The Ballad of Harmony

Chapters

Act ZERO : The Begining
Act One : The Path
Act One : The Pink One
Act One : The Silver Bandits
Act One : The Escape
Act Two : Hope For Canterlot
Act Two: The Underbelly

Act ZERO : The Begining

Dear whoever cares…

This story is a result, a concealment of all my sanity arranged in my mind written on these pages. A unicorns magic holds many of strengths, including the strength to magically hold a quill and to write, yet it pains me to write what I have to say. My mind is locked at a standstill; many shifting conflicts that I cannot ever seem to cease. Mostly from the case of the creature I vowed the entity of my early adulthood in abstracting vengeance upon; but now in my later life I just sound like a rambling fool, somepony alone, his only friend and his only form to talk to, this empty book. My story has been twisted along by many forms of torture and despair, but I believe it will be the easiest to start from the beginning. Not the beginning of my life, of course, that would take some time to fully explain, but the beginning of my broken story…

Act ZERO
The Beginning

It was forty-some years ago, I was just your normal, everyday unicorn colt, I spent my time working for the Ministry of Archmagic, One of most respected magic high arches in all of Equestria. Just for being a member of the Ministry of Archmagic made you a highly respectable unicorn, as of such I was a highly respected young colt at the age of 21. My mind was always unaware of impoverishes around me, and only on the wellbeing of myself. As of such I was, what you would call, “stuck-up and snotty”. I had no friends, except for some unicorns I knew around the Ministry itself.

I lived this kind of life from my age of 21 to about six months later, unknown to the changes that surrounded me. It all changed with one certain incident that rattled the entire land of Equestria down to every last pony. The Harmony that surrounded our land in peace was shattered, a beast of unknown proportions descended from someplace in the sky. I never knew exactly where this beast came from, but I guess it never occurred to me to ask. The beast was strange; all unicorns that surrounded him were in awe. He was unlike anything that I knew, and since I didn’t know what he was, it was in the most sense that nopony else knew what he was, other than the Elder Unicorn Violet star, for he had lived for so long that he knew everything there was to know. The beast uncurled from his position and stretched his arms wide and just yawned. From something that had such a huge introduction into our world, it seemed as if he was just napping. “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarg, ahaha!” the first sounds of the beast roared as his hands folded back into his normal position, I had a good look at the beast, a sort of mish-mash of many animal parts, yet one clear thing I saw was one stand out fang that was sticking out of his mouth, “Hmm? What do we have here? Unicorns, no doubt, But why in the world did I want to land here again?” The beast spoke in clear patterns, but it sounded as if he was confused. I turned around and sprinted towards the Ministry, all I knew was that I needed to know what this creature was, and the only one whom I thought would know was our elder Unicorn.

The elder unicorn always said that if we were unable to solve any sort of problems that he would have to be the first to ask. He had lived in this world for over 400 years, or at least that’s what he said, I can give no account for the legitimacy of this, but I know for sure he was old, nearing the end of his time. I galloped into the room which the old unicorn held his studies, upon entering the unicorn look at me strangely, “Elder!” I exclaimed with all my force, “There is a beast that has descended upon our court yard! Like some form of godlike proportions! I haven’t the slightest clue of what creature is! It could be something that has never set foot in Equestria befo-“ the old unicorn silenced me with a simple silence spell. “Do not worry yourself young one”, the old unicorn said “this creature you speak about, most likely has been seen upon the lands of Equestria before, but…” the old unicorn trailed off, almost as if he had a strange feeling about what I was talking about. And feeling my voice coming to me once again I busted out to talk, but I realized the old unicorn was looking for something, so I figured to wait until he found whatever it was he was looking for.

The old unicorn was fussing around looking for a book, or at least that’s what I guessed. “Ah, yes, this is what im looking for, now you said he descended from the sky, god-like, correct?” the old unicorn whispered mystifyingly as he summoned a book from the top shelf, I nodded, “Young one, do you see this book?” he asked, I nodded. “This book…” he continued, trailing off his speech while he read, “it was written 5,000 years ago, upon a time like this, when a great beast descended from the sky like a god, revealing themselves to their people. Now, you said that you had a good look at this beast correct?” the old unicorn asked, I nodded, the beast’s image was flashing in my mind, the mish-mash of assorted animals. “Now, can you inform me… think, did this beast have a sort of mish-mash of many animals?” I thought, and I remembered, and I nodded, “remember, you only have to answer what you know, I don’t want to make any false accusations here. Now, the last thing I need to know is, did he have one, and just only one, long fang?” I remembered the fang clearly, as it was one of the first things that grabbed my attention, I nodded and the old unicorn dropped the book. He slowly walked over to the chair that he rested upon. I was worried for the old elder, I rushed over to his side and asked, “Elder, you have always had the answers to our questions, what could the answer to this question possibly be? Is it so terrible that, you need to rest just to announce it?” the elder shook his head and a small tear dripped down his face.

At that time, I was so full of wonder that I just HAD to know; I rushed over to where he dropped the book and read. “The beast on which I have explained shall be known as “Draconequus”, the beast had been known to show a powerful force of magic, his favorite source of magic being chaos, and his strengths come from his sheer random foresight, a disagreement between two claims, one being structure, and the other, being at random completely, for this I have named the beast “Discord” he took acknowledgement over this name, and said he would use it for the rest of his days. This creature is unstoppable, but he is extremely susceptible to the Elements of Harmony. If you are ever faced in the presence of this beast, you must know the location of the elements, I have stored them within a safe place, they are located amon-“. At that moment the entire roof shattered and broke off. The sanctuary of this place was now destroyed, and the mighty beast descended upon us.

