Chapter 1: The Awakening of the Elements
Chapter One: Awakening of the Elements
The story begins in a town called Magiville on the day of the Sunset Celebration. Magiville is a small town located just south of Ponyville near the edge of the Everfree Forest, however, it doesn't appear on the map of Equestria because the town itself is hidden by the forest. It is a quite little town that ponies rarely visit. Most of the homes were made from trees giving the small town a very earthy look to it. The ponies of Magiville had begun to build the village itself a century after Ponyville was founded.
Today was the Sunset Celebration and young Efra, one of Princess Celestia's many students, is seen busy working on a spell. Efra is a unicorn who has a grey coat, long blue wavy hair tied up in a bun and has eyes that are two different colors. Pink and blue. The cutie mark she had was a star with rays coming down. Unlike Twilight who just sat in her own personal library at Canterlot Tower all the time, Efra decided that she wanted to train somewhere AWAY from all the busy commotion of Canterlot. She was never alone though, her friends kept her company from time to time.
"Grr-! Come on! Just a bit more power!" Efra said as her horn glowed a bright shade of yellow. The spell she was trying to perform required a lot of time and energy. And even though she was second best in her class (Twilight being the smartest) she was not as physically trained as the typical unicorn would be.
The spell was starting to take effect immediately on the target she was practicing with, an apple. "Yes! It's working! It's finally wor-". The door slammed open from somepony opening the door breaking her concentration on the spell. "Hello Efra! How are you doing? Oh, wait... Are you performing magic? Oooh! I love magic! Show me! Show me!" Said a yellow pony with ginger hair, golden eyes, a horn and a cutie mark that shows a candy with 5 Michelin stars.
"Sweetlight! Don't startle me like that-!" With her concentration on Sweetlight she forgot the spell she had been performing was still active. The spell sent a bulb of light flying across the room, bouncing off the walls of the redwood tree house. It then stopped when it finally hit it's target, the Apple, turning it into ashes.
"Um... Sorry? Heh-heh..." Sweetlight innocently shrugged. Efra sighed and rolled her eyes. "It's okay Sweetlight. Just try to knock next time okay? You never know who or what is behind a door." The ginger unicorn just nodded and said "Okay! Have a super-duper day Efra. Bye!" And with that, she left the gray unicorn to her work.
Groaning, the unicorn shut the door and went to the second floor of her tree house to take a note. Day 38 in Magiville, I have yet to discover what this strange essence of magic is coming from. It seems to get stronger when particular ponies are around each other. Some things are changing in nature-such as seasons coming early, the night is getting longer, the stars are getting brighter then they should be, the day is beginning to set earlier than usual and I fear the Mare In The Moon may be causing this disturbance. Further study is needed. Note to self - create a spell to lock doors from Sweetlight...
Deciding to go out for lunch before digging into some more studying Efra levitated her saddle bags onto her back before going out the door. Efra loved smelling the fresh brisk air of summer with her hair out, just feeling it flowing made her feel good. She was jealous that Princess Celestia has an invisible flow in her hair, when she was stuck with hair that had split ends in it. She walked down the trail that led to the Town Square, where the Sweet Shop was located. The Town Square had the farmers market, MC's Herbarium, Cocoa's Coffee shop, Clockwork's Clock shop, and a few other shops that Efra had yet to visit. Efra decided she would have lunch at the Horsy Café.
"Hello! Efra! Over here!" Said a pony that was sitting across the open cafe. The pony who called her over had a white coat, golden mane, Amber eyes (a pair which Efra envied), and a pair of wings. Her cutie mark was of three shining stars with a golden wring around it. Beside her was another pony with a light green coat with a blond mane, and blue eyes but with no wings or horn. The cutie mark this pony had was tree roots forming into a heart, as some would think she was a little too close to nature at times.
Efra trotted over to the table where her friends were. She could smell something delicious cooking within the café. "Mm...Something smells real good. So how have you been Starla?"
