Chapters Author's Note
We hope that you enjoy reading this as much we enjoyed writing! We appreciate any constructive feedback.
Introduction
Twilight Sparkle sat surrounded by books in the Ponyville library, when she let out a defeated groan, “It’s not here Spike! I can’t find any mention of what lies beyond the Everfree forest.” Twilight stood, levitating her current read to the pedestal by the window.
“Maybe you aren’t looking in the right place?” Suggested Spike. “Which book are you reading now?”
“The History of Equestria and its neighbors,” replied Twilight. “It just refers to whatever’s behind or inside of the Everfree Forest as Everfree. So is it just a continuation of the forest?” Spike opened his mouth to reply, and let out a belch of green flames.
“A letter from Celestia!” Exclaimed Twilight as she opened the scroll and began to read.
Dear Princess Twilight, I have come across some unfortunate and urgent news. Please gather your friends, and come to Canterlot as soon as possible.
Sincerely, Princess Celestia
“Woah,” said Spike, “I wonder what could be so urgent?”
“I am not sure,” replied Twilight nervously, “but if she is asking me to gather the Elements of Harmony, it must be serious.”
Once the mares had gathered in Canterlot, Princess Celestia began to tell a story.
“In the land to the north of Equestria, past the Everfree forest, there is an evil queen. She has taken control of the villages in Everfree, the first few years of her reign went by smoothly, but recently she has begun to abuse the power of the throne. She has divided families and friends. One village now only has Earth Ponies, another with just Unicorns, and a third in the sky with just Pegasi.” Celestia paused to make sure the mares were following. “Now that the Queen has all of Everfree divided, there is strong belief that her next goal is going to be to take over Equestria, with the same intent.”
Pinkie Pie gasped obnoxiously.
“What?!” Exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “There is no way we would let that happen!”
“Which is why I would like the six of you to go into Everfree, and defeat the Queen before she has the chance to enter Equestria. Queen Gardenia draws her power from division. Now that they are successfully divided in Everfree, it will be more difficult to defeat her. This is going to require the Element’s of Harmony at their best. Will you girls be able to help me?” Princess Celestia asked.
“Of course!” Rainbow Dash grinned, obviously ready to go.
“You can count on us, yer majesty.” Applejack followed.
“We won’t let you down Princess.” Twilight stated confidently.
“Just one question, how are we going to get there? It must be several days walking just to get to the Equestrian border.” Rarity inquired reluctantly.
“You are quite right Rarity. I will not be able to get you into one of the villages.” Celestia explained, “but I will be able to teleport you to just outside one of them. Are you ready to go now?”
The group gave collective nod. Fluttershy looked at all of her friends and swallowed before timidly nodding too.
“Wonderful.” Celestia nodded, turning and levitating a small set of seven mirrors. “These mirrors are enchanted so that we can communicate. There is one for each of you, just in case you get separated, or find the need to split up.” Celestia turned to Twilight. “Now that you are a princess, remember that when you endanger yourself needlessly, you are bargaining the future of Equestria.” With that final warning, Celestia turned back to the smll group of mares. “Is there anything you need before you leave?”
“Princess?” Twilight asked hesitantly. “Would you mind looking after Spike? I don’t want him to get hurt.”
Spike began to object. “Of course.” Celestia smiled, greatly reassuring Twilight. “Any other concerns?”
Five mares shook their heads no, and Fluttershy meeped.
“Very well. Good luck, and return safely.” Celestia’s horn began to glow. There was a bright flash, and the six vanished from the castle.
Six ponies opened their eyes to gnarled and twisted trees surrounding them completely. Twilight jumped as she felt a slight vibration around her neck. She looked down and noticed that the mirrors that Celestia had given them were now small and on thin silver chains. Each mirror was a locket, the front of which contained a small, clear stone that suddenly projected an image of Princess Celestia. “Hello, my little ponies.” She smiled, and Spike jumped into the picture to wave. “I just wanted to test the mirrors. From now on, whenever the mirror vibrates, just tap it with your hoof and I will be projected. Tap the back if you can’t answer where you are at the time. To call me or each other, open and imagine the cutie mark of whomever you wish to call.” She explained easily. I won’t keep you any longer now, good luck and goodbye.” With that, Celestia was gone.
“Well now which way do we go?” asked Rarity.
“Uh…” Twilight spun in a circle looking for an exit. “Dash, can you fly above the tree line?” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
Author's Note
And the first original character has entered the scene! I hope you like him as much as we do!
They followed Orange Julius, making sure to watch out for other ponies. They got a few curious glances from the other workers, as they bucked oranges from the trees. Most of the ponies were just too busy and exhausted to notice, or to care. All six mares wondered how the situation in Gardenia had seemingly managed to dash pretty much all fun and hope from the orchards here. Even when ponies at Sweet Apple Acres were working hard, they still had fun, talking with friends, or goofing off. Here, there was nothing even close to that.
“Woah! That wall is HUGE!” Exclaimed Pinkie.
“It doesn’t end.” Stated Applejack in awe.
They continued on until Orange Julius approached a plain wooden door. “This is one of tha only doors in Mountreal that doesn’t have guards, n’ that’s because it requires a key,” Julius pulled a key out of his backpack and unlocked the door. “There are three of these keys in town: mine, tha farm owner’s key, and the Queen’s master key.”
“Woah, Julie! You must be important!” Pinkie said, popping up behind the blue pony.
Julius looked away. “Not important enough.” He muttered. Louder he said: “Follow me. Don’t stray or get lost.”
He opened the door and they stepped inside. The door revealed a huge house, marble floors, and high ceilings. The walls were white and lined with expensive paintings of ancient ponies with fancy clothes and white powdered wigs.
“Wow.” whispered Rarity. “What I wouldn’t give to live in a place like this.”
“Your freedom? Your job? Your friends and family?” asked Julius accusingly.
