The Legend of PonyX

by PonyXbyMisteMurdie

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Nightmare Moon, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, King Sombra, Tragedy, Random, Princess Celestia, Alternate Universe
Length: 6964

The story of PonyX is about a pony that grows up to be an outlaw in Equestia. In disagreement with Celestia's methods of protecting the world from Nightmere Moon, PonyX goes on a quest to break the spell that keeps her locked on the moon.

The story of PonyX is about a pony that grows up to be an outlaw in Equestia. In disagreement with Celestia's methods of protecting the world, from Nightmere Moon, PonyX goes on a quest to break the spell that keeps her locked on the moon. She hopes that she can find a way to cure her, but to do so Nightmere Moon must be freed. Is PonyX on the wrong side of the law? Only time can say. Through all this, PonyX finds she has a strange power that can aid in hiding her from Celestia, so she an travel the world looking for the means to bring Luna back and fulfill Star Swirl's prophecy.

Published 2014-08-14 01:50:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-08-23 18:28:09 UTC

Prelude (back story)

The legand of PonyX
Writings by Mist’e Murdie 2014, based off the writings of My Little Pony by Lauren Faust

Many know the story of the Two Sisters quite well, or at least one side of the story. Kind and powerful Princess traps her evil sister
on the moon, saving the world from her awful reign of terror, which the dark princess tried to impose on the land. Me, I remember it very
differently.

The story dates back roughly about a four hundred years ago, oh and I’ll explain later how I lived to tell the tale, when I was just a filly. Two young princesses defeated the lord of Chaos and took a lead in ruling Equestria. The land seemed to be at peace, but the transaction of leadership still had a bumpy start. Most ponies feared both the princesses of day and night. They believed that ponies with such powers were dangerous and because of the confusion the filled the land, the older sister, Princess Celestia believed that it was best to rule the kingdom with a strict iron hoof. The younger princess of the night, Princess Luna, took her advice and both princesses ruled high over their subjects, on a forest hill, in the Castle of the Two Sisters. As time passed on ponies learned to trust the older of the two, believing that it was she that protected the ponies of the land, with her light, but continued to fear the younger, believing it was she that brought the dangers in the darkness.

Well, and then there was me… I was just a little pegasus filly left all alone in the dark and rain. I was cold, wet and hungry. I couldn’t remember where I came from or who my parents were. That night a beautiful dark alicorn saw me crying and all alone, this was Princess Luna. She took me in and raised me as though I was her own. Princess Luna named me “Emerald Shadow” because of my green color and dark hair… and because I followed her EVERYWHERE. Though other fillies liked to play in the day, I got used to the night. I began to understand the beauty the Princess saw in the stars, the fireflies and the beam of the moon that she loved so dearly. I just enjoyed being with her, no matter what the time of day. I knew if I was with her I was safe.

Even her sister Celestia welcomed me in at first. To me at first, she seemed kind and caring, but bossy, terribly boss… in a polite way. Celestia was very nervous as her new role has high princess. She wanted everything to run smoothly and in order. She questioned everything and every pony. She had a strict set of laws and schedules that she put in order for every pony to abide by. That’s why, in the beginning, they didn’t relate with the common pony. In a lot of ways, this was understandable. There were many enemies that challenged the new princess’s rule. These enemies believed that to pony princesses must be easy to over throw, so Celestia was constantly on edge. Luna often got frustrated with her sister’s overzealous actions, but for some reason every pony loved the high ruling princess, despite her dictations.

The true friction started when I first got my cutie mark. Celestia and Luna came and was watching over the school that Star Swirl the Bearded taught for young gifted ponies. Luna insisted I was involved, even though it was well past my morning bed time. Princess Luna believed I had great powerful potential even though I was merely a pegasus filly that didn’t even have her cutie mark. Star Swirl agreed to tutor me.

