The Next Generation

by Sapphire Rose 12

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Sad, Main 6, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Adventure, Tragedy, Twilight Sparkle, Gore
Length: 3594

With Esmeralda, the daughter of Spike and Rarity, taken as prisoner to Cazador, Sombra's adopted shadow and Applejack, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle are grieving over the loss of Apple Bloom in war, things will never be the same.

All the Mane 6 are now married with children of their own: Gleaming Star, Apple Tree, Party Animal, Cheesecake, Lightning Blitz, Butterfly Lily, and Esmeralda. Esmeralda is having nightmares about a darkness that takes her from her friends and family. Is that darkness King Sombra’s son, Cazador? If so, can she teach him the ways of love and light?

Meanwhile, King Sombra has started a war among the ponies. Twilight, while visiting Saddle Arabia, has been forced under his control. And Applejack is grieving over the loss of her little sister in the war. And so are Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Will life ever get back to normal or is war threatened to change Equestria forever?

Rated Teen for violence, death, and elements of war

Gore Tag for death, but blood or graphic scenes are not mentioned

Published 2016-09-18 21:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-10-06 19:52:21 UTC

Chapter 1: The Next Generation Begins

Chapter 1: The Next Generation Begins

It had been a great 11 years since Twilight and Spike arrived in Ponyville. Everypony was happy with the way things panned out.

Applejack and her husband, Apple Buck, had started an apple business that traveled all around the country of Equestria. It had even been delivering beyond Equestria. Applejack and Apple Buck were very proud of their delivery service.

Fluttershy and Discord had gotten married after some confusion and awkward moments. They were having a difficult time setting up their home together. They couldn't seem to agree on anything! Fluttershy wanted their home to be peaceful, lightly colored, and themed like the beautiful forest. However, Discord had a more unique taste in decorating. He seemed to like checkered floor tiles and he loved to spin the house upside down and back up again in midair. He added all kinds of things that seemed out of place. They argued a lot about decorating, but they were still having genuine fun being husband and wife.

Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich were now married as well. They started a party store business that was very successful in Ponyville. They had lots of fun running the store together and loved to play the occasional prank on their customers.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin, two Wonderbolts, had been married for a year. The Wonderbolts was an aerial flying team. They did many tricks in the sky, so being a pegasus was vital. Due to their Wonderbolts Captain, Spitfire, quitting because she was expecting a foal soon, Soarin had been promoted to be the captain. Rainbow Dash had been trusted as the co-captain. It went on this way ever since then.

Spike, a little dragon, had grown to be taller than every one of his friends. His friends used to tower over the small baby dragon, but when he had grown up, he towered over them instead. And ever since arriving in Ponyville, he had a crush on a beautiful unicorn named Rarity. Rarity had barely noticed him until he had grown more majestic and handsome when he got older. Rarity and Spike decided to marry and now Rarity's boutique was launched in countries beyond Equestria. Spike had been snacking on her spare gems for her outfits, hoping she wouldn't find out what he was doing.

Twilight had a crush on a guard named Flash Sentry ever since becoming a Princess. Now, they were married and finally expecting a foal. They had no name for the foal yet, but they knew it was going to be a girl and the girl would be a pegasus. Twilight was nervous, but Flash Sentry wouldn't let Twilight forget how excited he was.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle had started a band when they had grown. At first, everypony thought Scootaloo might sound off pitch when she sang like she did when she was a filly performing in the talent show. But, she surprised them when her voice had been drastically improved. They had 23 albums and were working on their next one.

Everything had turned out perfectly. Twilight thought so. Nothing would ever ruin it, Twilight thought. But, she never knew just how wrong she was...

Pinkie Pie burst into the room. Twilight's friends were all sitting together, chatting. Pinkie Pie looked like she was a mix between excited and frantic.

"Girls!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Come on! We need to go to the hospital!"

"Oh, goodness," Fluttershy said. "Is something wrong?"

"Twilight is having her foal!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "We need to go see it!"

"Right now?!" Rainbow Dash asked, in shock.

"Right now!" Pinkie Pie said.

Everyone raced for the hospital.

When they arrived, they burst in the door.

"How's Twilight doing, Doc?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"She's doing fine," the Doctor said, with a warm smile. "We're getting her warmed up right now. Come on in."

The girls came inside and took a seat next to Shining Armor, Cadence, and their filly Flurry Heart.

"Girls! You made it!" Shining Armor said.

"I'm so excited for Twilight's foal!" squealed Pinkie Pie.

"Me too!" Cadence agreed.