The pony with the three-star cutie mark known as Starla replied "Oh, absolutely wonderful! I've almost completed this seasons trends... Although it has been difficult with how quickly the seasons have gone by. Say, aren't you studying this strange phenomenon that is happening?"
Efra sighed and nodded "Yes... But I still have no idea why or how these things are happening. All I know is that when a specific few ponies are around each other sudden changes happen in certain patterns. I'm not sure how, but non-magical ponies are starting to starting to generate some sort of energy waves... Which could cause an un-natural event which could prove to be catastrophic! I mean, think about it, if we all have some sort of power in us that can change the weather and nature itself, what is to stop us from-!" She couldn't finish her sentence as a napkin was stuffed in her mouth by a green hoof.
"Efra, remember what I taught you about panicking. It won't help. Now when I release my hoof I want you to take a deep breath in, and out." Efra nodded, the green hoof was removed. "Now breath in," They both inhaled, "and out." They exhaled at the same time. "Thank-you Sweet Bloom, you always know how to calm me down." The green pony just nodded "Your welcome."
"Okay, as I was saying. What is to stop us from using these metaphorical powers for the wrong reason?" Her two friends just looked at each other with their eyebrows raised and shrugged. "Look, Efra darling, I'm sure what you're saying is true... But we mustn't make assumptions of this 'event' before it comes true. So lets get out of that conversation and start a new one, okay?" Efra was dumbfounded, why wouldn't her friends believe what she was saying? Giving up the conversation, she reluctantly nodded.
The three mares had a few conversations before a waitress pony finally came up to them. She has a yellow coat, brown mane, orange eyes and a cutie mark of a crystal apple with shining rays. "Hello. Welcome to Horsey Café. Where our goal is making you smile and enjoy our service." She said with a bored tone. The trio just looked at each other before replying. "I would like Prench onion soup, please." "A carrot sandwich, thank-you." The waitress mare wrote down the two order before looking at Starla, "And for you ma'am?" Starla looked up from her menu, "Can't you see I'm trying to make up my mind? Hmm? No, didn't think so. So I suggest you wait patiently until I am ready."
The waitress did not take kindly to Starla's comment as she grumbled to herself, "Stupid high horse pony..." She took a deep breath "Yes ma'am, I shall wait." Is what she would have normally said to a pony like this, but this time would be different. "Well then little missy, ah think you shouldn't be rude to the pony who is servin' you. And by the way, I have a name - it's Harmony Apple. Ah have served quite a few ponies like you, who think you are all high n' mighty and better than everypony else. Well guess what, ma'am, I'm not one of those poni-". She was interrupted by a loud slap across her face. She was then met with a cross looking Starla whose hoof was shaking.
The whole cafe went silent, no one dared to speak up as the two ponies looked at each other. Starla realizing what she did lowered her hoof down and took a few steps away from the now crying Harmony Apple. "I-I'm I-I....." Was all Starla could speak out. But before she could apologize Harmony Apple ran out of the cafe. "Please! Come back! I want to apologize!" Was all she could say before running after her.
"Um... I think I'll have lunch somewhere else... I guess I will see you around then?" Efra asked Sweet Bloom. "I guess so...bye."
With Efra gone and Starla going after Harmony Apple, Sweet Bloom was left alone in the café. She didn't really mind being alone, after all she did live in a hut near the meadow part of town. But sometimes she would think of having a partner who loved nature as much as she did. She did know a few ponies who liked nature but none of them proved to be colt friend material. However there was one pony who always caught her eye. And it was a batpony named Midnight Crescent, owner of MC's Herbarium. Midnight Crescent was a rather handsome stallion in Sweet Blooms eyes. He had yellow eyes, a light blue coat, dark blue mane and a pair of bat like wings. To her he was always the face she would want to wake up to, go to sleep at night and even share a life with... But unfortunately she couldn't admit her feelings to him because she was oh so shy to talk to him. As she was thinking these thoughts she didn't notice that Midnight Crescent was right in front of her trying to say 'hello'.
"Um... Hello? Sweet Bloom? Hmm... Oh well, I'll talk to you later." He left her to her thoughts.