The fiasco started when the other fillies made fun of me. Most of them were there because of a magical gifting that their parents found early on and most of them already had their cutie mark. What made matters worse is I couldn’t fly. It was bad enough that I had a “Blank Flank”, but I was a pegasus that couldn’t even fly. The meanest filly in the class was Gold Star, the teacher’s pet. She was the biggest suck up in the class. She kept saying that I was a “Useless Pony with no talent at all”. I threatened to prove her wrong, while Teacher Star Swirl was trying to calm the class down. I just took it like everyone was on her side and ran for the door. Luna and Celestia met me there and attempted to reason with me telling me, “You just haven’t found your talent yet. You could end up being any pony you want”. After some time, I choked down the tears and gave the class a second chance, but Gold Star started in again. Finally, I got angry and stood in her face, “You know what? The Princesses’ said that me having no cutie mark only means that I can be any pony I want, so that means if I wanted to have a dumb old star on my flank I could!” Suddenly as I stare into her eyes a gold star appears on my flank. I turned and yelled at all the other ponies picking on me, along with her, “I can be ANY pony! I can even have all your talents!” My cutie mark was changing as fast as I could look over each pony in the eye. “I could even be the Princess of the Sun!” but before I could look Princess Celestia in the eye, Teacher Star Swirl put a temporary spell on me, which stopped me from being able to move or absorb anymore magical skills. He stopped and examined me. “She’s not all pony,” he marveled, “She has to be part changeling!” As I stood still, my ever changing cutie mark changed into a big black “X” and that became my official cutie mark. Celestia was horrified by all that went on and was almost frozen in disbelief. Luna quickly nudged me out of there as soon as the spell let me move.

At the end of that day, as I woke from my day’s sleep, I heard an argument between Princesses, Celestia and Princess Luna. I stood behind the door and listened without them seeing me. Princess Celestia insisted that if I were to stay in the castle I must be taken to Star Swirl to remove my ability, through a permanent magic spell. Luna appalled the idea. Luna believed that the incident that day, only proved her point, that I had special abilities that needed to be trained and guided. Celestia held her ground, believing I was a danger to myself and everyone around me. Knowing Luna would not be able to reason with her, she regretfully agreed to take me to him as soon as I awoke. This was the beginning of Luna’s resentment towards Celestia and the things of the day.

I was scared and ran. I headed deep into the woods, believing that I wasn’t wanted. There was no way I was going to give up my own special talent, but maybe the fillies were right. Maybe the “X” meant I had no talent, I mean according to Star Swirl, I’m not even a pony at all. I ran and ran as tears flooded my eyes, until a familiar pony suddenly appeared directly in my path.

I bumped into her legs and fell to the ground. It was Luna. “My dear, why are you running?” she said with a sympathetic voice. I never heard such softness in her voice. Although Princess Luna was the only kindness I ever knew, up until that point, she spoke with a loud commanding voice. I was just used to it. “You’re going to change me or send me away.” I sniffled and cried. She smiled and said, “I would never send you away and I would never change you. I’m going to hide your powers, the best I can till I can reason with my sister. I’m going to personally train you.” She said and plopped a can of green paint in front of me.

I wondered for a long time if Princess Celestia would discover that my cutie mark was painted over, not taken away. I also wondered how Celestia never found out from Star Swirl, that we never came to him to remove it, but I never wanted to give her a clue. In fact I stayed away from all things day, entirely. Darkness seemed more and more soothing to me.

The problem was is that these secrets made Luna more and more resentful of her sister. Every time Luna would greet the commoners, they run for fear, like they always had, but this made her feel like it was Celestia’s fault. Celestia had to be getting ponies to take sides. Luna began to believe that Celestia knew that Luna was keeping secrets from her, so she made the ponies of the land like her like the light and fear the darkness, even more than they already had. The constant tensions, between the two of them, only seemed to confirm her fears, to herself.

