MLP: Harmony Fallen

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

Chapter 1

Celestia sits at a desk within one of the private reading rooms of Canterlot Castle’s royal library. The small space smells of must. Old and rotten. The stain used for its walls gives off a vibe of weary drabness. Even the air within the room seems to be affected as it feels oily, making the feathers on her wings feel heavy.

She breathes in the humid air as she places a book on the desk. She gazes at its leather-bound cover, studying its chipping corners and its loosening binding. ‘The Elements of Harmony.’ She reads to herself. ‘Written by Star Swirl, Continued by Clover.’ Humming, she gently blows the dust off its surface.

“BIZZ!!!”

Celestia grumbles as she glares up at the light fixture overhead. She stares at the lonely lightbulb, studying its pulsing glow. Listening to its mind-numbing song each time a surge of electricity passes through its filament.

She huffs.

She never liked the invention. She found it needlessly complicated. Having to wire the whole empire to accommodate for it seemed like a waste of time. Well, to her at least. Her younger sister Luna felt otherwise, while her brother Terren was indifferent to the whole to whole thing.

“BIZZT!!!”

She shutters at the memories of tearing up old relics and historic locations just so they could replace oil-lamps for electric ones…

“BIZZ!!!”

Groaning, she rubs her brow at the base of her horn. “I hate them so much…”

Grumbling, Celestia opens one of the desk’s drawers and takes out an ivory tinted candlestick. Placing the candle on the desk she activates her horn and lights its wick. Watching the flame dance about, she smirks and she turns off the lightbulb with a pull of its chain.

Bathed in complete silence and with the glow of candle light filling the room. Celestia gives a pleased hum as she returns her attention back to the book.

‘June 7th 1647.’ The page begins. ‘Clover and I are on the eleventh day of our expedition into the Everfree Forest. I have to say the weather here is never a pleasant one… A lot as happened since I last wrote however. We discovered several new species of plants and observed some wildlife…’ The writing on the page is smudged, about a sentence worth, but the quality returns. ‘Blasted pain… We, I broke my arm… Fell down a small ravine. It was a hard fall, but Clover is a good medic… Patched me up good enough so we didn’t have to cancel out trip… But I have to say, the whole ordeal turned out to be a blessing in the end… Within a cave on the ravine’s floor we discovered a crystal tree and, on its branches, dangled six crystals of varying colors…’

“Still stuffing your face into that book?”

Celestia jerks in her seat at the sudden appearance of the deep voice. Composing herself she glances at the door to the reading room and sees her brother, and alicorn like herself leaning against the doorframe. His wings loosely hug his sides. His bright red-orange mane lays flat against the right side of his face.

He chuckles, sending a smug grin her way.

“Terren! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Celestia groans.

He just ignores her cries. “I’m surprised that book is still together after all these years? Especially with how much you’ve read it today! I’d expected it to fall apart long ago.” He walks up to her desk and stares at the books worn parchment with a skeptical glare.

She rolls her eyes. “I’m glad you’re so caring…” She closes the book sending dust into his face. Stepping away, he shakes his head and rubs his snout with a hoof. Grunting a sneeze, he glares at her with his fiery orange eyes. Celestia holds a hoof to her lips. “So, how are you dear brother? What brings you from your chambers anyway?” She giggles.

“You know the answer to that question.” Terren huffs. “Luna thinks the elements will be released tonight and here I find you sitting in this drab room reading this book!” The moonlight shining through the library’s skylights highlight his ridged features. “I know you’re nervous about them, you read that damn book every time you or Luna think of them.” He shakes his head. “This is the tenth time you’ve read that book this day.”

Celestia blushes and she looks at the book. “You’ve been spying on me?” She picks it up with her magic and sits next to him. “You know that’s not a nice thing to do.”

They look up at the skylights, gazing up at the stars dotting the night sky.

“No…” Terren chuckles, “I just know my sister.” He gives her a cocky smirk. A smirk he’s trying way to hard to pull off.

Rolling her eyes, she leaves the room and heads for the library’s exit. One her way out however, she smacks Terren’s face with her tail, causing him to sneeze once again. Recovering, he follows her with a huff.

They walk down the main hall of the library in complete silence. Only the sounds of their hooves making contact with the tiled floor fills their minds as they pass many aisles of shelves filled to the brim with scrolls and books spanning ancient and modern Equestrian history.

Turning down one of these many aisles, Celestia makes her way to a particular shelf. Terren sits back and watches her slip the book into a secret compartment on the fourth shelf. “Will you ever allow our ponies to read that book?” He asks as he ears the compartment’s lock engaging with a sold click.

“In time dear brother, in time.” Celestia hums a she heads for the exit.

Terren follows.

Seeing the royals approaching, the royal night guard standing watch opens one of the library’s double doors. “Good night your highnesses.” He states with a bow. His bat-like wings spreading out as he bows.

They return the bow. “Thank you, Iron Wings.” Celestia smiles.

Iron Wings stands from his bow and closes the door behind them.

Cool springs air washes over the royals as they step outside the library. Their bodies shiver a bit as they look around. The castle is quite this night, well, except for the soft echoing hoof-steps of patrolling guards and late-night staff mulling about their tasks.

Celestia stretches her neck. A thought of a redesign for the library’s reading rooms swims through mind, but she puts those thoughts away. There were more pressing matters at hand.

“So, you think tonight will be the night?”

Speak the devil.

Celestia keeps quite as she mulls over Terren’s words. Her eyes never leaving the entrance to the tunnel connecting the other half of the castle grounds on the other side of the mountain face. “I’m not sure…” She finally answers.

Terren looks at his sister with a raised brow. “Not sure?”

Exiting the tunnel, they stroll through the royal garden along a slate-laden path. They enjoy the many smells of the flowers dotting the garden’s grassy fields. The soft gentle sounds of the river cutting through the garden towards the cliff edge. Stepping onto the small wooden bridge going over the river, Celestia looks over its edge at the gentle water flowing through the river.

“Why aren’t you sure?” Terren asks.

“Well…” She begins. “It’s been thirty years since the bearer of Loyalty passed away.” She looks at the willow trees hugging the river’s edge. “Usually there would be new bearers by now.” She frowns. “It worries me…”

“I guess the world has run out of good ponies.” Terren states in a snarky tone.

“Terren! Please!” Celestia huffs. “You know the elements! Their other half! The one I fear!” She sticks her hoof in his face. “You shouldn’t say those things!

“It’s a joke sister…” He rolls his eyes.

“A joke all too real!”

He tilts his head. “That was in the past!” She about to interrupt him but he puts a hoof to her lips. “A past that will not happen again!” He gives her a stern glare. His orange eyes glaring daggers into her soul.

She drops her protest and sighs in defeat. “Let’s head to the chambers of the elements… Luna is waiting for us…”

Terren watches her step off the bridge and towards a building at the other end of the garden. With a heavy sigh he follows after her.

Entering the main hall of the ‘Chambers of the Elements’, Celestia and Terren gaze up at six statues that stand in the center. The statues are made of marble and their bases of lapis-lazuli. The statues are of six ponies. They tower over all who gaze upon them. Their sitting posture and blank stares look down judging eyes.

These statues, theses ponies were the first ponies to bear the Elements of Harmony.

Celestia eyes their chests and sees the carvings of their elements and the shapes they took when bonded to them those centuries ago. With a hum she reads each of the statues’ plaques at their bases.

The first statue to her left is of Kepler, a unicorn stallion who bore the element of Generosity. The second statue to her left is of Knight Wing, a bat-pony stallion who bore the element of Honesty. The third statute to her left is of Gum Drops, an earth-pony mare who bore the element of Joy.

To her right, the first statue is of Clover, a unicorn mare who bore the element of Magic. The second statue to her right is of Axiom, a pegasus stallion who bore the element of Loyalty. The third statue to her right is of Copper an earth-pony stallion who bore the element of Kindness.

Bowing for the statues, she gives them a smile and heads towards the door leading to the room that houses the elements.

Terren only nods for the statues then looks at the walls on either side. Pictures of other element bearers that came after them adore the walls. Giving them a small nod as well, he follows his sister.

Entering the last room of the chamber, Celestia and Terren see their younger sister, Luna standing by a chest made of blacken iron laden with priceless gems over by the back wall. She eyes the chests and the six crystals floating within. The elements. Blue standing for Joy. Red standing for Loyalty. Green standing for Kindness. Yellow standing for Honesty. Purple standing for Generosity. White standing for Magic.

Sensing Celestia’s and Terren’s presence, the elements begin tapping against the glass of their cage.

“They seem to be active tonight.” Terren smirks as he walks up to the chest standing beside his sister.

“Hello brother…” Luna looks up. “And you too dear sister. Welcome!” She returns her attention back to the elements. “Yes, they are! You should’ve seen them a few minutes ago.” She taps the chest’s frame with her front right hoof. “I surely thought the glass would’ve given out!”

Celestia stands to Luna’s right. Sher stares at the elements, watching as they try to figure a way out of their pen. Their magical aura licking the glass, studying its structural makeup. “Maybe tonight is the night…” Her words are cut short as the elements vibrate violently against the glass, moving the chest forward by two inches.

The royals stare at the chest with wide eyes.

“Tia!” Luna gasps with excitement. “They’re ready! They have to be!” The elements simultaneously throw themselves against the glass, causing a loud ping the ring throughout the room. “Sister! Brother! We must release them!” She looks at her siblings with glee.

“She’s right. Its time dearest sister.” Terren puts a hoof on her shoulder. “They haven’t been this active in a long time.” The elements, frustrated with their situation, throw themselves at the glass one more. “CALM ELEMENTS!” Terren growls at the crystals. “Your time will come!” The elements let out a metallic hiss as a reaction to his words.

Celestia stares at the elements as they lick the glass with their aura once more. “I guess you’re right…”

“Tia!” Luna grabs her sister’s hoof. “Let’s open the chest!” She pulls on her arm.

Celestia pulls her hoof away. “Hold on sis…” She looks over her shoulder. “Guards!” She calls out.

Two guards rush into the chambers. “Yes, your highness?” They bow, speaking in unison.

Celestia affirms the bow with a nod. “Alert the guards and the castle staff. The elements will be released tonight.”

“T-Tonight!? Ow…” The guard to Celestia’s left sputters before the guard to her right smacks him upside the head.

“We will do so your highness.” The guard on the right replies, giving a bow before they both leave the chambers.

Not to long after they leave, the bells sound off, ringing their thunderous melodies throughout the castle. The Royals hear the growing rumbling of the castle coming to life as its staff and guards move about, preparing for the arrival of the Equestria’s new element bearers.

