Ponyville
Ponyville. Every Sunseeker is first led to the small town of Ponyville. It's said to be the last resting place of the Elements of Harmony. I personally doubted it. I think somepony would've recovered the Elements already if they were. Ponyville isn't a particularly dangerous place. That's not to say it's very safe either, but Ponyville isn't any more dangerous than anywhere else. It's corrupted by the nightmare abyss, but so is most all of Equestria. Regardless, it's the only lead any Sunseeker has.
I'm not entirely sure what time it was. It’s not as if the sun and moon were too much help. Ever since the abyss swept over the land, the sun and the moon both hung in the sky at the same time. They call it an eclipse. It looks something like a black hole in the sky surrounded by a fiery ring.
Walking beneath that eclipse was me. Me, with my tattered shawl wrapped around my neck. Me, with my patched and stitched cloak hanging over my back. I walked atop metallic horseshoes. They didn't quite clop on the ground; the road to Ponyville is a dirt path rather than a stone street. An emerald flask full of glowing golden fluid hung from my neck by a small link chain. Sheathed at the side of my ribs was my sword. Nothing special really, just your average metal blade fitted with a handle and cross guard. Corresponding to the sword was a clutch fitted on my right hoof.
Scritch scritch scritch...
There wasn't a whole lot of noise to titillate the old eardrums. No, just the sound of metal horseshoes scraping against hard packed dirt and the steady breeze coming from my lungs. I didn't usually travel with others. Not that I preferred being alone, but most ponies had the sense not to travel in such grim times. Most of those that didn't were nightmarish hollows, corrupted by the abyss. Call me picky, but my standards for a companion requires them to possess full sanity.
Scritch scritch scritch...
That's when I heard it, moaning. Not the sultry moaning that comes from acts of pleasure, but much rather the moan a pony makes when they're in anguish and suffering. That moan. I gazed down the dirt path at the source. It was a mare, was being the keyword. At one point, this mare may have had a family. She may have had friends, maybe a lover, but that was in the past. She was now a hollow, consumed by the nightmare abyss. Anything that remained of her mind had been reduced to grey static and an unholy need to murder anypony that wasn't consumed by the abyss. Really, I'd be doing her a favor by ending her life.
Anypony that survived in these times had to believe that.
I fitted the handle of my sword into the clutch attached to my hoof and pulled my blade from its sheath. I hobbled toward the mare on three hooves, the fourth one having a sword attached to it. Let me be the first one to tell you that it's difficult to maintain stealth when you're walking on just three hooves, so the hollow was quick to notice my approach. She charged at me on all four hooves, not carrying a weapon or a lick of self-perseverance. I slashed my blade at her neck. Sharpened steel split through flesh, and blackish fluid spurted from her throat. The hollow staggered for a moment, allowing me to follow up by stabbing through her rib cage. The mare collapsed to the ground, oozing black tainted blood. I sheathed my dripping blade and twisted a hoof, freeing the handle from the clutch.
Some earth ponies (and Pegasai) prefer to forget about the clutch all together and just hold the handle between in their muzzle. It allows a pony more agility by letting them fight on four hooves, but muzzle stance requires a pony to get their head somewhat close to their opponent. I very much enjoy the safety of keeping my opponents a leg length away, even if it limits my mobility.
Not to mention, muzzle fighting tends to get blood (in this case, nightmare tainted blood) splattered all across a pony's face. I'm never too excited for that.
Everypony says the Elements are in Ponyville, but nopony ever says where exactly in Ponyville they are. I doubted there'd be a building or sign labeled Elements of Harmony, so that left me with simply wandering up and down the streets of Ponyville in search of a lead. I'd be find with wandering (I've done a lot of it), but I prefer not to wander about the ruins of towns and citys. See, at one point, towns had guards and, at a slightly later point, those guards were tainted by the abyss.
And, at some point before all of that, somepony gave these guards weapons.
"AGHHH!"
That was the sound of me screaming in pain. A hollow guard managed to slash through my chest with the bladed tip of his spear. I drove my blade through his throat. The stallion collapsed with tainted blood draining from his juggler. I had hardly a moment to rest before another guard cut through my side with his sword. My hide erupted into a sensation of stinging and burning as crimson fluid drained from my side. I slashed at the hollow with my sword. Steel cut through hollow flesh, and I proceeded with onslaught of slashes and cuts until he joined his partner on the ground. I caught my breath through heaving gasps as I spotted another three hollows approaching from down the road, two with swords and one with a spear.
I drank from my emerald flask. The warmly glowing fluid ran down my throat, burning and soothing alike. The wounds in my chest and my side promptly healed over. It's no wonder they call it a Phoenix Flask; these things practically make you immortal!
I'd just finished drinking when a hollow slashed at me with his sword. I narrowly back stepped away from the attack and rolled before the other sword hollow could catch me with his blade. I slashed one guard's leg, crippling him onto three hooves. The other slashed with his sword again. I redirected the hollow's attack in a parry, and followed up with a well-placed riposte. He fell to the ground, dead by the critical attack. That was when the spear hollow impaled my chest with his weapon.
"GAHHH!"
He removed the spearhead from my chest and stabbed at me again. I rolled beneath the attack and slashed his back leg just as I exit the somersault. I distanced myself from the crippled hollows, taking a moment to drink from my Phoenix Flask. I could feel my lung repairing itself from the inside. I coughed up some blood before resuming my clash with the hollows.
I took to the offensive, driving my blade into the chest of the spear hollow. I quickly drew my weapon from his chest and slammed him over the head with the flat side of my sword, sending him to the ground. The sword hollow slashed at me with his blade. I blocked the attack with my own sword in a defensive stance. He slashed at me again, but I managed to parry him just as his partner before. Just as his partner before, I followed up with a deadly riposte.
Three dead hollows. I did all that to kill three hollows. It's times like this where I consider the need for a greatsword rather than a smaller straight sword. It'd be so much more useful in dealing with groups of hollows.
I proceeded down the street, sword sheathed at my side. I wasn't making too much progress in Ponyville, and the hollow guards took a considerable chunk out of my Phoenix Flask, leaving it at halfway empty (or is it halfway full?). I nearly considered giving up on Ponyville when I spotted it:
Golden Oak Library
Of course! If anywhere would hold information regarding the Elements of Harmony, it'd be a library! I galloped towards the unique building. I say unique because this library was built inside a massive tree rather than stone and hay like the rest in Ponyville. A pile of dead leaves surrounded the base of this tree. Barren branches stretched above.
I heard something from inside the Library as I approached. A mare, shouting and yelling from within. She sounded coarse, angry.
"Sister! Sis! Dad and I have been looking for you for ages, come on! Where are you!?"
Speaking... it's not really a thing that hollows do, so that's a good sign. I approached the door to the library. The mare inside kept on shouting. Loud smashing and banging could be heard.
"I'm not playing hide and seek, come on!"
I opened the door to find the library in ruins. Books were scattered everywhere, shelves were broken, and any glassware had been shattered and scattered on the ground (That's why I wear the horseshoes). At the center of it all stood a snorting mare with a bluish grey coat and a pure grey mane. In her teeth, she held a heavy stone smashing hammer. She stopped slamming it against the furniture in the library just so she could stare at me. I stared right back into her eyes. Her dark, shadowy, abyss tainted eyes.
Most Hollows don't speak. Most.
She asked, "Pinkie... is that you?"
I spoke. "Who exactly is asking...?"
"Limestone, I'm looking for my sister, Pinkamena. Have you seen her?"
"What does she look like?"
Stalling is a very effective technique in trying to analyze how to handle a hollow. This mare was going to attack me soon; all abyss tainted creatures do. But, you can sometimes stall off an attack by upholding conversation long as possible.
Limestone explained, "She's pink. Really pink."
"I'm afraid I haven't seen her."
She snorted. Her eyes seemed to grow darker. Her expression changed to a maddened look of bloodlust. The abyss had gotten a better grip on her.
"Blood... I smell the tainted blood of the abyss upon you..." she spoke.
I looked over my clothing. It was certainly covered and stained in abyss tainted blood. I could smell it too.
Limestone continued. "I will slay all spawns of the nightmare abyss, for Father Igneous!"
I reached for my sword with a hoof. Before I could draw, she made a savage leaping attack with her sledgehammer. The heavy tool collided with the side of my ribs, sending me flying a good distance across the room. Several of my ribs shattered under the impact. I uncontrollably tried to gasp for air. I desperately drank from my flask, but constant shaking made me spill a good amount of it down my muzzle and neck. I drank what I could. My ribs healed quickly, but my flask was left completely empty. I climbed to my hooves as Limestone galloped towards me with her hammer. I narrowly rolled beneath another savage slam just as I reached a stand.
I gripped my sword in my muzzle. I needed the agility to avoid Limestone's attacks; another slam like that would grind my bones to dust before my blood turned it to a sickly pony sludge!
Limestone slammed her hammer down upon my head. I sidestepped the attack and slashed at her with my sword. Abyss blood spurted from her side as she punched my chest with a hoof. I staggered, and Limestone again tried to bash me with her hammer. I rolled behind the mare and slashed at her haunches with my blade. She snorted in pain before bucking me with her hind hooves, sending me straight onto my back. Limestone slammed her hammer towards my position on the ground. I rolled out of the way and drove the tip of my blade into her rib cage. She gasped in agony.
"Agh! Damn it!"
Limestone whipped her hammer at my body. My sword, lodged in her rib cage, was torn from my muzzle as I rolled beneath the attack. Limestone made another weak attempt to attack me. The hammer dropped from her muzzle. She was unable to lift it off the ground.
"Abyss... tainted... hollow..." she spoke between gasps. "Damned thing..."
Limestone staggered towards me. Black blood dripped from the wounds in her side, ribs, and haunches. My sword still stuck out from her side. I rolled towards her fallen hammer, gripping it in my muzzle. I lifted the tool off the ground and slammed it into her head. The injured hollow lacked the energy to even try avoiding. A sickly crunch resonated with the sound of her death.
I gasped as I stood above her corpse.
"Rest, Sister Limestone... you've had a long night."
We've all had a long night. Is it night? What is it called when both the moon and the sun hang in the sky?
I pulled the sword out of her side and placed it safely in the sheath. Blood had splattered against a large number of the books in our clash. Hopefully none of the important ones. I took a moment to catch my breath before sorting through the scattered books.
It took time, but I eventually crossed a worn book bearing gold binding with a gold unicorn head fastened to the cover. I read over the title.
The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide
"Praise Celestia..." I muttered beneath my breath.
I'd found it. Risking death with Limestone had been worth it after all. I proceeded upstairs, hoping to find a part of the library that wasn't smashed to ruins so I may read. That was when I saw it, a coiled sword planted into a pile of ash and bone. It sat in the middle of a bedroom with two beds, one for a single pony, the other seemingly for a small pet.
An unlit bonfire sat in the middle of this bedroom.
"PRAISE CELESTIA!" I cried in joy.
The Everfree Forest
According to the reference guide, there are five known Elements of Harmony: Honesty, Laughter, Loyalty, Kindness, and Generosity, though some pages were torn from the book. It was likely useful information. The elements were stored within a royal castle deep in the Everfree Forest, so that was where I headed.
Previous fighting had left my clothing torn and more tattered than it already was. I needed protective barding, but there weren’t too many blacksmiths to be found in those times. I wasn’t about to loot a hollow for their armor. I’ve heard it’s cursed gear they have.
That left me treading through the Everfree Forest with nothing more than a torn cloak, a ratty shawl covering my neck, simple metal horseshoes and, just as always, my trusty longsword. The Everfree wasn’t nearly as quiet as the lonesome road, but the noises I heard weren’t exactly comforting either. Skittering amongst the bushes and howling in the distance. At worst, it’d be the sound of breathing, only it wasn’t coming from my lungs.
It was in this period of walking when it happened. A foul scent overtook my muzzle. I could hear the clacking and squeaking of wood against wood. Rough breathing and light growling sounded from all around me. Out of the corner of the eye, I caught it. It was a wooden beast with green glowing eyes and sharp pointed teeth.
Timberwolves
The first leapt at me from behind. I bucked it out of the air with my hind hooves and quickly proceeded with sprinting fast as I could. I drew my sword in my muzzle. Another timberwolf lunged at my side. I rolled forward. The beast missed and landed on the ground tactfully. One wolf jumped out in front of me. I smashed through its head with my sword. I glanced back at the beasts following me. There were too many to count.
Another issue laid in endurance. I was a pony, a living creature. I couldn’t run for an eternity on end. These things were likely cursed beasts made with dark magic; they’d eventually catch me. For a matter of fact, they were already growing uncomfortably close. Fate was looking grim until a loud roaring sounded. A lion’s roar, something odd to be heard in a forest such as this. I always thought lions resided in grasslands.
The Timberwolves stopped chasing me immediately, instead choosing to run away. I was too busy catching my breath to notice the real danger ahead. An even greater beast had emerged, one bearing leathery wings, a scorpion’s tail, and the head of a lion. The Manticore gazed at me from down the forest. I took better grip of the weapon in my mouth, preparing for an arduous fight.
