Issue 1: With Great Power
The cool night air blew swiftly through the quiet streets of Ponyville. The sounds of the wind echoed almost inaudibly as all the townsponies slumbered peacefully in their beds, but alas all would not be tranquil for long. A flash of gold streaked through the sky from an unknown origin. It flew, almost gracefully, over the tops of the houses in town. It streaked past the city limits and headed for the Everfree Forest. It did not reach the forest, however, but instead it collided with the earth several yards from a familiar looking cottage.
The lights in the cottage hesitantly flickered on and a reluctant yellow pegasus cautiously poked her head out the door and examined the surroundings.
"Everything looks normal to me Angel, we better head on back to bed" The mare said with a tone doused in nervousness. A little white rabbit with curlers in his tail promptly kicked the door out of Fluttershy's grip, causing it to open further.
"Oh Angel, do we really have to?" The she begged. Angel gave her a stern look and assertively pointed to the obvious smoking crater. Fluttershy sighed. "Fine" She said.
She and angel cautiously approached the crater. Fluttershy's legs began to tremble with each step she took. Angel, however, hopped forward with immense curiosity. They reached the hole in the ground and peered inside. What they found, neither of them could have anticipated.
A gauntlet. A golden one at that. It was quite large, almost as large as Angel! It was gorgeous! It had a sleek golden sheen, strangely un-phased by the crashed landing it endured. The most unique thing about it, besides the fact it came from the sky, was the six jewels embedded on the broadside.
"What is that?" Fluttershy asked aloud. Angel shrugged and hopped closer. "Wait Angel! I don't think we should go near it!" She cried.
Angel simply rolled his eyes and hopped near the gauntlet.
"Angel!" Fluttershy squeaked. Angel then began to make false advances, taunting Fluttershy. He'd make mock reaches for it, then quickly back away. He grinned deviously the entire time. "Get out of there this instant!" Fluttershy said barely audible as she hide behind her mane.
Angel rolled his eyes once more and turned to retreat from the hole. He then turned back to the gauntlet and gave it a stout kick.
A blinding light erupted from the object. It beamed up and spread outward like a huge globe of pure energy. Fluttershy felt an enormous amount of energy course through her body. Then a sound erupted. Faint at first then grew to almost ear shattering levels. It was like a sub-woofer one of those DJ ponies used turned to unimaginable levels. As quickly as all this started, however, the lights and sounds quickly subsided. Fluttershy stood in a petrified stance with her eyes shielded. She quickly looked to Angel to see if he was okay. Angel bunny rubbed his ears and looked to Fluttershy. He was fine. For the moment anyway.
"Angel! Don't ever do that again!" Fluttershy scolded "You could've been hurt! I couldv'e been hurt!" She felt a peculiar feeling. It started from her hooves and began to work its way up. "You know better than that Angel bunny!" she continued. Angel began to cower at her. A mad Fluttershy was very scary after all.
"Next time something like this happens you BETTER listen to me! Do you understand?" Fluttershy began to feel the feeling again, this time amplified. It throbbed in the back of her head. It was a curious sensation, bitter, cold. She doubled over and began to scream. It was overbearing! It was like pure hatred! Her skin felt tight, she could hear the sounds of bones popping and morphing. Her vision became coated in a green haze. She yelled in anger. It was like a primal roar from another time.
Angel had long since ran for cover. He peeped through the chicken coop window, where he had taken refuge, to observe his friend stampede into the Everfree forest.
------------------MARVELOUS EQUESTRIA---------------------
The school bells rang and a crowd of colts and fillies steadily piled inside the schoolhouse to begin the day's lessons. All the little ponies shuffled in and took their seats.
"All right my little ponies! Time for class!" A cerise mare chimed as she gleefully trotted into the room. "Today's lesson will be about magic herbalism!" She gave a shudder. "Exciting!" Before she could continue a colt raised his hoof.
"What is it, Rumble?" Cheerilee asked.
"Did you see that bright light last night?" Rumble asked. The rest of the class peered to the front, awaiting Cheerilee's answer.
"Bright light?" She asked.
"Yeah!" a young filly said. "It was real bright and rumbled my whole house!"
"Nuh uh, Archer, you're lying!" shouted a colt from the back.
"Yeah huh!" Archer shot back "it woke my whole house up!"
"It didn't shake my house!"
"'Cause your house is dumb!"
"Now settle down everypony." Cheerilee interrupted. "I didn't see or hear anything last night. So, if we may continue." She said as she turned to the chalkboard.
"Yes ma'am, you big fat meanie" a voice said from behind her. Cheerilee whirled around to face the class.
"Who said that?" Cheerilee asked sternly. Silently, the class exchanged confused glances with one another.
"Said whut, Ms. Cheerilee?" Applebloom asked. Cheerilee scanned the faces in the room and slowly began to turn around.
"Woah! Did I say that outloud?" Said the voice again. She quickly turned back and studied their expressions. Suddenly it all began to pour in at once.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Is she sick?"
"Is this part of her lesson?"
"I wonder what my mom is making for dinner."
"I can't wait for recess!"
With each voice that piped up, nopony's mouth moved. It started to become over-bearing. Cheerilee rubbed her forehead. It felt like her brain was about to burst from her skull. Her knees became shaky and she wobbled back and forth before bracing herself against her desk.
"Just read pages 104-116 in your textbooks. I'm afraid I'm feeling abit under the weather. Class is dismissed, see you all tomorrow!" She grinned as tears began to form in her eyes. She couldn't hear her own thoughts. Chattering and chattering un-relentlessly. Her head throbbed. One after the other the little ponies began to head out of the schoolhouse.
Silence. Sweet, sweet silence. She sat down at her desk and began to rub her temple. "What in Equestria happened there?" She asked aloud.
Blood dripped from the end of her snout. She sighed and held a tissue to her nose. She glanced out the window.
"It's going to be a long week."
____________________________________
"I'm glad we get one more day to hang out before I leave tomorrow!" Scootaloo said as she buzzed along.
"I know! what'dya wanna do today?" Applebloom chimed.
"Let's try to get pole-vaulting cutiemarks!"
"We don't even know how to pole-vault, scoots"
"Oh yeah."
"Did you guys think Miss Cheerilee acted odd today?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Most definitely" Scootaloo said.
"I betcha it has something to do with that flash of light last night!" Applebloom said.
"I didn't see it, I was out cold" Scootaloo replied.
"I saw it" Sweetie Belle said "I haven't felt quite right ever since, either.
"How so?" Applebloom asked.
"I dunno, I've just felt off."
"Did you see what direction it came from?" Scootaloo asked.
"Over near the Everfree forest" Sweetie Belle replied. Applebloom grinned.
"Girls, I know what we're gonna do today."