“Now, Now, my little ponies; don’t get too far ahead.” The beast said in a taunting voice. The book that I had held onto was ripped from my grasp and the mighty beast held it and looked. “Clearly we don’t want my fun to be short lived, hmmm?” I was speechless, within a shocked-like position. The old unicorn rose and confronted the beast. “You… You… Beast!” The beast looked at the old unicorn with one brow raised. “oh what is it now you old fool!” the unicorn held his ground and stared down the Draconequus with force. “Discord!” he yelled, “why have you returned?!” the Draconequus giggled at the statement and flew behind him in a simple breeze. “Why you ask?” he said tauntingly, “why do YOU still live? That seems like the better question, why are you here? Why? I can’t seem to even THINK of the reasons.” The Draconequus paused and gasped, “you!” he exclaimed with false amazement, “you wouldn’t have, by any chance, looked into the scroll I left here did you?” The old unicorn paused and looked back. Anger filled his expression. “I will NOT answer myself to the likes of you Discord!” he exclaimed, “I will not.” The Draconequus chuckled, “You really are just the strangest little unicorn out there aren’t you Elder Violet Star? The youngest and the strongest unicorn around, or at least you were many of years ago, old one” Discord lifted the book up and started reading, after a few moments he shut the book and laughed out loud. Discord wailed his body back and forth with laughter, “you REALLY did it didn’t you?!” he exclaimed louder with every beat of laughter. I backed myself up into the corner, trying to shield myself from any imminent threat. Discord whirled around and snapped his fingers; Elder Violet Star was lifted up in front of Discord. The Draconequus immediately ceased his laughter and stared into the eyes of Violet Star. “The greatest unicorn, matching the skill set of even Starswirled the Bearded… so sad that even you fell for temptation. The scroll of eternal life was of my creation, and now, you’ve used it as if it was your own… so sad it is, but im sorry.” Discord lulled his voice down to sheer seriousness as he transfixed his energy around the old unicorn. At a snap of his fingers large amounts of magical energy flew out from Violet Star, the energy swirled in a mystifying pattern, which even I, was mesmerized by. I stood by watching as all the life force flew out of the old pony, my mentor, my friend. Once the light show was over Discord grabbed the crippled body of the once great pony and snapped off the unicorns’ horn, then tossed the body onto the floor like a piece of trash.

My rage at this sight overwhelmed me, Discord must have felt the raw energy that engulfed me as I stood up, because he flew by my side, and with one touch my body seized up and I fell to the floor.

The next memory of mine was of me, slowly opening my eyes. It was a difficult task for what it was, but the thoughts of my only friend, my mentor Violet Star dead, made me want to keep my eyes closed and to exile myself from this world. Yet it felt as if I needed to see what had become of the world since I blacked out. The sight I saw horrified me. The Ministry had been completely reformed. The courtyard in which the Draconequus descended upon was now turned into a miserable blood pool. I stood up and looked around, then a voice, the only voice at which I did not want to hear at that time filled my ears and engulfed my mind. “Finally you awaken… it’s been too long…” I spun around and saw the Draconequus on a throne made out of bones! “Oh how very excited I am to see you little one! I thought my frozen touch spell actually DID kill you… sad case… yet I believe I have a few tasks for you before, disposal.” the Draconequus flew into another fit of laughter as he spoke. “Far too long have I, Discord, Element of Dis-Harmony been held against my will in that hellish prison in the sky! FAR TO LONG HAVE I BEEN PUSHED AROUND BY YOUR KIND! Violet Star wielded power that destroyed me many of years ago; he knew I would return, so he took my spell of eternal life, waiting for me. But NOW IT’S MY TURN!” As Discords rage grew, the ground around the Ministry cracked and burst open, fiery lava flooded the courtyard. The Draconequus paused and coughed into his hand, then turned a smile. “Now, to get down to business, out of all the unicorns that worked here, you are the only one left alive. Consider it my act of “Kindness”, the magical thing here is that you do not lay dead. I’ve spent much time thinking about it, and I feel as if my generosity is echoing in such the form to let you live. Honestly though, I don’t really care.” The Draconequus laughed out loud yet again, “I cast you out of my new lair, so you can watch as I tear this world from the little bit of harmony that is left, into pure CHAOS!” as the Draconequus’ last words left his mouth a molten bridge lifted out of the lava and solidified. I walked down the path that was presented, while walking, the further and further I made it, the more anxious I became. As I neared the edge of the bridge I felt energy halt me. “But… now that I think about it, I do want to chat with you” the Draconequus grabbed ahold of me with his twisted magic and flew me in front of his presence, “Now, the only two things in this world that know exactly how to defeat me is this book, and your dear old Violet Star, whom if I remember correctly, is dead.” Discord wailed with laughter after uttering that last word. The more he spoke, the viler he appeared. “So it comes down to this, you’ve read up to the point in this book that tells you the Elements of Harmony is my only weakness. So, you have an edge to defeat me.” I looked into the beast’s eyes and thought for a second, why would he be telling me this? Why would this creature be informing me on how to defeat him?

