A Nation Divided...by Silver InkwellChaptersA Chance Encounter/ MeetingIntroductions, Meeting Princess Luna, and PromisesTraining and CeremonyThe AttackOctavia's StoryEpilogue: A Date Without a NamePoemPrologue: ReturnRuby CrystalA Chance Encounter/ MeetingChapter Two: A Chance Encounter/ Meeting Little did Ruby know that she was being watched from the shadows by a strange pony as she walked around in the small little tiny town. “She’s on the move,” the mysterious strange pony said looking as she went across the market buying various random items, “Is the mission still a go?” “Yes, it is, just try to get close to her as a traveling sales pony, just remember that and you should be fine, hopefully there will be no guards.” “There won’t be any guards,” the strange pony said slowly approaching Ruby. Meanwhile Ruby was trying to negotiate the price of an apple, “But last week it was only one bit for an apple, so tell me why it’s more exactly.” “Because of princess Celestia’s new tax laws, I have to make profit somehow, and I’m not changing the price for any pony, even you, so pay up or go away.” “Fine then,” she said handing him the money, “But I hate taxes.” The stallion laughed, “As do we all, that seems to be the one constant that I have seen among every pony that I have met yet, and we all do hate them, but by law we must support the Solar Empire, all hail Celestia, but thank you, and have a very good nice day,” he said waving her goodbye as she left. “Bye,” she said not bothering to wave back or respond to his comment about the Solar Empire, which was true, to resist and rebel was punishable by the princess herself, and Celestia was not known to be very kind to traitors. She walked along the pathway very slowly and then took a very deep heavy sigh, she just wished that this war could end, it was pointless, didn’t they realize just how much they loved each other really and truly? Didn’t they see that their fights and battles and this war only would cause pain and sorrow and despair? Didn’t they want that to end? And why couldn’t they ever just take time to sit down and talk together? Have some tea or other random various hot beverage instead? Couldn’t they be sisters once more again? But it would be of no use to try to talk reason with them even if she could, they both seemed to have gone crazy and insane, one with power and control, the other in seeking forgiveness and love, and neither would stop their goals or quest, and neither would relent or give up, and hope was little to be found. It was right then at that moment when she was thinking all this that her life changed, or rather it started to change with the strange mysterious pony. “Hello,” the stallion said, and on instinct she looked at his eyes, they clearly weren’t a bat ponies, thank goodness, one less thing to worry about now. “I would like to offer you a once in a lifetime chance opportunity, and I can guarantee you that it will be something that you have never before seen or heard or ever experienced, what do you say, are you in miss-?” “Firstly, if you’re talking about sex, no, secondly, I don’t buy anything from a traveling sales pony, so thank you, but pleas just go away,” she said. The stallions’ jaw dropped in shock and surprise at her brutal honesty and bluntness, and she did have that effect on most ponies, and then he smiled or at least tried to, half of his face still looked slightly confused, “Miss, this is a completely free sample, and no it’s not sex, and please just don’t say that word, ever again,” he said trying to get past the very awkward situation before him. “Don’t worry, I won’t, but what ‘free’ samples of what do you have exactly?” “Adventure, change, action, dreams, ideas, thoughts, maybe perhaps even love and romance, I don’t really know it all just yet, but I hope to someday soon.” “Okay, now you’re not making any sense at all, so I’ll just leave now.” “Wait,” he said grabbing her hoof very tightly, “Come with me if you want to change this war, change the sisters, change the pain and sorrow and despair that we still have and hold in these lands, come with me if you want answers, come with me if you want another side to the story and the real truth too.” “About what?” she said, “Oh, and also, please let me go.” “Not yet, but to answer your question, everything, very soon enough.” And with that said the stallion dragged Ruby along with him. “Where are you taking me to?” she said with some slight fear. “Don’t worry,” he said, “You’re just going to go to the castle.” “Wait, what?” she said, “That’s crazy and insane, GUARDS, HELP ME!” The stallion sighed to himself very heavily and deeply, he knew that he should have used his magic against her to make her be quiet, he was very stupid. “Shut up,” he said, “Some pony is likely to be bound to notice us.” “That’s the point,” she said struggling to escape from his tight grasp. And eventually the guards did notice and luckily eight came over. “Sir, we’re going to need you to release that pony,” they said. “And I’m going to need you to surrender to me and join the New Lunar Republic if I am ever going to do that,” he said, and then he looked up at a wall where some posters of Celestia hung, but they were defaced with the NLR sign. “Nice artwork,” he said, “I really do applaud whomever may have made it.” “So then, you’re a rebel,” the guards said with a very low deep growl, “Well then, I guess that this just might be our lucky day for us now.” “That depends upon how you define lucky, and I’m also not just any rebel, I am Princess Luna’s second in command, congrats on finding me.” “Well then, you heard him, get him!” the guards said very loudly as they all attacked him at once, but it was no use, it was all in vain because their efforts, time and energy were blocked by the strange mysterious pony however. “Oh come on,” he said easily dodging them as he used his magic to block some attacks and confuse them, “Is eight the best that the princess can do?” He then laughed and soon enough every guard was on the floor since they were now defeated and very unconscious of anything happening around them. “How did you do that?” Ruby said once he had finished (she had stood very still just watching due to her surprise and shock factor that she still had somehow). “Simple,” he said, “Magic, years of training and practice and patience, that’s how, but come now, we must get to the castle, Luna will be waiting for you.” “Me?” she said, “But I am no pony special or important, and I am no more different or unique or odd than any pony else with a cutie mark, why me?” The stranger sighed as if he was remembering something very important, and he was, for he was thinking about the first time that he had to ask that too. “You know,” he said, “I had to once ask that same exact question, and I’ll give the same answer that she did to me, because you are ready for this.” “That still makes no sense at all whatsoever,” she said. “You’re ready for quests and goals, ready to change, ready to act, ready to speak, ready to change and inspire others to do the very same things, you are ready to lead or follow, you are ready because you can be changed.” “I guess that makes sense, but what is your name anyhow stranger?” He smiled at this for some strange reason, “My real and true name is hidden far away and buried deep down inside with the past, but you can call me Orion if you wish to, or you can come up with another nickname instead, I won’t mind, in fact I don’t at all actually. Oh, and the last name is Moon by the way.” “Really?” she said as he dragged her along, “That’s your ‘name’?” “Yes, it is, don’t ask why, but I did use ‘Hunter’ at one point, but here we are,” he said pointing at the huge wide big vast castle, “The Castle of the Night.” Introductions, Meeting Princess Luna, and PromisesChapter Three: Introductions, Meeting Princess Luna, and Promises There are many phrases which can describe shock and surprise, some are not appropriate for this story, some can be religious in a very loose term and definition of the word, most are questions or just comments instead, and there are different kinds of responses too, anger, fear, sadness, joy, even confusion. The last one is the one that I will be talking about, mostly, or at least for this story anyhow, and it is that exact same feeling that she had in her now. And why was that, because the castle less then she expected or dreamed about, and many things in life can turn out to be that way, for example, a recent event in my life was that I went to the beach with my family, but it turned out to be a ‘beach’ in only the very loosest of terms and definitions. It had sand, it had water, it had no waves, and the water was very low, and that was it, in fact to be quite honest it was more of a very shallow and dry pond that just happened to be so very large wide and vast as well. But this is not about me and that beach, no, this is about Ruby instead, so lets’ get back to her now, shall we? “What is this?” she said looking at it. “The castle, it’s quite a sight, isn’t it?” Orion said with some pride. “I guess that is, depending upon how you look at it.” “What do you ever mean by that exactly?” He said with some slight confusion. “Well...” she said looking at it trying to list all the little tiny faults within it, “It’s just that I’s not quite as I imagined it, there’s dust and cracks everywhere.” “That’s only natural, a castle will get that with time,” he said. “Yeah, I know, but you could have some pony to fix and clean that up, and there is also the matter of decoration, why that door and those gargoyles?” “Them?” he said, “Oh don’t mind them, and the door is obvious, don’t you think so? I mean I always have said it gives away our hiding spot.” He was right, because a crescent moon was painted on it, and the castle itself was very gray (and not black as she expected) and the door was black with a silver moon (two actually, one facing left, the other right instead), but overall from her first impression it was severely lacking in a lot of things already. “Don’t worry,” he said, “Not everything is as it seems at first.” And with that said he knocked on the door in a very particular pattern, two fast, pause, one slow, two fast, pause, one slow, and then repeat twice more. And with that the door opened up very slowly to let them in. “Hello Orion, it’s nice to see you again, and I see that you have a new recruit here with you,” the female voice said stepping back to let them both go in. “Yes,” he said, “Thank you for that, and by the way, my partner should be coming along very shortly, she always does seem to run a bit behind.” “I was just about to ask you that,” the female voice continued, “And yes, Miss Muffins does always seem to be on the slow end, but she is still very loyal to us, and that’s the only thing that really matters or counts around here now.” And with that said they waited for Orion’s partner to come, who turned out to be a pony that Ruby knew to her great shock and surprise, “I see that there were guards,” Derpy said, “And it also seems that you were wrong yet again.” “Derpy?” Ruby said, “You’re with them too?” “Shut up,” she said. “Don’t say my real true name, don’t you know that?” “No, she doesn’t because I just abducted her,” Orion said. “I’m sorry,” Ruby said, “I don’t really know anything that’s going on here really, if I did then I wouldn’t have done what I did, please forgive me.” And with that said they all looked at her, “She’s a bit too weak, don’t you think” the unnamed female one said. “If I recall you were that way too, Amethyst.” “Hey, did you forget that you’re not supposed to use our real true names?” “No, I just don’t care, if she accepts then it doesn’t matter, if not, well then the princess does have many memory spells, so no harm and no foul ever done.” “Well then,” Amethyst said, “I think that you should show her the labs then.” “Very well then,” he said taking Ruby’s hooves very gently and the walking her to a door and then entered a room with the others, “Alright.” And then with that said Ruby spoke up, “What labs here exactly?” He laughed and then pulled on a lever that started to pull the room down, and then said, “Why it’s the underground labs, it’s the part that we don’t show every pony, well except the ones that we want to join us, and you my lucky dear, are one of them, and just so you know, this is called an elevator by the way, it’s a very useful thing that makes it very easy and convenient for any pony to get to high up or very low places without taking the stairs or flying or using magic instead, but anyways,” he said as it suddenly came to a stop and then opened its doors very slowly to reveal a very large wide vast big chamber, “Welcome to the Republic,” he said pointing out his hoof to display it with much pride, for it indeed was something that she could have easily imagined and thought up of, and it was like all her dreams were coming true. “This is like a dream come true,” she said staring at it, “But how?” “I don’t really know exactly, but let’s just say that since this is the princess of dreams and the night and the darkness and shadows that we’re talking about here, well let’s just say that she knows how to manipulate your mind, and she quite often can and will, especially for the new recruits, but don’t worry, there are some parts that every pony does see constantly, so you should be seeing what I see and the others too very soon, that is only if you decide to join us.” “Why would I not want to join you?” she said. “That is the question that we have asked many, and there are many reasons as to why, one, you could be loyal to Celestia, but that is very rare since we make sure to check their true real allegiance by reading their mail and what they write and how they act, two, they could want to remain neutral like many who still are, three, family or friends, they don’t want to fight them or join them either, they would rather prefer to just sit and watch from the sidelines instead. Four, love, again, they don’t want to fight against that which they care for. And finally, five, fear, they are afraid of what will happen if they do join us. But we know that you don’t have any love or friends, and we know that your current loyalty is none, but we also know that you want to change his war too, but you can’t, you wish that you could, but you don’t have the strength or power or even knowledge to do so, but we can help you get that for you.” “How?” she said, “How can you help me out? How do you know all this?” “Hello, I’m a mail pony,” Derpy said, “And they need resources, why do you think that they even have me here in the first place? I mean I’m not that good at anything else really, other than communications, but that’s all really.” “Yes, exactly what I was going to say, more or less,” Orion said, “But anyhow, we have all kinds of ponies here, mail, delivery, mission, info, warriors, leaders, artists, painters, writers, readers, janitors and cleaners, maintenance and repair, cooks and chefs, scientists, the honest, brave, loyal, kind, and also generous too as well, basically if you name it then we probably already have them, if not, well let’s just say that we soon will, we don’t exclude any pony who is willing and ready to serve, weak or strong, smart or not, we will always have a place for you, and if we don’t, then we’ll make one, that’s our motto here, or is it something else in Latin instead? I’m sure that it doesn’t