The sun cast its radiant light upon Ponyville as an average day was taking place. The milk being delivered, the fillies in Miss. Cheerilees' classroom, and the rest of of Ponyvilles' citizens went on in a peace full manner; save for a single small, pink pony creating a commotion on the outskirts of town.
“Party time, party time, party tiiiiime.” Chanted the ever eccentric Pinkie Pie, as she was bouncing her way to her friend Twilights' house. Stopping just short of the door, nestled in the tree her friend called home.
“TWILIGHT, IT'S TIME FOR THE PAAAAARTY.” She yelled as she began banging on her friends door. The door opened slowly, when she was caught off guard by a timid, cream colored pegasus standing in the doorway.
“Fluttershy, what in Equestria are you doing here?, where is Twilight?”
“Oh, I'm just here because of my bunnies.” replied the bright yellow Pegasus, “Something is wrong with them. Twilight is looking at them right now.”
“Oh no, whats wrong with them; were they too excited for the party? I could understand if they were.” Questioned Pinkie.
“No, they seemed to be very upset”, said Fluttershy in a concerned yet timid manner.
“What do you mean?” Pinkie asked.
“Well they were fighting each other, then when I tried to get them to stop, they attacked me; so I had to call Twilight to help find out what is wrong with them.”
“That reminds me, I saw some ponies fighting on the way here. I broke them up but they didn't really have a reason for fighting.” Pinkie said to Fluttershy. “So anyway where is Twilight?
“Oh, she's in her lab. Lets see how things are going” Said Flutteshy
Both Fluttershy and Pinkie trotted into Twilights' laboratory, a completely different world from the library; secluded, filled with numerous machines that she would use for research. Their lavender colored friend was working strenuously, until she let out a deep sigh; a look of frustration on her face.
“Wha- what's wrong?”, Pondered the inquisitive Fluttershy.
“Well I've been working for hours, and since then they've calmed down, but I just don't know!”, exclaimed Twilight. “They were violent one minute, and then they just...stopped.”
“Well I'm glad the situation resolved itself, but we have to leave for the party.”Proclaimed Pinkie.
“Well, I guess we can, it doesn't seem that I'll get any answers. Wait, what party?”asked Twilight.
“The party for the new pony in town.” said pinkie excitedly, “Its his second day here, and you knoooow that every new pony, in Ponyville gets a Pinkie Pie party.”
“New pony huh, so what's this new ponies name?” Questioned Twilight. “I think he said he name was... Rimon I think.” Suddenly, Pinkies body began to quake violently, “Sweet Celestia.” She proclaimed.
“Oh my, is it the Pinkie sense?” asked Fluttershy, uneasy about Pinkies mystical ability.
“Mhm, and whatever it is, it's a doozy!” Pinkie said recovering from the outburst.
“Well lets just be on our hooves girls.” Twilight said in a firm manner as they began to trot towards Sugar cube corner.
“Shhhhhh quiet everypony, he's almost here!” Pinkie Pie ordered to the crowd in the pitch black room.“It's supposed to be a surprise.” Normally the store would be brimming with life, the bakery based architecture giving the occupants something to crave. The store would now seem barren, if not for the giggling of a few ponies. A few minutes of silence passed before the doors creaked open, and the lights were flipped on, displaying the banner and streamers Pinkie had hung a few hours prior.
Everypony in the room let out a loud “surprise”; as a skinny but well toned, beige colored pegasus stood smiling softly among the falling confetti. His emerald eyes gazed upon the occupants of the room in delight.
“Thank you everypony, I'm so glad you could all make it.” He stated calm yet surprisingly polite manner, as he shook his unkempt mane free of the fallen debris. Before he could mouth another word a seemingly upset Pinkie Pie stormed over,
“Hey! You weren't surprised, it was supposed to be a surprise! Did you know? Who told you? I cannot believe this!”
“Uh..you told me, Pinkie”, he responded giggling softly, “Don't you remember? You said, Don't be late for your surprise party at sugarcube corner, tomorrow at three!”
“Oh yeah...” The pony pondered how she could have forgotten. “Twilight, Fluttershy come here!”, Pinkie calling her friends over. “This is Rimon; I met him yesterday while I was running errands.”
“Hello there.” Fluttershy and Twilight greeting him simultaneously.
“So what brings your into Ponyville?” Twilight questioned. “Your accent doesn't sound familiar.” Rimon chuckled,
“Why yes, I'm from the sky continent to the west, Vaporia.”
“From another continent, all this way? That sounds rather scary.” Stated Fluttershy, “So Why have you come all this way for?”
“I have to ask that as well, Vaporia to Equestria is a very long trip.” Twilight asked, her curiosity at a rise.
“Well actually, I'm currently seeking audience with Princesses Celestia; but I heard that Ponyville was such a wonderful place that I just had to visit. You know, to have a little fun?”