Midnight Crescent trotted down the small path that led to the shady part of Magiville, the part where there was less light to bother his eyes. Normally he would have worn his special glasses made of crystal from the Crystal Mountains to go out but since today was a rather cloudy day he didn't need them. Since he came to Magiville the ponies have been quite accepting of him. However there would be confusing situations when a pony would think a bat-pony like him is part dragon, this would bug him to no end. Midnight Crescent had always loved the night, when every pony else was asleep he would stay awake and use his night vision to seek out special herbs within the Everfree when the creatures and beasts were sleeping. And when he got as many herbs as he wanted he would plant one back to make more. He would sell them at his herbarium each day, the cafés and restaurants were his main customers although sometimes there would be the occasional pony who just wanted to know about spices. Even Sweet Bloom would come in just to talk to him. His cutie mark was a white lotus with a crescent moon floating above it.
--------------------------(That Night)------------------------------------------------
*Knock Knock*
Somepony knocked on Efra's door. "Coming!" Efra shouted as she trotted to the door.
As soon as the door opened the grey unicorn was surrounded by confetti and streamers. "Hey Efra!!! I told you I'd see you again! Are you happy to see me? I sure am happy to see you!" Efra just sat up from the ocean of confetti with a party hat and a party blower sticking out of her mouth. She spat out the party blower at levitated the hat off of her and gave Sweetlight a glare. However Efra's glare didn't last long against Sweetlights smile, she tried to keep a straight face but in the end she started to laugh. "Hahahahaha! I heehee can't stop laughing! Y-you are just too funny LOOKING!" Now it was Sweetlight's turn to laugh. "Oh really?! Well have you looked in a mirror lately? Bahahahahaaaaaa!". The two unicorns weren't aware of the other ponies outside of Efra's house were staring at the silly duo, but eventually one pony after the other started to laugh along as well.
"Heh-heh, okay now that that's over with, heh, it's time for a party!" The ponies outside cheered and went into Efra's house. Some left baked goods or drinks on the wooden counter in the kitchen. There was a banner across one of the living room walls that had large letters 'LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR' with streamers hanging from everywhere. Everypony was already mingling or dancing with each other.
*Knock Knock*
Efra trotted over to the door. When she opened the door she was rather surprised to see Starla and Harmony Apple... Only Starla had a black eye while half of Harmony Apple's face was partially red. "Starla...? What happened to-". Starla interrupted "Don't. Ask."
---------------------------------------------------(2 Hours Ago)----------------------------------------------------------
"Harmony! Wait! Please...-pant-... Slow down!" Starla had been chasing the agile earth pony for almost an hour and still hadn't caught up to her yet.
"Just leave me alone! Ah don't wanna talk right now! And did ya really just call me Harmony?" Harmony Apple yelled back. She was surprised that the white Pegasus hadn't used her wings yet, let alone run after her for this long.
Starla was growing restless of the endless chase, and so it was time to end it. Opening her wings she was propelled through the air with the speed of a cheetah, crashing right into Harmony Apple. The two rolled on the ground until coming to a complete stop. When they stopped Starla was nose to nose with her. The two blushed as they got off each other.
"Darn, you are sure are a persistent one, aren't ya?" Harmony Apple said smugly while in a fighting stance, ready to throw the first punch as soon as Starla moved. Starla saw this and went into a defensive stance as well. "Well, persistence does help when you want somethi - oof!" Harmony bucked her. Groaning, she got up and flew right at the yellow pony and tackled her to the ground. "That was rather rude of -". A loud punch hitting the white Pegasus's face was heard. She was thrown off of the yellow mare.
The two ponies just panted until Starla spoke up. "I want to say I'm sorry for tackling you to the ground and smacking you in the face... That was not appropriate for me to do, will you ever forgive me?" The earth pony just stared, and stared until finally doing something the Pegasus never expected. She hugged her.
After a few moments past with some tears in their eyes Harmony spoke up, "It's okay... I'm sorry I punched ya'll in the face...oh...um...you got some uh blood right..." She brought her hoof up to Starla's face and wiped the blood from her cheek "...there. So I guess this makes us equal, huh?"