There was a tense moment of awkward silence, before Pinkie Pie poked her head around the corner of a wall into an industrial sized kitchen. “Look at this kitchen!” She hollered with a grin. “Just think of how many cupcakes I could bake in here!” She began to bounce from counter to sink to oven.
“What is this place?” questioned Twilight.
“This house belongs to the owner of the farm. Queen Gardenia decided he would be wealthy. So he has this house, n’ she has his loyalty. It’s a despicable system, n’ somepony needs to make it collapse.” Orange Julius frowned. “I have seen it tear apart more families than I had ever wanted or expected to see.” He shook his head despairingly. “Whoever this Princess of yours is, Ah’m glad she decided to send you six when she did.”
Julius seemed sad about the statement. He turned and walked out of the kitchen with the rest following.
“We needed to come. There wasn’t any other options for us, or for Equestria.” Twilight looked down solemnly. “Gardenia’s influence is starting to inch closer and closer to our borders, and nopony knows when the first attack would come. Our army would definitely win a war, but the losses would just be too much. If it can be prevented, it needs to be.” Twilight insisted, a determined tone creeping into her voice.
“Ah cannot leave tha house without being questioned. Look around town, but be very careful. Tell nopony why you are here. Ah suggest making your way over to the care center. Doc Vigor should be helpful in your quest. If ya run into any trouble ask to speak with me. Understand?”
He received a few nods, two said yes, and one enthusiastic “Okie doki loki!”
“Make sure you watch out for ponies with white tracking bracelets. Those are the Guardponies who report directly to Gardenia. Return here by EIGHT pm. That’s curfew. We should have enough beds.” He finished walking the group to the door, and gave a short wave as he shooed the six mares out the door.
There were a few ponies out on the cobbled stone streets. Most walked quickly and alone, avoiding anypony with a white tracking bracelet.
Rainbow Dash shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to be here long.” She mumbled dejectedly. “My wings are killing me.”
“Ok girls, spread out and try to act like you belong.” Instructed Twilight. She took a deep breath and stepped out onto the street turning left to make her way to a stall selling old books. The salescolt was preoccupied with another pony. Twilight tried to listen to their conversation to pick out any useful information, but instead became engrossed in a book titled The History of Gardania. She turned to table of content, and looked at the chapters. They were only from the last 15 years since Queen Gardania came to the throne.
“Excuse me?” she asked the salescolt, “Do you have any books with history from before Queen Gardania?”
The salespony’s eyes grew wide. “Shhh!” he hushed her putting a hoof to her mouth, “I’ll speak with you in a minute.” He returned to helping the other customer.
A few minutes later the salescolt returned his attention to Twilight. “I’m not supposed to have this, so I cannot sell it to you. Consider it a gift.” He said with a wink. “It’s so nice to see young ponies with an interest in the past.” He handed her a thick, old book covered in dust.
“Thank you very much. I will take good care of it.” Twilight blew the dust off the cover and read the title. “The Complete History of Everfree. “ Twilight softly read aloud. She thanked the salescolt again and started off to find a secluded spot to read.
Rarity also went left after spotting a fashion booth. One particular lilac hat kept catching her eye. She stared at it for several minutes before the salespony approached her.
“Who made this fantastic hat?” Rarity asked.
With a smug look, the salespony motioned to the purple tracking bracelet around her hoof. “I did of course.”
“You simply must show me how you made the stitches so fine!” Rarity begged.
The sales pony looked at Rarity’s fake tracking bracelet. “I cannot and I will not. What are you doing here anyway? You and ponies like you belong in the orchards.” With that she walked away in a huff, leaving Rarity puzzled.
Pinkie Pie bounced off the porch. She hopped toward a warm chocolate scent. “Mmmmm! Cupcakes!” She chirped. She stepped inside the restaurant. “Hello everypony!” she shouted. Several heads turned to look at the strange newcomer.
“Shh!” The mare behind the counter warned.
“Why so serious?” asked a puzzled Pinkie.
The mare approached Pinkie and spoke quietly, “There are guards in here. When people are too loud or too happy, they get suspicious. The Queen doesn’t give us much reason to be happy.”
The other pony laughed softly, “You aren’t from around here are you? My name is Apricot Jam, but you can call me Apricot.”
“I’m Pinkie Pie,” Pinkie whispered back. “And you’re right, I am new to this town.”
Apricot nodded. “I figured as much, but how did you get in? I am assuming a farmer must have helped.”
Pinkie nodded eagerly. “That’s right! How did you know? I can’t tell you who though, I don’t want them to get in trouble.”
Apricot nodded in understanding. “That brown tracking band must be fake. You don’t seem like the kind to work as a farmer. What did you do back where you live?”
“I baked at Sugarcube corner. I love making cupcakes, and cakes, and pies, and all sorts of yummy sweets! Especially cupcakes!” Pinkie replied.
Apricot nodded again. “Come with me.” She smiled slightly and pulled Pinkie into the back room. Pinkie followed, her head darting around as she eagerly took in her new surroundings. They ended up in a back office. “Take off your tracking bracelet.” Apricot requested. Pinkie did as she was asked. “Here try this instead.” Apricot handed over a yellow bracelet that matched her own.
“Thanks! Where did you get this? Why is it yellow?”
“Each company owner gets a set. Yellow means food service. When we turn 12, we move into a foal home and are assigned a job. We live in a foal home until we are 18. You see, new workers report to the owner of their assigned workplace, and then the owner is able to provide them with a band. They don’t have any tracking brands, and their new tracking brands aren’t activated until all of the new workers report to the capital on tracking day each year, where the Queen’s unicorn advisor installs all of the tracking bracelets. After bracelets are activated, they can never be taken off. Not even by the unicorn advisor. I’m not even sure that Queen Gardenia could do it.”
“You own this place? That is amazing!” Pinkie Pie said, louder than before.