"I can't wait for my cousin!" Flurry Heart exclaimed. "I've always wanted a cousin!"

"Let's just let her settle into it," Applejack said. "We'll wait here for as long as it takes."

"Breathe, Princess!" the Doctor said. "Now, push!"

Twilight let out cries of pain. Everyone stared after the room in shock, except for Cadence. She knew exactly what Twilight was going through.

"Oh, goodness," Fluttershy said. "That sounds... painful."

"Yeah, I hope everything goes well for me," Rarity said.

"What?" Applejack said.

"I mean... nothing!" Rarity exclaimed.

15 hours after labor, everypony in the waiting room was asleep.

They all awoke to the sound of their hoofsteps.

"About time!" Flash said. "My hoof is broken!!"

"Twilight has given birth to a healthy baby pegasus!" the Doctor announced. "It's a girl!"

"Can we go see?!" Fluttershy asked in excitement.

"Of course, come on in!" Flash said.

Shining Armor, Cadence, Flurry Heart, Spike, and the rest of the Mane 6 came into the room.

"Sugarcube, are you alright?" Applejack asked.

"Yes," Twilight said. She sounded exhausted. "But, I'm still so happy."

"Can we see the baby?" Pinkie Pie asked, excitedly.

Twilight revealed the baby, concealed in blankets to her friends and family. She was a blue-purple color and her eyes were blue.

"Aww!!" everyone said.

"She's so cute!" Flurry Heart said. "I feel so lucky to be her cousin! Woohoo!"

Flurry Heart flew around the room, excitedly. Shining Armor and Cadence laughed.

"Our daughter sure has a lot of energy," Shining Armor said.

"That's a good thing... during the day," Cadence said.

They laughed.

"What will you name her, Twilight?" Rarity asked.

"Flash and I were thinking..." Twilight said. "Gleaming Star."

"Why, that's beautiful!" Applejack complimented.

"Just like the gleaming star that she is!" Rarity agreed.

"May I hold her, Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked, hopefully.

"Of course, Pinkie Pie," Twilight said.

Twilight gave the baby to Pinkie Pie. Gleaming Star looked up at Pinkie Pie and smiled.

"Hi, Gleaming Star," Pinkie Pie said. "You must feel so lucky to have the best mother ever!"

"Aw, Pinkie Pie. Don't be too nice," Twilight said, modestly.

"It's true!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Wow, Twilight," Spike said, in disbelief. "I can't believe you have a foal now."

"Me either," Twilight agreed.

"Speaking of foals, we---" Spike began.

"No!" Rarity interrupted. "Don't tell them yet!"

Spike sighed. "Fine."

"Aw, come on," Applejack said. "Now, we really want to know what it is."

"Okay, fine," Rarity said. "Spikey and I have some exciting news."

"YES!! YES!! YEEEEESS!!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

Sweetie Belle jumped around the room, excitedly. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom only watched in confusion.

"What's going on?" Scootaloo asked. "You've been running around like that for an hour!"

"Girls! Guess what?" Sweetie Belle squealed. "I'm an aunt!"

"Wait, what?!" Apple Bloom asked.

"Rarity and Spike are having a foal!!" Sweetie Belle announced. "EEE!! I'm so excited! I've never had a niece before!"

"That's awesome, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo said. "We're so excited!"

"But, we bet we're not as excited as you!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"She's due in 9 months!" Sweetie Belle said. "I'm so excited!"

"I didn't know it was possible for a dragon and a pony to have a baby," Scootaloo said.

"Well, it is possible!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "Rarity's friends flipped out too!"

"We can't wait for her to come!" Scootaloo said.

Rainbow Dash and her husband, Soarin, were at the park.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash," Soarin said. "How about I buy the diamond edition of Daring Do and the Sapphire Stone?"

"Aww, you'd do that for me?" Rainbow Dash said.

"Yeah, anything for you!" Soarin said. "Let's go!"

"Yes!" Rainbow Dash squealed.

Soarin bought Rainbow Dash the book and handed it to her.

"See?" Soarin said. "It would sure be nice to have somepony to read this to at night."

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. Soarin was like this all the time.

"No, you cannot change my mind with more Daring Do merchandise," Rainbow Dash said. "I don't want kids yet!"

Soarin fell to the ground, hooves up to the sky as his wife walked away. "Dang it!!!"

A little foal was wrapped in a pink blanket as Rarity sat in the hospital exhausted.

"Congratulations on your baby girl, Rarity!" the Doctor congratulated.

"Thanks, Doc," Rarity said. "I'm winded."