Years passed, I grew up and I continued to stand by Luna. I was just about her only friend. Luna confided in me her personal feelings about Celestia’s rule. I reasoned with her that there had to be a better solution to all this. After all Luna was a Princess as well. There had to be other ponies that loved her beautiful night, so maybe it would be best if the two of them split the kingdom. Luna could rule a kingdom of never ending night and Celestia could rule a kingdom of never ending day. That way everyone got what they wanted and the two princesses wouldn’t have to struggle under one house and one rule, anymore. Luna seemed intrigued by the idea and wanted to bring the idea before her sister.

Before she did so she gave me a special gift that night. We were sitting outside by the pond at the edge of the forest, admiring the clear sky and all its stars. Luna turned to me with a sneaky smile on her face, and told me to close my eyes and put out my hooves. I wasn’t afraid of night crawlers and such but a gift from Luna was always a little on the strange side and often questionable in content, but she meant well. I expected the worst, but instead she dropped a little box in my hooves. I opened my eyes and stared at it. Luna was overwhelmed with excitement and stared at me expecting me to respond the same. I reluctantly opened the little box. Inside it wasn’t anything like I expected. It was a little rainbow colored marble like stone, set and made into a neckless. I looked at Luna puzzled. This was nowhere near her sense of fashion, if you could even use the word to describe her. I pawed at it and she interrupted my thoughts with, “It’s a mirror stone, from your half ancestor’s land. Changelings are very powerful and dangerous creatures and your part one of them”.

I didn’t really feel thrilled that she was bringing this up and it showed on my face. She continued, “I believe there’s a reason you were brought to us. I don’t know what it was, but never be ashamed of your past; just use it to improve your future. This stone has the power to increase your abilities as part changeling. It’s to protect you and hide you from Celestia, if things turn for the worse. I’ll train you, through the weeks ahead, so that you will reach your full potential with it.” She places it on me and I shook from fear. I had no idea what it would do to the powers I already had. Luna commanded, ”Look at me in the eyes and copy my powers AND form!” I didn’t want to question her. I did what she said but could only continue to take on her cutie mark. We continued to practice until sun rise. I learned as far as to change my looks, but not as far as to look exactly like the pony I was mimicking. Luna also trained me to control the other pony’s thoughts enough to make them forget they saw the original version of me. We continued until we ran out of time and Luna had to present our idea to her sister. Little did I know that that was the last time I would ever get to talk to her like this, for hundreds of years.

That morning Celestia was in a tizzy. She paced back and forth in the castle throne room. Luna came in very sure that her idea was a brilliant one, but before Luna could say, “Sister I have a grand Idea…” Celestia looked at her with a scowl and yelled “Hypnotic mind tricks, ay sister? That’s how you hid from myself and Star Swirl that you kept Emerald Shadow’s abilities from us! Do you know the risk you put us all in?” Luna straightened up in frustration, “Sister there was no damage done. I have raised her as my own since she was merely a filly. I simply believe that if she uses her power for good…” Celestia interrupts by abruptly holding open the locked case that the mirror stone was kept in. Luna’s face got seared over with anger, “The mirror stone was mine and I have the right to give it to whom I desire…” Celestia interrupts again, “Not to her! It’s too dangerous” This pushiness on Celestia’s behalf pushed Luna into presenting the idea. Luna raises her voice, “Sister I’ve been thinking, I think we should split the kingdom between light and darkness.” Celestia face turn stern, “You’re out of your mind, sister. The kingdom only fears you. No one will join you. Who will you even rule over? The answer is no. It’s much more secure under me!” Luna yells back, “There are some that loves the night and I’ll prove it by asking the commoners themselves!” Celestia pauses momentarily. “Ok I’ll let you have your own kingdom if there are ponies that want to follow you.” She snaps back.

