Potential

by Crisslunarflame

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, Dark, Alternate Universe, Main 6, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Romance, Adventure
Length: 11084

So, long story short, Celestia is evil and the mane 6/Cadance combine magix, and see what happens... It'll get interesting, I assure you!

Equestria. Nopony knows what its true History is, or how Alicorns seem to possess the traits of all three pony races. What is the Background story?
A tale of revenge and deceit. An old, forgotten story of the six Noble Alicorns. The six Elements of Harmony. And, In a time of change, and tragedy.... Romance? If you are interested in alternate universy stuff, then read this.

What do you guys think of the cover? I drew it, but I'm not going to tell you which Alicorn it is supposed to be! :) That is for you to decide.

Published 2012-06-28 17:04:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-12-17 21:45:58 UTC

Sonic Rainboom

Sonic Rainboom

Applejack sighed in discontent, reflecting on her evening.These dad-gum ponies don't even know what a rooster is... A ROOSTER. Ah mean, really?Ah can understand if these fancy-nancy ponies didn't know how to apple-buck, or garden, or somat' like that, but not knowin' what a rooster is crosses the line!

Applejack stared out of her window, mournfully gazing in the vague direction that she knew her home, Ponyville, to be. Well, ah wanted sophistication... right? She questioned her own judgement, and then was no longer sure what the truth was anymore. She stared out at the night, once again asking the sky and its beautiful stars for the answers.

Rocks, rocks, nothing but ROCKS! Well, maybe the occasional BOULDER or two... thought Pinkamena. She was bored stiff, and they were going to "Move the rocks to the South Field," tomorrow! Or the North field. East. Wherever the rocks weren't NOW. I DON'T think my Cutie Mark will involve rocks, or it probably would have happened already thought the pink filly.

Though she did not know any other life,Pinkamena did not think that rock farming could be all that important, or they would have this thing called Imports and Exports.

She sighed again, and then stared blankly at the plain, rock-filled horizon. Everything, full of rocks, until the farmland met the horizon.

A small white unicorn bustled about her room, frantically attempting to create "Better" costumes for the school play.Oh, I hope they'll be good enough... thought Rarity.

Suddenly, her horn started to glow, and it pulled her away from her work.

"WHAT, STOP, you stupid HORN, I have WORK to do!"

After a few moments struggle, Rarity gave up, and allowed her horn to drag her wherever it was pulling. A few minutes later, she was out of Ponyville, and facing what looked like... a Rock Farm? She was overlooking a cliff, and right in front of a giant boulder.

Only one thing crossed her mind as she stared at it with a loss for words and tears in her eyes. Why? WHYWHYWHY?

Fluttershy screamed louder than she ever had, as she tumbled out of the sky, out of her safe haven of Cloudsdale.

"aaaahhhh..."

Suddenly, she made impact with something soft and tickly, and dared to peek open her eyes.. Sudden curiosity made her widen both eyes at the alien sight before her.

All around her were soft, furry creatures, birds and butterflies, and cute little bunny rabbits! Where Am I, what IS this wonderful place. Oh, I shall stay here for ever and ever! After these brief thoughts, Fluttershy commenced to break into song, and frolicked happily with her new friends.

Twilight panted and struggled, as she tried to summon SOMETHING, anything from her horn. She knew that she had magic inside of her! In fact, she could feel it fighting to break free, as if it was locked in an airtight cage.

WHY did it have to be hatching a DRAGON EGG? That's such a dumb task! Twilight flung herself at the egg, trying desperately to open it. With a deep concentration, Twilight's horn sparked... and then went out like a... sparkler.

With a face of great regret, Twilight dropped herself into a sitting position. With her eyes no longer glowing from exhilaration, she trembled and spoke remorsefully to the judges.

"I... I'm sorry. I... I c-can't d-d-do it."

"Ready... GO!"

Rainbow Dash was off! NOW was the time. The time she had waited, for. Time to show up those jocks, to prove her worth, and to defend Fluttershy's honor. Those jocks have picked on ponies like me and Fluttershy for TO long, she thought.Now it's my turn... And I will defeat them once and for all!

The race course twisted left. It swiveled right. A deep nose dive was coming up, and it was too much pressure for one of the young colts, so she ricocheted away.In response, Rainbow immediately sped up. She could feel the wind in her mane, the exhilaration, the other Pegasus was already far behind...

Rainbow increased her velocity even more. Wait... is that a BUBBLE forming around me? Rainbow briefly thought of her friend Derpy, and her muffin-bubble obsession. Shaking those thoughts from her mind, she noticed that the "Bubble" around her was narrowing... looked more like a triangle... Rainbow clenched her teeth and commenced to speed up even more.

For Fluttershy, was the only thought going through her mind when she neared the ground.

Rainbow waves swept across the night sky, hungrily licking the stars. The beautiful colors contrasted well with the dark blue cloak and its twinkling stars gave the whole night an aura of magic. Ponies widened their eyes in amazement as the watched the effects of the impossible feat. For hundreds of years, the 3Sonic Rainboom had been a myth, and old mare's tale.

Now, it was a fact. Rainbow Dash would always be remembered, forever in history, as the pony who had done the impossible. The creator of the Sonic Rainboom.

Applejack had seen the Rainboom, and a long rainbow that ended at her distant home, Ponyville. She was able to swallow her pride, and admit the truth to herself: She belonged at home, with her loving family. As she arrived home late that night, she was surprised to find that three shiny red apples had appeared on her flank.

When Pinkie Pie saw the Rainboom, she experienced the joy of happiness and smiles. In response, she threw a spectacular party for her family, because she knew she had to share her laughter with them. During the party, Pinkie's Cutie Mark appeared. Three pastel balloons, that represented her love of parties and making other ponies laugh and smile.

The Rainboom made such a massive explosion, that it split Rarity's boulder clear in half. A sniffling Rarity opened her eyes to look at the rock, and was sincerely surprised to see the jewels in the center. Later that night, those jewels were generously used to beautify the costumes that Rarity had made for the school play. During that play, she earned her cutie mark: Three blue diamonds that represented her skill at finding jewels, and the generosity she showed when donating them to the school play.

When Fluttershy was acquainting herself with her new friends, there was a loud explosion that frightened all of the animals into hiding. When it was over, Fluttershy called to the creatures, and comforted them, and discovered that she had an uncanny ability to communicate with the animals on an unknown level. The three butterflies that appeared on her flank represented her kindness and ability to communicate with animals.

When the Rainboom released its powerful energy, the cage that Twilight's magic was locked in suddenly opened. Her magical potential burst forth in a powerful wave, and created a pink magical aura that surrounded the room. It turned her parents into cacti. The judges levitated. The dragon egg hatched, and the dragon grew to a size greater than the castle.

