Elementsby herpyderpyChaptersChapter 1: HeroChapter 2: SacrificesChapter 3: Secrets and LiesPrologue: Lull Before the StormChapter 1: HeroElements Chapter 1: Hero By herpyderpy In the pitch black of night, six wings beat against the still wind, marking the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres as their final destination. The light from a nearby lantern reflected off large flight goggles and shiny sky-blue latex suits as the trio touched down near the farmhouse. Two of the three were stallions, one of whom had a small pair of saddlebags strapped over his suit. Anypony who didn’t dwell under a rock would instantly recognize that the uniform belonged to none other than the elite pegasus performance squad: The Wonderbolts. "Hey, look. There are haystacks over here." The female of the ensemble pointed towards the neat stacks on the side of the road. "Looks quite dry." "Yeah, so?" The stallion carrying the saddlebags nudged one of the stacks with a hoof. "You want to bring some home for supper?" "Wait, what? No! We can use it to speed up the process," the mare said. With a unrestrained viciousness, the ropes that bound the hay into nice rectangular cubes fell apart as she tore at the bindings with her teeth. "Rapidfire, help me spread this hay around the orchard. Soarin', you're on lookout duty." The other stallion gave her a nod and took to the air, hovering a few meters above ground as he scanned the surrounding area. The stallion with the saddlebags, Rapidfire, gave the mare a confused look. "Why do you want to throw away this perfectly good hay, Fleetfoot?" He took a bite out of the unbound stack. "Hey, it's pretty good!" Soarin' started shaking his head slowly while Fleetfoot put both her forehooves over her face. "Do I have to spell it out for you?" Fleetfoot asked with a tone of exasperation. "You do know why we’re here, right?" "Um... to burn down this orchard?" Rapidfire answered while chewing a mouthful of hay. "Yes...?" Fleetfoot gestured at one of the stacks. Rapidfire stared at the hay and stopped his chewing for a moment; then the realization hit him like an epiphany from the heavens. "Oh!" “And he’s back.” Soarin' chuckled, looking back at the pair with amusement. Fleetfoot groaned with disdain. "Now, stop eating and come help me. Hurry up. I hate these backwater towns." "You said that already." Soarin' pointed out. "Just... shut up and keep your eyes open, smart ass," Fleetfoot barked before flying off with as much hay as she could carry. Soarin' laughed and turned towards the town of Ponyville. Even though he had passed by more times than he could count, the stallion had never actually landed in this agricultural hub between Equinetropolis and Canterlot. He took in a deep breath. I wish the air at home was this fresh.... The farm was as silent as the dead, not a sound could be heard except for the rustling of hay when his fellow Wonderbolts came back to collect more from the pile. Feeling bored, he looked up to admire the night sky. It was beautiful – there was not a single cloud obstructing the stars and the crescent moon watching over Equestria with its soft, gentle glow. His mind started to wander as he marveled at the spectacle. I’ve never seen stars like this in Equinetropolis. Hay, you'd be lucky to even see the moon through all that pollution. A little sadness started to creep in. He didn't need to be a genius to figure out why GemTech wanted this orchard burned down. They are going to ruin this little town. The reactor is going to fill this place with smog and haze.... Ponyville will end up just like Equinetropolis, Canterlot and all those other big cities. There must be a fortune’s worth of gemstones down there too; it’s a shame these country ponies have no idea how valuable their land is. He turned to the field of apple trees on his right. Farmland is abundant with life. It's one of the best places for gems to form. A gemstone expert at the company had told him that over lunch one day. Wait... what's that smell? Soarin' turned around, his eyes trailing across the orchard to see fire, but not where he had expected. The farmhouse was ablaze: the flames surrounded the entire building like a pack of hungry wolves, eager for their long overdue meal. Rapidfire – floating above – loosened his saddlebags and let it slide onto the burning building below. "What the buck are you doing?" Fleetfoot yelled, making no attempt to keep her voice down. Rapidfire slowly hovered towards the angry mare. "Doing our job... right?” Fleetfoot grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him violently. "You idiot! We were supposed to light the fire at the orchards, not to mention wake the ponies inside!" "Um, but that wasn’t what big sis said... she told me to get rid of the family," Rapidfire replied, scratching his head. Fleetfoot stopped her shaking and looked at him dumbfounded. "What...? Why the hay didn't she tell us?" Rapidfire pushed her hooves out of the way. "I dunno! She said something about a ‘Mr. Bleeding Heart’ or something, I have no idea what she was talking about! Now c'mon, let's go!" he said before taking off in the direction of Equinetropolis. Throughout that conversation, Soarin' just floated, mouth slightly agape as he looked on with horror. It wasn't until Fleetfoot put a hoof on his shoulder that he snapped back to reality. "Soarin'... we gotta go!" Soarin’ stared into her eyes for a few seconds before finally managing a nod. His partner reassured him with a gentle pat on the shoulder before the two of them rushed to catch up with Rapidfire. Soarin' would not be the last to admit that he had – under extreme circumstances – been forced to commit the sin of killing in the past, but he had never done anything like this before. Killing innocent ponies for no good reason was a line that even he was not willing to cross. What the buck did we just do? This is cold-blooded murder! He suddenly looped and sped back towards the farm. "Soarin'!" Fleetfoot shouted, but she was too late. Her colleague was already too far to hear her. You emotional sap.... She stopped for a second and watched him disappear from her sights. You were never cut out for this job. By the time Soarin' had made his way back, the orchard was already in a sea of flames. The fire had spread quickly thanks to the conveniently placed accelerant, and thick smoke was now rising above the roof of the house. He tried to think, but his mind just drew a blank. The thumping in his chest and the sweat slowly dripping down his snout were the only things that commanded his attention. He would have continued to hover there and stare blankly at the scene if it wasn’t for the voice that called out sharply behind him. “Hey! You, up there!" The Wonderbolt turned to see a yellow earth pony mare with a curly orange mane looking at him from below. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off before he could begin. "Pl... please, you have to save them!" she pleaded. Soarin’ looked around frantically, his mind refusing to cooperate. “I... uh... how do I get in?” “The windows!” What the buck am I doing? Why didn't I think of that? Soarin' crashed through the first window he saw, a few pieces of broken glass cut through the suit and into his flesh. He winced at the sharp pain in his foreleg, but that was the least of his concerns right now. The goggles were coming in handy: he would have had trouble keeping his eyes open in the smoke without them. A cursory scan of his surroundings told him that the interior of the room wasn't on fire yet, but he could see the flames just outside the door, eager to make their way in. He rushed towards the bed to see an orange mare passed out under the covers. The training from his days at the academy kicked in: one of the first things he had learned was the proper way to carry an unconscious pony. He pulled her by the tail until she was half-way off the bed before crouching down under her stomach. With the mare now slumped over his back, he spread his wings and took flight, carefully kicking a couple of shards of glass out of the way before exiting through the window he had entered from. He made his way back to the mare outside, who was pacing back and forth on the dirt road, far away from the raging flames. He landed next to her and gently rolled the unconscious pony onto the ground. "Oh, thank you so much!” she said, seeing to the rescued pony. “How many more are inside?” “Three! They should all be on the second floor.” Soarin’ nodded. “You stay here and make sure they’re OK. I’ll bring them to you,” he said quickly before flying to the next window and kicking through the glass. The smoke instantly filled his lungs, causing him to cough and instinctively cover his face with a leg. The flickering lights all around him were now impeding his vision as much as the black smoke that constantly billowed through the door leading to the hallway. He saw a bed to his left and quickly trotted over, but fell hard onto the floor as he tripped over something soft that squeaked as he stepped on it. He didn’t know what it was, nor did he care as he scrambled back onto his hooves, his gaze meeting with the occupant of the bed as he did so. The sight paralyzed him. He stood there staring as images started flashing before him. The way his niece slept every night, curled up in a ball and clutching her mother’s plush pony to her chest. And that peaceful smile plastered over her face: a smile that reminded him of why he did what he did, a smile that gave his life a whole new meaning, a smile that allowed him to sleep at night... it was his everything. A sudden loud crash broke his reverie. All his senses came back at once. The acrid smell of smoke, the intense heat, and the roaring of the flames all reminded him that this was no time to be standing around. He blinked a few times as his vision cleared, the memories fading to reveal what was really a yellow filly sleeping in a way that was disturbingly similar to how his niece did. He picked her up with his forelegs, causing the doll in her hooves to fall to the floor. The movement of the doll caught the corner of his eye as he turned to leave, making him stop for just a second. Something in the back of his mind kicked him into an action that made little sense to him at that moment, and before he knew what was happening, he was already flying back to the awaiting pony outside – with the filly in his forelegs and the ragged doll in his teeth. Soarin’ dropped the doll and handed the filly over before immediately twisting in mid-air, sweeping to the other side of the house and peering through a window before making his way in. The door to the hallway was completely engulfed, and the flames were quickly spreading to the rest of the room. The heat was really starting to take its toll on the Wonderbolt, and his suit made it just that much worse, chafing against his skin uncomfortably. He took off his goggles – the sweat building up inside had finally made them more of a hindrance than aid. But as he did so, a few drops of blood fell from the cut on his leg, hitting him in the cheek. He reached up again to wipe it away out of instinct, but instead, smeared it across his face where it mixed with his sweat to further blur his vision. He could barely see past his own hooves as he started to move slowly, with his head held low in a futile attempt to avoid the fumes. He found his way to a bed after stumbling around for a while; on top of it was the figure of a sprawled out stallion. He started tugging at his tail – slowly pulling him off the bed and struggling to get him onto his back – when a loud snapping sound made him flinch. He recomposed himself quickly, kneeling down and getting into position to take flight when another snap echoed across the room, followed by the shaking of the floor. He spread his wings as a third snap – much louder than the two before – sent a large chunk of the floorboards beneath him crashing down along with the bed. He desperately pumped his wings as hard as he could, barely managing to keep himself and the pony on his back airborne. Between the suffocating smoke and the considerable weight of the stallion, he knew that he couldn’t keep flight much longer. With the last ounce of his energy, he made a break for the window, scraping past the broken glass before collapsing. The forward momentum sent the two stallions just clear of the flames surrounding the building as they landed on the grass with a thud. “Oh... no no no! Oh my goodness... are... are you OK?” the yellow mare exclaimed, galloping towards them. “You... you’re bleeding!” Soarin' coughed uncontrollably as he rolled over. He sat there for a while, wheezing and gasping for air before finally finding his voice. “I... I’m fine.... Don’t worry about me.” "You're very brave... they all would have died if it wasn't for you," she said softly, putting her ear on the red stallion's chest. "He's breathing. So are the girls." Another loud crash came from inside the house, reminding Soarin' that his job wasn't complete. “You... you have to get him away from the fire. Get him to the road,” he said, standing up slowly. He inhaled deeply as he took to the air, making his way back towards the burning building. "Please be careful!" the mare shouted, watching Soarin’ for a while longer before biting down on the unconscious stallion's tail. She pulled with all her might, and started slowly dragging him towards his siblings. Soarin’ hovered in front of the building. He had found the window to the final room, but he was exhausted. His lungs still burned from all the smoke he had inhaled, and every beat of his wings was slowly sapping him of what little energy he had left. C’mon, Soarin’... you can’t give up now! He closed his eyes and busted headfirst through the glass. A single sensation overwhelmed all others as he entered. All he could feel was the scorching flames all around him, ready to consume everything in its path. He floated backwards, back out through the window before opening his eyes again. There was no way he could stay in there any longer than he could hold his breath. He watched the surging mass of smoke pouring out for a moment as he steadied himself and took a deep, long breath before re-entering the building. Much to his relief, the bed was almost right next to the window. He pulled the pony lying there onto his back with little difficulty; but as he turned to leave, the familiar snapping sound came once again – this time from above. His head jerked automatically, snapping up like the sound that had called him. He tried his best and squinted hard, but his eyes just couldn’t open wide enough to to break through the burning smog that impeded all vision for more than a meter in front of his snout. Just as he was about to lower his head, a bright glow – like the lights of an approaching train – blew through the fog as a smoldering beam came crashing down right on top of him. Most ponies would have met their demise right there and then, but Soarin’s quick reflexes and his years of training allowed him to narrowly escape by mere inches as he darted backwards. The beam smashed straight through the floorboards, leaving a pit which belched forth even more smoke and fire. He panicked – there wasn’t much time before the whole roof would come crashing down. And just as he was thinking about the dire situation he was in, a deafening crack came from above, realizing his worst fear. His instincts took over as he took flight, rushing in the general direction of where he remembered the window to be. He continued flying blind as the cracking and snapping all merged into a single thunderous blast. Suddenly, he started to feel a light breeze under his wings. He opened his eyes and looked back. The roof of the building had collapsed, but he was already a few meters clear of the burning rubble. A smile appeared across Soarin’s face as he started to chuckle softly, a chuckle that soon grew into an almost maniacal laugh. He continued to float there with the pony still on his back, the relief of narrowly escaping death overwhelming all other thoughts and emotions. The laughter eventually turned into snorts and hacks as Soarin’ finally lost his breath. He allowed himself to get some much needed air before flying back towards the road, where the yellow mare was hopping around, shouting something he couldn’t quite make out. He lowered the elderly pony to the ground before breaking down, the rush of adrenaline now replaced by fatigue and pain as he fell on his back. His wings ached terribly, and the sting on his foreleg made him look up to assess the damage. He couldn’t quite make out how deep the cuts were through his suit, but it looked like it wasn’t bleeding too badly – at least not anymore. From out of nowhere, a yellow blur appeared, diving straight at him with a hug. “You did it! That was amazing! You’re a Wonderbolt right? What’s your name?” “I... uh, Soarin’.” “Oh, thank goodness you’re OK, Mr. Soarin’! I... I was starting to think....” She trailed off and stopped for a moment before standing up and composing herself. “I... I’m Carrot Top. Thank you so much for saving them.” A violent fit of coughing interrupted Soarin’ as he was about to reply. He turned to see the orange mare he had saved was now sitting up. "Wha... what the buck?" she shouted, looking around frantically. Carrot Top trotted over. "AJ, you're alright! Your farm... I'm so sorry," she said softly, noticing the dread in Applejack’s eyes. "It... can't be." The Apple family home was now crumbling as the support beams gave out one after another. "No!" Then something snapped at the back of Applejack's mind. "Applebloom! Mac! Granny!" She scrambled to her hooves and started galloping straight towards what remained of her home. Carrot Top quickly jumped on the distraught mare's back. "They're back here, AJ!" Applejack swung around with Carrot Top still on her back, who fell off and landed on her rump. The pair slowly made their way back to the ponies lying on the ground, where Applejack fell on her knees beside them. "Are... are they...?" she asked in a whisper, not daring to finish the question. "They were all breathing last I checked," Carrot Top said, trying her best to assure her neighbor. Applejack felt as if a large weight had been lifted off her chest. “I... thank you kindly, Carrot.” As the two mares had their exchange, Soarin' just sat on the ground and watched. He found himself dazed yet again, his senses dulled by the thoughts and emotions rushing through him – the scene played out like a silent movie in slow motion. It was another hoof on his shoulder that released him from his stupor. "You should be thanking Soarin' here. He was the one that pulled your whole family out," Carrot Top explained, looking back at what now was nothing but a pile of burning rubble. Applejack eyed the stallion for a few seconds before bowing down in front of him. “I... I don’t know what to say.... I’m mighty grateful. Thank you so much, Mr. Soarin’... thank you! My kin and I are forever in your debt.” "I just did what anypony would have done," Soarin' said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Oh, don't be so modest." Carrot Top smiled. "You're a real hero!" Hero? The word made him feel dirty. He had deceived them. Soarin' was no hero and he knew it, and his conscience took full advantage in tormenting him with that fact. He needed to get out of here, away from these ponies, away from this whole place... it was starting to make him sick to his stomach. He stood up with a pump of his wings. "I... I have to go." "Please stay for a while, Mr. Soarin'," Applejack pleaded. "Let me thank you somehow.” "That's very kind of you, but I really have to go," Soarin' said, now hovering just above the ground. "And I hope your family gets better soon." He took off with impressive speed and style before Applejack could formulate a reply, leaving a signature trail of crackling smoke in his wake. “So... he’s one of them Wonderbolts, huh?” Applejack mumbled as Soarin’ started to fade from view in the direction of the countless specks of light in the far off distance, which all combined to form a glowing ball that illuminated the night even more brightly than the moon itself. “Wonder where he’s off to in such a hurry....” “Don’t you know?” Carrot Top stepped up next to her, nodding slightly towards the luminous city as they watched the hero return home. “That’s Equinetropolis.” -END OF CHAPTER 1- Chapter 2: SacrificesElements Chapter 2: Sacrifices By herpyderpy Equinetropolis. The city that never sleeps. Even at night, gem-powered lanterns resting atop metal poles illuminated the municipality with its artificial lighting. And despite the city center’s reputation for being a run-down, hazardous slum, many thrill-seekers still came from far and wide just to immerse themselves in the food, retail and wide range of entertainment, all found only in this aptly named metropolis. Almost every single shop here had signs hanging from the side of their buildings, each flashing flamboyantly, desperate to attract somepony's attention. Most of them never closed, and for good reason: there were always ponies wandering about at any given time. In fact, after dark was when the streets were busiest, for that was when business was most freely conducted. However, it was now early morning – the quietest time of the day. The lanterns were now off, passing on their duties to the ever-vigilant sun. Most of the neon signs had followed suit, their owners obviously not keen on throwing away their hard-earned bits to GemTech, the monopoly responsible for providing the city with its revolutionary energy and technology. The GemTech headquarters was located a few miles away from the heart of the city. It consisted of a massive dome-shaped reactor attached to a fifty-story office building. A five-meter-high electric fence surrounded the two structures, and guards could be seen patrolling the area at all times, walking in pairs with their highly starched uniforms and gemstone-powered stun rods at the ready. Across from the offices was another large building. It was ten stories high and stretched for several hundred meters down the road. This was the residence of high-level GemTech employees, and never did a pony walk by without a held breath or a whisper of its beauty. The cobblestone path that led up to it from the main road was bordered by two strips of perfectly maintained grass, with rows of assorted flora painting them in a plethora of colors. Large bushes stood tall behind them, trimmed into shapes that brought to life the forms of ponies, dragons, and other mythical creatures, as they engaged in a frozen battle for supremacy of the garden. The entire façade of the building itself was a curtain wall of frosted glass, and its frame was made from some kind of shiny metal alloy that reflected the morning sun, dazzling anypony who passed by. Inside, a mosaic of marble tiles covered the entire lobby floor, forming elegant patterns of white, orange, and dark red that spiraled out from the center in the shape of a shell. Countless miniature lanterns hung from the walls and ceiling, illuminating the long, curving glass counter that sat prominently in the middle of the ground floor. Services offered here were more like what one would expect from a luxury hotel than an apartment complex: fitness and leisure facilities of all kinds were available for its residents. There were even dedicated maids and babysitters for the busy parents who had to handle early morning jobs. In the bedroom of apartment 737, a clock radio stood on an ornate wooden nightstand next to a double bed. It read 5:59am. The door next to the nightstand led to an en suite washroom complete with a shower–bathtub combo, washbasin, and toilet. On the other end of this bedroom was a large sliding glass door, and beyond that a balcony, which held a suntanning chair and a small wooden table. In the corner of the room was a desk carrying a sewing machine and a pair of scissors. A couple of mannequins stood nearby, one of which was wearing a rather elegant-looking dress. There were random pieces of fabric scattered all over the floor, accompanied by an unwound measuring tape that stretched across the whole room. Up in the sky, the sun finally broke past the horizon, spilling light across the city and into the seventh floor apartment as the clock radio hit six. Just a small town foal, livin' in a lonely world. She took the midnight train goin' anywhere. Just a city colt, born and raised in south Detrot. He took the midnight train goin' anywhere. A white hoof reached towards the radio but stopped just as it was about to hit the off button. With a yawn, the hoof’s owner rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Oh... what a lovely song to wake up to. She rolled herself off the bed, dragging most of the covers to the ground as she did so, and walked straight into the washroom. The first thing she did was splash some water over her face, before taking a good, long look at her reflection in the mirror. “Ah, Rarity. You look beautiful today, as always,” she said to herself matter-of-factly. She returned the bedroom and looked towards the clock radio: the time was now 6:03am. The radio continued to play, and she sang along with the music. Don't stop, believin'! Hold on! Streetlights, ponies ohhh! Don't stop, believin'! Hold on to that feelin'! Streetlights, ponies ohhh! The song started to fade as a stallion's voice took over. "That was ‘Journeigh’ with Don't Stop Believin'. What a classic! The time is four past six and it's shaping up to be a fine day. It's a little chilly outside, but it'll start to warm up in a couple of hours. The weather should be sunny throughout the day, with light showers starting in the evening. Expect to see the rai–" The weather stallion's voice ended abruptly as Rarity finally decided to silence the radio. She exited her bedroom through a set of double doors. In front of her was a large, open-spaced area, which served as a combination living room, dining room, and kitchen. The red velvet curtain to her right was thrust open as she tugged on the rope-like cord with her magic, revealing the glass wall that faced the streets below. The morning sun flooded in and blinded her for a second, causing her to squint as she turned around. She slowly trod across the plush carpet covering the entire apartment – dark violet, much like the color of her mane. To her right was the living area, which consisted of a glass coffee table surrounded by several sofas of different shapes and sizes. There was a fireplace lodged into the wall behind them, but not the type that was regularly found in a normal home. It was really just a glass-covered concave inside the wall, and in the concave was something that looked suspiciously like a wooden log, but was actually a carefully-made replica. Illusionary flames would light up around the fake log when the fireplace was switched on, but it was the gemstone energy released from the vents below that provided the heat. Just across the room was the kitchen and the dining area. A large, oval table stood near the center, and beside it was a polished granite kitchen counter – completely spotless – which reflected the sun’s rays onto the cupboards lining the wall. A bowl of assorted fruits and a set of knives sat on top of the counter, and various packs of cereals and snacks could be seen through one of the half-open cupboards above the refrigerator. As Rarity made her way across the room, she almost tripped over something lying on the middle of the floor that turned out to be her sister’s backpack. That filly really needs to be more organized, she thought, forgetting that the messiest part of the apartment was usually her own room. Her eyes trailed up towards the door in front of her, behind which slept the owner of the offending object. She rolled her eyes and picked it up with her teeth before making her way inside. "Sweetie Belle, time to get up!" Rarity said in a singsong voice after dropping the backpack. She started poking at her sister, who was sleeping on a bed in the middle of the room, the stain on her pillow getting ever larger as drool continued to flow from the filly’s open mouth. Sweetie Belle buried her head deeper. "Ugh.... Five more minutes," she grumbled. Rarity stopped her prodding and walked towards the door. "Alright, but you better be up before I come back. Eggs and toast?" "Mmmph,” was the reply. Sweetie Belle was obviously in no mood to make any decisions regarding food at that moment. Rarity made her way back to the kitchen area and hummed to herself as she started making breakfast. And before long, there were two picture-perfect plates of eggs and toast ready on the kitchen countertop. "Breakfast is ready!" she shouted. After a little while, Sweetie Belle emerged from her room, eyes still heavy with sleep, and slowly stumbled towards the dining table. Rarity floated the plates over, gently placing one of them in front of her sister before sitting down with her own plate. As Rarity was about to take a bite into her toast, Sweetie Belle suddenly called out. “Sis?” “Yes, dear?” the mare replied, her toast still floating in front of her. “Can I go to Scootaloo’s place after school?” “And who is going to look after you two?” “Scoots said Mr. Soarin’ will be home.” The floating toast slowly descended and rested itself on top of a poached egg. Rarity didn’t like this Mr. Soarin’. In fact, she didn’t like any of those Wonderbolts at all. While their public persona was that of performing – doing air shows and providing entertainment to wide-eyed fillies and colts, who admired them and considered them heroes – most ponies at GemTech knew the pegasus squad's main purpose was to do the company’s dirty work. Rumors of kidnapping, extortion, and even murder had been whispered throughout the office, but nopony was foolish enough to publicly raise such concerns. Then again, all her sister wanted was to play with her friend. And although Soarin' was an enforcer, he did seem somewhat different from the other Wonderbolts she had come across. Just like herself, Soarin’ was caring for a filly on his own. And he had always been polite and respectful whenever they exchanged pleasantries in passing. Surely he wasn't going to do anything bad to Sweetie Belle, considering she was one of his niece's best friends. "Uh... Rarity?" Sweetie Belle asked after a few seconds, curious as to why her sister hadn't answered her. "Oh, yes. I suppose that would be fine." Rarity nodded. "I will inform Miss Cheerilee that you may leave after normal classes today." "Cool, thanks!" Sweetie Belle beamed before digging into her breakfast with a new-found vigor. Rarity finished first and floated her plate into the kitchen sink. "Please go and get ready after you finish eating. We are leaving in twenty minutes," she said as she trotted into her room. She would have to be quick if she wanted to be ready in twenty minutes. And so she began her usual routine: brushing her purple mane and tail into perfect curls before starting on her makeup. If there were awards given for one's skill in applying makeup, Rarity would no doubt own a great number of them. After she was happy with her reflection in the mirror, she looked again at the clock radio – it was now 6:47am. She levitated a few essential things off her desk and into her saddlebag: her keys, purse, glasses, and gem card. The gem card was one of GemTech's first inventions, its gem-encrusted strip capable of storing an impressive amount of information. There wasn't a pony in Equestria without a gem card nowadays. This card not only served as a form of official identification, it was also connected to the National Equestria Bank's database. Swiping it at any designated machine in Equestria allowed direct access to bank funds, eliminating the need to carry around heavy metal bits. Of course, both GemTech and the NEB charged a service fee, but it sure was convenient, especially when making expensive purchases. Rarity slid on her saddlebag and secured it with her teeth, calling out as she exited the bedroom. "Ready to go?" Sweetie Belle was already standing in front of her room with her little backpack. "I'm ready!" "Oh my stars, darling! Your coiffure!" Rarity exclaimed, quickly levitating a comb and brushing through her sister's curly mane. "It looks like a rat's nest!" "It's not that bad!" Sweetie Belle protested. "A lady must look her best when going out," Rarity said with a lecturing tone, now moving on to the filly's tail. After teasing out all the knots, Rarity finally put the comb down. "There, much better,” she said with a smile, admiring her own work. "Can we go now?" "Certainly!" Once her sister had followed her out into the hallway, Rarity kicked the door shut and locked up her apartment, while Sweetie Belle rushed ahead and planted a hoof on the down button next to the elevator. Ding! "Hey Scoots!" Sweetie Belle hopped in as the doors were still opening up. "Sweetie Belle!" an orange-coated pegasus filly called out excitedly at the sight of her friend. Rarity followed her sister into the elevator, who was now already chatting happily with Scootaloo. The third pony inside greeted her with a nod. "Miss Rarity." "Good morning, Mr. Soarin'.” Soarin' looked absolutely terrible. His navy blue mane and tail were messy and disheveled, and his eyes and ears drooped with tiredness; Rarity guessed that he hadn't got a wink of sleep last night. She also noticed that one of his forelegs was dressed in bandages, but she decided not to pry. Ding! The four ponies exited and started walking through the lobby. As they approached the glass doors, Soarin' quickly stepped forward and held one of them open. The two fillies went through first, followed by Rarity, who flashed a smile of courtesy at the stallion as she passed by. Once outside, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle took the lead, continuing to babble and giggle among themselves. The older ponies lagged a few meters behind, but made sure to stay close enough in case the fillies decided to get themselves into some sort of trouble. Rarity decided to break the ice. "Sweetie Belle tells me that Scootaloo has invited her to play at your place after school today." After a few seconds of silence, Rarity turned to see Soarin’ staring idly into the sky. "Mr. Soarin'?" she asked, eyeing him with curiosity. The stallion blinked a few times in rapid succession before turning his head; it seemed that he had heard her that time. "Yeah?" "I said Sweetie Belle tells me that your niece has invited her to play at your place today," Rarity repeated, a little concerned with Soarin's vapidity. "Are you alright, Mr. Soarin'?" "Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking about something." Soarin' apologized. "Yeah, she told me earlier. I have the day off so I can keep an eye on them, no problem." "It's quite alright." Rarity brushed the mane out of her face with a hoof. "And thank you for offering to look after them, Mr. Soarin'." "Please, just call me Soarin'. Mr. Soarin' just doesn't sound... right.” Rarity smiled and nodded. "Alright then, Soarin'." The pair continued to make small talk on topics such as the weather and their jobs. They shared a laugh when Soarin' asked about one of Rarity’s colleagues, a stallion who had a strange compulsion of needing to sniff things before he ate or drank them. "What do you like to do in your spare time?" Soarin' asked, changing the subject to Rarity herself. "Oh, my greatest passion is creating dresses," Rarity said. "I’ve always loved fashion. I even took a few classes when I was studying at the University." "So, what made you go into the gemstone industry?" Soarin' inquired further. "Gems were always my forte." Rarity looked back at the three diamonds on her flank. "I am especially good at finding them: I can cast a spell that allows me to sense them when they are nearby. I can even identify any gem with just magic." "That's an amazing talent. I didn’t even know that was possible!" Soarin' said enthusiastically. "Well yes, it is a rather unique skill," Rarity said with a grin. "But enough about me; how did you end up being a Wonderbolt?" The stallion paused, his eyes now fixed on the ground below. "It... it's a rather long story. I don’t think you would be interested." Rarity gave him a warm smile. "Try me." Soarin' sighed softly, tilting his head up towards the sky. "I used to be a courier for the Equinetropolis post office, and I'm sure you know they don't exactly make much money. That didn't bother me, though, I enjoyed the work and it was enough to pay the bills.” He stopped and closed his eyes for a second, taking in a deep breath. “But everything changed that night... when I got the letter saying that my sister and her husband had both died in some freak accident.... I’m Scootaloo’s only family now.” "I... I am so sorry," Rarity said softly. "I did not mean to pry." Soarin' turned around and shook his head. "No... it's OK. That was a long time ago.” They looked at each other for a moment before resuming their trot. Soarin' fixed his gaze towards the sky again and continued telling his story. "We were barely getting by with the money I was making. And without savings, I wasn't going to be able to provide Scootaloo with the future she deserves. I've always been a strong flier and I’d had combat training when I served the Royal Guards. So when I heard the Wonderbolts were recruiting, I auditioned, and was accepted not long after. The rest... is history." Soarin' looked back towards Rarity as he finished his tale. "Although there are certain... aspects of the job I do not particularly care for, we all need to make sacrifices for the ones we love. I suspect the reasons that made us choose our professions are not so different." Rarity thought about what he had said. Sweetie Belle had undeniably played a large role in her decision to not pursue fashion and take the secure, high paying job at GemTech. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn’t quite find the words she was looking for, and instead gave Soarin’ a single nod before walking on in silence. The sudden change from idle chit-chat into something this serious had caught Rarity off guard. And she didn’t quite know why, but something about that story made all the suspicion and doubt come rushing back. Is that so, Mr. Wonderbolt? I wonder how many times you have told that little story of yours.... She huffed as her mind went blank for just a moment, but caught sight of Soarin’s innocent, earnest face. He didn’t seem like he was lying, and for some reason, that made her not want to believe him even more. Well, you are sorely mistaken if you think I’m going to believe you that easily! I’m going to need proof! Not jus– “Huh? Is there something on my face?” Soarin’ asked, raising a hoof and rubbing his cheek. “Oh, n...no!” Rarity turned her burning stare away. “It... it’s nothing.... Do forgive me.” After a little while, the four reached their destination. There was a large stone tablet sitting on a patch of grass in front of the building. Hooves and Tails Primary School and Daycare Center Hooves and Tails was one of the most prestigious private schools in the city: it was almost impossible for an average pony to enroll their children there. The only way to get a spot was to be an extremely important pony – or be prepared to donate a substantial amount of money. Luckily for Soarin' and Rarity, the school was funded by Mr. Rich, the founder and C.E.O. of GemTech, and any ponies with connections to him could get their fillies and colts into this fine establishment without so much as an interview. "You got your lunch and books?" Soarin' asked, walking up to his niece. "Yes.... You made me check twice before we left, remember?" Scootaloo answered in an exasperated tone. Soarin' chuckled. "Alright then, you have a good day now." He turned towards Rarity. "I really need to go home and get some sleep. I had a... restless night. I'll come pick up the girls at three. You can come get Sweetie Belle whenever you get home from work. My room is on the tenth floor, room 1013." Rarity nodded in appreciation. "Thanks again, Soarin'." Soarin' returned with a nod of his own and took off into the sky. "Let's go see Miss Cheerilee, shall we?" Rarity said as she trotted behind the two fillies, who were now already making their way into the school building. They walked down the main hallway and past a couple of classrooms. Although it was still early, there were already quite a few students around, busy loading up their lockers with books and lunches. A pair of colts came barreling down the corridor, barely missing Rarity as they disappeared around a corner. Ruffians! she thought. The two fillies took a right and entered one of the rooms, and Rarity followed them inside. A mare sitting at the teacher's desk greeted them as they entered. "Good morning, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo. Oh, Miss Rarity! What a pleasant surprise!" "Good morning, Miss Cheerilee. I just came in to let you know that Mr. Soarin' will be picking up Sweetie Belle after school today." "Of course! Thank you for telling me." "Behave yourself, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity called out. "I do not want to hear anything about you causing trouble for Miss Cheerilee or Mr. Soarin'." "Uh huh," Sweetie Belle murmured, barely acknowledging her sister. She and Scootaloo were already busy chatting with the other ponies in the class. Rarity bid farewell to the teacher and started making her way back. Her thoughts immediately turning towards Soarin’. I... had I been presumptuous? He seemed sincere, and has done a great job of raising Scootaloo. You of all ponies know how hard it is to take care of a filly on your own. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so quick to judge somepony... especially without getting to know them first. And before she knew it, she had reached the front gates of GemTech. "Miss Rarity." One of the guards greeted her and opened the gates. Rarity had been working there for over two years now. Most guards recognized her and let her in without asking to see her card. She made her way to the tall office building. Another set of guards were standing in front the glass doors, greeting her much like the previous guards had. The ground floor of the office building was a lot like the complex she lived in, except on a much larger scale. She trotted through the massive lobby full of ponies and pressed the up button on the wall next to the elevators. One of the doors opened up behind her, and a pegasus rushed past frantically with something in her mouth, causing many ponies to cry out in shock and annoyance as she narrowly missed them. This was a sight that Rarity had gotten used to; pegasi messengers were always speeding around between the office building and the reactor, though she never knew what urgent messages those letters carried. She stepped into the elevator and swiped her gem card on the device embedded on the far side of the elevator before pressing the button that read 45. Any floor above 40 in this building had restricted access. If anypony wanted to go to those levels, they would need a card with high enough clearance. Guards were also stationed outside the elevators at every floor to make sure ponies weren't just using a card belonging to somepony else. Rarity exited the elevator as it slid open on the 45th floor. The guards outside gave her a quick glance and nodded with approval. Before her was a rectangular lab that spanned two floors; a wide staircase just in front of her led down to a massive pit that took up the entirety of the lower floor. Branching out in either direction were the corridors of the upper levels that stretched across the room’s circumference and joined together on the opposite side. A simple metal rail was the only thing keeping ponies from falling off, and one always had a great view of the floor below from anywhere on these upper catwalks. Doors lined the walls up here equidistantly, each leading to individual offices belonging to somepony who worked there, but most of them remained empty as the real work was done one floor down. The work pit had no individual rooms or sections, and was creatively dubbed ‘Lab 44’ by the scientists who worked there. Milling about in their lab coats and safety goggles, they sat at the edge of long metal tables, fiddling with gemstones using various high-tech equipment and curious gadgets. A few of them worked in pairs, attempting to unlock hidden secrets of the gems they were researching, while others found themselves busy just walking around and delivering equipment from one station to another. Rarity took a left and made her way down the catwalk, entering an office at the very end. There was a small plaque on the door. Geological Prospector and Topographer: Rarity Her office wasn't very large, but it wasn't cramped either. Multiple corkboards hung from the walls with maps pinned to them, each marked with lines and crosses. A desk and chair occupied the far side of the room, and behind them was a large window with a stunning view of the city. Rarity unstrapped her saddlebag and placed it on the floor next to her desk. She then slipped on the white lab coat hanging behind the door before putting on her glasses with a levitation spell. It was a rather uneventful day at work – it usually was when she was at the office. Most of the time she would be traveling all over Equestria, using her unique ability to find worthy gemstone deposits for the company to mine. She had found a very promising site about a week ago. It was under an apple orchard owned by a family of farmer ponies. She was quite disappointed when the family rejected the contract GemTech had couriered over, but that was nothing compared to her surprise when the company sent her back home without making a better offer. She detailed in her report that it was one of the richest deposits she had ever found, and that she felt something unique and incredibly powerful underneath that farm. It wasn't like GemTech to pass up lucrative opportunities like that. After what seemed like an eternity, the day had finally come to an end after some map doodling, a few conversations, and a whole lot of sitting around. But just as she slipped off her lab coat, there was a knock on the door followed by an earth pony mare entering her office. She had a blonde mane and a dark brown coat. Rarity recognized her as one of Mr. Rich's secretaries. "Miss Rarity, Mr. Rich would like to see you in his office," she said. "Certainly." Rarity nodded. "Would you happen to know the purpose of this meeting?" The mare shook her head. "No, Mr. Rich just said he wanted a quick word with you before you left," she explained, turning towards the door. "Now, if you would please follow me." She escorted Rarity to the fiftieth floor. After exiting the elevators, they came across a large reception area. There were two sets of sofas and coffee tables on either side that served as the waiting area for ponies who wanted to meet with the high-level employees on this floor. Right now, the area was almost empty. Four guards stood near the elevators, and a single receptionist sat behind the long, marble counter near the back wall, flipping through what looked like a lifestyle magazine. "This way please." The earth pony led Rarity down a large hallway. They passed some offices, a few conference rooms, and a fancy-looking cafe that was now closed. The corridor opened into a circular area, bordered by sofas and small glass tables holding stacks of magazines. An onyx counter in the shape of a semicircle occupied the center, and behind it were several empty chairs. Directly across from the two mares was a massive double door made of polished wood, adorned with large, gold lettering. Mr. Rich C.E.O. "Looks like Mr. Rich is just finishing up a meeting, I'm sure it won't be long," the secretary said, gesturing towards the sofas before sitting down behind the counter. Rarity nodded and sat down. Seeing that there was nothing to do but wait, she retrieved a fashion magazine from the stack and started flicking through the pages. "So, you're saying one of your squad members saved the Apple family?" Mr. Rich was sitting in his chair, leaning forward with his forelegs cupped over the huge oak desk in front of him. A pegasus mare with a golden coat lounged on a sofa across from him. Her wild orange mane had a lighter streak in the middle. "Yeah, my brother said Soarin' went back and pulled them out after the house was already on fire." "And where is the family now?" "My scouts tell me they have been moved to Equinetropolis General Hospital. Apparently one of them has recovered. Want us to finish the job?" The mare smirked. Mr. Rich held a hoof out. "Wait, you said that the family and the ponies in Ponyville don't suspect a thing, right?" "Yeah, those ignorant ponies are calling Soarin' a hero." The pegasus laughed. "Morons." Mr. Rich leaned back and crossed his forelegs. "Leave them be." "And Soarin'?" The mare sat up. "Want me to teach that idiot a lesson?" she asked, now hovering above the ground, pumping her wings eagerly. "In due time, Captain Spitfire. We can work this towards our favor if we play our cards right," Mr. Rich said. "Keep me informed of the situation. And make sure this... Soarin' character doesn't do anything stupid." Spitfire rolled her eyes and floated towards the door. "Whatever you say, boss." Rarity looked over her magazine when she heard the door open. A Wonderbolt she recognized as Spitfire gave her a glance before hovering down the hallway. "Miss Rarity? Mr. Rich will see you now," the secretary called out. "Thank you." Rarity stood up, walking past the counter and into the large corner office. "Ah, Miss Rarity! Thank you for coming up." The business tycoon greeted her as soon as she entered the office. "Please, take a seat." "Of course." Rarity sat down on the edge of one of the sofas. "How can I help you, sir?" "Straight to the point, I like that." Mr. Rich pulled out a folder from the desk in front of him. He scanned through the contents for a few seconds before speaking. "I’ve called you here to discuss your report on the Sweet Apple Acres acquisition." "What would you like to know, sir?" Mr. Rich flipped through the pages. "I see you that you wrote here you found something... unique and incredibly powerful there. Could you elaborate on that?" "Oh, yes. There was something under the farm I had never felt before. It was very powerful... like an extremely concentrated piece of gemstone," Rarity explained, her eyes now gleaming with interest. She had been wondering what it was that she felt under the farm that day, and she suspected that if anypony knew what it was, it would be Mr. Rich. The mogul stood up and walked over to a large safe embedded in the side of the wall. He punched in a long series of numbers and opened it up, pulling something out with his hooves. He presented the item to Rarity. "Was it something like this?" Rarity stared at the gemstone dumbfounded. It was like nothing she had ever seen in all her years of studying and working in the industry. The gem was large and perfectly spherical. The coloring and surface reminded her of a typical ruby, though she had never seen any ruby that large or of that shape. But the most interesting thing about it was that she could see an indistinct shape swirling inside the sphere, leaving behind trails of black that dissipated as quickly as they had formed. "What in the world is that?" She gasped loudly, momentarily forgetting to keep up her professional demeanor. "It's something the scientists are calling a quintessence," Mr. Rich said. "I'm sure you have many questions, but what I need to know now is if this is the same energy you felt at Ponyville." Rarity nodded and composed herself. "Oh, of course!" She closed her eyes and concentrated. The light blue aura of the gem scanning spell pulsed from her body into her horn, then dispersed to the area surrounding her, like a ripple in perfectly still waters. A few seconds later, she opened her eyes. "Yes! It is rather similar in terms of concentration," she said excitedly. "But the type of energy it contains feels... different. This one feels a lot like a ruby while the one at the farm felt more like a zircon." "Ah... interesting," Mr Rich mused, returning the orb back to his safe. "The scientists also guessed there may be different kinds of these quintessences. Thank you, Miss Rarity. I'm sure they will be requiring your services in the near future." Rarity beamed. "Oh, I would love to help. That quintessence is absolutely marvelous!" Mr. Rich looked at the excited unicorn for a while, tapping his hooves in silent contemplation before finally speaking. “Well... Miss Rarity. If you would really like to help, I have a research team dedicated to studying these quintessences, and I believe you would make a great addition. It pays well, and I’m certain you will find the work to be very fascinating.” “Oh, sir... I... I am no-” Mr. Rich held a hoof out to interrupt the stuttering mare. “Don’t answer now. Take a few days to think it over. If you are interested, come back and we will discuss it further.” He reached down and pulled out another folder from his desk. Rarity managed to catch a glimpse of the cover, noting the word ‘Apple’. A sly smile appeared across Mr. Rich’s face. “Now, I do have one more thing I’d like you to do for me.” -END OF CHAPTER 2- Chapter 3: Secrets and LiesElements Chapter 3: Secrets and Lies By herpyderpy Applejack sat next to a window, staring idly out into the streets of Equinetropolis. She didn’t quite know why, but there was something oddly comforting about the raindrops gently pattering against the glass. It was almost rhythmic, a cadence orchestrated by the heavens themselves, and it was a constant reminder that perhaps she wasn’t alone, that somewhere out there was another pony like her – a pony who understood her pain. Flashes of this disastrous day relentlessly assaulted her mind. She wanted them to stop, but the events continued to play again and again in her head. She couldn’t accept it for the longest time. She wouldn’t accept it. The doctors back at Ponyville had apologized and tried their best to console her. “There was nothing anypony could have done.” “She went peacefully.” “She didn’t suffer.” Applejack had found no comfort in any of those words. And when the reality of losing the only parent figure she had ever had started to sink in, she snapped for the first time in her life. It took four ponies to stop her from completely trashing the small country clinic. One of them had to be treated for a black eye after catching a hoof to the face while trying to restrain the rampaging mare. She apologized after her rage had subsided. But without that anger to occupy her mind, the sadness in her heart only grew stronger. The clinic admitted they were ill-equipped to help her siblings, and had sent for a medical carriage to take them to the nearest hospital. Applejack had always considered crying as a weakness; she couldn’t remember the last time she cried. But that day on the carriage, she let her tears flow free. When they finally reached the hospital in Equinetropolis, her anguish was replaced by a mixture of hope and anxiety as she watched the doctors conduct various tests on her siblings. But to her despair, these doctors weren’t much more useful than the ones at Ponyville. They informed her that Big Mac and Applebloom were in a coma, and that there was nothing they could do. They had also been vague when she asked about the possibility of their recovery. “There is always hope.” It sounded a lot like the horse-apples the Ponyville doctors had tried to feed her. The doctors offered their meaningless condolences before moving on, leaving Applejack with her siblings in a small ward on the third story of the hospital. And there she sat, on a cushioned chair next to the window, looking out as the hours passed by. Her posture and inactivity had made her rump and hind legs completely numb. Her throat was dry and her stomach growled occasionally with hunger, but she didn’t care. Applebloom lay on a hospital bed to her right with a peaceful smile on her face, wrapped in a blanket which rose and fell slowly to her steady breathing. And on the bed next to her was Big Mac, lying under the covers with his mouth slightly open. The sun had now set, and the lanterns were all lit up, guiding the way for ponies down on the cobbled streets of this magnificent city. On any other day than this, perhaps, Applejack could even come to appreciate the sight. There was a certain quality to it, she had to admit. The gentle pulsations of the lanterns... the remnants of their glimmer, passing through each drop of rain in succession, lifting up the scene as parts remained obscured by the streaks of water running down the window. Maybe things ain’t that bad, she thought. Maybe Big Mac deserved his rest, and maybe Applebloom was better off not being around through the hardest part. Maybe by the time they wake up, Applejack herself would be alright again – alright enough to help see them through what was going to be their worst days. Maybe.... No. Who am I tryin’ to fool? The sound of the glass door sliding open broke Applejack’s train of thought and made her turn her head. Great, another one of these useless doctors. A butter-yellow pegasus mare with a long, flowing pink mane entered the room, the stethoscope around her neck bobbing slightly as she walked. She was wearing a white coat with an ID card pinned to her lapel, and on the side of the coat was a large pocket that had the top of a clipboard sticking out. “Um... hello, Miss Applejack. I’m Fluttershy,” she said in a barely audible voice. Applejack replied with a ‘hmph’ and turned her attention back towards the window. Fluttershy stepped up to Big Mac's bed. “I’m just here to do a quick check on Miss Applebloom and Mr. Macintosh.” She studied the beeping apparatus attached to the stallion's ankle for a moment before scribbling something down on her clipboard. “Oh....” Applejack turned around to see what the doctor had discovered, only to find Fluttershy looking straight at her. “You look awful, Miss Applejack.... Have you been here all day?” “I’m fine,” Applejack croaked, her voice low and raspy. But much to her chagrin, her stomach decided it was the perfect time to rumble. Darn it…. Fluttershy looked at her with concern. “You should really ea–” “I said I’m fine! Just do your damn job and get the buck out of here!” Applejack shouted out in frustration. Fluttershy let out a squeak and took a step back. “I... I’m sorry.” She gingerly moved to the side of Applebloom’s bed, hooves trembling slightly as she reached for the clipboard in her coat pocket. Her demeanour and expression made Applejack immediately regret her outburst. The timid pegasus quickly walked towards the exit after taking down the filly’s vitals. “I’m so sorry to have disturbed you, Miss Applejack. I... I will leave you alone now.” “Wait!” Fluttershy stopped in front of the glass door. “I’m sorry....” She apologized again for no apparent reason. “No, I’m sorry,” Applejack said. She had to struggle a bit to stand up: both her hind legs were completely numb. “Look, I’m just so... frustrated is all.” “It... it’s OK. I understand.” Applejack slowly walked up towards Fluttershy, still a bit wobbly in her step. “No it ain’t. All day I’ve been takin’ my anger out on ponies only tryin’ to help me; it ain’t right. Granny taught me better than that.” She choked a little on the last part. Fluttershy slowly turned around, but kept her head low and her eyes to the floor. “You’re right, doc,” Applejack continued, “I could really use some food and somethin’ to drink... not to mention a good stretch,” she said, working off some of the numbness in her legs. “Well, I was about to go get some dinner at the cafeteria downstairs. Would... would you like to join me?” Fluttershy asked, peeking up with her eyes but not moving her head. “I’d love that.” Applejack nodded, but then she remembered something. “Ah, shoot... I ain’t got my bag here with me.” “Oh, don’t worry about that,” Fluttershy said warmly. “Let’s go.” Applejack managed to smile for the first time that day. “Thank you kindly, doc.” The pair made their way to the cafeteria via the elevator. Fluttershy ordered a daisy sandwich and a bottle of water for each of them, and they sat down at one of the many empty tables. Fluttershy watched as the mare in front of her guzzled down a whole bottle of water in a single breath. “Would you like to talk about it, Miss Applejack? I heard it helps sometimes.” Applejack took a few seconds to chew and swallow a mouthful of sandwich before answering. “I... I’m not sure if I’m ready for that yet," she said, looking down at her tray. Fluttershy took a dainty bite into her own sandwich. “I understand. But if you ever change your mind, I’m a good listener.” Applejack closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “Yeah... sure. Thanks, doc.” “I’m... not really a doctor, not yet anyway. I just started interning here a few months ago. So please, just call me Fluttershy.” “Only if you stop callin’ me Miss,” Applejack said, looking up with an awkward sort of smile. “That’s a deal, Applejack.” Fluttershy nodded happily. She could tell Applejack’s smile was forced, but even that was something in itself. She had seen ponies deal with grief in many different ways during her internship, and she was confident that the pony across from her was going to get through it just by the way she carried herself. Judging by the speed Applejack had wolfed down her meal, Fluttershy knew it wasn’t even close to satisfying her hunger. After a few minutes of back and forth, she finally convinced Applejack to take some of her bits under the condition that the earth pony would pay her back. Fluttershy stood up after finishing her sandwich. “I have to go now. Have to check on a few more patients and report to Dr. Stable.” “I’m mighty grateful, Fluttershy. You’ve been so kind to me, and I’m awful sorry for screamin’ at you earlier,” Applejack said, taking a bite into her third sandwich. “Oh, don’t worry about that. Just... promise me you’ll take care of yourself, OK?” Fluttershy returned her tray and looked at Applejack in the eye. “If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones. They’re going to need you to be strong when they wake up.” Applejack nodded in appreciation. “I promise, Fluttershy.” “Good. I’ll see you soon,” Fluttershy said before trotting away. Applejack watched as she disappeared around a corner. First Soarin’, now Fluttershy.... Maybe these big city ponies ain’t all bad. She grabbed another bottle of water and returned to the patient’s room after finishing her meal. The sight of her siblings made her heart twist as her eyes fell on their still figures. The thought that she may never be able to see their smiling faces again tore away at her very soul. She felt alone and afraid, but the words of the kind pegasus reminded her to stay resolute. She let out a sigh and walked into the bathroom. The reflection of herself in the mirror shocked her. Fluttershy was right, she did look awful. Although she didn’t usually make a big fuss about her appearance, she did bother to at least keep herself clean and presentable. But right now, she was neither of those things. She had dirt and grime all over her, clinging to her body and forming patches of brown on her orange coat. Her eyes were bloodshot and her ears drooped with exhaustion. She could only imagine what she looked like before getting some much needed food in her stomach. Applejack stepped into the shower to her left and turned the knob, closing her eyes and letting the sensation of the warm, flowing water wash over her. She exhaled deeply and lifted her head, water trickling down her face as all thoughts purged themselves from her mind for a moment – it was relaxing; it was... painless. But when her eyes opened again, it all came rushing back. As much as she wanted to escape reality for just a little while longer, she knew that there was nothing left to gain in deluding herself. She stepped out after a few minutes and took another look at the mirror. Her mane and tail were still quite messy, but at least she looked clean and was feeling much better. In the patient room, a unicorn mare stood next to the window, fiddling with her curly purple mane. She turned at the sound of the door opening, introducing herself as Applejack exited the bathroom. “Hello, Miss Applejack. My name is Rarity, an–" “Yeah, I remember you,” Applejack said, stepping up towards her. “What are you doin' here?” “I am here on behalf of my boss, Mr. Rich. He heard about the tragic accident at the farm and sends his deepest condolences.” “Yeah... ’course he does,” Applejack muttered to herself. “What are you really here for?” She watched as Rarity levitated a folder out of her saddlebag. “Y’all care ’bout nothin’ but money, don’t you?” “I know you are upset, Miss Applejack, but please, listen to me fo–” “No! You listen to me! I don’t want nothin’ to do with you, your boss, or your damn company. I lost everythin’ I have worked for! I lost my home, I lost my granny, and I don’t even know if my brother and sister are ever gonna wake up,” Applejack yelled, now right in front of Rarity’s face. “You have some nerve comin’ here, tryin’ to buy me out with a lowball offer on a day like this! Y’all heartless, you know that?” Rarity just stood there, calm and composed while Applejack shouted at her. She waited a few more seconds before replying. “You misunderstand, Miss Applejack. Mr. Rich sent me here with the intention of honoring the original contract.” Applejack turned around and moved to the side of her sister’s bed. “I don’t care. Just... just get out!” But instead of leaving, Rarity walked up next to her, treading in gentle, yet firm steps – much like her tone of voice. “I’m terribly sorry for what happened, but I must urge you to reconsider – for your family’s sake.” Applejack snapped her head and stared daggers at Rarity. “My family? What do you know about what’s best for my family?” “I... don’t know much, Miss Applejack. But what I do know is that signing this contract will be in the best interest for both you and your family.” Applejack scoffed. “Yeah? And how do you figure that?” “Well, take a moment to consider what is going to happen when your brother and sister wake up. How are you going to pay the hospital bill? Where are you going to live? And I’m sure the money from your insurance is only going to be a fraction of what the contract is offering. I hate to put you in this position, but you must not let your emotions cloud your judgement, Miss Applejack, especially now.” “I... hmph.” Applejack huffed, looking down at her sister. She tried her best to clear her head and think objectively. As much as she despised the unicorn beside her, she could find no fault in her argument. Rarity and Fluttershy were both right: she had to be strong, and she couldn’t let her emotions get in the way of what was best for her family. She sighed softly. “Pass me that folder, will you?” Rarity nodded and floated over the requested object. “There is one new condition in this contract, Miss Applejack.” “I knew there was some sorta catch....” “Oh, no. It’s nothing like that! I assure you.” “So? What is it then?” “Mr. Rich would just like your permission to let the newspapers write an article on the events that transpired at the farm last night to document Mr. Soarin’s bravery.” “I guess... that’d be fine. Mr. Soarin’... he works for y’all, right?” “Yes, he is an employee of the company.” “Do you know him?” “We are acquainted.” “Can you... tell him I’d like to see him? Never did get to thank him properly when he saved us.” “Of course, Miss Applejack. I’ll pass the message along.” Applejack nodded and turned her attention back towards the folder. She carefully read through the contents a few more times before putting it down. “I... I guess I ain’t got much of a choice,” she said reluctantly. “Got a pen I can borrow?” “Certainly.” Rarity floated a pen over. “Please sign here... here... and here,” she said, pointing at the various pieces of paper. Applejack did as instructed, and Rarity floated the signed contract back into her saddlebag. “Thank you very much, Miss Applejack. The funds will be in your account tomorrow morning. If you would like, I can show you to your new apartment.” Applejack shook her head slowly. “I’m gonna stay here tonight.” Rarity nodded and walked towards the door, sliding it open before turning her head. “For what it’s worth, Miss Applejack, I am sincerely sorry; I can only imagine what you are going through. And I do hope Miss Applebloom and Mr. Macintosh recover soon.” “Yeah... I hope so too,” Applejack mumbled as she sat back down, slumping low in her chair and fixing her gaze back out into the city. Rarity watched Applejack for just a few more seconds before leaving. She had done what was asked of her – persuading ponies was easy: she had a way with words, and had always known how to exploit the emotions of others. But as she exited the hospital and started her trot back home, a strange feeling came over her. She felt... empty. The light drizzle had progressed into a rather heavy shower during her time at the hospital. While that would have usually bothered her to no end, Rarity barely noticed it. Was it shame? Remorse? Guilt? What did she have to be guilty about? It was her job, wasn’t it? She was nothing more than a messenger – a medium of communication. But as much as tried to reassure her conscience through reason and logic, the feeling of emptiness refused to give in. Thoughts started racing through her head, not entirely by her own volition. It seemed the key to understanding her feelings lay somewhere in her memories. It wasn’t until now that she started piecing together the events of the past week. A lot of things made sense to her now, things like why Soarin’ looked so battered in the morning, and what that peculiar energy was under the farm. But more questions presented themselves in light of these revelations. What was Soarin’ doing at Ponyville in the middle of the night? What exactly is a quintessence? And what the hay is Mr. Rich planning to do with it? He certainly seemed very interested with the oversized gem. Rarity suddenly came to a halt, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. She looked straight down at her hooves, the raindrops falling all around her as she finally snapped out of her trance. Why am I thinking about all this? What does any of it have anything to do with.... It must be pity! Pity for that poor mare and her family. She shook her head and continued walking. Faster now, as she pushed her way past the evening crowd. But the voice in the back of her mind nagged on, urging her to go deeper. In addition to the emptiness, she also felt a certain anxiety, like she was missing something important. Her thoughts wandered again, delving further into what she had learned that day. Everything just seemed far too convenient. Sweet Apple Acres burned down not a week after the Apples rejected the first contract, and Soarin’ just happens to be right there as it happened. And that smile Mr. Rich gave her... that guileful, devious smile. It was so... knowing. Could it be him? Was he the one who arranged it? A chill ran down her spine as she came to that conclusion. She didn’t want it to be true, but it was the only logical explanation she could come up with. The pieces of the puzzle came together, forming images of deceit and treachery. And as hard as she tried to rearrange the pieces to form a more favorable outcome, like all puzzles, there is always only one solution. The GemTech apartment complex came into view as she turned a corner. It was no accident. it must have been him! And Soarin’... that deceitful, no good.... Oh! How could I have left Sweetie Belle with a horrendous stallion like that... who knows what kind of danger she could be in right now! He couldn’t have... he wouldn’t... would he? It didn’t even occur to Rarity why Soarin’ might want to harm Sweetie Belle as panic took over, sending her into a full gallop, cutting through the garden and swinging the glass doors open with reckless abandon. She didn’t even notice the weird looks she was getting from the ponies in the lobby as she ran straight towards the elevators and planted a muddy hoof on the up button. She paced back and forth as she waited, but that gave her some time to think. What the hay was she doing? What was she going to do when Soarin’ opens the door? An elevator finally slid open in front of her. She quickly stepped inside and pressed the ten button. Calm down, Rarity... deep breaths. He has no reason to hurt Sweetie Belle, he doesn’t know that you know anything about this. Just... act normal. She exited when the doors opened, but stopped in the hallway to collect her thoughts. Think of it as a play... you’ve always loved plays. She tried her best to steady her nerves and made her way to room 1013. Just play the part of Rarity, the unassuming prospector. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before knocking on the door. A few seconds later, the door swung open, and the familiar face of Soarin’ greeted her with a smile. “Rarity! Oh... what happened to you?” he asked with concern. “Wha... what do you mean?” Soarin’ looked at her with a puzzled expression. “You’re all wet. And....” His gaze trailed down towards Rarity’s hooves. “Oh! It’s raining quite heavily outside, and... I’m sorry. I really should have cleaned up,” Rarity apologized, a little annoyed with herself. She had never once forgotten to fix herself up before. “Oh, no! Don’t worry about that,” Soarin’ said quickly. “Please, come in!” “Thank you, Soarin’,” Rarity said, wiping her hooves on the carpet outside before following Soarin’ into his apartment. His place was pretty much identical to her own except for the furnishings and decorations. The stallion trotted towards the kitchen area. “I was just making dinner. Please, make yourself comfortable. And if you want to clean up, the bathroom is on your left.” “Where are the girls?” Rarity asked, looking around. “Oh.“ Soarin’ turned his head and nodded towards the door opposite of the bathroom. “They’re in Scootaloo’s room.” Rarity poked her head in to find the two fillies sitting on the floor with a pen in their mouths, busy scribbling away on some pieces of paper. “Thank goodness...” she whispered to herself. “Hello, girls.” “Hey, sis.” “Hey, Miss Rarity.” “Can you... come over here for a moment, Sweetie Belle?” She seemed perfectly fine, but Rarity had to make sure. “Uh... sure, sis. What’s up?” Sweetie Belle asked, walking over. Rarity took a moment to think about how to phrase her question. “How was your day? Anything interesting happen?” Sweetie Belle gave her a funny look. “It was... fine? Why are you asking?” “Oh, no reason!” Rarity quickly said with an awkward laugh. “I just wanted to... you know, make sure you are alright.” Sweetie Belle looked at her in silence for a moment. “O... kay? You feeling alright, sis? You look kinda... terrible.” “Oh, yes! I’m fine. It’s just... well, it’s raining, and.... Anyway, what are you two doing?” Rarity asked, changing the subject to the first thing that came to mind. “Homework!” Scootaloo called out. “Yeah... I’m gonna get back to it, OK?” Sweetie Belle said, walking back and sitting down next her friend. Rarity was a little surprised by this, but thought it would be best to leave them alone. “Oh, of course! I’ll leave you to it then.” She turned around and entered the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her. It was a huge relief to know Sweetie Belle was alright. Perhaps she had overreacted. Whatever Soarin’ might be, he was still a caregiver. But while the urgent matter of her sister’s safety was now settled, her thoughts turned once again to the puzzle from earlier as she washed the remaining mud off her hooves. The fire at Sweet Apple Acres was no accident, she knew that, and it stood to reason that Soarin’ was the one who started it. There was, however, a missing piece to the puzzle. Why did he end up saving the Apples? Why would he set a house on fire only to risk his own life to save its inhabitants? It just didn’t make any sense. She looked up at her reflection in the mirror, her mane straight, draping flatly down the side of her face, but there was a certain determination in the expression of the pony staring back at her. It wasn’t pity she was feeling when she left that hospital. It was in fact, as she had suspected, guilt. She knew that now. And when combined with what she had unraveled, there was but one thing to do. She had to find the truth. As Rarity exited the bathroom, she was welcomed by the sweet aroma of pastry and apples. Soarin’, standing next to the oven, turned around and waved her over. “It’s apple pie for dinner tonight. Hope you’re alright with that, if you wanna join us, that is. And don’t worry, I made more than enough.” Rarity knew she couldn’t just dive right into the questioning. She needed to ease into it, start off with some chit-chat, and this was the perfect opportunity. “That sounds lovely.” “Great! Not to brag, but my apple pies are pretty damn good.” Soarin’ grinned proudly. Despite the circumstances, Rarity couldn’t help but chuckle at his cheesy grin, and that was just another reminder to stay cautious. You can’t fool me with your charms, Soarin’. “So, how did you get the girls to do their homework? I didn’t think that was possible when those two are together,” Rarity said. She was actually a little curious to know how Soarin had achieved a feat she was never able to accomplish herself. Soarin’ laughed and turned his attention towards the oven. “You just have to give them a little incentive.” “Incentive?” Rarity asked, taking a seat on one of the stools next to the kitchen counter. “Yeah,” Soarin’ said, peeking through the glass of the oven, “they know it’s something they have to do anyway, so just give them a reason to get it over and done with.” “And that reason would be...?” “In this case? Two bags of candy.” Rarity raised a brow. “Candy? I didn’t think they would fall for that.” Soarin’ laughed again, turning around to face her. “Not if I was the one to suggest it. You see... the trick is to ask them what they want. And trust me, it’s usually something very simple. As long as they think it’s their idea and they’re the ones calling the shots, they’re happy. You have to let them think they’ve ‘won’, so to speak.” Manipulating and bribing children? Rarity remained a courteous smile. “I’ll have to remember that one.” Beep! “Dinner’s ready!” Soarin’ shouted before opening the oven. “Do you mind?” he asked, looking back at Rarity. “I hate putting on these mittens.” “Of course not.” Rarity’s light blue aura surrounded the pie as it slowly floated towards the dining table. Soon, the four ponies were all sitting at the table with a slice of pie in each of their plates. The sisters commented on how delicious the pie was, which made Soarin’ go into great detail on the intricacies of creating the perfect apple pie. Rarity and Sweetie Belle pretended to listen with interest while Scootaloo made every facial expression possible to show her boredom; she had obviously heard her uncle go on about this topic far too many times. The two fillies promptly returned to Scootaloo’s room after dinner to finish off their homework, leaving Rarity and Soarin’ at the dining table. “Would you like another piece?” Soarin’ asked, gesturing at what remained of the pie. “Oh, no. I can’t. I have had too much already,” Rarity said. It was the truth, she was actually feeling a little bloated. “Something to drink then?” Soarin’ offered, as he helped himself to another slice. “Water? Juice? Wine, maybe?” “A cup of water would be great, thank you.” “You got it.” Rarity watched Soarin’ stand up and make his way to the cupboards to fetch her drink. It’s now or never, she thought. They were alone, and she was confident that Soarin’ was feeling quite comfortable from their chat. “So, Mr. Rich told me you were in Ponyville last night,” she said, trying her best to sound casual. “He... he told you that? Why?” Rarity just looked at him for a second. That wasn’t the response she was expecting, and what was even more strange was his demeanour. Soarin’ was floating in mid-air, next to one of the cupboards with a cup in his hooves. His expression was one of shock and confusion... almost fear. And all this just made her even more curious. “Well, he asked me to deliver a contract to the Apple family earlier this evening. He also told me you saved them from a house fire,” Rarity said, locking eyes with Soarin’. “Yeah… that’s right,” Soarin’ said, averting his gaze away downwards. “Both Mr. Rich and Miss Applejack called you are a hero. Miss Applejack even told me she would like to properly thank you sometime.” Rarity studied Soarin’s face intently, hoping to glean some information from his reactions. “Also, Mr. Rich would like you and Miss Applejack to do an interview together for the newspaper.” Soarin’ looked up with bewilderment. “He wants me to what now?” “I suppose Mr. Rich is going to tell you tomorrow. There was an agreement in the contract