matter.” “It does matter,” Amethyst said, “It matters very much and a lot to Luna.” “I know, but I just don’t really care unless she does, and that’s because every new recruit is different and special and unique, and that’s why I am the best.” “You don’t have to brag about it,” a new but still very familiar voice said that perfectly summed up what all the females were about to say then. “Octavia!” Orion said turning to the gray mare, “So glad that you could join us here and now, but if I may ask, what took you so long to get here exactly?” “I was busy,” she said and then she looked very carefully at Ruby, “Who’s this here? A new recruit I would assume? She looks very cute for you, good choice.” “Hey,” he said, “You know that I don’t work that way, not anymore at least.” “Oh, I know that,” she said, “But what I don’t know is what’s her name now.” “Oh, she’s Ruby Crystal, and hopefully she will be our latest and newest recruit because she still hasn’t said yes yet,” Orion said to Octavia very plainly. “Well then, get on with that, if I have another new one to train I need to know as soon as possible, oh, and you can take off that silly little disguise now.” “I know,” he said as she walked very slow away and then he took off his plain and very simple brown cloak to reveal a pair of wings along with his horn. “Wait,” Ruby said looking at him very carefully and slowly, “You’re an alicorn?” “Temporarily,” he said, “Only for the duration of this war, but yes, I am, at first I was originally a Pegasus, but after Luna saw how well I fought she decided to give me a ‘promotion’ and a higher rank and position, but to be quite honest and frank with you, I really don’t use the horn that much except in dire need when magic is required or would be faster instead, and that’s about all really.” “I can’t believe that you’re actually an alicorn,” she said. “I know, neither did I at first, I thought that it could and surely would be and was a mind trick of Luna, but it wasn’t it was all real as you can clearly see now, but come, we have delayed too much time talking, we must meet her. And with that said he walked on and continued to talk as Derpy went to do her various random tasks that she had to do, “Though I do must admit that having magic is pretty cool and awesome, I also know that one day I can’t and won’t have it, so that’s why I don’t use it too much, otherwise I might become too addicted to it and won’t stop, but when I do use it, oh, it gives me such a thrill and much delight and joy too, I just wish that I could use it more often.” And with that said he stopped as they arrived outside a very large office with the symbols of the moon on the front door, “Here we are,” he said, “The only question now is this, do you want to go in first, or should I go instead?” “I think that you should go first,” she said, and with that said he nodded and said, “Very well then, as you wish,” and then opened the door very slowly. “I have a new guest for you, one that probably has questions.” “They all do,” Luna said, “But come now, let me see her.” And with that said Luna turned around from the window to stare at her as Ruby finally got the chance to look at all of them. Orion had a black coat and hooves, and a silver mane and hair and eyes, and Luna, well you should know how lovely she looked, but she also was regal and quiet and scary then too. “Still picking all the right mares, aren’t you Orion?” she said jokingly. He took a very deep heavy long sigh, “I don’t work like that anymore.” “I know, I was merely just joking round with you, but nonetheless she is still quite well for our purpose, but her goals are not the same as our quest. But still, if she is to join us she must make and oath and a promise to us.” “Of what kind is it exactly?” Ruby said before she could stop herself. “So you can speak, that is very good, but to answer your question, it is one of the most serious nature, but if you are to take it, you must show me respect first, after all, a loyal and obedient citizen will bow and kneel before their leaders and rulers, and while I may not be yours just yet, I am still a princess no matter what others say, I still rule the night sky and stars, I still enter dreams and control the darkness and shadows, so show some respect.” She lowered he head and bowed, but did not kneel, “I only do this because you wish it,” she said, “Because any ruler or leader who will not bow or kneel before the ponies that they serve is not fit or worthy to be called one, and therefore they are not fit or worthy to rule and lead, and the position must be taken by another, so the only real question now is this, can you bow and kneel before others, princess?” she said getting up and staring her straight in the face. “I see that we already have a spark of rebellion in you, that’s very good too, but yes, I can and will and do bow and kneel before others,” Luna said. Orion looked like he wanted to speak but then was quickly shut off by Luna instead, “Keep your mouth shut, now then Ruby, here is the first question that I need to know, the one that we all must know, are you willing to join us?” “Yes,” she said, “But only to find out the real truth, and to seek peace too.” “Very well then, alright, but are you sure that you are ready to join?” “I am not, and I don’t think that I ever can or will be, princess Luna.” “Please, just call me Luna, now then, are you ready to take the oath?” “Can I make one instead? I feel that it would be much better that way instead.” “Very well then,” Luna said slightly confused, “Make your oath.” “I swear to be honest and loyal to me so much as you are to me, I swear never to lie or hide the truth so much as you do to me, I swear to lay down my life to protect the princess Luna, I swear to seek and find the truth and peace, and I also swear that I will do whatever it takes to bring it to this land, even if it means that I will have to betray my friends, family, and even Luna herself. I swear to obey orders unless I really think that another idea is much better, specifically mine, and I also swear to always do my best and be brave too.” “I accept your oath,” Luna said, “Welcome to the Republic recruit, soon enough you’ll know everything that there is to this little tiny operation and what our goals and quests are for this organization, Orion here will be your guide and teacher along with our customary trainers like Octavia, you will train here until all of your trainers deem you ready and fit to go into battle to fight, but you won’t without my specific permission and authority first, breakfast and dinner are at six, lunch at twelve, and I don’t want to hear about you complaining about chores or the wake up time or the food or your work or your trainers or anything else instead, we don’t have time for complainers, and if you do have a real concern, interest, question, or complaint, just talk to one of your trainers or come see me if they will not respond. Also you are never to use your real true name in public ever again, your trainers will assign you a new nickname very soon enough but until then you are just recruit 02081999 or you can use your real true name only here in the underground lab and castle, but nowhere else, do you understand that?” Ruby nodded very silently. “Yes? Good then, okay, alright. Other than that have fun and stay alive, because we’re going to need every pony that we can for the war, now then if you don’t mind, please leave me now, I have duties that I must do, even if they are not royal or regal because of my sister they are still very important, so goodbye and good luck.” And with that said Orion nodded and then they left and once they did Orion finally decided to speak, “What was that exactly back in there? Explain.” “What was what?” she said, “I made the oath, showed her some due respect, she explained the basic rules to me and that was it, what more was there?” “You know what I mean, your respect was very lacking and your oath, why would you ever say anything like that? To be quite honest and frank with you, I am not only surprised that she accepted it, but shocked too, she shouldn’t have, she should have demanded a better one, or the regular one instead at least, but no, she has to try out all these new crazy stupid ideas instead.: “It seems like some pony is upset about something,” she said, “But before you explain that to me, I do actually have another question for you.” “And that would be?” he said waving his hoof impatiently. “You kept saying that you don’t work like that anymore, what does that mean exactly? I mean did you do something bad back when you were younger?” “Yes and no,” he said taking a very deep heavy sigh, “And honestly I wish that I didn’t have to tell you this, but I know that if I don’t that you’ll keep your oath and be less honest with me, but back in the day, before I became an alicorn, hell even before the war, I was known for getting girls, I hunted the one that I wanted, dated her, and then would always break her heart in the end, and it wasn’t that I was a jerk, oh no, they all said that I was so very kind and nice and generous and smart and wise and intelligent, ask any pony here and they’ll also tell you that too, but the problem was with them, I liked them all, but I never found one that I could love and stick with my whole entire life, but then again, I guess that is the curse of the hunter after all, hunt, stalk, kill, but with me it’s more like hunt, stalk, date, and then break their tiny little hearts. But no matter what I tried I couldn’t make the pain any less or make the break up any better either, and that’s why I had the name of ‘Hunter’ at one point, it was a joke about me hunting girls, but now I don’t do that anymore, for my sake and their sake, me because I have been disappointed far too many times, and them because I don’t want to hurt any more other hearts, including yours, and yes, I do admit, I liked you from the moment I saw you, even more so than some around here and others that I have hunted, but it can never work out between the two of us, not because of our rank or position or even because of this war or you, it’s all because of me, so you can train with me, talk with me, work out with me, walk with me, eat with me, whatever, but if you try to do anything romantic at all, I will know, and then I’ll try to stop it to prevent the pain, and I don’t want to end something so sweet and romantic, so I’m asking you this now, if you have any respect for me at all, and not love, just don’t try anything like that, ever. And if you do fall in love, well just don’t, please. I don’t want you to fall in love with me, I can’t, so just try to for me.” “I will,” she said, “But I don’t know how you can stop matters of the heart.” “You can’t,” he said, “But you can try to change and persuade the mind instead and that will work, or at least I think and hope so, but come now, you have lots of training to do and many ponies to meet, and also we need a new uniform for you, it’s customary and tradition for every new recruit even though I don’t ever wear mine, well I do technically, but only on rare very special events like the ceremony and introduction of a new recruit just like you, but other than that I don’t just because it’s too itchy and scratchy for me, and a bit tight and stuffy now even though it’s custom made, but come now, enough with my idle talk.” And with that said they went on their way for many new introductions. Training and CeremonyChapter Four: Training and Ceremony “So this ceremony thing,” Ruby said, “When is that going to be exactly.” “Oh,” Orion said from behind the curtain as she was being outfitted to a new uniform (and he was behind it out or respect since every pony was already naked), “That would be after you complete all your training and have a new nickname, and speaking of that how do you like the sound of Chrissie?” “That sounds very good, but is it really the best?” she said. “I don’t know, I suppose that Red could also work too because of Ruby you know, Red Ruby, get it?” he said, and even from the other side of the curtain she knew that he would be smiling that very stupid grin of his whenever he made a joke, or at least tried to. “Yes, I get it, very funny,” she said. “I sense some sarcasm there, but wait, I have a new brilliant genius idea,” he said. “Oh,” she said, “And I thought here that just having an idea would be a new experience for you, but I was wrong apparently, who knew.” The mare dressing her snickered and smiled at their little tiny exchange. “Hey, I can think, like for example, I thought that you were just very shy when I first saw you, but now I know that you can be very brave and loud instead. And hey, maybe that should be your nickname, Mirror Shine, that sounds good, doesn’t it? Oh wait, that name might already be taken up, damn it.” “Hey, watch your language,” she said, “I don’t like swearing at all, ever.” “Well excuse me princess,” he said very snootily, “I’m sorry that I have to shit over your little tiny innocent mind, but this is the real world so shut the fuck up,” he said and then, “Are you done yet? It sure has been a while.” “No, I’m not done yet, just wait a little bit longer” she said very loudly and then she looked up at the dress maker with horror and shock and some slight surprise and then asked very softly, “Does he always swear like that?” “No,” she said, “He doesn’t, but when he does he is always trying to make a point, so don’t you mind him at all, even if he seems a bit rude and cold and cruel at certain times, he’s had to break too many hearts you know.” “I don’t always swear like that, I’m very sorry,” he said to emphasize her point, “And I’m also very sorry if I seem a bit rude or cold or cruel at times, it’s just that I have broken too many hearts already, and I can’t bear to stand and watch as I break yours, and I only say this now so that you may know what walls and barriers I have set up in my heart, I won’t let any pony in anymore, but that still doesn’t excuse my behavior or actions or language. That’s all for now I guess, but if you wanted to start over again…” “I wouldn’t mind that,” she said, “What did you have in mind?” “Dinner?” he said, “And no, not the romantic kind, just a talk.” "Okay then,” she said, “That’s fine with me, and I think that I am finally done here now,” she said as the other mare smiled and then nodded very politely. “Oh thank goodness,” he said “I was starting to die of boredom out here.” And with that said Ruby drew back the curtain to reveal the new gray and black uniform with a bit of silver to represent the moon. “Wow, I never thought I would say this, but, it actually looks good on you,” he said, “Yeah it might not be romantic material, but it’s still very good.” “You know that it is,” the sales mare said, “But why you burned yours I will never know, and speaking of that I have your new uniform right here.” “Wait,” Ruby said as the sales pony handed him his new uniform as he whined very loudly and complained about everything wrong with it, “You burned one?” “Actually, I burned three of them instead, or, wait, was it four or five? Hold on, wait, let me count. There was the first on I had, I threw that one away, the second I lost in the closet, the third I lost in a battle or fight, the fourth one I burned, then the fifth I also burned, but the sixth, that one was just damaged too much from wear and tear, the seventh I also burned, the eight got too wet once and