The two of them go out before the ponies of the land, that morning and propose the idea. The ponies cheered as their beloved Princess Celestia addressed them with the plan, but when Princess Luna came out before them the Princess of the Night was awkward and loud. The ponies didn’t know how to take her and Luna responded by yelling at them to “Be Still Servants!” Celestia turns to Luna and responds yelling back at her, “Sister that is quite enough! You’re frightening them!” Tears filled Luna’s eyes and she ran back in the castle to the throne room, where she remained for quite a while. I wanted nothing more than to comfort her, but I couldn’t risk making matters worse for her. Celestia was angry I was even still around. I only wish I noticed the nightmare powers creeping around Princess Luna sooner. I wished I could free her from the shadow powers that consumed her that day. All I could do is hide and watch.

Luna’s tears turned to bitterness with in those few hours. Luna began questioning her sister’s entire rule. “The ponies fear me because of Celestia!” “The ponies hate the dark because of Celestia!” Luna mumbled these thoughts out over and over again. She hated the light more and more the longer Celestia waited to resolve things. Celestia took a long time before she came in to straighten things out with Luna, but at this point Luna’s anger became uncontrollable. As Celestia walked in Luna yelled, “Not another step!” Celestia pauses glaring at her. Luna continues her angered speech, “Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all bask in your…. precious light? There can only be one princess in Equestria and that Princess WILL BE ME!!!” With that Luna eclipsed the sun with the moon. With all the bitterness that was over taking Luna the nightmare shadow powers, that followed her, took over Luna and changed her entirely. I lost my dear friend to the pony of Nightmare Moon!

Celestia realized what she done and tried to reason with her, but it was too late, her sister was no longer the pony she once was. Celestia tried not to fight her and commanded her to lower the moon because it was her duty, but Luna, who was now Nightmare Moon, desired only to destroy her sister, at this point. The pony I loved, as an older sister, that only wanted peace and to be loved, was now destroyed by this new dark power. I do blame myself for not seeing it sooner, but I blame Celestia more for her stubborn ways. What Celestia had done next is what set me against Celestia to this day.

I came to run at their aid at this point, but I was gone unseen. I could only watch as the horrors took place. Nightmare Moon hit Celestia directly in the heart, making her plummet to the ground. I was too far away from the scene to make it in time to stop things. I was only close enough to see and hear. At first I thought Celestia was killed, but she rose and yelled “Oh dear Sister, I am sorry, but you have given me no choice, but to use these…” Celestia brought out the Elements of Harmony, the very magical jewels that represent unity an love and she was about to use them on her own sister. When they began to fight, I believed that Celestia was going to heal her, but I watched as tears filled her eyes and she took away the only pony that ever cared about me, sending her eternally trapped in the moon. I watch in disbelieve and bitter tears, until a few minutes pasted and Celestia turned to see me cry. She yelled, “Guards seize her!” Celestia blamed me for Luna’s fall.

I ran! I took on the looks and talents of the guards, brain washing them to think I was running in another direction. Celestia knew better and cornered me several times, but without avail. I knew just enough magic to get away, through disguise. Celestia banished me from the kingdom. I heard her yell out over the balcony at me, “If you ever come back, I will turn you to stone, for what you have done to my sister!” and I have been running ever since.

It’s been some years since I returned to Equestria, but it wasn’t until I found a glimmer of hope. Some years after Star Swirl the Bearded passed away, I snuck into his study. It was a risky moved because Celestia was still looking for me, but she decided to move to a new castle farther away, because the memories of her old castle were too much for her. The old castle remained untouched for years, including Star Swirls old castle study. I studied what I could for magic, but could only look in short spouts, fearing that Celestia knew I was one of the only ponies the knew about the location of the old castle. One short visit I found a page in one of Star Swirls books that told me how to break the spell that kept Luna trapped on the moon. I learned I could use the Cosmic Staff of Astraios to bring the stars to life and aid in releasing Nightmare Moon, then and only then can she be healed from this dark power. The problem was the staff was broken and scattered throughout the world. I knew my purpose in life from there on out. I had to free Nightmare Moon!