“Yes, I own it. This band isn’t activated, so you can remove it. In return for the band, why don’t you help me here for a little while?”
“Okie dokie loki!” Shouted Pinkie.
Apricot lead her into the kitchen and explained where things were before Pinkie went crazy, increasing productivity by 50%.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash took off toward the neighboring orchards. They arrived at another large building and knocked. A tall, teal stallion, with a yellow mane answered the door. He stood above them, looking down. He didn’t say a word.
“Hiya,” Applejack started, “We were just wonderin’ if ya needed any help?” She paused for an awkward moment. “In the orchards ah mean.”
The teal colt exhaled through his nose.
“We finished today’s work early. The boss told us not to slack off, and sent us in your direction.” Rainbow Dash covered.
He thought for a moment, before letting both the equestrians inside. “Just buck as many trees as you can. Apples are heavier than the other fruit, so I don’t expect weaklings like you to be much help.” The stallion ordered gruffly.
Dash began to talk, but found Applejack’s hoof over her mouth. “We’ll do our best sir.” Applejack answered.
They both started out into the orchard and began to applebuck.
Rainbow Dash gave an exasperated sigh. “All we are doing is working. We’ve been too busy to ask questions.”
“Ah know yer upset sugarcube, but gainin’ trust is a part a gettin’ honest answers.”
Rainbow Dash groaned and looked up at the sun. A dark shadow dashed over head, and that’s when she noticed the clouds moving. She caught a glimpse of a dark mane.
Dash gasped and rushed over to Applejack. “AJ! I just saw a pegasus.” She nodded toward where she saw the pegasus. “Keep watch for me, I’m going to check it out.” With that she turned and galloped off into the Everfree forest.
Once in a thicker area of the forest, plenty far away from the oppressive ponies keeping watch over the orchards, she shed the plain dress. Rainbow let out a sigh of relief as she stretched her wings. “Much better.” She muttered to herself. She leapt into the air going straight up, so as not to be seen by the earth ponies below, before heading out in search of the mysterious pegasus.
Rainbow Dash flew over to a cloud in the general area where she remembered seeing the dark mane. “Hello?” Dash looked around.
“Who are you?” was the harsh reply.
Dash looked around the cloud, looking for the pony to go with the voice.
Rainbow Dash jumped, and her voice took on a defensive tone. “Who are you to ask me who I am?”
The other pony laughed and rose out of the center of the cloud. His body was pure white, allowing him to blend in with the cloud perfectly. His blue mane was as dark as the night sky.”
“What’s so funny?” Rainbow Dash said, slightly offended.
“Nothing.” He tried to keep a straight face. “I’m Storm Chaser. Sorry if I came across as mean or rude, I just wanted to make sure you weren’t with Gardenia.”
“What makes you so sure I’m not?” Rainbow asked, sending Storm Chaser a questioning glance.
“You have too much personality, and your retort was too witty.” Storm Chaser looked Dash up and down, eyes landing on the brown tracking bracelet. “Brown? I’ve never seen a pegasus wearing a brown tracking bracelet before.”
Dash glanced at it sheepishly. “That’s probably because it’s borrowed” she explained.
“An Earth Pony farmer?” Storm Chaser’s eyes widened and then his expression grew puzzled. “But you’re a pegasus, how did you manage to meet an Earth Pony, and get one of their tracking bracelets??”
“Well,” Dash explained, “when we first came to Everfree --”
“Gardenia.” Storm Chaser corrected her
“Gardenia?”
“The Queen renamed the country after herself. It’s Gardenia now, not Everfree.”
“Okay, Gardenia, not Everfree, got it.” Rainbow Dash continued. “ When we first arrived in Gardenia, my friends and I were in an orange orchard. There we found Orange Julius, who helped disguise us.”
“Wait, there are more of you? Why were you on the ground instead of flying?”
“Well we aren’t all Pegasi. Applejack and Pinkie Pie are Earth Ponies, Rarity is a unicorn, Fluttershy is another pegasus, and Twilight Sparkle is an Alicorn, although she and Fluttershy don’t really like to fly much.”
“An Alicorn? No way! How did you all start traveling together?” asked Storm Chaser intrigued.
“We’re friends. We have been for a long time. We all live in Ponyville together.”
“Ponyville? Where is that? I know it’s not in Gardenia.”
Rainbow Dash nodded, “It’s in Equestria. It’s south of here, on the other side of the forest.”
Storm Chaser nodded in acknowledgement. “But why would you ever come here, if you live in Ponyville with your friends?”
“Princess Celestia asked us to prevent Queen Gardenia from orchestrating and carrying out an attack on Equestria.” Dash explained. “Where are the rest of you?” She looked around, not finding any other Pegasi.
Storm Chaser grinned. “The clouds here were put in position this morning, and the bulk of what’s left over are over Unicornicopia right now. If hit it just right my tracking bracelet stops transmitting. When there are a lot of us in the same area at the same time, nobody can tell that one tracking bracelet stopped transmitting.” He winked.
“But won’t your co-workers be upset with you for slacking off?”
“Nah, we get in trouble if we aren’t constantly working, and I tend to finish too quickly. I usually return when the rest of the pegasi controlling the weather get to the capital.”
Rainbow Dash smiled. He reminds me of me.
“Besides, I’m working on a way to get my family out of Gardenia. I have several people anxiously waiting for the information.” Storm Chaser said smugly.
“Why not try to overthrow the Queen? That way you can keep your home.”
“Its not that easy. I am just one colt. People talk about wanting things to change, but so far they’re all talk.” He looked at the ground. “ Probably because they don’t think we can really do it. I can’t hold group meetings, because anytime more than four ponies are together, there have to be guards. They can’t reinforce each other, and everypony thinks that they’re all alone. I still try to talk to them individually, but it seems I’m not really getting anywhere.”
“You need a guard on your side then, somepony to oversee these meetings.” suggested Rainbow Dash, “ Do you know anypony who might be able to help you?”