After a few moments the Draconequus sighed in disappointment, “do you EVER talk?” he roared, “Talk! Don’t be shy! You must be very angry, or even anxious to speak to me!” I looked down the face of this horrid beast and spoke, “you… you want me to talk to you? Why would I? What would come out of such an act? More violence? More killing? Why would you want me talk to you? Answer all of those questions and then I may yet talk” The Draconequus chuckled at what I had said, twisting his body in all sorts of directions just to face me. I was still being held up by his magic’s, but he still moved to speak around me. “No, foolish little unicorn, no more violence shall happen, no more killing will happen, or at least until time is up.” I thought on what the beast had just said, I was curious to say, at what he meant by ‘time is up’, but curiosity did kill the cat. “What do you mean beast?!” I exclaimed, “by ‘time is up’?!” Discord chuckled yet again, and spun around me three times. “Oh, of course, my proposition that I want to mark upon you… I shall cease my work upon this world for four months, my little pony… you have four months to find the Elements of Harmony and learn how to use them, or I will tear this world apart.” I stared at the Draconequus with a dumfounded look, why was he telling me this? Why is he informing me on how to defeat him and how to stop him? I was confused, but my questions were answered, “Where is the fun in things when you are guaranteed to win little one?” his expression turned serious, “if you can wield the Elements of Harmony and defeat me, you win. If not, I win and will rule this world forever!” at the last word spoken by Discord, a crack of lighting poured from the sky and he began laughing manically. He paused and released me from my magical bounds, and I fell flat on the floor, the beast was laughing, and I found it within myself to start running away. “GO now my little pony! Go and just try to defeat me! SHOW YOUR LOYALTY TO EQUESTRIA! Four months’ time my friend, laugh it up! Four. Months’. Time.”

And this is how the misfortunes of my life began. With one whack across my head I was plunged into a quest that had little chance of success… Why me? Whatever did I do to receive such a burden that only the mightiest of all ponyfolk in the world were able to overcome? I was to ‘save the world’ as the beast had so elegantly put it…

...I just didn't know how to start….

Act One : The Path

Act One
The Path

I didn’t know what to think. Within what felt like less than twelve hours I had lost all of my “friends” from the Ministry, and my dearest mentor Violet Star. I felt like driving myself not to finish this task that was put before me, but to find some home, and live in it for four months, or even just end my life by my hands and not by Discord’s. If I was going to die, I would like to die under my rules, not the chaotic rules of that beast. I walked along a path, for what seemed to be hours, but in all likeliness, it was only a few minutes. I reached the end of a creek and sat down, the water flowed with elegance and beauty, the birds chirped happily. I thought to myself about the joys in this world, my mind was clear; the beauty that I’ve seen convinced me. I was not going to give forfeit to this beast, this damned beast. I was convinced that I will put all of my willpower into taking down this creature, I would fight for this world, and I will find the Elements of Harmony and defeat Discord!

Too easy, I thought. How was I supposed to find the Elements of Harmony? How was I supposed to wield them? If Violet Star wanted the elements hidden to the point where only his book was written the answer, he truly wanted to keep it secret. My first thoughts to this were to curse in his name! Damn Violet Star! Why would he keep such a precious item out of my grasps? Why would he keep the Elements of Harmony secret? If they truly had the power to defeat anything chaotic, you could rule with these sorts of powers! Become a king over these lands! Why did Violet Star not take advantage of such a thing? If he had a scroll of eternal life and had lived for over 5,000 years, why would he not want to become this world’s king? I continued to ponder on my thoughts when reality hit me, and all of my senses returned. Violet Star must have felt horrible for falling for temptation, he must have regretted living for all those years, making so many friends, and outliving every single one of them. All of the personal connections that Violet Star had, he saw all of them on their deathbeds, and must have regretted it all.

I stood up, not wanting to think on this anymore, the more and more I thought about it, the more and more I went back and forth with emotion. My mind was set, and I was going to attempt to take down Discord, but I don’t know how to find the Elements. I continued to walk down the road and a strange thing caught my eye. It was just a bunny, simple, but I observed what it was doing for a few minutes. It was lifting its head up and down in a rhythmical pattern which I had never seen before. Although I had not been around these parts of the woods since I was a little filly, but the exact way the bunny was moving intrigued me. I followed it as far as it would allow, until it jumped into a bush and never reappeared. The first sign of joyfulness that I had left with that bunny, and I began to sink back into a depressive-like state while pondering on how to find the Elements of Harmony.

I walked along more of the path, it seemed as if it never ends, but I knew it eventually would. And, exactly as I predicted, the path ended. A fork in the road separated it from left and right. I looked around desperately in search for somepony around that could point me in the right direction that I needed. I needed to know where the direction to Canterlot was, for there I could hopefully find the answer to the questions that I seek. I sat down and rested my head on a small branch that rooted itself out of the ground, all was quiet. I thought nervously about whether or not to choose one path and hope it led to where I wanted to go. I thought that if I followed the wrong path, it would lead me on a journey of hopelessness and I thought into the future on what would become of the world if I fell into such a trance. I shivered at the thought of it. Yet, for all the horridness that surrounded me, I found a shimmer of hope. I heard laughter, very faint, yet recognizable. It could have been anything laughing, but I was dead sure that the laughter was coming from a pony; I sprang up, and charged in the direction of the sound.

