A 1000 years ago, a great evil roamed all over Equestria. The name of this evil has been lost to history, but it was an evil who spread chaos, fear, hatred, and darkness. This evil would harm the innocent and destroy everything in its path; nothing could stop it. That is, until two alicorn sisters named Celestia and Luna took a stand against the darkness. They alongside 14 warriors fought against this evil with special artifacts called The Elements of Harmony. Each element represented a different trait that each of the warriors possessed: Kindness, Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Laughter, Strength, Bravery, Healing, Hope, Beauty, Redemption, Sorcery, Love, and Friendship. With the power of these elements and the powers of both the sun and the moon, they managed to defeat the darkness once and for all and bring peace to Equestria, a peace that would last a very long time.
In a flower field, at night during the anomaly known as the Golden Stars; it’s an anomaly during the summer where when the moon rises, it turns to gold and the shooting stars will shine a bright gold coloring for all to see. This was happening during the Summer Sun Festival in Canterlot; I was spending it with two of my favorite ponies, Shining Armor and Cadance. Shining Armor is my older brother, or my BBBFF (Big. Brother Best Friend Forever). He’s a brother that I know that I can always count on and he’s always been there for me. He also has dreams of becoming a Royal Knight for Empire. Cadance is my foalsitter, but she’s been like an older sister to me in a way; also my brother had a huge crush on her. She’s one of the older orphans at the Canterlot Orphanage after her parents left her on the steps when she was only three. The three of us were inseparable. However, that all changed when Canterlot was under attack by a joint alliance of Yaks, Dragons, Buffalo, and a few “radical” ponies calling themselves the Anti Equestria Empire Union League, or the A.E.E.U.L; not only Canterlot, but also Manehattan and Cloudsdale, two major cities in Equestria. While Canterlot, being heavily defended, didn’t sustain much damage, the other cities weren’t so lucky. As a result of this attack, the Empire declared war on these terrorist and promised to eradicate them off the face of Equestria.
However, this caused many ponies, some who were poor and a few elites to move away from Canterlot in fear of being attacked. At the same time, Cadance had to leave with all the other older orphans since the orphanage was also hit during the attack; luckily, no pony was hurt. Shining Armor and I said our goodbyes to Cadance before seeing her off. Before she left, we promised that one day we would meet again; that was eleven years ago. My name is Twilight Sparkle; although I didn’t know it at the time, this was the stepping stone to an adventure that changed our lives.
Elsewhere, in the present day, someone in a brown hood is walking through the very dark and dangerous Everfree Forest. As this pony is walking through the forest, she comes across a hut and knocks on the door.
A voice inside the hut said “Who is it?”
The hooded figure said “A pony seeking to bring the truth of Equestria to everypony.”
“Come in. It’s good to see you again after such a long time, Cadance.”
“Shaman Zecora, it’s good to see you again too. However, I can’t stay here long; I came to get the map from you.” Cadance said to the zebra shaman
Zecora said, while getting a map out of a chest, “The legendary map to the Elements of Harmony; an artifact that hasn’t worked for a long time since the disappearance of Celestia, Luna, and the original element bearers. Tell me, why does our leader want to have the map now?”
“I don’t know; she just wants me to get the map from you. But if I had to guess, she believes that the time has come to search for those who can wield the Elements of Harmony. She wants me to take the map to Canterlot in order to begin the search.”
“Will you be going alone?”
“No; Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail are coming with me.”
“Very well then. Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
“Is there anything else he wants you to do while you are in Canterlot?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do have a secondary mission; I have to capture or kill this stallion, Fancy Pants.”
“For what purpose?”
“I don’t know; that’s why I plan on bringing him back alive. “
“Just remember what I taught you.”
Cadance said while giving the zebra a huge “I will, mom.”
As soon as Cadance left, she flew into the sky and headed for Canterlot. While in the sky, she starts to look at an old photo of her, with Shining Armor and Twilight. She then says to herself “As much as I want to see you two again, I hope that I don’t run into; especially you, Twilight.”