With the castle consumed in its task, Celestia turns her attention back to the elements. She sees that they’re glowing brighter than before. She can feel the heat radiating off the chest. “Luna?”

“Yes?” Luna smiles at her sister.

“Shall we?” Celestia smiles.

“Let’s!”

They stand over the chest and unlatch the lock… A shockwave reverberates throughout the room, shaking its foundation. The elements shoot out of chest, rocketing out of the chambers and into the night sky. Officials, guards and staff halt what they’re doing and look at the sky, staring in awe as they watch the elements soar across the sky.

Celestia, Terren and Luna step out of the chambers and on to the grounds of the garden. They look up at the night sky, watching the elements part ways, heading towards their destinations.

“Within the hour, we’ll have our new bearers.” Luna smiles.

“We should prepare ourselves, I’m sure their families will be in shock,” Celestia comments watching the elements’ colorful streaks fade into the night.

Terren laughs. “Shock, now that will be an understatement!”

The element of Joy flies through the warm night sky, over the high desert plains of the Appaloosa Basin. It passes the towns of Dodge Junction and Appaloosa, until coming up to the settlement of Rock Cove, a small geode mining village nestled in the foothills. Blinking in a rhythmic fashion the element of Joy soars down to its gravel streets and hovers quietly through the slumbering village.

Feeling the pull of a worthy individual, the element lets out a happy buzz as it flies towards the individual’s location. Arriving at the mouth of an alleyway, it enters and sees a two-story home nestled tightly in-between two other similarly sized homes. The home’s outside looked dilapidated due to its age. But it’s still standing, with some charm.

Twirling in place, the element of Joy floats up and flies through one of the open second-story windows.

Inside, the element finds itself in a small bedroom, a child’s bedroom due to the number of toys lying about. Further studying its surroundings, it sees a desk in the corner of the room by the window. A flat dresser sits under the window, its top just kissing the window seal. By the bedroom’s door is a toy-chest. Blinking, the element looks down as sees a queen-sized bed directly under itself. To its surprise, four earth pony fillies sleep under its covers.

Buzzing, the element hovers up to one of the fillies.

The filly it looks upon is no more than eight-years-old. Her fur is a bright pink. Her magenta mane, is long and straight like a razor’s edge. The element, hums at it watches the filly chew some of her mane. Hearing her let out a soft pleased moan, the element giggles. Blinking, it scans the filly’s aura. Feeling her spirt bursting with joy and wonder, the element shines brightly washing out the room in a brilliant blue hue.

The eldest of the fillies, stirs from the light. With a groan she sits up, rubbing her eyes. “Who turned on the light?...!” Her eyes go wide as she sees the element of Joy hovering over her baby sister. She stares in awe at the hot arching jets of blue electricity dancing across the element’s crystalline body. “MA!...?” The element hisses an ear-piercing melody, forcing her to cover her hears with her hooves. She stares in horror as it slams into her sister’s chest.

The element of Honesty hovers on the outskirts of Ponyville, where farmlands and orchards lay. Buzzing softly, it makes its way to an apple orchard. Stopping at the gate, it looks up at the sign overhead. ‘Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!’. Blinking twice, it flies up to the porch of the humble plantation home and through a hole in the screen-door.

Inside, the element floats about the abode, eyeing the décor filling the living room. A fire burns weakly in the fireplace to its left. On its right a young earth pony couple sleeps on the couch. The stallion sleeps on his back, while the mare sleeps on his chest. Floating up to the couple, it scans them. Sensing the mare is eight months pregnant, it buzzes happily.

The mare stirs in her sleep.

Shutting itself up the element eases away from the couple and up the stairs.

Floating down the second story hall, it passes two other doors and turns right, entering into a medium sized bedroom. On either side of the bedroom is two twin-sized beds. Sleeping in the bed to the element’s right, is an earth pony colt no more than eleven-years-old. Sleeping in the bed to the element’s left is an earth pony filly no more than nine-years-old.

Floating up to the bed on the left, it looks down at the filly and studies her. The filly’s fur is a bright-cream-orange. Her wild mane a rich-blonde. Her round cheeks are covered in white freckles. Sensing that her spirit is filled with honesty and strength, the element shines bright, washing out the room in its yellow hue. Bright arching jets of yellow spark out from its core. With a high-pitched hiss, it slams into her chest.

The element of Generosity makes its way through downtown Ponyville. It weaves its way through the mass of Germanic-styled homes and shops dotting the hilly landscape. Coming up to a three-story apartment near the center of town, it zips around the building, scanning for an opening. Finding none, it buzzes a sigh. Not losing determination however, it flies up to the roof and hovers around the air-ducts. Using its magical aura, it lifts one the filters and slips in.

Traveling through the metal maze, it finally comes up the room of the pony it’s looking for. Gently opening the hatch, the element of Generosity enters the kitchen. Humming as it floats about, it slowly makes its way to a room and the end of the hall.

Entering the open door, the element sees that it’s is spotless, well, except for the desk in the corner of the room covered in art supplies. Eyeing the mass of paper, glue, glitter and crayons pilled on the desk, it hums. This pony for sure has a creative mind it thinks. Floating up to the bed at the end of the room by the window, it looks down at sees the pony sleeping in it is an eight-year-old unicorn filly. She sleeps soundly in her bed. Her spunky rich-purple mane lays flat against her face. Her white fur reflects the light of the moonlight shining through her window.

Feeling a strong connection to her spirit, full of giving, the element shines brightly, illuminating the room in a purple hue. Bright arching jets of purple spark out from the element’s core. Seeing the filly stir, her limbs moving under her sheets, it lets out a hiss and slams into her chest.

The elements of Kindness and Loyalty fly high over the grand cloud city of Cloudsdale, floating above the snow topped mountains of the north. The elements dive down and soar through the towering Roman-styled cloud skyscrapers as they head towards the city’s suburbs.

Bobbing about, the elements make their way to a home on a street corner. Studying the cloud constructed home they fly up to one of its windows facing towards the front yard. Peaking in they see three pegasus children sleeping by the coal-fireplace. Several boardgames, eaten snacks, black n’ white film reels and bulky film-projector surround them, like guards protecting a castle.

The elements look at one another and blink, buzzing happily.

With a poof the element of Loyalty makes it through the dense cloud wall of the home. Spinning around it blinks as it sees its companion is nowhere to be seen. Flying up to the window it looks out and sees the element of Kindness struggling to break through. Rolling its imaginary eyes, its flies through the wall once more and grabs its fellow element and pulls it through.

Shaking off the clinging cloud pits, they nod at one another and make their way on over to the trio sleeping by the fire.

Floating above them they studying each of them.

The child on their left is a pegasus filly that’s nine-years-old. Her canary-yellow fur contrasts vibrantly against her pink mane and tail. In the middle is a six-year-old pegasus colt. His dull aquamarine fur is fizzy from his content, pleasant dream. The child to their right is an eight-year-old pegasus filly whose sleeping on her back. Her sky-blue colored wings and limbs twitch about as she dreams her night away. The elements stare at her prism hued mane, wonder-stricken by its complexity.

They look at each other, blinking and buzzing all the while.

The element of Loyalty hovers over the prism maned filly.

The element of Kindness hovers over the canary-colored filly.

Both elements shine bright as they sense the strong connections to the fillies spirts. Their light consumes the room, illuminating it in a hue of red and green. Bright arching jets of red and green spark out from the elements.

“Kids… I told you to turn off the projector…!” A pegasus stallion with a prism mane like one of the fillies, states with a yawn. “You better get back… to… bed?!” He stares wide eyed at the scene in front of him. “Sweet Celestia!” His body goes numb as he watches the elements slam into the fillies’ chests.

The element of Magic flies through Equestria’s capital city of Canterlot. Its bright white magical aura leaves a soft, graceful trail of light across the midnight sky as it searches for the pony it seeks. Coming up to an eight-story apartment, the element flies up to the seventh-story. Blinking its flies to its right all they wat to end at the corner of the building. Looking through one of the corner windows it sees the pony in question. She’s a nine-year-old unicorn filly who’s sleeping soundly in her bed. Her purple mane is frizzy from her constant tossing and turning. Her lavender fur blends in with her bed’s navy-blue sheets. Several books surround her, forcing her to sleep on the left-side of her bed.

The element spins with glee at the filly’s hunger for knowledge.

Blinking rapidly, the element of Magic turns around and looks towards the horizon. In the distance the element sees five pillars of light appearing in the night sky. Red, blue, purple, green, and yellow. Blinking for each pillar, it looks back at the filly and lets out a hum. Touching the window’s glass-pane it teleports into the room.

The light coming off the element awakens the filly. She rubs her eyes and lets out a soft moan. “Daddy? Mommy?” She looks around, her eyes heavy. Looking up her eyes open wide as they look upon the element. “WHA?” She stares in wonder, excitement building within her. “It’s, it’s…” Feeling a strong connection to her spirit, magical aura flowing strong through her, the element of Magic shines brightly, washing the room out in a white hue. The filly puts her hooves in front of her, blocking her eyes from seeing the harsh light. Bright arching jets of white spark out from the element. Reaching the peak of its ritual, it slams into her chest.

Celestia stares at the element of Magic watching as it develops its pattern over the chest of the filly its bonded to. Moving her gaze from the element she eyes the wires taped to the filly’s arms and neck. The bulky mechanical beeps of the heart monitor dance in her ears. The soft dripping of the iv echo back to her.

“Your highness?” A doctor wearing a blue medical shirt speaks, bowing before her.

“Y-Yes?” She asks, her gaze never leaving the filly.

“I wanted to let you know that the children are stable, but it is unclear when they’ll awaken.” The doctor picks up several folders from a nearby table. “I have to say the elements did a number on them…” He glances at the filly she’s looking at and sighs. “Should I tell their parents?”

“No…” Celestia looks at the doctor. “There is no need. We’ll tell them ourselves.” She smiles. “Return to your chambers for the night. You’ll need the rest.” The doctor bows and heads out of the recovery room.

Terren who’s watching the six fillies with a dull expression from the corner of the room, finally speaks. “So?” He stands up and walks up to Celestia and Luna. “What do the two of you think of our new element bearers?” He looks at the element of magic, watching its pulsing glow.

“I find it interesting that the elements have chosen children of all ponies.” Luna quips as she stares at the filly bonded to the element of Loyalty, with a smile. “However,” Her smile goes flat. “I can’t think of why they would?”

Terren sighs as he looks at the filly bonded to the element of Honesty. “Well, all I know is that it’s going to take longer to train them into Equestria’s defenders.” He looks at the filly bonded to the element of Joy. “But I do prefer a blank slate…” He looks at Celestia. “What do you make of it?” Celestia doesn’t respond. “Celestia?” Terren huffs.