As my magic holds this quill, I endeavor to write about my memories… I wish I was not alive to recite such tales, although happy, the sadness I had to endure make such happiness fall away, but when I grabbed my quill and started to recite my past, I promised myself that I would finish. I would finish…

Act One : The Pink One

Act One
Part Two
The Pink One

The laughter was growing louder and louder as I neared what I hoped to be the source. I slowly peered through the bushes and saw an earth pony! How joyed I was to find somepony, anypony! She was just rolling around on the ground laughing, the pony was pink, an odd color I thought, for I had never seen a pink pony before, I rushed out of the bushes and spoke “Hello!” The pony flipped up and sprang in front of me, “Why hello there! I’ve never seen you around before! You’re a unicorn? I normally don’t see very many unicorns around these parts of the forest. Well, I normally don’t see unicorns anyway. Oh! Are you lost?! Do you need any help getting to where you’re going?” the earth pony stopped talking when once she had shoved her face up next to mine. I looked at her with the most confusing look. I hardly had a second to realize all the things that she had spoken. The pony spoke so fast that it was a wonder she didn’t collapse from lack of oxygen. “uh… I.. er” I said, trying to remember exactly what it was that the pony had said “I.. am lost yes, do you know where the direction to Canterlot is?” The pink pony giggled at my request “Oh, silly unicorn, how could you not know where Canterlot is? Isn’t that the city of the unicorns?” I looked at the pink pony and then at the ground. I thought, I didn’t want to speak of anything that may frighten the little one. I looked the little pink pony right in the eyes and stated, “I awoke a few hours ago in this forest, I do not know of how I came to be out here, or where any towns are located. I found a crossroads a little bit back, but I don’t know what direction to take. Can you help me?

Can she help me? What a question I thought that was! Out of all that has happened to me within the last few hours I surely was not able to be helped. I wish I had chosen my words more appropriately but, alas, the little pink pony did not know of all the troubles that I had endured before coming upon her. She returned, “oh, well then! I know the direction around all of this forest! I can easily lead you to wherever it is that you want to go.” she paused and rubbed her head, her expression looked as though she was thinking very hard, and as fast as her “thoughts” came, they were gone, and she bounced around me excitedly. “okie dokie lokie! If you wanna go to Canterlot, then you’re going to have to follow me!” the pink pony jumped around excitedly, I was shocked at such a gesture. I did not want someone to follow me! Not for the destiny that I was to be given! I did not want a companion to follow me, for any amount of time. “I do not need your accompaniment, little one,” I stated, “just point me in the direction of Canterlot and I will find out by myself. The pink pony stopped jumping excitedly, she turned around and lower her head, “oh, I see. Well, Canterlot is to the east.” I was for a moment happy, I picked up my bag and headed off towards the east, but something inside me help me to a halt. Something inside me was shaking me, furiously, my stomach dropped and pain rushed through my chest. I turned around and saw the pink pony slowly walking into the brush, I busted out, “WAIT!” I hollered, but against my better judgment she was gone, gone into the brush. I looked at my feet and then to the ground, pain rushed in my stomach again. For some reason, the pain only went away when I tried to call for her to come back. I made up my mind, I wanted to speak to that pony again, no, I needed to speak to her again! I rushed off into the brush that she walked through. I looked left and I looked right, nothing.

How I felt at that moment, my mind had been set up, I wanted to have her help me on my way to Canterlot, no, needed it. My body was a shell, nopony to talk to, nopony to relate stories to, nopony just to have around. Just death, just destruction, just mayhem, I needed her assistance, for surely I would fail. I did not want to fail, not now, not ever.

I rushed to the left, then vigorously to the right, desperately searching for the pink pony. I ran and ran, but in the end, nothing. My mind was at a standstill, always I was wondering or thinking but now in this moment I could not think, I was frozen. This feeling stayed for a few moments, I then drooped my head down, my mane touching the ground, I used my magic to grab a compass out of my pack and pointed east. I sighed, “east…. Must go east…” then I walked. I felt as though i walked for days upon days, but I knew in the back of my mind it was only a few minutes, I founded myself the crossroad separation that led me to find the pink pony. That cute, innocent laughter that intrigued me so much as to investigate its owner…. I thought about it for only a moment, next I just gave up. A form of a world that would no longer be, because of my stubbornness. The pain shot my again in my stomach, more and more every time I thought of that pony, but it had to end, the thoughts had to end, or I would never accomplished my mission, my task.

I pointed out my compass, searched for east. To my knowledge I knew how to use the compass, so my simple task to chart east was completed in record time. I looked down the road. “Okay… here goes nothing.” As I began walking down the path the night’s sky began to take precedence over the sun, everything dimmed down. I sparked my horn to ignite light, to be able to see in this darkness. I walked for minutes. I knew it was only a few minutes because my thoughts did not take the best of me. All I thought was, one hoof in front of the other, to pace myself, to not over exert my strength… to conserve. Suddenly my thoughts took over, I thought of the future… what was in store for me. One simple word reignited my thoughts: strength. Would I have the strength to finish this journey? Would I be able to- SMACK.

Act One : The Silver Bandits

Act One
The Silver Bandits

Fading from black, to grey, to white, then back to black, I felt horrible pains, mostly from my head. The stomach pains came back a bit, but my head hurt so much that I completely ignored those pains. I opened my eyes, and standing in front of me was a Griffon. I struggled to stand up, to confront the winged beast, but something was crushing down on my back, to make sure I could not stand. I looked back and saw two other Griffons! What a sight! Three Griffons! I was shocked; the sight of three Griffons in Equestria was rare. I struggled to speak, the lack of oxygen to my lungs made it hard to form words, but I endured, “H… Hello, sir. What is- is the me- meaning of this?” I coughed; the Griffon standing in front of me laughed and looked me straight in the eyes. “Meaning of this? Well, then little unicorn I’ll just get right down to it!” he paused and posed, “We are the Silver Bandits! Feared throughout Equestria! Surely you’ve heard of us unicorn??” he resumed his pose once again. Waiting for a response, I smirked, for a reason unknown to me, I busted out with a sarcastic comment, “Feared throughout Equestria? Ha! Then how come a very notable unicorn as myself does not know of your little ‘gang’” The posed Griffon looked back at me, he noted the other two Griffons to pick me up, holding me up, the leader raised his fist and it made contact with my lower gut. Instantaneously the wind was knocked out of me, an unexpected blow took me off guard, I was gasping for air. The two Griffons released me and I fell to the floor, pain overwhelming me I curled up in a ball.

The two Griffons remained behind me, insuring that I was going nowhere. The leader then took his position in front of me. “So, smart ass. Wanna try something like that again?” he waited for a response that never came. I was in such pain that trying to comment to something that would probably infer more pain was a no brainer. “Good. Now, as I was saying” he said, resuming his role, “We are a gang of Griffons; we spotted you while flying in the sky, a unicorn around these parts is a rare sight indeed.” He paused and looked back at me, “so, unicorns being the wealthiest of all we jumped you.” he walked over to a bag that lay on a small table. “This is your carrying bag” he said, “but it seems to be locked by magic, and Griffons, well, don’t use magic.” He inhaled and turned back to me, ushering the two goons to pick me back up. “So we are going to play a little game…” He trailed off. He had walked out of the little shed we were in. Until this moment I had not noticed we were inside, I began to look around, it looked beat up on the inside, like a destroyed shack run by young fillies! The leader Griffon walked back in and stood on his hind legs, flapping his wings to keep balance. In his hand was a large stick, my eyes widened as I realized what he was about to do. He wanted in my bag, to get my valuables, so, he needs my magic. “In order for us to open this bag we are going to need you to use your magic, and I’ll ask once politely. Open the bag up.” I paused, looked at the bag, and back at the Griffon then snorted, “politely?”. Two things crossed my mind. One: if I gave up and opened it, I would lose all my valuables, everything that I had left from my departed life. Two: I would be freed of pain, able to continue on my journey literally from scratch. I looked the Griffon in the eyes and told him my answer “NO” the Griffon smiled and lifted up the large stick, and swung. It stuck me right in the face. I felt for a moment a huge rush of pain and the next nothing.

Act One : The Escape

Act One
The Escape

I awoke. Pain shifted through my head. I looked up and saw the three Griffons asleep on the floor close to me. I figured one of them was supposed to keep guard, but being how “smart” they were, they all fell asleep. I looked to my left and then to my right. There were bounds on my arms and legs that were supposed to be connected to the wall, but they were cut. From a small crack in the shed I heard a voice. “psssssssst” the voice whispered. I looked to it and saw a pink face. “hiya!” the voice whispered once again. I realized it was the pink earth pony that I had searched for, I had thought for! I could not believe my eyes. I opened my mouth to speak but she hushed me quietly, “if you wanna get outta here, you’re gonna have to listen to what I say!” I nodded, I wanted out of this place, “stand up and walk two steps to the left then right!” I looked at her confused, how was that going to help? But she assured me, “trust me!” I walked twice to the left, silence. I walked twice to the right, silence. I was next to my bag, I grabbed it and looked back; she whispered “now walk back the same way you came from” so I did, I trusted every fiber of the being she was, every word that came out of her mouth I trusted to infinity. I walked back, and stood in the same position that I had risen from, she then smiled “okay, now, do you trust me?” I stumbled for a moment, did I trust her? I trusted her enough to listen to what she had to tell me already, so why not believe in her advice now? I nodded, but only to inform her that I trusted her, because my mind was already set. “Okay,” she paused; “listen very carefully, when I say to run right out of that door behind them, you gotta run!” she was whispering louder, but still not enough to wake up the Griffons. I then realized what her plan was, and I was deathly afraid of what was about to happen, I held on to my better instincts and remembered her saying in her soft gentle voice “trust me”.