shrank to be too small for me, and the ninth and tenth I also burned. Huh, it was five, yes definitely that, I have burned five uniforms before.” “And this is number eleven, and I don’t want you to burn this one.” “I won’t,” he said taking it and then leaving with Ruby, “Thanks a lot.” And with that said they went on and once they were far enough away he finally decided to speak, “Yeah, I’m definitely burning this one and every one until number nineteen or maybe twenty-five instead, or forty-two or forty-three instead and please don’t ask why those numbers, just don’t, please, ever.” “Alright, fine then,” she said, “But do you expect to burn that many?” “I really don’t know since I can’t decide my favorite number or color now.” “You have to be joking me, surely you have a favorite color and number?” “Correction: had, I had a favorite number and color, now I don’t.” “But why?” she said as they slowly approached Coach Octavia and her physical fitness class where she would have to build up her strengths. “Because I like to change that just as often as my fake name, wait no, that’s not true, I change that more or less than my fake name, sorry about that.” “You’re forgiven,” she said, “But why change anything about yourself at all?” “For secrecy, it helps when an enemy doesn’t know your name or anything about you, in fact if I ever were captured I would say that I had no name at all, which is technically true depending upon how you look at it.” “And I bet you’re all about technicality too,” she said. “Yes, I am, we all are, we embrace and love it, and here we are, Octavia’s class, good luck, I have to go now, other duties to do and such, but I will be back again to take you to your next class, so don’t worry, you’ll be just fine.” And with that said he went off leaving her all alone as she stared at Octavia. “Well then, hello there recruit 02081999, it’s nice to see that you could finally get here on your first day on time due to Orion, but come now, we have work to do and I’m not one to just stand around all day and talk, I give orders and you obey, okay? First one of the day, give me one hundred pushups right now!” And with that said every pony went down to the ground and started to do them much faster than her, and she guessed (and soon would later find out) that these were not new recruits, they had been in the system for weeks, months, or even years (and yes, some ponies did still have to practice to be better and improve). And so she eventually managed to do it, after every pony else. It also didn’t help when Octavia called her names and insults during the whole entire exercise, but to be fair she did call every pony names and insults too. “You’re just a slimy filthy slow slug!” she would say, “You’re nothing at all! You’re completely worthless! My grandparents can go faster than you!” These were just some of the many insults, and after the exercise was done and Ruby had exhausted herself and was very tired Octavia blew in her whistle. “Alright every pony! Listen up! It’s time that you run around this whole entire place and area following the green arrows if you are new, if not, well then you already know where you should go and what to do, and also I’ll be waiting for all of you at the halfway mark with a very special prize for some pony special.” And with that said every pony readied themselves to run, “On my mark!” she said, “One, two, three, go!” and with that said they were off running very fast. Ruby tried to keep up, but she couldn’t even get close to the last pony in line and could barely keep them in her sights until the halfway mark however, and that was where she saw Octavia waiting with some cold fresh water. “The water is for every pony,” she said, “But getting out of the race is not, but I do have a challenge of the mental mind for you, and if you can complete it then you get to have a ride back with me by magic or flight, whichever one works out the best for you and doesn’t involve walking or running. Now then, what is the challenge, well it’s simple, just retrieve that flag from that pole without wings or magic,” she said pointing to a very tall pole where the Republic flag hung high. “Good luck, and begin,” she said as every pony tried desperately in vain to try to climb up the pole, but it was no use, it was too slippery and slick and straight and they could not get up, and after many tried and failed attempts Octavia finally blew her whistle again, “That’s it every pony, nice try, but it’s time to get back in line now” and with that said they did, but Ruby didn’t. “Hey there new recruit, didn’t you hear what I said? Get back in line!” But Ruby didn’t, she just went up to the flag pole, looked at it quietly for a very long time, and then used her hooves to unscrew some stuff and then the flag pole suddenly fell over and she went over, picked up the flag, and then handed it over to Octavia, “No wings, no magic, just as you said, and I was about to say that I got no turn or chance, but then I realized that would be no good at all against you, so I decided to teach you a lesson instead, be smart and wise, not fast, because sometimes you can miss the small tiny little details in life.” And with that said she smiled and said, “Now then, where’s my ride back?” And with that said she smiled as two pegasi came over and lifted her up into the air and dragged her along back to the start where she rested. Eventually every pony came back and then every pony soon left except for Ruby because Octavia wanted to talk with her privately. “You did very well for a newbie, and you were and still are the first one to ever figure that out, that’s very good, I just hope that you can do equally well with your other trainers, I also just hope and wish that you will do much better and improve, you also did much better than I ever expected you to be.” “Thank you,” she said, “But can I ask you one question?” “Sure, what is it?” Octavia said with a smile as Orion came back. “Why did you ever give up your music?” she said. Octavia dropped her smile very quickly, “That’s another story for another time, but for now all that you need to know is that I gave it up for a much greater goal and quest and that you also have much more training to do.” And with that said she tried to hide her tears as she hid her face and then Orion came over and saw her crying, “What was that all about?” he said. “Nothing,” she said lying, “Absolutely nothing.” “Alright then, fine, if you say so,” he said. And with that said they both went on their way through the schedule. Next was codes and secrets and decoding them with Miss Cheerilee, after that it was lunch, after that it was research in the library, and then after that magic and physical combat training and then finally it was dinner after that. And that was basically it for every day of every week for many months and very gradually she got better and eventually became one of the best in the class. And very soon enough she learned all that she needed to know and then eventually the time for the ceremony of her completing training. “On this very special day we celebrate the completion of our latest and newest recruits, we are very honored to have them here so that they may serve us and that they may protect our legacy and finish our goals and quests, may they be a symbol and represent the New Lunar Republic, may they live long and fight very well, may they never fall or fail in battle, may they always remain strong and loyal, and may the night always live on, and may the light from the sun and day realize that the darkness and shadow isn’t so bad after all. My sister and I once ruled these lands together, but that time is now gone, now it is a different time, one of war filled with pain and sorrow and despair. I wish that I could stop it, but I can’t, not without your help. But I know that you all what I want, peace in these lands. But we will prevail, we must if we are to win and bring peace. If we fail then the consequences would be too dire and great to ever say. But today is not just a ceremony, but an announcement too as well. But we will win, come this next Summer Sun Celebration we will attack. And I know that many of you have concerns, but do not worry, you will be safe until then, but I have a plan that will save all of us, even my sister too. Until then do your regular ordinary stuff until I say not to, that is all.” And with that said she started to hand out the pins and medals as talk went around the whole entire room, why were they attacking, and why so soon? Yes, the celebration was a very ideal attacking time, but was it the best or most sane? The princess would have the most security, but very soon enough their fears would end with the words or Orion, Luna, and Ruby herself as well. The AttackChapter Five: The Attack The day, or rather night instead, of the celebration finally eventually came. Everything was quiet and calm and the party and every pony was enjoying themselves, except for the ones on a mission, specifically members of the rebellion, and to be even more exact, Orion, Octavia, Ruby, Vinyl, Derpy, and Cheerilee. Luna however was meanwhile waiting outside of the castle to attack. “Alright, remember, create a distraction and signal for the rest and others to attack, easy,” Orion said using a spell to hide his wings (which was very easy). “You say that like it will be easy,” Ruby said as she watched some others go around the room and knock out the guards, “But it won’t be.” “Trust me, it will, once the guards are out you can use your magic and say that its’ just the signal that the fireworks will start very soon, see? Easy.” “Well don’t jinx us,” she said as the last guard went down, “But very well then, if you say so,” and with that said she sent up a red beam into the sky. “What’s that for?” some ponies said curiously. “It’s just the signal for the fireworks to start very soon,” she said putting on a fake smile for them. “Fireworks? I didn’t know that there was going to be any fireworks.” “Well now you do,” she said as the others came in, “And also now you know that this is the rebellion, and if you’re not with us, go far away then.” And with that said many ponies left the room and only the rebellion was left, and now the only thing that stood in their way of victory was a very long narrow hallway filled with many guards, probably hundreds, maybe. Orion went over to the door with his friends, smiled, and then said, “Well now, are we ready for death, or shall we back away with fear and reason instead.” “DEATH!” they said (except for Vinyl, who was mute) and then Orion slowly opened the door to reveal that the room was empty, and at once they all knew something was very wrong. “Wait,” he said, “Let’s eliminate the obvious first with calm logic and reason,” and with that said he then looked up and saw no guards there, and then he used magic to create a sandstorm, and still no guards. “This room is completely empty,” he said with surprise and shock, “And as we all know, that is very rare, so be prepared every pony, this is most likely and probably is a trap, actually it’s more than that, it is a trap.” “Yeah, we know,” Ruby said, “But what are we going to do about it?” Vinyl made some hoof movements and then he nodded, “I agree with Vinyl, we attack at once, there’s no point in delaying the end that will meet us.” And with that said they walked very slowly down the large vast wide hall and then came to the end where a pair of huge big wide vast doors stood unlike the small little tiny regular ones that were in the front of the castle. “Are you ready for this?” Orion said, and every pony nodded, “Good, then I guess that’s it’s finally a good day and time to die.” And with that said they went inside to their doom. But as they soon discovered, it would not be their doom at all in there, nor would it be any pony else’s doom, but rather a good event instead however. “Well hello there,” Celestia said getting up from her throne chair, “It’s finally nice to see the faces of those who dare to defy me and my rule, my position, my power, my strength, my knowledge, and it’s finally good to get the chance and opportunity to meet them before they will eventually lose against me.” “We will win,” Orion said, “But whatever did happen to your guards?” “I sent them away for their safety because I knew that you would come, oh of course I did, it’s just like my sister to try to strike when some pony is strong so that they are off their guard and relaxed rather than them being weak instead, she thinks that she’s so clever, but she’s not, I know her moves, I know her, and she can’t ever fool me, and I suppose that she should be coming very soon to try to fight me in battle, but she will lose again just like she did last time. But I suppose that the past doesn’t matter now, only the future does now, like for example, what will happen to you? I have heard legends and myths and tales and rumors about you, they call you many names, the New Six, the Lunar Six, the Republic Six, the Deadly Six, I know that most are probably not true, but I also know that there is some fact and truth in each wild crazy story that I hear, and that is why I have never estimated you incorrectly.” “If you know who we are then why not attack us now?” Orion said. “Because I know that there are six other ponies who showed up tonight who also want peace in these lands, and I thought that they might be dead after they went away and were lost, and I thought that their society and group was also just a myth and legend and story, but it wasn’t, it was all real and true, and they hid themselves very well, so well that neither of us knew that there was a group, but I can assure you that the Main Six are still alive and here with us not only in this castle, but this very room as well too here and now.” “That’s crazy,” Orion said looking around at every pony and then seeing that they were all wearing hoods and cloaks, and then he thought that it might not be so crazy after all, “Every pony is wearing a cloak and a hood…” “Yes, they are, now please tell them to take them off so that you and I can finally see their faces, I think that you’ll be shocked and surprised at some who dare stand in your crowd, and I will be very glad to see them again finally.” And with that said Orion told them all to take off their hoods, “Do it,” he said, “Or face the consequences, you don’t want to face Luna now, do you?” They did not, they knew full well of her anger and hatred, and of her fury and wrath, and they did not ever want to see any more of it ever again. Every pony did take off their hoods except for six, but then the six off their hoods very slowly after a glare from Orion and then every pony saw them. There they were, the Main Six, all standing in the crowd together. “You’re alive?” Ruby said, “But how? And also what have you been doing?” “We have been building the society of Equestria United, the ponies who want peace without joining either of you,” Twilight Sparkle said. “That’s exactly what I wanted before I joined the Republic,” Ruby said. “We have been waiting in the shadows and darkness for the right time to reveal ourselves, and today and tonight was just perfect,” Twilight said. “It is no use to fight me, either of you, for you six are no longer are connected to the Elements of Harmony, and the Republic isn’t strong enough either.” “Just because we’re no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony doesn’t mean that we