“I’m concerned…” She finally looks at her siblings. Her eyes are drenched with tears. “What are the elements thinking?! Young minds are easier to corrupt!”

Luna rolls her eyes. “But sister, them being young is a good thing!”

“What!” Celestia shouts in horror.

Luna cowers from her tone, but recovers none the less. “Sister, hear me out… With them being so young, their minds will consume all that we teach them without question.” She smiles, working up the courage to near her sister. “Think of the possibilities.”

“P-Possibilities?!” Celestia narrows her eyes.

Luna gives her a half-hearted smirk. “With them so young, they’ll have an advantage! They’ll start at a younger age, developing their skill sooner than their other bearers of the past. Develop a stronger bond with their elements. They’ll be the greatest element bearers Equestria has ever seen!”

Celestia looks at her sister in shock. “Luna!” She sits down, running a hoof through her mane. “I don’t doubt that, but…” A wave of anger washes over her. “You know of the elements’ dark side!” She stomps her hoof against the tile floor. “Don’t be so naive!”

Its Luna’s turn to let out a growl. “Tia! I know of their dark side. We all do, but with our teachings and indoctrination, they’ll succeed!” She stomps her hoof in return.

Celestia shakes her head. “Luna…” She looks at her brother. Tears pour from her eyes. “Terren tell her she’s wrong!”

Terren looks at his sisters. His face stone cold and emotionless. Glancing at the fillies. Granted young minds were easier to corrupt, but he thinks maybe this time it will be different… He lets out a sigh. “I have to agree with Luna.”

“What?” Celestia looks at her brother in disbelief.

Terren looks into Celestia’s eyes. “Young minds are easier to corrupt, I give you that, but like Luna said, with our guidance, they’ll become the strongest element bearers… Heck, they might even match our magical strength.” Celestia eyes tremble as her mind soaks his words. Not being able to speak, she lowers her head in defeat. With a sigh, Terren places a hoof under her chin and lifts her head. They look into each other’s’ eyes once again. “I know you're worried, but let the past go. This stress you’re bringing upon yourself will only drive you mad!”

“But…”

“But nothing!” Terren frowns. “The past you fear so much will never happen again! Honestly Celestia, after three-hundred-and-fifty-years of element bearers, not one of them has ever turned ever since… Then. And it will never be so!” He lowers his hoof and walks to the door. “So, drop this childish fear and act like the mare you are!”

Luna looks at her brother with a raised brow. “Um… That was a little harsh…”

“No… It wasn’t Luna...” Celestia looks at her brother. “He’s right, every time new bearers are chosen, I let worry overtake me… It’s stupid really… I’m just…”

Terren sighs. “It’s time to let go of that part of your life.” He gives Celestia a playful smirk. “Leave it to the dust of history.” He waves his right-front hoof out in front of him.

“Yes… Leave it to the dust of history…” A sly masculine voice chuckles.

The Royals look to their left and see the head of a grey furred pony hovering over the filly bonded to the element of Kindness. “Discord! What are you doing here?” Celestia huffs.

Discord looks back at her and sighs dramatically. “Oh, Celestia why so rude?” His whole body materialzes. His an earth-pony. He rolls his bright yellow eyes as he hovers over to Celestia. “You know tonight is a momentous occasion!” He strokes his white beard with his left front hoof. His short white mane and tail flapping about as he overs around her. “You shouldn’t be rude to your guest.” He pokes her stout with a hoof.

Celestia moves her head away. “What are your plans?” She huffs giving him a disapproving frown. “Already have plans to taint their young minds?”

Discord rolls his eyes as he gingerly floats on over to the filly bonded to the element of Honesty. Placing his hoof on the element, he lets out a drawn-out sigh. “No…” The element glows. “You know I’m the god of chaos. I pull harmless pranks on ponies and make some of their lives a little chaotic… Oh! There, I said it…” He giggles. “So, no… I’m not here to do what you think I’m going to do!” He smiles as he removes his hoof from the element. With a laugh, he floats on over to the filly bonded to the element of Magic. “I just want to see who will be Equestria’s new protectors.” He watches as the element of Magic grows over the filly’s chest like the roots of a tree.

“Are you finished?” Terren asks as he watches the god stare at the filly with his yellow eyes.

“Almost!” Discord holds up a hoof as he’s drawn to the filly bonded to the element of Loyalty. He stares at her prism mane. He chuckles. ‘What a strange mane color…’ He messes with his mane, ruffling it to cause it to turn prism as well. The royals look at the god with raised brows. Not liking the look, he turns his mane back to its original color. Looking at the royals, Discord smiles. “They’re so young! It will be easier to indoctrinate them. I bet you’re thrilled!” He laughs.

Terren and Celestia look at each other uncomfortably. Luna however, walks up to the earth pony. “Yes, yes we are. These will be Equestria’s finest element bearers the world has ever seen!”

Discord smiles at the young royal and rustles her flowing sapphire mane. “They will indeed…” He teleports next to Terren and Celestia and pulls them into a hug. “Well I’m off, I have some ponies to mess with over in Manehattian.” He teleports outside the room. Manifesting a top hat and cane he smooshes his face against the window and waves them a goodbye before teleporting to his destination.

The royals stare at the window for a few seconds before tearing their gaze from the glass back to their new element bearers. “Well, we should tell their parents that they are well.” Celestia quips heading out of the room. Luna follows.

Terren stays put.

“Aren’t you coming, brother?” Luna asks.

“No… I’ll stay, just in case they wake up.” With a nod, his sisters leave. Alone, Terren listens to the heart monitors sing their melody. Each filly sleeps the night away. Their elements slowly fusing themselves to them. But soon the quite atmosphere begins to fade as a soft moan leaves the lips of the lavender colored unicorn filly. Her face contorts into a pained frown. Terren walks up to the filly and looks down at her, watching her element flicker. “Show your worth filly! Show your worth…”

Chapter 2

A young unicorn filly with lavender colored fur stands in a realm of vast white nothingness. No horizon, no features to tell her mind of how or where she stands. Her purple colored eyes jump back n’ forth trying to make out anything in the mind-numbing void. “Hello?” She calls out, her voice timid. Feeling uneasy, she takes a step and jumps back in shock. The ground beneath her shimmers like flexible glass. She watches small arcs of static electricity radiate out like ripples in a pond from where she placed her hoof. She lets out a nervous moan. “Hello?!”

Loud bassy trumpets roar out, shaking the void.

Fear washes over the filly. Her horn sparks out of instinct. Purple colored mana swirls around her, but nothing happens. With her magic weakening, fading back into her horn, she lets out a sob. Crying, she runs to places unknown.

Pillars of white rise up all around her until they enclose her in, blocking her way of escaping. “SOMEONE IS HERE!”

The filly jumps from the booming voice. Madly whipping her head about trying to fund the source of the voice. “W-Who said that?” She cowers.

“IT’S A CHILD… A FILLY…” Another voice speaks, softer in tone than the last.

A chill runs down the filly’s back. “Where am I?” Trumpets blare out once more, this time their tone deeper. The walls around her close in, shrinking the small circle she stands in. She shivers and lowers herself to the floor.

“WHAT IS YOUR NAME CHILD?”

The filly looks up at the sky of white. “M-My name?”

“NAME! DO YOU HAVE A NAME!” The voice growls.

“Twilight… Sparkle… TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” She sobs, her body shivering. It feels like to her at least that many eyes are glaring at her, watching her every move.

“TWILGHT SPAKLE…” The softer voice hums.

“SO PATHETIC!” Another voice chimes in.

“BLASPHEMY! SHE IS ONLY A CHILD!”

“ITS SUCH A FOOLISH CHOICE!” Yet another voice chimes in.

“HOW SO?” Another voice asks, this one sounding wispy and faint.

“BECAUSE SHE IS A CHILD!”

Twilight stares at the void, her eyes displaying her confusion and fear.

“SHE WILL FAIL!” A group of voices growl.

“SHE WILL NOT!” A group of voice refute.

“THEN LET US SEE!” Another voice chimes in, interrupting the other two. This voice however is more metallic sounding, more artificial than the others. “LET HER GO THROUGH THE TEST…”

“YES… YES…” The other voices mumble.

Twilight trembles. ‘Test? What test?’ She asks herself. A droplet of sweat rolls down her brow.

“A TEST TO SEE IF YOU ARE WORTHY…” The voice replies, answering her question.

Twilight swallows a lump.

“LET’S BEGIN…”

The walls move closer to Twilight at increasing speeds. Their weight and speeds causing them to break each other apart, sending chunks of marble like substance everywhere. The sounds they make as they tore their way towards Twilight are vile and horrid. Twilight trembles as they near. “AHHH!” She screams as she feels they’re right on top of her, ready to crush her to death. “AHHH!” She yells out in fear as she feels a jolt shoot through her body.

But then nothing.

Cold… A cold breeze washes over her body. Shivering, she stands up, but just barely… “Hello?...!” Her voice echoes back to her. She’s confused. Is she dead? She didn’t feel dead. Working the nerve to open her eyes, she finds herself in a black void. Just like the void of white, there is no horizon, no light. Nothing. “Is any pony here!” Twilight slowly makes her way through the void. “OOF!” She rubs her snout. “Ow…” She holds up a hoof and feels a wall in front of her.

The wall shimmers from her touch. She watches the white shimmering light run across its surface before dissipating. With a huff, she touches the wall again and follows the shimmering light. Seeing the light strike a corner, she smiles and makes her way to her left. Touching the wall again she sees the light turn a corner, this time to her right. Touching both walls at the same time, she finds that she is in a narrow hallway. Shivering from a cold passing breeze she makes her way down the hall. Occasionally touch the walls to see where she is going.

For what feels like several minutes Twilight meanders down the winding hallway until she smacks her face for the second time. Rubbing her head, she places her hoof on the wall, but this time it doesn’t shimmer. Puzzled, she feels the ‘wall’ and to her surprise it’s a door. Giggling to herself she opens it.

Behind the door is more darkness.

Twilight shivers as she peers into the doorway. Feeling and hearing nothing she timidly steps through the doorway.

BANG!!!

The door shuts behind her. Feeling her heart beat against her chest she whips her head around looking for anything in the darkness. “AH!” Harsh bright white light floods her vision. Blinking her eyes several times, moaning all the while, she finally gets them to adjust to the light. Being able to see her surroundings, she studies the circular room she’s in. Its small, no more than five-feet in diameter. To her right is a door, the iron bars and rivets holding the moldy wood panels are rusted. She’s curious about the door, but a nagging feeling creeps into the back of her mind. Shivering, she looks to her left and sees a stairwell. Feeling better about it she ascends the stairs.