"Finally! My claw was about to break off!" Spike exclaimed.

Rarity smiled sheepishly at Spike.

"I will go tell your friends of the delivery," the Doctor said.

As the Doctor left, Rarity got a good look at the baby. "Oh my!"

"What is it?" Spike asked.

Spike saw the baby.

"Whoa!" Spike exclaimed. "She's... she's... a... she's a both of us."

"I believe the proper term is hybrid," Rarity said.

"A dragon unicorn hybrid?!" Spike said. "That's an awesome daughter!"

"She sure is!" Rarity beamed. "But, now we need a name."

"I've got it!" Spike said. "Amethyst!"

"I like the name, but it's too common of a gem," Rarity said. "I bet there are many ponies named Amethyst."

"True," Spike said.

"What about Fluorite?" Rarity suggested.

"Hmm, I'm not a big fan of it," Spike said. "That gem tastes so... bland."

"Quartzite? Quartz for short?"

"Sounds like a boy name."

"Tanzanite?"

"Okay, I'm a dragon and I've never heard of that gem before."

"That was the gem you proposed to me with!" Rarity exclaimed.

"I didn't know that was tanzanite!" Spike claimed. "I just grabbed the most beautiful gem I found in the Manehattan stores!"

"What should we name her, then?" Rarity asked.

"Well, Twilight gave me a dragon name book on her way here," Spike said. "She's always prepared for a situation like this!"

"Oh, great!" Rarity said.

Spike opened the name book and they looked through it together.

"Oh, Spike! I found the perfect one!"

"Where?" Spike asked.

"Back here!"

Rarity pointed to a name.

"Esmeralda!" Rarity breathed. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"That is beautiful!" Spike agreed. "Okay, Esmeralda it is!"

The Mane 6 and Cutie Mark Crusaders came into the room.

"I want to see my niece!" Sweetie Belle said.

Rarity giggled. "Come see her!"

Rarity revealed the baby to her friends and family.

"Whoa!" Sweetie Belle breathed in awe.

"Wow, Rarity..." said a shocked Twilight. "She's..."

"Delightful?" Rarity asked.

"She's awesome!" Rainbow Dash complimented.

"You have a hybrid offspring!" Twilight said. "I could use her to study my information on hybrids!"

"Coolest hybrid foal ever!" Pinkie Pie sang.

"Wow, that's really amazing!" Applejack said.

"She's adorable, Rarity," said Fluttershy. "You must feel lucky."

"Oh, I feel like the luckiest mother in the entire world!" Rarity squealed.

"Good, you should!" Spike replied. "Because, I feel like a lucky father!"

"Welcome to the world," Rarity said. "Esmeralda."

"Yes! I'm going to be an aunt soon!" Apple Bloom exclaimed in excitement.

"You sure are!" said a proud Applejack.

"Eeyup," Big Mac said.

Time passed by. Applejack was feeding her six month year old in a highchair.

"Open wide, Apple Tree!" Applejack said.

Apple Tree opened her mouth and ate some applesauce. She squealed in delight.

"Did she like the apple sauce?" Applejack's husband Apple Buck asked.

"She sure did!" Applejack said, proudly.

Fluttershy brought home her daughter from the hospital, filled with love and joy.

"Oh my," Fluttershy said. "I can't believe we had a hybrid, too!"

"Don't forget her amazing chaos powers!" Discord boasted.

"I'm so glad to have Butterfly Lily as a daughter!" Fluttershy said.

"I sure am, too!" agreed Discord.

"Please?" Soarin asked.

"No," said Rainbow Dash.

"Please?!"

"NO!"

"Okay!" Pinkie Pie said, mane frazzled and tone frantic. "You take care of this one! I'll take care of the other one!"

Pinkie Pie held her baby close. "Shh, it's okay, Party Animal. Mother's here."

"No need to cry, Cheesecake," Cheese Sandwich said to the other. "You're home now."

"I'm starting to think you don't know why Cheesecake is crying," Pinkie Pie said.

"Why did it have to be twins?" Cheese Sandwich asked, banging his head against the wall.

"Hey, twins are awesome!" Pound Cake, now 15, argued.

"Yeah, Pound Cake and I would know!" Pumpkin Cake, Pound Cake's twin sister, added.

After a while, Rainbow Dash finally decided to have a foal of her own.

"Oh, baby is getting fussy!" Rainbow Dash said.

Rainbow Dash tried to feed the baby. The baby turned her head away, defiantly.

"Oh, come on, Lightning Blitz!" Rainbow Dash groaned. "Eat it already!"

