Chapter 1: The Plan

Celestia watched the window in dismay and fear for her subjects. She could hear the terrified screams rise from all over Equestria. It wasn't just Canterlot. It was all of Equestria. She knew all of her subjects could feel nothing, but pure terror. Flames raged throughout the country and spread as the wind blew. Pegasi tried to shut down the wind in the weather factory in Cloudsdale, but it was futile. The weather factory was quickly falling in on itself.

"Celestia, may we talk to you?" Luna asked.

Celestia turned to Luna and gave her a barely perceptible nod. Luna stood by her side and the two sisters felt helpless. They knew they couldn't stop the attacks outside. So, they just watched as their beloved country burned and screamed. Ponies cried as many ponies were dying and many were losing close family and friends.

"We can't let this happen anymore," Celestia cried, almost bursting into tears.

"We agree," Luna replied. "We shall devise a plan to stop this from happening again."

"I can do it," Celestia claimed. "I'll devise the plan."

"What shall we call it, dear sister?" Luna inquired. She looked at her sister who looked out across Equestria with solemn eyes. "Sister?"

"I don't know yet," Celestia admitted. "But I think I at least know what to do."

Twilight and her friends frantically tried to help others in Ponyville get to safety.

"Who else is in trouble?" Twilight asked her friends eyes burning from the fire surround Ponyville.

Her friends emerged from silhouettes in the flames and coughed violently. It scared Twilight and she looked at them with pleading eyes.

"We don't know," Rainbow Dash replied. "We've saved all the ponies we could. However, we weren't able to save all of them."

Twilight's heart sank. Ponies she knew so well ever since she arrived lay motionless. She somehow felt this was all her fault.

"We've got to save as much as we can," Twilight told them. "Come on, hurry!"

Twilight's friends nodded and raced to different directions throughout Ponyville to save as many ponies as possible. Twilight looked after them and did the same.

A blast of water rushed through Ponyville and the flames all went out with a hiss. Twilight was confused. Where did the sudden rush of water come from?

Celestia stood there in front of Ponyville. She had ended the villain. Twilight and her friends sighed in relief. The terror was over and they were all okay.

"I need to have a special meeting with all the survivors in Equestria," Celestia said.

Twilight and her friends looked at each other. What could Celestia possibly want to say?

All the survivors in Equestria stood outside Canterlot Palace. Twilight looked around and her eyes filled with tears. Lots of ponies she knew didn't stand with them. She couldn't believe this amount of terror had hit Equestria.

"I've devised a plan," Celestia announced. "That will keep us safe from future villains. The reason we have never done this before is because well... there was no death in the past villain attacks."

Twilight looked around and saw many ponies begin crying. Twilight felt terrible for them. She hadn't lost any of her close friends or family and neither did her other friends, but the ponies that had looked so full of sorrow.

"So, here is our plan," Luna continued.

"All ponies in Equestria will be split into factions," Celestia announced.

"Fractions?!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. She hid behind Twilight. "I don't want to die!"

"Not fractions, Pinkie Pie," Twilight said with a giggle. "Factions. A faction is a group split from a larger one who get sent to separate locations."

"That's right, Twilight," Celestia said. "If Equestria is split into factions, it will be harder for future villains to find us all at once. The faction that does get found will be ready. As training for fights will be done every day by everypony starting at the age of 7. Luna and I have made six factions. Each one represents a special quality and you will be sent to the one that matches your biggest quality. The factions are: Valentia, Leal, Benificium, Intelligentia, Gratia, and Optimismo."

Twilight looked at her friends. She began to feel extremely nervous. She knew every one of her friends had very different qualities than the other and would probably be separated.

"Let's explain the qualities of every faction," Luna said. "Valentia is for the brave or courageous ponies. Leal is for the loyal ponies who stick together. Benificium is for the kind and caring ponies. Intelligentia is for the intelligent ponies. Gratia is for the graceful or swift ponies. Optimismo is for the happy ponies who look on the bright side. We believe if we put the ponies in factions, we can work together better."

Twilight looked around at her friends and family. She knew it might be the last time she ever saw any of them.

"Let's begin the sorting," Celestia said. "When I call your name, please go to the assigned location."

As Twilight watched the ponies get split into factions, tears welled up in her eyes. She already saw ponies she knew so well get separated from their families and friends. Many of them cried and some tried to protest, but it was futile. They had to leave and it broke her heart to see them go their separate ways.