It felt like a year had gone by, a year that I had to stand and wait for a signal, an entire year. Can you believe the feeling? Waiting for one thing for a year? I could not. I could not wait; I felt like I needed to explode, but as fast as I wanted to explode, she exploded, the signal came. “RUN!” she shouted, very loud, so loud that I almost fell over, almost… the three Griffons jumped up quickly and knocked into one another, discombobulating themselves, it was an easy escape out of the hut. I ran straight for the door, or, if you could even call it that. As I touched it, it fell off its hinges and crashed outside. The noise alerted the Griffons and they started for my direction, I turned my head and saw the pink pony gesturing me in her direction, I sprinted to catch up to her, for she was running as well. The leader Griffon shouted out as we made our escape, “GET BACK HERE UNICORN!!” he roared through the sky. The pink pony suddenly turned left, and I tripped over her hooves into a small dip in the ground. I hit my head so hard that I was stunned. The pink pony came over to me and grabbed me by my mane, and dragged me into a small hole in the pit. Once inside she gestured her hoof over her mouth and hushed me. We remained there silent for some time. The noise of Griffons rustling outside our hole kept me quiet; I did not want to return back into the mess that we had just escaped. “I KNOW YOU’RE OUT HERE!” the leader Griffon roared, “WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR YOU UNICORN! WE WILL NOT STOP SEARCHING UNTIL WE HAVE FOUND YOU!!!” the Griffon surged up into the sky and called both of his comrades, I wiggled to get a good look, and saw them fly out passed the south of the forest. I collapsed and let out a huge sigh, we were safe, for now at least…I attempted to get up, but I yet again collapsed, but this time I fell into a deep sleep, the sort that you never want to wake up from.

I dreamed of a very peaceful land, the kind of land like before I met my eternal enemy Discord. But, something was strange in this peace, the pink pony was there! Out of all the ponies that I knew and met over the years of my life, the PINK one I dreamed about. Was I… in love with this pony? I could not think of love or anything of the sort in this time. But that dream has stuck with me since I had it, I will never forget it. Peace, love, I could not think of this pony as simply just “the pink one” forever, and within my dream I vowed to get the name of the pink pony as soon as I awoke, and as suddenly as made up my mind, I was woken up from a soft shake.

“hiya!” she said to me, “you fell asleep after the Griffons left, I, uh, let you sleep because I figured that since it was Silver Beak and all, that he woulda done something to you. So I hope your rest was enjoying!” she pushed a leaf in front of me with a piece of fruit on it. Food… something to eat, I began to dive into the fruit, and then I remembered, “Why, thank you pink one, but I must ask, what is your name? I do not want to call you by ‘the pink one’ anymore. Especially after what you did for me” she giggled, and answered “Oh! Of course, you can call me Cell. My full name is Cellerisa, but I don’t really like it, so you can call me Cell” she smiled, “what’s your name?” I paused, I only thought to get the name of the one whom I admired so much, I froze and didn’t respond. I felt like after all that’s happened I forgot my name. I thought, and I remembered. “Tragus, or Tray, rather.” Honestly, I could not recall my name, not at that time, but Cell had asked for a name, and I recalled from the back of my mind an ancient and powerful unicorn of legends, but Cell did not know that.
Cell looked at me and smiled, “well hiya Tray!” I got up and nudged Cell, “do you know where the direction to Canterlot is?” Cell looked at me and giggled, “What?” I asked, Cell pointed forwards and pulled the brush backwards, and there sat the glorious city of Canterlot….

Canterlot… What a sight.

Act Two : Hope For Canterlot

Act Two
Hope for Canterlot

That sight, at that time, has never left me. The sun had just risen, and there was a beautiful glow radiating from its towers. Magic, I thought, the magical towers of Canterlot, I was finally at an area with my own race. Not that having Cell around didn’t help the mood, but I’ve been searching for this city, for it was going to serve as a base to wherever these ‘elements of harmony’ were hiding. With a smile on my face I began to walk out of the brush and continued on my path down to the road that led into the underbelly of Canterlot. Cell walked up alongside me “So, there’s Canterlot, Pretty!” she giggled and began to bounce instead of walk. “Yes. ‘Pretty’ is right. This city was founded by some of the most famous unicorns thousands of years ago. It still stands with the architecture of the time, and ruled by the same.” I remarked in an informative pattern, the city was all that the unicorns talked about at the ministry… the ministry… its hard to believe all that had happened only a small amount of time ago. A fierce pain rushed into my side as I thought of this and I had to stop for a moment, Cell bounced on ahead, not realizing that I had frozen. I looked up and tried to call for her but I was silenced. A silence spell! I thought it had to have been a scout protecting the great city’s border. I attempted to turn around, but my feet were frozen as well, a simple scout would not use such magic on a unicorn like me, I posed no immediate threat, who could it be? My questions were answered in a half second; a laugh filled the air… a vile laugh, such that I wished I would never be able to hear again. I became very angry and I tried with all my might to move, “oh come now, my dear little friend, why do you act so angry?” the voice filled my mind, not just the air, “you’ve only made it THIS far? Haha! You might not pose a challenge to me after all…” the beast rose from the water behind me, and took his stance he sarcastically took a fighting pose, and then laughed again. “oh you look ready for fighting!” he then stopped and flew by my side, “you’re looking feisty. Look, all I did was come here to look in on your progress, and, quite frankly sir, I am disappointed. At this rate you will NEVER beat me. And like I said, what is there to a victory without a challenge? I tell you what, I’ll give you a little help!” he flew away again, his voice still floating in my head, help… the beast wants to give me his help? His HELP? This creature was more cunning than I thought. He wants a challenge? I laughed on the inside, and from that moment on I vowed to give the beast the largest challenge of all time. He reappeared, “now, as I said I’ll help you, but only for a pointer, a, um, riddle If you will. Find the answer to this and you will find the answer to where your next step lies.” Discord relaxed himself and flew over the water again:

Turning and burning atop a pike,

Fading ever more into the light,

Below this pike belongs a room,

To enter such you need a clue,

The clue as simple as light and day,

Twist it and move it, upside down

Within this room, the master looms….

hahahahahahaha….

