Element and Crest

Twilight and her friends walked into the old castle of the pony sisters for what felt like the millionth time. Everypony went to their favorite sections. Rainbow Dash zipped straight to the adventure section, for example, while Fluttershy went to the section filled with guides to rare and exotic creatures. It was all very routine, Twilight noted, as she scanned the history section for a new book to read. A dusty, old book caught her eye. Sure, they were all dusty and old, but this one was... Different somehow. Using her magic, she pulled it off the shelf and carried it a a cushion, where she sat down and opened it to the first page. "The Crest Ponies? What are those?" She said, looking at the title and cocked her head.

"What?" Said Pinkie. "Hey guys! Twilight found something she knows nothing about!" The pink pony called throughout the library, elicicting a sigh from Twilight. Everypony else in the library immediately came to check out this shocking event. Settling in around Twilight, they looked at her, eyes showing their eagerness to hear all about this new and obscure topic.

After a few seconds of staring, Rainbow Dash yawned. "Twilight, are you going to keep us waiting, or are you going to do your egghead thing and read what's in the book to us?" Everypony laughed. "What?" Said Rainbow, causing everypony to laugh even harder.

"Alright, if you all really want to know about this, we can read it together." Twilight said, turning the page. Clearing her throat, she began to read; "The crest ponies were a group of nine that embodied positive qualities of the ponies of Equestria. The group contained three ponies of each common pony race. The three unicorns were knowledge, hope, and purity or light; the pegasi were kindness--"

"Kindness? Like Fluttershy?"

"I guess so, Pinkie, but if I'm going to read to you, I'd like to do it without interruptions."

"Oops, sorry. Carry on."

"The pegasi were kindness, courage, and friendship; and the earth ponies were reliability, sincerity, and love. Before the elements of harmony, these nine ponies guarded Equestria from threats. However, they disappeared during Discord's rise to power. It is unknown whether their disappearance is link to the sudden appearance of a ring of statues nearby the palace."

"Let's go check out this ring of statues, Twilight!"

"Rainbow Dash! I thought you wanted me to read!"

"Well, I changed my mind. Let's go! Come on!"

"Yeah! Let's go Twilight!"

"Pinkie Pie? You too?"

"Yup! These statues sound interesting! Besides if they are the crest ponies, and we can revive them, I'll be able to throw a nine pony Welcome-to-Ponyville party!"

"Do you all want to stop here and go check these statues out?" Twilight looked emploringly at the three other ponies. Applejack and Rarity were nodding, and Fluttershy looked between them.

"Well, I guess if everypony else wants to go so much, I don't mind."

Giving in to the inevitable, Twilight sighed and closed the book, returning it to it's shelf. "Very well." She said. "Let's go."

Eventually, the ponies found the ring of statues. As they walked towards the center, they looked around at the erily still and realistic stone. Standing in the center, they looked down to discover a large star with nine points, each point resting at the base of a statue, or rather, from the end of each point sprouted a pedestal displaying a strange symbol and bearing a statue.

"Okay." Said Rainbow. "This has just officially gone from 'cool' to 'creepy'."

"I agree with Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy stated quietly, looking around for somewhere to hide. She ducked under Rarity as they heard voices coming into range.

"The castle is totally safe, guys! Applejack and the others go there all the time!" The familiar voice of Applebloom said.

"That's not what I'm worried about." Came Sweetie Belle's voice. "I'm worried we lost our way and that the castle is in another direction."

"Don't be ridiculous! Applebloom is great at navigating!" Scootaloo said, confirming that all three crusaders were wandering where they shouldn't. Not that two would go and leave the third behind, of course. The three entered the clearing and stopped, staring at the six ponies already there.

"Oops." Said Applebloom. "I guess that road didn't lead to the castle."

"You're darn tootin' right it didn't! What they hay are you doin' out here?"

"No, Applejack, this is perfect! Look! Nine statues, nine ponies! We might be able to revive the statues and talk to ponies that lived over 1000 years ago! We just have to get everypony standing in the right place! It's perfect!"

Everypony stared at Twilight.

"Alright. I've got nothing to do this evening." Rainbow Dash finally said, leading a chorus of agreement from the others. "Let's do this."