still can’t fight you, and we will,” Twilight said. “And we’re much stronger than you think we are,” Ruby said. “I doubt that, but you’re welcome to try to fight me in battle.” And with that said Ruby suddenly had a spark of brilliant genius, they weren’t connected to the Elements of Harmony, but she knew who was now. “We don’t need to fight,” Ruby said, “We just need to talk with you so that you will see that with logic and reason, besides, they may not be connected to the Elements of Harmony anymore, but I know who is.” “And who would that be?” Celestia said not even scared or concerned. “Us, and let me explain, Orion,” she said pointing at him and then every pony else when she said their name, “You represent the Element of Honesty. Derpy, you represent the Element of Loyalty, Octavia, you sacrificed your dreams for the Republic, you represent the Element of Generosity, Vinyl, you represent the Element of Kindness with your music, Cheerilee, you represent the Element of Laughter since you can bring joy to others, and as for me, I represent the Element of Magic since I understand friendship now just as they do as well.” And with that said a magical beam laced between the New Six and the power of Friendship flowed through them, and then they blasted it at Princess Celestia. “NO!” she screamed out as it hit her, but then it was over, no longer was she insane or crazy, no longer was her hair black instead of rainbow colored, now she was normal and regular again, now she was back to how she used to be. Luna had seen the whole entire thing and was surprised and shocked, but when she saw her true real sister there, she started to cry. “Sister, please forgive me,” Celestia said, “The nightmare forces, they…” “Yes, I know, they took over your mind just as they did to me, you are not at fault just as I was when I turned evil, you are indeed forgiven for all your actions, but if you want to make things right then I suggest that you start with them,” Luna said pointing to the six who had saved her sister. “Thank you all very much,” she said, “Your actions today can never be fully repaid, and I know that you must be very confused, but let me try to explain, after my sister returned I had conflicting emotions, thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and the nightmare forces, the same thing that turned my sister evil, they used this to turn me evil too, and in their power they turned Equestria into a living nightmare, but not one that me or my sister ever expected. But now it is over, now we can move on, now we can finally have peace, and it also seems that we will also have new bearers of the elements now because of you.” “Speaking of the elements,” Ruby said to the Main Six, “How did you ever lose your connection with them? Surely you were all still worthy and fit of it?” “We were, but we weren’t ready and we also knew that someday that others would have to take our place, and that’s why we left, to find them,” Twilight said, “But that was a mistake, but at least we weren’t wrong when we thought that eventually there would be others, and now it seems that we are finally right, I just wish that we could have been there for Equestria more.” “But you were Twilight, you always were,” Celestia said with a smile. And with that said every pony smiled and Pinkie Pie started to party. And all was well with the kingdom, for now a nation was no longer divided or separated by two ideas and sisters, no longer was it at war, but now it was together once more again, now it would have love and joy and peace again, and Ruby would finally find the thing that she had always wanted, peace. But while peace may have been easy to get after that night, other matters would not, like the matter of Ruby and her friends being the New Six, they had to spread the message of friendship across Equestria, but at least Ruby didn’t have to worry about Orion being an alicorn anymore, she had other things and stuff to do instead, like going out on a date for example, and also writing a poem too, she thought it would be very fitting for the celebration. Octavia's StoryOctavia's Story “So what is your story exactly?” Ruby said one day after training was complete. “It is a very sad one, I am sure that you will not want to hear it.” “Oh, but I do, please tell me, I must know why,” Ruby said. “Very well then,” she said taking a very deep sigh, “As you wish, then I shall say so. My tale begins very long ago before the war, I was a musician as you know, but then when the war came Celestia decided that music would be frowned upon, but not outlawed, and I knew that many would want to hear a song to cheer them up, but I could not play, so instead I went on with life, I found new ways to inspire and serve, becoming a teacher was just one of them. But I just wish that I could play, but it has been so very long since I have touched my old violin that I don’t even know if I could anymore.” “I’m sure that you can if you try,” Ruby said, “I mean, why not play now?” “Here? Right now, for you?” Octavia said, “No, I couldn’t, not ever again.” “Yes you can, I believe in you, just play your heart out and you’ll be just fine.” And with that said Octavia sighed as Ruby smiled, “Very well then, as you wish,” and with that said she went to go get her old violin and very shortly and soon returned. “I don’t know why you ever would insist upon this, but I am not one ever to deny a request,” she said tuning the string properly, and then with that said and done, she started to play, and it was very beautiful indeed. It was as if her heart and soul were in it, and after it was done, Ruby cried. “That was brilliant, but do you mind singing it with this now?” she said handing a piece of paper that had a poem written on it, and she obliged. “A Nation Divided…By Two Sisters…Who Hate and Love Each One Another. By Two Ideas…Separate and Distinctly Different…But Neither One is Good All Alone…They Must be Joined Again Once More. Against Itself…Cannot Stand Alone. By Power and Strength…For that is how One Side Will Win. By the Power of Will…For there is no War or Battle or Fight Without Reason. By Hate and Love…For One Separates and Tears Apart and Away…And the Other Binds Back Together Again and Heals. By Knowledge…For you Must Know your Enemy to Win. By A War…A War that Separates Ponies…Families…And Finally, Friends. If only I could not pick a side and join…If only I could have peace in this Great Grand Land…Then That Would Be Well and Fine, with Love, Kindness, Cheer, and Joy, And Then All Would Be Well and Fine. But woe is me, but still I hope and pray, for that day that will come, when all are free, and peace to finally come, so that my dream may be real, and my voice and song heard.” And once Octavia had stopped, they both cried, for they both wanted peace, and then all was well with them for now they knew their stories. Epilogue: A Date Without a NameEpilogue: A Date Without a Name “I’m so glad that we could talk together again,” Ruby said. “Yes, and this time very casually, remember last time?” Orion said. “How could I ever forget?” Ruby said with a slight smile thinking about how very awkward it was, but at least she had learned some things that they shared between them, like that their favorite color was blue for example. “At least this time is much better,” he said, “So very much so that I want to tell you something, and it’s something that has been on my mind for quite some time now, and it’s something very important that you should probably know by now, it’s just that I have been putting it off for far too long now.” “And what do you have to say exactly?” Ruby said. “It’s about my thoughts and feelings and ideas, you see you know that I like you, I have for a while now, but I think that now it might be, may be, no, is more, I just don’t like you, I love you Ruby, and this is very serious now.” “But how, why?” she said with some slight confusion in her voice. “I don’t know when or where or why exactly, but I do love you.” “But why tell me this now, and how do I know that this is real and true?” “You don’t, you just have to trust me and your feelings, but it is real and true, I can promise you that if you feel the exact same way about me, but if you still don’t believe me, I’ll tell you my real true name, it’s Orion.” “It is? Wait, what?” Ruby said with shock and surprise. “Yes, I have no name not a real or true one, so I made one up, and it’s one that you and every pony else knew from the very start, I just let others think that it’s not my real true name, except for Luna and a few others of course.” “That’s very clever, wise, and smart of you,” she said. “Yes, it is, but now that you know how do you feel about me?” “The same way,” she said, “I think that I love you too.” “Really?” Orion said with some slight surprise and shock. “Of course, you’re a handsome stallion, how could I not fall in love with you?” And with that said Ruby leaned in and kissed him very gently. And as they kissed both smiled, for now all was really truly well, but they would soon discover that life would only get better for both of them now. PoemA Nation Divided… …By Two Sisters… …Who Hate and Love Each One Another. …By Two Ideas… …Separate and Distinctly Different… …But Neither One is Good All Alone… …They Must be Joined Again Once More. …Against Itself… …Cannot Stand Alone. …By Power and Strength… …For that is how One Side Will Win. …By the Power of Will… …For there is no War or Battle or Fight Without Reason. …By Hate and Love… …For One Separates and Tears Apart and Away… …And the Other Binds Back Together Again and Heals. …By Knowledge… …For you Must Know your Enemy to Win. …By A War… …A War that Separates Ponies… …Families… …And Finally, Friends. If only I could not pick a side and join… If only I could have peace in this Great Grand Land… Then That Would Be Well and Fine, with Love, Kindness, Cheer, and Joy, And Then All Would Be Well and Fine. -Excerpt from the poem A Nation Divided… By Ruby Crystal Prologue: ReturnPrologue: Return Luna stood before her sister now, reformed and ready to be part of the family again, and she honestly didn’t know if she was going to be forgiven, especially right away then and now, and she didn’t expect to be forgiven after all that she had done, rebelling against her sister and the ponies and citizens of the lands. She wasn’t fit to be called a Princess of Equestria anymore, much less a sister. And she definitely didn’t deserve to be called the sister princess of the sun. “I’m sorry sister,” she said, “I’m sorry for all that I did, but can you ever forgive for what I did? And if you don’t I understand, I’m ready for your punishment.” “There shall be no punishment,” Celestia said, “Perhaps judgement maybe, but I would never ever willing punish or hurt my dear little beloved sister that I have, the only one that I have, and while I cannot forgive you for what you did now, perhaps maybe with time and patience I can learn to do that, but for now you will only have to accept my love and kindness as well as that of the other ponies of Equestria, for they have forgotten you my dear little sister, and it is you that needs to be remembered by them for raising the moon and stars at night, not I, for that which belongs to and is of the night is your duty and your responsibility now, I can only hope, pray, and have faith that you will not fail me once more again, or the ponies of Equestria, do you promise me that? Do you promise me that upon on your own life that you will never fail me once more again or the ponies of these lands known as Equestria ever again?” “I promise you sister, I will never fail you again, or the ponies of Equestria.” “That is good then, and I trust that you will keep your promise no matter what happens to us or these lands, or even to the ponies of Equestria. I trust that you will also not disappoint me again, just as much as you expect me not to fail you, and I will not ever fail you again my dear little beloved sister, from now on I will always stand by your side no matter what happens, and I know that I may not have been there for you in the past, but I’m here now to fix that mistake that I made so long ago, so many long years ago, but that’s behind us now, and I would rather we look towards the future with hope and faith.” “I agree my sister; your words could not be any truer even if you tried to do so.” And with that said the two nodded and hugged each other, and all seemed well and fine now that the day had been saved, but both did not know nor could they suspect or know the importance of those very words that they spoke to each other much later on, for the words would change the fate of Equestria. For in the future, these words would affect the lives of many and all the ponies. Ruby CrystalChapter One: Ruby Crystal She was a simple unicorn, despite the life that she had been raised up in. She might have been born rich and famous, but that didn’t mean she had to live up to that legacy in the same way that her parents had pursued. She had gleaming white skin that sparkled, shimmered, and shined in the sunlight and dazzling bright red hair that also sparkled, shimmered, and shined in the sun. And finally, she had blue eyes like a diamond or perhaps maybe the ocean instead, or other various things and objects made up of and having the color of blue. But despite her outwards looks and appearance, she was even more beautiful on the inside because of her love, kindness, and generosity. And she loved music, writing, poetry, art, and songs, she loved to hear them, see them, admire them, and even create them should the occasion or chance permit. But what she did not love war the bloody war in the lands. It had been ten years ever since it unofficially began with the return of the Princess Luna, and no pony knew what happened between the two to make them split apart and drift away from each other, but it must have been very bad, for now it was tearing and dividing the entire nation apart and away. Ponies had to choose and pick a side to join, one side to be loyal to, one side to risk your life for, one to die for, and it was all too much pressure for her to take, she couldn’t choose between the two sisters that she loved and admired. For one raised the sun that gave life and beauty to plants and life and ponies, and that’s why all the farmers were only loyal to Celestia, and the other raise the moon, a reflection of the light of the sun, and she raised the stars, even more lights, and they all gave off their own unspoken beauty as the sun did. She wanted peace in the lands, and many also shared her opinion, and they formed a third-party group lead by the Mane 6, for while they were more loyal to the Princess of the Sun Celestia, they also did not want this war to destroy the lands of Equestria, or the power and strength of the magic of Friendship. Yet inside she sighed for she knew that it was most likely never to happen. But at least she had a peaceful life in this storm of chaos and blood and war and pain and despair and sorrow, and she considered herself very lucky since some ponies would not be as content and as wise and as smart as she was. And she lived simply and plainly doing what she could with what she earned from her little tiny shop, but she was still glad that she lived well enough. But little did she know just how soon she would be forced to choose, just how soon to pick a side to join, a side that she would not love nor be loyal to.
