Standing on the outskirts of Ponyville was a lone cloaked alicorn. It's hooves were caked with mud. It had cobalt fur that was drenched in dark red blood shimmering in the moon light. The Cutie Mark on it's flank was a Ying. It's entire body was scared and bruised. It's horn was chipped and cracked. It's wings missing feathers and bleeding from bites and scratches. It's mane was an untamed deep purple mess.
It began moving slowly into the center of town with goal in mind. Find Princess Twilight. The night was cold. As the alicorn walked, it left hoof prints of grey and despair. It soon noticed a strange prickling on it's neck. Somepony was watching. It turned and saw an orange pony with a pony tail and a cowpony hat.
" Who are you?" the pony asked with a rustic accent.
"Merely a passerby," the alicorn replied in a pained innocent voice.
"Don't lie t'me," said the pony.
"I wouldn't dream of it my dear," the alicorn said with a fake smile.
The orange pony growled. " Ah can tell,"
The alicorn rolled it's eyes. " If you must know. I am looking for Princess Twilight Sparkle."
The orange pony squinted. "What do you want with her?"
" Simple, I need her help. The rest of the matter is Top Secret."
"Who are you?"
" I am the Mare with no name," the alicorn said. She disappeared in a cloud of black smoke leaving the orange pony to wonder.
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In the Morning...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Applejack woke with a start, visions of the dark mare still in her eyes. She got up and hurried downstairs. AppleBloom was there talking to Twilight. They had been waiting for Applejack to wake up.
"Hiya sis," AppleBloom said with a smile.
"Morning Applejack," Twilight said also smiling.
"Morning AppleBloom,Twi," Applejack said with a fake smile. "Hey Twi, could we talk outside a'sec,"
Seeing her friend's expression, Twilight nodded and allowed herself to be led outside. "What's wrong,"
"Last night, ah don' know if ah was dreamin' or not, but ah meet this cloaked mare. She was an alicorn like you. She looked like she'd been though a lot. She said she was looking for you." Applejack said.
" T'was no dream," said a voice from the roof.
Startled, Applejack and Twilight looked up. On the roof of the farm house was the same mare from the night before. In the sun's light, Applejack noticed that the alicorn wasn't looking as bad. Her horn was fixed, her wings perfectly fine. The only scar she had now was on on her cheek that crossed over her red eye. Her mane was flowing like the royal sisters'.
"Who are you?" Twilight asked.
"Well by my guess, you're Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship, and your friend there is Applejack,element of honesty. I am Princess Aquamarine, princess of the ocean and peace. You, however, may simply address me as Aqua."
"Hold up! You said you were the mare with no name?" Applejack said.
" I was toying with you." Aqua said, a mischievous smile spreading over her face. "Now shall we gather the other elements?" Aqua's horn began to glow. In a loud POP, Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy appeared. Aqua looked pained but shook it off. "By the water edge! How long have I been out of commission?"
Rainbow Dash looked up and almost fainted. "Oh My Celestia! Your Princess Aquamarine!" Everyone was starring at her. "What? She was one of the best flyers of her time."
"That was a long time ago Rainbow." Aqua said. " The reason you're all here is because I need your help. My twin brother, Earthquake, is missing. He has a bit of a 'problem'. He is easily manipulated. He-" At that moment, the earth was ripped open. " Earthquake."
As soon as she said it, there was a manic laughing. Out of the scar in the ground rose a brown mist, out of which a brown furred stallion alicorn flew. He was armored in black. His mane similar to Aqua's. You could tell they were related. They only shared three differences. Their genders, coat color, and cutie marks. His was a Yang. The other half of Aqua's
"Hello dear sister," He bellowed.
"Earthquake! What happened to you?" Aqua's voice cracked as she hoped for the best case scenario.
"An old friend of ours," he smirked watching the look on his sister's face turn from somewhat hopeful to utter despair. " He sent me here to recruit you. After all you have no choice."
Aqua's mind was racing as it flashed back to only a few days before. The last thing she remembered was a the reign of Discord. The next thing she knew, she was in a cave shivering. "Earthquake you must stop this, don't let her poison your mind. Please!"
Aqua had tears running down her face. Then, in a flash of light, Luna and Celestia appeared. Luna seeing her life long friend's face flew to her side. "Aqua! What's wrong?!"
Aqua winced and fainted. Earthquake smirked. "Dear sister, is she over taking you again?"
"Earthquake! Stop this! I won't let it happen again, especially to one who was strong against her illness." Luna warned the corrupted stallion.
"Oh Lulu, She wants you back and you know it. Just give in to her sweet voice." He looked to Celestia and Twilight. "You should give in as well."
Rainbows face was dark. She was scowling. Anger was building up inside her. She erupted with anger. Her mane turned to rainbow fire and her coat turned white. "Aqua will never yield to that witch,"
Earthquake smiled. "She did once." And with that, he was gone.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The Library
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Aqua awoke to a plea sent smell of balsam and ceder. She looked around and was pleased to see she was surrounded by books. Trying to stand, she saw stars circle her head. In her gut, she could feel a tug she hadn't felt for years. Her heart skipped a beat. She took another whiff of the air, no salt water. Her heart fell.
Twilight came in to see how the collapsed princess was. To her surprise, Aqua was wake and looking around with a look if total despair on her face. "How are you Aqua,"
Startled, Aqua was jarred out her train of thought and yelled "PERCY!"
Twilight was taken aback. "Pardon me, but, who's Percy?"
"No one, anymore. We haven't seen each other for years. What do you need."
"Hey, that's what I'm here for."Twilight laughed. She walked over to a bookshelf and pulled out one on pony species. " Do you like to read, Aqua?"
"Oh I love reading. It's always so magical."
Twilight down the book and opened to a page. On it was a picture of a pony with a serpent tail and sharp teeth. " I love to read about these ponies. They're called hippocampi. A pony fish hybrid. Shame that they're extinct."
"WHAT!?"
"The book states that the hippocampi were extinct two thousand years ago."
Aqua's heart fell. The hippocampi, gone. What would happen to the ecosystem, to her?
TO BE CONTINUED...
