The Equestrian

***Introduction***

Celestia was displeased with the human's request for more land. She had already sacrificed much to make them happy, and the additional demands only hurt her own people more. In order to avoid confrontation with the humans, Celestia gave into their demands, giving them more and more land. Finaly, when the human king demanded the coastal city of Manehattan, Celestia refused, putting her hoof down for the first time.

***Part 1: The Busy Book Horse***

"There you are, Twilight! Moondancer is having a little get-together in the west castle courtyard. You wanna come?" Primrose asks.

Twilight's tail swishes nervously.

"Oh, sorry, girls. I, uh... have a lot I studying to catch up on."

With that being said, Twilight dashes back to the castle.

"Uhg... Does that pony do anything but study?" Primrose asks.

The other two mares shrug.

"I think she's more interested in books than friends." Heartlock states coldly.

Twilight wasn't paying attention to them. She didn't care. She simply knew she had to get back to her study and fast.

"I know I've herd of the Elements of Harmony..." She mutters under her breath.

She rushes up to her quarters where her two favorite assistants are waiting for her.

"Spiiiike! Fiiives!"

Carrying a package, Spike moves towards the door to open it for Twilight. The purple mare reaches the door just a second before Spike does. The door bursts open, knocking the dragon onto his back. The little dragon groans as he picks himself up off of the floor.

"Good, you're both here. Find me that old copy of Predictions and Prophesies. Uh... What was that for?" She asks as she points out the ruined package.

"Well... It was a gift for Moondancer, but..." Spike says with a heaving sigh of disappointment.

"Moondancer is hosting another party?" Fives asks. "Sweet! Her bashed are the best!"

"Spike, Fives," Twilight scolds. "You know we don't have time for that sort of thing."

The human and dragon hang their heads in defeat. Using the magic from her horn, Twilight begins tearing through the hundreds of books on the many shelves in her study.

"No... No... No... No! Spiiiike!"

"It's over here, Twilight!" Spike calls as he holds up the tome.

Twilight takes the book from his claws and begins shifting though the pages.

"Elements... Elements... E... E... E... Aha! Elements of Harmony. See... Mare in the Moon?" She asks.

"Mare in the Moon?" Fives repeats. "But, that's just and old pony's tale."

"Mare... Mare... Aha! Mare in the Moon, a myth from olden pony times..." Twilight reads. "A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony, and imprisoned on the moon... Legend has it, that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal! Guys, do you know what this means?!" Twilight demands.

"No..." Fives and Spike answer in unison.

Using her magic, Twilight gives Spike a quill and parchment.

"Spike, take a note please, to the princess."

Spike holds the paper up, signaling he is ready. Twilight clears her throat.

"My dearest teacher, my continuing study of pony magic has lead me to the discovery that we are on the precifest of disaster-"

"Hold on." Spike stops her. "Preci... Prece..."

He looks at her, silently asking for help.

"Threshold?" Fives suggests.

"Threeeeeh." Spike tries to pronounce, only to be defeated again.

"Uh... Brink?" Twilight asks.

Spike looks at her as though she was insane. It took all of Fives' willpower to not laugh. Twilight had simply had enough.

"Uhg, that something really bad is gonna happen!"

Spike continues writing.

"For you see," Twilight continues. "The mythical Mare in the Moon is in fact Nightmare Moon! She is about to return to Equestria and bring with her, eternal night! Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true. I await your quick response. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

"Twiiilight... Spaaarkle!" Spike finishes.

"Great. Send it." Twilight says.

Spike does just that. With a huff, and a blow of green flames, the letter disappears into thin air.

"I wouldn't hold your breath, Twilight." Fives says.

"Oh, don't worry. The princess trusts me completely, and all the years she has been my mentor, she has never once doubted me."

Spike burbs green flames as a letter from Celestial arrives.

"See?" Twilight asks. "I told you she would want to take immediate action. Read it."

Spike clears his throat as he opens the letter.

"Ehem! My dearest and most faithful student, Twilight, you know I value your diligence, and that I trust you completely..."

Twilight nods with approval.

"But you have got to stop reading those old pony tales!"

***Part 2: Goin' Places***

Fives was roaring with laughter. His and Spike's laughing could be herd over the rushing winds as they made their way across the clouds.

"Read it again, Spike! Read it again, the last part!"

Twilight groans as Spike mockingly clears his throat.

"Dear Twilight Sparkle, make some friends!"

Both human and dragon erupt into laughter again, causing Twilight to hang her head in shame. After the laughter died down, Fives leans over to Spike, on the other side of the carriage.