“Well if its fun you're after then im the one to call, but Twilight here is the one you need when it comes to the princess.” Pinkie Pie working her way into the conversation. “She is Princess Celestias' number one, star pupil after all.” Pinkie added, giggling at Twilight trying to act humble.
“If it's a meeting with the princess you're after I'd be more than happy to help. Do you mind if I ask why though?” Twilight requested.
“I'd just like to meet with her and thank her.” Rimon said in a calm manner. “I ran across her some number of years ago and If it wasn't for her, I don't think I would be here today; I just want to repay her everything she's done.”
“Well that sounds wonderful.”, Twilight said with a big smile on her face. “So how about we all go first thing in the morning?” Twilight asked, looking to Rimon, then her two friends.
“I'm sorry, I have to take care of the bunnies, I still don't know whats wrong with them, and they could hurt each other.” Fluttershy declined, bringing up the concern for the animals.
“Well that's quite alright.” Rimon speaking to yellow pegasus softly, “I hope they'll be okay.”
“Mhm.” added Twilight. “You tell me if anything happens to them when I get back.”
As they started to leave for in preparation for the next day; a fierce argument had begun between two colts. As a hoof was about to be thrown, an agitated Twilight Sparkle lite up her horn and stopped the two in their tracks.
“What do you think you're doing?” She asked firmly.
“He started it! No he did!” Both blaming each other as they were still burning with anger.
“Too bad, I'm not going to sit here and let you two fight.” Twilight talking to the two colts in a stern voice, as Fluttershy came in to help alleviate the problem.
“N-now, why are you two fighting?” The pegasus said in a worried tone.
“Grrr, No reason; I just don't like his big stupid face.” Scowled the first pony, his gray fur standing on end.
“Well that's good cause I don't like you either.” The second one responding his teeth grinding ever so fiercely.
“Oh no no, you can't fight just because you don’t like each other.” Said Fluttershy as she walked to the two, trembling slightly. “You should try to talk it out and be friends. You two try to make up, if you don't mind that is.”
“Yeah silly willies, friendship is funtasic.” Added Pinkie pie. “If we didn't have friends we wouldn't have things like parties, or cake.. and I looove cake” Pinkie stated with pride as she downed an entire cake with the ferocity of a Timberwolf.
As the apology unfolded the beige stallion sighed, very disappointed in actions of the ponies. “Well I guess we better head out.” he said, “I have a few things I want to get done before tomorrow.” All four of them parted their ways, having said their goodbyes, Rimon stopped and began staring into Canterlots direction. “I wonder if she will remember me, it has been a while.” He said to himself in a quite peculiar manner as he began to walk off into the crowded streets.
“So what do you think he wants to meet the Princess for?” Asked a curious Pinkie Pie.
“Well he said that he wanted to thank her, the princess could have saved his life.” Twilight stated trying to imagine what the circumstances were.
“Well you can ask him tomorrow.” Pinkie brought up.
“I think I will. I just have to know what happened.” Twilight gaining determination as they walked back to their homes.
The next morning was an almost perfect day, The sky was a viberant blue, and the sun was shining brightly, though a pitch black cloud was heading in from the west, the echos of thunder could be heard from miles away.
“We better hurry guys, Canterlot is almost an hour away. We don't want to get caught in that storm.” Twilight said as she and her companions stepped aboard her spacious hot air balloon.
As the balloon began its ascent, staring into the clouds; Twilight thought now would be the best time to ask Rimon about his past.
“So what is it like in the sky continent, I've heard it that it's incredibly beautiful.”
“Well it is beautiful.” Rimon said with a nostalgic look upon his face. “The landscapes and the cities are simply incredible. My favorite location was the highest cliff in land, Eternity Peak; I would relax and look at the scenery for hours. It felt like I could see the entire world. The cities were absolutely breathtaking as well, with thousands wandering its' streets at all hours of the day; but with the largest trading posts in the world, it's to be expected. Ponies of every type could walk on the clouds; thanks to the magic placed on the sky; there were griffons, some of the more sophisticated dragons, and on rare occasions creatures made entirely of the elements: fire, ice, air, electricity; they were simply incredible.”
“Elemental creatures?” Twilight asked in awe, “I've only read stories about those.”
Rimon laughing at her amusement, “They were fascinating, though the visitor I remember the most vividly was a stunning white alicorn.”
“That was the princess wasn't it?” Twilight questioned enthusiastically.
“Mhm, I don't think I'll ever forget that day.” He sighed, “I can't wait to see her again.” Twilight's curiosity began to flair.
“So what happened between you and the princess?” Twilight asked, excited they were on the subject she was looking forward to.