"Hey, big sis!" a white little pony said. "Can I see the baby?"

"Of course, Solar Dash," Rainbow Dash said, lifting her up.

"Aw, Lightning Blitz is so cute!" Solar Dash said.

"I agree," Rainbow Dash replied. "Hey, Lightning Blitz. What's that?!"

Lightning Blitz gaped and turned her head. Rainbow Dash scooped up a spoonful of the baby food and stuffed it into Lightning Blitz's mouth. Lightning Blitz squealed in delight.

"I knew she'd like it," Rainbow Dash said.

5 years later, an older Lightning Blitz trudged nervously into her parent's room at night.

"Mommy? Daddy?" Lightning Blitz asked.

Rainbow Dash woke up. "Huh? Lightning Blitz? It's midnight. What are you doing?"

"Can I... Can I... Can I s-s-s-sleep with you?" Lightning Blitz stuttered.

Soarin sat up, grumpily. He hated missing out on his sleep. "What's going on?"

"She wants to sleep with us," Rainbow Dash said.

"Ugh, tell her no," Soarin said, lying back down.

"Why? What's wrong?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I had a nightmare," Lightning Blitz said.

"A nightmare?" Rainbow Dash asked. "What was it about?"

"Well, you know my friend?" Lightning Blitz asked.

"Which one? You have six," Rainbow Dash said.

"Esmeralda," Lightning Blitz said.

"Oh, uh-huh," Rainbow Dash replied. "What about her?

"Well, me and my friends were playing with her and then a darkness came and took her away," Lightning Blitz explained. "I'm scared, Mommy."

Rainbow Dash was surprised.

"Get in the middle of the bed," Rainbow Dash said, quickly. "Sleep here tonight."

Lightning Blitz flew into the middle of the bed.

"Oh, Lightning Blitz..." Soarin said.

Lightning Blitz put her head against her Dad and snuggled. "Hi, Daddy," she said.

"Oh, come on," Rainbow Dash said. "Who could say no to that?"

"Nopony," Soarin said with a smile.

It seemed like life couldn't go wrong. But, it could. It sure could.

Author's Note

A horse pregnancy lasts about 11 months. Usually, they don't know until 1-2 months in.

Chapter 2: Nightmares

Chapter 2: Nightmares

Gleaming Star burst into the room. She was now 15 years old and a bright, happy young pegasus.

"Hey, Mom!" Gleaming Star exclaimed. "Can me and my friends go to the park?"

"Sure, Gleaming Star!" Twilight replied. "Stick with your friends!"

"Of course," Gleaming Star said.

Gleaming Star flew over to the park, eager to see her friends again. It had been a whole month since she got to see them. As she arrived, her friends caught her eye. They all stood, excited at her arrival.

"Gleaming Star!" Esmeralda exclaimed.

"We're so glad you're here!" Butterfly Lily said.

"Yeah, this is going to be so fun!" Party Animal agreed.

"Now, that we're all 14 or 15," Apple Tree said. "Well, except you Lightning Blitz, you're 13..."

Lightning Blitz got embarrassed and groaned. "Mom didn't want kids for a while, okay?"

"We should all plan something we could all do now that we're older!" Apple Tree finished.

"Oh, but where are we going?" asked an anxious Butterfly Lily. "I don't want my powers to get out of control."

"Mine either," Esmeralda said.

Esmeralda and Butterfly Lily were both hybrids because of their unique parents. Butterfly Lily had chaos powers she inherited from her father and she often found them uncontrollable. Sometimes, Butterfly Lily's powers would start on its own. She'd have to chase flying oranges down the street or frantically try to get rid of chocolate rain storms. Esmeralda could breathe fire and control weather. She had dragon wings and her dragon eyes could catch even the tiniest movement in a huge field. Although her powers could easily be controlled, she was still afraid of an accident.

"Relax, girls!" Apple Tree assured. "Your powers won't get out of control, I promise."

"Of course they won't," Gleaming Star agreed. "You girls are my friends and you have the best control I've ever seen."

"We sure hope so," Esmeralda said. She sighed, suddenly thinking of something that bothered her.

"Are you okay, sugarcube?" Apple Tree asked.

"I'm fine!" Esmeralda claimed.

"You sure?" Lightning Blitz asked. "Cause you don't look so good."

Esmeralda quickly gave in. "Fine. I'm having nightmares."

"About what?" Apple Tree inquired.

"A darkness. A shadow. It keeps---"

"Esmeralda!" Rarity called. "It's time for you to come home!"