The Canterlot School of Magic and Magical Studies. An institute were ponies, not just unicorns, come to learn all the forms of magic permitted by the Equestrian Empire. This institute is also a place where ponies can get their license to perform and practice higher forms of magic that can’t be performed without a license, such as healing magic, weather magic, summoning magic, potion magic, plant magic, etc. Only the best of the best are allowed to attend this institution and failure to meet the goals of the institution will result in immediate expulsion. The head of this institution, Abacus Cinch, a unicorn with no excuse for failure
In the office of Headmistress Cinch, she is waiting for one of her top students to arrive in her office. As soon as she heard a knock on the door, she said for this pony to come in and this pony entered; this pony is Twilight Sparkle.
“You wanted to see me, Headmistress Cinch.”
“Yes. As you know Ms. Sparkle, our school’s annual Magic Festival starts next week. One of the highlights of this event is the Summoning Show. Are you aware of that?”
“I am, Headmaster Cinch.”
“Good. Unfortunately, the pony that was supposed to do the Summoning Show will not be able to perform the summoning due to an illness and his team can’t perform the summoning without him.”
“That’s terrible. I hope he feels better.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that; he should have been careful to take better care of himself so he could perform the summoning. Without him, the event is now ruined. Bu that’s where you come in; I want you to take over for him.”
“What; why me? I’m only a second year student and the Summoning Show can only be done by a third year.”
“That may be true; but none of our other third years fit the exact “specifications” needed in order to perform the summoning required for this event. Besides, I’ve heard from one of your professors that you have the summoning capabilities similar to that of a third year anyway; I especially heard you managed to summon a lion, a tiger, and two sheep all at the same time.”
“Well yes, but that…..”
“Twilight, what is the motto of this institution.”
“Knowledge, Skill, Perfection, Success. We must strive for these traits in order win at everything.”
“That is correct. You are one of the few students at this institution that manages to fit this motto perfectly. That’s the main reason I’m asking you to perform the summoning this year. But don’t think that I’ll ask you to do this for nothing. I’ve also heard that you’re planning to apply for the independent study abroad opportunity to further study ancient Saddle Arabia magic, is that correct.”
“Yes, but I’ve heard a lot of ponies have applied for this program and there are only 10 spots available.”
“Well, if you do this, I have a friend who is in charge of the selection committee for that program and I can make it possible for you to have one of the spots for the study.”
“I see; then I’ll do.”
“Excellent. Here’s a list of what you need and what you are expected to summon. Because you only have only a week, you and your team will be excused from all your classes to work on the summoning.”
“Alright, then I’ll get to work right away.”
“One more thing Twilight; just something to keep in the back of your head. While you won’t be penalized as a whole academically for this because this is such short notice, you should know that I can also tell the selection committee for that you aren’t qualified for their program since they also have a summoning criteria that they are looking for in particular; I would hate to tell them that you don’t fit that.”
“I won’t fail.”
“I know you won’t.”
Twilight then left the Headmistress's office in order to head to the library to get ready for the event. While heading to the library, she grabs out a mirror with a purple frame on the back of it and says “Mirror, send this message to Moondancer, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, Lyra Heartstrings, and Minuette: I need your help with something important regarding the school festival next week. I’ll be sure to have donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate.”
Elsewhere, in a very fancy mansion, Shining Armor, now part of the Canterlot guard as an elite bodyguard to one of the members of the Imperial Council is waiting downstairs in the foyer.
A pony in a fancy so said while walking down with a mare in a pink dress next to him “So, you’re my bodyguard, is that correct?”
Shining Armor said kneeling before him “Yes, council member Fancy Pants. I’ve been sent here to protect you.”
“I see. Well, you should know that you’ll also be protecting my lovely wife, Fleur Dis Lee.”
“Of course.”