“Well, I get a bit emotional about it but, I think I can tell you.” Rimon said with a hint of sadness. “It was in my home town of Deningrad. The night was pitch black; as I watched the colt I called my father fall to two fiends. I was paralyzed, almost like I was under a spell. That was until the two turned their attention to me. I-I couldn't do anything to stop them. I ran, I flew until I couldn't see Vaporia anymore. Then one day the my path crossed with the princess, it was around the Mountains that make up the Equestrian border. She showed me that you can't run away from your fears, you have to face them head on. I just want to show her how she changed me.”
As he spoke the wonderful city of Canterlot came into view, the small shops and the massive town square, being traversed by numerous ponies; the view then moved from the streets to the magnificent castle belonging to the princess, made from marble of the purest white, with stunning gold upon the roofs, truly a sight to see. “I see.” Said Twilight. “She'll be so happy to hear that.”
As the balloon made its landing, the three companions made their way onto the castles lawn. “Well Rimon we're almost there, are you ready?” Twilight asked with a smile.
“Yeah, I think I am.” He responded.
Twilight, Pinkie and Rimon made their way up the castles' elegant stone walkway where she was greeted by the guards.
”Hello Twilight, long time no see; is there anything we can do for you?”
“Yes, in fact I need to speak with the princesses about a meeting with my friend Rimon here.” She stated.
“Go right ahead, the princess' schedule is completely free for the next few hours. Do you need an escort to the throne room?” He asked in a helpful tone.
“No thank you, we'll be fine.” She responded politely as the guards opened the doors and the three made their way in.
“You two wait here and look around the main hall, I'll be back soon.” She said to Pinkie and Rimon, as she pranced her way up the stairs and into the corridor of the sun. She stopped at the massive archway leading to the throne room, the red carpet on the floor leading a path to the princess's extravagant throne.
“Princess Celestia! I need to speak to you.” She called out to her mentor. With a flash Celestia appeared before her, her beautiful multicolored mane, flowing like a river in the windless chamber.
“Twilight, It's such a pleasure to see you, what are you doing in town?”
“It's actually for a pony we met recently, he said that he wanted to thank you for helping him overcome his fears.”
“That sounds nice Twilight, but I've help a great number of ponies over the years. What was your new friends name?” She asked wondering who it could be.
“His name was Rimon, he came from the sky continent of Vaporia.” As the words passed through Twilights mouth, the princess's face turned to one of confusion,
“Vaproia you say? I... I haven't traveled to Vaporia in almost 1500 years.” She said, trying to understand what was going on. “Where is he now?” She requested of Twilight, a note of concern in her voice.
“He's in the main hall.” She said becoming unsettled. “What's going on?” Suddenly a guard pony burst through the door.
“Princess, there is a riot in town square; we're sending all our troops to quail it.”
“No, keep some of them them here to-.” She couldn't finish her sentence before her guard was kicked to the side by a beige colored pony, sporting a menacing smirk.
“Princess princess, its' been such a long time, I've really missed you; but who would of thought I could find a pony to lead me right into your home.” He let out a wicked cackle. “I guess I really need to thank your, Number one star pupil.” He said in to Twilight a condescending manner.
“Acr- Acrimony, whats going on?” The princesses asked, becoming ever the more confused.
“My my, you remembered my name. That's quite the feat for somepony such as yourself.” He stated as he gave the princess a demeaning applause.
“Acrimony?, what are you talking about princess?” Questioned Twilight.
“He was one of discords knights of chaos.” Said the princess growing worried.
“Discords ...Knights?” Twilight asked in a concerned state. “So that story about your father falling to the fiends, was just a lie?..Oh my goodness, Pinkie Pie! What have you done to her?” Twilight demanding of Acrimony.
“Your pink friend is none of my concern. My feud is with the princess.” He stated, “And about my story being a lie, you seem to have it wrong my dear Twilight. Those two fiends, were the PRINCESSES! Discord, who raised me as his own; simply doing his role in life as the spirit of chaos, fell to them in battle. They tracked him down because the wheel of fate wasn't turning in their favor, then turned him into a statue.”
“Discord had to be stopped, ponies were becoming ill and succumbing to starvation.” Celestia said in her defense.
“How did you manage to escape anyway? You're no where as strong as Discord.”
“Well Princess, after being encased in stone for over a millennium, forced to watch you parade my lord like a trophy, then felling him again just a month ago. My hatred for you finally grew strong enough to break you and your sisters spell.” He stated with a sinister glare in his eyes. “Do you understand the shame I felt? My lord falling to a pony such as yourself. Then you display for all to see, our petrified bodies? Well don't worry, I'm not afraid of your magic any longer; I'll make sure that you understand the depths of my hatred.”
He sighed,“Well, I have to be off to fetch the others. We'll see you soon... princess.” Acrimony stated as he flew off into the storm looming over Canterlot.