Storm Chaser thought for a moment. “ I think I might. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that!”
Rainbow Dash snickered.
“Let me get you some blue tracking bracelets, for you and your Pegasus friend. Meet me back here at the same time tomorrow. With blue bracelets, you should be able to come and go as you please.” Again he added a wink.
“That would be AWESOME!” Rainbow exclaimed. She gave a small wave before returning to her dress in the Everfree forest.
Rainbow Dash dressed quickly, and returned to Applejack in the orchard. “Hey AJ,” She said beaming.
“Why are you so happy?” Applejack asked cautiously, keeping her voice as low as possible.
“I met a colt,” Dash said, grinning from ear to ear. “He’s going to get me a blue bracelet, so I can go to see the pegasi.”
“Really?” Applejack kept her tone cautious. “You found another pony that wants to help?”
“Yup, he’s very eager. He had already been trying to get people to help him.” Dash said growing more excited, “Did you know that in order to have four or more ponies together you have to have a guard present?”
Applejack shook her head no, and bucked another tree, knocking the apples into the buckets surrounding its base.
Fluttershy was the last to leave the steps. She watched as her friends head off in different directions.
She stepped first to the left, and then turned to her right. She saw a line of young colts and fillies. She decided to follow them, and found herself in the care district.
Most ponies she passed wore red or no tracking bracelets. She passed an orphanage and an animal care center. She stopped to see the animals and found it almost deserted.
“Um, Excuse me?” she quietly asked the pony behind the desk. “Where are all of the pets?”
The pony looked up from the magazine she had been reading. She looked around. “It doesn’t look like there are any here,” She said in a mundane tone, and returned to her reading.
Right then two ponies rushed by carrying an injured colt on their backs. The colt’s leg was twisted and he was moaning in pain.
“Oh dear.” Fluttershy said as her hooves led her after the injured pony. She walked into the care center after them and watched as madness erupted. Two nurses rushed forward and helped the colt into a bed while a third went in search of the doctor.
Fluttershy sat in the waiting room patiently until the doctor left the colt’s room with a sigh.
“Uh, excuse me.” Fluttershy interjected meekly. “Is he going to be ok?” She asked the doctor as he arrived.
The doctor scanned Fluttershy for a few moments. Fluttershy could almost see the wheels turning behind his facial facade. “He will be fine in a few weeks.” The doctor waved a hoof to dismiss her concern. “I don’t believe we have met.” The doctor looked over Fluttershy’s dress, noticing the slight bulges where her wings were hidden. “I am Doc Vigor.”
The doctor had a brown coat the color of tree bark, and a sandy blond mane. “I’m Fluttershy.” Was the barely audible reply.
“So Fluttershy, what brings you to Mountreal?” Fluttershy’s eyes grew wide. “Don’t worry.” He chuckled. “I won’t report you. Follow me.” he smiled, tossing his head to indicate the correct direction.
Silent and downcast, Fluttershy followed. He lead her into an office, and motioned for her to take a seat on the opposite side of the desk.
“So how did a pegasus like yourself end up in an Earth Pony town? And where did you get a brown tracking bracelet?”
Fluttershy let out a timid squeak in reply.
Doc Vigor laughed softly. “Calm down sweetheart.” He paused, allowing her to regain composure.
“Orange Julius helped us get in.” She whispered timidly. “My friends and I were supposed to find you. We went separate ways, so we wouldn’t look suspicious.” Fluttershy stopped talking abruptly.
“Ah, Julius. I should have guessed. That explains the brown bracelet.” Fluttershy nodded. “You said there were more of you?” Fluttershy nodded again. “It was a good idea to split up. One pegasus might not get noticed but a group would.”
“Oh, we aren’t all pegasi.” Fluttershy gently corrected the doctor. “Two unicorns, two pegasi, and two earth ponies.”
It was the doctor’s turn to nod. “I see. I assume you are from Equestria? The previous doctor told me stories about the land to the south where all ponies live in harmony.”
“That’s right. Our Princess wants to make sure your Queen won’t try to take over Equestria too.”
“She isn’t MY Queen. I remain loyal to the old King, or at least his family now that he’s gone. There is even a rumor that the old King has a son that is still alive.” Doc Vigor began to explain what he meant. “The king had a child with a mare that wasn’t the former Queen, but a normal unicorn. Their son together is possibly alive. He would be in Unicornicopia, where all of the unicorns live. The best way to ensure the Queen won’t attempt to take over is to get the rightful King on the throne.”
Fluttershy listened intently. “But won’t it be difficult to get into Unicornicopia?”
“If you have the right tools it isn’t as terribly hard as one might think. I wouldn’t suggest you all go, but with horns and tracking bracelets native to the town, it shouldn’t be too difficult.” He thought for a moment. “Tell me about your friends, and I’ll see if I can get more suiting bracelets.”
It took a while for Fluttershy to explain each of her friends. Once she was finished, Doc Vigor gave his conclusion: “Ok, Rarity is into fashion - purple for her. Twilight loves books and magic - definately green. I don’t think I can get one for Rainbow Dash, she would need to find a way to contact a pegasus, Applejack would be best with brown, and Pinkie Pie needs a yellow.” He was silent for a moment, lost in thoughts about how to procure the correct bracelets. “Apricot for yellow, Hide for green, possibly Milly for purple...” He muttered pensively. “I can get those three no problem. As for you,” he said digging through a drawer in his desk. He pulled out a red bracelet identical to his own. “The red represents care. Doctors, Nurses, Veterinarians, and Teachers all wear red.”
“Ok, thank you very much for your kindness,” Fluttershy put on her new red tracking bracelet.
“You should go now, it’s already 7:30. Curfew will be in less than an hour. I assume you’re staying with Julius?”
Fluttershy nodded. “Ok then. I will try to make my way over for a house call tomorrow.” The Doctor said as he stood, and walked Fluttershy to the door.