Twilight struggled, helpless and unable to control the magical attack. With her glazed eyes, she was not even sure of what was going on, until she felt a soft wing on her shoulder.

She spun around, and found herself staring into the gentle eyes of her princess of the moon, Luna. Princess Luna offered the small filly a comforting smile, and gently urged Twilight to subdue her magic. Using her own power, Luna gently decreased the flow of magical energy from the young Unicorn. Realizing what the Princess was doing, Twilight eased down, and the tension left her body. Within a few moments, Twilight's parents were ponies once more, the judges were no longer floating, and the baby dragon was his normal size, sucking on his tail.

When things had calmed down, the first thing that Twilight noticed was her new Cute Mark. A six-point star, enveloped by smaller magical stars was a representation of her raw magical ability. Now that the cage had been unlocked, she would have access to this well of endless magic for the rest of her life. She would later learn to control her magic, by studying under Princess Luna herself, as her personal Protege.

Rainbow Dash landed back in Cloudsdale, and was greeted by an eruption of cheers.She was immediately congratulated by the impossible Rainboom, and everypony was  exited to see her. They asked her questions, and suddenly even her enemies were her friends.

In the midst of the sudden chaos, Rainbow glanced at her flank, and notices the new detail. Her Cutie Mark, a cloud with a Rainbow-Lightning Bolt had finally appeared. It would represent Rainbow Dash's incredible feat of the Sonic Rainboom, and the loyalty she had shown her friend, Fluttershy, which had prompted the race and Rainboom anyways.

On this day, these six ponies gained more that just their Cutie Marks. The likelihood of their friendship was strengthened, and they would always be linked through this experience.

They also discovered their elements. In discovering their talents, they also discovered what it took to get their Cutie Marks. Applejack discovered the Honesty within herself. Pinkie Pie discovered the joy of sharing Laughter with others. Rarity found out that Generosity felt good, and had its own rewards. Fluttershy shared Kindness with the animals, and developed an intimate communication. Rainbow Dash was Loyal to her friend, Fluttershy, and that was the reason for the race. Twilight, in unleashing her magical potential, had discovered magic, but did, have yet to discover the true magic of Friendship. But, since the spark was planted and the ponies forever linked, that, was just a matter of time.

Together, these six ponies made up the Elements of Harmony. They were now destined to come together under Princess Luna, and fight the evils that would come to be. They would defend Equestria from evil, and bring everypony to Eternal Harmony.

...

Painful Memories

Painful Memories

Trees are perennial, long living, plants. Some of them can survive for up to thousands of years, with their bark growing thicker with each passing decade. Trees must also be strong to survive. All of their limbs must work together in perfect harmony for its being to exist in peaces.

Equestria was not always as it is today. Most tales of old have been long since forgotten, or dismissed as mare's tales. However, these tales should not all be readily dismissed, because there are some ponies that will find the Truth engraved inside their boundaries.

There is, one old, old myth, a legend, a tale that is remembered by a select few ponies. This, My Little Ponies, is the tale of the Six Noble Alicorns...

Long, long ago, this planet was a desolate wasteland, with no ponykind. Equestria did not exist, and the only life in existence were small, primitive protists, and weak, prokaryotic organisms. It was a dark and dreary place, with no existance of seasons, day, or night. The small, humble life forms that evolved to survive in the weak atmosphere had no energy source but the distant stars. With no sun and no moon as a steady energy source, most attempts at life were thwarted and they went extinct. In fact, the "planet" that we know today was not even a real planet, it was more like a rough asteroid that was forever drifting in the endless void of Space.

As the battle between sophisticated life and the harsh conditions of a roaming asteroid remained stagnant, immortal and supernatural variables began to set up the equation.

Galaxia and Eos were star-spirits. Born of the explosion of matter in a Supernova,  they were composed of pure energy, and were immortal. Their only purpose was to roam endlessly from star system to star system, creating life and future for planets. Chance being what it is, these two beings discovered the forlorn asteroid drifting in the vacuum of Space, and gave it a gift for which all of ponykind would eventually be grateful. They promised the planet a Future.

Eos and Galaxia left the pitiful planet with six gifts. They had created six beings, life-forms that would later be known as Alicorns, and had left to them the task of taming the planet and allowing intelligent life to evolve.

The six new beings were given names that, as yet, had no meaning. Their names would gain meaning from their actions as rulers, and how their created life saw them. As the Life developed a language, their opinions of the six rulers would determine the meaning that their names were given...

The first of the six children was called, Equesalis. Equesalis was an Alicorn mare, and her coat was a soft, subdued pink. Her shimmering turquoise mane floated endlessly, as if in a constant wind, and complimented her intelligent aquamarine eyes perfectly.

Celestia was the next Alicorn, and her coat was pure, radiant white. She had a long flowing mane, made up of various pastel colors, and wonderful deep pink eyes that seemed to be able to look into your soul.

The next Alicorn sister was called Luna, and she seemed to be an opposite to her sister, Celestia. She was a dark blue mare, with an even darker blue mane, that seemed to have stars within it. Her deep blue eyes seemed intelligent and trustworthy, and gave her an aura of sophistication.

The five sister's only brother was a handsome stallion named Discuerdo. He had a deep purple coat, and a deep blue flowing mane to accompany it. His eyes were the color of the the ocean, and constantly tinkled with a sharp humor.

Chrysalis was a regal mare with a subdued magenta coat. With her flowing mane of violet, and deep purple eyes, she was, in many ways, the most beautiful of them all.

The last Alicorn was called Flamentia, and she was a mare with a fiery orange coat. Unlike her siblings, Flamentia's mane looked as if it were composed of pure fire, and it cackled in the dark. Her eyes were a deep brown, as if they were trying to minimize he effect of the rest of her body.

All of these Alicorns exhibited the same traits. They were significantly taller than the ponies that would someday inhabit the planet, and they had long, elegant wings and large, magical horns. This the ponies that were to be created would later possess these same trace, but distributed evenly throughout three races. The Pegasi would be in charge of maintaining weather and climate, so that the environment would survive. The unicorns would be able to successfully use magic to raise the sun and the moon (if necessary) and assist the pegasi with climate. Lastly, the earth ponies were responsible for growing food to feed all, and had a unique relationship with plant and animal life.

The ponies would be created as such, so that if the last of the Alicorns died, the ponies would find it necessary to work together in harmony to survive and sustain life.

The Alicorns soon found it necessary to discuss the creation of a habitual planet, and intelligent life. As these six siblings conferred with each other, it was decided how they would bring life to this planet, and who would be in charge of what.