I haven’t found much evidence of the staff or its pieces, to this day. It was in this time I learned that Changelings don’t die they wither away with holes, like a plant leaf being eaten by a bug. They can live for thousands of years, but they may not look great, but the end of them. Luckily for me I don’t have to survive by absorbing love and emotion from others, like my full blooded family members, but I have found a whole developing on the bottom side of one of my hooves. I’m hoping I hold out until my mission is complete. One last visit to the old castle is what sent me on my travels. I found a book on magical items that claims that the staff glows bright blue when you say, “Awaken the stars”. So I can only guess that all the pieces of it do the same. This gives me a better clue to help me find the pieces of the missing staff. I figured that I need to go by a new name, since Emerald Shadow was now the name of a convicted criminal. It was better to be not named at all, but if I figured if one would need to call me anything, they can call me PonyX. I’m off to save my only sister…

Chapter One "The Pony in Hiding"

The legand of PonyX
Writings by Mist’e Murdie 2014, based off the writings of My Little Pony by Lauren Faust
Chapter One "The Pony in Hiding" (editor requested)

Log 464:

One Year from my exile and the banishment of Nightmere Moon: “In my solitude, in the Everfree Forest, I searched out many writings. Being that I believe I’ve become one of the most hated ponies in Equestria, I have to keep cover as best I could, so I never choose the same form twice. Changing forms was one of the perks of being part changeling and that was good because everypony, who knew of me, wanted me expelled from the land. Some say Celestia is not the strict ruler she once was believed to be, but I don’t trust her. I’ve seen her banish her own sister, when Luna needed her the most. At times, this made me feel like I was on the wrong side of the law.

I have two things working against me; not only am I on the most controversial quests in Equestria, but in my blood ran the most detested creatures known to ponies, the changeling. If I could only get close enough to Celestia, I’d mimic her alicorn powers and maybe even take the elements of harmony. Maybe then, I could have the means of healing Luna, back to her old self. The elements of harmony was just the problem. They could be used against me and who knows what she would do. Plus, I could only imagine that she had to have kept them close by her side, incase of intruders, like myself. Not only that, but my powers not strong enough, yet. I only gathered a small amount of information about changeling abilities, from old writings in the castle library. Being that my knowledge of Changelings is limited, so is my knowledge about myself. The Cosmic Staff of Astraios is my main objective. It is the only way to save Luna. I could give power to the stars to free Nightmere Moon and then find a way to turn Luna back. -PonyX”

I rolled up my scroll and placed it back in the bag pack I found. I haven’t been more tired and frightened in my life. Not to mention, no matter how much food I managed to find, I still felt weak and famished. I spent most of my time in the deeper part of the Everfree Forest, hiding from the Equestrian guards. Hiding in the forest brought me close enough to the old castle to reach when needed to sneak it’s the library, but had pliantly of hide space when others came into the woods. It was easier to hide as a filly, but being that I was now a full grown mere, finding cover was more of a challenge.

The forest seemed extra creepy this particular night. The noises of whistling and growls filled the wind. Every bug, that had the ability to annoy a pony, bit me, that night. I tried to ignore it and move forward. Finding water was my most important priority. My survival had to out ranked the fear. I pushed through the brush. I saw a stream not too far from here and needed fresh water badly. As I pressed on, I pushed a branch out of my way that was fill with vampire fruit bats. As fast as I could, gasp, they came down at me, pelting me, trying to scare me off. I galloped faster to lose them. Suddenly, that’s when I stumbled over a rock and tumbled into a dug out hole. I fell flat into the whole and dust flew around me. It was apparent that it was a trap meant for wild animals. I could barely move. I was in so much pain. I decided I’d rest a moment, before figuring out my next move. Just then the crackling of the brush I heard from the woods got louder. I stood as still as I could to hear what was coming. It got closer and closer, louder every time. Something was coming.