Fluttershy waved and made her way back to the orange farm.
Just before eight pm, all six ponies met back on the doorstep to the orange orchard. At eight pm the door opened and Orange Julius let them inside. “So what did you fillies do today?”
All six simultaneously launched into a description of who they met and what they learned.
“Woah, woah, woah,” Julius laughed, “One at a time.”
“I made a new friend!” Pinkie Pie squealed, bouncing in place. “Her name is Apricot. She got me a yellow bracelet, and let me work in her shop.”
“Well, I met a pegasus colt on one of the clouds above Mountreal,” Rainbow Dash boasted. “He said he has been trying to recruit people to help bring down the Queen, but it’s difficult with the restrictions the Queen has placed.”
Julius nodded acknowledging Rainbow Dash’s statement. “How about you Fluttershy?” He asked.
“Huh? um, well, I went to see Doc Vigor.” She answered meekly. “He told me a story about the former King’s son. Supposedly the King had a son whose mother was a unicorn, not the former King’s wife. Since he is only a unicorn and lived with his mother, he might still be alive.” she paused, “Or at least that’s what Doc Vigor said. He also said he can get us better suiting tracking bracelets.”
“That’s similar to the story I read in the large book I was given. It was about the history of Everfree.” Twilight added. “It confirmed that the King did have a son with another mare, and that the son was a unicorn.”
“Well if that’s true, we need to get someone in contact with this unicorn prince.” Julius addressed the group.
Twilight nodded, “We should stay in pairs, and since Rarity and I are already unicorns, it makes sense for us to go.” She reasoned. “How far is Unicornicopia?”
Orange Julius answered, “I don’t know walking, but just about five miles direct. To get in undetected you would have to leave through the forest, or teleport, if you can do that. I’m a little rusty on my understand of what exactly unicorns can and can’t do.”
“Oh goodness!” Exclaimed Rarity mildly, “I couldn’t walk all that way. It’s much too far. Can’t I just stay here? You know, rally the troops? I am sure Julius needs help.”
“OK, then who wants to go to Unicornicopia with me?” Twilight asked.
“Me! pick me! I wanna make some new friends!”
“Ok, Pinkie it is,” Twilight said somewhat defeated. “Rarity, can you fashion a horn for her?”
“Ooo! Ooo!” Pinkie bounced around Rarity. “Can it be pink?” she asked.
“The group chuckled. “Of course! I wouldn’t have it any other color!” replied Rarity. “I know just the shade.”
“Then Fluttershy will come with me to meet Storm Chaser tomorrow, right?” asked Dash.
“Well... I, uh. I told Doc Vigor I would be here to meet him when he brings the tracking bracelets tomorrow.” Fluttershy looked down and kicked the ground.
“I guess that means I am going alone.” Dash shrugged.
“Ah don’t think that’s a good idea sugarcube,” Applejack said, slightly concerned.
Twilight had the solution. “I perfected the spell that gave Rarity wings,” She said happily, “I know where it went wrong. If you are willing I can give you pegasus wings. Then you can watch out for Rainbow.”
“Ah don’t know, you guys. Ah’m not one to mess with nature.” AppleJack looked concerned.
“Aww, come on AJ. Can you honestly say that you never wanted wings?” Dash asked.
“Ah can honestly say that ah’ve never wanted wings,” Applejack answered.
“Never thought about beating me in a race on my own turf?”
“Ah like the sound a that, but how safe is this, Twi? If ah get hurt what would happen ta Sweet Apple Acres? Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith need me.”
“It works fine. I tested it on myself last time I was in Canterlot. I stayed a week longer than I intended because I had wings. I wanted to test it with the Princess’ supervision after what happened last time.”
Every pony nodded in amused understanding, while Rarity sulked.
“Fine, Ah guess ah’ll give it a try. It only lasts three days, right?”
“Actually the pegasus wings last longer. About a week total.” Twilight bragged. “But lets wait until tomorrow, so you don’t have issues leaving.”
“Ok, now that that’s settled, let me show you to your room.” Julius instructed them to follow. “I know it’s not much, but it should work out well enough. I’m just glad that we house workers in groups of six.” He led them into a plain white room with six beds with grey wool blankets. “Sleep well.” he said, “The Bathroom is down the hall on the right.” He left them alone to prepare for bed.
Fluttershy removed her dress and slowly pulled herself into bed beneath the heavy wool blanket, and sang softly as she drifted to sleep.
Rarity awoke to hoof steps outside the room. She groaned and threw her pillow over her face. After a few more moments of hoof steps, she rose and approached the door. She opened it as Orange Julius walked by.
“That makes sense.”
The six awoke around eight am. First was Applejack with a loud yawn, followed by Pinkie Pie, who sprang out of bed.
Dash rubbed at her eyes with a lazy hoof as she thought. “Uh, we didn’t set an exact time. So I guess whenever I see the other Pegasi are leaving.”
“That will make giving Applejack wings difficult. What do you think AJ? When would you like to gain your wings” Twilight asked.
“Uh, well Ah’d still rather not, but if Ah have ta', now would be good. Ah’d like some time ta’ get used ta’ them, Ah ‘spose.” Applejack answered, still unsure of the whole idea.
“Ok Applejack. As soon as we get out to the orchards.” Twilight replied. “Pinkie, what are you going to do today?” Twilight’s tone became cautious with her last question.
“Well, you see, I was thinking I’d make my way back to Apricot’s store. I figured I could help her bake more cupcakes before I go with Twilight. I mean, she has the most amazing kitchen, and so many pots and pans and bowls and cupcake tins! Yesterday I started banging the pots and pans together and I came up with a song! Wanna’ hear it?” Pinkie took a deep breath and began to sing.
“Ting tang crash bang go the pots and pans! They sing like me-”
“Pinkie!” Twilight stopped the pink pony mid-song. “That song was lovely. Did you show Apricot?”