As the eldest and wisest of the Alicorns, Equesalis claimed the creation of the main intelligent life. Her creation included three races of ponies, with many  sub-races such as zebras and buffalo. In honor of the creation of the first intelligent life, Equesalis's Cutie Mark appeared: A six-point star encircled by three smaller stars; to represent the love and magic used for the three races of ponies she had created.

Celestia seized the creation of the sun creating a light-filled time that she called, day. This new solar energy prompted the growth of better developed plants and new, more complex beings began to evolve. In response to the creation of the sun, Celestia's Cutie Mark was a large, simple, blazing sun.

Her younger sister, Luna, followed her sisters hoof-steps and created a new time as well. She created night, and the moon that would constantly overlook it. Luna's Cutie Mark became an inky black splotch interrupted only by a small, graceful moon in its center.

Discuerdo became the creator of more complex plant forms, and forests. In turn, he created many complex animal organisms, such as squirrels and bunny rabbits. Becoming the "God of Woodland Life," his Cutie Mark was that of a songbird.

Chrysalis was given the honor of creating new birth, for couples to rejoice in the tender young ones they were given. Chrysalis was bestowed with a Cutie Mark of a simple pale pink flower, representing the tender young fragile fillies and colts.

Finally, Flamentia was in charge of gifting the young species with intelligence and ingenuity, so that they would be able to invent things for themselves, and progress. Her Cutie Mark became a simple flame, in honor of her most important invention: Fire.

These six Alicorns were the original Elements of Harmony.

In using powerful magic to create all of the pony life, Equesalis became the Element of Love... The Magic that is created between friends, lovers, and from mother to foal... Celestia was the Element of Honesty, like the light that showed the ponies the truth in what they could become. Luna became loyal, like the night is to the day, none is without the other. Discuerdo brought great joy to civilization with his woodland creatures, and became the Element of Joy, or Laughter. Chrysalis was given the Element of Kindness, in response to the kindness and love shown to the foals. And, with her generous inventions given to the ponies, Flamentia became the Element of Generosity.

These were the original Elements of Harmony, and their bearers; their Creators.

These Elements of Harmony, and the Cutie Marks that the Alicorns gained represented who they were. They also represented their Destiny, and who these ponies were meant to be. However, not all ponies wish to follow a "Destiny". Some do not believe that a Destiny is real.

What happens when ponies try to break away from a "Destiny" that doesn't exist can oftentimes cause pain and suffering for others. Especially if that pony is powerful. Influential.

It is easy for a powerful pony to neglect its responsibilities.

It is not always easy for a pony to remember them...

...

Corruption

Corruption...

There are many types of plants that live for a long, long time... Most of these perennials are trees. But, branches on these trees do not always live long. These branches have a way of becoming weathered or infected with disease. When these branches get such a corruption, it can sometimes damage them beyond repair...

...

         For many Millennium, the six leaders succeeded in maintaining Harmony in the World.

         The new ponies looked to their Prince and Princesses for guidance and example, and it was given to them. As the Alicorns practiced Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, and the Magic of Friendship, the subjects copied them. For a long time, it seemed that the ponies and Alicorns alike had learned that these practices would lead to Eternal Harmony. They were also shown that the maintenance of Harmony would provide its own reward, happiness and prosperity for all.

During this long period of Peace, it was believed that Harmony could be maintained forever. Alas, this was not the Destiny that some ponies chose for their country.

Discuerdo was the first of the Alicorns to change.

As the Element of Laughter, Discuerdo was constantly finding means of creating laughter in himself and others, wherever he went. He loved the sound of it, the ringing it gave in his ears, the way his heart was filled with warmth and sunshine whenever he made the little foals giggle with joy! Because of this, he made it his purpose, his Destiny, to make everypony laugh. Fortunately for him, he came across a useful expression:

"The need of the many outweigh the need of the few."

With this expression, and the need for laughter in mind, Discuerdo set out to make ponies laugh. Unfortunately, oftentimes this was caused at the expense of one, or more ponies. Discuerdo was no longer spreading happiness and laughter; he was making some ponies laugh, but he had also become a Bully. By pranking other ponies, and making the bystanders laugh, Discuerdo had strayed from his path, had forgotten what it meant to be the Element of Laughter, he forgot that his mission, his self-chosen Destiny was to make all ponies happy.

This, is when the lack of sunshine in his heart led to Darkness...

Eventually, the ponies were not enough to make Discuerdo laugh. Sure, they were funny enough, but he had seen all that he could do with his... limited resources. He wanted entertainment! He wanted, fireworks... bangs...he wanted a spectacular show!

As he was the God of Forest Creatures, Discuerdo had the ability to create new, never before seen creatures, creatures that could live up to his wild expectations! So, he simply created them. First, came the Manticores and the Cockatrices. Next, came some Dragons. A hydra or two. And finally, he created his worst. This, is what crossed the line. He created an Ursa Major, a giant bear, composed of the same elements as the Galaxy, a threat to all ponies, and an insult to his own heritage.

By creating this Monster, Discuerdo dishonored his family, and insulted the great gift that his parents had bestowed within each of them. On this day, Discuerdo lost all connection with his element, of Laughter.

When Discuerdo realized what he had done, something inside him snapped. In a blind fit of Fury, he cast destruction over the land, and rampaged alongside his beasts, as Discord, the god of Chaos. In his madness, he cast away his body and instead created one of his own. It was a chaotic ensemble of different animal limbs and fur, a terrifying coat. With his broken mind and his monstrous body, he spread chaos and disorder wherever he went, until he reached the castle of the other Alicorns.

When he reached this castle, this haven, exempt from his rampages, he gave a mangled cry, and attempted to usurp the throne. Gathering the Elements of Harmony, and Discord's lost Element, the Pony Sisters stood together and tried to reason with their poor brother. When they finally realized that all was for naught, they were forced to bear the Elements of Harmony, the gift that was given to All of them, and turn against their only brother.

When the wave of rainbow magic reached the poor lost soul, it shocked him, and he was turned to stone.

To this day, the "statue" of Discord is kept to remind ponies to live together in Harmony. For many ponies, it is a reminder, but to five Alicorns, it is merely a remembrance of their brother, Discuerdo, the pony that all looked up to and who was lost to them.

In the years to come, Discuerdo would become forgotten to the pony subjects. All that was remembered was a period of time in which Discord reigned and chaos ran ramped. In time still to come, the word "discord" was founded, and given an overall meaning of any type of chaos, disorder, or strangely, a type of musical transition. What Discuerdo had accomplished during his rule was chaos, and that was then given as the meaning of his name. Most ponies no longer remember or care about words, or their origin. But the remaining Princesses do. And they hope to make their names go down in history as well.