“Ok then, shall we go; I don’t want to be late for the council meeting.”
In the Dragon Lands, Dragon King Torch is sitting on his throne with his daughter, Ember, next to him. While he’s sitting on his throne, two dragons covered in golden armor appear before him and kneel. Torch then said to the both of them “You both have managed to pass every trial that gives you the right to marry my daughter. However, only one of you can have her. For a final sudden death overtime, you will each be given a platoon of dragon warriors that will be used to invade the Equestrian Empire’s capital city in one week to retrieve the Bloodstone Scepter back from the ponies who stole it from us. You may use whatever means necessary to retrieve it. Garble. Spike.”
Both Garble and Spike said at the same time, “Yes, Dragon King Torch”
Author's Note
Questions for future chapters; certain questions will determine how I proceed
Name the top three elements you would like to see?
Which of the Mane 6 in this AU do you want to see next the most?
Manehattan, Ponyville, Dodge Junction, Griffonstone, or Cloudsdale. Which place do you want to see the most.
Which MLP Movie character do you want me to add to story the most? Pick only one; you can also say you don't want any of the movie characters in this story.
Later that night, Twilight is using her magic to put the donuts on the table along with the coffee and hot chocolate. While she is doing this, Shining Armor walks in and tries to grab one of the donuts, but is stopped by Twilight.
“Sorry Big Brother, but these are not for you.”
“Oh come on, Twily. I’ve had an exhausting (boring) day and I need the sugar.”
“Well you’re going to have to get something else. The girls and I are going to need them since we’re going to be working most of the night on this summoning for the festival. It has to be perfect.”
Shining Armor said sarcastically “Yeah because everything and everyone has to be perfect”
“That is true.”
“I was being sarcastic, Twily. I know you and your friends are in your second year, but I still worry that school, mainly that headmistress of yours is putting, puts too much pressure on you and your friends.”
“Don’t worry Shining Armor, we’ll be fine. I’ve already done most of the planning already; all we need to do is practice a few times and everything. Hey, isn’t that your mirror?”
“It is. Shining Armor says to the mirror “Mirror, answer the call. Lieutenant Shining Armor, reporting. What do I owe the pleasure, Captain Burning Heart?”
“At ease, lieutenant. I know you’re off duty right now, but I need you to come back to castle as soon as possible for an important assignment.”
“Understood; I’ll head for the castle immediately.” Shining Armor says to Twilight “I have to go. See you later, Twily.”
“Alright. Hey, you took one of the donuts behind my back.”
“Sorry, Twily.”
As Shining Armor is heading for the door and opens it, he accidentally bumps into Moondancer and knocks her to the ground.
“Moondancer. I’m so sorry. Are you ok?”
Moondancer said after Shining Armor helped her up while hiding the fact that she is blushing “I’m fine. Is Twilight home?”
“She is. I have to go now.”
“Ok, bye.”
“Moondancer, your early.”
“Yeah; magical physics club let out early today. So, where’s your brother going?”
“He received a call from his commanding officer, so he’s heading to the castle. Anyway, come on in.”
“So, where are your parents?”
“They’re away on vacation, so it’s just me and Shining Armor for the next two weeks.”
“Oh, I see. Anyway, Lyra wanted me to tell you that she won’t be able to make it tonight; she has to go to work tonight.”
“That’s fine; all we’re really doing is going over the process tonight more than anything.”
“Why did Cinch even ask you to do this anyway?”
“In short, the third year that was supposed to do this has gone ill and she believes that I have the capabilities of a third year to perform the summoning unlike the rest of the other third years.”
Moondancer says to herself “What about me? I’m just as smart as you and I like summoning too.”
“What was that, Moondancer?”
“Nothing; I was just wondering what we’re going to have to summon.”
In the abandoned orphanage that Cadance used to stay in, she is looking out the window at the upper districts of Canterlot, where the elite stay, and she is wondering how Twilight and Shining Armor are doing. While she’s looking, one of Cadance’s comrades, Vapor Trail, is walking up to her with a mug of hot chocolate.