Starla just nodded "Yes. I suppose it does. Now that that little fiasco is over would you like to go out for some fun? Like maybe a trip to the springs?" Harmony pondered for a moment before nodding.
An hour later the two are seen having cherry sodas while in the springs. Some ponies would be surprised there would be springs in a forest, since there wasn't any volcanic activity. But these springs were generated by solar power absorbent magic. Only few ponies could generate such a feat. The owner of the springs is Sunny Rays, who runs her business off the springs.
Starla and Harmony looked up at the sky as the day was fading away and the stars were coming out. "You know, I never noticed how beautiful the day actually is... You never know when it will come back..." Starla sighed, "...and maybe one day it won't." Harmony just looked over to her before looking back to the sky before saying "Well, I usually prefer the day to the night. Cause' in the mornin' you only see one star in the sky - that being Celestia's sun but at night you can see much more than just the one star in the sky... But ah always fear for stars burnin' out just like -that. Even if you may not see em' during the day, they're still there."
The two ponies continued to relax for a few moments longer before Starla opened her eyes and gasped "Horse Apples! I forgot we have a party to attend! Harmony, let's go!" Starla jumped out of the springs with Harmony Apple following her. "It's Harmony APPLE, not just Harmon- you know what never mind." Yelled back while running after her.
-------------------------------------------------(Present Time)-----------------------------------------------------------
*Knock Knock*
"The door is open!" Opening the door Sweet Bloom came in quietly with a tray behind her. She closed the door and proceeded to the kitchen. When she entered the kitchen she put down the tray which had a jar of organic guacamole and sun dried bread. Efra soon came in to greet her one of many guests. "Oh hello Sweet Bloom, glad to see you came!"
Sweet Bloom replied "Thanks Efra, and you can just call me Bloom if that's okay. The reasons why I'm here is because I heard Midnight Crescent might be here as well." She blushed and sighed happily. Efra rolled her eyes at this as she trotted back toward her living room where the party was.
As the night went on Sweet Bloom was getting restless. She waited. And waited. And waited some more, but Midnight Crescent never came! So she sat on her rump in the kitchen eating bread with guacamole with a frown on her face. She knew she wouldn't get the chance to sing and dance with her Prince Charming, she would never-
"Sweet Bloom? What is wrong Little Bloom, did somepony hurt you?" Asked a familiar bat-pony stallion. Bloom gasped and turned around. She rubbed her eyes to make sure what is happening was real. Right in front of her was Midnight Crescent who was frowning at her unhappiness. Midnight had always treated her as if she was his sister, in the past she was very lonely and didn't have anyone to look up to as an older brother. But Bloom had always wanted to be more than just an adoptive sister, she wanted his love, his everything. "Um... No, I was just a bit lonely..."
Midnight Crescent felt bad for filly in front of her. So he brought her into a big hug. The two continued to hug, unbeknownst to Midnight she was blushing. "Why don't we we sing a song? That makes my Little Bloom happy, right?" Sweet Bloom always got flustered when someone called her 'Little' Bloom despite her being average height and age... But Midnight was a special case. "Yes, I suppose it does. Which song would you like to sing?" Midnight brought his hoof up to his chin and thought of a song. "Do you know the song 'Never Be Alone' by Neigherson?" Sweet Bloom just nodded.
Bloom and Midnight went into the living room to where the speakers were. The music was cut off by Efra who proceeded to levitate the microphone over. The two began singing.
Sweet Bloom:
Sometimes you have fight,
Sometimes you have to cry,
Sometimes you just have to wait and see that even you can try! (Try!)
Midnight Crescent:
You don't need to do this one alone,
You should never dare to try,
Because you are truly NEVER alone when you have friends by your siiiide! (Side!)
Sweet Bloom & Midnight:
Never be alone, never be alone,
Yeah baby,
Never be alone, stick together!
Never be alone, never be alone,
Be together, love each other (Love!)
Because you never know what you're going to get!
Sweet Bloom:
Never be alone, we're your family
Night and day may seem different, as a family is of frieends!
Midnight Crescent:
But together we will beat the odds, yeah that's the way we'll win!
Sweet Bloom and Midnight Crescent:
Yeah, stick together, love each other, don't let gooooo!
Just promise me you'll never be -alone!
Never. Be Alone.
As the song ended some of the ponies in the room cheered with tears in their eyes while some said 'They would make such a cute couple!' Or 'I bet they're a couple...' Bloom stared into Midnight's eyes as she came closer to the stallions face before giving him a- But didn't have the chance to as the ground started to shake violently!
This tremor lasted for a complete minute before stopping. All the ponies started to panic, running out of Efra's house dropping everything they had and leaving. As any pony would check to see if their homes were okay. Efra had also run out of her house but for a different reason, she had to check if the Mare in the Moon had returned. "No No nononononononono!"
She exclaimed. "Why now? Why today of all days why?!" Her five friends ran out of her house to see what was wrong, but what they didn't understand was why she meant 'today of all days'.
Efra ran back into her house, up the stairs and into her office. She scrambled throughout the messy desk once in a while throwing a scroll to the side. "Oh Celestia! Why do you have to disregard almost everything I write to you?! Not even a reply back to me..." Suddenly out of nowhere a scroll appeared from the fireplace she had in her office. It materialized before Efra levitated it to herself. "Let's see... Twilight is making new friends....well that's new.... Prince Blueblood still wants to date you...ew.... And.... DON'T WORRY ABOUT NIGHTMARE MOON?!? What the...?! But-but my specialty is light magic! I have every right to battle darkness like Nightmare Moon!" A second scroll appeared from the fire, she opened it and read out loud "'Dearest Efra, I know what your specialty is and how experienced you are in it. However I don't think you have the correct way to beat Nightmare Moon with just light magic. For not even I am able to fight back Her darkness. I have a different mission for you, I have felt a disturbance in the Everfree Forest, a tremor, where I believe you have been practicing your studies. It felt like nature was being merged with the night itself and the stars appearing in the morning sky, if that makes any sense. Your mission is to find the source of this strange magic and be rid of it before something bad happens. Good luck, and should you meet twilight along the' ----------? Celestia? Hmm... She must have been in a hurry." What she didn't know was Nightmare Moon had banished Celestia to the sun before she could finish the letter.
Efra quickly got her saddlebags ready for action. "Magic detector. Check. Emergency scroll check. Companions.... I guess I could take my friends. Check." She checked herself over one more time before dashing out her house. "Come on ponies! Let's find that source of magic so we can all rest safely tonight!" Her five friends wore looks of confusion and unsureness before galloping after her.
Soon, Efra along with her friends ended up in the center of town. More specifically the ruins of old Magiville after a great devastation happened. No pony knows how or what caused the events led up to the civilization being turned to ruins. But all that was about to change. When the group of friends entered the ruins the environment around them started to change. They could see flower and vines crawl up one pillar, what looked like a engraved moon on top of another pillar glowing, another that had three shining stars with a ring around it, another with a miniature, a pillar with five golden ribbons surrounding it like a helix, and lastly a pillar with glowing white mist surrounding it. She and her friends stood in awe, their jaws hanging from their mouths.
Efra forgot her mission for a moment to stare in awe before the magnificent sight. She then thought back toward her friends that day... When Starla and Harmony Apple finally apologized to each other and hugged Celestia noticed a change in the morning sky. She also noticed when Midnight Crescent and Sweet Light were about to kiss the magic in the air multiplied at the exact same time they touched each other... Then she and Sweetlight were laughing and having fun. That was when she realized something, she and her friends were the multiple sources!
She gasped "Hey gals! I just realized something! It isn't the Everfree that is controlling the strange weather phenomenon, it was us all this time! Woohoo!" She bounced up and down much to her friends confusion. "Excuse me darlin'. But that doesn't make a bit of sense. How are we the phenomenon? We're just run of the mill everyday ponies." Efra just giggled and shook her head. "Oh nonononono.... We're much more than that! We are the representatives of a - a.... Balance? Yes, Balance. And we each represent an element, well sorta... Anyways, notice how our cutie marks match up to the pillars? That has to be some sort of clue!"