And they will go down in History, or at least the words they are given will. But, the meaning of those words is still the decision of those five Alicorns. Only they can truly decide their Destiny...

Authors Note-

Sorry its taken so looonnnggg for this chapter! It IS ridonkulous, I know. This has just been a SUPER BUSY summer, and I have had a lot of summer assignments and family issues to sort out. (New Sibling!!!) (Have to look after other siblings!!! :() Well, I hope that with summer ending I am able to get thing out a lot quicker, I have lots of Ideas. And I hope that they are all original, too... Well, I hope you guys like the stuff with Discord, and are wondering about the other 3 Alicorns that need to disappear. Well, all in due time... Thank you for reading!!! :)

...

Tainted

Tainted...

Some ponies say, that when a single limb gets exposed to a disease, then the whole tree will rot. Other ponies say, that if the poisoned branch is removed, then the rest of the being can continue to live and carry out its function normally. But, for this to work, the infected branch must be removed completely, with no traces left behind. If some of the dangerous traces remain, the the whole tree will become tainted,  and may begin to rot...

...

After having dealt with their only brother, the five remaining pony sisters attempted to re-assemble their kingdom and fix all that Discord had broken. When they had healed their subjects and repaired some of the damage that was done to their Nation, they decreed a national period of mourning. For all of the ponies, this period of mourning lasted for five years.

For the Great and Immortal Alicorns, this period laste for no less than a century.

During this period of great sadness, Chrysalis was most affected. Discord had been her older brother, and she had always looked up to him the most. In her despair at what they had needed to do to him, she spent her Century locked up in a silken cocoon, in an extended hibernation.

At the end of her one hundred year exile, she emerged from the cocoon, only for her siblings to find that she had changed. Chrysalis no longer resembled the graceful and kind mare that she was when she entered her imprisonment... she was... rotted...

In the place of her flowing mane, gaunt, lank green dreadlocks hung. Where er Cutie Mark had been, there was nothing, and her coat has turned to a dark, rotted black. He wings and horn had many gaping holes in them, as if they had been eaten away at by termites, and the same went for her legs.

The Chrysalis that emerged from this cocoon did not resemble the kind spirited lovely mare that had entered. She was foul and nasty, both in appearance and in spirit.

The Element of Kindness was no more.

...

Once Chrysalis had emerged from her chosen area of mourning, she became jealous of her sisters. She did not feel that being a Goddess of Birth was...good enough for her. Instead, she wanted to take away the joy, the love that all ponies found in each other, as the love for her brother had been stolen away from her. In a fit of fury, she used the last of her Element to create a new creature all together. Styled after her own appearance and abilities, of course.

She created the Changelings.

Under her power, this new breed of...monster was created, able to shape-shift at will, and to feed off of the love of other ponies. With her own power, and that of her minions, she was sure to take over the Country.

Catching her sisters unprepared, Chrysalis used her minions to rob whole towns and cities of all of their love, leaving naught but an empty shell of the emotion that there had been.

Seeing the terror that Chrysalis had been enacting on their subjects, Equesalis had only one choice. Sadly, she did the only thing she could. Gathering the other Elements of Harmony, Equesalis had to convince Celestia, Luna, and Flamentia to wield the Elements against poor Chrysalis.

Caught unprepared, Chrysalis attempted to use the Element of Kindness, only to find that it had grown to a dark grey, and was useless to her. United, the four loyal sisters stood, and cast Chrysalis and her army of minions out to the wastelands, far, far away from all civilization.

After Chrysalis had failed to take over their land, the ponies gave her a word. Chrysalis had become the word that was used when an insect broke out of it's spun cocoon, emerging as an entirely new being.

For most ponies, this was a commonplace word, with little or no significance.

To the four remaining sisters, it holds all of the significance in the world.

Author's note- Well, I hope this chapter didn't take to long, but I know it is on the shorter side. I think that the next one will be longer, though! Hope you like how I'm doing the background stuff. Remember, If you have any suggestions, just leave a comment, and I'll take everything into consideration! :}

...

Decay

Decay...

After the limbs of a Great and Noble tree have been tainted, they will begin to rot the tree from the inside. Even if those limbs are removed completely, some of the mold and disease will remain, eventually dooming the tree's very existence... Slowly, but surely, this Great and Respected tree will begin to decay...

...

Soon, life in the Country had returned to normal. Chrysalis and her army of minions had been banished, far, far away, and the remaining four Alicorns ruled as proudly as they ever had. For a time, the subjects led prosperous and joyful lives, frolicking in the warm, sun rays, and enjoying the gifts of the starry, romantic night. Giving blessings and thanks to their noble rulers, they made good use of their lives, given by Equesalis, and their ingenuity, given to them by Flamentia.

Flamentia had been the Element of Generosity, as she generously gave the pony subjects the gift of Knowledge; to create and to sustain.

Her most treasured gift to them was fire... the very same substance that made up her radiant mane...

...

However, the subjects of the Alicorns could not hope for a prolonged existence of blissfulness. Eventually, that to would come to and end...

...

The four remaining Alicorns tried their best, they really did. The simple fact was, that they were not suited to the two extra Elements in the way that their predecessors had been. Put simply, the Element of Laughter was made by and for Discuerdo, and the same for Chrysalis and the Element of Kindness. They were simply... welded to their beings, and although they were not deactivated, they would never again be used to their full Potential.

So, although Kindness and Laughter were spread throughout the Country, other elements... Such as Despair and Cruelty were brought into being.

One of the worst things about Despair, is that it changes ponies. It warps their very being, and gives them twisted, kniving, ideas.

Some of these ideas were to use Elements against each other.

...

Some of the ponies who had existed during the Reign of Discord had not been completely cleansed of his Despair. These ponies eventually used their intellect and intuition to create ideal... unfathomable abominations, with which to harm others. These feelings for ... desire to hurt... kill.., These cam from Cruelty... And, for a time, Cruelty seemed to rage between the subjects themselves.

First, they used fire. They used it to awaken long slumbering Ursa Majors... They used it to burn down houses. Villages.

They used it to kill.

...

Distraught, Flamentia brought herself upon these despicable ponies, she tried to make them see reason, to make them take back these monstrous deeds. She pleaded, she did not understand why, why ponies would use her beloved inventions to harm one another.

In scorn at her weakness, these ponies sneered, and disgraced her. The jeered, made fun of her, they offered her to join them, to become on of their association.

In fury at the very notion, Flamentia called for her Royal Guard. In anger, she ordered that all of them be brought to the castle, and forever banished in the caverns beneath, with no hope of escape. Using her powerful flames and dark magic, she concocted an inescapable Prison of Mirrors, surrounded on all sides by flames... the very weapon created by herself, but utilized by these very ponies, and at last, to bring down their destruction.