"Sorry, girls!" Esmeralda said. "Gotta go! Bye!"

"Bye, Esmeralda!" her friends said.

Twilight sat in her castle, watching the friendship map that was slowly losing color and vividness.

"Come on, friendship map," Twilight urged. "It's been 20 years since you've called us anywhere. Please."

Nothing happened. The map remained the same.

"There's gotta be somepony who needs help!" Twilight exclaimed. "Call me and Pinkie Pie to Applewood! Call Rainbow Dash and Rarity to Dodge City!"

There was a moment of silence. Then, the colors of the friendship thrones slowly began to turn gray as well.

"Wait! What?!" Twilight shouted. "No!! That's impossible!"

Gleaming Star heard Twilight's loud hollering in the halls. She entered the room. "Mom? Are you okay?"

"The cutie marks on the thrones..." Twilight breathed, calming down. "They turned gray."

"Why?!" Gleaming Star exclaimed.

"I guess... it's due to our friendship fading out," Twilight said.

"What do you mean, Mom? You're the Princess of Friendship!" Gleaming Star said.

Gleaming Star sat next to Twilight and comforted her.

"Think about it," Twilight told her. "All of us have been so busy. We have no time to see each other anymore."

"What do you mean?" Gleaming Star inquired.

"Last week, I tried to ask Applejack to hang out, but she rushed off to her apple market before I could stop her. I tried the rest of my friends, but they didn't acknowledge me. Well, at least Pinkie Pie smiled and waved, but... that's all."

"That's terrible," Gleaming Star said. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Twilight said. "I'm not upset."

She forced a smile that convinced Gleaming Star she was okay.

"You're not? Good!" Gleaming Star exclaimed. "Hey, can I go to Hay Burger King with my friends?"

"Of course!" Twilight said.

Gleaming Star hugged Twilight. "Thank you, Mom! Bye!"

Gleaming Star rushed out the door, spreading her wings. Once she was gone, Twilight sighed sadly. She opened a drawer and got out her first ever picture with her friends. She was still a unicorn at the time. Twilight sat in the middle of the picture, her friends surrounding her. Their poses could tell you their personalities in detail. Applejack's wink made Twilight giggle a bit each time. She just couldn't resist.

"Oh, girls," Twilight said. "If only I knew what my heart was telling me..."

Sombra was indeed still planning an attack on his throne, smiling maliciously.

"Now, that I've been making the ponies think I won't be coming back," Sombra said. "I can spring a little surprise attack. And of course, you'll be here to help my son."

"Yes, Father," said the young shadow stallion. "Definitely. Your wish is my command."

"Do you think you can handle your very own... prisoner?" Sombra asked him.

"You mean like..." The young shadow got excited. "A prisoner of my very own?! One that I can force to work for my and do my every command?!"

"Great job, Cazador," Sombra said. "That's exactly what it means."

"I can definitely handle my very own prisoner!" exclaimed a confident Cazador.

"Great," Sombra said. "Go take your very own."

Cazador rushed off using his shadowy body to show menace.

"And while he's doing that..." Sombra smiled. "I will await his return to see the prisoner for myself."

There was a silence between Esmeralda's family as they ate dinner. The only sounds were the clink of the silverware against the plates and the chewing of the food.

Finally, Spike broke the silence. "Okay, what's with the awkward silence?! Usually, Rarity is pitching her line ideas or Esmeralda's using her fire to burn her food or something!"

Esmeralda sighed. "Sorry, Dad," she said. "I'm just... nervous about the nightmares I've been getting."

"Now, what are these nightmares about anyway?" Rarity asked.

Esmeralda explained. "Well, every other night, it varies between the two same things. One night I'm usually playing games with you two. Then, a darkness blocks you out and takes me away. The other night I'm playing in the park with my friends. Then, a darkness blocks them out and takes me away. And then I never see you again." There was a pause. "I'm scared."

Rarity and Spike looked concerned at each other.

"Darling," Rarity said. "They're just nightmares. They'll never happen."

"Esmeralda, we are going to make sure no one, I repeat, no one will take you away from us," Spike assured.

Esmeralda got up and sat over on the couch. "Promise?"

Rarity and Spike sat down by their daughter and hugged her.

"We promise," Spike said.

"We'll protect you," Rarity assured.

Esmeralda went upstairs to her room and quietly closed the door.

"I wish I could believe them."

Author's Note

Sorry, it took a long time. I forgot this story existed. Heck, I didn't know if anybody even wanted anything more from the story. Thank you, Startech9264 for reminding me! :pinkiesmile: