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                 On the Hooves of Destiny                  
                   -by justanothername-                    
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                         Chapter 1                         
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Chapter 1
Silverware clinked against the plates as Princess Twilight Sparkle and her faithful assistant Spike ate breakfast in the dining room of her new palace built atop the Tree of Harmony after defeating the demon, Tirek.
“It’s hard to believe so much has changed, Twilight,” Spike said through a mouthful of food.  “I mean, first you became a princess, then you unlocked that chest, and now you have your own castle!  It’s amazing!”
“I know, Spike.”  Twilight chuckled.  “I’ve barely had time to catch my breath in between all of this.”
“Ah, well, you can handle it.  There’s nothing you can’t handle!”  Spike said cheerfully.
“Oh, stop it, Spike.”  Twilight blushed.  “Yes, I did all of those things, but I couldn’t have done any of it without you or my friends.  And don’t forget, despite all that’s happened, I’m still the same pony.”
She stood up and took her dishes over to the kitchen and put them in the sink.  As she did, Spike burped up a letter from Princess Celestia.  Twilight read it to see her assignment for the day; be nice, merry, and cheerful in order to inspire the citizens of Ponyville.  Well, she could most certainly do that!  It warmed Twilight’s heart to do so much for Ponyville, especially after her ascension.
“Now then, while you take care of things here, I’ll head out.  The girls and I are going out!”
“Have fun, Twilight!”  Spike said as he headed to the kitchen to start washing.
Twilight spread her wings and flew down to Ponyville, her adopted home, the place where she owed everything that helped her get to where she was today.  As she walked through town, she was warmly greeted by everyone.  There were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, trying to get cutie marks as bully hunters “Hey there, Twilight!  How’s our favorite princess?” Mr. and Mrs. Cake taking a walk with their twins “Oh, hello, Twilight dear!  So good to see you!” Zecora heading to market “Twilight, your majesty, so good to see you after such travesties”, Discord randomly changing the colors of ponies’ houses by snapping his fingers “Ah, Twilight, keeping an eye out for random chaos, are we?”  Eventually, she got to Sweet Apple Acres, where her beloved friends Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were waiting.  The six all greeted each other warmly and headed out back into town.  As they were walking and talking and laughing, Twilight bumped into a plain, brown earth pony stallion with a telescope for a cutie mark.
“Oh, excuse me,” Twilight said.
To her surprise, the pony glared at her with unbridled contempt.
“Oh, really?”  He said coldly.  “You’re not gonna force me to apologize or make me clean your hooves?”
“What?  No!”  Twilight said, completely shocked at his comments.
“I’m surprised you’re wearing your regalia.”  He continued.  “What, you don’t wear it to convince us lowlifes that you’re just like us?  And why not?  I mean, you did just save all of Equestria from that demon guy…”
“Hey, buddy, what’s your major malfunction?”  Rainbow snapped, getting in his face.  “This is my friend you’re drilling and she’s done far more for Equestria than you’ve ever done!”
“Oh, yeah, she's done a lot for Equestria,” The pony replied.  “And you had nothing to do with any of that at all?”
“Wha-?  No!”  Rainbow said, taken aback.  “What I meant was…”
“And also, she’s done more for Equestria than I have?  I’m just a normal pony, just like everyone else in this town.  Are you saying she’s done more for Equestria than they have?”
While Rainbow searched for a response, Applejack stepped in.
“Now look, mister, Ah don’t know who you are or what yer problem is, but if y’all don’t leave right now, Ah may do somethin’ Ah’ll regret.”
“Oh, so you’re her bodyguard now?  I’m surprised she has time for you at all, given that she’s a princess with her own castle and all, and the rest of you are still on the bottom of the social ladder.”
Applejack looked like she was really considering decking this stallion one on the chops when a voice cried out.
“Gazer!”
A dark blue unicorn stallion with the constellation Orion cutie mark came running out of nowhere and jumped between Gazer and Applejack.
“Please forgive my friend,” The unicorn said, bowing to the girls.  “He’s very temperamental, says things he doesn’t mean, you understand?”
“It’s…it’s alright,” Twilight said shakily.
“It is most certainly not alright!”  Rarity interjected, stepping forward.  “Your friend verbally attacked Twilight for no reason whatsoever!”  She frowned, glaring daggers at Gazer.   “She happens to be a princess, I’ll have you know.”
“Is she?  I didn’t notice,” Gazer said sarcastically.
“I’m dreadfully sorry.  We were just leaving,” The unicorn said, dragging Gazer away.
“Ah better not see you again!”  Applejack yelled after them.
“Geez, what crawled up his butt and died?”  Rainbow asked as Pinkie and Fluttershy comforted Twilight.
“Are you all right, Twilight?”  Fluttershy quietly asked.
“I-I’m fine.  Just fine,” Twilight replied.
“You are clearly not fine!”  Rarity said.  “That brute attacked you and your character!  That’s grounds for harassment!”
“Yeah!  You could totally get some guards and make him publicly apologize on his knees!”  Pinkie said eagerly.
“What?  No!  I don’t want to do that!  Look, girls, let’s just forget it ever happened, okay?  Now come on.  Let’s go.”
With that, they all continued into Ponyville.