A Chance Encounter/ MeetingChapter Two: A Chance Encounter/ Meeting Little did Ruby know that she was being watched from the shadows by a strange pony as she walked around in the small little tiny town. “She’s on the move,” the mysterious strange pony said looking as she went across the market buying various random items, “Is the mission still a go?” “Yes, it is, just try to get close to her as a traveling sales pony, just remember that and you should be fine, hopefully there will be no guards.” “There won’t be any guards,” the strange pony said slowly approaching Ruby. Meanwhile Ruby was trying to negotiate the price of an apple, “But last week it was only one bit for an apple, so tell me why it’s more exactly.” “Because of princess Celestia’s new tax laws, I have to make profit somehow, and I’m not changing the price for any pony, even you, so pay up or go away.” “Fine then,” she said handing him the money, “But I hate taxes.” The stallion laughed, “As do we all, that seems to be the one constant that I have seen among every pony that I have met yet, and we all do hate them, but by law we must support the Solar Empire, all hail Celestia, but thank you, and have a very good nice day,” he said waving her goodbye as she left. “Bye,” she said not bothering to wave back or respond to his comment about the Solar Empire, which was true, to resist and rebel was punishable by the princess herself, and Celestia was not known to be very kind to traitors. She walked along the pathway very slowly and then took a very deep heavy sigh, she just wished that this war could end, it was pointless, didn’t they realize just how much they loved each other really and truly? Didn’t they see that their fights and battles and this war only would cause pain and sorrow and despair? Didn’t they want that to end? And why couldn’t they ever just take time to sit down and talk together? Have some tea or other random various hot beverage instead? Couldn’t they be sisters once more again? But it would be of no use to try to talk reason with them even if she could, they both seemed to have gone crazy and insane, one with power and control, the other in seeking forgiveness and love, and neither would stop their goals or quest, and neither would relent or give up, and hope was little to be found. It was right then at that moment when she was thinking all this that her life changed, or rather it started to change with the strange mysterious pony. “Hello,” the stallion said, and on instinct she looked at his eyes, they clearly weren’t a bat ponies, thank goodness, one less thing to worry about now. “I would like to offer you a once in a lifetime chance opportunity, and I can guarantee you that it will be something that you have never before seen or heard or ever experienced, what do you say, are you in miss-?” “Firstly, if you’re talking about sex, no, secondly, I don’t buy anything from a traveling sales pony, so thank you, but pleas just go away,” she said. The stallions’ jaw dropped in shock and surprise at her brutal honesty and bluntness, and she did have that effect on most ponies, and then he smiled or at least tried to, half of his face still looked slightly confused, “Miss, this is a completely free sample, and no it’s not sex, and please just don’t say that word, ever again,” he said trying to get past the very awkward situation before him. “Don’t worry, I won’t, but what ‘free’ samples of what do you have exactly?” “Adventure, change, action, dreams, ideas, thoughts, maybe perhaps even love and romance, I don’t really know it all just yet, but I hope to someday soon.” “Okay, now you’re not making any sense at all, so I’ll just leave now.” “Wait,” he said grabbing her hoof very tightly, “Come with me if you want to change this war, change the sisters, change the pain and sorrow and despair that we still have and hold in these lands, come with me if you want answers, come with me if you want another side to the story and the real truth too.” “About what?” she said, “Oh, and also, please let me go.” “Not yet, but to answer your question, everything, very soon enough.” And with that said the stallion dragged Ruby along with him. “Where are you taking me to?” she said with some slight fear. “Don’t worry,” he said, “You’re just going to go to the castle.” “Wait, what?” she said, “That’s crazy and insane, GUARDS, HELP ME!” The stallion sighed to himself very heavily and deeply, he knew that he should have used his magic against her to make her be quiet, he was very stupid. “Shut up,” he said, “Some pony is likely to be bound to notice us.” “That’s the point,” she said struggling to escape from his tight grasp. And eventually the guards did notice and luckily eight came over. “Sir, we’re going to need you to release that pony,” they said. “And I’m going to need you to surrender to me and join the New Lunar Republic if I am ever going to do that,” he said, and then he looked up at a wall where some posters of Celestia hung, but they were defaced with the NLR sign. “Nice artwork,” he said, “I really do applaud whomever may have made it.” “So then, you’re a rebel,” the guards said with a very low deep growl, “Well then, I guess that this just might be our lucky day for us now.” “That depends upon how you define lucky, and I’m also not just any rebel, I am Princess Luna’s second in command, congrats on finding me.” “Well then, you heard him, get him!” the guards said very loudly as they all attacked him at once, but it was no use, it was all in vain because their efforts, time and energy were blocked by the strange mysterious pony however. “Oh come on,” he said easily dodging them as he used his magic to block some attacks and confuse them, “Is eight the best that the princess can do?” He then laughed and soon enough every guard was on the floor since they were now defeated and very unconscious of anything happening around them. “How did you do that?” Ruby said once he had finished (she had stood very still just watching due to her surprise and shock factor that she still had somehow). “Simple,” he said, “Magic, years of training and practice and patience, that’s how, but come now, we must get to the castle, Luna will be waiting for you.” “Me?” she said, “But I am no pony special or important, and I am no more different or unique or odd than any pony else with a cutie mark, why me?” The stranger sighed as if he was remembering something very important, and he was, for he was thinking about the first time that he had to ask that too. “You know,” he said, “I had to once ask that same exact question, and I’ll give the same answer that she did to me, because you are ready for this.” “That still makes no sense at all whatsoever,” she said. “You’re ready for quests and goals, ready to change, ready to act, ready to speak, ready to change and inspire others to do the very same things, you are ready to lead or follow, you are ready because you can be changed.” “I guess that makes sense, but what is your name anyhow stranger?” He smiled at this for some strange reason, “My real and true name is hidden far away and buried deep down inside with the past, but you can call me Orion if you wish to, or you can come up with another nickname instead, I won’t mind, in fact I don’t at all actually. Oh, and the last name is Moon by the way.” “Really?” she said as he dragged her along, “That’s your ‘name’?” “Yes, it is, don’t ask why, but I did use ‘Hunter’ at one point, but here we are,” he said pointing at the huge wide big vast castle, “The Castle of the Night.”
Introductions, Meeting Princess Luna, and PromisesChapter Three: Introductions, Meeting Princess Luna, and Promises There are many phrases which can describe shock and surprise, some are not appropriate for this story, some can be religious in a very loose term and definition of the word, most are questions or just comments instead, and there are different kinds of responses too, anger, fear, sadness, joy, even confusion. The last one is the one that I will be talking about, mostly, or at least for this story anyhow, and it is that exact same feeling that she had in her now. And why was that, because the castle less then she expected or dreamed about, and many things in life can turn out to be that way, for example, a recent event in my life was that I went to the beach with my family, but it turned out to be a ‘beach’ in only the very loosest of terms and definitions. It had sand, it had water, it had no waves, and the water was very low, and that was it, in fact to be quite honest it was more of a very shallow and dry pond that just happened to be so very large wide and vast as well. But this is not about me and that beach, no, this is about Ruby instead, so lets’ get back to her now, shall we? “What is this?” she said looking at it. “The castle, it’s quite a sight, isn’t it?” Orion said with some pride. “I guess that is, depending upon how you look at it.” “What do you ever mean by that exactly?” He said with some slight confusion. “Well...” she said looking at it trying to list all the little tiny faults within it, “It’s just that I’s not quite as I imagined it, there’s dust and cracks everywhere.” “That’s only natural, a castle will get that with time,” he said. “Yeah, I know, but you could have some pony to fix and clean that up, and there is also the matter of decoration, why that door and those gargoyles?” “Them?” he said, “Oh don’t mind them, and the door is obvious, don’t you think so? I mean I always have said it gives away our hiding spot.” He was right, because a crescent moon was painted on it, and the castle itself was very gray (and not black as she expected) and the door was black with a silver moon (two actually, one facing left, the other right instead), but overall from her first impression it was severely lacking in a lot of things already. “Don’t worry,” he said, “Not everything is as it seems at first.” And with that said he knocked on the door in a very particular pattern, two fast, pause, one slow, two fast, pause, one slow, and then repeat twice more. And with that the door opened up very slowly to let them in. “Hello Orion, it’s nice to see you again, and I see that you have a new recruit here with you,” the female voice said stepping back to let them both go in. “Yes,” he said, “Thank you for that, and by the way, my partner should be coming along very shortly, she always does seem to run a bit behind.” “I was just about to ask you that,” the female voice continued, “And yes, Miss Muffins does always seem to be on the slow end, but she is still very loyal to us, and that’s the only thing that really matters or counts around here now.” And with that said they waited for Orion’s partner to come, who turned out to be a pony that Ruby knew to her great shock and surprise, “I see that there were guards,” Derpy said, “And it also seems that you were wrong yet again.” “Derpy?” Ruby said, “You’re with them too?” “Shut up,” she said. “Don’t say my real true name, don’t you know that?” “No, she doesn’t because I just abducted her,” Orion said. “I’m sorry,” Ruby said, “I don’t really know anything that’s going on here really, if I did then I wouldn’t have done what I did, please forgive me.” And with that said they all looked at her, “She’s a bit too weak, don’t you think” the unnamed female one said. “If I recall you were that way too, Amethyst.” “Hey, did you forget that you’re not supposed to use our real true names?” “No, I just don’t care, if she accepts then it doesn’t matter, if not, well then the princess does have many memory spells, so no harm and no foul ever done.” “Well then,” Amethyst said, “I think that you should show her the labs then.” “Very well then,” he said taking Ruby’s hooves very gently and the walking her to a door and then entered a room with the others, “Alright.” And then with that said Ruby spoke up, “What labs here exactly?” He laughed and then pulled on a lever that started to pull the room down, and then said, “Why it’s the underground labs, it’s the part that we don’t show every pony, well except the ones that we want to join us, and you my lucky dear, are one of them, and just so you know, this is called an elevator by the way, it’s a very useful thing that makes it very easy and convenient for any pony to get to high up or very low places without taking the stairs or flying or using magic instead, but anyways,” he said as it suddenly came to a stop and then opened its doors very slowly to reveal a very large wide vast big chamber, “Welcome to the Republic,” he said pointing out his hoof to display it with much pride, for it indeed was something that she could have easily imagined and thought up of, and it was like all her dreams were coming true. “This is like a dream come true,” she said staring at it, “But how?” “I don’t really know exactly, but let’s just say that since this is the princess of dreams and the night and the darkness and shadows that we’re talking about here, well let’s just say that she knows how to manipulate your mind, and she quite often can and will, especially for the new recruits, but don’t worry, there are some parts that every pony does see constantly, so you should be seeing what I see and the others too very soon, that is only if you decide to join us.” “Why would I not want to join you?” she said. “That is the question that we have asked