Those ponies were never heard from again.

...

When Equesalis had heard of what her sister had planned, she forced her way into the caverns, in hope of saving any, at all, of her beloved subjects.

Though they had become evil, she could not bring herself to harm or let any harm come to them. They... they were her sole creation. They were her being. Her Element. They had become her very soul.

Arriving in the Prison, she realized that it had been to late.

None of them were able to be saved... Their fate had long since passed.

With the tears glinting in her eyes, Equesalis turned and flew, straight through the magical fire that Flamentia had created. Reaching the palace gardens, she collapsed, injured and poisoned, as she had not known what these flames could do to her.

...

The flames had been enchanted. By Flamentia, they had been used as a weapon against those who had abused it... and she had enchanted them so there could be no escape.

They were poison. They disabled the nervous system, and then attacked other important systems of existance. They shut down the bodies, one step at a time.

There was no cure.

...

When Luna, Celestia, and Flamentia found their sister later that day, she was lying in the gardens near the statue of Discord. Sobbing, she lay at his feet bubbling incoherently.

In a panic, they rushed to her, in shock at the terrible burns on her body. Flamentia, realizing that this was her doing, raised her horn to try and quell Equesalis's pain.

Jerking her head up, Equesalis rasped, "No! Sister, it is not thy place to restore mine honor!" Struggling for breath, she continued, "It was never my Destiny to lead the Country. This.. this... my time... it has come. It is the time for a new leadership, not one of my rule. It is the Destiny of you to rule the Land... Peacefully, as sisters should."

She looked at Luna as she slowly slipped into unconsciousness. "Lun... Luna... It will be your duty to control the ponies... You... you are..are.. The Element of Loyalty... y-you will stay loyal to the subjects, forever..." In a sudden surge of strength, she pushed up, and seized Luna, gazing madly into her eyes. "Promise me! P-promise... me.. me... L-lune... prom-promise me..."

She trailed off, as she then locked eyes with the others.

"Cel...celestia... you need t...to stay strong... for me.... for Luna... Flamentia you need... to... promise... p-prom..."

With these last few words, and a sudden gasp of agony, Princess Equesalis, the  Firstborn of the six noble Alicorns, was no more.

...

In sorrow, Flamentia did not stay even for the burial. She was... ashamed...

Staying locked in her personal chamber, she never came out... never made any contact with other ponies.

...

Not long after Equesalis's passing, the other two sisters found that Flamentia had left. She was nowhere to be found.

...

Flamentia had left no remembrance of herself, but for her Element... The Element of Generosity. In shame, Luna and Celestia decided that it was best for the Elements to be locked away... someplace safe... undisturbed.

They knew that Flamentia was in a state of Mourning... and they would all need time to recover.

Eventually, life in their Country went back to a semi-normal... Knowledge of the other Alicorns as nothing but a myth.

Flamentia would never return to her sisters. Luna and Celestia would never cease their search.

...

Milannia later, Flamentia had yet to be seen.

....

Eventually, a name was given to the governed country. In remembrance of their sister, Luna and Celestia called it "Equestria". Equesalis had fulfilled her Destiny. She had truly earned her Name, and it was then given to a word, a beloved word that would be used by everypony for generations to come, all in happiness.

Equesalis had lived, and she had dies, and she had planted a seed of hope within every pony she ever met. Now, it is up to them to see if they grow into a tall, health tree.

...

Author's note: Well, I'm not exactly sure how ell people will like this, but I do... so yeah. I think that this is  a pretty good stopping point, sorry of it's a bit brief. I just think that it works better if it is brief and to-the-point. Next chapter will be out soon.

...

Cycle of Life

Cycle of Life...

After the rotted shell of a decayed tree falls to the ground, it begins to decay. After it has rotted completely, it becomes one with the soil that it once towered over, and thus nourishes it for the next generation. Long after the soil has been readied, new seeds will come along, carried with the wind, rain, and animals, to, once again, create a tree. The process for the new tree to grow will take time and patience, and most of the sprouts planted will not make it to the end.

But the one seed that does survive will grow again, into a mighty tree that towers young and fresh over the others. That is the way of the circle. That is the Cycle of Life.

      ....

Luna and Celestia remained the rulers of Equestria for centuries to come. As the princess proclaimed by Equesalis herself, Luna took over most of the responsibilities, and ponies began to frolic and play during her night.

Seeing her loyal day-wakers drifting, Celestia panicked.

When her jealousy took over her soul, she became a monster. She... she became Daymare Sol.

...

In reluctance, Luna was forced to use the Elements one last time, to banish her sister to the sun, where she would serve out a Thousand year sentence.

She then locked the Elements away, behind a heavily bolted door, hoping never to hear of them again.

         ...

For nine hundred and seventy-seven long, brutal years, Luna ruled Equestria and her beloved subjects alone. With no sisters, no brother, not even the ancient and beloved Eos and Galaxia for company.

She was... Truly alone...

...

Then, on the Nine Hundred and Seventy-Eighth year, on the very day of their Eldest sister's passing, a small package arrived, addressed to the Princess herself...

Opening this package, Luna was not sure what she was supposed to expect; subjects regularly sent gifts of thanks to her... it was an honor to give a gift to a Princess...

What she was sure of, is that what she found was not what she ever would have guessed. Not at all.

The package came with a note:

Dearest sister of the Night,

It has been to long since we have seen each other, but I do not expect that we shall ever meet again. It's... there are to many bad... poisoned... memories.

I will do my best to make this letter as brief and painless for both of us as possible. I have heard of the fate of beloved Celestia, and am sure you anxiously await her return within the coming years. But this, alas, is not the duty of this package...

For these... thousands of years in which we have been separated, I have been working on a project.

She is not like us... She is fragile... mortal... She is like us in many ways, but will only last for the average life span of a normal pony.

She is composed of the strands of mane and tail found in the bedroom... I have spent many, many years perfecting my technique, and have finally mastered it, and she has been created.

You will care for her, and raise her as a Princess. She will never know of my existence, and I do not expect that you will ever hear of me again.

Consider this, a parting gift, a gift that will finally make everything better between us.

Take good care of our sister, Luna.

Forever mourning the loss of our family,

~Flamentia

As Luna tore her gaze away from the letter, her eyes rested once again on the tiny foal in the box. Aloud, she spoke,

"You shall be called Mi Amore Cadenza, meaning "My Love, Cadenza," In honor of our lost and forgotten sister, Equesalis. You shall be raised as a Princess, and will live your life to its fullest. Welcome, sister, welcome, Cadence... Welcome to your new life... Your rebirth..."