that Miss Applejack would do an article on what transpired at the farm that night, namely, how you saved the family,” Rarity explained. “I see....” And then came the most important question of all. “What were you doing in Ponyville anyway?” Rarity tilted her head slightly as she waited for the stallion’s response. “I was... uh... I was... delivering a message. An urgent message!” Rarity continued to stare at him for just a second before replying. “Right, of course. So... why did you not share your tale of heroism with me?” “I… I just didn’t want to brag. Nopony likes a braggart, right?” Soarin’ forced a grin. “I guess you are right. Um... Soarin’?” “Yeah?” “Mind if I get that glass of water now?” It seemed Soarin’ hadn’t even realized through all this time, he had been hovering next to the cupboard with that cup still clenched between his front hooves. “Oh... of course. Sorry about that.” He laughed sheepishly, landing next to the jug of water on the kitchen counter. Rarity watched as he poured her her drink. She had more or less confirmed her suspicions, and for some reason, she wasn’t really afraid anymore. What really surprised her though, was how Soarin’ was acting. Prior to the dinner, she had thought of him as a ruthless criminal, a master of deception. But through their little conversation, she could tell the Wonderbolt was neither of those things. She wasn’t looking at a cold blooded murderer; she was looking at a pony filled with regret and fear, a pony haunted by the events of that night. And as Soarin’ passed over he glass of water, there was part of her that wanted to tell him of her suspicions. Her instincts told her that she could trust him, that he was just another pawn being used like she was, but that was a risk she was not willing to take. The consequences of being wrong were far too dire for her to be taking any chances. “Nonetheless, you are still a true hero, Soarin’. You risked your own life to save a family you didn’t even know!” Rarity complemented with a smile. Soarin’, now back in his seat across from her, rubbed the back of his head and chuckled half-heartedly. “Yeah… I guess I am.” The two of them sat there for a while in an awkward silence. Rarity had asked all the questions she wanted to ask, and Soarin’ didn’t seem like he had much to say. But luckily, this was when the two fillies came running out of Scootaloo’s room. “We’re finished!” they said in unison. “Can we have our candy now?” Soarin’ smiled. Rarity could see it was a genuine smile, not the fake smile he had been putting on during the previous conversation. “Sure, girls. A promise is a promise.” He hovered his way to the cupboards again and retrieved two small bags of sweets. “You don’t mind do you, Rarity?” he asked, looking back at her. Rarity shook her head as she stood up. “I suppose she’s earned it. Sweetie Belle, go get your things. It’s getting late, and I think we have bothered Mr. Soarin’ enough for today.” “Awww… alright,” the filly pouted and trotted back into Scootaloo’s room with her bag of confectionery. The sisters thanked Soarin’ for his hospitality and returned to their own apartment. The first thing Rarity did was draw herself up a bath, it was something she desperately needed, both physically and mentally. The rest of the evening was spent at her desk, working on concepts for dresses that eventually ended up in the bin. She wasn’t in the mood, and she knew why. After much protest, she finally managed to put Sweetie Belle to bed around nine thirty before finding herself on a sofa in the living area, musing over what was truly a bizarre day. She had a pretty good grasp of the situation now. There was no doubt in her mind that Mr. Rich was responsible for the supposed accident at Sweet Apple Acres, and it was safe to say that Soarin’ was the one who was sent to do his bidding, but what exactly happened that night still remained a mystery. Soarin’ seemed guilt-ridden and afraid, just like she was, and if that was all just an act to throw her off, then, well... she probably wouldn’t be sitting in her own apartment right now. So she was successful in playing investigator. But what now? What was the point in finding out the truth? Rarity knew exactly what the answers to those questions were. In fact, they were one and the same. And now she was left with the final, and most frightening question. What was she going to do about it? The voice of reason told her that she didn’t need to do anything, that she shouldn’t even have gone snooping. It’s none of your business, Rarity, it said. This is a dangerous game you’re playing. You’ve already satisfied your curiosity, it’s time to quit while you’re ahead. Just pretend like nothing has happened and go on with your life. But there was another voice, a voice that had been getting progressively louder throughout the night. It was kind of annoying, like a parent of a teenager, always nagging at one thing or another. But somewhere deep down, the teen always knows the parent is right, and that the nagging is actually necessary. What happened to that family was wrong – it was injustice, and that’s why you felt the need to uncover the truth. What do you think somepony like Mr. Rich has planned for those quintessences? He was willing to murder a whole family just to speed up the process of acquiring it. You’re in a unique position, Rarity. You can put a stop to this before something even more terrible happens. You can’t be a coward now. Rarity closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. She couldn’t silence either of those voices, they were both right, in some respect. She wanted to do something about it, but she was terrified of what might happen if she did. It would be so easy to just hide behind a mask... just like acting – she loved acting. But that wasn’t really who she was, was it? She felt awful for Applejack and her family... she actually cared. She didn’t want to be one of those heartless monsters like Mr. Rich, she could never live like that. And there it was, she had her answer. It was so simple, really. She just had to be true to herself. Yes, that’s it. Rarity nodded to herself. She was essentially throwing her career away, and was probably putting her own life in danger. But she decided, against all logic and reason, to do the one thing that would quiet her soul. But if she was going to do something, she had to do it quick. It was only going to get worse if things went on unchecked, and she had a feeling she was running out of time. How am I going to do this? Where do I start? I need to find a way to bring my concerns to the authorities without anypony at the company knowing. Mr. Rich has eyes and ears everywhere in this city.... Leaving Equinetropolis was out of the question, she would have to continue to play her role as the prospector. She wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Rich was already keeping tabs on her after revealing the quintessence. Rarity thought hard, she needed a pony she could trust that had no ties with GemTech to help her. She knew a lot of ponies, but didn’t really have many close friends. Everypony she considered was either connected to GemTech somehow or was merely an acquaintance that she barely knew, let alone trust. But then a face suddenly popped into her head. She quickly levitated a pen and paper over and scrawled down the name of the letter’s recipient, but then she stopped. She had no idea how to ask for help like this, what was she even supposed to say? All she knew was that she had to try. Rarity sighed. This is going to be one hay of a week, she thought, as her eyes trailed back up to the top of the page. And there, staring back at her, were just three words. “Dear Twilight Sparkle.” -END OF CHAPTER 3- Prologue: Lull Before the StormElements Prologue: Lull Before the Storm By herpyderpy A small pebble tumbled past a pair of legs, rolling across a dilapidated rooftop and falling down to the streets below. The legs’ owner, a stallion, stood peering over the edge, his gaze fixed on the crowd of ponies moving through the market – chattering and laughing and eating – all taking in what the dynamic nightlife had to offer. The mare beside him paced in a sort of circle, occasionally stopping to kick yet another pebble off the roof. “Where the hay is he? It’s been like... an hour or something!” she said impatiently. “It’s only been fifteen minutes. And you know what he’s like. Ah... speak of the devil.” “Hey guys, ready to go?” the newcomer said as he touched down next to the duo. “We’ve been waiting for you. Why can you never be on time?” the mare asked, exasperated. “Uh, big sis was going through some stuff with me,” the late arrival said with a shrug. “You know her, always telling me things I already know.” The mare rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well... who can blame her?” “Wha... what’s that supposed to mean?” “You really are a pinhead, aren’t you?” “Hey! Don’t call me that!” “But you are a-” The stallion that had been silent throughout the whole conversation suddenly turned around. “If you two are done bickering, can we please get going? Some of us have a family to return to, you know?” “Yeah, yeah. Alright. C’mon, let’s go,” the mare said as she took off, followed by the sharper of her two companions. “I... I’m not a pinhead,” the lone stallion mumbled to himself before rushing to catch up with his fellow colleagues. Just on the outskirts of Ponyville was a small orchard. A simple dirt road connected the farm to the rustic town, and a small sign stood beside the gates at entrance to the property. Sweet Apple Acres Home of Delicious Apples and Fine Cider Family Owned The farmhouse was old but well maintained. Patterns of vines and leaves danced up the walls, drawing lines of purple and magenta. At the end of each tendril was a single red apple – bright and fresh against the darker tones of the wooden wall. Freshly-planted magnolias grew contently in the flowerbeds underneath the windowsills, and the light from the lantern hanging next to the front door flickered occasionally with the wind. Inside the house, a large stallion with a red coat sat at the dining table. A pen rolled around in his mouth, back and forth, swaying like the thoughts in his mind as he studied a stack of papers sitting in front of him. The logs in the fireplace crackled as the flames burned fiercely. He appreciated the precious warmth on this cold winter’s night, as did the rest of his family. Even though it had been a spectacularly sunny day, the nasty chill of winter wasted no time in slithering its way into the lower atmosphere after the sun had decided to retire. The stallion’s ears perked up at the sound of hoofsteps behind him. He didn’t have to turn around to recognize those soft, light beats against the hardwood floor – a sound that he had grown quite accustomed to from his years of living on the farm. “Ain’t you supposed to be in bed, Applebloom?” he asked. “I ain’t goin’ to bed ’til Applejack reads me a story!” Applebloom pouted. “Where the hay is she, anyway?” “Don’t you go usin’ that language now, you hear?” Big Mac scolded, turning around and looking straight into Applebloom's eyes. “And keep your voice down; you don’t wanna wake up Granny now, do you?” Applebloom shrugged and walked towards her brother. “But hay ain't a bad word. Everypony says hay…. Everypony eats hay!” she retorted. “It ain’t the word, it’s the way you’re usin’ it,” Big Mac said, maintaining his stern look. The filly countered by tilting her head and staring blankly – a stare that he knew all too well – which meant that there was no point in continuing this discussion. He let out a soft sigh of defeat before turning his attention back towards the documents on the table. Applebloom snuggled up close, her mane rubbing against her brother’s hind legs. “Hey, Big Mac, can I stay down here with you ’til Applejack gets back?” She looked towards the fireplace as the logs made another slight crackle. “It’s dark in my room, and it’s warmer down here.” “Well, ain’t no sense in sayin’ no now, is there?” Big Mac said with a smile. “But you gotta be quiet, alright? I got some work that needs doin’.” Applebloom nodded and slowly made her way around to the other side of the table, stopping near the fireplace and lying down on her belly. She felt a calm wash over her as she followed the flames with captivated eyes. The way it moved, flickering and disappearing, then suddenly reigniting in an endless cycle – it was almost hypnotic. Her short attention span soon got the best of her however, and she found herself quickly losing interest. Standing up on her hind legs, she threw her forelegs over the table and looked around. “What’cha doin’?” Big Mac sighed again, but reasoned that it would be futile to try and keep his sister silent. It would probably only make her mad, and he knew Applebloom was never quiet when she was mad. “I’m lookin' at our financials,” he answered casually. “Financials.… That’s like money, right?” “Eeyup.” “Do we have a lot of financials?” Big Mac cringed a little. “That ain’t how you use the word. You wanna say somethin’ like… how’s our financial situation?” “So?” “So, what?” “So... how’s our financial situation?” Big Mac could see it coming – this was shaping up to be one of those conversations that wasn’t about to end anytime soon. But as he tried to come up with ideas on how to escape this possibly never-ending exchange, the front door swung open with a light creak. “Applejack! You’re back!” Applebloom exclaimed, tackling her sister with the biggest hug she could manage. Her interest in finance had disappeared like a puff of smoke – much to Big Mac’s relief. “Shh, you’re gonna wake Granny!” Applejack hissed as she returned the hug. “And why ain’t you in bed, missy?” “She wants you to read her a story,” Big Mac said with a grin. Applejack took off her hat and tossed it at a worn, rusty nail embedded in the wall. “So, why couldn’t you read her a story?” she asked, walking towards the fireplace and rubbing her forehooves in front of the flames. “Sure is awful chilly tonight.” “Big Mac’s voice is too… stallionly for fairytales!” Applebloom interrupted. Applejack had to quickly put a hoof over her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud. Across from her, Big Mac’s grin had vanished and was replaced by a look of indignation. “I think you have a point there, Applebloom.” Applejack snickered, still trying to contain her laughter. Big Mac glared at her before muttering something inaudible under his breath. “Alright, let me talk to your brother for a spell. Go up to your room and I’ll be there lickety-split,” Applejack said while playfully mussing Applebloom’s mane, who let out a giggle and trotted happily up the stairs, leaving the two elder siblings in the dining room. Big Mac looked towards the clock on the wall. Its ticking hands and the stallion’s expression made Applejack realize that she had perhaps come in a little late. “You know how it is. Time flies when you’re drinkin'. And I thought we agreed tonight’s my night off,” the mare said quickly before taking a glance at the pieces of paper that lay in front of her brother. As her eyes trailed across the table, a colorful brochure caught her attention. Printed across the top in large, bold lettering was a line that read simply ‘The City of Gems’. And splayed across the cover was a picture of two ponies walking down a street, the surrounding buildings lit up by countless lanterns and neon signs. Applejack furrowed her brow. “Why are you lookin’ at that stupid offer? You’re not still thinkin’ about sellin’, are you?" “If you hadn’t noticed, we ain’t exactly doin’ too well,” Big Mac said, looking up. “And did you even look through this offer? It’s generous, AJ. They even offered us an apartment in Equinetropolis,” he explained while rummaging through the pile of papers. But instead of bothering to look at what the her brother had to offer, Applejack sent the documents flying across the table with a sweep of her hoof. “Don’t matter how good of an offer they made! This farm here’s been in our family since Granny Smith was a little filly, and I’ll be damned if we ever give it up – especially to them pretentious Equinetropolis ponies!” She said the last part with a slight tone of hostility. “Besides, what are we goin’ to do up there, brother? Buckin’ apples is all we know.” Big Mac paused for a moment, staring idly into space before drawing out a long sigh. “I guess you’re right. Even with all them luxuries I’m not sure if I could ever get used to livin' in a big city like that.” He started sorting the various documents on the table. “I’m gonna get some sleep. You should do the same after readin’ Applebloom her story. We got a lotta work to do tomorrow.” Applejack pointed towards the fireplace. “You’ll take care of that, then?” “Eeyup.” “Alright. G’night, Mac.” “G’night, AJ.” As Applejack made her way to the top of the stairs, she thought about the conversation she just had with her brother. It just didn’t sit right with her. What the hay has gotten into him? There ain’t no way we’re leavin’ this place. He knows that. Something about his behavior was bugging her, like a splinter caught in her hoof from bucking too many trees. She knew Big Mac enjoyed working the farm; she also knew that he was the kind of pony that was content with the simple pleasures in life.... What could possibly make him even think about leaving? Perhaps it had something to do with that unicorn who came over a week ago: the one that looked far too pretty to be running around prospecting land and delivering contracts. No, Big Mac would never succumb to such impulses, especially when it came to decisions that affected the family. Perhaps he just needed a break, a change of scenery to cheer him up. Maybe I should let him go on a little holiday. He did seem rather taken with Equinetropolis. Applejack decided that was exactly what she would tell her brother tomorrow: that she would take over the duties on the farm for a while so he could take some time off. He deserved it anyway; he was usually the one picking up the slack when she needed to blow off some steam. She slowly trod down the hallway after reaching the top of the stairs. It was almost completely pitch black, and not a thing could be heard except for the sound of her hooves meeting the floorboards below. She moved past the first set of doors – Big Mac’s room on the left and her own on the right – and gently pushed open the door to her little sister’s room. Applebloom’s room was much like the exterior of the house: plain, yet homely. There was a homemade chair with a pink pillow sitting next to the table in the far corner. And the dim light pulsing from the lantern on the nightstand illuminated the room, causing the shadows to constantly shift, dancing hand-in-hand with its counterpart. There wasn’t much else in the room except for a few tattered books and worn-out toys scattered across the floor. “Finally, sis! I was about to go get you!” Applebloom said impatiently. “I’m sorry, sugarcube. Had to talk to your brother ’bout somethin’. So, what story do you wanna hear tonight?” Applejack asked, looking down in search of a storybook among the clutter. “I borrowed this from Twist. She said it’s a good story. It has pictures too!” Applebloom said, holding up a book in her hooves. “Where’d your friend get this dusty old thing from?” Applejack asked, noticing the antiquated suede used for the cover of the book. “I dunno,” Applebloom said, scooting over on her bed to make room for her sister. “I didn’t ask.” Applejack sat down next to the filly, who handed the book over and replaced it with the plush pony that was next to her pillow. The toy was shabby and timeworn: its once-radiant red coat was now more of a murky brown. One of the buttons serving as its eye had detached itself from the socket and dangled loosely on the end of a string. This doll had been Applejack’s when she was a filly, and although most would have thrown it out long ago, it was still one of Applebloom’s most treasured possessions. Applejack gave her sister a loving smile before reading the title of the book. ‘The Alicorn Princesses’ Based on the Ancient Tales of Starswirl the Bearded The picture on the first page immediately caught her eye. It was a beautiful illustration of two mares, with intricately-drawn labels identifying the duo as ‘Celestia’ and ‘Luna’. At the bottom of the page was a description that read ‘Sovereign Monarchs of Equestria’. Applebloom sat up so she could get a better look. “They’re pretty.... Hey, they both have a horn and wings!” “That’s what they call an alicorn,” Applejack explained. She had heard of these mythical creatures before, but this was the first time she had actually seen a depiction of one. “Wow! Are they real?” Applebloom asked, eyes lighting up with delight at the possibility. “’Course not!” Applejack scoffed, rolling her eyes. Based on what little she could remember from history class in school, there hadn’t been a monarchy in Equestria for over five hundred years. And unicorn-pegasus hybrids certainly didn’t exist. Those were the stuff of fairytales, dreamed up by quirky artists and over-imaginative authors. Applebloom sighed, slightly disappointed, but then she remembered the reason her sister was here. “Start readin' already!” she said eagerly, slumping back into a lying position. Applejack chuckled. “Alrighty then.” Once upon a time, two goddesses known as the alicorn princesses ruled over Equestria. They were very powerful ponies, each possessing both a horn and wings. Princess Celestia, the elder of the two, was the guardian of light. Her sister, Princess Luna, was the warden of darkness. Celestia and Luna ruled with love and ardor, and everypony lived in prosperity and harmony. Applejack flipped over the page and found herself again entranced with the drawing before her – this time with a lot more intrigue. It was of a malicious looking creature like nothing she had ever seen. The label read ‘Discord’, with the description ‘Lord of Chaos’. The depiction of this beast made Applejack raise a brow. What in tarnation is this... thing supposed to be? She squinted as she further studied the creature’s strange form. The first thing that she focused on was the gnarly, oversized fang that stuck out of his mouth like the remains of a skeleton poking out of the ground. She then looked up towards the asymmetric horns on top of his pony-like head. Is that... a deer antler? And a goat horn? Applebloom – noticing her sister’s pause and expression – sat up again to look the drawing. “Whoa... what is that thing?” she asked, but received no reply. Applejack was far too distracted by her attempt to process this monstrous beast. Discord’s limbs were also a complete mess, and only added to the mare’s confusion. Each one was vastly different from the others, making him look even more bizarre. She saw a typical equine hoof and a grotesque reptilian looking claw, among other things. They were joined to a long, snake-like body, all of which combined to form a truly strange and exotic creature. Applebloom was so mesmerized that she instinctively reached up to touch the page – as if hoping she could feel it for herself. Her hoof appearing on the page snapped Applejack out of her trance. She cleared her throat and looked towards her sister. “Let’s keep goin’, sugarcube.” Applebloom gave her a nod, and the mare started reading again. But there was an ancient creature called Discord, a draconequus who reveled in chaos and disharmony. He despised the princesses for teaching ponies to love and tolerate, for it was hate and anger that fueled chaos. Frustrated, Discord came up with a plan. He would turn the ponies against each other. He knew the best way to destroy somepony was to corrupt the ones they loved. Greed was Discord’s greatest weapon. He plagued the ponies’ minds with cravings of power, money, and status. Equestria quickly fell into pandemonium. Applejack flipped to the last two pages and angled the book so that her sister could see without sitting up. This time the picture consisted of all three of the introduced characters. The two alicorns were crouching down, eyes closed tightly in concentration, their horns firing what she assumed were magical spells at Discord. Discord’s expression was one of disbelief and horror. It was clear from the changing tones of color that the spell was transforming him somehow. After a few seconds, Applejack continued reading. The princesses tried their best to reason with the ponies, but the seeds of greed sown by Discord had grown into insatiable avarice. It seemed that the lord of chaos was victorious. But one thing Discord did not understand was the unconditional love the sisters had for their subjects, and the sacrifices they were willing to make for them. Celestia and Luna combined their magical powers and cast an immensely powerful petrification spell on Discord – one that would last eternal. However, the spell was not without its consequences. The goddesses had given up their immortality in order to save Equestria from total anarchy. With Discord defeated, Celestia and Luna lived the remainder of their lives continuing to teach ponies about love and friendship. And the importance of kindness, loyalty, honesty, laughter, generosity and magic. “The end.” Applejack closed the book and turned towards her sister, who was now snuggled tight in her blanket, still clutching the plush toy to her chest. “That was such a cool story!” Applebloom exclaimed. “Celestia and Luna are awesome!” “Heh, yeah,” Applejack replied, nodding in agreement – even she had been immersed in the fairytale. “That was quite somethin', alright.” “Now, time to go to sleep.” She leaned in and kissed Applebloom on the forehead before walking towards the door. “G’night, sis.” “G’night, sugarcube,” Applejack said with a smile before exiting the room. She made sure not to close the door all the way and left a small gap – just how Applebloom liked it. Some ponies and their imagination… Applejack thought to herself as she entered her own room. She had heard a fair number of fairytales in her years. The cliched plot of a damsel in distress, waiting to be saved by a hero before living together happily ever after... she never did like those stories. But this ‘Alicorn Princesses’ book was something new, it was the kind of story she could enjoy. Maybe I should check out some more books from the author.... Starswirl, was it? She flopped onto her bed ungracefully with a quiet thump and yawned; the weariness had snuck up on her. She pulled the covers over her body and shifted herself into a comfortable position. With another yawn, she closed her eyes and quickly fell into a deep slumber. Through the window of her room – beyond the stacks of hay, and over the picket fence – three pegasi descended from the night sky, stopping just above the front gate. The dust stirred beneath them, and the flimsy wooden sign creaked slightly as the shadowy figures gathered around it. “This the place? Sweet Apple Acres?” “Yep. This is it.” “Ugh. I hate these backwater towns.” “Let’s get to work then. The quicker we do this, the quicker we can get out of here.” -END OF PROLOGUE-