The beast began running towards me. It roared and gnashed its many teeth. I rolled out of the way of an attempted tackle. I slashed at the manticore as it landed, but my blade couldn’t quite cut through manticore hide like hollows. The beast batted me away with its tail, sending my flying back and landing on my side. I climbed atop my hooves, only to be caught by a set of manticore claws. The beast tore my shawl away from my neck and cut clear through the meat on my chest. I staggered away, trying to find opportunity to drink from my flask.
The manticore lunged at me with its toxic pointed tail. I rolled to the side of the beast. It tried to bite me, but I narrowly rolled out of the way, ending up behind the beastly creature. I braced myself for impact. The manticore slammed me with its tail again. I flew back just as last time, but anticipation allowed me to stick a proper landing. I took the time to drink from my Phoenix Flask as the beast turned towards me. It lunged full body at me. I rolled out of way of the tackle, slashing it with my sword. I managed three cuts to the creature’s side before it clawed at me again. A fresh set of wounds split on my foreleg. The manticore readied its tail to strike. I sheathed my sword and prepared to dodge the attack. The beast thrust its tail at me. I narrowly backstepped out of danger and gripped the scorpion tail with my teeth. The manticore lifted me into the air with its tail and immediately tried to fling me off the appendage. I opted to land on its back. I clung to the beast’s back with my hooves as I drank more from my Phoenix Flask.
The manticore began bucking about wildly while I hung onto its mane with my muzzle. I drew my sword in the clutch, rearing my foreleg to strike with blade. The manticore then bucked me off its back, sending me to the ground with a meaty thud. The beast pounced upon my laying body. It clawed through my side and nearly took my head off with its claws. A simple jerk of the head ensured the claws tore off part of my left ear rather than my skull.
“AGHHH!”
The manticore reared back to bite me. The beast opened its powerful jaws… and that was when I struck. I shoved my blade and the hoof attached down the manticore’s throat. My sword cut through the manticore’s throat, lungs, and some of his other vitals. The dying beast tried to bite my leg clear off, but could only managed to tear through flesh, not bone. I pulled my hoof out of the manticore. It was coated in blood, both the beast’s and my own. I promptly finished off the golden liquid in my Phoenix Flask. My leg, ear, and side began healing, though the wounds couldn’t completely seal the wounds. I hadn’t enough of my flask left.
Not to mention, I was missing half of an ear.
I tore off the rags covering my body. The manticore managed to tear my clothes to tatters. I continued to tread through the Everfree Forest with nothing but my sword and my saddlebags.
I trotted between a peculiar grove of trees. They were twisted and misshapen, almost looking like living creatures. I first mistook them for more beasts of the Everfree, with sharp teeth and sickly talons. They caught me off guard. I screamed in terror before realizing they were none other than trees. Twisted, yes, but they were still harmless.
The whole ordeal managed to draw a bout of laughter from me.
I continued until encountering a river. It appeared rather calm, serene even, but only until a great creature rose from its waters. Again, I first mistook it for a beast. I drew my sword in panic. The creature dripped with waters from the river. A massive river serpent sat in the water. His protective scales were of a lavender shade. It bore a magnificent orange mane with yellow streaks, and an equally magnificent moustache. The right end of his facial hair was a shade of deep purple rather than orange, almost as if another’s hair was fused in place.
The serpent declared, “The Harmony Keeper has appointed me to guard the Castle of the Two Sisters. Who are you, and what is it you seek?”
I answered, “My name is Fluoresce Daydream! I am a Sunseeker, coming from afar in search for the Elements of Harmony. I have heard they lie within the Castle!”
The serpent chuckled at me, stroking the purple end of his moustache.
“Aaa… another hopeless romantic in search of those Elements… Mhmm, the Harmony Keeper’s awaiting you inside the Castle. I shall allow you inside, for her.”
He settled into the river, forming a bridge across with his own body. I took to crossing the river on his lavender scales, nearly slipping a couple of times. I made it across without harm.
“Thank you, jolly friend!” I praised.
“Come now, you’ll make me blush! It’s just my job.”
I proceeded through the Everfree with a smile on my face. That river serpent was rather kind. I would’ve hated to have killed the guy.