Unknown to her, the door melts, morphing into a shimmering black hole.

Getting to the top of the stairs, she steps onto a balcony overlooking a circular plaza. Twilight eyes are drawn to the ceiling. She strains her neck as she looks up, eying the glass-dome and its multitude of colors. Its supported by twelve cream-colored marble pillars that separate six balconies, similar to the one she’s standing on. A sense of calm washes over her the longer she stares at it.

“Hello?... Oh, Hi!”

Twilight jumps at the squeaky voice. In a panic, she looks around, her gaze stumbling upon an earth-pony filly with pink-fur standing on her own balcony on the other side of the plaza. The filly’s long magenta mane covers half of her face. Her one visible vibrant-blue eye stares back at her. The filly smiles and waves at her. “Uh… Hi?” Twilight nervously chuckles.

The filly giggles. “Sorry, you don’t know me! My name is Pinkiamena Diane Pie, but my sisters call me Pinkie!” She jumps with glee. Pinkie stares at Twilight and studies her appearance. She sees that she’s a unicorn, but her horn is much rounder at its tip than most unicorn fillies her age. Her lavender fur and dark purple mane contrasts vibrantly against the white of the plaza. Her rich-purple eyes stare back at her, studying her skeptically. “What’s your name?”

Twilight drops her protective demeanor. “Hi… Pinkie, my name is Twilight… Twilight Sparkle.” She smiles. She’s glad that she is not alone.

“Where the heck am I?!” A young, southern sounding voice asks. Pinkie looks to her right, while Twilight looks to her left. They see an orange-furred earth-pony filly standing on her own balcony. Her medium length blonde mane and tail are frizzy from who knows what. “What happened to the… voices… Oh?!” She notices Pinkie and Twilight. “Uh, hello y’all!” She waves. Pinkie and Twilight wave back. “Mah name’s Applejack…” She looks at the dome above their heads, her fiery-green eyes glaring at it. “Do you know where we are?”

“No… Maybe Twilight knows? She looks really smart!” Pinkie giggles.

Twilight glares at Pinkie, her cheeks red with embarrassment. “Pinkie!” I don’t know where we are!” She whines, kicking one of the pillars supporting her balcony. “I hope this place has a library that can help us…” She mumbles to herself.

Applejack looks at the fillies in confusion. Hearing hoof-steps echoing into the plaza, she ignores her thoughts and looks straight ahead and sees a unicorn filly walking onto the balcony across from her. If it wasn’t for her purple mane and tail or her vibrant blue eyes, she would’ve easily blended in to her surroundings and gone unspotted thanks to her white fur.

The filly doesn’t notice the trio, her focus is on the dome ceiling. “I like the colors… but there are no pretty pictures…” She huffs, sitting where she stands. “This place is too drab!” She hears snickering and looks to her left and sees Pinkie holding a hoof to her lips. Her eyes go wide as she notices Twilight and Applejack. “Oh… Um, hello.”

“Hello.” Twilight waves.

“Howdy!” Applejack smiles.

“Who are you?” The filly asks.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle.” She replies taking a seat where she stands.

“Mah name is Applejack.” She bows.

“I’m Pinkie Pie!” She snickers.

The filly smiles. “I’m Rarity… It’s nice to meet you…”

“Mommy! Daddy!” A raspy young voice alerts the four of them. Twilight looks at the balcony directly in front of her. Applejack and Pinkie look to their left. Rarity looks to her right. A sky-blue furred pegasus filly crashes onto the balcony. She jumps up onto her hooves, her eyes looking wide at her surroundings. Seeing four other fillies sitting peacefully on their balconies, she drops her panic, and sits down. “Oh…” Her cheeks flush with red. “Uh… Hi…” She laughs nervously as she runs a hoof through her prism colored mane.

The fillies’ wave at her.

“Hello!” Pinkie cheers. “My name is Pinkie! That’s Twilight Sparkle, she’s Rarity and that’s Applejack!” She sing/shouts, as she points at each of them.

The pegasus’s wings flutter. “I’m Rainbow Dash…” Her ears swivel to the left. Looking that direction, she sees a canary-yellow furred pegasus filly, with a long pink mane and tail timidly stepping onto the last empty balcony.

The others turn their attention to the filly.

The filly stares up at the ceiling, eying the glass making up the dome roof in amazement. The grandness of the plaza overwhelms her young mind. Instinctively taking a seat, she keeps her gaze on dome. Her smile ever growing.

Rainbow Dash smiles as she recognizes the filly. “Hey Fluttershy!”

Fluttershy jumps as she recognizes the voice. Breaking her trance, she looks at her friend and sees her standing across from her on a balcony lined with a marble railing. “Hello Dash…” She waves slowly as her eyes are drawn to the other fillies in the room. “Hello…” She hides behind her long pink mane as she keeps an eye on the fillies with her left eye.

The group waves back. “Hello, Mah name…”

“Her name is Applejack, she’s Twilight Sparkle, she’s Rarity and I’m…” Pinkie takes a deep breath. “Pinkie Pie!” She raises her right hoof in the air, a smile on her face.

The group stares at her in confusion.

“You’re funny!” Rainbow Dash snickers.

“Thank you!” Pinkie snickers back.

Twilight rolls her eyes as she looks around. “To get back on track… did any of you hear those spooky voices?”

The fillies nod.

“Oh… Yes…” Fluttershy mumbles. “They were so loud…”

“And it was scary when the walls started to close in on me!” Pinkie mentions as she taps her hooves together, her blue eyes staring at the marble floor of the balcony.

“Same thing happened to me!” Applejack huffs.

“Me too…” Rainbow Dash shivers.

“It sounds like we encountered the same thing.” Twilight quips.

“What was the last thing you all remember?” Rarity asks.

The other fillies ponder her question. “I felt hot.” Fluttershy mumbles.

“I felt a sharp pain on my chest.” Pinkie adds.

Rarity places a hoof on her chest. “I felt pain as well.” She cries. “Hot, very hot.”

Twilight ponders their statement. She combs over her memories, trying to remember her events before going to bed. ‘Bright white…’ A chill runs down her spine. ‘A white crystal hovering in front of her…’ Twilight looks at the fillies around her. There’s five, including her. “Six…”

“Six? Six what, sugar cube?” Applejack asks looking at Twilight, her head tilted to the side with her nose scrunched up – squishing and stretching the freckles on her face.

“I… I believe we were chosen!”

“Chosen?” Pinkie wonders.

Twilight nods. “I saw a bright white light!” She rubs her chest. “It woke me up.”

The others look at each other.

“Do you know what it could be?” Rarity asks.

Twilight lets a sigh slip past her lips. “I think it was the element of Magic.”

Their eyes go wide.

“T-The elements?!” Fluttershy stutters as she looks at her surroundings. “Like the elements?”

Rainbow Dash rubs her chest. “What?!” Her eyes begin to tremble. “But why?”

They sit in silence, their young minds trying to comprehend their situation.

Loud trumpets blare out, shaking the room’s foundation.

“What’s happening?!” Pinkie whimpers.

“I don’t know!” Applejack tries to keep her balance.

The room dissolves around them, a black mass consumes them before morphing the space around them into a complex maze spreading out in all axis. Unused parts float off into the void, flickering in and out of reality. They stare at the maze, their minds dumbfounded by its enormous size.

“Another maze?” Rainbow Dash asks, her brow raised.

“I think so…” Twilight walks forward, looking into the mouth of the winding puzzle. “At least this one isn’t completely dark.” She remembers the shimmering dark tunnel from earlier. Taking a deep breath Twilight enters the maze.

“Where are you going?” Applejack asks.

Twilight looks back at the others. “Well I don’t see anywhere else we can go.” She points down the maze. “We obviously have to go this way.” The others look at one another, concerned with their current situation. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Rainbow Dash follows after Twilight. The others shiver and follow suit.

The maze itself is an awfully quiet place, except for the distant metallic groans echoing across the void. For the fillies, it feels like the maze is alive. A living breathing creature, but one made of gears and metal. Every step they take causes the maze’s path to light up where their hooves touch. They watch the ripples of light radiate out, hitting the maze’s walls which causes them to ripple like split-flap displays.

“This is the darnest maze I’ve ever seen!” Applejack ears fold back. “It’s so unnatural!” She jumps as the walls make an eerie groan. She watches with wide eyes as the wall morphs into itself as the ripple travels up and down its length.

“I agree… every time we take a step it feels like we’re walking on wet cement…” Rarity moans as she watches her hooves step along the ground. Her eyes watching the ripples shimmer across its pure black surface.

“I think it’s cool… AH!” Pinkie screams as Twilight quickly grabs her rear legs. Both fillies look over the edge of the cliff, staring into the endless void with wide eyes. “Whoa!” Pinkie giggles.

“Well, shoot!” Applejack mumbles.

“Where do we go?” Fluttershy whines.

Rainbow Dash puffs out her chest. “I’ll fly up and look for a way out!” She lifts herself off the ground with a flap of her wings and takes off. “Oof!” She slams into an invisible wall.

Twilight watches the pegasus recover. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah…” Rainbow Dash rubs her eyes, wiping away her tears.

“Fillies… I think I solved our problem…” Rarity points.

The fillies look over the edge of the cliff and see the rest of the maze through the fog. It seems to bend in odd angles, some going straight up at ninety-degree inclines. Other sections, seventy or eighty. They eye a portion of the maze on its side. Looking up they see that a part of the maze is upside down.

“You’re kidding?” Applejack groans.

“Nope, she’s not.” Pinkie states, her front limbs hanging over the cliff. She sees a fork in the maze several yards away. “Not to add more frustration… But there is a fork in the road.” She giggles at her tone of voice.

“That’s not funny Pinkie!” Twilight huffs. Pinkie grumbles as she swings her dangling arms.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, Rarity sticks out a hoof and timidly steps forward.

“Wait!” Twilight grabs her hoof with her magic.

“What?” Rarity looks back.

“You’re going to fall!”

“Where else can we go!” Rarity frowns.

“Uh…” Twilight tries to form a logical response.

“I trust her.” Applejack states as she smiles at Rarity. “Go for it, sugar-cube.”

Rarity nods and timidly steps forward, placing her hoof on the vertical path. “Whoa!” She stumbles a bit as her body readjusts to the unnatural change in gravity. Finding her balance, she walks further down the path. Seeing her world right itself, she looks back and smiles.

The fillies stare back at her with varying emotions, ranging from excitement to utter disgust.

“This makes no sense!” Twilight glares at the pure violation of science.

Her mind sidetracked, she lets go of Pinkie who falls towards Rarity. Pinkie giggles as she catches herself, stopping just inches in front of Rarity. There snouts touching, Pinking looks into Rarity’s eyes and giggles. “Hello!” Rarity blushes and steps back rubbing her snout.

“Awesome!” Rainbow Dash cheers. She runs and jumps off the cliffs edges towards the path. But the sudden change in gravity causes her to trip and land hard on the ground. “Ow…”

“You’re funny!” Pinkie giggles as she helps Rainbow Dash to her hooves.

“Come on Twilight, let’s go!” Applejack calls out as she helps Fluttershy right herself.

“Oh…” Twilight whines, nervously she places her hoof on the path. The change in gravity feels strange to her. Her spine tingles as she finds her balance. “This is so wrong!” Twilight cries.

The fillies giggle at her plight. “Come on Twily, you can do it!” Pinkie sings.

“Hey! Only my brother calls me Twily!” Twilight huffs.

“You have a brother?” Applejack asks, a smile coming to her lips. Her tail wagging.

“Yeah.” Twilight smiles. “He’s my older brother.”

“What’s his name?” Applejack asks.

“Shining Armor.”

“I have an older brother as well and a baby sister on the way!” Applejack smirks pridefully. “Mah brother’s name is Macintosh, but I mostly call him Big Mac. As for my future baby sister, mah parents decided on Applebloom.” She looks at Fluttershy. “You know, my brother is shy like you.” She smirks.

Fluttershy blushes. “Oh…” She tries to hide behind her mane.

Applejack giggles “So, do you have a brother?” Applejack tilts her head.

Fluttershy nods. “His name is Zephyr Breeze, he’s my younger brother…” She manages to say.

“I have three sisters!” Pinkie jumps up n’ down. “There’s Maud, my big sister, she’s very smart and loves rocks! Then there’s Limestone, she can be mean sometimes, but she as a soft spot, especially for cake. And then there’s my twin sister Marble, who’s my baby sister by a minute!” She giggles as she lays on her back, her legs kicking the air with glee.

Rarity watches her curiously. “Well since we’re on the topic. I have a baby sister and her name is Sweetie Belle.”

The fillies look at Rainbow Dash. Her ears fold back as she looks at the ground – her head downcast, her magenta eyes staring at the shimmering black surface of the maze. “I’m an only child…”

The fillies’ smiles leave.

Not taking joy in seeing Rainbow Dash’s sad demeanor, Pinkie scoots up to pegasus and lays an arm around her neck. “Cheer up silly-willy!” Pinkie hums, rubbing her cheek against Rainbow Dash’s. “Because you have us as your friends!” She gives her a hug.

Rainbow Dash blushes from the affection. “Friends?! But we just met!” She states, looking skeptically at the earth pony.

“SO!” Pinkie huffs, breaking the hug. “I like having friends and making new friends as well!” She puts her front hooves on her hips. “And I like to make sure my friends are happy!” She hugs Rainbow Dash once more. “And since we’re stuck here and have to work together to find a way out, why not be friends!” She breaks the hug and begins skipping around the group, her long magenta mane bouncing about.

The fillies snicker at Pinkie’s antics.

“Well shoot, I can’t argue with that.” Applejack smirks. “Count me in.”

“Same.” Rarity hums.

“Me too.” Twilight smiles.

Rainbow Dash looks at Fluttershy, her closest friend and schoolmate. “Fluttershy?” Her right ear stands erect. “What do you think?” Fluttershy looks at the other fillies. Smiling, she nods her head, humming a soft tune. “Yeah! New friends!” Rainbow Dash shouts, rearing in excitement, her wings fluttering about.

The fillies giggle at Rainbow Dash.

Looking down the maze’s path, Twilight looks at her new friends. “Come on fillies, let’s go!” She points, giggle at herself. Her friends follow.

“How much longer?” Pinkie whines, her shoulders slumping as she walks.

“I think we made it?” Applejack smiles, eyeing a gazebo made of white marble standing a few feet away.

Arriving at the gazebo, they find themselves in the center of the maze itself. It’s a curricular courtyard that’s ten-feet in diameter. The gazebo stands about twenty-feet tall, however It’s an unimposing structure. Soft even. Maybe lonely. They look at its obsidian base, seeing their reflections staring back at them.

“What do we do now?” Fluttershy wonders as they step onto the gazebo. Her wings flutter as she looks at the refection of herself projecting from the obsidian floor.

“Yeah! That maze we were in was way too easy!”

“Rainbow Dash! It wasn’t that easy!” Twilight groans. “Besides you were complaining the whole way…” She rubs her eyes.

Rainbow Dash blushes. “I wasn’t complaining that much…”

Ignoring her friends’ bickering, Rarity studies the trim along the underbelly of the gazebo’s awning. “I think it’s a puzzle?”

“A PUZZLE!” Twilight shouts running up to her, looking at the trim. Her smile grows when she sees the symbols scaring its surface.

“What kind of puzzle is it?” Fluttershy asks.

“I not sure… never seen these symbols before.” Twilight studies them.

There are six symbols in all. The symbols are circles, each containing a different pattern made up of lines and dots that distinguishes themselves from one another.

The first symbol is a circle with a vertical line running through its center with dots at both ends. The second symbol is a circle with a plus sign in its center with dots at each end points. The third symbol is a circle with a triangle in its center with dots at each point. The fourth symbol is a circle with a square in its center with a large dot in the square’s center. The fifth symbol is a circle with five dots in the pattern of a star in its center. The sixth symbol is a circle with ten lines in the pattern of a ten-pointed star in its center and at each point of the star is a dot.

“They’re so pretty!... Ooh!” Pinkie stares in awe as the fifth symbol lights up.

The fillies look at the blue glow of the symbol with wonder-stricken eyes.

“Pinkie! How did you do that?” Twilight wonders.

“Uh…” Pinkie panics and steps back. The symbol’s glow fades. “I didn’t mean too!” Pinkie cries. “It just looked so pretty!”

“Pinkie, wait! Do that again!” Twilight holds out her front hooves.

“Uh… Do what?” Pinkie looks at her skeptically.

“Walk forward.” Twilight motions with her front hooves.

Pinkie looks down at the obsidian floor with a raised brow and slowly takes a few steps forward. The symbol on the trim and a copy of the symbol on the floor beneath her hooves light up blue.

“That’s it!” Twilight shouts.

“That’s what?” Applejack looks at her crazed look with some hesitation.

“We each have to stand in front of the symbols.” Twilight giggles.

“Well that’s easy enough!” Rainbow Dash laughs. “Come on fillies pick a spot!”

The fillies nod and pick a symbol that catches their fancy. Twilight picks the fourth symbol. Fluttershy picks the second symbol. Applejack picks the sixth symbol. Rarity picks the third symbol. Rainbow Dash picks the first symbol.

Rarity’s symbol lights up, glowing purple. The others, however, are unlit.

“I think we picked wrong?” Applejack huffs.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash grumble in frustration. They look sadly at their symbols. “I guess we switch places… I mean, if you want to…” Fluttershy murmurs.

“We have to, Fluttershy…” Twilight sighs, stepping off her symbol, studying the others. “I guess I’ll stand on the second one.”

They switch places.

Twilight stands on the second symbol. Applejack stands on the first symbol. Fluttershy stands on the sixth symbol. Rainbow Dash stands on the fourth symbol. Fluttershy’s symbol lights up green and Rainbow Dash’s lights up red. Twilight and Applejack look at each other and nod, switching places. Applejack’s symbol lights up yellow and Twilight’s lights up white.

The fillies stare at the symbols with smiles on their faces. They solved the puzzle. Proud of themselves they sit down. A minute passes with nothing of note happening… Then five more minutes pass. “Now what?!” Rainbow Dash huffs. Her wings twitch from her building anxiousness.

“I’m not sure…!” The ground shakes, interrupting Twilight.

“What’s happening!” Fluttershy shouts.

“I don’t know?!” Rarity whimpers, her ears folding flat against her head.

The gazebo suddenly breaks apart, launching the fillies into the air. Gravity abandons them and zero-g’s takes control. They float around the vast white void, trying their best to avoid the razor-sharp shards of obsidian and the bulky chunks of marble debris surrounding them. “What going on!” Rainbow Dash cries out, flailing her legs and flapping her wings in a desperate attempt to flee.

“MOMMY!” Fluttershy sobs. “DADDY!”

Twilight watches in fear as an all-encompassing black mass rolls across the void above their heads and bellow their hooves. The light of the void fades in the middle – flickering before it dies and bathing them in darkness. Feeling the pull of gravity once more, the fillies scream as they fall towards the black abyss. It didn’t help that they have no horizon, just the stale wind washing over them. Panic warps their young minds in its embrace, destroying their sense of reality. Feeling like they’re about to slam into the ground, they shut their eyes.

Twilight feels a warm breeze gently blowing over her. She shivers at its touch. Her legs tremble as she stands. Forcing her eyes open, she sees that a hilly field of white colored grass surrounds her. The sky above is a dull void of grey. Confusion takes hold of her mind as she begins wandering this strange place. “Pinkie?! Applejack?!” She whips her head around. “Fillies?!” She runs, her heartrate increasing. “Fluttershy?! Rainbow Dash?! Rarity?!”

“I’m here!”

Twilight look over her shoulders and sees Rarity making her way up the hill she stands on. Her small legs propelling her at a steady pace. “Are you alright?” Twilight asks.

“I’m okay…” Rarity looks at her surroundings. “W-What is this place?” Her ears fold back.

“I don’t know…” Twilight looks towards the horizon. “I’ve never seen anything like it… It’s like a dream.”

“You think we’re dreaming?” Rarity ponders.

“I…” Twilight mulls over Rarity’s question. “I don’t know… I know I saw the element before coming to this place…” She sticks out her lower lip in thought. “If we’re in a dream we can’t feel pain… “I know this isn’t a dream.”

“How?” Rarity tilts her head.

“Because the others were feeling pain.” Twilight smiles. “In dreams you can’t feel pain.”

“But what about other emotions, don’t we feel them also?” Rarity retorts.

“Yes… But Princess Luna watches over us as we sleep. She makes sure our dreams are full of hope and wonder.” Twilight pats herself on her chest, proud of her explanation. “But if this was a dream, she would’ve shown herself by now…” She looks up at the void, her eyes staring longingly at it.

Rarity raises her brow. A part of her mind still latches on to the fact that this may be all just a dream. “Uh?!” Rarity notices their friends off in the distance. “Hey I see the others!” She shouts running towards them.