Blinking her eyes, the pale pink filly stared up at the Princess of the Night in wonder, in awe at the beautiful flowing mane.

She has potential, thought Luna, She will make a fine Princess, and I will ensure that she has the very best...

...

...

Author's Note- Well, I hope it wasn't to obvious... I don't think it was.... Hope you like! As always, and comments, questions, suggestions, or concerns are appreciated and welcome! :P

...

Apprentice

Apprentice...

Once the sprout has begun to grow tall and proud, it is imperative that it be fed and Nourished so that it can reach its full potential. To do this, it's caretaker must be sure to take care of it correctly...

        ...

Soon, Princess Cadance was of the age to begin her Magical Education. Opting not to send her to a public school, Luna chose for Cadance to attend Luna's Academy for Gifted Unicorns. Cadance, as all Alicorns, had a naturally strong magical impulse, and it would be at this prestigious school that she would learn to channel her magic and what she would be best doing.

In addition to this fine education, Luna to the special responsibility of taking the young Princess under her wing, to be her first ever Personal Protege. It was under Luna's influence that Cadance found out what her special talent was.

Her special talent was Love.

...

After a few years of this mentor-ship and schooling process, Princess Luna gained yet another Protege: Twilight Sparkle. The teenaged Cadance was immediately drawn to the terrified young filly, and soon became her unofficial guardian at the palace. Together the two trained to focus and control their magic under Luna, until, finally, Cadance graduated.

Cadance never stopped being Luna's protege, that's for sure. But she did graduate at the top of her class from the Academy, and used many of her learned skills for her later occupations.

After more years of intense study with Luna, the Princess of the Night sent Cadance on a mission. Cadance was to travel all of the regions in Equestria, to work alongside the farmers and the weather captains, and to learn about how their country worked. She was to study the History of each region, and take from each one an important new experience or life lesson. These lessons would be written to Luna in a letter every time that she learned something new.

By this time, Twilight Sparkle had  become a young Adult, and was an aspiring protege. With her near-obsessive studying habits, Twilight had mastered nearly as much magic as Cadance, but still did not feel ready to face the world. Luna was going to fix that, though...

.....

        "I know I've heard of the Elements of Harmony. " Said the lavender Unicorn to herself as she made her way into her personal palace chambers. "Spike! Spi-ike! Spike? " She shouted, calling for her baby dragon. Spotting him shelving some books across the room, she continued,  "Ah. There you are. Quick, find me that old copy of Predictions and Prophecies. What's that for?" She indicated a rather smooshed looking present that had, apparently, been caught in her whirlwind of magically enchanted books.

"...Well, it was a gift for Moondancer, but... " Spike trailed off, gazing at Twilight, and then the present in deep concern.

Rolling her eyes, Twilight scoffed, "Oh Spike, you know we don't have time for that sort of thing. "

"But we're on a break! Remember?" Spike protested feebly, knowing that his argument would not dissuade the ambitious unicorn.

Meanwhile, Twilight was paying absolutely no attention to her assistant as she telakinetically grabbed books off their shelves at random.

"No, no, no... no, no, NO! uhn...Spike!"

"It's over here!" The purple dragon waved the book excitedly, only to be jerked unceremoniously towards Twilight along with the book he was clutching. "Ow..."

"Ah! Elements, Elements, E, E, E... AHA!" Twilight exclaimed triumphantly,"Elements of Harmony, see: Mare in the Sun?" She questioned,

Spike was also confused. "Mare in the Sun? But that's just an old ponies' tale. Isn't it?"

Undisturbed, Twilight again flipped through a book. "Mare, mare... aha! The Mare in the Sun, myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the sun. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the moon will complete it's millennial Solar Eclipse, and that the energy will aid in her escape! She will bring about Day eternal! " Twilight gasped in shock, "Spike! Do you know what this means?"

"Spike scratched his tummy. "No."

Twilight telakinetically flung some parchment and a quill at him, earning a dragon grunt.

"Spike, Take a note please, to the Princess."

"Okie dokie."

Twilight cleared her throat officially, " Ahem! My dearest teacher, my continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!" She paused

Spike fumbled with the quill, "Hold on. Preci... preci..."

"Threshold."

" Threh... "

"Uh, brink?" Finding her assistants apparent lack of spelling skills a major hindrance, Twilight lost her patience and gushed, "Ugh, that something really bad is about to happen! For, you see, the mythical Mare in the Sun is in fact Daymare Sol, and she's about to return to Equestria, and bring with her eternal day! Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true. I await your quick response." She paused. "Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." She turned to Spike, "Got it?"

"Got it!"

She eagerly grinned, "Great! Send it."

"...Now?"

"Of course!"

Scratching his head, Spike replied, "Uh, I dunno, Twilight, Princess Luna'sa little busy getting ready for the Summer Moon Celebration. And it's, like, the day after tomorrow." He finished on a rather weak note.

In exasperation, Twilight chided him. "That's just it, Spike. The night after tomorrow is the thousandth year of the Summer Moon Celebration! It's imperative that the Princess is told right away!"

"Impera... impera..."

"Important!"

Taking in a deep breath, Spike held the scroll out before him. He then released his breath in a small puff of green fire, making the letter to the Princess dissapear. "There, it's on its way. But I wouldn't hold your breath..."

Twilight reassured Spike, "Oh, I'm not worried, Spike. The Princess trusts me completely. In all the years she's been my mentor she's never once doubted me."

Spike burped.

Twilight stated triumphantly, "See? I knew she would want to take immediate action."

Spike cleared his throat, "Ahem. My dearest, most faithful student Twilight. You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely." She smirked."...but you simply must stop reading those dusty old books!"  Twilight gasped,"My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Moon Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville. And I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends!"

Twilight sighed as they flew in their Canterlot chariot to get to Ponyville. Did the Princess think she was a failure? As they circled over Ponyville, Twilight grimaced at her mentors suggestion Make some friends... What kind of Magical Protege gets that as their assignment? Meh.

As she stared out over the rural town, sighing to herself again. She had no idea what was in store for her... Or how her life would change over this one assignment...

...

"Look on the bright side, Twilight. The Princess arranged for you to stay in a library. Doesn't that make you happy?" Spike spoke as they exited the chariot and Twilight thanked the two Pegasus guards.

Sighing, she responded, "Yes, yes it does. You know why? Because I'm right! I'll check on the preparations as fast as I can, then get to the library to find some proof of Daymare Sol's return." She ended on a rather hasty note.

"Then... when will you make friends, like the Princess said?" Spike stared at her, concerned.

Twilight snapped, She said to check on preparations. I am her student, and I'll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends."