Just outside the hole I heard a growl and then sniffing. That’s when I saw a pair of glowing eyes. It was a timber wolf. One eye turned to a few and then the hole I was in was surrounded. I tried to stand up, but my leg was trapped under a rock that fell with me. I thought to myself, “At least I’m safe down here”’ but that when one jumped down the hole and then the next. They cornered me. I had to find a way out.

I played with my stone on the necklace hoping for an accidental spell to save me. They drew closer. I bent down in fear. The growls got louder and more violent. Then one jumped forward and tore at my wing. I screamed in agony. This was it, my life was about to end. Suddenly, a dark image came plummeting into the hole and landed on the timber wolf that had ahold of me. Two more dark shadows followed. They pulled down there hoods and pulled out swords. It was Ponies! I looked closer and one of the three was a griffin, the one that lunged into my attacker.

The griffin that saved me pulled out a long rod from his side and fought the timber wolves attempting to attack me. The others fought behind him keeping the other wolves away. Then a timber wolf jumped into the air and landed on the griffin. One of the ponies happened to be a unicorn and used his magic, to hold a sword and cut the timber wolf in half that jumped on him. The other pony was a pegasus and was attracting to other timber wolves. One of them got ahold of his leg and injured it before he could get them off from him, but not enough to slow him down.

Just then the griffin flew up and roped a timber wolf that was on the run. The griffin grabbed me in his talons and yelled, “Everyone grab that rope!” All the ponies grabbed on and the griffin held on with his beak while still holding me with his talons. The Wolf instantly jumped around to lose us and ran as fast as he could, pulling us up from the hole. They all let go and we rolled until we all hit trees and surrounding rocks. The griffin looked up at a tree, as if it was exactly where he planned on landing. “Lightning Rod, help get Blade Wing up to the tree house! I’ll meet you up there with this pony!” The unicorn pulled a string on the back pack attached to his back and wooden, mechanical wings sprang out. He tied the other pony to his back and struggled to fly up. The Griffin continued to hold me and flew up as well. The timber wolves arrived a moment too late and attempted to jump up and attack us, growling and baring teeth. We flew higher and higher and through the brush shown a well hidden tree house, in which we landed.

The shock got ahold of me first. I looked around and saw all these wild contraptions made of wood and brass. I also realized, I’ve been hiding in these woods for years and had no idea this was above me, let alone that there were ponies in the woods with me. The leaves and the brush were too thick to see the ground, even the winter the tree house would have had to of been covered by thick branches enough to remain unseen. This alone puzzled me. I just gazed around the room.

The griffin that brought me up here began to check me over. I jumped back, “Don’t touch me! I was fine on my own!” I snapped at him. He just glared at me and the unicorn interrupted, as to bring the attention off the tension building in the room, “I’m sorry madam. It is no wonder you are so anxious, we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. I am Lightening Rod. I am rather the brainy type gentle-colt. I like to dabble in inventive type contraptions, tinker really. The pegasus with us is Blade Wing. He is rather splendid in the art of battle, a bit of horse play if you ask me, he he he… and the fine gentle-colt or rather griffin that so graciously granted your presents with us is Linda, but we have taken to calling him Stormy, on an account that griffins do not know gender when naming their eggs. They are rather a fine group of creatures, if you ask me…” “Thank you Lightening! I think you covered it,” He growled the griffin.

The pegasus, they called Blade Wing joined in the conversation, before any more aggravation was brewed, “May I ask why such a lovely pegasus such as yourself is wondering around these parts alone? Also, what's your name?” I wondered what he meant until I caught a glimpse my reflection in one of Lightening’s more shiny contraptions. The excitement made me change forms without even thinking. What they were seeing was a pink unicorn with a long flowing tail and mane, of the color white. Before I could say a word, Lightening Rod chimed in, “And I must say, with such talents as I. I take it, you are a bit of a thinker as well, my dear?” I turned and seen that I must have mimicked Lighten Rod’s powers. That means I had to do my best to not look any other pony in the eye and concentrate on holding this form, or else I would change cutie marks and forms again. "I don't have a name'" I muttered. Blade just smiles and said, "Your a mysterious pony, huh? I'll just call you Ms. Pony X". He laughed. That became my new official from there on out and the first time I was called it.