“Hey! Wait for me!” Twilight grumbles as she gives chase.

Meeting up with each other, they sigh in relief.

“Do you know where we are?” Rainbow Dash asks, pointing at Twilight and Rarity. They shake their heads. “Darn…” She huffs, lowering her head and wings.

“Oh… I want to go home!” Fluttershy begins to sob. “This place is scaring me…”

“Me too!” Pinkie agrees.

“Calm down you two! We’ll be home soon…” Applejack’s ears fold back. “I hope…”

Twilight looks towards the horizon once again. Her eyes squinting, searching for something in the endless landscape of hills. Her brow raises in confusion as she sees a tree off in the distance behind a hill to her right. The only tree in the endless see of grassy hills. “You guys see that?”

The others turn their attention to the object in question.

“Yes… It looks like a tree?” Applejack tilts her head.

“It’s the only one in this vast hilly-willy nothingness!” Pinkie groans, but her displeasure leaves. “Maybe it wants a friend and that’s why we are here!?” She smiles.

Twilight rolls her eyes at her playful explanation.

“Ow!” Rarity moans, taking a step back as she glares at her chest.

“You alright Rarity?” Applejack asks.

“No… my chest hurts… OW! It burns!” Rarity begins to panic.

Twilight feels the burning in her chest too. “Ow…” She glares at her chest, her left eye twitching from the pain. ‘Why is it hurting? Why now?’ She asks herself.

Pinkie whines as she rubs her chest. “Why does it hurt?”

“Ouch… Fillies! My chest hurts too…” Rainbow Dash groans, her hooves clutching her chest.

“GO… TO… THE… TREE…”

The fillies feel their spines tingle.

“Who said that?” Twilight wonders, her teeth clenched as she keeps a hoof on her chest.

“I don’t know… OH!” Applejack hisses, holding a hoof to her chest.

“It said to go to the tree?!” Pinkie groans through her pain. “That tree…”

“Maybe it…” Rarity grunts, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Will stop the pain.”

“Oh… Please…” Fluttershy’s cries dissolve into murmurs.

Glaring at the tree, Twilight forces herself to move forward, the pain in her chest spikes in intensity. Choking on a cry, she whines as she continues to the tree. Each step increasing her pain further. Her friends follow suit, their minds trying their best to ignore the mind-numbing pain racking their bodies.

“I-I can’t do this!” Fluttershy’s legs tremble. Her head hangs low to the ground, her pink mane covering her face as she cries.

Rainbow Dash looks back at her friend. “Come on Fluttershy! We have to get to the tree…” The ground shakes and rolls. Horrifying rumbles echo across the void.

“What was that!” Twilight’s eyes go wide.

“I think it’s that!” Pinkie stutters as she points at a black mass coming towards them. The mass rips and shreds the hills as it comes into contact with them.

“RUN!” Rarity yells. The fillies don’t argue, no matter how much their chests hurt, they know that the black mass would be a worse fate.

Nearing the tree, they gawk at its features. Its bark is a light-purple-grey crystal with shimmers of blue and pink. Its paper like crystal leaves are a rich-ruby-red. Six bright oval shape crystals hang from the tree. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, and White.

“Ow! Ow! Ow!” Pinkie whines through clinched teeth. Her eyes water as the heat radiating from her chest gets hotter and hotter.

“ERR!” Applejack growls.

“AH!” Fluttershy screams out in pain. “I can’t!” Panic consumes her. “It hurts! It hurts!”

“PATHETIC…”

Fluttershy whimpers.

Rainbow Dash growls. “My friend is not pathetic!” She stands her ground, glaring at the void.

“YOU… WILL… ALL… FAIL…”Eyes appear from the void, thousands of them, all staring at them with pure hatred. “FOR… YOU… ONLY… CARE… FOR… YOURSELF…”

Rainbow Dash looks at the others and sees they’re agony is slowing their advance towards the tree’s area of influence. Frowning, she glares at the approaching mass. “I care for them too!”

“LIES!” The mass screams, causing the void to shake violently, knocking them off their hooves. The void’s imaginary walls shatter, its tears radiate out like spider webs and flicker like static-television screens.

Tears flood Rainbow Dash’s vision. The pain in her chest overwhelms her. She can see the mass nearing her and her friends. The grassy hills disintegrating into fine powdery ash. Looking at her friends, she sees they are struggling to stand. Feeling a pulse shoot through her body, she hisses, closing her eyes. reopening them, they glow red for a split second. Returning back to normal she feels a chill run down her spine. Feeling like she can take on the world, she stands on her hooves with mild ease. “Come on! Let’s go!” She crawls up to each one of her friends and taps their shoulders. She doesn’t know why she feels the need to touch them, but something within her tells her to.

Her touch gives them the strength to stand.

Seeing the tree is only a few feet from their location, Rainbow Dash looks back and smiles. “Let’s go!” They take off running, their little legs propelling them like they never done before.

Feelings of joy fill their hearts as they close the distance. The tree fully consumes their vision now. Its mighty branches swaying majestically over them, casting them in a loving embrace… A wave of heat slams into them, sending them to the ground. They lay on the soft grass, painfully gasping for air. Seeing the mass rolling madly across the hills, Twilight forces herself to her hooves. But the weight of her pain is too much for her to bare. Crying, she gives up and sits on her flanks.

“I don’t want to die!” Pinkie cries.

“MOMMY! DADDY!” Fluttershy sobs.

Looking at her friends with panicked eyes, Rarity huffs and activates her horn. Blue aura washes over her friends. Feeling her magic, Twilight knows it’s too weak to accomplish what she wants to do. ‘I can do this…’ Taking a deep breath, she joins in, her own horn lighting up, her purple aura mixing with Rarity’s blue. Moving as one, they give themselves and their friends the strength to stand and make the last few inches to the base of the tree.

“NO!” The mass screams, thousands of razor-like-tentacles shoot out from its body. With a roar, it flings them at the fillies. Seeing their impending doom, they close their eyes and cower, expecting the worst.

The tree roars a beautiful melody. Its thin branches morph into six girthy ones. They point forwards, their tips touching. The mass’s tentacles slams into the tree’s branches with a loud crack. The mass growls as it backs away from the tree, keeping a safe distance. With a hum the tree opens its six branches. A warm feeling radiates through the fillies’ bodies. Their eyes open and glow the colors of their elements. Purple for Rarity. Blue for Pinkie. Red for Rainbow Dash. Green for Fluttershy. Yellow for Applejack. White for Twilight. Levitating off the ground, they face the mass and puff out their chests.

“EVEN THOUGH, THEY HAVE MUCH TO LEARN… I PUT MY FAITH IN THEM…” The tree speaks.

“THEIR TEST WAS A WAIST! THEY HAVE FAILED!” The mass growls, its tentacles flailing madly.

“I ONLY NEEDED A SMALL SAMPLE OF THEIR HARMONY THAT FOLLOWS THROUGH THEIR HEARTS!”

“YOU ARE NAÏVE! THEY MUST CONSUME THE DARK EMBRACE OF DEATH!”

“YOU’LL NOT TAINT THEIR YOUNG MINDS!”The tree shimmers in and out of reality.

“THE SAME GOES FOR YOU!”The mass lunges at them, its roar shakes the void to its core.

The tree channels its magic through the fillies. “SPEAK AS ONE MY CHILDREN!”

The fillies glare at the mass. “WE ARE THE BEARERS OF THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY!” The elements appear on their chests. “AND WE WILL NOT FAIL!” A beam of hot white light shoots from their chests. The beams converge and mix with one another as they rocket towards the mass. It slams into the beast; the heat burns through its darkness. It screams out in pain as the beams rip through it. With one final burst of energy, the mass dies.

Twilight opens her eyes. They’re heavy and caked with discharge. “Mmm?” She hears the beepings of a heart monitor. With a pained groan. She tries lifting her head up, but her body refuses to do so. With a sigh, she rubs her eyes so she can look at the ceiling. For some reason, tears swell around her eyes. ‘Was it… a dream?’

“You’re awake little one.” Twilight feels her spine tingle. She looks at the foot of her bed and sees Terren sitting by the entrance to the room. “How are you feeling?” He walks up to her bedside.

“Uh… I…” The presence of her prince is intimidating. She has never been this close to any of the royals in all her young life.

Terren laughs. “It's alright little one.” He smirks. “You took a beating.” He points to her chest.

Curious and confused, Twilight forces herself to lift her head once again, just enough to look at her chest. She jumps, her body shivers as she sees a white crystal sticking out of it. “AH!... mmm!” Terren puts his hoof to her lips.

“Quiet child!” Terren huffs, patting her head. “I don’t need the future bearer of the ‘Element of Magic’ to hurt herself even further.”

“E-Element! Ma-Magic!” Again, Terren covers Twilight’s mouth.

“Yes, little one.” He points at the others. “You and the other five have been chosen to be the bearers of the Elements of Harmony.”

Twilight looks at the other fillies laying in their own medical beds. Her eyes go wide. She knows these ponies. She’s seen them in her… dream? She studies their chests and sees the elements are pulsating like hers. Instinctively, she places a hoof to her chest.

“Don’t worry, they stopped growing hours ago.” Terren chuckles as he steps away from her bed.

“Prince?!” Twilight asks.

“Yes?” Terren looks back.

Twilight cowers a bit. His fiery-orange eyes scare her. She feels like their ripping her heart out. “Where are m-my parents?”

Terren sighs. “You’ll see them soon. Just rest, continue to bond to your element.” Twilight tries to counter him, but she closes her mouth and lays her head back down on her pillow. “That’s what I thought!” Terren huffs. “Now sleep Twilight Sparkle, starting tomorrow, your life and the others start anew.”

Chapter 3

-6 Years Later-

“ERAH!” Twilight Throws a ball of white plasma with her hoof at a floating stone ball. Her attack misses, slamming into the concrete barrier wrapping around the forty-feet diameter arena. Glaring at the burn scar her attack left, she activates her element once again and tracks the stone ball. Her chest warms as her element glows bright white. Pulling magical aura from her element, she gathers it around her hooves once more. Forming another ball of hot plasma, she glares at her target. “ERAH!”

Her attack slams into the stone ball, shattering it into a million pieces that skip across the soft tan soil of the area.

“Nicely done!” Terren praises from edge of the area as he looks down at Twilight and her fellow element bearers standing in the inground arena. He picks up another stone ball with his magic. “Alright, we have two more who need to step up to the plate… Fluttershy you’re next!” He enchants the stone. It flies into the arena and begins to float about randomly.