       ...

         Later that day, Twilight sat in her bedroom, staring into the day sky. She was fed up with the crazy ponies, and was not appreciative for the party that "Pinkie Pie" had thrown for her.

"Ugh, here I thought I'd have time to learn about the Elements of Harmony but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend-making has kept me from it!" She stared into the evil-looking sun, and spotted the moon rising even closer to the sun, which seemed to twinkle evilly. "Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the moon will cover the sun completely, and provide the energy needed for her escape, and she will bring about everlasting day." She dropped her gaze downheartedly. "I hope the Princess was right... I hope it really is just an old ponytale... "

Breaking her away from her thoughts, Spike called, "C'mon, Twilight, it's time to watch the Luna raise the eclipse! Then she'll bring about the Summer Moon celebratory Night!"

...

As the ponies bustled around the Town Hall, the pink party mare exclaimed, "Isn't this exciting? Are you excited, 'cause I'm excited, I've never been so excited- well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went *HHHuuuunnnnn* but I mean really, who can top that?"

The weather was perfect, the food tasted superb. That Applejack really is a good, honest, hard worker! I'm glad she was chosen. And I guess that Rainbow stayed loyal to her promise to clear the skies.

Looking at the decor and hearing the wonderful music from the bird choir, Twilight thought, And Rarity was so generous to donate her time and energy into those decorations! It must have been a lot of work. And Fluttershy is so kind with her birds... I'm glad she was able to get them to sing after all!

Then, the mayor cleared her throat, "Ahem. Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Moon Celebration!"

The chorus of birds sung as the ponies all cheered and clopped their hooves.

The mayor continued,  "In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest night of the year! And for a special treat, this s the year of the Moon's millennial Solar Eclipse! Before the day ends, the moon will submerge the sun completely! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every night, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria... "

The ponies silenced each other in awe, ready to welcome the beloved Princess Luna.

"...Princess Luna!"

Rarity drew back the overhanging curtain with flourish, to reveal... nothing. "...Huh?"

Seeing that their Princess did not wait behind the curtain, the ponies started whispering to each other and expressing their concern.

"This can't be good." Said Twilight Sparkle to herself.

The mayor came back on to the stage to calm the anxious ponies down. "Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!"

Rarity emerged from the room behind the overhang, and exclaimed, "She's gone!"  Everypony gasped.

Suddenly, there was a giant glittering silver and gold cloud that appeared, with lightning and flashing energy. This cloud hovered over the stage, and then from it, there emerged a blinding white Alicorn with a glittering silver and gold mane. Clad in a type of reflexive armor, the eyes were naught but endless black pits while her Cutie Mark was obscured in the battle armor. Her appearance caused Rarity to faint.

Twilight gasped, "Oh no... Daymare Sol!"

The battle ready Alicorn spoke, with a loud, rasping voice, "Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little night-loving faces."

Rainbow Dash flew up to her and scoffed in her face, "What did you do with our Princess?!"

Applejack lassoed Rainbow down and kept her down by keeping her tail locked firmly in her mouth. She muffled, "Whoa there, Nelly..."

The Daymare continued, "Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?" She carefully overlooked every face in the Town Hall, staring into their very souls. "Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?"

Taking a brave step forward, Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath. "I did. And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Sun – Daymare Sol!"

Looking at Twilight with-perhaps some respect? Inquisitiveness? The tyrant responded, "Well well well, somepony who

remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here."

Twilight gulped, "Y-you're here to... to... " She trailed off.

Daymare Sol chuckled at her weakness. She  proclaimed, "Remember this night, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the day will last forever!"

With that, the Alicorn flew into the sky, and with her magic, ripped the moon away from the covered sun forcefully. Gasping at the enhanced, blinding light, the ponies shrieked and ran for cover. Seeing this chaos, Daymare Sol continued to brighten the rays of the sun, until they were much brighter than they had ever been With this, she laughed, and flew away into the Everfree.

....

Author's Note: Well, I hope you aren't upset that I sort of skipped the meeting Elements part, but I want to try to get to the climax as soon as possible! So... yeah. Questions, comments, and concerns will all be taken into consideration if you leave comments!

Tension

Tension...

Once a tree has grown and matured, the time has come for it to fight for it's survival. It will grow among several other trees, and together, they will compete for light, air, and sufficient nutrients. Before the final battle, the air becomes tense with apprehension, and nature prepares itself.

~LM~

Twilight grimaced as she charged in the direction of the library, doing the best she could to shield her eyes from the hot glare of the sun. In her frustration, she used her magic to rip some shingles off of a roof, and furtively tried to levitate them across her face as she ran. "Elements... I need... to get... the elements..." she gasped, to nopony in particular. "Need... to stop... Daymare Sol..."  After a few seconds of fumbling in the blind, insane chaos that was the body of writing ponies, Twilight had an epiphany.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!!! She thought, dropping the shingles and charging up her horn. Sweet Luna, why aren't I just teleporting myself out of this mess?!

With her face scrunched up in concentration, a purple aura surrounded the mare for a few brief seconds, before she disappeared with a flash.

~LM~

Twilight Sparkle was in the library immediately. Upon her arrival, she began to quickly deshelve all of the books, looking for one that would tell her about the Elements of Harmony. "Elements... Elements," her voice increased an octave as she muttered in panic, "Where are you... I nee-eed you..." Her ear gave a nervous twitch, as she realized that dumping the books on the floor was probably not the best idea. She stared into the sea of books, before sighing, beggining to lift them up, one by one, to reshelve them.

After a few minutes of this activity, the repetitiveness seemed to calm her nerves and she relaxed a little.

Suddenly, the front door banged open, and a long, lithe shadow appeared in the doorway.

~LM~

Twilight snapped up from her line of levitating books, and her pupils dilated as she glared in the direction or the disturbance."What?! Who is it? Can't you see that I'm busy?" She squinted in the direction of the shadow, unable to make out any features against the light pouring in from outside.

Spike let the door swing shut quietly. "Twilight! Where'd you go?" the little dragon sounded hurt. "I...I was worried about you... I didn't see you after... after she showed up." He was trembling. "I... I was looking for you... why .... why did you leave me?" He whispered, his eyes beginning to brim with tears.

Immediately, the lavender unicorn dropped her line of magically enchanted tomes, and ran up the the baby dragon. Putting her armss around him, she embraced him and held him tight. "Oh, Spikey, I'm soso sorry! I...  I didn't know it was you coming in, and I was wrapped up i my work, and I'm soso sorry I snapped at you... " She trailed off.