Her friends just looked at each other before asking "Efra, are you feeling okay?" Efra could not believe what she just heard, were her friends questioning her? "Excuse me? Are you all saying you don't believe me?!" The group looked at each other once again before all nodded. "Fine! I'll just have to prove it to you!" She trotted up to her pillar, surrounded by a white glowing mist. As soon as she touched the pillar though she immediately regretted it as the glowing mist surrounded her and began to squeeze her. "EFRA!!!" Her friends yelled. The five tried to attack the white mist itself but were whipped back.
"Listen to me, all of you must touch your representative pillars..." A distorted feminine voice called out from every direction.
"Who-who's there?!" Sweetlight yelled shocked.
"It does not matter who I am, go, help your FRIEND..."
Quickly the five ponies went to their respective spots. As expected the powers around each pillar began to surround them. Once all of them were being squeezed to their pillar the ponies began to glow white. "ALL BECOME ONE, ONE BECOME ALL. THE POWER OF NATURE ITSELF UNRAVELED. THE PONY ONCE CONTAINED BE FREE, TO BECOME ONE AGAIN. ORDER BE BALANCED ONCE MORE. DISORDER BE WARNED. SEEK INJUSTICE, BEFORE INJUSTICE CAN ACT. ONLY THEN SHALL THE ONE BE FULL AGAIN." All of them began speaking in one voice as if being controlled by one pony.
All the pillars began glowing a dangerous white as the night that is was currently controlled by Nightmare Moon was lit up. A pillar of light lit up the heavens as a shockwave of the Elements of Order was felt across all of Equestria. Even Nightmare Moon was surprised at such a feat being accomplished, and to her this force was stronger than the power of darkness. "Perfect. Finally a real challenge for me... Oh? And do I sense an old friend too? Hmhmhahahaha! Even if I am defeated I'll still be able to have fun with HER."
"Um... Nightmare Moon? You do know we're standing in front of you right? We just heard what you said?" Asked a Twilight Sparkle along with her new friends.
"OH! Right, now where was I? Right. But that's not possible! You-you still don't have the sixth element!" Nightmare Moon replied.
"That's where you're wrong..." The battle went on...
Meanwhile*
"Auuugh.... I feel like I got trampled on by a bull...ouch..." Groaned Efra as she woke up. When she finally processed what was going on she got up and looked around for her friends.
"Oooooooow... I haven't felt like this since New Years..." Groaned a tired Sweetlight. Midnight Crescent got up easily and so did Harmony Apple. But the rest of her friends weren't as lucky, they looked as if they were having a hangover after having to much cider.
"Okay, is everyone here?" Asked Efra. All five said 'here' or 'present.' Out of the blue they heard a groan coming from the middle of the six pillars "....ugh....what-? Where.....am I...."
The group were surprised to see a mare with a white coat, black mane, a horn, light brown eyes and... No cutie mark was laying on the floor. "Who in the wide world of Equestria are you?" asked Efra. "I... Don't know who I am. I don't remember anything... It's so blurry. Who am I?" The main 6 were just as confused as to who she was. "How can a pony not know who they are? I mean unless you have amnesia..." Asked Sweetlight, every pony shushed her so the mysterious pony wouldn't get a negative emotion in case she didn't know how to control her own emotions. "Oops. I'm sorry." Sweetlight then lifted a hoof towards the mystery pony.
The mystery pony simple said "It's... Okay?" Then took Sweetlight's hoof. When their hoofs touched the mystery pony received a memory. And not just any memory, it was a memory that was very important to every pony, her name!
"Wait! I just remembered something!" Everypony there looked shocked at the sudden outburst. "Um.. I mean... I remembered something, something important. I think I remember my name.. It's um... Shell... No...Bones...no.." The group tried to help her by thinking of names that sounded like what she was talking about.
"Aha! I know now, it's Shiboah."