"So, uh... Where are we going again?"

"We are heading for Ponyville." Spike says.

"Ponyville..." Twilight groans. "Why Ponyville, of all places?"

"Isn't Ponyville hosting the Summer Sun Celebration?" Fives asks.

Twilight's heart sinks even further. She felt betrayed. Celestia had abandoned her.

"Let's just get this over with..."

***Part 3: New Town Mare***

The carriage landed some short time later in Ponyville square. Twilight, Spike, and Fives quickly dismount.

"Thank you, sirs." Twilight says politely.

The pegasus guards give a slight bow before returning to the air.

"What is first on the list Celestia gave us?" Fives asks nervously.

He was getting a lot of uneasy stares from many ponies.

"We need to oversee the weather team, decorations, food preparations, orchestral preparations, and..."

Twilight was cut off. She found herself snout to snout with a bright pink pony with a pink, fluffy mane to match. Her cutie mark bore three small balloons.

"Um... Hi-" Twilight begins.

The pink mare gasps very loudly before disappearing into the crowd.

"Well... That was weird." Fives mutters.

***Part 4: Applejack***

"Summer Sun Celebration official overseer's checklist." Fives reads aloud as they walk up the road to a barn and farm house. "Number one, banquet preparations at... Sweet Apple Acres?"

A loud 'yeeee haw!' catches their attention. Twilight, Fives, and Spike watch as an orange mare storms across their path. She ran from apple tree to apple tree, kicking them violently. Twilight sighs as she approaches the mare.

"Good afternoon! My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I-"

"Well howdy-do, Miss Twilight! It is a mighty pleasure making your acquaintance! I'm Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do love makin' new friends!"

"F-Fri-iends?" Twilight asks as her hoof is shaken violently in greeting. "Ehem! Well, I am in fact here to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, and you are in charge of the food?"

"We sure are!" Applejack expressed proudly. "Would you care to sample some?"

Fives nods eagerly. The aroma of many apple-based foods was already clouding his mind. Applejack finally notices the human.

"Is this one yours?" The orange mare asks coldly.

Twilight picked up on the unfriendly tone.

"Yes, but he is a good... Uh... friend of mine. He has been for most of my life."

Applejack's friendly grin returns.

"Friend? That's mighty sweet. It's hard to find ponies and humans who enjoy each other's company. What is his name?"

"I... I'm Fives..." The human replies.

Applejack similes brightly.

"Come on, Twilight. I'll show ya the food and the whole family!"

***Part 5: Rainbow Dash***

The trio eventually came across the location where they were supposed to meet the weather team.

"Are you sure this is it, Twilight?" Spike asks. "There is supposed to be a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds."

"Well, she's not doing a very good job, is she?" Twilight scolds.

Before she knew it, Twilight was knocked off of her hooves and into a puddle of mud. The blue pegasus that crashed into her begins to snicker.

"Uh... hehe... Excuse me? Let me help you."

Twilight, still dazed and confused, looks up in time to see a small, dark cloud pour its rain on her.

"Oops..." The blue pegasus says. "I guess I over did it. How about this?"

Twilight yells as a whirlwind engulfs her. When the wind dies down, her mane and tail were fluffier than cotton candy. After a moment of silence, the pegasus, Spike, and Fives burst into laughter. Twilight sighs.

"Let me guess... You're Rainbow Dash?"

"The one and only!" Rainbow confirms. "Why? You heard of me?"

"I heard you're supposed to be keeping the skies clear." Twilight snaps. "I'm Twilight Sparkle. The princess sent me to check on the weather." She says with a kinder smile.

"Yeah, yeah. That'll be a snap." Rainbow says dismissively. "I'll do it in a jiffy, just as soon as I am done practicing."

"Practicing? Practicing for what?" Fives asks.

Rainbow Dash eyes the human carefully.

"Is this guy yours?" She asks.

"Yes, this is is Fives." Twilight introduces him.

"Pleased to meet you, kid." Rainbow says from atop her cloud.

Fives couldn't explain it, but he could feel she was sincere. Almost as though she was actually glad to have met him.

"Now, to answer your question," Rainbow continues. "The Wonderbolts! They're going to preform at the celebration tomorrow, and I'm gonna show them my stuff!"

Twilight smiles smugly.

"The Wonderbolts?" She asks.

"Yup." Rainbow confirms.

"As in, the most talented fliers in all of Equestria?"

"That's them."

Twilight's grin grows. She had Rainbow right where she wanted her.

"Please! They would never accept a pegasus who can't keep the sky clear for one measly day!"

Rainbow's eyes widen.