"B-but... that's not what I asked, Twilight... I asked why-why you left me there, in all that... that chaos!" He struggled against her, "Why'd you leave me? Y-you... you abandoned me..." He broke away and stood at a distance, staring her in the face.

~LM~

My eyes begin to fill up with tears,  but I don’t try to hide it. Why did she leave me? I know it shouldn't be a big deal... but, I... I just can’t take it. I wouldn’t be able to live if she left me, and she did. She left me and... Oh, I just can’t go through that again. I study the purple unicorn that I have broken away from. She sits there, a... a funny expression on her face, and I search her face, seeing the immense pain that she has in her eyes.

~LM~

I drop my gaze. I know that I have wronged Spike, and in doing so, let down my son. Sweet Luna, I’m so stupid... I know he has abandonment issues... oh, and I left a poor, defenseless baby dragon in the middle of an insane stampeding herd of hyperactive ponies being pursued by the evil sun lord... How can he not be scarred for life? Oh Spike... I love you, so, so much... I've done the best I can for you, I've cared for you since you were hatched, I've played with you, and I was there for you when you learned about your parents...

I helped you.

I comforted you.

I got you through it.

And this... this is why I need to  be there for you now.

You don;t owe me anything, Spike. I am your mother... I owe you.

I look back up at him, and he’s staring at me, too. There must be something to show him how much I care for him, because I know that he yearns for that... He just is so small, so defenseless... And I know how defenseless he feels.

All the books in the world won't give me the words I need to make this all right.

~LM~

The two looked at each other for a few moments, staring at each other as if they were reading answers written in their eyes.

Twilight sighed. "I'm sorry Spike... It was wrong of me to leave you there... I know how you feel about... about that... B-but Spike... I-I... I don't know what to say... I...I guess I got wrapped up in the moment... the chaos... It just got to me. I was so focused... so focused in my responsibilities... that it got in the way of my real responsibility, you..." he looked up at that. "...And, in the end, I wouldn't trade you for the entire world... I love you, Spike."

The baby dragon paused for a moment to think over what she had said, and then ran over to Twilight, tears streaming from his eyes. There, he hugged his mother tightly, and she him, for they both knew that even after the hug was over, they would never let go.

~LM~

In our relationship, we’ll never need words to talk with each other... we do that fine already. From mother to son.

~LM~

With her face scrunched up in concentration, a purple aura surrounded the mare for a few brief seconds, before she disappeared with a flash.

After watching the whole scene from the Town Hall's overhang, a single pony stepped out, only to quickly retract from the harsh light. Not to be discouraged, she proceeded to mutter to herself, "Well, well, well... It looks like somepony knows a little more then she wants to let on... hmmm..." As she trailed off, her shielded gaze rested on a small reptilian creature that was frantically flailing in the mob of confusion, shouting for his master.

Rainbow Dash's lips curled up in a cruel smile...

~LM~

The Prologue

The Prologue…

A pale green unicorn stood next to the entrance. Though an aura of intelligence wafted off of her in waves, the mare also gave the impression of being as sweet as her Cutie Mark; three colorful peppermints. She generally considered herself a pretty good combination: Smart and Talented enough to teach at Princess Luna’s Academy for Gifted Unicorns, but also kind enough for the tender young colts and fillies she taught.

Though her Cutie Mark implied candy making, Minty Swirl’s special talent was something different altogether. Sure, the two were definably related, but the candy on her flank was a mere representation of Minty’s true talents.

Minty had discovered her talent, when she had been assisting her mother making candy h’ordevours for the Grand Galloping Gala. (They had owned a Canterlot candy Shoppe, and were catering)

Entranced by the bubbling colors that were to create peppermints, Minty had gently, naturally, twirled the mixture of the candy. In wonder, she watched as he colors responded to her will, and came out as a perfect choreography of color and flavor.

That night at the Gala, everypony was amazed at the wonderful candy provided and, in delight, Minty almost missed the moment that she got her Cutie Mark. Ever since then, the Princess had ordered her peppermints from Minty specially, and always made sure to compliment the talented young unicorn.

But Minty later discovered that her true talent was not limited to candy making. She discovered that her gift was the literal ability to mix substances at her will. She was able to take any substances, be it color, light, potions, even simple day-to-day things like baking a muffin recipe, she had an uncanny ability to combine and mix them so that they complimented each other in a composed, yet natural, way.

It was this ability, this raw talent which enabled Minty to be a teacher at the Academy. She was well liked and respected by her students, and she enjoyed her work. With a happy sigh, Minty was suddenly jolted back to the present after a large “Bang”.

All thoughts of Cutie Marks and inner meaning lost, Minty peered into the adjacent classroom. She quickly opened the door for a forlorn pale blue unicorn filly to pass.

Oh, dear. Poor, thing, I hope her parents don’t give her a hard time at home for the audition… I’m sure she did her best…

In a kind effort to comfort the subject of the failed audition, Minty offered Beatrix Lulamoon the bowl of colorful peppermint candies next to her. The down cast unicorn gave a brief mumble of gratitude before morosely exiting the hallway.

After a brief moment of regret, Minty used her telekinesis to unravel the long scroll by her side. Her eyes slid down the list until she found the name she was looking for…

“Twilight Sparkle”,

The small lavender filly jolted up with a start. A smart-looking mare was reading her name from a list! After a moment of serious debate, Twilight curled herself into a ball of nervous energy. When she peeked back up, the friendly mare was walking over to her.

Glancing at her Cutie Mark, Twilight sat up a little.

I wonder what that means, she thought, Why would a teacher here have candy as their Cutie Mark?

Suddenly, Twilight noticed the giant candy bowl levitating beside the mare, and she widened her eyes.

“Would you like to have a piece of candy before the audition, Twilight? Asked the teacher.

“Thank you, it looks delicious,” Twilight replied as gracefully as she could, trying not to tremble.

As she sucked on the delicious candy, Twilight calmed herself down, and mentally prepared herself for the task ahead.

OK. All I need to do is pass this entrance exam, and then I can have a scholarship to this school. To Twilight, reading and studying were her life. She had worked especially hard for this moment, and she felt that she was ready to shine. The whole reason that she was here was because she was studious and took her education seriously. That is why her teacher had recommended her.

I can do this. This was a very important exam, and it would be vital that she pass. I know. And I think I can do this. This prestigious Academy would help her to live up to her full potential. Gulp. Maybe…

Twilight looked into the gentle eyes of the soft green mare, and was instantly reassured. With a shaky smile, Twilight whispered a small “thanks,” of gratitude to the teacher, for just being a kind, reassuring spark of hope, which would hopefully start the fire that was her potential.

“Good Luck,” replied Minty as Twilight Sparkle went through the door. “And may the odds be ever in your favor…”

Yes.

...