike turned around, only to belch loudly as a spew of ash flew from his mouth and flew in front of Twilight.

"To My faithful protege, Twilight Sparkle." Twilight read aloud. "It is deep fear and regret that i must request that you and your friends come to Canterlot at once. there is a great evil seeded of the past about to bloom.

Celestia"

Twilight stared curiously at the letter and stood.

"Spike, get the others, we're heading to Canterlot."

"Why? what's going on?"

"I'll tell you along the way, just go."

Spike hurriedly left the library as Twilight's horn lit.

A gray colored book left it's shelf and hovered next to her, it was titled: "Theories and Facts, the history,Myths of early and modern Equestria"
She placed the book into her saddle bags as she began to pack.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Celestia paced the throne room floor, Luna watching her sister with growing concern.

"Dear sister, please stop this...we implore you." Celestia glanced at her sister and stopped.

"I'm sorry Luna, but i am getting impatient, the longer it takes for the captains to arrive alongside Twilight and her friends, the more likely it is that danger will be unleashed."

Luna gave her sister an incredulous look.

"You have yet to inform us of what this 'Danger' supposedly is." She said with a huff.

The throne room doors burst open as a large yellow Pegasus in gold trimmed white armor strode in, followed by Shining armor and Harbinger.

"Milady, you called for us?" Barricade inquired gruffly. She stood well at shoulder height to Celestia, being possibly the biggest pegasus of the generation.

"Ah, Barricade, it is good to see you again, and yes please, be seated. We must wait for the arrival of the elements of harmony before we can begin." Celestia internally sighed in relief, now that Barricade and the other captains were here, she might not have to worry about things getting out of hoof.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Princess Celestia?"

The three captains and two princesses looked at the doorway. Twilight and her friends had stopped to stare at the three guard captains.

"Shining, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked.

Fluttershy hid slightly behind the young alicorn, staring at the larger pegasus.

"H-hi Mom, it's good to see you again." she smiled at her happily.

"Hey Kiddo, we'll catch up later alright? Her Majesty has something to tell us." Barricade replied, returning her daughter's smile.

"Indeed, i was in the middle of getting my hooves shined." Rarity pouted.

"Ooooh! what adventure do you have for us this time Princesseses, an evil dragon? Centaur with some weird rainbow of darkness looking to kidnap ponies and turn them into dragons for his chariot? OH! Maybe Luna's become Nightmare moon again and you need us to free her! oh wait, she's over there, nevermind." Pinkie Pie stopped bouncing around the group, while wearing a large cheerful grin, then waved to no one in particular. "Hi Readers!"

"Ah reckon there's a good reason for the urgent call, seein how Twi's not even stressin' bout being underpacked." Applejack stated.

Celestia raised a hoof before anyone else could speak.

"Please, i only need to ask you one thing before we start. Do any of you know of a machine known as the Pegasus Device?"

Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground with a grunt, while fluttershy and Barricade looked away.

"Y-yea, it's some device that some mad pony made a few decades ago, right?" Rainbow Dash asked. "It's said the device drained all the inborn magic of any pony hooked up to it. Didn't the royal guard like, stop the pony or something?"
Celestia nodded.
"Yes, they did, but that's not important right now. what i need you six to do, is look for the historian; Smokeout Knight. He is the only known survivor who lives here in canterlot. Barricade, i want you to go with them, seeing as you are...acquainted with him."

Barricade nodded then turned to the group.
"C'mon you six, we're going to the Canterlot university of history and lore."

Once the seven had left, Celestia turned to her remaining captains and sister.
"I want you two to tell your troops to look for anypony who seems to be acting suspiciously, i have no time to explain right now, so make haste. Luna, wake your night guard and post in as many cities and towns as you can."

"Sister, we can't just go in blind...." Luna Started.

"NOW, Luna."
Luna jumped at the sternness in Celestia's voice, then quickly followed the captains to do as she was told.

Celestia brought the letter before her and re-read it once more.
"Please, let me stop this in time." she pleaded

"Dear Celestia.
How have you been? allow me to introduce myself. I am Gear box. i have been traveling Equestria for years now, searching for something and i believe i have found it.I don't want to spoil anything, so i'll just tell you what Father told me.

A rainbow is easy once you get to know it, with help of the magic of the Pegasus Device."

Author's Note

Hello everypony, my name’s Smokeout. This is my first story involving MLP FIM.
I’v decided to give my hoof at writing one based in my own little universe.
I will be making some OC’s for this story, but some names I’ll barrow from other stories
No, The Mentioned OC, Smokeout Knight is not me inserted into the fic, my account is actually named after my OC, who's outdated profile is on the legends of equestria forums right now, this story will mostly retcon some of his info.

Barricade and Harbinger are OC’s created by the amazing Knightmysterio, both of which are used in the story “Waking Nightmares.” I will not be giving descriptions of their cutie marks because his story gives that already.
MLP FIM is the property of Hasbro.
Any OC’s, unless otherwise stated, belong to their original creators.
The cover art is by Die_Laughing on Deviantart go check him out.