Quest for Harmony-EDIT IN PROGRESS (Note: changing story to present tense)

“We’ll never get back to the library in this,” mused Spike.

Twilight was struck silent; she had never seen a crowd this big, not even in Canterlot- it was a sea of pastel colored ponies.

“W-what’s going on..?” Fluttershy stammered.

The pegasus mare seemed to be trying to sink into the ground; she cowered behind Twilight.

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out,” replied the unicorn.

Fluttershy slunk away, toward the trees, until Twilight caught her by the tail.

“Come on, Fluttershy! Let’s go see! I don’t think they’re hostile.”

The pegasus whimpered and shut her eyes, though she did not struggle.

Twilight pushed her way through the crowd, not noticing the cutting stares given by the villagers. Apparently they were not sure what to think of this spectacle- a unicorn mare with a dragon cub on her back, dragging a smaller pegasus by the tail.

Finally, the lavender mare reached to the front of the crowd, and halted before a huge stage.

A pink pony zipped across the stage towards her.

“Hiii, new pony!” yelled the pink mare, crouching until she was almost muzzle-to-muzzle with Twilight.

She then turned back to the audience. She bowed low, then went running off.

“Bet’cha can’t catch me!” she yelled at Twilight, then continued her flight, knocking down carts and barrels to impede Twilight’s chase.

Not knowing what else to do, Twilight turned Fluttershy loose, then galloped after the strange pony. She didn’t notice the pegasus mare slinking away until she heard a frightened yell.

Startled, the unicorn reared up, knocking Spike off her back, and raced toward the cry.

When she saw what was happening, she froze. Fluttershy was on the ground, injured and scared, and a unicorn stallion stood over her, hoof poised over her head.

“Get out of here, beggar!” snarled the unicorn. “Your kind are not welcome in Equestria!”

“Leave her alone!” Twilight growled, charging at the attacker and blasting him with a bolt of magic. The unicorn went flying, and Twilight helped Fluttershy up.

“Looks like we have a peasant-lover out here,” growled another unicorn. “It’s disgraceful- a unicorn fraternizing with a pegasus, and a peasant one at that. What next- making friends with the hornless, wingless, down-right useless earth ponies?”

Fluttershy seemed to shrink as the unicorn spoke, and Twilight stood protectively over her.

“Just get out of here, peasant-lover!” snapped the first unicorn.

Twilight growled, but decided not to waste her time fighting like some common street rat. Instead, she signalled the pegasus to follow her, and continued chasing the bard.

“I see you’ve met the locals,’’ said the bard from behind. “Not all of them are bad, just some of them. By the way… PARTY!!! Oh yeah, my name is Pinkie Pie, by the way, a traveling singer. Pleased to meet ya.”

The bard pony set off a party cannon, and in seconds, the entire town square- not to mention Twilight’s mane and tail- was covered in confetti and streamers.

“Free food, everyone!” yelled Pinkie, jumping up on a table covered in cakes, pies, and other sweets.

Twilight and Fluttershy had to hide under the table to avoid the ensuing stampede- apparently treats made ponies forget their prejudices. The bard pony appeared next to them, smacking Twilight in the face with a banana cream pie.

“What was that for?” asked Twilight

“For fun, silly! Here, I grabbed some for you!”

The pink pony gave Fluttershy, Spike, and Twilight some fancy-looking cakes, then lowered her voice to a whisper.

“I’ll help you guys get out of here. The natives aren’t going to like you, because they saw you’re friends with a pegasus, and a peasant one at that. Once you finish, follow me. I know a secret way out- a bard always needs a plan B if the crowd are… less than thrilled.”

“Ok,” replied Twilight, voice muffled through a mouthful of cake.

Once the three mares and dragon were done, Pinkie pushed down on a seemingly-innocent looking stone, and a tunnel with stairs leading down opened up beneath her.

“Follow me,” said Pinkie, heading down the stairs. “Once the trapdoor closes, you can tell me where you want to go.”

Soon, the sounds of the party had faded away, and there was a creaking as the stone slid back into place.

“Now then, where are you three headed?” asked Pinkie, back to her old chipper self.

“The Ponyville library. Applejack is waiting for us.”

“I knew an Applejack when I was still a foal,” said Pinkie. “We used to be best friends- until she got taken and we were separated. She’s at the library? Well, come on!”

At this, the pink mare turned down a side tunnel. After what seemed like hours of walking, they were led to another stairwell with a lever at the top. When she pushed the lever, yet another stone moved, and the four found themselves blinking in the bright sunlight. They were standing right in front of the library.

“Let’s go inside,” said Twilight.

As soon as she opened the door, she and the other two ponies had to deal with a very enthusiastic Applejack practically knocking them down. The slave pony was so glad to see her old friends, she charged and hugged them.