"Hey, I can clear this sky in ten seconds flat!"

"Prove it..." Twilight challenges.

Like the lightning bolt on her flanks, Rainbow Dash shoots off into the air. She soars through the sky, bursting clouds left and right. After clearing the sky, she lands in the bridge.

"What did I say? Ten. Seconds. Flat. I would never leave Ponyville hangin'!"

Twilight, Fives, and Spike could only stare in awe. Rainbow Dash chuckles.

"Haha! You should see the looks on your faces. You're a laugh, Twilight Sparkle! I can't wait to hang out some more!"

With that being said, Rainbow Dash takes off, leaving the trio awestruck.

***Part 6: Rarity***

Spike groans from atop the purple mare's back.

"Eh... Too many apple fritters." Twilight explains. "Applejack's 'kin' were a strange bunch, but they were very helpful. I am confident the festival banquet is in good hooves. What's next on the list?"

Fives pulls the paper from his pocket.

"Erm... The instructions say decor and ambiance is next. A Miss Rarity is in charge of that committee."

Twilight nods.

"We have a location to meet this pony, right?"

"Of course, Twilight.It is just up the road."

"This looks like the town hall. Are you sure we are supposed to meet Rarity here?" Twilight asks.

Fives nods. Inside the building, he could already hear a mare whining and complaining rather loudly. Twilight, Fives, and the now revived Spike walk inside.

"No, no, no! This fabric is simply horrid! This entire line must be changed to magenta!" A white mare demands.

"But, ma'am..." Another pony objects. "This is red, like you requested. What's wrong with it?"

The white mare spins around like he had just spoken blasphemy.

"This. Is. Red?!" She shouts. "I asked for a darkened magenta hue! This is... is... the color of brick! Just take it down, please!"

Twilight decided to step in, for the sake of the poor, very confused stallion.

"Um... Hello, there. I'm Twilight Sparkle. You must be Rari-"

Rarity looks at her and screams in horror.

"Oh, darling! Your mane! What has happened to your mane?!"

Fives and Spike snicker as they recall the incident with Rainbow Dash. Twilight frowns at them, and the snickering stops.

"Well... A blue pegasus named-"

"Wait just one moment, don't tell me. It was Rainbow Dash, wasn't it?" Rarity asks.

Twilight nods.

"How did you know?"

"Uhg! Where do I begin? That pegasus has no respect for the fine arts! She constantly interrupts my delegate work and desperately tries hamper anything I want to accomplish! Oh, but where are my manors? I am Rarity. It is a pleasure to meet you, uh..."

"Twilight Sparkle." Twilight reminds her. "I'm here on behalf of Princess Celestia to-"

"You know the princess?!" Rarity squeals. "What is she like? Oh, please, tell me every single detail!"

"Maybe another time... We are only here to check on the decorations for the Summer Sun Festival." Twilight says hurriedly.

Rarity's gaze drops.

"Ah... I see. Well, I'll show you the progress I have made, then."

Fives finally catches her eye.

"Is this your human, Twilight Sparkle?" She asks.

Without waiting for an answer, Rarity approaches him.

"A very fine specimen, indeed... Can he speak?"

"I can..." Fives answers, feeling slightly offended.

"Oh, how marvelous! Tell me, how good are you with color coordinated organization?"

"Oh, Fives is an expert!" Spike exclaims. "He has ordered Twilight's books by color a thousand times."

Rarity raises her eyes. She was impressed, and not just by his ability to speak and preform slightly complicated tasks...

"Oh, Twilight, you simply must allow me to borrow the aid of this fine, young man. I really need help around my shop. He will be well cared for, of course-"

"Miss Rarity, if you don't mind, we are really getting off track." Twilight says quickly.

Rarity blushes bright red.

"Right, the decorations for the festival... Right this way." Rarity says as she motions for Twilight to move to the center of the town hall.

Fives tries to follow his mistress, but Rarity stops him for a moment.

"Please, do consider my offer. I could really use the assistance of a... strapping human such as yourself..." She whispers to him.

Fives didn't know how to respond. Twilight only used that time of voice when she was in a lustful mood. Rarity was already trotting after Twilight. She turns back and gives him a quick, but very noticeable 'wink'.

"Wow... Isn't she something?" Spike asks.

Fives snaps back to reality.

"W-What?"

"She winked at me!" Spike says excitedly.

Fives chuckles and plays along.

"You have a crush on Rarity?"

"She's the most beautiful pony I have ever seen..."

Spike sounded as though he as a million miles away.