“Come on Fluttershy! You can do it!” Rainbow Dash and Pinkie cheer. Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight smile, clapping their hooves.

Fluttershy steps up to the plate. Her eyes follow the stone’s movements. With a nervous sigh, she talks with her element. The green glow of her element brightens as she calls up its magic. Focusing on her target, she squints her eyes, her lips flatten as she manipulates her magic. “ERR!” She squeaks. The beam shooting from her chest is thin – about an inch in circumference. The beam knicks the stone causing it to spin out of control, crashing into the wall.

Fluttershy smiles and looks up at her prince. She cowers however, when she sees his dull expression. “Why the long face, Fluttershy?” Terren asks, not looking up from his notepad. Fluttershy feels her voice lodging itself in her throat. “Speak!”

“You seem disappointed your highness…” She mumbles.

Terren looks at the timid teen-filly. “You it the stone ball, did you not?” Fluttershy nods. “Then you did what I asked?” Terren gives her a soft smile. Fluttershy nods, returning the smile with a smile of her own. “Then why would I be disappointed?”

Fluttershy bows. “Thank you, your highness.”

Terren nods. “Pinkie, you’re next.”

Stepping off the plate, Fluttershy hoof-bumps Pinkie before taking her place next to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. She tries to smile, but she still feels like she failed her prince. Her friends give her a smile, trying to improve her mood. Fluttershy acknowledges their kind gestures and returns them with a small smirk.

Ridding her nervousness with a shake and a shiver, Pinkie stands on the plate and watches her stone ball fly into the arena. It bounces around in a haphazard pattern. With a smirk, Pinkie charges her element. A mass of blue aura pulsates over her chest. Locking onto her target, she releases her magic. Small oval shaped balls of hot blue plasma rapidly spew from her chest. A couple of her shots miss, but others hit, forcing the stone ball to the ground. Pinning it, she unleashes the rest of her charge, finishing off the stone ball.

“Interesting? Changing it up, are we? Terren looks at Pinkie with a raised brow.

Pinkie bows. “Yes, your highness.”

Terren lets out a chuckle as he looks at the large clock tower behind him. Seeing that the time reads eleven-twelve a.m., he stands up and stretches his back. “Alright bearers off to your chambers.” He stretches his neck, his wings twitch as he does so. “Take showers and make yourself presentable. You have court duty with Celestia at two today, so make lunch quick.”

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie grumble at the news. Applejack and Rarity giggle at their reaction. Twilight and Fluttershy just roll their eyes.

“Rainbow Dash! Pinkie!” Terren growls.

The element bearers cower at his words.

“Yes?” Rainbow Dash and Pinkie mumble.

Terren lightens his tone. “Element bearers must be just as skilled with words as they are with a weapon!” He gives them a smirk. “Is that understood?

“Yes, Prince.” They bow – speaking in unison.

“That’s what I want to hear.” Terren chuckles as he steps away from the arena. “Don’t be late!” He shouts as he heads for the east-wing of the castle.

With their prince gone the element bearers give tired sighs.

“Oh, man, I’m starving!” Pinkie moans.

“We did have a long morning of training.” Rainbow Dash flutters her wings as she stretches her neck. “Five hours or so…”

“I could take a nap!” Applejack yawns.

“Let’s get going fillies.” Twilight looks at her friends, as she heads up the steps of the inground arena. “If we want to enjoy lunch let’s make our showers quick.” Her friends nod and follow her up the steps.

Exiting the arena, they make their way to the west-wing of the castle towards a circular-shaped two-story building. The building’s foundation is made from tan colored concrete. Its walls white limestone. Its pillars supporting the red-shingle laden roof, a cream hued marble. The face of the building is adorned with eight-feet tall windows spanning length wise, the two floors. In-between each of the windows hang six banners with the patterns of their elements embroidered on them.

Seeing the approaching element bearers, the guards standing watch by the building’s entrance open the doors for them. “Hello, mighty bearers.” The guards bow.

Twilight and her friends bow in return. “You know you don’t have to be so formal.” Twilight states, wary of their formality.

“Oh, Twilight, they’re just doing their job.” Rarity smiles at the guards. The guards blush at her sly expression.

“Okay, Rarity!” Applejack groans, dragging her into their home. “You’re too young for them!”

“What?! I can’t tease them?” Rarity sighs. “You’re no fun!” She huffs in mock sadness. Pinkie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy giggle at her fake plight.

Applejack and Twilight roll their eyes. “Oh, brother…” Twilight moans.

The guards try their best to hide their flustered faces as they shut the doors.

Alone within the large grand hall, the teen-fillies settle down and let out soft sighs. Looking at the grand staircase leading up to the second story, Twilight runs a hoof through her mane. “Let’s get to it.” She heads up the stairs.

“Don’t take your time, Rarity!” Applejack teases.

“Applejack!” Rarity groans, “I will show you I can take quick showers!” She gets to the top of the stairs and gallops to her room. Applejack takes off for her room as well. Rainbow Dash and Twilight laugh at the two as they walk at a gentle pace to their rooms.

Pinkie’s element glows. “Mmm?” Pinkie snickers from the warm feeling on her chest.

“What’s so funny?” Fluttershy wonders. “What did your element say?” She walks alongside Pinkie as they head to their rooms.

“Oh…” Pinkie leans closer to Fluttershy and whispers in her ear. “It said that Applejack and Rarity act like a married couple.” She snickers. Fluttershy holds a hoof to her lips as she joins Pinkie in her laughter.

Rarity hums a tune as she scrubs her mane. Her hooves scratching her scalp as she works the shampoo into her mane. Delighted by the warm water washing over her back, she gives a satisfied sigh as she sticks her head under the showerhead. Her element glows, warming her chest. “Oh yes… Showers are quite lovely.” She giggles.

Her element sings a buzz.

“I’m not taking a long shower, dear…” She moves her head from the shower and moves her wet mane from her eyes. Glancing down at her chest with one eye open – She eyes the pattern of her element. Its shape is a diamond. Squinting her eyes from is bright purple glow, Rarity looks away and grabs a loofah works the fur-shampoo into it. “I have to prove Applejack wrong!” She huffs, groaning her sigh.

Her element murmurs.

“I’m not upset…” She mumbles.

Her element vibrates as it blinks.

“I… I guess I am…” She looks at her element once again. “I have been a little down in the dumps for the past week or so…”

Her element lets out a little moan.

Rarity stares at her element, watching the soapy water run across its surface. Looking up at the bronze shower head, she eyes the water droplets spewing from its array of holes. Hearing the muffled groans of the emptying water heater tank behind the wall, she shuts off the water and shakes her head twice. Sliding the curtain to her shower open, she grabs a towel with her magic and dries herself off.

Again, her element moans. Its glow warming, her chest.

Running the towel down her face, she huffs, biting it as she stares at herself in her bathroom mirror. “I’m missing my family…”

Her element murmurs in a questioning tone.

“Yes… Its been a long five years…” Rarity sees tears forming around her eyes.

Her element moans.

“You’re missing them too?” Rarity sniffles.

Her element hums – blinking for each hum it sings.

Rarity touches her element. She lets out a long sigh. “Maybe we can ask the royals if we can see them again?” She smiles. The thought of seeing her parents and her baby sister, warms her heart. She feels her chest getting tight as the hope of visiting them overwhelms her emotions. With a heavy breath, she finishes drying herself off.

Rainbow Dash sits at her sink mindlessly brushing her teeth. Her eyes stare back as she looks in the mirror. They’re judging her tired joyless expression. Seeing her element glow, she takes her toothbrush out of her mouth and look at its thunderbolt shape pulsing a soft red glow. “What?” She asks.

Here element groans.

“No, I’m not looking forward to the court hearings,” She brushes some more. “Are you?”

Her element gives a low hum.

“Thought so…” Rainbow Dash spits out the toothpaste into the sink. Washing her mouth out she steps away from the sink with a groan. Stepping into her room she makes it up to her makeup table. “Uh?” Seeing an object in her peripheral vision, she looks out the window and sees several Wonderbolts flying across the sky by the white cliffs of Canterlot.

Her element buzzes.

She frowns at the distant pegasi as they fade behind some clouds. “No, I’m not mad that I’m not a Wonderbolt…” She sits down, her eyes staring at the clouds passing by. “Or ever going to be one.” She rubs her element. “I’m very honored you chose be to be your bearer.”

Her element glows and hums.

“Nothing’s bothering me.” Rainbow Dash huffs as she blows her bangs away from her face.

Her element heats up as it groans in return.

“Ow!...” Rainbow Dash snaps. “Fine!” She feels her chest get tight as tears begin to form around her eyes. “I’m missing home…” Her wings go limp. Her ears fold back. “I miss my parents…” She blinks, forcing tears to roll down her cheeks.

Her element hums, gently warming her.

She lets out a huff. “Don’t tell the other about this.” She smirks half-heartily.

Her element rolls its imaginary eyes.

Applejack sits at her makeup table staring sadly at herself as she slowly braids her mane into pigtails. Seeing her element flicker, she halts her task and turns her attention to it. Her element’s shape is an oval that conforms with her chest’s curvature. “I’m alright sugar cube.” She tells it, returning to her task.

Her element shocks her a little.

“Ow!” Applejack frowns. “What was that for?”

Her element blinks and vibrates.

Err!...” Applejack moans. “I know I’m a terrible liar!” She places her hooves on her makeup table. She stares at herself and sees the sadness bubbling up – breaking the damn. “I’m afraid…’

Her element hums in confusion.

“I… I miss mah family!” She cries. “I only saw mah baby sis once!” She fights back a sob. “It’s been five years since I’ve seen them!”

Here element comforts her.

“Well…” She looks at element, her eye full of tears. “I’m afraid to asks the royals of I can see them again!”

Her element warms her.

Applejack feels her worries fade. “I know Luna would say yes…” She lays her head on her table. “But I’m not sure about Terren or Celestia…”

Her element hums as it continues to comfort her, quelling her emotional teenage mind.

Pinkie lays on her bed. Her straight magenta mane lays across her bed. Her lips quiver as she watches her ceiling’s fan blades spin slowly, mixing the dense air lingering in her room.

Her element glows blue, humming a soft tune.

Pinkie groans as she looks at her element and its round shape poking out of her chest. “I miss my parents…” Rolling over, she lays on her stomach – her limbs sprawled out and her head hanging off the bed’s edge. “I miss making rock-candy necklaces with my sister Maud! I miss Limestone and her grumpy no-nonsense attitude! I miss the long night conversations Marble and I use to have…” She sobs, looking at the fibers of her carpeted floor.