I looked down, to avoid any more eye contact, “I guess you could say that.” I got sterner, “What I want to know is why you brought me here! Are you spies for princess Celestia?” I peeked up at them, careful to not make eye contact. They all looked puzzled. The griffin then said, “Who is this Princess Celestia? Is she in alliance with King Sombra or with our great and glorious Princess Charity the Golden Hearted?” “Who? Princess Celestia is the ruler of Canterlot. She is hard hearted and has even sent her own sister to the moon,” I said. “I know not of this Celestia, we are refugees from the Crystal Empire. Lightening Rod was born and raised there, whereas Blade and I were travelers looking for work. We lived with Lightening for years, until this evil colt that called himself King Sombra took over Charity’s kingdom,” Said Stormy. Lightening continued, “…and my, what a reign our dear princess had. She was the princess of love and charity, kind to all that she met. Just her presents made every pony shine like crystal, but it was not to last. When King Sombra kidnapped her and took over, the kingdom was turned to darkness. He also had stolen our most prized possession, the Crystal Heart. This was our source of magic in the Empire. I feel he is attempting to take over the entire known world.”

I turned my attention to finding a way out of here. I haven’t learned enough to control my own powers and it wouldn’t be long before they figured out my secret. “Wait a minute!” I thought to myself they didn’t know who Celestia was. That means they knew nothing of Luna’s banishment. In fact they might even be able to help me find the pieces of the staff. I turned to the griffin. I decided he was safest to stare at because he had no pony powers. Lightening was safe as well, because I already had his powers of inventiveness. It was just Blade I had to avoid eye contact with. I looked at Stormy and said, “Maybe we can help each other out, a little, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. I’m looking for a staff that my mother gave me. It runs deep in my family it’s called The Cosmic Staff of Astraios. This evil Princess I told you about stole it from me and broke it into 7 pieces. She then sent it into the four corners of the world. (Which was all a complete lie) I might find some clues in your Crystal Empire. If you help me look for it I’ll help you find you’re missing Princess, but no more treating me like I’m weak. I’m not weak!” Blade walks up, his leg was now bandaged from the attack bellow. I look down to the ground to avoid eye contact. I guess that he took that as a sign of affection because his next words were, “How could a group of fine young colts and one griffin avoid coming to the aid of such a beautiful young damsel in distress? It was like you were begging for us to come and save the day. ” He tried to hold my head up with his hoof. I jolted away, “Don’t take my moment of minor setback as need for assistance. I just needed to think my way out of it.”

None of them questioned my thinking abilities; due to the fact my current gifting was intelligence. This was because of changing of my cutie mark to the same lightning bolt inside of a light bulb as Lightening Rod’s, but Blade made a flirty smirk as though he still felt I needed protection. Stormy responds, “Your right about one thing. If any of us are going to find our princess we need to help one another. You’re in.” Lightening turns and begins to ramble on about the equipment they’ll need and Blade reluctantly joins him talking more about weaponry, for the mission. Stormy leaded over and whispers quietly in my ear, “My eye is on you pony. There’s something you’re hiding. Hurt my friends and I’ll destroy your pretty little face.”

We left the tree house, a few hours later and we all found ourselves journeying towards what was left of the Crystal Empire. Along the way Lightening insisted that we stop to the old Zebra Wizard named Zorane. He was there stop before a lot of their missions to help them out with foreknowledge or something crazy like that.

We arrive to this grass and mud hut, in the wild open space. The sun beat down so heavy there that the grass was dry and brittle. The griffin stayed watch over me as the other two each went in to get advice from the Zebra. Night was beginning to fall and being that I was unfamiliar with this land; the noises bothered me a little. Stormy than nodded to me, indicating it was my turn. The zebra only talked to one pony at a time, so I had to go in alone.