“Oh my goodness! I didn’t!” Pinkie exclaimed. “I bet she would love it! I’ll go show her right now.” Pinkie gave a brief wave and hopped out the door.
Rainbow Dash giggled. “I see what you did there.”
“Now get out of my bathtub!” Pinkie poked her head back into the room, and disappeared again.
The group burst into a fit of giggles.
“Ah sure would like to know where she gets all that energy from.” Applejack chuckled, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
“Hehe, have fun on your trip to Unicorn Town.” Rainbow Dash teased Twilight.
“Unicornocopia.” Twilight corrected.
“Whatever.” Dash finally pulled herself from her bed. She hovered in the air for a moment before slowly lowering her hooves to the floor.
“Let’s get this over with.” Applejack sighed, heading for the door. Rainbow quickly threw on her dress from the day before, and followed Applejack.
While delicately placing her hat over her horn, Twilight turned to Fluttershy and Rarity. “Will you two be okay here alone until Doc Vigor gets here?”
“Oh yes, I will be just fine.” Fluttershy answered quietly. Twilight could tell that she already missed Angel, and her other animal friends back in Ponyville.
“We will be just fine Twilight. I will keep Fluttershy entertained, and I welcome her companionship.” Rarity escorted Twilight to the door. “Do not worry.”
“Okay, well, I’ll be back as soon as I get Applejack airborne.” With that said, Twilight rounded the corner, and left their sight.
Inside the Everfree Forest, Applejack and Rainbow Dash waited impatiently for Twilight.
Applejack stood in one spot as Rainbow Dash circled her from above. “Will you cut that out?” Applejack snapped at Rainbow Dash.
“You are going to love flying AJ! I just know it. It’s so AWESOME!” Rainbow gushed, completely undeterred.
Applejack nodded absently, while looking for Twilight in the dense foliage.
As Twilight breached the entrance to the Everfree Forest, Applejack rushed over. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Twilight asked Applejack one last time. “I’m sure Pinkie Pie could do it if you asked.”
“Nah, Ah’ll do it. Ah’m already here, let’s just get this over with Sugarcube.” Applejack answered.
“Alright, I’m going to start now. Here I go.”
Rainbow Dash watched from nearby as Twilight’s horn glowed purple as Twilight removed her hat. Applejack grimaced as the glow engulfed her.
Applejack was lifted into the air. She felt her limbs start to grow lighter and lighter. There was a prodding sensation on her back, followed by a quick stabbing pain that subsided into a dull ache as her wings stretched her coat, and began to grow.
Applejack didn’t notice that she had been grinding her teeth, until she collapsed in a heap on the leaf strewn floor of the Everfree Forest.
Dash rushed over quickly. “Applejack! Are you okay?” Rainbow looked genuinely concerned to see her rival, and friend collapse on the floor. “Did it work alright?”
Applejack slowly stood, and showed Rainbow Dash her new wings. “It worked alright, but it was about as fun as apple bucking with my face.
“I am so sorry Applejack.” Twilight said guiltily. “I should have warned you about the pain. It doesn’t last long though. They shouldn’t even ache ten minutes.”
“Well, test them AJ. Lets see what ya’ got!” Dash taunted.
Applejack leapt into the air and landed on her face.
“Bahahaha!” Rainbow dash erupted in laughter.
“Hey, Dash; think you can teach Applejack to fly before you go to meet Storm Chaser?” Twilight asked. “I told Rarity and Fluttershy that I wouldn’t be long.”
“Of course!” Go ahead. We’ll see ya’ around egghead.” Rainbow Dash said confidently.
“We’ll be fine Sugarcube. Ah trust you and Pinkie will be safe, and ah hope Julius and Doc Vigor can help Rarity and Fluttershy. Ah’m afraid we’ll all need plenty of help.”
After a short wave, Twilight left, leaving Rainbow to train Applejack in the ways of the Pegasi.
“Before flying, try expanding your wings as far as you can.” Dash instructed.
AppleJack followed Rainbow’s command. Her orange wings shook with effort, and she felt the release of tension throughout her body. It was as though she were stretching after sleeping curled up for a long period of time. In other words, it was bliss.
“Okay, good. Now try flapping them.” Rainbow said, demonstrating. AppleJack rapidly flapped her wings, only stirring up dirt and leaves. AppleJack’s hooves stayed firmly planted on the ground.
“AJ, if you move your wings that fast, you push the air out sideways. You need to push the air towards the ground.” Rainbow Dash approached AppleJack to show her how to hold her wings. “If your wings are perfectly straight, you push the same volume of air up as down, so you stay in one place.”
AppleJack stared, open mouthed at Rainbow Dash.
“What?” Dash asked skeptically.
“You sound like an egghead yourself!” AppleJack chuckled.
Rainbow Dash began to laugh too. “Well, I didn’t get to be the best flyer in Equestria by sitting on my butt!” Rainbow Dash thought for a bit, before explaining it to AppleJack in a different way. “Think of it this way AJ. Try to push as much air toward the ground as possible. Just like when you swim, you push water behind, and try to put as little in front as possible.”
AppleJack did her best to follow Rainbow’s instructions. She soon found herself so focused on putting air below her, that she didn’t notice she was hovering about six inches off the ground.
“That’s great! You’re doing really well!” Dash encouraged.
AppleJack stopped focusing and came crashing to the ground.
“Oops! Sorry AJ. I didn’t mean to distract ya’.” Rainbow Dash apologized. “But if you bend your wings slightly, so that the tips are toward the ground, it will help you get more air.”
After two more hours of practice, AppleJack had fallen too many times to count. She was scraped and bruised, and slightly beaten up, but she was able to fly while holding a conversation, and with lots of encouragement from Rainbow Dash, could do a few simple tricks.