I totted across an unsteady rope bridge. On the other end laid the castle or, at least, what remained of it anyway. Centuries of weathering appeared to have worn on the royal structure. There wasn’t too much keeping me from crossing the wooden rope structure.
I approached the castle. The wounds on my leg and side hadn’t completely healed over yet. I trotted through ruins. Bits of stone and rubble littered the ground. Soiled paintings and torn banners cloaked some of the stones. Old celestial imagery laid about: moons, stars, and the sun. I trotted through it all, approaching more sturdy remains of the structure deeper inside.
I eventually entered one of the remaining structures of the castle. Inside, I found two ponies. One was a white coated unicorn stallion with a two toned blue mane. He was a well-built stallion, muscular and sturdy. He wore a set of damaged barding, fit with dents and worn buckles. His armor was a faded royal purple with hints of gleaming gold. A matching helm with a dual toned plume fitting his mane sat next to him.
Sitting next to him was a mare in black and grey robes. A hood was pulled down, laying on the back of her neck. She was a lavender unicorn. She had a straight cut mane, dark purple with some streaks of lavender and pink. She appeared to be wearing some sort of saddlebags underneath the robes.
Then there was me. I typically didn’t go without some sort of clothing. It’s usually a sign of weakness, showing a pony has no armor whatsoever. I stood there before the two ponies. I was just a humble earth stallion, if not taller than most ponies. I was built lean, fit for dodging rather than strength like the unicorn stallion. My coat was a charcoal grey shade. My mane was a dark navy blue shade. On my flanks laid my cutie mark, the eclipsed moon surrounded by a ring of fire.
Both ponies looked at me as I entered. The mare was alit with happiness and excitement. The stallion rolled his eyes, casting me away with a look.
The mare asked, “Is that a Sunseeker who comes in search for the Elements of Harmony.”
I spoke. “Yes, that’s me! Are they inside these castle ruins?”
The stallion chuckled. “Don’t you think we would’ve cured this land if they were?”
The mare butted in. “Come now, Shiny, he’s just going off what he read in a book. You are, aren’t you?”
I curiously pulled the reference guide out of my saddlebag and placed it in front of the mare. Her face was practically glowing in glee.
“See, he’s here on good intentions!” She declared. “I shall put this back, so others like you might find the castle some day!”
She casted a spell on the book. It disappeared in a purple flash.
“Good intentions?” The stallion snorted at the comment. “Just like Scootaloo was here on good intentions? Tell me, when was the last time we saw her?”
The mare frowned at the stallion before looking at me.
She said, “Don’t mind my brother; he’s just tired. I am Twilight Sparkle, the Harmony Keeper. This is my brother, Shining Armor. Might we ask your name?”
I answered, “Fluoresce. My name is Fluoresce Daydream.”
Twilight said, “Come now, rest at the bonfire. You look like you could use it.
She pointed at the fire place in the center of the room. I eagerly followed instruction, resting at the warming flame and the coiled sword. Twilight followed me to the bonfire.
I asked, “So… if the Elements aren’t here, then where are they?”
The warming flame quickly began healing the wounds on my body, as well as refilling my Phoenix Flask.
Twilight explained, “The Elements of Harmony used to belong to five mares, my old friends, but now they’re all scattered. The Elements are capable of extremely powerful magic together, but separately, they are useless. That is where a pony like you comes in.”
“Who are these five mares? Where are they?”
“The five mares are Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and the three knights: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. They were each bearers of the five different Elements, all here in Ponyville, but they each returned to their separate homes after splitting apart. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy returned to Cloudsdale, capital of the Pegasai. Pinkie Pie returned to her family’s rock farm in-“
I piqued up curiously. “Excuse me, rock farm?”
“Yes, the Pie Family rock farm just beyond Ghastly Gorge. Do not ask of the purpose. Where was I now… Rarity fled to Canterlot, a mare fit for royalty. Applejack’s farm, Sweet Apple Acres, still lies within Ponyville. I would begin there.”
“You’re saying Applejack, an Element bearer, is still here in Ponyville!?”
Twilight said, “It’s a possibility. Though, nopony has tread upon Sweet Apple Acres and returned in quite some time.”
“Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity… how will I reach the sky-bound city of Cloudsdale?”
“I know of a spell to allow you to tread upon clouds,” Twilight informed. “You only need a balloon or similar device to get you up there.”
“So once I do that, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.”
I stood up at the bonfire.
“By Celestia, I will gather all five Elements of Harmony, or die trying!”