many, and there are many reasons as to why, one, you could be loyal to Celestia, but that is very rare since we make sure to check their true real allegiance by reading their mail and what they write and how they act, two, they could want to remain neutral like many who still are, three, family or friends, they don’t want to fight them or join them either, they would rather prefer to just sit and watch from the sidelines instead. Four, love, again, they don’t want to fight against that which they care for. And finally, five, fear, they are afraid of what will happen if they do join us. But we know that you don’t have any love or friends, and we know that your current loyalty is none, but we also know that you want to change his war too, but you can’t, you wish that you could, but you don’t have the strength or power or even knowledge to do so, but we can help you get that for you.” “How?” she said, “How can you help me out? How do you know all this?” “Hello, I’m a mail pony,” Derpy said, “And they need resources, why do you think that they even have me here in the first place? I mean I’m not that good at anything else really, other than communications, but that’s all really.” “Yes, exactly what I was going to say, more or less,” Orion said, “But anyhow, we have all kinds of ponies here, mail, delivery, mission, info, warriors, leaders, artists, painters, writers, readers, janitors and cleaners, maintenance and repair, cooks and chefs, scientists, the honest, brave, loyal, kind, and also generous too as well, basically if you name it then we probably already have them, if not, well let’s just say that we soon will, we don’t exclude any pony who is willing and ready to serve, weak or strong, smart or not, we will always have a place for you, and if we don’t, then we’ll make one, that’s our motto here, or is it something else in Latin instead? I’m sure that it doesn’t matter.” “It does matter,” Amethyst said, “It matters very much and a lot to Luna.” “I know, but I just don’t really care unless she does, and that’s because every new recruit is different and special and unique, and that’s why I am the best.” “You don’t have to brag about it,” a new but still very familiar voice said that perfectly summed up what all the females were about to say then. “Octavia!” Orion said turning to the gray mare, “So glad that you could join us here and now, but if I may ask, what took you so long to get here exactly?” “I was busy,” she said and then she looked very carefully at Ruby, “Who’s this here? A new recruit I would assume? She looks very cute for you, good choice.” “Hey,” he said, “You know that I don’t work that way, not anymore at least.” “Oh, I know that,” she said, “But what I don’t know is what’s her name now.” “Oh, she’s Ruby Crystal, and hopefully she will be our latest and newest recruit because she still hasn’t said yes yet,” Orion said to Octavia very plainly. “Well then, get on with that, if I have another new one to train I need to know as soon as possible, oh, and you can take off that silly little disguise now.” “I know,” he said as she walked very slow away and then he took off his plain and very simple brown cloak to reveal a pair of wings along with his horn. “Wait,” Ruby said looking at him very carefully and slowly, “You’re an alicorn?” “Temporarily,” he said, “Only for the duration of this war, but yes, I am, at first I was originally a Pegasus, but after Luna saw how well I fought she decided to give me a ‘promotion’ and a higher rank and position, but to be quite honest and frank with you, I really don’t use the horn that much except in dire need when magic is required or would be faster instead, and that’s about all really.” “I can’t believe that you’re actually an alicorn,” she said. “I know, neither did I at first, I thought that it could and surely would be and was a mind trick of Luna, but it wasn’t it was all real as you can clearly see now, but come, we have delayed too much time talking, we must meet her. And with that said he walked on and continued to talk as Derpy went to do her various random tasks that she had to do, “Though I do must admit that having magic is pretty cool and awesome, I also know that one day I can’t and won’t have it, so that’s why I don’t use it too much, otherwise I might become too addicted to it and won’t stop, but when I do use it, oh, it gives me such a thrill and much delight and joy too, I just wish that I could use it more often.” And with that said he stopped as they arrived outside a very large office with the symbols of the moon on the front door, “Here we are,” he said, “The only question now is this, do you want to go in first, or should I go instead?” “I think that you should go first,” she said, and with that said he nodded and said, “Very well then, as you wish,” and then opened the door very slowly. “I have a new guest for you, one that probably has questions.” “They all do,” Luna said, “But come now, let me see her.” And with that said Luna turned around from the window to stare at her as Ruby finally got the chance to look at all of them. Orion had a black coat and hooves, and a silver mane and hair and eyes, and Luna, well you should know how lovely she looked, but she also was regal and quiet and scary then too. “Still picking all the right mares, aren’t you Orion?” she said jokingly. He took a very deep heavy long sigh, “I don’t work like that anymore.” “I know, I was merely just joking round with you, but nonetheless she is still quite well for our purpose, but her goals are not the same as our quest. But still, if she is to join us she must make and oath and a promise to us.” “Of what kind is it exactly?” Ruby said before she could stop herself. “So you can speak, that is very good, but to answer your question, it is one of the most serious nature, but if you are to take it, you must show me respect first, after all, a loyal and obedient citizen will bow and kneel before their leaders and rulers, and while I may not be yours just yet, I am still a princess no matter what others say, I still rule the night sky and stars, I still enter dreams and control the darkness and shadows, so show some respect.” She lowered he head and bowed, but did not kneel, “I only do this because you wish it,” she said, “Because any ruler or leader who will not bow or kneel before the ponies that they serve is not fit or worthy to be called one, and therefore they are not fit or worthy to rule and lead, and the position must be taken by another, so the only real question now is this, can you bow and kneel before others, princess?” she said getting up and staring her straight in the face. “I see that we already have a spark of rebellion in you, that’s very good too, but yes, I can and will and do bow and kneel before others,” Luna said. Orion looked like he wanted to speak but then was quickly shut off by Luna instead, “Keep your mouth shut, now then Ruby, here is the first question that I need to know, the one that we all must know, are you willing to join us?” “Yes,” she said, “But only to find out the real truth, and to seek peace too.” “Very well then, alright, but are you sure that you are ready to join?” “I am not, and I don’t think that I ever can or will be, princess Luna.” “Please, just call me Luna, now then, are you ready to take the oath?” “Can I make one instead? I feel that it would be much better that way instead.” “Very well then,” Luna said slightly confused, “Make your oath.” “I swear to be honest and loyal to me so much as you are to me, I swear never to lie or hide the truth so much as you do to me, I swear to lay down my life to protect the princess Luna, I swear to seek and find the truth and peace, and I also swear that I will do whatever it takes to bring it to this land, even if it means that I will have to betray my friends, family, and even Luna herself. I swear to obey orders unless I really think that another idea is much better, specifically mine, and I also swear to always do my best and be brave too.” “I accept your oath,” Luna said, “Welcome to the Republic recruit, soon enough you’ll know everything that there is to this little tiny operation and what our goals and quests are for this organization, Orion here will be your guide and teacher along with our customary trainers like Octavia, you will train here until all of your trainers deem you ready and fit to go into battle to fight, but you won’t without my specific permission and authority first, breakfast and dinner are at six, lunch at twelve, and I don’t want to hear about you complaining about chores or the wake up time or the food or your work or your trainers or anything else instead, we don’t have time for complainers, and if you do have a real concern, interest, question, or complaint, just talk to one of your trainers or come see me if they will not respond. Also you are never to use your real true name in public ever again, your trainers will assign you a new nickname very soon enough but until then you are just recruit 02081999 or you can use your real true name only here in the underground lab and castle, but nowhere else, do you understand that?” Ruby nodded very silently. “Yes? Good then, okay, alright. Other than that have fun and stay alive, because we’re going to need every pony that we can for the war, now then if you don’t mind, please leave me now, I have duties that I must do, even if they are not royal or regal because of my sister they are still very important, so goodbye and good luck.” And with that said Orion nodded and then they left and once they did Orion finally decided to speak, “What was that exactly back in there? Explain.” “What was what?” she said, “I made the oath, showed her some due respect, she explained the basic rules to me and that was it, what more was there?” “You know what I mean, your respect was very lacking and your oath, why would you ever say anything like that? To be quite honest and frank with you, I am not only surprised that she accepted it, but shocked too, she shouldn’t have, she should have demanded a better one, or the regular one instead at least, but no, she has to try out all these new crazy stupid ideas instead.: “It seems like some pony is upset about something,” she said, “But before you explain that to me, I do actually have another question for you.” “And that would be?” he said waving his hoof impatiently. “You kept saying that you don’t work like that anymore, what does that mean exactly? I mean did you do something bad back when you were younger?” “Yes and no,” he said taking a very deep heavy sigh, “And honestly I wish that I didn’t have to tell you this, but I know that if I don’t that you’ll keep your oath and be less honest with me, but back in the day, before I became an alicorn, hell even before the war, I was known for getting girls, I hunted the one that I wanted, dated her, and then would always break her heart in the end, and it wasn’t that I was a jerk, oh no, they all said that I was so very kind and nice and generous and smart and wise and intelligent, ask any pony here and they’ll also tell you that too, but the problem was with them, I liked them all, but I never found one that I could love and stick with my whole entire life, but then again, I guess that is the curse of the hunter after all, hunt, stalk, kill, but with me it’s more like hunt, stalk, date, and then break their tiny little hearts. But no matter what I tried I couldn’t make the pain any less or make the break up any better either, and that’s why I had the name of ‘Hunter’ at one point, it was a joke about me hunting girls, but now I don’t do that anymore, for my sake and their sake, me because I have been disappointed far too many times, and them because I don’t want to hurt any more other hearts, including yours, and yes, I do admit, I liked you from the moment I saw you, even more so than some around here and others that I have hunted, but it can never work out between the two of us, not because of our rank or position or even because of this war or you, it’s all because of me, so you can train with me, talk with me, work out with me, walk with me, eat with me, whatever, but if you try to do anything romantic at all, I will know, and then I’ll try to stop it to prevent the pain, and I don’t want to end something so sweet and romantic, so I’m asking you this now, if you have any respect for me at all, and not love, just don’t try anything like that, ever. And if you do fall in love, well just don’t, please. I don’t want you to fall in love with me, I can’t, so just try to for me.” “I will,” she said, “But I don’t know how you can stop matters of the heart.” “You can’t,” he said, “But you can try to change and persuade the mind instead and that will work, or at least I think and hope so, but come now, you have lots of training to do and many ponies to meet, and also we need a new uniform for you, it’s customary and tradition for every new recruit even though I don’t ever wear mine, well I do technically, but only on rare very special events like the ceremony and introduction of a new recruit just like you, but other than that I don’t just because it’s too itchy and scratchy for me, and a bit tight and stuffy now even though it’s custom made, but come now, enough with my idle talk.” And with that said they went on their way for many new introductions.