And, with that laugh he disappeared and the silence spell lifted, I could move again. I quickly opened my satchel and wrote down the riddle that he had just said to me. I finished and put it away. I turned around and looked around. Cell was gone! Can I not have a companion follow me? Must I always be separated from those that make me happy? From those that fill me with joy? I don’t know, but it made me sadder as I thought of it, so I vowed not to think of it, not anymore.

I continued to walk on the path and I finally came upon the entrance to the underbelly, the sewers and such of Canterlot, one of the vilest places in Equestria, The only reason being because there is no constant care for the area by the up-tight unicorns that live in this magnificent city. I walked forward and began to trek through the mud and goo that covered the ground. It smelled vile, and I had to resist the urge to be sick while walking through it. I walked forwards and found a hole that looked as though it headed up. I began to walk into it when I heard behind me, “WAIT!!!!” I turned suddenly and I saw a glimpse of Cell, she had lunged forward and hit me dead on, we slid down the gook for a moment then a door opened downwards and we fell even more. Then we landed on a soft cushion. I felt good, but only for a moment before I realized we were sitting in a more concentrated form of the mud and goo, I tried to get up but it was effortless, I couldn’t move. I wiggled and wiggled until I was able to move to the left enough to flip around, I noticed Cell was really close to me, “C- Cell,” I struggled, “What was that for?” Cell giggled, “I dunno, I didn’t mean to make us fall, I actually wanted to warn you not to go over there so we wouldn’t fall!” Cell was laughing uncontrollably, and I sighed. “cmon Cell, we gotta get outta this mess…” and I resumed struggling. She laughed yet again, and in one swift motion she flipped out and freed herself from the goo, and again I sighed. She landed on the ground and turned around, “cmon slow-poke!” she giggled, “it’s just a wiggle n’ a twist!” As I moved myself again I grunted, “It’s hopeless!” I froze myself, in the mists of all this, I wanted to just give up, but Cell wasn’t going to have that happen. Cell jumped back up-top of the muddy goo and grabbed the back of my tail and pulled. We both flew out of the goo and crashed on the floor. Much better, I thought. “see? That wasn’t very hard now was it, Tray?” Cell stated, “you can’t just give up too easily or we won’t ever get to Canterlot!” these words snapped my brain, ‘never get to Canterlot”…… the thought of that made the hair on the back of my main stand up. “okay, you made your point.” I declared, “Let’s get moving then!” and with a smile we were off.

Act Two: The Underbelly

Act Two
Part Six
The Underbelly

We had no clue where we were going. A small opening in the back of the cavern that this goo made its home was our only option to continue. So we trekked forwards through it. The only light that had illuminated the room was the ominously radiating goo. I stood in front of the small hole and peered down it, “it’s pretty dark down there” I stated, and Cell giggled “don’t you worry! Let’s just see how far this path goes!” I stood by Cell’s side, and thought, yeah, let’s just see. We began to walk down the path, the floor was squishy, and so I figured it was water, mud, or goo that doesn’t glow. I wanted so much to turn around and leave, but I knew that we had to continue on, there was no other way out. And I hoped so much that there would be a way out. I stopped, and Cell bumped into me, “Whoa! What’s up Ty?” Cell asked curiously, I turned my head back “Cell, I’d just like to let you know, that I have absolutely no idea where this cave system leads, it might not even have and exit.” A small pause went between us, Cell giggled, “Oh I’m sure we will find a way out Ty! When I was a little filly my parents told me about the Underbelly of Canterlot,” she paused, only for a second, I figured that something she had just said triggered a memory, but I didn’t investigate, and Cell continued, “I was told that there were tons of intersecting caves underneath Canterlot, every path has a way out, or it must.” I sighed, and continued, “Well let’s keep going and see what we find.” Cell giggled once again, “Okie dokie lokie!” and I turned a smile, if only Cell could have seen me, it would have made every feeling better, because we both knew that regardless of what happened, we weren’t turning back.

We walked for minutes in silence, not a single word, the only sound that I heard was the footsteps of Cell and I, striking the ground, the mud, the goo. The silence was a horror for my mind, for I was able to think about Discord again, and I thought about the riddle that he had presented me. Turning and burning atop a pike, what did that mean? What pike did he talk about? I thought extensively about Canterlot and its buildings, the kind of Architecture that the nobles of Canterlot crafted to make the magnificent city. I couldn’t think of what he meant, and at that time I didn’t want to. I couldn’t stand the silence much longer, and I needed to start a conversation to keep my sanity, I stopped again, this time Cell did not run into me, I thought that it was because she was more aware, so I turned again and spoke, “How much longer do you think we will go until we-” I was cut short by the feeling of a hoof pressing into my right flank, I paused, and spoke again, “Cell, what are you-” I was cut short again by the same feeling, but this time I took action. I jumped around and pushed my head forwards, but felt nothing. She should have been there, but she wasn’t, and I panicked, “Cell?” I whispered, and no response. “I can’t see a damned thing!” I said frustrated, “Gah! What is that spell for light again?!” I leaned over and took off my satchel, and with a magical click it opened up, but even to my best efforts, I couldn’t quite remember what the spell was, nor could I see enough to find the spell. I clicked the satchel closed once again, “Dammit!” I cursed, I was confused at why Cell had disappeared, and mostly confused to where Cell disappeared to. The more and more I thought about it, the more angered I became, I wanted to escape it, escape the feeling of anger, so I ran. I charged ahead, so fast that I didn’t even know how far I had traveled, but I started to see a small light in the distance, and all my thoughts left me, my entire body forced itself to run into that light, as fast as I could, no matter how long it would take, I needed to get to the light. And sure enough I broke through, I had escaped from the darkness that had engulfed me, and I was at peace with myself, but my exhaustion overtook me, and I blacked out.

