The Storykeepers

Chapter 4: Raging Waters Part 1: Bad News and Good News

A week after saving Rainbow Dash and the others from Nightmare Moon, Rainbow Dash was performing his acrobatics.

“Awesome!”  Applejack called out.

“This is great, having you here, Rainbow.”  Fluttershy said with a smile.

“It’s great havin' a new pal.”  Applebloom said with a smile.

“I wonder what could be keeping Twilight.”  Luna asked as she looked out the window.

“That mare’s always running late.”  Celestia reassured Luna.

Luna was still worried.  Twilight was like a little sister to her.

“I know, but with so many guards patrolling the streets these days-” Luna began before Celestia stopped her.

“Luna, you worry too much.”  Celestia said with a smile.  “Twilight's just fine.  I’m sure of it.”

Twilight was in trouble.

She had been out when several guards from the raid last week recognized her, and she rushed off, knowing Celestia wouldn’t approve of her fighting when there was some other way.

“Alright, you want me?!”  Twilight called out.  “Come and get me!”

The soldiers continued after her.

“I knew that wouldn’t work.”  Twilight groaned as she rushed off.  Eventually, she dived into a troth.

“I needed a bath anyway.”  Twilight said with a smile as she held her breath and sunk under the water as guards rushed passed.  Once they were gone, Twilight rushed back to the house as quickly as he could.

Twilight arrived at the house and quickly locked the door.

“Celestia!”  Twilight called out.  “Celestia!  The soldiers have captured the Story Teller for the north district!”

“I know.”  Celestia said calmly.  “I know.  Try this roll.”

“A roll?!”  Twilight asked as Celestia handed her a roll she was holding.  “Celestia, Christians from all over are coming to the north district of Canterlot tonight, and there’s no one to tell the story!  Celestia, you have to go to San Francisco!”  Twilight called out.

“I wish I could, Twilight Sparkle, but there’s a meeting here tonight.”  Celestia explained.

“Celestia’s going to tell the story of John the Baptist.”  Luna said as the other kids tried rolls, and they were all good, prompting Twilight to try hers.  It tasted pretty good.

“John the who?”  Rainbow Dash asked.

“John the Baptist.”  Celestia repeated.  “He was the cousin of Jesus, and he lived in the dessert, near the Jordan River.  He ate honey and locusts to stay alive.”

“Honey flavored insects?”  Fluttershy asked as she put the roll down, losing her appetite.

“Yuck.”  Applebloom said as he stuck his tongue out.

“Shh!”  Applejack said.

“How can Celestia tell a story at a time like this?”  Twilight asked.  The kids would hear the story later that night, right now they needed a story for the north district.

“Be patient, Twilight.”  Luna said calmly.  “Celestia knows what she’s doing.”

“You see, John was a great prophet,” Celestia continued.  “And when he came out of the dessert, he did not like what he saw.  He began to tell the ponies to change their ways.  Not to steal and not to cheat.

“‘If you have two coats, give one to someone who has none.’  John would say, as well as, ‘If you have food, share that too.’

“Ponies everywhere were talking about this strange stallion.  He would ask ponies to be baptized, shortly put their whole bodies under water and come back out, as a sign they wanted to change their ways, which was why he was called John the Baptist.

“‘I baptize you with water.’  John would say.  ‘But the man who follows me will be greater than I am.  I am not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’

“And sure enough, not long after John appeared near Jordan, Jesus left his home in Neighzarath and went to join the crowds at the river bank.  John was nervous.  He knew he wasn’t worthy to baptize Jesus, but Jesus smiled at him, and John knew it was alright.  He baptized Jesus, and just then something wonderful happened.

“A light shone down on Jesus as the voice of God said, ‘You are my beloved son.  With you, I am pleased.’

“After that, Jesus went to the dessert for forty days and nights, but I’ll tell you about that some other time.”

“Look Celestia,” Twilight said as he did enjoy the story, but they were running out of time.  “But what about the north district?  They aren’t going to have a story tonight unless we do something.”

“Exactly.”  Celestia said with a smile.  “Applejack?”

Applejack took out a scroll and handed it to Celestia.

“What’s that?”  Twilight asked.

“It’s a story for the Christians in the north district.”  Applejack said with a smile.

“And you’re going to give it to them.”  Celestia said with a kind smile.

“That’s a great idea!”  Twilight called out.  She knew Celestia wouldn’t let her down.  “There’s only one problem.  Getting to the north district.  The roads are practically paved with guards.”

“There must be some way to get through.”  Luna insisted as Celestia took a long piece of bread and stuffed the scroll inside of it.

“We know a way.”  Applejack said with a mischievous look on all of the kids’ faces that Twilight didn’t like.