Training and CeremonyChapter Four: Training and Ceremony “So this ceremony thing,” Ruby said, “When is that going to be exactly.” “Oh,” Orion said from behind the curtain as she was being outfitted to a new uniform (and he was behind it out or respect since every pony was already naked), “That would be after you complete all your training and have a new nickname, and speaking of that how do you like the sound of Chrissie?” “That sounds very good, but is it really the best?” she said. “I don’t know, I suppose that Red could also work too because of Ruby you know, Red Ruby, get it?” he said, and even from the other side of the curtain she knew that he would be smiling that very stupid grin of his whenever he made a joke, or at least tried to. “Yes, I get it, very funny,” she said. “I sense some sarcasm there, but wait, I have a new brilliant genius idea,” he said. “Oh,” she said, “And I thought here that just having an idea would be a new experience for you, but I was wrong apparently, who knew.” The mare dressing her snickered and smiled at their little tiny exchange. “Hey, I can think, like for example, I thought that you were just very shy when I first saw you, but now I know that you can be very brave and loud instead. And hey, maybe that should be your nickname, Mirror Shine, that sounds good, doesn’t it? Oh wait, that name might already be taken up, damn it.” “Hey, watch your language,” she said, “I don’t like swearing at all, ever.” “Well excuse me princess,” he said very snootily, “I’m sorry that I have to shit over your little tiny innocent mind, but this is the real world so shut the fuck up,” he said and then, “Are you done yet? It sure has been a while.” “No, I’m not done yet, just wait a little bit longer” she said very loudly and then she looked up at the dress maker with horror and shock and some slight surprise and then asked very softly, “Does he always swear like that?” “No,” she said, “He doesn’t, but when he does he is always trying to make a point, so don’t you mind him at all, even if he seems a bit rude and cold and cruel at certain times, he’s had to break too many hearts you know.” “I don’t always swear like that, I’m very sorry,” he said to emphasize her point, “And I’m also very sorry if I seem a bit rude or cold or cruel at times, it’s just that I have broken too many hearts already, and I can’t bear to stand and watch as I break yours, and I only say this now so that you may know what walls and barriers I have set up in my heart, I won’t let any pony in anymore, but that still doesn’t excuse my behavior or actions or language. That’s all for now I guess, but if you wanted to start over again…” “I wouldn’t mind that,” she said, “What did you have in mind?” “Dinner?” he said, “And no, not the romantic kind, just a talk.” "Okay then,” she said, “That’s fine with me, and I think that I am finally done here now,” she said as the other mare smiled and then nodded very politely. “Oh thank goodness,” he said “I was starting to die of boredom out here.” And with that said Ruby drew back the curtain to reveal the new gray and black uniform with a bit of silver to represent the moon. “Wow, I never thought I would say this, but, it actually looks good on you,” he said, “Yeah it might not be romantic material, but it’s still very good.” “You know that it is,” the sales mare said, “But why you burned yours I will never know, and speaking of that I have your new uniform right here.” “Wait,” Ruby said as the sales pony handed him his new uniform as he whined very loudly and complained about everything wrong with it, “You burned one?” “Actually, I burned three of them instead, or, wait, was it four or five? Hold on, wait, let me count. There was the first on I had, I threw that one away, the second I lost in the closet, the third I lost in a battle or fight, the fourth one I burned, then the fifth I also burned, but the sixth, that one was just damaged too much from wear and tear, the seventh I also burned, the eight got too wet once and shrank to be too small for me, and the ninth and tenth I also burned. Huh, it was five, yes definitely that, I have burned five uniforms before.” “And this is number eleven, and I don’t want you to burn this one.” “I won’t,” he said taking it and then leaving with Ruby, “Thanks a lot.” And with that said they went on and once they were far enough away he finally decided to speak, “Yeah, I’m definitely burning this one and every one until number nineteen or maybe twenty-five instead, or forty-two or forty-three instead and please don’t ask why those numbers, just don’t, please, ever.” “Alright, fine then,” she said, “But do you expect to burn that many?” “I really don’t know since I can’t decide my favorite number or color now.” “You have to be joking me, surely you have a favorite color and number?” “Correction: had, I had a favorite number and color, now I don’t.” “But why?” she said as they slowly approached Coach Octavia and her physical fitness class where she would have to build up her strengths. “Because I like to change that just as often as my fake name, wait no, that’s not true, I change that more or less than my fake name, sorry about that.” “You’re forgiven,” she said, “But why change anything about yourself at all?” “For secrecy, it helps when an enemy doesn’t know your name or anything about you, in fact if I ever were captured I would say that I had no name at all, which is technically true depending upon how you look at it.” “And I bet you’re all about technicality too,” she said. “Yes, I am, we all are, we embrace and love it, and here we are, Octavia’s class, good luck, I have to go now, other duties to do and such, but I will be back again to take you to your next class, so don’t worry, you’ll be just fine.” And with that said he went off leaving her all alone as she stared at Octavia. “Well then, hello there recruit 02081999, it’s nice to see that you could finally get here on your first day on time due to Orion, but come now, we have work to do and I’m not one to just stand around all day and talk, I give orders and you obey, okay? First one of the day, give me one hundred pushups right now!” And with that said every pony went down to the ground and started to do them much faster than her, and she guessed (and soon would later find out) that these were not new recruits, they had been in the system for weeks, months, or even years (and yes, some ponies did still have to practice to be better and improve). And so she eventually managed to do it, after every pony else. It also didn’t help when Octavia called her names and insults during the whole entire exercise, but to be fair she did call every pony names and insults too. “You’re just a slimy filthy slow slug!” she would say, “You’re nothing at all! You’re completely worthless! My grandparents can go faster than you!” These were just some of the many insults, and after the exercise was done and Ruby had exhausted herself and was very tired Octavia blew in her whistle. “Alright every pony! Listen up! It’s time that you run around this whole entire place and area following the green arrows if you are new, if not, well then you already know where you should go and what to do, and also I’ll be waiting for all of you at the halfway mark with a very special prize for some pony special.” And with that said every pony readied themselves to run, “On my mark!” she said, “One, two, three, go!” and with that said they were off running very fast. Ruby tried to keep up, but she couldn’t even get close to the last pony in line and could barely keep them in her sights until the halfway mark however, and that was where she saw Octavia waiting with some cold fresh water. “The water is for every pony,” she said, “But getting out of the race is not, but I do have a challenge of the mental mind for you, and if you can complete it then you get to have a ride back with me by magic or flight, whichever one works out the best for you and doesn’t involve walking or running. Now then, what is the challenge, well it’s simple, just retrieve that flag from that pole without wings or magic,” she said pointing to a very tall pole where the Republic flag hung high. “Good luck, and begin,” she said as every pony tried desperately in vain to try to climb up the pole, but it was no use, it was too slippery and slick and straight and they could not get up, and after many tried and failed attempts Octavia finally blew her whistle again, “That’s it every pony, nice try, but it’s time to get back in line now” and with that said they did, but Ruby didn’t. “Hey there new recruit, didn’t you hear what I said? Get back in line!” But Ruby didn’t, she just went up to the flag pole, looked at it quietly for a very long time, and then used her hooves to unscrew some stuff and then the flag pole suddenly fell over and she went over, picked up the flag, and then handed it over to Octavia, “No wings, no magic, just as you said, and I was about to say that I got no turn or chance, but then I realized that would be no good at all against you, so I decided to teach you a lesson instead, be smart and wise, not fast, because sometimes you can miss the small tiny little details in life.” And with that said she smiled and said, “Now then, where’s my ride back?” And with that said she smiled as two pegasi came over and lifted her up into the air and dragged her along back to the start where she rested. Eventually every pony came back and then every pony soon left except for Ruby because Octavia wanted to talk with her privately. “You did very well for a newbie, and you were and still are the first one to ever figure that out, that’s very good, I just hope that you can do equally well with your other trainers, I also just hope and wish that you will do much better and improve, you also did much better than I ever expected you to be.” “Thank you,” she said, “But can I ask you one question?” “Sure, what is it?” Octavia said with a smile as Orion came back. “Why did you ever give up your music?” she said. Octavia dropped her smile very quickly, “That’s another story for another time, but for now all that you need to know is that I gave it up for a much greater goal and quest and that you also have much more training to do.” And with that said she tried to hide her tears as she hid her face and then Orion came over and saw her crying, “What was that all about?” he said. “Nothing,” she said lying, “Absolutely nothing.” “Alright then, fine, if you say so,” he said. And with that said they both went on their way through the schedule. Next was codes and secrets and decoding them with Miss Cheerilee, after that it was lunch, after that it was research in the library, and then after that magic and physical combat training and then finally it was dinner after that. And that was basically it for every day of every week for many months and very gradually she got better and eventually became one of the best in the class. And very soon enough she learned all that she needed to know and then eventually the time for the ceremony of her completing training. “On this very special day we celebrate the completion of our latest and newest recruits, we are very honored to have them here so that they may serve us and that they may protect our legacy and finish our goals and quests, may they be a symbol and represent the New Lunar Republic, may they live long and fight very well, may they never fall or fail in battle, may they always remain strong and loyal, and may the night always live on, and may the light from the sun and day realize that the darkness and shadow isn’t so bad after all. My sister and I once ruled these lands together, but that time is now gone, now it is a different time, one of war filled with pain and sorrow and despair. I wish that I could stop it, but I can’t, not without your help. But I know that you all what I want, peace in these lands. But we will prevail, we must if we are to win and bring peace. If we fail then the consequences would be too dire and great to ever say. But today is not just a ceremony, but an announcement too as well. But we will win, come this next Summer Sun Celebration we will attack. And I know that many of you have concerns, but do not worry, you will be safe until then, but I have a plan that will save all of us, even my sister too. Until then do your regular ordinary stuff until I say not to, that is all.” And with that said she started to hand out the pins and medals as talk went around the whole entire room, why were they attacking, and why so soon? Yes, the celebration was a very ideal attacking time, but was it the best or most sane? The princess would have the most security, but very soon enough their fears would end with the words or Orion, Luna, and Ruby herself as well.
The AttackChapter Five: The Attack The day, or rather night instead, of the celebration finally eventually came. Everything was quiet and calm and the party and every pony was enjoying themselves, except for the ones on a mission, specifically members of the rebellion, and to be even more exact, Orion, Octavia, Ruby, Vinyl, Derpy, and Cheerilee. Luna however was meanwhile waiting outside of the castle to attack. “Alright, remember, create a distraction and signal for the rest and others to attack, easy,” Orion said using a spell to hide his wings (which was very easy). “You say that like it will be easy,” Ruby said as she watched some others go around the room and knock out the guards, “But it won’t be.” “Trust me, it will, once the guards are out you can use your magic and say that its’ just the signal that the fireworks will start very soon, see? Easy.” “Well don’t jinx us,” she said as the last guard went down, “But very well then, if you say so,” and with that said she sent up a red beam into the sky. “What’s that for?” some ponies said curiously. “It’s just the signal for the fireworks to start very soon,” she said putting on a fake smile for them. “Fireworks? I didn’t know that there was going to be any fireworks.” “Well now you do,” she said as the others came in, “And also now you know that this is the rebellion, and if you’re not with us, go far away then.” And with that said many ponies left the room and only the rebellion was left, and now the only thing that stood in their way of victory was a very long narrow hallway filled with many guards, probably hundreds, maybe. Orion went over to the door with his friends, smiled, and then said, “Well now, are we ready for death, or shall we back away with fear and reason instead.” “DEATH!” they said (except for Vinyl, who was mute) and then Orion slowly opened the door to reveal that the room was empty, and at once they all knew something was very wrong. “Wait,” he said, “Let’s eliminate the obvious first with calm logic and reason,” and with that said he then looked up and saw no guards there, and then he used magic to create a sandstorm, and still no guards. “This room is completely empty,” he said with surprise and shock, “And as we all know, that is very rare, so be prepared every pony, this is most likely and probably is a trap, actually it’s more than that, it is a trap.” “Yeah, we know,” Ruby said, “But what are we going to do about it?” Vinyl made some hoof movements and then he nodded, “I agree with Vinyl, we attack at once, there’s no point in delaying the end that will meet us.” And with that said they walked very slowly down the large vast wide hall and then came to the end where a pair of huge big wide vast doors stood unlike the small little tiny regular ones that were in the front of the castle. “Are you ready for this?” Orion said, and every pony nodded, “Good, then I guess that’s it’s finally a good day and time to die.” And with that said they went inside to their doom. But as they soon discovered, it would not be their doom at all in there, nor would it be any pony else’s doom, but rather a good event instead however. “Well hello there,” Celestia said getting up from her throne chair, “It’s finally nice to see the faces of those who dare to defy me and my rule, my position, my power, my strength, my knowledge, and it’s finally good to get the chance and opportunity to meet them before they will eventually lose against me.” “We will win,” Orion said, “But whatever did happen to your guards?” “I sent them away for their safety because I knew that you would come, oh of course I did, it’s just like my sister to try to strike when some pony is strong so that they are off their guard and relaxed rather than them being weak instead, she thinks that she’s so clever, but she’s not, I know her moves, I know her, and she can’t ever fool me, and I suppose that she should be coming very soon to try to fight me in battle, but she will lose again just like she did last time. But I suppose that the past doesn’t matter now, only the future does now, like for example, what will happen to you? I have heard legends and myths and tales and rumors about you, they call you many names, the New Six, the Lunar Six, the Republic Six, the Deadly Six, I know that most are probably not true, but I also know that there is some fact and truth in each wild crazy story that I hear, and that is why I have never estimated you incorrectly.” “If you know who we are then why not attack us now?” Orion said. “Because I know that there are six other ponies who showed up tonight who also want peace in these lands, and I thought that they might be dead after they went away and were lost, and I thought that their society and group was also just a myth and legend and story, but it wasn’t, it was all real and true, and they hid themselves very well, so well that neither of us knew that there was a group, but I can assure you that the Main Six are still alive and here with us not only in this castle, but this very room as well too here and now.” “That’s crazy,” Orion said looking around at every pony and then seeing that they were all wearing hoods and cloaks, and then he thought that it might not be so crazy after all, “Every pony is wearing a cloak and a hood…” “Yes, they are, now please tell them to take them off so that you and I can finally see their faces, I think that you’ll be shocked and surprised at some who dare stand in your crowd, and I will be very glad to see them again finally.” And with that said Orion told them all to take off their hoods, “Do it,” he said, “Or face the consequences, you don’t want to face Luna now, do you?” They did not, they knew full well of her anger and hatred, and of her fury and wrath, and they did not ever want to see any more of it ever again. Every pony did take off their hoods except for six, but then the six off their hoods very slowly after a glare from Orion and then every pony saw them. There they were, the Main Six, all standing in the crowd together. “You’re alive?” Ruby said, “But how? And also what have you been doing?” “We have been building the society of Equestria United, the ponies who want peace without joining either of you,” Twilight Sparkle said. “That’s exactly what I wanted before I joined the Republic,” Ruby said. “We have been waiting in the shadows and darkness for the right time to reveal ourselves, and today and tonight was just perfect,” Twilight said. “It is no use to fight me, either of you, for you six are no longer are connected to the Elements of Harmony, and the Republic isn’t strong enough either.” “Just because we’re no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony doesn’t mean that we still can’t fight you, and we will,” Twilight said. “And we’re much stronger than you think we are,” Ruby said. “I doubt that, but you’re welcome to try to fight me in battle.” And with that said Ruby suddenly had a spark of brilliant genius, they weren’t connected to the Elements of Harmony, but she knew who was now. “We don’t need to fight,” Ruby said, “We just need to talk with you so that you will see that with logic and reason, besides, they may not be connected to the Elements of Harmony anymore, but I know who is.” “And who would that be?” Celestia said not even scared or concerned. “Us, and let me explain, Orion,” she said pointing at him and then every pony else when she said their name, “You represent the Element of Honesty. Derpy, you represent the Element of Loyalty, Octavia, you sacrificed your dreams for the Republic, you represent the Element of Generosity, Vinyl, you represent the Element of Kindness with your music, Cheerilee, you represent the Element of Laughter since you can bring joy to others, and as for me, I represent the Element of Magic since I understand friendship now just as they do as well.” And with that said a magical beam laced between the New Six and the power of Friendship flowed through them, and then they blasted it at Princess Celestia. “NO!” she screamed out as it hit her, but then it was over, no longer was she insane or crazy, no longer was her hair black instead of rainbow colored, now she was normal and regular again, now she was back to how she used to be. Luna had seen the whole entire thing and was surprised and shocked, but when she saw her true real sister there, she started to cry. “Sister, please forgive me,” Celestia said, “The nightmare forces, they…” “Yes, I know, they took over your mind just as they did to me, you are not at fault just as I was when I turned evil, you are indeed forgiven for all your actions, but if you want to make things right then I suggest that you start with them,” Luna said pointing to the six who had saved her sister. “Thank you all very much,” she said, “Your actions today can never be fully repaid, and I know that you must be very confused, but let me try to explain, after my sister returned I had conflicting emotions, thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and the nightmare forces, the same thing that turned my sister evil, they used this to turn me evil too, and in their power they turned Equestria into a living nightmare, but not one that me or my sister ever expected. But now it is over, now we can move on, now we can finally have peace, and it also seems that we will also have new bearers of the elements now because of you.” “Speaking of the elements,” Ruby said to the Main Six, “How did you ever lose your connection with them? Surely you were all still worthy and fit of it?” “We were, but we weren’t ready and we also knew that someday that others would have to take our place, and that’s why we left, to find them,” Twilight said, “But that was a mistake, but at least we weren’t wrong when we thought that eventually there would be others, and now it seems that we are finally right, I just wish that we could have been there for Equestria more.” “But you were Twilight, you always were,” Celestia said with a smile. And with that said every pony smiled and Pinkie Pie started to party. And all was well with the kingdom, for now a nation was no longer divided or separated by two ideas and sisters, no longer was it at war, but now it was together once more again, now it would have love and joy and peace again, and Ruby would finally find the thing that she had always wanted, peace. But while peace may have been easy to get after that night, other matters would not, like the matter of Ruby and her friends being the New Six, they had to spread the message of friendship across Equestria, but at least Ruby didn’t have to worry about Orion being an alicorn anymore, she had other things and stuff to do instead, like going out on a date for example, and also writing a poem too, she thought it would be very fitting for the celebration.