Rainbow Dash looked up higher in the sky as she flew with AppleJack. All of the pegasi were headed west. Dash assumed they were moving on to Unicornicopia. She spotted a cloud that was sporting a navy blue tail.
Dash caught AppleJack’s attention and motioned for her to silently follow. Dash pointed at the tail, and snickered softly. She flew up directly behind the cloud, while AppleJack looked on nervously from below. Dash snickered quietly to herself again, as she softly grabbed the tail in her mouth.
AppleJack sighed with relief that Rainbow had not been caught. It was too soon to be relieved. Dash grinned through her mouth full of tail, and yanked Storm Chaser out of the cloud.
Storm Chaser floundered for a minute before his eyes landed on his rainbow maned captor. Dash released his tail, and burst into laughter. Reluctantly Storm Chaser began to laugh too.
AppleJack flew up slowly to meet them.
Storm Chaser saw AppleJack approach and turned to greet her. “So, you must be Fluttershy.” Storm Chaser held out a hoof.
AppleJack’s face strained with effort as she slowly held out her hoof to shake. “AppleJack actually.” She corrected him.
“What? AppleJack?” Storm Chaser questioned, looking at Rainbow Dash. Dash nodded. “Aren’t you an Earth Pony?” Storm Chaser was genuinely confused.
“That’s right. Ah’m an Earth Pony. The wings are strictly temporary. Hopefully very temporary.” She said as she faltered, and dropped a foot in the air.
“I don’t understand.” Storm scratched his head with a hoof. “Why send you to Pegasopalous when Fluttershy is already a Pegasus?”
“Ah got roped into it. Fluttershy is very timid n’ Rarity won’t travel well. That left either myself or Pinkie Pie.” AppleJack was worn out from staying airborne. She awkwardly made her way to a nearby cloud. “Ah know, it don’t make sense.”
“Well, if you are going to come with me, you will need these.” Storm Chaser stuck his head back into the cloud where he had been hiding. When he reappeared, he held two blue tracking bracelets in his mouth. “Ear fu wooh.” he mumbled around them.
Both girls removed their brown bracelets, and replaced them with blue.
“So?” Dash asked. “Did you find a guard to help?” She leaned toward Storm Chaser, her eyes were wide with expectation.
“Yeah, I think I did. I think you will really like him. He’s a really nice guy, even if he is one of the Queen’s guards.” Storm Chaser looked up at the sun’s position in the sky. “Actually, I should be leaving to meet him now. Do you two want to come?”
“Yeah! Let’s go!” Dash said excitedly.
AppleJack hesitated before nodding.
“Great. He’s at the front gate right now. His lunch break starts in about five minutes. I told him we would meet him for lunch.”
Storm chaser and Rainbow Dash started North while AppleJack trailed a few feet behind. She didn’t mind not being involved in the conversation. Instead, she used all of her concentration to keep from falling too far behind.
The distance between them grew, and by the time Rainbow Dash and Storm Chaser reached the gate to Pegasopalous, they were specks to AppleJack. She took a deep breath, and pushed harder to move herself forward.
Rainbow Dash and Storm Chaser arrived at the gate laughing and talking. The two were interrupted by an unsure voice.
“Rainbow Dash?”
Storm chaser and Rainbow Dash turned to look into the eyes of a pale yellow pegasus with one outstanding feature. A rainbow mane.
“Rainbow Dash? Is that really you?” The new pegasus grew more excited.
Dash looked at him with her head tilted to one side. She was puzzled, but there was a foggy memory in the very back of her head that was just trying to peek through.
“Rainbow?” Storm Chaser asked. “How do you know-”
“Prism.” Rainbow Dash said softly. The name tasted unfamiliar on her tongue. She turned to Storm. “I’m not sure how I know him.” She confessed.
Prism laughed. “It doesn’t surprise me that you don’t remember. You were a pretty small foal when you went to live with our grandparents.”
Rainbow Dash stepped back, nearly falling off the cloud they were on. “How did you know that I was raised by my grandparents?”
“Because I’m your big brother.”
Applejack flew up behind Storm Chaser and Rainbow Dash. The first thing she noticed was the silence. “What’s goin’ on guys?” She asked, thoroughly puzzled. She was managing to keep herself aloft.
“That’s right. How’d ya’ know?”
“Well, fifteen years ago, my family would always stop by during cider season. We always visited my grandparents in Cloudsdale around then.” Prism licked his lips at the memory. “But how did a Pegasus come to live there?”
“Oh, Ah’m not a Pegasus.” Applejack answered.
Prism inspected her wings from a distance. “Your wings say otherwise.”
“Really?” Applejack strained to get a look at her wings. “Twilight did a great job.” Applejack took a deep breath before launching into an explanation. “Ah live on Sweet Apple Acres because my Great Granddaddy built it when Granny Smith was young. Ah’m an earth pony.
“But your wings look real to me.” Prism looked confused.
Applejack blushed a bit. “Ah have Twilight Sparkle to thank for that. She’s a friend of ours from Ponyville. She studies magic under Princess Celestia, and is very talented.
“You girls are amazing.” Prism said in awe, subsequently making Applejack’s blush deepen. “Well, here we are.” Prism said, stopping in front of a small shelter made of clouds, where Gardenia’s governor for Pegasopalis managed all group meetings.
Twilight bit her lip as she looked around the small marketplace with Rarity. “Remember, nothing too flashy. We can’t draw too much attention, especially since Orange Julius told me that Unicornocopia is rumored to have the most guards. Magic is a threat to Queen Gardenia.” Twilight whispered.
“Don’t worry Darling!” Rarity waved a hoof. “I know how to make things fabulous, so of course I know how to make things...ahem, less than fabulous.” She cringed slightly. “Although it might just break my heart.” She sighed dramatically.
Twilight just nodded and adjusted her dress slightly as Rarity approached a salesmare.