Chapter 1: HeroElements Chapter 1: Hero By herpyderpy In the pitch black of night, six wings beat against the still wind, marking the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres as their final destination. The light from a nearby lantern reflected off large flight goggles and shiny sky-blue latex suits as the trio touched down near the farmhouse. Two of the three were stallions, one of whom had a small pair of saddlebags strapped over his suit. Anypony who didn’t dwell under a rock would instantly recognize that the uniform belonged to none other than the elite pegasus performance squad: The Wonderbolts. "Hey, look. There are haystacks over here." The female of the ensemble pointed towards the neat stacks on the side of the road. "Looks quite dry." "Yeah, so?" The stallion carrying the saddlebags nudged one of the stacks with a hoof. "You want to bring some home for supper?" "Wait, what? No! We can use it to speed up the process," the mare said. With a unrestrained viciousness, the ropes that bound the hay into nice rectangular cubes fell apart as she tore at the bindings with her teeth. "Rapidfire, help me spread this hay around the orchard. Soarin', you're on lookout duty." The other stallion gave her a nod and took to the air, hovering a few meters above ground as he scanned the surrounding area. The stallion with the saddlebags, Rapidfire, gave the mare a confused look. "Why do you want to throw away this perfectly good hay, Fleetfoot?" He took a bite out of the unbound stack. "Hey, it's pretty good!" Soarin' started shaking his head slowly while Fleetfoot put both her forehooves over her face. "Do I have to spell it out for you?" Fleetfoot asked with a tone of exasperation. "You do know why we’re here, right?" "Um... to burn down this orchard?" Rapidfire answered while chewing a mouthful of hay. "Yes...?" Fleetfoot gestured at one of the stacks. Rapidfire stared at the hay and stopped his chewing for a moment; then the realization hit him like an epiphany from the heavens. "Oh!" “And he’s back.” Soarin' chuckled, looking back at the pair with amusement. Fleetfoot groaned with disdain. "Now, stop eating and come help me. Hurry up. I hate these backwater towns." "You said that already." Soarin' pointed out. "Just... shut up and keep your eyes open, smart ass," Fleetfoot barked before flying off with as much hay as she could carry. Soarin' laughed and turned towards the town of Ponyville. Even though he had passed by more times than he could count, the stallion had never actually landed in this agricultural hub between Equinetropolis and Canterlot. He took in a deep breath. I wish the air at home was this fresh.... The farm was as silent as the dead, not a sound could be heard except for the rustling of hay when his fellow Wonderbolts came back to collect more from the pile. Feeling bored, he looked up to admire the night sky. It was beautiful – there was not a single cloud obstructing the stars and the crescent moon watching over Equestria with its soft, gentle glow. His mind started to wander as he marveled at the spectacle. I’ve never seen stars like this in Equinetropolis. Hay, you'd be lucky to even see the moon through all that pollution. A little sadness started to creep in. He didn't need to be a genius to figure out why GemTech wanted this orchard burned down. They are going to ruin this little town. The reactor is going to fill this place with smog and haze.... Ponyville will end up just like Equinetropolis, Canterlot and all those other big cities. There must be a fortune’s worth of gemstones down there too; it’s a shame these country ponies have no idea how valuable their land is. He turned to the field of apple trees on his right. Farmland is abundant with life. It's one of the best places for gems to form. A gemstone expert at the company had told him that over lunch one day. Wait... what's that smell? Soarin' turned around, his eyes trailing across the orchard to see fire, but not where he had expected. The farmhouse was ablaze: the flames surrounded the entire building like a pack of hungry wolves, eager for their long overdue meal. Rapidfire – floating above – loosened his saddlebags and let it slide onto the burning building below. "What the buck are you doing?" Fleetfoot yelled, making no attempt to keep her voice down. Rapidfire slowly hovered towards the angry mare. "Doing our job... right?” Fleetfoot grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him violently. "You idiot! We were supposed to light the fire at the orchards, not to mention wake the ponies inside!" "Um, but that wasn’t what big sis said... she told me to get rid of the family," Rapidfire replied, scratching his head. Fleetfoot stopped her shaking and looked at him dumbfounded. "What...? Why the hay didn't she tell us?" Rapidfire pushed her hooves out of the way. "I dunno! She said something about a ‘Mr. Bleeding Heart’ or something, I have no idea what she was talking about! Now c'mon, let's go!" he said before taking off in the direction of Equinetropolis. Throughout that conversation, Soarin' just floated, mouth slightly agape as he looked on with horror. It wasn't until Fleetfoot put a hoof on his shoulder that he snapped back to reality. "Soarin'... we gotta go!" Soarin’ stared into her eyes for a few seconds before finally managing a nod. His partner reassured him with a gentle pat on the shoulder before the two of them rushed to catch up with Rapidfire. Soarin' would not be the last to admit that he had – under extreme circumstances – been forced to commit the sin of killing in the past, but he had never done anything like this before. Killing innocent ponies for no good reason was a line that even he was not willing to cross. What the buck did we just do? This is cold-blooded murder! He suddenly looped and sped back towards the farm. "Soarin'!" Fleetfoot shouted, but she was too late. Her colleague was already too far to hear her. You emotional sap.... She stopped for a second and watched him disappear from her sights. You were never cut out for this job. By the time Soarin' had made his way back, the orchard was already in a sea of flames. The fire had spread quickly thanks to the conveniently placed accelerant, and thick smoke was now rising above the roof of the house. He tried to think, but his mind just drew a blank. The thumping in his chest and the sweat slowly dripping down his snout were the only things that commanded his attention. He would have continued to hover there and stare blankly at the scene if it wasn’t for the voice that called out sharply behind him. “Hey! You, up there!" The Wonderbolt turned to see a yellow earth pony mare with a curly orange mane looking at him from below. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off before he could begin. "Pl... please, you have to save them!" she pleaded. Soarin’ looked around frantically, his mind refusing to cooperate. “I... uh... how do I get in?” “The windows!” What the buck am I doing? Why didn't I think of that? Soarin' crashed through the first window he saw, a few pieces of broken glass cut through the suit and into his flesh. He winced at the sharp pain in his foreleg, but that was the least of his concerns right now. The goggles were coming in handy: he would have had trouble keeping his eyes open in the smoke without them. A cursory scan of his surroundings told him that the interior of the room wasn't on fire yet, but he could see the flames just outside the door, eager to make their way in. He rushed towards the bed to see an orange mare passed out under the covers. The training from his days at the academy kicked in: one of the first things he had learned was the proper way to carry an unconscious pony. He pulled her by the tail until she was half-way off the bed before crouching down under her stomach. With the mare now slumped over his back, he spread his wings and took flight, carefully kicking a couple of shards of glass out of the way before exiting through the window he had entered from. He made his way back to the mare outside, who was pacing back and forth on the dirt road, far away from the raging flames. He landed next to her and gently rolled the unconscious pony onto the ground. "Oh, thank you so much!” she said, seeing to the rescued pony. “How many more are inside?” “Three! They should all be on the second floor.” Soarin’ nodded. “You stay here and make sure they’re OK. I’ll bring them to you,” he said quickly before flying to the next window and kicking through the glass. The smoke instantly filled his lungs, causing him to cough and instinctively cover his face with a leg. The flickering lights all around him were now impeding his vision as much as the black smoke that constantly billowed through the door leading to the hallway. He saw a bed to his left and quickly trotted over, but fell hard onto the floor as he tripped over something soft that squeaked as he stepped on it. He didn’t know what it was, nor did he care as he scrambled back onto his hooves, his gaze meeting with the occupant of the bed as he did so. The sight paralyzed him. He stood there staring as images started flashing before him. The way his niece slept every night, curled up in a ball and clutching her mother’s plush pony to her chest. And that peaceful smile plastered over her face: a smile that reminded him of why he did what he did, a smile that gave his life a whole new meaning, a smile that allowed him to sleep at night... it was his everything. A sudden loud crash broke his reverie. All his senses came back at once. The acrid smell of smoke, the intense heat, and the roaring of the flames all reminded him that this was no time to be standing around. He blinked a few times as his vision cleared, the memories fading to reveal what was really a yellow filly sleeping in a way that was disturbingly similar to how his niece did. He picked her up with his forelegs, causing the doll in her hooves to fall to the floor. The movement of the doll caught the corner of his eye as he turned to leave, making him stop for just a second. Something in the back of his mind kicked him into an action that made little sense to him at that moment, and before he knew what was happening, he was already flying back to the awaiting pony outside – with the filly in his forelegs and the ragged doll in his teeth. Soarin’ dropped the doll and handed the filly over before immediately twisting in mid-air, sweeping to the other side of the house and peering through a window before making his way in. The door to the hallway was completely engulfed, and the flames were quickly spreading to the rest of the room. The heat was really starting to take its toll on the Wonderbolt, and his suit made it just that much worse, chafing against his skin uncomfortably. He took off his goggles – the sweat building up inside had finally made them more of a hindrance than aid. But as he did so, a few drops of blood fell from the cut on his leg, hitting him in the cheek. He reached up again to wipe it away out of instinct, but instead, smeared it across his face where it mixed with his sweat to further blur his vision. He could barely see past his own hooves as he started to move slowly, with his head held low in a futile attempt to avoid the fumes. He found his way to a bed after stumbling around for a while; on top of it was the figure of a sprawled out stallion. He started tugging at his tail – slowly pulling him off the bed and struggling to get him onto his back – when a loud snapping sound made him flinch. He recomposed himself quickly, kneeling down and getting into position to take flight when another snap echoed across the room, followed by the shaking of the floor. He spread his wings as a third snap – much louder than the two before – sent a large chunk of the floorboards beneath him crashing down along with the bed. He desperately pumped his wings as hard as he could, barely managing to keep himself and the pony on his back airborne. Between the suffocating smoke and the considerable weight of the stallion, he knew that he couldn’t keep flight much longer. With the last ounce of his energy, he made a break for the window, scraping past the broken glass before collapsing. The forward momentum sent the two stallions just clear of the flames surrounding the building as they landed on the grass with a thud. “Oh... no no no! Oh my goodness... are... are you OK?” the yellow mare exclaimed, galloping towards them. “You... you’re bleeding!” Soarin' coughed uncontrollably as he rolled over. He sat there for a while, wheezing and gasping for air before finally finding his voice. “I... I’m fine.... Don’t worry about me.” "You're very brave... they all would have died if it wasn't for you," she said softly, putting her ear on the red stallion's chest. "He's breathing. So are the girls." Another loud crash came from inside the house, reminding Soarin' that his job wasn't complete. “You... you have to get him away from the fire. Get him to the road,” he said, standing up slowly. He inhaled deeply as he took to the air, making his way back towards the burning building. "Please be careful!" the mare shouted, watching Soarin’ for a while longer before biting down on the unconscious stallion's tail. She pulled with all her might, and started slowly dragging him towards his siblings. Soarin’ hovered in front of the building. He had found the window to the final room, but he was exhausted. His lungs still burned from all the smoke he had inhaled, and every beat of his wings was slowly sapping him of what little energy he had left. C’mon, Soarin’... you can’t give up now! He closed his eyes and busted headfirst through the glass. A single sensation overwhelmed all others as he entered. All he could feel was the scorching flames all around him, ready to consume everything in its path. He floated backwards, back out through the window before opening his eyes again. There was no way he could stay in there any longer than he could hold his breath. He watched the surging mass of smoke pouring out for a moment as he steadied himself and took a deep, long breath before re-entering the building. Much to his relief, the bed was almost right next to the window. He pulled the pony lying there onto his back with little difficulty; but as he turned to leave, the familiar snapping sound came once again – this time from above. His head jerked automatically, snapping up like the sound that had called him. He tried his best and squinted hard, but his eyes just couldn’t open wide enough to to break through the burning smog that impeded all vision for more than a meter in front of his snout. Just as he was about to lower his head, a bright glow – like the lights of an approaching train – blew through the fog as a smoldering beam came crashing down right on top of him. Most ponies would have met their demise right there and then, but Soarin’s quick reflexes and his years of training allowed him to narrowly escape by mere inches as he darted backwards. The beam smashed straight through the floorboards, leaving a pit which belched forth even more smoke and fire. He panicked – there wasn’t much time before the whole roof would come crashing down. And just as he was thinking about the dire situation he was in, a deafening crack came from above, realizing his worst fear. His instincts took over as he took flight, rushing in the general direction of where he remembered the window to be. He continued flying blind as the cracking and snapping all merged into a single thunderous blast. Suddenly, he started to feel a light breeze under his wings. He opened his eyes and looked back. The roof of the building had collapsed, but he was already a few meters clear of the burning rubble. A smile appeared across Soarin’s face as he started to chuckle softly, a chuckle that soon grew into an almost maniacal laugh. He continued to float there with the pony still on his back, the relief of narrowly escaping death overwhelming all other thoughts and emotions. The laughter eventually turned into snorts and hacks as Soarin’ finally lost his breath. He allowed himself to get some much needed air before flying back towards the road, where the yellow mare was hopping around, shouting something he couldn’t quite make out. He lowered the elderly pony to the ground before breaking down, the rush of adrenaline now replaced by fatigue and pain as he fell on his back. His wings ached terribly, and the sting on his foreleg made him look up to assess the damage. He couldn’t quite make out how deep the cuts were through his suit, but it looked like it wasn’t bleeding too badly – at least not anymore. From out of nowhere, a yellow blur appeared, diving straight at him with a hug. “You did it! That was amazing! You’re a Wonderbolt right? What’s your name?” “I... uh, Soarin’.” “Oh, thank goodness you’re OK, Mr. Soarin’! I... I was starting to think....” She trailed off and stopped for a moment before standing up and composing herself. “I... I’m Carrot Top. Thank you so much for saving them.” A violent fit of coughing interrupted Soarin’ as he was about to reply. He turned to see the orange mare he had saved was now sitting up. "Wha... what the buck?" she shouted, looking around frantically. Carrot Top trotted over. "AJ, you're alright! Your farm... I'm so sorry," she said softly, noticing the dread in Applejack’s eyes. "It... can't be." The Apple family home was now crumbling as the support beams gave out one after another. "No!" Then something snapped at the back of Applejack's mind. "Applebloom! Mac! Granny!" She scrambled to her hooves and started galloping straight towards what remained of her home. Carrot Top quickly jumped on the distraught mare's back. "They're back here, AJ!" Applejack swung around with Carrot Top still on her back, who fell off and landed on her rump. The pair slowly made their way back to the ponies lying on the ground, where Applejack fell on her knees beside them. "Are... are they...?" she asked in a whisper, not daring to finish the question. "They were all breathing last I checked," Carrot Top said, trying her best to assure her neighbor. Applejack felt as if a large weight had been lifted off her chest. “I... thank you kindly, Carrot.” As the two mares had their exchange, Soarin' just sat on the ground and watched. He found himself dazed yet again, his senses dulled by the thoughts and emotions rushing through him – the scene played out like a silent movie in slow motion. It was another hoof on his shoulder that released him from his stupor. "You should be thanking Soarin' here. He was the one that pulled your whole family out," Carrot Top explained, looking back at what now was nothing but a pile of burning rubble. Applejack eyed the stallion for a few seconds before bowing down in front of him. “I... I don’t know what to say.... I’m mighty grateful. Thank you so much, Mr. Soarin’... thank you! My kin and I are forever in your debt.” "I just did what anypony would have done," Soarin' said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Oh, don't be so modest." Carrot Top smiled. "You're a real hero!" Hero? The word made him feel dirty. He had deceived them. Soarin' was no hero and he knew it, and his conscience took full advantage in tormenting him with that fact. He needed to get out of here, away from these ponies, away from this whole place... it was starting to make him sick to his stomach. He stood up with a pump of his wings. "I... I have to go." "Please stay for a while, Mr. Soarin'," Applejack pleaded. "Let me thank you somehow.” "That's very kind of you, but I really have to go," Soarin' said, now hovering just above the ground. "And I hope your family gets better soon." He took off with impressive speed and style before Applejack could formulate a reply, leaving a signature trail of crackling smoke in his wake. “So... he’s one of them Wonderbolts, huh?” Applejack mumbled as Soarin’ started to fade from view in the direction of the countless specks of light in the far off distance, which all combined to form a glowing ball that illuminated the night even more brightly than the moon itself. “Wonder where he’s off to in such a hurry....” “Don’t you know?” Carrot Top stepped up next to her, nodding slightly towards the luminous city as they watched the hero return home. “That’s Equinetropolis.” -END OF CHAPTER 1-
Chapter 2: SacrificesElements Chapter 2: Sacrifices By herpyderpy Equinetropolis. The city that never sleeps. Even at night, gem-powered lanterns resting atop metal poles illuminated the municipality with its artificial lighting. And despite the city center’s reputation for being a run-down, hazardous slum, many thrill-seekers still came from far and wide just to immerse themselves in the food, retail and wide range of entertainment, all found only in this aptly named metropolis. Almost every single shop here had signs hanging from the side of their buildings, each flashing flamboyantly, desperate to attract somepony's attention. Most of them never closed, and for good reason: there were always ponies wandering about at any given time. In fact, after dark was when the streets were busiest, for that was when business was most freely conducted. However, it was now early morning – the quietest time of the day. The lanterns were now off, passing on their duties to the ever-vigilant sun. Most of the neon signs had followed suit, their owners obviously not keen on throwing away their hard-earned bits to GemTech, the monopoly responsible for providing the city with its revolutionary energy and technology. The GemTech headquarters was located a few miles away from the heart of the city. It consisted of a massive dome-shaped reactor attached to a fifty-story office building. A five-meter-high electric fence surrounded the two structures, and guards could be seen patrolling the area at all times, walking in pairs with their highly starched uniforms and gemstone-powered stun rods at the ready. Across from the offices was another large building. It was ten stories high and stretched for several hundred meters down the road. This was the residence of high-level GemTech employees, and never did a pony walk by without a held breath or a whisper of its beauty. The cobblestone path that led up to it from the main road was bordered by two strips of perfectly maintained grass, with rows of assorted flora painting them in a plethora of colors. Large bushes stood tall behind them, trimmed into shapes that brought to life the forms of ponies, dragons, and other mythical creatures, as they engaged in a frozen battle for supremacy of the garden. The entire façade of the building itself was a curtain wall of frosted glass, and its frame was made from some kind of shiny metal alloy that reflected the morning sun, dazzling anypony who passed by. Inside, a mosaic of marble tiles covered the entire lobby floor, forming elegant patterns of white, orange, and dark red that spiraled out from the center in the shape of a shell. Countless miniature lanterns hung from the walls and ceiling, illuminating the long, curving glass counter that sat prominently in the middle of the ground floor. Services offered here were more like what one would expect from a luxury hotel than an apartment complex: fitness and leisure facilities of all kinds were available for its residents. There were even dedicated maids and babysitters for the busy parents who had to handle early morning jobs. In the bedroom of apartment 737, a clock radio stood on an ornate wooden nightstand next to a double bed. It read 5:59am. The door next to the nightstand led to an en suite washroom complete with a shower–bathtub combo, washbasin, and toilet. On the other end of this bedroom was a large sliding glass door, and beyond that a balcony, which held a suntanning chair and a small wooden table. In the corner of the room was a desk carrying a sewing machine and a pair of scissors. A couple of mannequins stood nearby, one of which was wearing a rather elegant-looking dress. There were random pieces of fabric scattered all over the floor, accompanied by an unwound measuring tape that stretched across the whole room. Up in the sky, the sun finally broke past the horizon, spilling light across the city and into the seventh floor apartment as the clock radio hit six. Just a small town foal, livin' in a lonely world. She took the midnight train goin' anywhere. Just a city colt, born and raised in south Detrot. He took the midnight train goin' anywhere. A white hoof reached towards the radio but stopped just as it was about to hit the off button. With a yawn, the hoof’s owner rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Oh... what a lovely song to wake up to. She rolled herself off the bed, dragging most of the covers to the ground as she did so, and walked straight into the washroom. The first thing she did was splash some water over her face, before taking a good, long look at her reflection in the mirror. “Ah, Rarity. You look beautiful today, as always,” she said to herself matter-of-factly. She returned the bedroom and looked towards the clock radio: the time was now 6:03am. The radio continued to play, and she sang along with the music. Don't stop, believin'! Hold on! Streetlights, ponies ohhh! Don't stop, believin'! Hold on to that feelin'! Streetlights, ponies ohhh! The song started to fade as a stallion's voice took over. "That was ‘Journeigh’ with Don't Stop Believin'. What a classic! The time is four past six and it's shaping up to be a fine day. It's a little chilly outside, but it'll start to warm up in a couple of hours. The weather should be sunny throughout the day, with light showers starting in the evening. Expect to see the rai–" The weather stallion's voice ended abruptly as Rarity finally decided to silence the radio. She exited her bedroom through a set of double doors. In front of her was a large, open-spaced area, which served as a combination living room, dining room, and kitchen. The red velvet curtain to her right was thrust open as she tugged on the rope-like cord with her magic, revealing the glass wall that faced the streets below. The morning sun flooded in and blinded her for a second, causing her to squint as she turned around. She slowly trod across the plush carpet covering the entire apartment – dark violet, much like the color of her mane. To her right was the living area, which consisted of a glass coffee table surrounded by several sofas of different shapes and sizes. There was a fireplace lodged into the wall behind them, but not the type that was regularly found in a normal home. It was really just a glass-covered concave inside the wall, and in the concave was something that looked suspiciously like a wooden log, but was actually a carefully-made replica. Illusionary flames would light up around the fake log when the fireplace was switched on, but it was the gemstone energy released from the vents below that provided the heat. Just across the room was the kitchen and the dining area. A large, oval table stood near the center, and beside it was a polished granite kitchen counter – completely spotless – which reflected the sun’s rays onto the cupboards lining the wall. A bowl of assorted fruits and a set of knives sat on top of the counter, and various packs of cereals and snacks could be seen through one of the half-open cupboards above the refrigerator. As Rarity made her way across the room, she almost tripped over something lying on the middle of the floor that turned out to be her sister’s backpack. That filly really needs to be more organized, she thought, forgetting that the messiest part of the apartment was usually her own room. Her eyes trailed up towards the door in front of her, behind which slept the owner of the offending object. She rolled her eyes and picked it up with her teeth before making her way inside. "Sweetie Belle, time to get up!" Rarity said in a singsong voice after dropping the backpack. She started poking at her sister, who was sleeping on a bed in the middle of the room, the stain on her pillow getting ever larger as drool continued to flow from the filly’s open mouth. Sweetie Belle buried her head deeper. "Ugh.... Five more minutes," she grumbled. Rarity stopped her prodding and walked towards the door. "Alright, but you better be up before I come back. Eggs and toast?" "Mmmph,” was the reply. Sweetie Belle was obviously in no mood to make any decisions regarding food at that moment. Rarity made her way back to the kitchen area and hummed to herself as she started making breakfast. And before long, there were two picture-perfect plates of eggs and toast ready on the kitchen countertop. "Breakfast is ready!" she shouted. After a little while, Sweetie Belle emerged from her room, eyes still heavy with sleep, and slowly stumbled towards the dining table. Rarity floated the plates over, gently placing one of them in front of her sister before sitting down with her own plate. As Rarity was about to take a bite into her toast, Sweetie Belle suddenly called out. “Sis?” “Yes, dear?” the mare replied, her toast still floating in front of her. “Can I go to Scootaloo’s place after school?” “And who is going to look after you two?” “Scoots said Mr. Soarin’ will be home.” The floating toast slowly descended and rested itself on top of a poached egg. Rarity didn’t like this Mr. Soarin’. In fact, she didn’t like any of those Wonderbolts at all. While their public persona was that of performing – doing air shows and providing entertainment to wide-eyed fillies and colts, who admired them and considered them heroes – most ponies at GemTech knew the pegasus squad's main purpose was to do the company’s dirty work. Rumors of kidnapping, extortion, and even murder had been whispered throughout the office, but nopony was foolish enough to publicly raise such concerns. Then again, all her sister wanted was to play with her friend. And although Soarin' was an enforcer, he did seem somewhat different from the other Wonderbolts she had come across. Just like herself, Soarin’ was caring for a filly on his own. And he had always been polite and respectful whenever they exchanged pleasantries in passing. Surely he wasn't going to do anything bad to Sweetie Belle, considering she was one of his niece's best friends. "Uh... Rarity?" Sweetie Belle asked after a few seconds, curious as to why her sister hadn't answered her. "Oh, yes. I suppose that would be fine." Rarity nodded. "I will inform Miss Cheerilee that you may leave after normal classes today." "Cool, thanks!" Sweetie Belle beamed before digging into her breakfast with a new-found vigor. Rarity finished first and floated her plate into the kitchen sink. "Please go and get ready after you finish eating. We are leaving in twenty minutes," she said as she trotted into her room. She would have to be quick if she wanted to be ready in twenty minutes. And so she began her usual routine: brushing her purple mane and tail into perfect curls before starting on her makeup. If there were awards given for one's skill in applying makeup, Rarity would no doubt own a great number of them. After she was happy with her reflection in the mirror, she looked again at the clock radio – it was now 6:47am. She levitated a few essential things off her desk and into her saddlebag: her keys, purse, glasses, and gem card. The gem card was one of GemTech's first inventions, its gem-encrusted strip capable of storing an impressive amount of information. There wasn't a pony in Equestria without a gem card nowadays. This card not only served as a form of official identification, it was also connected to the National Equestria Bank's database. Swiping it at any designated machine in Equestria allowed direct access to bank funds, eliminating the need to carry around heavy metal bits. Of course, both GemTech and the NEB charged a service fee, but it sure was convenient, especially when making expensive purchases. Rarity slid on her saddlebag and secured it with her teeth, calling out as she exited the bedroom. "Ready to go?" Sweetie Belle was already standing in front of her room with her little backpack. "I'm ready!" "Oh my stars, darling! Your coiffure!" Rarity exclaimed, quickly levitating a comb and brushing through her sister's curly mane. "It looks like a rat's nest!" "It's not that bad!" Sweetie Belle protested. "A lady must look her best when going out," Rarity said with a lecturing tone, now moving on to the filly's tail. After teasing out all the knots, Rarity finally put the comb down. "There, much better,” she said with a smile, admiring her own work. "Can we go now?" "Certainly!" Once her sister had followed her out into the hallway, Rarity kicked the door shut and locked up her apartment, while Sweetie Belle rushed ahead and planted a hoof on the down button next to the elevator. Ding! "Hey Scoots!" Sweetie Belle hopped in as the doors were still opening up. "Sweetie Belle!" an orange-coated pegasus filly called out excitedly at the sight of her friend. Rarity followed her sister into the elevator, who was now already chatting happily with Scootaloo. The third pony inside greeted her with a nod. "Miss Rarity." "Good morning, Mr. Soarin'.” Soarin' looked absolutely terrible. His navy blue mane and tail were messy and disheveled, and his eyes and ears drooped with tiredness; Rarity guessed that he hadn't got a wink of sleep last night. She also noticed that one of his forelegs was dressed in bandages, but she decided not to pry. Ding! The four ponies exited and started walking through the lobby. As they approached the glass doors, Soarin' quickly stepped forward and held one of them open. The two fillies went through first, followed by Rarity, who flashed a smile of courtesy at the stallion as she passed by. Once outside, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle took the lead, continuing to babble and giggle among themselves. The older ponies lagged a few meters behind, but made sure to stay close enough in case the fillies decided to get themselves into some sort of trouble. Rarity decided to break the ice. "Sweetie Belle tells me that Scootaloo has invited her to play at your place after school today." After a few seconds of silence, Rarity turned to see Soarin’ staring idly into the sky. "Mr. Soarin'?" she asked, eyeing him with curiosity. The stallion blinked a few times in rapid succession before turning his head; it seemed that he had heard her that time. "Yeah?" "I said Sweetie Belle tells me that your niece has invited her to play at your place today," Rarity repeated, a little concerned with Soarin's vapidity. "Are you alright, Mr. Soarin'?" "Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking about something." Soarin' apologized. "Yeah, she told me earlier. I have the day off so I can keep an eye on them, no problem." "It's quite alright." Rarity brushed the mane out of her face with a hoof. "And thank you for offering to look after them, Mr. Soarin'." "Please, just call me Soarin'. Mr. Soarin' just doesn't sound... right.” Rarity smiled and nodded. "Alright then, Soarin'." The pair continued to make small talk on topics such as the weather and their jobs. They shared a laugh when Soarin' asked about one of Rarity’s colleagues, a stallion who had a strange compulsion of needing to sniff things before he ate or drank them. "What do you like to do in your spare time?" Soarin' asked, changing the subject to Rarity herself. "Oh, my greatest passion is creating dresses," Rarity said. "I’ve always loved fashion. I even took a few classes when I was studying at the University." "So, what made you go into the gemstone industry?" Soarin' inquired further. "Gems were always my forte." Rarity looked back at the three diamonds on her flank. "I am especially good at finding them: I can cast a spell that allows me to sense them when they are nearby. I can even identify any gem with just magic." "That's an amazing talent. I didn’t even know that was possible!" Soarin' said enthusiastically. "Well yes, it is a rather unique skill," Rarity said with a grin. "But enough about me; how did you end up being a Wonderbolt?" The stallion paused, his eyes now fixed on the ground below. "It... it's a rather long story. I don’t think you would be interested." Rarity gave him a warm smile. "Try me." Soarin' sighed softly, tilting his head up towards the sky. "I used to be a courier for the Equinetropolis post office, and I'm sure you know they don't exactly make much money. That didn't bother me, though, I enjoyed the work and it was enough to pay the bills.” He stopped and closed his eyes for a second, taking in a deep breath. “But everything changed that night... when I got the letter saying that my sister and her husband had both died in some freak accident.... I’m Scootaloo’s only family now.” "I... I am so sorry," Rarity said softly. "I did not mean to pry." Soarin' turned around and shook his head. "No... it's OK. That was a long time ago.” They looked at each other for a moment before resuming their trot. Soarin' fixed his gaze towards the sky again and continued telling his story. "We were barely getting by with the money I was making. And without savings, I wasn't going to be able to provide Scootaloo with the future she deserves. I've always been a strong flier and I’d had combat training when I served the Royal Guards. So when I heard the Wonderbolts were recruiting, I auditioned, and was accepted not long after. The rest... is history." Soarin' looked back towards Rarity as he finished his tale. "Although there are certain... aspects of the job I do not particularly care for, we all need to make sacrifices for the ones we love. I suspect the reasons that made us choose our professions are not so different." Rarity thought about what he had said. Sweetie Belle had undeniably played a large role in her decision to not pursue fashion and take the secure, high paying job at GemTech. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn’t quite find the words she was looking for, and instead gave Soarin’ a single nod before walking on in silence. The sudden change from idle chit-chat into something this serious had caught Rarity off guard. And she didn’t quite know why, but something about that story made all the suspicion and doubt come rushing back. Is that so, Mr. Wonderbolt? I wonder how many times you have told that little story of yours.... She huffed as her mind went blank for just a moment, but caught sight of Soarin’s innocent, earnest face. He didn’t seem like he was lying, and for some reason, that made her not want to believe him even more. Well, you are sorely mistaken if you think I’m going to believe you that easily! I’m going to need proof! Not jus– “Huh? Is there something on my face?” Soarin’ asked, raising a hoof and rubbing his cheek. “Oh, n...no!” Rarity turned her burning stare away. “It... it’s nothing.... Do forgive me.” After a little while, the four reached their destination. There was a large stone tablet sitting on a patch of grass in front of the building. Hooves and Tails Primary School and Daycare Center Hooves and Tails was one of the most prestigious private schools in the city: it was almost impossible for an average pony to enroll their children there. The only way to get a spot was to be an extremely important pony – or be prepared to donate a substantial amount of money. Luckily for Soarin' and Rarity, the school was funded by Mr. Rich, the founder and C.E.O. of GemTech, and any ponies with connections to him could get their fillies and colts into this fine establishment without so much as an interview. "You got your lunch and books?" Soarin' asked, walking up to his niece. "Yes.... You made me check twice before we left, remember?" Scootaloo answered in an exasperated tone. Soarin' chuckled. "Alright then, you have a good day now." He turned towards Rarity. "I really need to go home and get some sleep. I had a... restless night. I'll come pick up the girls at three. You can come get Sweetie Belle whenever you get home from work. My room is on the tenth floor, room 1013." Rarity nodded in appreciation. "Thanks again, Soarin'." Soarin' returned with a nod of his own and took off into the sky. "Let's go see Miss Cheerilee, shall we?" Rarity said as she trotted behind the two fillies, who were now already making their way into the school building. They walked down the main hallway and past a couple of classrooms. Although it was still early, there were already quite a few students around, busy loading up their lockers with books and lunches. A pair of colts came barreling down the corridor, barely missing Rarity as they disappeared around a corner. Ruffians! she thought. The two fillies took a right and entered one of the rooms, and Rarity followed them inside. A mare sitting at the teacher's desk greeted them as they entered. "Good morning, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo. Oh, Miss Rarity! What a pleasant surprise!" "Good morning, Miss Cheerilee. I just came in to let you know that Mr. Soarin' will be picking up Sweetie Belle after school today." "Of course! Thank you for telling me." "Behave yourself, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity called out. "I do not want to hear anything about you causing trouble for Miss Cheerilee or Mr. Soarin'." "Uh huh," Sweetie Belle murmured, barely acknowledging her sister. She and Scootaloo were already busy chatting with the other ponies in the class. Rarity bid farewell to the teacher and started making her way back. Her thoughts immediately turning towards Soarin’. I... had I been presumptuous? He seemed sincere, and has done a great job of raising Scootaloo. You of all ponies know how hard it is to take care of a filly on your own. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so quick to judge somepony... especially without getting to know them first. And before she knew it, she had reached the front gates of GemTech. "Miss Rarity." One of the guards greeted her and opened the gates. Rarity had been working there for over two years now. Most guards recognized her and let her in without asking to see her card. She made her way to the tall office building. Another set of guards were standing in front the glass doors, greeting her much like the previous guards had. The ground floor of the office building was a lot like the complex she lived in, except on a much larger scale. She trotted through the massive lobby full of ponies and pressed the up button on the wall next to the elevators. One of the doors opened up behind her, and a pegasus rushed past frantically with something in her mouth, causing many ponies to cry out in shock and annoyance as she narrowly missed them. This was a sight that Rarity had gotten used to; pegasi messengers were always speeding around between the office building and the reactor, though she never knew what urgent messages those letters carried. She stepped into the elevator and swiped her gem card on the device embedded on the far side of the elevator before pressing the button that read 45. Any floor above 40 in this building had restricted access. If anypony wanted to go to those levels, they would need a card with high enough clearance. Guards were also stationed outside the elevators at every floor to make sure ponies weren't just using a card belonging to somepony else. Rarity exited the elevator as it slid open on the 45th floor. The guards outside gave her a quick glance and nodded with approval. Before her was a rectangular lab that spanned two floors; a wide staircase just in front of her led down to a massive pit that took up the entirety of the lower floor. Branching out in either direction were the corridors of the upper levels that stretched across the room’s circumference and joined together on the opposite side. A simple metal rail was the only thing keeping ponies from falling off, and one always had a great view of the floor below from anywhere on these upper catwalks. Doors lined the walls up here equidistantly, each leading to individual offices belonging to somepony who worked there, but most of them remained empty as the real work was done one floor down. The work pit had no individual rooms or sections, and was creatively dubbed ‘Lab 44’ by the scientists who worked there. Milling about in their lab coats and safety goggles, they sat at the edge of long metal tables, fiddling with gemstones using various high-tech equipment and curious gadgets. A few of them worked in pairs, attempting to unlock hidden secrets of the gems they were researching, while others found themselves busy just walking around and delivering equipment from one station to another. Rarity took a left and made her way down the catwalk, entering an office at the very end. There was a small plaque on the door. Geological Prospector and Topographer: Rarity Her office wasn't very large, but it wasn't cramped either. Multiple corkboards hung from the walls with maps pinned to them, each marked with lines and crosses. A desk and chair occupied the far side of the room, and behind them was a large window with a stunning view of the city. Rarity unstrapped her saddlebag and placed it on the floor next to her desk. She then slipped on the white lab coat hanging behind the door before putting on her glasses with a levitation spell. It was a rather uneventful day at work – it usually was when she was at the office. Most of the time she would be traveling all over Equestria, using her unique ability to find worthy gemstone deposits for the company to mine. She had found a very promising site about a week ago. It was under an apple orchard owned by a family of farmer ponies. She was quite disappointed when the family rejected the contract GemTech had couriered over, but that was nothing compared to her surprise when the company sent her back home without making a better offer. She detailed in her report that it was one of the richest deposits she had ever found, and that she felt something unique and incredibly powerful underneath that farm. It wasn't like GemTech to pass up lucrative opportunities like that. After what seemed like an eternity, the day had finally come to an end after some map doodling, a few conversations, and a whole lot of sitting around. But just as she slipped off her lab coat, there was a knock on the door followed by an earth pony mare entering her office. She had a blonde mane and a dark brown coat. Rarity recognized her as one of Mr. Rich's secretaries. "Miss Rarity, Mr. Rich would like to see you in his office," she said. "Certainly." Rarity nodded. "Would you happen to know the purpose of this meeting?" The mare shook her head. "No, Mr. Rich just said he wanted a quick word with you before you left," she explained, turning towards the door. "Now, if you would please follow me." She escorted Rarity to the fiftieth floor. After exiting the elevators, they came across a large reception area. There were two sets of sofas and coffee tables on either side that served as the waiting area for ponies who wanted to meet with the high-level employees on this floor. Right now, the area was almost empty. Four guards stood near the elevators, and a single receptionist sat behind the long, marble counter near the back wall, flipping through what looked like a lifestyle magazine. "This way please." The earth pony led Rarity down a large hallway. They passed some offices, a few conference rooms, and a fancy-looking cafe that was now closed. The corridor opened into a circular area, bordered by sofas and small glass tables holding stacks of magazines. An onyx counter in the shape of a semicircle occupied the center, and behind it were several empty chairs. Directly across from the two mares was a massive double door made of polished wood, adorned with large, gold lettering. Mr. Rich C.E.O. "Looks like Mr. Rich is just finishing up a meeting, I'm sure it won't be long," the secretary said, gesturing towards the sofas before sitting down behind the counter. Rarity nodded and sat down. Seeing that there was nothing to do but wait, she retrieved a fashion magazine from the stack and started flicking through the pages. "So, you're saying one of your squad members saved the Apple family?" Mr. Rich was sitting in his chair, leaning forward with his forelegs cupped over the huge oak desk in front of him. A pegasus mare with a golden coat lounged on a sofa across from him. Her wild orange mane had a lighter streak in the middle. "Yeah, my brother said Soarin' went back and pulled them out after the house was already on fire." "And where is the family now?" "My scouts tell me they have been moved to Equinetropolis General Hospital. Apparently one of them has recovered. Want us to finish the job?" The mare smirked. Mr. Rich held a hoof out. "Wait, you said that the family and the ponies in Ponyville don't suspect a thing, right?" "Yeah, those ignorant ponies are calling Soarin' a hero." The pegasus laughed. "Morons." Mr. Rich leaned back and crossed his forelegs. "Leave them be." "And Soarin'?" The mare sat up. "Want me to teach that idiot a lesson?" she asked, now hovering above the ground, pumping her wings eagerly. "In due time, Captain Spitfire. We can work this towards our favor if we play our cards right," Mr. Rich said. "Keep me informed of the situation. And make sure this... Soarin' character doesn't do anything stupid." Spitfire rolled her eyes and floated towards the door. "Whatever you say, boss." Rarity looked over her magazine when she heard the door open. A Wonderbolt she recognized as Spitfire gave her a glance before hovering down the hallway. "Miss Rarity? Mr. Rich will see you now," the secretary called out. "Thank you." Rarity stood up, walking past the counter and into the large corner office. "Ah, Miss Rarity! Thank you for coming up." The business tycoon greeted her as soon as she entered the office. "Please, take a seat." "Of course." Rarity sat down on the edge of one of the sofas. "How can I help you, sir?" "Straight to the point, I like that." Mr. Rich pulled out a folder from the desk in front of him. He scanned through the contents for a few seconds before speaking. "I’ve called you here to discuss your report on the Sweet Apple Acres acquisition." "What would you like to know, sir?" Mr. Rich flipped through the pages. "I see you that you wrote here you found something... unique and incredibly powerful there. Could you elaborate on that?" "Oh, yes. There was something under the farm I had never felt before. It was very powerful... like an extremely concentrated piece of gemstone," Rarity explained, her eyes now gleaming with interest. She had been wondering what it was that she felt under the farm that day, and she suspected that if anypony knew what it was, it would be Mr. Rich. The mogul stood up and walked over to a large safe embedded in the side of the wall. He punched in a long series of numbers and opened it up, pulling something out with his hooves. He presented the item to Rarity. "Was it something like this?" Rarity stared at the gemstone dumbfounded. It was like nothing she had ever seen in all her years of studying and working in the industry. The gem was large and perfectly spherical. The coloring and surface reminded her of a typical ruby, though she had never seen any ruby that large or of that shape. But the most interesting thing about it was that she could see an indistinct shape swirling inside the sphere, leaving behind trails of black that dissipated as quickly as they had formed. "What in the world is that?" She gasped loudly, momentarily forgetting to keep up her professional demeanor. "It's something the scientists are calling a quintessence," Mr. Rich said. "I'm sure you have many questions, but what I need to know now is if this is the same energy you felt at Ponyville." Rarity nodded and composed herself. "Oh, of course!" She closed her eyes and concentrated. The light blue aura of the gem scanning spell pulsed from her body into her horn, then dispersed to the area surrounding her, like a ripple in perfectly still waters. A few seconds later, she opened her eyes. "Yes! It is rather similar in terms of concentration," she said excitedly. "But the type of energy it contains feels... different. This one feels a lot like a ruby while the one at the farm felt more like a zircon." "Ah... interesting," Mr Rich mused, returning the orb back to his safe. "The scientists also guessed there may be different kinds of these quintessences. Thank you, Miss Rarity. I'm sure they will be requiring your services in the near future." Rarity beamed. "Oh, I would love to help. That quintessence is absolutely marvelous!" Mr. Rich looked at the excited unicorn for a while, tapping his hooves in silent contemplation before finally speaking. “Well... Miss Rarity. If you would really like to help, I have a research team dedicated to studying these quintessences, and I believe you would make a great addition. It pays well, and I’m certain you will find the work to be very fascinating.” “Oh, sir... I... I am no-” Mr. Rich held a hoof out to interrupt the stuttering mare. “Don’t answer now. Take a few days to think it over. If you are interested, come back and we will discuss it further.” He reached down and pulled out another folder from his desk. Rarity managed to catch a glimpse of the cover, noting the word ‘Apple’. A sly smile appeared across Mr. Rich’s face. “Now, I do have one more thing I’d like you to do for me.” -END OF CHAPTER 2-