Octavia's StoryOctavia's Story “So what is your story exactly?” Ruby said one day after training was complete. “It is a very sad one, I am sure that you will not want to hear it.” “Oh, but I do, please tell me, I must know why,” Ruby said. “Very well then,” she said taking a very deep sigh, “As you wish, then I shall say so. My tale begins very long ago before the war, I was a musician as you know, but then when the war came Celestia decided that music would be frowned upon, but not outlawed, and I knew that many would want to hear a song to cheer them up, but I could not play, so instead I went on with life, I found new ways to inspire and serve, becoming a teacher was just one of them. But I just wish that I could play, but it has been so very long since I have touched my old violin that I don’t even know if I could anymore.” “I’m sure that you can if you try,” Ruby said, “I mean, why not play now?” “Here? Right now, for you?” Octavia said, “No, I couldn’t, not ever again.” “Yes you can, I believe in you, just play your heart out and you’ll be just fine.” And with that said Octavia sighed as Ruby smiled, “Very well then, as you wish,” and with that said she went to go get her old violin and very shortly and soon returned. “I don’t know why you ever would insist upon this, but I am not one ever to deny a request,” she said tuning the string properly, and then with that said and done, she started to play, and it was very beautiful indeed. It was as if her heart and soul were in it, and after it was done, Ruby cried. “That was brilliant, but do you mind singing it with this now?” she said handing a piece of paper that had a poem written on it, and she obliged. “A Nation Divided…By Two Sisters…Who Hate and Love Each One Another. By Two Ideas…Separate and Distinctly Different…But Neither One is Good All Alone…They Must be Joined Again Once More. Against Itself…Cannot Stand Alone. By Power and Strength…For that is how One Side Will Win. By the Power of Will…For there is no War or Battle or Fight Without Reason. By Hate and Love…For One Separates and Tears Apart and Away…And the Other Binds Back Together Again and Heals. By Knowledge…For you Must Know your Enemy to Win. By A War…A War that Separates Ponies…Families…And Finally, Friends. If only I could not pick a side and join…If only I could have peace in this Great Grand Land…Then That Would Be Well and Fine, with Love, Kindness, Cheer, and Joy, And Then All Would Be Well and Fine. But woe is me, but still I hope and pray, for that day that will come, when all are free, and peace to finally come, so that my dream may be real, and my voice and song heard.” And once Octavia had stopped, they both cried, for they both wanted peace, and then all was well with them for now they knew their stories.
Epilogue: A Date Without a NameEpilogue: A Date Without a Name “I’m so glad that we could talk together again,” Ruby said. “Yes, and this time very casually, remember last time?” Orion said. “How could I ever forget?” Ruby said with a slight smile thinking about how very awkward it was, but at least she had learned some things that they shared between them, like that their favorite color was blue for example. “At least this time is much better,” he said, “So very much so that I want to tell you something, and it’s something that has been on my mind for quite some time now, and it’s something very important that you should probably know by now, it’s just that I have been putting it off for far too long now.” “And what do you have to say exactly?” Ruby said. “It’s about my thoughts and feelings and ideas, you see you know that I like you, I have for a while now, but I think that now it might be, may be, no, is more, I just don’t like you, I love you Ruby, and this is very serious now.” “But how, why?” she said with some slight confusion in her voice. “I don’t know when or where or why exactly, but I do love you.” “But why tell me this now, and how do I know that this is real and true?” “You don’t, you just have to trust me and your feelings, but it is real and true, I can promise you that if you feel the exact same way about me, but if you still don’t believe me, I’ll tell you my real true name, it’s Orion.” “It is? Wait, what?” Ruby said with shock and surprise. “Yes, I have no name not a real or true one, so I made one up, and it’s one that you and every pony else knew from the very start, I just let others think that it’s not my real true name, except for Luna and a few others of course.” “That’s very clever, wise, and smart of you,” she said. “Yes, it is, but now that you know how do you feel about me?” “The same way,” she said, “I think that I love you too.” “Really?” Orion said with some slight surprise and shock. “Of course, you’re a handsome stallion, how could I not fall in love with you?” And with that said Ruby leaned in and kissed him very gently. And as they kissed both smiled, for now all was really truly well, but they would soon discover that life would only get better for both of them now.
PoemA Nation Divided… …By Two Sisters… …Who Hate and Love Each One Another. …By Two Ideas… …Separate and Distinctly Different… …But Neither One is Good All Alone… …They Must be Joined Again Once More. …Against Itself… …Cannot Stand Alone. …By Power and Strength… …For that is how One Side Will Win. …By the Power of Will… …For there is no War or Battle or Fight Without Reason. …By Hate and Love… …For One Separates and Tears Apart and Away… …And the Other Binds Back Together Again and Heals. …By Knowledge… …For you Must Know your Enemy to Win. …By A War… …A War that Separates Ponies… …Families… …And Finally, Friends. If only I could not pick a side and join… If only I could have peace in this Great Grand Land… Then That Would Be Well and Fine, with Love, Kindness, Cheer, and Joy, And Then All Would Be Well and Fine. -Excerpt from the poem A Nation Divided… By Ruby Crystal
Prologue: ReturnPrologue: Return Luna stood before her sister now, reformed and ready to be part of the family again, and she honestly didn’t know if she was going to be forgiven, especially right away then and now, and she didn’t expect to be forgiven after all that she had done, rebelling against her sister and the ponies and citizens of the lands. She wasn’t fit to be called a Princess of Equestria anymore, much less a sister. And she definitely didn’t deserve to be called the sister princess of the sun. “I’m sorry sister,” she said, “I’m sorry for all that I did, but can you ever forgive for what I did? And if you don’t I understand, I’m ready for your punishment.” “There shall be no punishment,” Celestia said, “Perhaps judgement maybe, but I would never ever willing punish or hurt my dear little beloved sister that I have, the only one that I have, and while I cannot forgive you for what you did now, perhaps maybe with time and patience I can learn to do that, but for now you will only have to accept my love and kindness as well as that of the other ponies of Equestria, for they have forgotten you my dear little sister, and it is you that needs to be remembered by them for raising the moon and stars at night, not I, for that which belongs to and is of the night is your duty and your responsibility now, I can only hope, pray, and have faith that you will not fail me once more again, or the ponies of Equestria, do you promise me that? Do you promise me that upon on your own life that you will never fail me once more again or the ponies of these lands known as Equestria ever again?” “I promise you sister, I will never fail you again, or the ponies of Equestria.” “That is good then, and I trust that you will keep your promise no matter what happens to us or these lands, or even to the ponies of Equestria. I trust that you will also not disappoint me again, just as much as you expect me not to fail you, and I will not ever fail you again my dear little beloved sister, from now on I will always stand by your side no matter what happens, and I know that I may not have been there for you in the past, but I’m here now to fix that mistake that I made so long ago, so many long years ago, but that’s behind us now, and I would rather we look towards the future with hope and faith.” “I agree my sister; your words could not be any truer even if you tried to do so.” And with that said the two nodded and hugged each other, and all seemed well and fine now that the day had been saved, but both did not know nor could they suspect or know the importance of those very words that they spoke to each other much later on, for the words would change the fate of Equestria. For in the future, these words would affect the lives of many and all the ponies.
Ruby CrystalChapter One: Ruby Crystal She was a simple unicorn, despite the life that she had been raised up in. She might have been born rich and famous, but that didn’t mean she had to live up to that legacy in the same way that her parents had pursued. She had gleaming white skin that sparkled, shimmered, and shined in the sunlight and dazzling bright red hair that also sparkled, shimmered, and shined in the sun. And finally, she had blue eyes like a diamond or perhaps maybe the ocean instead, or other various things and objects made up of and having the color of blue. But despite her outwards looks and appearance, she was even more beautiful on the inside because of her love, kindness, and generosity. And she loved music, writing, poetry, art, and songs, she loved to hear them, see them, admire them, and even create them should the occasion or chance permit. But what she did not love war the bloody war in the lands. It had been ten years ever since it unofficially began with the return of the Princess Luna, and no pony knew what happened between the two to make them split apart and drift away from each other, but it must have been very bad, for now it was tearing and dividing the entire nation apart and away. Ponies had to choose and pick a side to join, one side to be loyal to, one side to risk your life for, one to die for, and it was all too much pressure for her to take, she couldn’t choose between the two sisters that she loved and admired. For one raised the sun that gave life and beauty to plants and life and ponies, and that’s why all the farmers were only loyal to Celestia, and the other raise the moon, a reflection of the light of the sun, and she raised the stars, even more lights, and they all gave off their own unspoken beauty as the sun did. She wanted peace in the lands, and many also shared her opinion, and they formed a third-party group lead by the Mane 6, for while they were more loyal to the Princess of the Sun Celestia, they also did not want this war to destroy the lands of Equestria, or the power and strength of the magic of Friendship. Yet inside she sighed for she knew that it was most likely never to happen. But at least she had a peaceful life in this storm of chaos and blood and war and pain and despair and sorrow, and she considered herself very lucky since some ponies would not be as content and as wise and as smart as she was. And she lived simply and plainly doing what she could with what she earned from her little tiny shop, but she was still glad that she lived well enough. But little did she know just how soon she would be forced to choose, just how soon to pick a side to join, a side that she would not love nor be loyal to.