I entered in and saw all the primitive décor. There were wooden masks on the wall, as well as books and bottles of colored liquids, which smoked. An old shaky voice welcomed me to his home. “So old guy, I hear you tell the future.” I said with a smirk. He turns and begins shuffling through his books, as though he didn’t see me. “Are you going to talk or am I wasting my time being here?” He continues doing what he was doing, but says calmly, “You are the pony the dies a thousand deaths…” I interrupt in a hackling way, “I will be that embarrassed, huh?” He turns to me annoyed and says, “You will literally die a thousand deaths. I see the heart of an evil queen being birthed in your heart. If you continue in this way, even those you love will become your enemies. Only forgiveness will free you.”

I roll my eyes, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think I’m good in that area. I don’t care. I don’t have friends or family. What I need to know is; will I be able to free Princess Luna and how can I find the staff?” He turns around to his books again and continues, “You will free this princess of yours, by the aid of the stars, but it will take much longer, to accomplish, then you suppose. Also, her healing will come from another group of ponies, by the power of friendship. The first piece of the staff you are looking for is in the walls of the Crystal Castle, where you are headed. It got trapped there unknowingly. Beware, the evil root in your heart. It will change you more and more each day.” I interrupted, “Thanks old guy! That’s all I needed!” and ran out to the others.

“Show what did he say?” Blade asked me as we started out towards our destination, once more. “Oh he just said that we have this one in the bag. We need to go to the Crystal Castle. We’ll find what we need there,” I said. The griffin just looked at me as though he knew I fabricated the story. He’s eyes pierced right through me. He looked as though he was getting ready to say something, but a distant howl brought our attention back to the journey and just keeping safe. I knew that conversation was still going to take place, but at a later time.

The bare land between here and the Crystal Empire felt like a desert. It just went on and on. Lightning Bolt just rabbled on about their plans for breaking into the castle. I’m pretty sure none of us were listening; we’d all figure it out when we got there. At least that’s how I felt. Blade seemed more interested in checking me out. This attention made me blush, but I knew it was merely a distraction. Stormy bothered me though. He was the leader of this band. He didn’t say much, but when he did it mattered. He watched me closely, analyzing me, conspiring, possibly, a counter plan. Was he with Princess Celestia? I didn’t know. He seemed too righteous to be involved in all of this and not have some other ties, or plots, with other ponies. I could be over thinking this, as well. Maybe Lightning Bolt’s over active brain powers, that I took on, was making me look too deep into all this. They simply wanted to save some silly princess and get their kingdom back. I was on a similar mission. I just want my princess back.

We passed a small patch of trees. Stormy suggested that we stopped there and rested until morning. The others agreed. I still felt a little vulnerable traveling with these ponies, but reluctantly agreed, also. We settled in the thick of the group of trees. Blade pulled a large sheet out of his pack that we tied to a branch and used as a tent. Stormy didn’t confront me about his concern as of yet, but I believe it was because he was concerned about the noises out in the distance. He felt that it was better to have the trees as cover, to hide them all, than being in the open, at night. That seemed to make sense, but the noises only got louder. Stormy heard them too. The feeling was just getting eerier and eerier. We had camp all set up and ready. All of us, but Stormy and I. had settled down to sleep. Stormy turned to us all and said, “We have to go!” We all rose to give him our attention. He was right. We all attempted to turn and tare down camp, but something happened. We were all paralyzed in the same position. We were under a spell. We all desperately struggled to move, all frozen like statues. Blade tried his hardest to move his head so he could grab his sword and Lightning wanted to pull one of his inventions out of his back pack. None of us could move a muscle, only our mouths. Suddenly, the noises all surrounded us, followed by red shining eyes. We were trapped!
To Be Continued…