Chapter 3: Secrets and LiesElements Chapter 3: Secrets and Lies By herpyderpy Applejack sat next to a window, staring idly out into the streets of Equinetropolis. She didn’t quite know why, but there was something oddly comforting about the raindrops gently pattering against the glass. It was almost rhythmic, a cadence orchestrated by the heavens themselves, and it was a constant reminder that perhaps she wasn’t alone, that somewhere out there was another pony like her – a pony who understood her pain. Flashes of this disastrous day relentlessly assaulted her mind. She wanted them to stop, but the events continued to play again and again in her head. She couldn’t accept it for the longest time. She wouldn’t accept it. The doctors back at Ponyville had apologized and tried their best to console her. “There was nothing anypony could have done.” “She went peacefully.” “She didn’t suffer.” Applejack had found no comfort in any of those words. And when the reality of losing the only parent figure she had ever had started to sink in, she snapped for the first time in her life. It took four ponies to stop her from completely trashing the small country clinic. One of them had to be treated for a black eye after catching a hoof to the face while trying to restrain the rampaging mare. She apologized after her rage had subsided. But without that anger to occupy her mind, the sadness in her heart only grew stronger. The clinic admitted they were ill-equipped to help her siblings, and had sent for a medical carriage to take them to the nearest hospital. Applejack had always considered crying as a weakness; she couldn’t remember the last time she cried. But that day on the carriage, she let her tears flow free. When they finally reached the hospital in Equinetropolis, her anguish was replaced by a mixture of hope and anxiety as she watched the doctors conduct various tests on her siblings. But to her despair, these doctors weren’t much more useful than the ones at Ponyville. They informed her that Big Mac and Applebloom were in a coma, and that there was nothing they could do. They had also been vague when she asked about the possibility of their recovery. “There is always hope.” It sounded a lot like the horse-apples the Ponyville doctors had tried to feed her. The doctors offered their meaningless condolences before moving on, leaving Applejack with her siblings in a small ward on the third story of the hospital. And there she sat, on a cushioned chair next to the window, looking out as the hours passed by. Her posture and inactivity had made her rump and hind legs completely numb. Her throat was dry and her stomach growled occasionally with hunger, but she didn’t care. Applebloom lay on a hospital bed to her right with a peaceful smile on her face, wrapped in a blanket which rose and fell slowly to her steady breathing. And on the bed next to her was Big Mac, lying under the covers with his mouth slightly open. The sun had now set, and the lanterns were all lit up, guiding the way for ponies down on the cobbled streets of this magnificent city. On any other day than this, perhaps, Applejack could even come to appreciate the sight. There was a certain quality to it, she had to admit. The gentle pulsations of the lanterns... the remnants of their glimmer, passing through each drop of rain in succession, lifting up the scene as parts remained obscured by the streaks of water running down the window. Maybe things ain’t that bad, she thought. Maybe Big Mac deserved his rest, and maybe Applebloom was better off not being around through the hardest part. Maybe by the time they wake up, Applejack herself would be alright again – alright enough to help see them through what was going to be their worst days. Maybe.... No. Who am I tryin’ to fool? The sound of the glass door sliding open broke Applejack’s train of thought and made her turn her head. Great, another one of these useless doctors. A butter-yellow pegasus mare with a long, flowing pink mane entered the room, the stethoscope around her neck bobbing slightly as she walked. She was wearing a white coat with an ID card pinned to her lapel, and on the side of the coat was a large pocket that had the top of a clipboard sticking out. “Um... hello, Miss Applejack. I’m Fluttershy,” she said in a barely audible voice. Applejack replied with a ‘hmph’ and turned her attention back towards the window. Fluttershy stepped up to Big Mac's bed. “I’m just here to do a quick check on Miss Applebloom and Mr. Macintosh.” She studied the beeping apparatus attached to the stallion's ankle for a moment before scribbling something down on her clipboard. “Oh....” Applejack turned around to see what the doctor had discovered, only to find Fluttershy looking straight at her. “You look awful, Miss Applejack.... Have you been here all day?” “I’m fine,” Applejack croaked, her voice low and raspy. But much to her chagrin, her stomach decided it was the perfect time to rumble. Darn it…. Fluttershy looked at her with concern. “You should really ea–” “I said I’m fine! Just do your damn job and get the buck out of here!” Applejack shouted out in frustration. Fluttershy let out a squeak and took a step back. “I... I’m sorry.” She gingerly moved to the side of Applebloom’s bed, hooves trembling slightly as she reached for the clipboard in her coat pocket. Her demeanour and expression made Applejack immediately regret her outburst. The timid pegasus quickly walked towards the exit after taking down the filly’s vitals. “I’m so sorry to have disturbed you, Miss Applejack. I... I will leave you alone now.” “Wait!” Fluttershy stopped in front of the glass door. “I’m sorry....” She apologized again for no apparent reason. “No, I’m sorry,” Applejack said. She had to struggle a bit to stand up: both her hind legs were completely numb. “Look, I’m just so... frustrated is all.” “It... it’s OK. I understand.” Applejack slowly walked up towards Fluttershy, still a bit wobbly in her step. “No it ain’t. All day I’ve been takin’ my anger out on ponies only tryin’ to help me; it ain’t right. Granny taught me better than that.” She choked a little on the last part. Fluttershy slowly turned around, but kept her head low and her eyes to the floor. “You’re right, doc,” Applejack continued, “I could really use some food and somethin’ to drink... not to mention a good stretch,” she said, working off some of the numbness in her legs. “Well, I was about to go get some dinner at the cafeteria downstairs. Would... would you like to join me?” Fluttershy asked, peeking up with her eyes but not moving her head. “I’d love that.” Applejack nodded, but then she remembered something. “Ah, shoot... I ain’t got my bag here with me.” “Oh, don’t worry about that,” Fluttershy said warmly. “Let’s go.” Applejack managed to smile for the first time that day. “Thank you kindly, doc.” The pair made their way to the cafeteria via the elevator. Fluttershy ordered a daisy sandwich and a bottle of water for each of them, and they sat down at one of the many empty tables. Fluttershy watched as the mare in front of her guzzled down a whole bottle of water in a single breath. “Would you like to talk about it, Miss Applejack? I heard it helps sometimes.” Applejack took a few seconds to chew and swallow a mouthful of sandwich before answering. “I... I’m not sure if I’m ready for that yet," she said, looking down at her tray. Fluttershy took a dainty bite into her own sandwich. “I understand. But if you ever change your mind, I’m a good listener.” Applejack closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “Yeah... sure. Thanks, doc.” “I’m... not really a doctor, not yet anyway. I just started interning here a few months ago. So please, just call me Fluttershy.” “Only if you stop callin’ me Miss,” Applejack said, looking up with an awkward sort of smile. “That’s a deal, Applejack.” Fluttershy nodded happily. She could tell Applejack’s smile was forced, but even that was something in itself. She had seen ponies deal with grief in many different ways during her internship, and she was confident that the pony across from her was going to get through it just by the way she carried herself. Judging by the speed Applejack had wolfed down her meal, Fluttershy knew it wasn’t even close to satisfying her hunger. After a few minutes of back and forth, she finally convinced Applejack to take some of her bits under the condition that the earth pony would pay her back. Fluttershy stood up after finishing her sandwich. “I have to go now. Have to check on a few more patients and report to Dr. Stable.” “I’m mighty grateful, Fluttershy. You’ve been so kind to me, and I’m awful sorry for screamin’ at you earlier,” Applejack said, taking a bite into her third sandwich. “Oh, don’t worry about that. Just... promise me you’ll take care of yourself, OK?” Fluttershy returned her tray and looked at Applejack in the eye. “If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones. They’re going to need you to be strong when they wake up.” Applejack nodded in appreciation. “I promise, Fluttershy.” “Good. I’ll see you soon,” Fluttershy said before trotting away. Applejack watched as she disappeared around a corner. First Soarin’, now Fluttershy.... Maybe these big city ponies ain’t all bad. She grabbed another bottle of water and returned to the patient’s room after finishing her meal. The sight of her siblings made her heart twist as her eyes fell on their still figures. The thought that she may never be able to see their smiling faces again tore away at her very soul. She felt alone and afraid, but the words of the kind pegasus reminded her to stay resolute. She let out a sigh and walked into the bathroom. The reflection of herself in the mirror shocked her. Fluttershy was right, she did look awful. Although she didn’t usually make a big fuss about her appearance, she did bother to at least keep herself clean and presentable. But right now, she was neither of those things. She had dirt and grime all over her, clinging to her body and forming patches of brown on her orange coat. Her eyes were bloodshot and her ears drooped with exhaustion. She could only imagine what she looked like before getting some much needed food in her stomach. Applejack stepped into the shower to her left and turned the knob, closing her eyes and letting the sensation of the warm, flowing water wash over her. She exhaled deeply and lifted her head, water trickling down her face as all thoughts purged themselves from her mind for a moment – it was relaxing; it was... painless. But when her eyes opened again, it all came rushing back. As much as she wanted to escape reality for just a little while longer, she knew that there was nothing left to gain in deluding herself. She stepped out after a few minutes and took another look at the mirror. Her mane and tail were still quite messy, but at least she looked clean and was feeling much better. In the patient room, a unicorn mare stood next to the window, fiddling with her curly purple mane. She turned at the sound of the door opening, introducing herself as Applejack exited the bathroom. “Hello, Miss Applejack. My name is Rarity, an–" “Yeah, I remember you,” Applejack said, stepping up towards her. “What are you doin' here?” “I am here on behalf of my boss, Mr. Rich. He heard about the tragic accident at the farm and sends his deepest condolences.” “Yeah... ’course he does,” Applejack muttered to herself. “What are you really here for?” She watched as Rarity levitated a folder out of her saddlebag. “Y’all care ’bout nothin’ but money, don’t you?” “I know you are upset, Miss Applejack, but please, listen to me fo–” “No! You listen to me! I don’t want nothin’ to do with you, your boss, or your damn company. I lost everythin’ I have worked for! I lost my home, I lost my granny, and I don’t even know if my brother and sister are ever gonna wake up,” Applejack yelled, now right in front of Rarity’s face. “You have some nerve comin’ here, tryin’ to buy me out with a lowball offer on a day like this! Y’all heartless, you know that?” Rarity just stood there, calm and composed while Applejack shouted at her. She waited a few more seconds before replying. “You misunderstand, Miss Applejack. Mr. Rich sent me here with the intention of honoring the original contract.” Applejack turned around and moved to the side of her sister’s bed. “I don’t care. Just... just get out!” But instead of leaving, Rarity walked up next to her, treading in gentle, yet firm steps – much like her tone of voice. “I’m terribly sorry for what happened, but I must urge you to reconsider – for your family’s sake.” Applejack snapped her head and stared daggers at Rarity. “My family? What do you know about what’s best for my family?” “I... don’t know much, Miss Applejack. But what I do know is that signing this contract will be in the best interest for both you and your family.” Applejack scoffed. “Yeah? And how do you figure that?” “Well, take a moment to consider what is going to happen when your brother and sister wake up. How are you going to pay the hospital bill? Where are you going to live? And I’m sure the money from your insurance is only going to be a fraction of what the contract is offering. I hate to put you in this position, but you must not let your emotions cloud your judgement, Miss Applejack, especially now.” “I... hmph.” Applejack huffed, looking down at her sister. She tried her best to clear her head and think objectively. As much as she despised the unicorn beside her, she could find no fault in her argument. Rarity and Fluttershy were both right: she had to be strong, and she couldn’t let her emotions get in the way of what was best for her family. She sighed softly. “Pass me that folder, will you?” Rarity nodded and floated over the requested object. “There is one new condition in this contract, Miss Applejack.” “I knew there was some sorta catch....” “Oh, no. It’s nothing like that! I assure you.” “So? What is it then?” “Mr. Rich would just like your permission to let the newspapers write an article on the events that transpired at the farm last night to document Mr. Soarin’s bravery.” “I guess... that’d be fine. Mr. Soarin’... he works for y’all, right?” “Yes, he is an employee of the company.” “Do you know him?” “We are acquainted.” “Can you... tell him I’d like to see him? Never did get to thank him properly when he saved us.” “Of course, Miss Applejack. I’ll pass the message along.” Applejack nodded and turned her attention back towards the folder. She carefully read through the contents a few more times before putting it down. “I... I guess I ain’t got much of a choice,” she said reluctantly. “Got a pen I can borrow?” “Certainly.” Rarity floated a pen over. “Please sign here... here... and here,” she said, pointing at the various pieces of paper. Applejack did as instructed, and Rarity floated the signed contract back into her saddlebag. “Thank you very much, Miss Applejack. The funds will be in your account tomorrow morning. If you would like, I can show you to your new apartment.” Applejack shook her head slowly. “I’m gonna stay here tonight.” Rarity nodded and walked towards the door, sliding it open before turning her head. “For what it’s worth, Miss Applejack, I am sincerely sorry; I can only imagine what you are going through. And I do hope Miss Applebloom and Mr. Macintosh recover soon.” “Yeah... I hope so too,” Applejack mumbled as she sat back down, slumping low in her chair and fixing her gaze back out into the city. Rarity watched Applejack for just a few more seconds before leaving. She had done what was asked of her – persuading ponies was easy: she had a way with words, and had always known how to exploit the emotions of others. But as she exited the hospital and started her trot back home, a strange feeling came over her. She felt... empty. The light drizzle had progressed into a rather heavy shower during her time at the hospital. While that would have usually bothered her to no end, Rarity barely noticed it. Was it shame? Remorse? Guilt? What did she have to be guilty about? It was her job, wasn’t it? She was nothing more than a messenger – a medium of communication. But as much as tried to reassure her conscience through reason and logic, the feeling of emptiness refused to give in. Thoughts started racing through her head, not entirely by her own volition. It seemed the key to understanding her feelings lay somewhere in her memories. It wasn’t until now that she started piecing together the events of the past week. A lot of things made sense to her now, things like why Soarin’ looked so battered in the morning, and what that peculiar energy was under the farm. But more questions presented themselves in light of these revelations. What was Soarin’ doing at Ponyville in the middle of the night? What exactly is a quintessence? And what the hay is Mr. Rich planning to do with it? He certainly seemed very interested with the oversized gem. Rarity suddenly came to a halt, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. She looked straight down at her hooves, the raindrops falling all around her as she finally snapped out of her trance. Why am I thinking about all this? What does any of it have anything to do with.... It must be pity! Pity for that poor mare and her family. She shook her head and continued walking. Faster now, as she pushed her way past the evening crowd. But the voice in the back of her mind nagged on, urging her to go deeper. In addition to the emptiness, she also felt a certain anxiety, like she was missing something important. Her thoughts wandered again, delving further into what she had learned that day. Everything just seemed far too convenient. Sweet Apple Acres burned down not a week after the Apples rejected the first contract, and Soarin’ just happens to be right there as it happened. And that smile Mr. Rich gave her... that guileful, devious smile. It was so... knowing. Could it be him? Was he the one who arranged it? A chill ran down her spine as she came to that conclusion. She didn’t want it to be true, but it was the only logical explanation she could come up with. The pieces of the puzzle came together, forming images of deceit and treachery. And as hard as she tried to rearrange the pieces to form a more favorable outcome, like all puzzles, there is always only one solution. The GemTech apartment complex came into view as she turned a corner. It was no accident. it must have been him! And Soarin’... that deceitful, no good.... Oh! How could I have left Sweetie Belle with a horrendous stallion like that... who knows what kind of danger she could be in right now! He couldn’t have... he wouldn’t... would he? It didn’t even occur to Rarity why Soarin’ might want to harm Sweetie Belle as panic took over, sending her into a full gallop, cutting through the garden and swinging the glass doors open with reckless abandon. She didn’t even notice the weird looks she was getting from the ponies in the lobby as she ran straight towards the elevators and planted a muddy hoof on the up button. She paced back and forth as she waited, but that gave her some time to think. What the hay was she doing? What was she going to do when Soarin’ opens the door? An elevator finally slid open in front of her. She quickly stepped inside and pressed the ten button. Calm down, Rarity... deep breaths. He has no reason to hurt Sweetie Belle, he doesn’t know that you know anything about this. Just... act normal. She exited when the doors opened, but stopped in the hallway to collect her thoughts. Think of it as a play... you’ve always loved plays. She tried her best to steady her nerves and made her way to room 1013. Just play the part of Rarity, the unassuming prospector. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before knocking on the door. A few seconds later, the door swung open, and the familiar face of Soarin’ greeted her with a smile. “Rarity! Oh... what happened to you?” he asked with concern. “Wha... what do you mean?” Soarin’ looked at her with a puzzled expression. “You’re all wet. And....” His gaze trailed down towards Rarity’s hooves. “Oh! It’s raining quite heavily outside, and... I’m sorry. I really should have cleaned up,” Rarity apologized, a little annoyed with herself. She had never once forgotten to fix herself up before. “Oh, no! Don’t worry about that,” Soarin’ said quickly. “Please, come in!” “Thank you, Soarin’,” Rarity said, wiping her hooves on the carpet outside before following Soarin’ into his apartment. His place was pretty much identical to her own except for the furnishings and decorations. The stallion trotted towards the kitchen area. “I was just making dinner. Please, make yourself comfortable. And if you want to clean up, the bathroom is on your left.” “Where are the girls?” Rarity asked, looking around. “Oh.“ Soarin’ turned his head and nodded towards the door opposite of the bathroom. “They’re in Scootaloo’s room.” Rarity poked her head in to find the two fillies sitting on the floor with a pen in their mouths, busy scribbling away on some pieces of paper. “Thank goodness...” she whispered to herself. “Hello, girls.” “Hey, sis.” “Hey, Miss Rarity.” “Can you... come over here for a moment, Sweetie Belle?” She seemed perfectly fine, but Rarity had to make sure. “Uh... sure, sis. What’s up?” Sweetie Belle asked, walking over. Rarity took a moment to think about how to phrase her question. “How was your day? Anything interesting happen?” Sweetie Belle gave her a funny look. “It was... fine? Why are you asking?” “Oh, no reason!” Rarity quickly said with an awkward laugh. “I just wanted to... you know, make sure you are alright.” Sweetie Belle looked at her in silence for a moment. “O... kay? You feeling alright, sis? You look kinda... terrible.” “Oh, yes! I’m fine. It’s just... well, it’s raining, and.... Anyway, what are you two doing?” Rarity asked, changing the subject to the first thing that came to mind. “Homework!” Scootaloo called out. “Yeah... I’m gonna get back to it, OK?” Sweetie Belle said, walking back and sitting down next her friend. Rarity was a little surprised by this, but thought it would be best to leave them alone. “Oh, of course! I’ll leave you to it then.” She turned around and entered the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her. It was a huge relief to know Sweetie Belle was alright. Perhaps she had overreacted. Whatever Soarin’ might be, he was still a caregiver. But while the urgent matter of her sister’s safety was now settled, her thoughts turned once again to the puzzle from earlier as she washed the remaining mud off her hooves. The fire at Sweet Apple Acres was no accident, she knew that, and it stood to reason that Soarin’ was the one who started it. There was, however, a missing piece to the puzzle. Why did he end up saving the Apples? Why would he set a house on fire only to risk his own life to save its inhabitants? It just didn’t make any sense. She looked up at her reflection in the mirror, her mane straight, draping flatly down the side of her face, but there was a certain determination in the expression of the pony staring back at her. It wasn’t pity she was feeling when she left that hospital. It was in fact, as she had suspected, guilt. She knew that now. And when combined with what she had unraveled, there was but one thing to do. She had to find the truth. As Rarity exited the bathroom, she was welcomed by the sweet aroma of pastry and apples. Soarin’, standing next to the oven, turned around and waved her over. “It’s apple pie for dinner tonight. Hope you’re alright with that, if you wanna join us, that is. And don’t worry, I made more than enough.” Rarity knew she couldn’t just dive right into the questioning. She needed to ease into it, start off with some chit-chat, and this was the perfect opportunity. “That sounds lovely.” “Great! Not to brag, but my apple pies are pretty damn good.” Soarin’ grinned proudly. Despite the circumstances, Rarity couldn’t help but chuckle at his cheesy grin, and that was just another reminder to stay cautious. You can’t fool me with your charms, Soarin’. “So, how did you get the girls to do their homework? I didn’t think that was possible when those two are together,” Rarity said. She was actually a little curious to know how Soarin had achieved a feat she was never able to accomplish herself. Soarin’ laughed and turned his attention towards the oven. “You just have to give them a little incentive.” “Incentive?” Rarity asked, taking a seat on one of the stools next to the kitchen counter. “Yeah,” Soarin’ said, peeking through the glass of the oven, “they know it’s something they have to do anyway, so just give them a reason to get it over and done with.” “And that reason would be...?” “In this case? Two bags of candy.” Rarity raised a brow. “Candy? I didn’t think they would fall for that.” Soarin’ laughed again, turning around to face her. “Not if I was the one to suggest it. You see... the trick is to ask them what they want. And trust me, it’s usually something very simple. As long as they think it’s their idea and they’re the ones calling the shots, they’re happy. You have to let them think they’ve ‘won’, so to speak.” Manipulating and bribing children? Rarity remained a courteous smile. “I’ll have to remember that one.” Beep! “Dinner’s ready!” Soarin’ shouted before opening the oven. “Do you mind?” he asked, looking back at Rarity. “I hate putting on these mittens.” “Of course not.” Rarity’s light blue aura surrounded the pie as it slowly floated towards the dining table. Soon, the four ponies were all sitting at the table with a slice of pie in each of their plates. The sisters commented on how delicious the pie was, which made Soarin’ go into great detail on the intricacies of creating the perfect apple pie. Rarity and Sweetie Belle pretended to listen with interest while Scootaloo made every facial expression possible to show her boredom; she had obviously heard her uncle go on about this topic far too many times. The two fillies promptly returned to Scootaloo’s room after dinner to finish off their homework, leaving Rarity and Soarin’ at the dining table. “Would you like another piece?” Soarin’ asked, gesturing at what remained of the pie. “Oh, no. I can’t. I have had too much already,” Rarity said. It was the truth, she was actually feeling a little bloated. “Something to drink then?” Soarin’ offered, as he helped himself to another slice. “Water? Juice? Wine, maybe?” “A cup of water would be great, thank you.” “You got it.” Rarity watched Soarin’ stand up and make his way to the cupboards to fetch her drink. It’s now or never, she thought. They were alone, and she was confident that Soarin’ was feeling quite comfortable from their chat. “So, Mr. Rich told me you were in Ponyville last night,” she said, trying her best to sound casual. “He... he told you that? Why?” Rarity just looked at him for a second. That wasn’t the response she was expecting, and what was even more strange was his demeanour. Soarin’ was floating in mid-air, next to one of the cupboards with a cup in his hooves. His expression was one of shock and confusion... almost fear. And all this just made her even more curious. “Well, he asked me to deliver a contract to the Apple family earlier this evening. He also told me you saved them from a house fire,” Rarity said, locking eyes with Soarin’. “Yeah… that’s right,” Soarin’ said, averting his gaze away downwards. “Both Mr. Rich and Miss Applejack called you are a hero. Miss Applejack even told me she would like to properly thank you sometime.” Rarity studied Soarin’s face intently, hoping to glean some information from his reactions. “Also, Mr. Rich would like you and Miss Applejack to do an interview together for the newspaper.” Soarin’ looked up with bewilderment. “He wants me to what now?” “I suppose Mr. Rich is going to tell you tomorrow. There was an agreement in the contract that Miss Applejack would do an article on what transpired