"Come on, you little monster." Fives says jokingly as he lifts the immobilized dragon over his shoulder. "Let's get moving."

***Part 7: Fluttershy***

"Ahhh... Wasn't she wonderful?" Spike moans from atop Twilight's back.

"Focus, Casanova," Twilight mocks. "What's next on the list?"

"Music, it's the last thing on the list." The dragon says.

As if on que, the singing of birds began just down the road. A yellow pegasus was floating next to a tree where a dozen birds were singing together in harmony. Well, all but one, who was singing off time and off key.

"Oh my... Everyone stop, please." The yellow pegasus says quietly as she floats towards the offending bird. "Excuse me, sir... No offense, but your singing is just a tiny bit off. Now, follow me. A-one, a-two, a-one two three fou-"

"Hello!" Twilight shouts from the road.

The pegasus yelps, causing the birds to disperse.

"Oh... I'm sorry." Twilight apologizes. "I didn't mean to frighten your birds. I just came to check up on the music, and it sounded wonderful."

The pegasus lands in front of Twilight but doesn't say a word. Twilight smiles awkwardly.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle," She says. "What's your name?"

"Um... I-I'm Fluttershy..." She whispers inaudibly.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Twilight asks.

"M-My name is Fluttershy..." She says even quieter.

"Didn't catch that." Twilight says.

The pegasus whimpers. Fluttering in the tree signals the return of the birds.

"Weeeeell, it looks like your birds are back!" Twilight says excitedly. "Everything looks to be in order, so I will be going, now..."

The yellow mare watches as Twilight retreats down the road where a little dragon and a human were waiting. She gasps and rushes after them, knocking Twilight out of the way with ease.

"Oh, a baby dragon!" She shouts. "He is so cute!"

"Well, well, well..." Spike basks in the light of his new fan.

"And he talks! I've never even herd of a talking dragon before! This is so unimaginable!

Fives helps Twilight back onto her hooves.

"You've never called me 'cute'." He whispers to her.

"I've called you dirtier things, Fives." Twilight hushes back. "Well, I guess we'll be going!" She says as she picks up Spike with her magic and places him on her back.

The yellow mare trots after them.

"What's his name?" She asks.

"I'm Spike!" The dragon says proudly.

"Oh, how wonderful. I'm Fluttershy."

Twilight rolls her eyes.

"Oh, gosh, a talking dragon! What do dragons talk about?" Fluttershy asks.

"Well, what do you want to know?" Spike replies.

"Absolutely. Everything."

***Part 8: Pinkie Pie***

"And that's the story of my whole childhood!" Spike says as he finishes. "Well, until today. Would you like to hear about today?"

"Oh, yes, please!"

The sun was already setting over Ponyville as Twilight, Spike, and Fives reach their final destination.

"Oh, goodness, how ever did we get here so fast?" Twilight asks as she turns to Fluttershy. "Well, this is where I will be staying in Ponyville, and my poor, baby dragon needs his sleep."

Spike looks down at her.

"What? No, I don-Aaaah!" He shouts as he is thrown from Twilight's back.

Fives snickers quietly.

"Aww... Look at that..." Twilight says, pouting mockingly. "He's so tiwerd, He can't even keep his widdle bawence."

Fluttershy races to pick the little dragon up.

"Oh, you poor thing! You must get into bed right away!" She says as she carries Spike inside the Golden Oak Library.

Twilight rushes after her and throws Fluttershy out.

"Yes, yes, we'll get right on that. Goodnight!"

With that being said, Twilight slams the door.

"It's a little dark in here." Fives comments.

"It's completely dark." Spike adds.

Twilight sighs with relief

"I am glad that's over. Now, I can sit down and research the return of Nightmare Moon without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to be friends all the time. Somebody find the light switch."

Fives feels the wall for the switch.

"Ah ha!" He says as he turns it on.

The room is illuminated, revealing dozens of ponies and a few other humans.

"SURPRISE!" They all scream as confetti is fired out of small cannons.

Loud music starts as the party begins, and Twilight groans. The pink mare she had encountered when the first landed trots up to her.

"Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised? Were you? Were you? Were you?"

"I was." Fives admits, holding his hand to his chest. "Wha-? No, wait!"

Twilight watched helplessly as her human is merged into the crowd.

"I just came here for some peace and quiet." Twilight tries to explain.

"What kind of surprise party would it be if it was quiet?" Pinkie asks.

Twilight backs slowly to the stairs.

"I think I'll be going to bed. Spike, go find Fives and keep him out of trouble."

Spike watched her decent the stairs until the door closes at the top.

***TO BE CONTINUED***