“Thank you, Vapor Trail.”
“So, I heard that you’ve been to the upper levels of Canterlot, correct?”
“Yes; mainly because the foal I was foalsitting, Twilight Sparkle, lived up there along with her brother, Shining Armor. Despite being an orphan and of lower class, the two of them were my closest friends and treated me like I was their own family; Twilight treated me like an older sister and Shining Armor had a crush on me. I miss them.”
“Can’t you go see them? I’m sure we have enough time.”
“I can’t do that, Vapor Trail; we have to focus on the mission. Besides, I’m sure that the both of them have moved on from me.”
“Have you?” Vapor Trails says after noticing the mirror on the wall buzzing “It sounds like Sky is contacting us”
Cadance said to the mirror after she and Vapor Trail got up to it “Mirror answer.”
Sky Sting said over the mirror “Commander Cadance, I have news regarding our target.”
Cadance asked “Is security around him as reported by our spy?”
“Yes and no.”
“What do you mean?”
“While I was keeping watch over him, I noticed that he had an extra bodyguard with him; he wasn’t a typical bodyguard like the ones he keeps in secret. He’s an empire elite soldier.”
“Did you get his name?”
“No; all Fancy Pants called him all day is “Mr. Elite Bodyguard”. If he did call him by his regular name, I didn’t hear it. Right now he’s in his mansion surrounded by his regular body guards.”
“How do you think he managed to get an elite soldier to protect him?”
“Well he is part of the imperial council so it comes as no surprise that he could get an elite soldier to protect him. The real question is: Does he know that we’re targeting him?”
“How would he know that? The only way he could know that is if our spy network was compromised.”
“I don’t think that’s the case. Even if he knew that we were coming, he wouldn’t need an elite soldier just to protect him from us. No, he would still use his regular bodyguards to protect him because he doesn’t take “rebel scum” like us seriously and thinks our movement is nothing more than nuisance according to our network and some of the speeches he gives regarding enemies of the Empire. No, he’s worried about something else.”
“What do you want me to do?”
Come back. We’ll continue further surveillance tomorrow and come up with a revised plan.
“Understood. But before I hang up, you should know that he’s requesting for another elite soldier to protect him, but he’s going to ask for this soldier to defend him during a festival.”
“You mean the Canterlot School of Magic and Magical Studies festival. I saw some flyers for the festival when we arrived.”
“Ok, something strange is really going on.”
Back in the Dragon Lands, Spike is sharpening his swords while watching the platoon of soldier dragons given him train. While sharpening his blades, Princess Ember appeared before him.
“Princess Ember, how may I be of service to you?”
“I’m yours.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I’m yours; I’m your mate. However, there is a condition to this.”
“What would that be?”
“I want you to take me with you when you invade Canterlot.”
In Canterlot, the next day, at the mansion of Fancy Pants, he is looking at the Bloodstone Scepter that is hanging on his wall in his private study. While he’s looking at it, his wife comes in and wraps her arms around him before giving him a kiss.
“Darling, I see that you are awake. How did you rest?”
“Magnificently, my love. However, I think I’m going to relax here the entire day.”
Fancy Pants said before slapping her on the ass “You deserve a rest after last night. Now, I must be heading out now; I have another meeting to attend. I’m sure Mr. Elite Bodyguard is waiting for me outside.
“He is; I saw him through the window. However, it seems he has somepony else with him too.”
Fancy Pants left his study and headed outside to meet Shining Armor and his acquaintance.
“Ah, Mr. Elite Bodyguard; you’ve arrived right no schedule. And I see you brought a friend.
Your extra bodyguard request has been approved; however, my superior wants you to have her with you right now rather than just on the day you need her.”
“Very well then. Who is she?”
“Councilman Fancy Pants, I am Lieutenant Tempest Shadow; I am here to protect you.”