At many points in my life, I have had dreams that I could never explain. But an equal amount of times in my life I have had dreams that were so clear to me, that I had felt that they were reality, the real world. One of those many dreams I had in that cave. I had to put two and two together to figure out when I had this dream, and I figured out it was when I collapsed in the small cave. The dream that I had I would remember for my entire life, even to this day I remember it. I remember how I felt, and how much I had longed to have that dream a reality. But it never would be. In this powerful dream, I was back at home, in the Ministry, conducting my normal day-to-day activities, studying under my professor Violet Star. Like it had been before Discord, but there was one thing that stood out, after spending my day like that, I would go to my home, where Cell lived with me. I was a very happy unicorn, with all the love from everyone that I knew, but the dream twisted. Suddenly, Cell engulfed into flames, she disappeared into ashes, the entire house burned down, cracks in the ground boiled up blood red lakes, and sure enough discord appeared, he was dancing around me, taunting me, forcing my anger. I lounged at him, and it all popped, and I was alone in the darkness once more. I fell back over, and my face hit water. In the darkness that surrounded me, I hit water, of all the places, nice fresh water. I closed my eyes and felt the water, heard water droplets, and felt at peace. And then it hit me, it was Water.

I surged awake and felt discombobulated; it took me a second to shake off my unconsciousness, and I opened up my eyes. My face was in a small water pool. I lifted up my head and stood up looking around, taking in my location. I was in a small room, stone walls covering every corner. There was a stone slab in front of me and the small pool of water that was firmly planted in the middle of the room. No more than a few inches, the pool was very shallow, there was water dropping from the ceiling and I noticed the crack that the water was dripping through it. The only way in or out of this room was the small hole behind me, which I figured that was the direction that I came from, I then realized that Cell was not around. And then panic followed, Where is Cell? My panic fully set in, I looked left and right, but Cell was nowhere! I lost her again! Why! I cried out, why was this happening to me? Too many times, I thought, too many times! I walked around the room looking for something, anything I could use in this situation. But I fell back and slumped down. “Dammit” I whispered under my breath, “What is my problem?!” I cried out, “why can’t I help this situation out?! Why!?” I sighed and fell to the ground, why could I not help at all? I thought to myself that if I never would be able to find Cell again, why the thought of never finding Cell moved me so much I will never know. But I stood up and vowed to myself, I would conjure all my might to find Cell, the pretty pink earth pony that I have defiantly fallen in love with. I believed I was certainly in love. And then I remembered about the light spell! I whipped around and grabbed my satchel, and with a magical click it opened up and I grabbed the light spell and read it. I let out a long sigh, “I should really memorize all my spells, and this won’t happen” I stood up and walked over to the small cave entrance. And let out just one more sigh, and thought to myself, here we go again.

I charged with my light, into the now tamed darkness, and ran; I ran and ran, when I felt tired, I ignored it. I ran more, and more, until I couldn’t run anymore. I fell to the ground and rested a moment. I thought of how long I ran, and I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was finding Cell. I looked up and thought again, why? Then I noticed something. There was a small crack in the wall that rolled up and around in the shape of a door. I walked up to it and looked. I thought, what is this? I lifted up my hoof and poked it. It slowly opened up, ominously, but silently. I stared into it, my light illuminated the inside. It was another pathway. Through the path, there was another small light really far down. Escape? I began to walk down and I remembered. CELL. I walked out of the hallway back into the first hallway. Maybe she was somewhere back? Click, click, click, click. I looked around. What was that?! Click, click, click, click. I walked forward and in front of me was a soft ball connected to a string pinging back and forth. I walked over to it and grabbed it. It felt like a hoof. I let it go, and turned around. It tapped me on the flank. It felt like… a hoof poking me. I walked back towards the opening in the wall. And pleaded “please, oh, please be out there Cell!” and I sprinted forward.

My magic ran dry and the light that had radiated from my horn died out, at the same time I broke the surface, and took a huge breath of fresh air. I thought to myself, fresh air, that was one of the most amazing feelings that I had felt in a long time; taking that first breath of fresh air after being trapped underground. Yet I cocked my head and the feeling went away, I saw something that made me so happy that I fell to my knees. Cell was sleeping about twenty feet away from me, “CELL!” I exclaimed, but she didn’t hear me, she was far enough away. I quickly stood up and charged towards her. I brushed my hoof through her mane and smiled happily, “Thank the stars you’re alright” and I felt a few tears fall off my face. I was truly happy.

This, friends, was my first true thought of love towards Cell, even though I had thought about it, and cried out that I had fallen in love with this pink pony, but all that aside, I realized something. I would do anything to be assured that she would be able to live her life the way she wanted, and that meant to stop Discord once and for all, I closed my eyes and thought about Discord, and thought about all the horrible things that he had done to me. I wanted him done; I wanted him gone, hopefully forever. Yet for now I was exhausted, and I collapsed.