“Hmmm. I’ll take two bolts of the cotton candy and...” Rarity looked to Twilight and studied her with the eye of a fashion critic. “I’ll also take a bolt of the royal blue.” She smiled, careful to hide her fake tracking band. It had been turned purple by Twilight, but it still didn’t look quite exactly right.
The salesmare gave her a strange, almost frightened look and retreated to the back of the store to fetch what Rarity had asked for. She reappeared, and Rarity had to physically stop herself from using her magic to pick up the bundles, by adjusting her hat to better hide the soft blue glow that had started.
“Ahem, yes, well then...” She nodded uncomfortably, trying to think of how Applejack and Pinkie Pie would have carried the things. “I suppose, if you could just put them on my back?” She asked uncertainly, not quite sure how the whole thing was supposed to work. A new respect for Earth Ponies and Pegasi was growing in her heart.
“Let’s go Rarity, we really need to be getting back.” Twilight insisted, not liking the suspicious look on the salesmare’s face.
With that, Twilight and Rarity made a hasty retreat from the shop, and cantered back to Orange Julius’ house.
Shortly after noon, Fluttershy heard a knock at the door. Startled, she quickly threw on the same plain dress she wore the day before.
“Oh thank goodness!” Rarity beamed. “Buying all those supplies without one was much harder than one would have thought.
“Not many farmers shop for pink and blue cloth.” Doc explained with a slow exhale. “Nurses are out today. I can’t afford to be away long.” He turned to leave.
Once the two had left and Julius had returned to work, Rarity gasped and fell into a nearby chair, dramatically putting her forehoof over her eyes. “I’m not going to be able to stand for a week with how much energy I exerted just now!”
Twilight laughed and rolled her eyes at the exaggeration. “Start on the disguises, okay?”
Rarity sighed as Twilight left and sat up, throwing off her hat so that her horn was given free reign, and got to work.
Applejack looked over the cloud structure. “Woah." She breathed. "Ah keep forgettin’ how much you pegasi can do with clouds. That’s amazin’.”The life of Gardenia. The queen’s biography,” He explained. Sheepishly he added; "Governor Gambit will be sitting in on the first meeting.”
“You mean Governor Gambit is coming to the meeting tonight?” Asked a confused Storm Chaser. “How is that going to work?”
Back in Mountreal, Rarity was hard at work. Twilight paced impatiently before she noticed a slight buzz from her necklace. “Rarity, somepony is calling. I’ll be right back.” She darted into the room where they had slept the night before, and answered the call.
Rarity’s eyebrows rose. “I suppose that her hair is rather distinctive, I’m just surprised that she would agree to it. What if her hair got stuck as a different color forever? She’d be so upset!”
Twilight nodded with a sigh and looked at Rarity’s mane. “Could I borrow a hair from your mane?” Twilight asked hesitantly. “Just a small one, for the potion. I think that Rainbow would look good with that color.”
Rarity looked at her mane a little reluctantly, but took the shears she was using and quickly chopped off a small strand of hair. “Rainbow is giving up her hair, I suppose I can as well.” Rarity smiled, before returning to the snipping at the fabric in front of her.
Twilight moved away to the kitchen to perfect the simple potion. She finished rather quickly, and scrawled a quick note for Rainbow explaining that the potion would only turn her hair purple for about six hours or so, and it should give some sort of warning before the purple faded to her natural rainbow mane again. Twilight looked at the potion in its small bottles and sighed.
“Now how in Equestria am I supposed to get this to Rainbow Dash...” Twilight looked down at her mirror and hummed a little curiously. She used her magic to take off the locket and open it up. She inspected it and called for Rainbow. She hesitantly attempted putting one of the small vials on the surface of the mirror and grinned, delighted when it fell through. She closed the locket after she had delivered all ten bottles and sat back with a sigh.
Twilight wandered into the room where Rarity was working diligently. “Pinkie and Fluttershy should be back soon. Do you think that you’ll be done by then?” She asked, rolling her head in an attempt to alleviate some stress.
Rarity sighed. “Unfortunately, I think so. I’ve finished Pinkie’s horn, I’m just now finishing up your dress.” She explained, moving out of the way to reveal a simple dress. “;It’s hideous, but I did the best I could.”
Twilight smiled. “It’s fine Rarity. Don’t worry about it.”
“Yeah! And my horn is the best ever!” Pinkie squealed, appearing out of pretty much nowhere. “It’s PINK! And Sticky!”
Rarity laughed a little. “It should stick to your head just fine, just try not to get it dirty, or else the ribbon might unravel.
Both Twilight and Rarity laughed a little. Before remembering what had to happen next. Twilight stood with a sigh and approached Pinkie’s horn. She picked it up with her magic and levitated it over to Pinkie. “Go ahead and hide this in your saddlebags. You can put it on when we reach Unicornocopia.” Twilight sighed. “Whenever you’re ready Rarity, so are we.”
Rarity held up her finished dress for Twilight. “Here.” She offered it to Twilight just as Fluttershy walked in.
“Um...Doc Vigor recommended that you seek out one of two ponies in Unicornocopia. Their names are Toxic Mirth and Illusion. Toxic Mirth lives in the library over there, but Doc Vigor said that he didn’t really know where Illusion is living now.” She offered helpfully.
Twilight nodded. “Thanks Fluttershy.” She pulled the dress over her head and put on her hat. She turned to Pinky. “We should go now.” She hugged Rarity and Fluttershy, as did Pinkie, albeit Pinkie’s goodbye was a good deal more energetic.
“Yup! See you later!” Pinkie smiled happily, succeeding in lifting the spirits of all four ponies.
“Yes we will.” Rarity nodded.
“Please be careful.” Fluttershy whispered.
Twilight and Pinkie nodded, before exiting the room, and then the large house altogether. The two walked to the edge of the wall in silence. Twilight concentrated, and with a bright flash of lilac light, they were teleported away from the small town of Earth ponies to the bustling city of the unicorns.