Now, only those closest to Twilight remained. The changelings, Zecora had come out from Everfree to be sorted, Discord, the rest of the Mane 6, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and the Mane 6 and Cutie Mark Crusader's other family members. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor held Flurry Heart close wondering what would happen.

"Applejack, Valentia!"

Applejack took a deep breath and trotted over to join the others in Valentia.

"Fluttershy, Benificium!"

Fluttershy sadly walked over to join the others who got Benificium. She wasn't very happy about any of the plans.

"Pinkie Pie, Optimismo!"

Pinkie Pie shuffled over to her faction.

"Rainbow Dash, Leal!"

Rainbow Dash sighed and flew over reluctantly to her place.

"Rarity, Gratia!"

Rarity trotted over to Gratia without any smiling.

"Twilight, Intelligentia!"

The Mane 6 looked at each other and their hearts sank.

"Girls..." Twilight began, but she trailed off too heartbroken to speak anymore.

"None of us got the same faction!" Fluttershy cried.

The six friends looked around and saw that it was true. They'd never see each other again.

"Discord... um..." Celestia looked around at the factions.

Discord rolled his eyes. "Of course, you ponies think I don't match any good qualities."

"I think you match great qualities," Fluttershy complimented.

"Thank you, Fluttershy," Discord said. "At least, she knows how to be nice around here!"

"Discord, let's have you in Valentia," Celestia told him. "You're a pretty brave draconequus."

Discord's smile fell as he looked over at Fluttershy. They were separated.

"Great," Applejack muttered under her breath.

Fluttershy restrained her tears. Although she wanted to be strong enough to leave, she couldn't help but sob. "It's alright, Discord. I'll be okay."

"I think there's a secret area between Valentia and Benificum," Discord whispered. "We'll meet there, but don't tell anyone."

Fluttershy felt her heart fill with relief. "I won't," she assured.

"Apple Bloom, Intelligentia!" Luna announced. "Big Mac, Valentia! Granny Smith, Intellgentia!"

Applejack felt her heart sink. Her little sister and her grandmother were no longer going to be with her.

"Applejack?" Apple Bloom asked. Apple Bloom looked at her sister, tears filling her eyes.

Applejack held out her arms as if asking her sister to come to her for a hug. She ran forward to her big sister and hugged her. Apple Bloom burst into tears. She never expected anything like this to break their family into two parts. Apple Bloom hugged Big Mac, too.

"Why would anypony ever think this is a good plan!?" Apple Bloom sobbed.

"I don't know," Applejack replied.

Scootaloo was placed in Valentia and had to say goodbye to Rainbow Dash. Sweetie Belle was placed in Benificium and had to say goodbye to Rarity.

But the hardest separation Twilight had to see was Shining Armor, Cadence, and Flurry Heart.

"Shining Armor, Valentia! Cadence, Benificium!" Celestia announced.

"Where does Flurry Heart go?!" Cadence exclaimed.

"She stays with her mother until her defining qualities show," Luna explained.

Flurry Heart looked at her parents and giggled, but when she saw their devastated looks at each other, she grew concerned.

Cadence placed Flurry Heart in Shining Armor's arms.

Flurry Heart looked up at her dad and her eyes glistened with tears. "Daddy?"

Shining Armor gave Flurry Heart a hug. "I'm so sorry."

As he placed Flurry Heart back in Cadence's arms, he gave Cadence the last hug he would ever give her. "I'll miss you."

"Why would Celestia ever think this is a good plan?" Cadence asked beginning to cry.

Shining Armor shook his head and told her, "I don't know."

Her remaining friends and family were sorted and they all said tearful goodbyes and left. As Twilight watched Flurry Heart separate from her father, it was the most heartbreaking separation she had seen all day.

As Cadence turned away from her, Flurry Heart began to scream and cry thrashing wildly. "DADDY!!!"

Her cries rang out and grew distant as Cadence walked farther away.

"Look on the bright side, Twilight," Spike said. "You still have Zecora and I."

Twilight looked at Spike and Zecora who had been placed in the same faction as her. She smiled a little in relief, but not long enough to make her happy.

She missed her friends and family... and it hadn't even begun.

Author's Note

I will be doing a fun fact about each chapter in the notes!

I hoped you liked the story! Please stay tuned for more!

Fun Fact: Each of the faction names translates into English from either Spanish or Latin. Valentia means "Bravery". Leal means "Loyal". Benificium means "Kindness". Intelligentia means "Intelligence". Gratia means "Grace". Optimismo means "Optimism".