at the farm that night, namely, how you saved the family,” Rarity explained. “I see....” And then came the most important question of all. “What were you doing in Ponyville anyway?” Rarity tilted her head slightly as she waited for the stallion’s response. “I was... uh... I was... delivering a message. An urgent message!” Rarity continued to stare at him for just a second before replying. “Right, of course. So... why did you not share your tale of heroism with me?” “I… I just didn’t want to brag. Nopony likes a braggart, right?” Soarin’ forced a grin. “I guess you are right. Um... Soarin’?” “Yeah?” “Mind if I get that glass of water now?” It seemed Soarin’ hadn’t even realized through all this time, he had been hovering next to the cupboard with that cup still clenched between his front hooves. “Oh... of course. Sorry about that.” He laughed sheepishly, landing next to the jug of water on the kitchen counter. Rarity watched as he poured her her drink. She had more or less confirmed her suspicions, and for some reason, she wasn’t really afraid anymore. What really surprised her though, was how Soarin’ was acting. Prior to the dinner, she had thought of him as a ruthless criminal, a master of deception. But through their little conversation, she could tell the Wonderbolt was neither of those things. She wasn’t looking at a cold blooded murderer; she was looking at a pony filled with regret and fear, a pony haunted by the events of that night. And as Soarin’ passed over he glass of water, there was part of her that wanted to tell him of her suspicions. Her instincts told her that she could trust him, that he was just another pawn being used like she was, but that was a risk she was not willing to take. The consequences of being wrong were far too dire for her to be taking any chances. “Nonetheless, you are still a true hero, Soarin’. You risked your own life to save a family you didn’t even know!” Rarity complemented with a smile. Soarin’, now back in his seat across from her, rubbed the back of his head and chuckled half-heartedly. “Yeah… I guess I am.” The two of them sat there for a while in an awkward silence. Rarity had asked all the questions she wanted to ask, and Soarin’ didn’t seem like he had much to say. But luckily, this was when the two fillies came running out of Scootaloo’s room. “We’re finished!” they said in unison. “Can we have our candy now?” Soarin’ smiled. Rarity could see it was a genuine smile, not the fake smile he had been putting on during the previous conversation. “Sure, girls. A promise is a promise.” He hovered his way to the cupboards again and retrieved two small bags of sweets. “You don’t mind do you, Rarity?” he asked, looking back at her. Rarity shook her head as she stood up. “I suppose she’s earned it. Sweetie Belle, go get your things. It’s getting late, and I think we have bothered Mr. Soarin’ enough for today.” “Awww… alright,” the filly pouted and trotted back into Scootaloo’s room with her bag of confectionery. The sisters thanked Soarin’ for his hospitality and returned to their own apartment. The first thing Rarity did was draw herself up a bath, it was something she desperately needed, both physically and mentally. The rest of the evening was spent at her desk, working on concepts for dresses that eventually ended up in the bin. She wasn’t in the mood, and she knew why. After much protest, she finally managed to put Sweetie Belle to bed around nine thirty before finding herself on a sofa in the living area, musing over what was truly a bizarre day. She had a pretty good grasp of the situation now. There was no doubt in her mind that Mr. Rich was responsible for the supposed accident at Sweet Apple Acres, and it was safe to say that Soarin’ was the one who was sent to do his bidding, but what exactly happened that night still remained a mystery. Soarin’ seemed guilt-ridden and afraid, just like she was, and if that was all just an act to throw her off, then, well... she probably wouldn’t be sitting in her own apartment right now. So she was successful in playing investigator. But what now? What was the point in finding out the truth? Rarity knew exactly what the answers to those questions were. In fact, they were one and the same. And now she was left with the final, and most frightening question. What was she going to do about it? The voice of reason told her that she didn’t need to do anything, that she shouldn’t even have gone snooping. It’s none of your business, Rarity, it said. This is a dangerous game you’re playing. You’ve already satisfied your curiosity, it’s time to quit while you’re ahead. Just pretend like nothing has happened and go on with your life. But there was another voice, a voice that had been getting progressively louder throughout the night. It was kind of annoying, like a parent of a teenager, always nagging at one thing or another. But somewhere deep down, the teen always knows the parent is right, and that the nagging is actually necessary. What happened to that family was wrong – it was injustice, and that’s why you felt the need to uncover the truth. What do you think somepony like Mr. Rich has planned for those quintessences? He was willing to murder a whole family just to speed up the process of acquiring it. You’re in a unique position, Rarity. You can put a stop to this before something even more terrible happens. You can’t be a coward now. Rarity closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. She couldn’t silence either of those voices, they were both right, in some respect. She wanted to do something about it, but she was terrified of what might happen if she did. It would be so easy to just hide behind a mask... just like acting – she loved acting. But that wasn’t really who she was, was it? She felt awful for Applejack and her family... she actually cared. She didn’t want to be one of those heartless monsters like Mr. Rich, she could never live like that. And there it was, she had her answer. It was so simple, really. She just had to be true to herself. Yes, that’s it. Rarity nodded to herself. She was essentially throwing her career away, and was probably putting her own life in danger. But she decided, against all logic and reason, to do the one thing that would quiet her soul. But if she was going to do something, she had to do it quick. It was only going to get worse if things went on unchecked, and she had a feeling she was running out of time. How am I going to do this? Where do I start? I need to find a way to bring my concerns to the authorities without anypony at the company knowing. Mr. Rich has eyes and ears everywhere in this city.... Leaving Equinetropolis was out of the question, she would have to continue to play her role as the prospector. She wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Rich was already keeping tabs on her after revealing the quintessence. Rarity thought hard, she needed a pony she could trust that had no ties with GemTech to help her. She knew a lot of ponies, but didn’t really have many close friends. Everypony she considered was either connected to GemTech somehow or was merely an acquaintance that she barely knew, let alone trust. But then a face suddenly popped into her head. She quickly levitated a pen and paper over and scrawled down the name of the letter’s recipient, but then she stopped. She had no idea how to ask for help like this, what was she even supposed to say? All she knew was that she had to try. Rarity sighed. This is going to be one hay of a week, she thought, as her eyes trailed back up to the top of the page. And there, staring back at her, were just three words. “Dear Twilight Sparkle.” -END OF CHAPTER 3-
Prologue: Lull Before the StormElements Prologue: Lull Before the Storm By herpyderpy A small pebble tumbled past a pair of legs, rolling across a dilapidated rooftop and falling down to the streets below. The legs’ owner, a stallion, stood peering over the edge, his gaze fixed on the crowd of ponies moving through the market – chattering and laughing and eating – all taking in what the dynamic nightlife had to offer. The mare beside him paced in a sort of circle, occasionally stopping to kick yet another pebble off the roof. “Where the hay is he? It’s been like... an hour or something!” she said impatiently. “It’s only been fifteen minutes. And you know what he’s like. Ah... speak of the devil.” “Hey guys, ready to go?” the newcomer said as he touched down next to the duo. “We’ve been waiting for you. Why can you never be on time?” the mare asked, exasperated. “Uh, big sis was going through some stuff with me,” the late arrival said with a shrug. “You know her, always telling me things I already know.” The mare rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well... who can blame her?” “Wha... what’s that supposed to mean?” “You really are a pinhead, aren’t you?” “Hey! Don’t call me that!” “But you are a-” The stallion that had been silent throughout the whole conversation suddenly turned around. “If you two are done bickering, can we please get going? Some of us have a family to return to, you know?” “Yeah, yeah. Alright. C’mon, let’s go,” the mare said as she took off, followed by the sharper of her two companions. “I... I’m not a pinhead,” the lone stallion mumbled to himself before rushing to catch up with his fellow colleagues. Just on the outskirts of Ponyville was a small orchard. A simple dirt road connected the farm to the rustic town, and a small sign stood beside the gates at entrance to the property. Sweet Apple Acres Home of Delicious Apples and Fine Cider Family Owned The farmhouse was old but well maintained. Patterns of vines and leaves danced up the walls, drawing lines of purple and magenta. At the end of each tendril was a single red apple – bright and fresh against the darker tones of the wooden wall. Freshly-planted magnolias grew contently in the flowerbeds underneath the windowsills, and the light from the lantern hanging next to the front door flickered occasionally with the wind. Inside the house, a large stallion with a red coat sat at the dining table. A pen rolled around in his mouth, back and forth, swaying like the thoughts in his mind as he studied a stack of papers sitting in front of him. The logs in the fireplace crackled as the flames burned fiercely. He appreciated the precious warmth on this cold winter’s night, as did the rest of his family. Even though it had been a spectacularly sunny day, the nasty chill of winter wasted no time in slithering its way into the lower atmosphere after the sun had decided to retire. The stallion’s ears perked up at the sound of hoofsteps behind him. He didn’t have to turn around to recognize those soft, light beats against the hardwood floor – a sound that he had grown quite accustomed to from his years of living on the farm. “Ain’t you supposed to be in bed, Applebloom?” he asked. “I ain’t goin’ to bed ’til Applejack reads me a story!” Applebloom pouted. “Where the hay is she, anyway?” “Don’t you go usin’ that language now, you hear?” Big Mac scolded, turning around and looking straight into Applebloom's eyes. “And keep your voice down; you don’t wanna wake up Granny now, do you?” Applebloom shrugged and walked towards her brother. “But hay ain't a bad word. Everypony says hay…. Everypony eats hay!” she retorted. “It ain’t the word, it’s the way you’re usin’ it,” Big Mac said, maintaining his stern look. The filly countered by tilting her head and staring blankly – a stare that he knew all too well – which meant that there was no point in continuing this discussion. He let out a soft sigh of defeat before turning his attention back towards the documents on the table. Applebloom snuggled up close, her mane rubbing against her brother’s hind legs. “Hey, Big Mac, can I stay down here with you ’til Applejack gets back?” She looked towards the fireplace as the logs made another slight crackle. “It’s dark in my room, and it’s warmer down here.” “Well, ain’t no sense in sayin’ no now, is there?” Big Mac said with a smile. “But you gotta be quiet, alright? I got some work that needs doin’.” Applebloom nodded and slowly made her way around to the other side of the table, stopping near the fireplace and lying down on her belly. She felt a calm wash over her as she followed the flames with captivated eyes. The way it moved, flickering and disappearing, then suddenly reigniting in an endless cycle – it was almost hypnotic. Her short attention span soon got the best of her however, and she found herself quickly losing interest. Standing up on her hind legs, she threw her forelegs over the table and looked around. “What’cha doin’?” Big Mac sighed again, but reasoned that it would be futile to try and keep his sister silent. It would probably only make her mad, and he knew Applebloom was never quiet when she was mad. “I’m lookin' at our financials,” he answered casually. “Financials.… That’s like money, right?” “Eeyup.” “Do we have a lot of financials?” Big Mac cringed a little. “That ain’t how you use the word. You wanna say somethin’ like… how’s our financial situation?” “So?” “So, what?” “So... how’s our financial situation?” Big Mac could see it coming – this was shaping up to be one of those conversations that wasn’t about to end anytime soon. But as he tried to come up with ideas on how to escape this possibly never-ending exchange, the front door swung open with a light creak. “Applejack! You’re back!” Applebloom exclaimed, tackling her sister with the biggest hug she could manage. Her interest in finance had disappeared like a puff of smoke – much to Big Mac’s relief. “Shh, you’re gonna wake Granny!” Applejack hissed as she returned the hug. “And why ain’t you in bed, missy?” “She wants you to read her a story,” Big Mac said with a grin. Applejack took off her hat and tossed it at a worn, rusty nail embedded in the wall. “So, why couldn’t you read her a story?” she asked, walking towards the fireplace and rubbing her forehooves in front of the flames. “Sure is awful chilly tonight.” “Big Mac’s voice is too… stallionly for fairytales!” Applebloom interrupted. Applejack had to quickly put a hoof over her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud. Across from her, Big Mac’s grin had vanished and was replaced by a look of indignation. “I think you have a point there, Applebloom.” Applejack snickered, still trying to contain her laughter. Big Mac glared at her before muttering something inaudible under his breath. “Alright, let me talk to your brother for a spell. Go up to your room and I’ll be there lickety-split,” Applejack said while playfully mussing Applebloom’s mane, who let out a giggle and trotted happily up the stairs, leaving the two elder siblings in the dining room. Big Mac looked towards the clock on the wall. Its ticking hands and the stallion’s expression made Applejack realize that she had perhaps come in a little late. “You know how it is. Time flies when you’re drinkin'. And I thought we agreed tonight’s my night off,” the mare said quickly before taking a glance at the pieces of paper that lay in front of her brother. As her eyes trailed across the table, a colorful brochure caught her attention. Printed across the top in large, bold lettering was a line that read simply ‘The City of Gems’. And splayed across the cover was a picture of two ponies walking down a street, the surrounding buildings lit up by countless lanterns and neon signs. Applejack furrowed her brow. “Why are you lookin’ at that stupid offer? You’re not still thinkin’ about sellin’, are you?" “If you hadn’t noticed, we ain’t exactly doin’ too well,” Big Mac said, looking up. “And did you even look through this offer? It’s generous, AJ. They even offered us an apartment in Equinetropolis,” he explained while rummaging through the pile of papers. But instead of bothering to look at what the her brother had to offer, Applejack sent the documents flying across the table with a sweep of her hoof. “Don’t matter how good of an offer they made! This farm here’s been in our family since Granny Smith was a little filly, and I’ll be damned if we ever give it up – especially to them pretentious Equinetropolis ponies!” She said the last part with a slight tone of hostility. “Besides, what are we goin’ to do up there, brother? Buckin’ apples is all we know.” Big Mac paused for a moment, staring idly into space before drawing out a long sigh. “I guess you’re right. Even with all them luxuries I’m not sure if I could ever get used to livin' in a big city like that.” He started sorting the various documents on the table. “I’m gonna get some sleep. You should do the same after readin’ Applebloom her story. We got a lotta work to do tomorrow.” Applejack pointed towards the fireplace. “You’ll take care of that, then?” “Eeyup.” “Alright. G’night, Mac.” “G’night, AJ.” As Applejack made her way to the top of the stairs, she thought about the conversation she just had with her brother. It just didn’t sit right with her. What the hay has gotten into him? There ain’t no way we’re leavin’ this place. He knows that. Something about his behavior was bugging her, like a splinter caught in her hoof from bucking too many trees. She knew Big Mac enjoyed working the farm; she also knew that he was the kind of pony that was content with the simple pleasures in life.... What could possibly make him even think about leaving? Perhaps it had something to do with that unicorn who came over a week ago: the one that looked far too pretty to be running around prospecting land and delivering contracts. No, Big Mac would never succumb to such impulses, especially when it came to decisions that affected the family. Perhaps he just needed a break, a change of scenery to cheer him up. Maybe I should let him go on a little holiday. He did seem rather taken with Equinetropolis. Applejack decided that was exactly what she would tell her brother tomorrow: that she would take over the duties on the farm for a while so he could take some time off. He deserved it anyway; he was usually the one picking up the slack when she needed to blow off some steam. She slowly trod down the hallway after reaching the top of the stairs. It was almost completely pitch black, and not a thing could be heard except for the sound of her hooves meeting the floorboards below. She moved past the first set of doors – Big Mac’s room on the left and her own on the right – and gently pushed open the door to her little sister’s room. Applebloom’s room was much like the exterior of the house: plain, yet homely. There was a homemade chair with a pink pillow sitting next to the table in the far corner. And the dim light pulsing from the lantern on the nightstand illuminated the room, causing the shadows to constantly shift, dancing hand-in-hand with its counterpart. There wasn’t much else in the room except for a few tattered books and worn-out toys scattered across the floor. “Finally, sis! I was about to go get you!” Applebloom said impatiently. “I’m sorry, sugarcube. Had to talk to your brother ’bout somethin’. So, what story do you wanna hear tonight?” Applejack asked, looking down in search of a storybook among the clutter. “I borrowed this from Twist. She said it’s a good story. It has pictures too!” Applebloom said, holding up a book in her hooves. “Where’d your friend get this dusty old thing from?” Applejack asked, noticing the antiquated suede used for the cover of the book. “I dunno,” Applebloom said, scooting over on her bed to make room for her sister. “I didn’t ask.” Applejack sat down next to the filly, who handed the book over and replaced it with the plush pony that was next to her pillow. The toy was shabby and timeworn: its once-radiant red coat was now more of a murky brown. One of the buttons serving as its eye had detached itself from the socket and dangled loosely on the end of a string. This doll had been Applejack’s when she was a filly, and although most would have thrown it out long ago, it was still one of Applebloom’s most treasured possessions. Applejack gave her sister a loving smile before reading the title of the book. ‘The Alicorn Princesses’ Based on the Ancient Tales of Starswirl the Bearded The picture on the first page immediately caught her eye. It was a beautiful illustration of two mares, with intricately-drawn labels identifying the duo as ‘Celestia’ and ‘Luna’. At the bottom of the page was a description that read ‘Sovereign Monarchs of Equestria’. Applebloom sat up so she could get a better look. “They’re pretty.... Hey, they both have a horn and wings!” “That’s what they call an alicorn,” Applejack explained. She had heard of these mythical creatures before, but this was the first time she had actually seen a depiction of one. “Wow! Are they real?” Applebloom asked, eyes lighting up with delight at the possibility. “’Course not!” Applejack scoffed, rolling her eyes. Based on what little she could remember from history class in school, there hadn’t been a monarchy in Equestria for over five hundred years. And unicorn-pegasus hybrids certainly didn’t exist. Those were the stuff of fairytales, dreamed up by quirky artists and over-imaginative authors. Applebloom sighed, slightly disappointed, but then she remembered the reason her sister was here. “Start readin' already!” she said eagerly, slumping back into a lying position. Applejack chuckled. “Alrighty then.” Once upon a time, two goddesses known as the alicorn princesses ruled over Equestria. They were very powerful ponies, each possessing both a horn and wings. Princess Celestia, the elder of the two, was the guardian of light. Her sister, Princess Luna, was the warden of darkness. Celestia and Luna ruled with love and ardor, and everypony lived in prosperity and harmony. Applejack flipped over the page and found herself again entranced with the drawing before her – this time with a lot more intrigue. It was of a malicious looking creature like nothing she had ever seen. The label read ‘Discord’, with the description ‘Lord of Chaos’. The depiction of this beast made Applejack raise a brow. What in tarnation is this... thing supposed to be? She squinted as she further studied the creature’s strange form. The first thing that she focused on was the gnarly, oversized fang that stuck out of his mouth like the remains of a skeleton poking out of the ground. She then looked up towards the asymmetric horns on top of his pony-like head. Is that... a deer antler? And a goat horn? Applebloom – noticing her sister’s pause and expression – sat up again to look the drawing. “Whoa... what is that thing?” she asked, but received no reply. Applejack was far too distracted by her attempt to process this monstrous beast. Discord’s limbs were also a complete mess, and only added to the mare’s confusion. Each one was vastly different from the others, making him look even more bizarre. She saw a typical equine hoof and a grotesque reptilian looking claw, among other things. They were joined to a long, snake-like body, all of which combined to form a truly strange and exotic creature. Applebloom was so mesmerized that she instinctively reached up to touch the page – as if hoping she could feel it for herself. Her hoof appearing on the page snapped Applejack out of her trance. She cleared her throat and looked towards her sister. “Let’s keep goin’, sugarcube.” Applebloom gave her a nod, and the mare started reading again. But there was an ancient creature called Discord, a draconequus who reveled in chaos and disharmony. He despised the princesses for teaching ponies to love and tolerate, for it was hate and anger that fueled chaos. Frustrated, Discord came up with a plan. He would turn the ponies against each other. He knew the best way to destroy somepony was to corrupt the ones they loved. Greed was Discord’s greatest weapon. He plagued the ponies’ minds with cravings of power, money, and status. Equestria quickly fell into pandemonium. Applejack flipped to the last two pages and angled the book so that her sister could see without sitting up. This time the picture consisted of all three of the introduced characters. The two alicorns were crouching down, eyes closed tightly in concentration, their horns firing what she assumed were magical spells at Discord. Discord’s expression was one of disbelief and horror. It was clear from the changing tones of color that the spell was transforming him somehow. After a few seconds, Applejack continued reading. The princesses tried their best to reason with the ponies, but the seeds of greed sown by Discord had grown into insatiable avarice. It seemed that the lord of chaos was victorious. But one thing Discord did not understand was the unconditional love the sisters had for their subjects, and the sacrifices they were willing to make for them. Celestia and Luna combined their magical powers and cast an immensely powerful petrification spell on Discord – one that would last eternal. However, the spell was not without its consequences. The goddesses had given up their immortality in order to save Equestria from total anarchy. With Discord defeated, Celestia and Luna lived the remainder of their lives continuing to teach ponies about love and friendship. And the importance of kindness, loyalty, honesty, laughter, generosity and magic. “The end.” Applejack closed the book and turned towards her sister, who was now snuggled tight in her blanket, still clutching the plush toy to her chest. “That was such a cool story!” Applebloom exclaimed. “Celestia and Luna are awesome!” “Heh, yeah,” Applejack replied, nodding in agreement – even she had been immersed in the fairytale. “That was quite somethin', alright.” “Now, time to go to sleep.” She leaned in and kissed Applebloom on the forehead before walking towards the door. “G’night, sis.” “G’night, sugarcube,” Applejack said with a smile before exiting the room. She made sure not to close the door all the way and left a small gap – just how Applebloom liked it. Some ponies and their imagination… Applejack thought to herself as she entered her own room. She had heard a fair number of fairytales in her years. The cliched plot of a damsel in distress, waiting to be saved by a hero before living together happily ever after... she never did like those stories. But this ‘Alicorn Princesses’ book was something new, it was the kind of story she could enjoy. Maybe I should check out some more books from the author.... Starswirl, was it? She flopped onto her bed ungracefully with a quiet thump and yawned; the weariness had snuck up on her. She pulled the covers over her body and shifted herself into a comfortable position. With another yawn, she closed her eyes and quickly fell into a deep slumber. Through the window of her room – beyond the stacks of hay, and over the picket fence – three pegasi descended from the night sky, stopping just above the front gate. The dust stirred beneath them, and the flimsy wooden sign creaked slightly as the shadowy figures gathered around it. “This the place? Sweet Apple Acres?” “Yep. This is it.” “Ugh. I hate these backwater towns.” “Let’s get to work then. The quicker we do this, the quicker we can get out of here.” -END OF PROLOGUE-