Her element warms her.

Pinkie feels the warmth and bites her lip. “Why did you pick me?” She asks as she rolls over and looks at her element. Its shape is a simple circle. Its blue color shimmers in the light radiating off her ceiling lamp.

Her element hums softly.

“I don’t feel joyful at this moment.” She grumbles.

Her element buzzes.

Pinkie smiles. “Silly me…” She laughs at herself. “Why didn’t I think of that!” She groans rolling over again, stuffing her face into her pillows. Her long magenta mane laying haphazardly over her head and pillows. “Stupid me! I should just ask the Royals!” She groans into her pillows.

Fluttershy rests her arms on the window-seal as she gazes out the window watching clouds go by – listening to the birds sing their sweet melodies. Seeing a pair of birds approaching her, her heart skips a beat. They fly up to a birdseed dispenser hanging beside her window. “Hello little birds.” She coos, holding out her right hoof. The bird closest to her tweets and hops up closer to her. Fluttershy smiles as she rubs the bird’s cheeks, her eyes widening as hums and chirps in delight.

She can feel her element’s glow. It warm. She feels its magic coming from her chest, through her arm and up to her hoof. Green aura oozes out from her hoof and forms into the shape of a soft rounded nub. The bird shivers, its eyes nervously staring at the pulsating mass of magic. “It’s okay, it won’t hurt you.” Fluttershy mumbles scared that it would fly away.

Her element hums softly as it pets the bird.

The bird ruffles its feathers in delight. But it doesn’t last as a small spark of electricity shocks it. Its feathers fluff out, making it look fat. Small bits of smoke waft off its body, its black beady eyes stare off into space. “Oh…” Fluttershy puts her hooves to her lips. “I’m so sorry Mr. bird.” Her element glows sadly. The bird chirps and flies away in a drunken manner. Its fellow bird looks at its friend with concern. Fluttershy blushes and hides behind the wall. “Oh… I need to control my magic better!” She groans.

Her element grumbles.

“You picked me!” Fluttershy looks down at her element. Its heart-wing shaped design shimmers in the light of her ceiling lamp. “I suck at this!”

Her element hums sadly.

“Nothing’s bothering me!”

Her element keeps warming. She groans as she feels it vibrate under her skin.

“Oh…” Fluttershy moans, giving into her element. “I’m sorry, I’m not angry at you… I’m, I’m…” Tears swell around her eyes. “I’m scared about my future… I miss my parents! My brother!” She sobs. “I don’t know if I can do this!”

Her element hums sadly.

“I don’t know if I can be an element bearer… A warrior!?”

Her element glows, sending its magic to her heart and mind, calming her woes.

She places her hooves on her element. Her wings twitch as she huffs out a sobbing sigh. “Oh… I hope I can see them again…”

Twilight sits at her makeup table residing in the corner of her room. She stares at her element through the mirror – eyeing its ten-pointed star shape as she grapples for control over her mane’s appearance. Returning her attention back to her task, she checks her work, making sure her bangs are styled just right. Liking what she sees, she sets down her brush and eyes her element once again. A shallow breath slips past her lips as she places a hoof on it. It feels warm. It always did.

Her element blinks from her touch.

A frown comes to her lips. “What?”

Her element blinks twice.

“I’m not sad.” She sighs. Slipping off her makeup chair, walking to her walk-in closet.

Her element hisses.

“I guess I’m a little worried…” Twilight stops in her tracks and looks down at her chest. She can feel its hissing throughout her whole body. “I’m just worried about my friends.” She looks at a picture of her and her fellow element bearers. The photo is of them when they first arrived at the castle. “For the past few weeks, they haven’t been acting themselves lately.” She looks down at her hooves.

Her element grumbles.

“Yes… I haven’t been either…” She groans, stepping into her closet and walking up to her jewelry chest. Opening it, she rummages through a large number of necklaces with a fine-tooth comb.

Her element grumbles some more.

Twilight sighs, stopping her task. “I miss my family…” She looks at a ruby necklace with tears in her eyes.

Her element blinks.

“I guess we’re all missing our families.” Twilight picks up the necklace with her magic and studies it. The glow of her aura around her horn fills the closet in a warm purple glow.

Her element warms her chest.

She smiles and she puts on the item. “I guess it’s time we see them!” She looks at her element – her smile leaving. “Even though it’s against the rules…” Her ears fold back.

Her element sighs sadly.

Looking at the clock behind her – through the doorway, Twilight sighs and walks out of her closet. “Time for lunch…” Stepping out of her room, she sees her fellow element bearers exiting their rooms as well. “Hello, fillies.” She forces a smile as she notices their solemn expressions.

“Hey, Twilight.” Pinkie smiles half-heartedly.

“You fillies feeling the same thing?” She asks walking up to her friends who gather at the top of the stairs.

“I sure am…” Applejack groans. “I’m mightily missing mah family.” She rubs the back of her neck.

Rarity let’s out a sigh. “I know we can’t see our parents, but just this once I would like to break the rules…” She runs her hoof through her mane.

“What a stupid rule!” Rainbow Dash grunts. “We have to wait until we’re adults to see our family and friends!” She runs her hooves over her cheeks. “We’re going to have no childhood! For crying out loud!”

Twilight frowns slightly. “I agree with you Rainbow Dash, but the rules have been established for hundreds of years!” She rubs the base of her horn. “Besides, the elements have never chosen children before, and I highly doubt the Royals would’ve changed tradition just for us!” She groans.

“Well, they should’ve!” Rainbow Dash huffs. “I mean past element bearers didn’t have to wait this long!” She sits down and crosses her arms. “They only had to wait eight years! But us, we have to wait until we’re adults!”

“They’re just making sure we adjust to our new lives.” Pinkie smiles trying to brighten the mood. “It’s like Twilight said, the elements have never chosen children until now.”

Rainbow Dash grumbles, staring at her tail wag about on the floor from her frustration.

Her friends sigh, each one of them looking at each other and the elements fused to their chests with glossy tired eyes.

Their elements not liking their moods, glow bright and hot – sending a shock that courses throughout their bodies – jerking them awake. Shivering from the lingering static, they look down at their respective elements with mixed emotions. Letting out long sighs, they look at one another once again. “Let’s just get through the court hearings.” Pinkie huffs.

“And then after, we could ask the royals to let us see our families!” Fluttershy mentions. Her friends look at her with raised brows, surprised by her tone of voice. Stunning herself, Fluttershy blushes. “Well, I mean… If you want too…” She hides behind her mane.

“We were thinking the same thing, were we?” Rarity ponders.

“I guess we were?” Twilight looks at her element, the others do the same. Looking up Twilight gives her friends a soft smile. “Let’s get some food in our bellies before we have to sit in court of three hours.” Her friend nod and follow her down the stairs.

“I’m so hungry!” Pinkie moans through a mouthful of cranberry salad smothered in blue-cheese vinegar dressing.

“Pinkie, please! Chew with your mouth closed!” Rarity huffs at her friend’s lack of table manners.

“What?” Pinkie swallows her bite. “Terren trained us hard this morning! I worked up a massive apatite!” She giggles taking another bite.

Twilight rolls her eyes at her friends’ discussion. Taking a bite of her corn, she looks at her fellow element bearers watching them eat their meals in relative silence. Swallowing her bite, she looks outside their private dining room and eyes the castle’s grand dining hall. She sees it is in full swing. Dining staff are busy running to n’ fro, serving government officials, guards, generals and dignitaries from the ten territories of the Equestrian Empire.

“Watch’a looking at Twilight?” Applejack asks.

Twilight looks at the earth pony. “Just some generals sitting over there.” She nods her head at the ponies in question.

Applejack looks at the generals through the archway. “Feels kind of strange that we have a room all too ourselves.” She studies the grandness of the room’s décor. Rich-crimson sheer-curtains with gold tassels hang from the two windows that sit to her left – allowing the light of the afternoon sun to fill the room, illuminating the birch walls and mahogany flooring. An iron-chandelier dangles above the round oak table they sit around, the chandelier’s ivory candles flicker and dance with the ambient air lingering in the room.

Oil-paintings of the first element bearers hang on the walls. If one would to enter the room, they would see the paintings of Axiom, Kepler and Knight Wing on their right and the paintings of Clover, Copper and Gum Drops to their left.

Rainbow Dash looks at the painting of Axiom, eying the pattern the element of Loyalty formed as it bonded to him. Smiling at its ring shape – with lightning bolts shooting out the sides. She looks at hers. It’s not as impressive as his… Feeling her chest warm she sighs and looks back at his painting, studying his stoic features. ‘I hope I’m as great as him?’ She ponders.

Her element hums.

Rainbow Dash looks down at her element and smirks. ‘Thanks.’

“Yes, thanks.” A masculine voice chuckles.

The element bearers’ ears stand erect as they look for the source of the voice. “Discord! Show yourself!” Twilight huffs.

“Aw… You’re no fun.” Discord materializes beside Rainbow Dash. “You’re just like Celestia, grumpy!” He floats above the table, swinging the chandelier with his hoof.

“You’re the god of chaos.” Twilight looks up at the god with a frown.

“And you’re the muffin queen.” Discord mocks. Pinkie snickers at his joke. Even Rainbow Dash lets a chuckle slip past her lips. “Ah, at least they understand me!”

“Why are you here?” Rarity wonders.

“Oh, just checking up on you, element bearers.” He looks at them sternly, studying their facial expressions. “Why are all of you down in the dumps?” He groans floating in front of Pinkie, looking directly into her blue eyes. “I haven’t done anything to you today to warrant such behavior!” He strokes his lengthy soul patch.

“We’ve been missing our families.” Pinkie states staring into the god’s yellow eyes.

“Missing your families?!” Discord huffs. “Really? That’s it?” He rolls over on his back and frowns. “Your hearts are not broken up from an evil monster destroying a whole town?! From bank robbers stealing all the gold in Manehattan?! No romantic break ups?!”

“Discord please, it’s a no to all those things… And besides you know we can’t date.” Twilight groans staring at him with a dull expression.

Discord stares back. His body rotates but his head stays put. “I know...” He huffs. Twilight stares at him with mortified eyes at his display of defying anatomy limitations. But who is she to question a god’s abilities.

“Its true Discord, we’ve been missing our families, a lot.” Applejack chimes in.

Discord looks at her and gives a huff. He floats on over to Fluttershy and Rarity and gets in-between them. Manifesting a small pink cloud and a glass cup he smiles at the group. “Who wants some of my signature cotton candy chocolate milk?” He squeezes the cloud with his front hooves, forcing it to release its chocolaty contents into the glass cup.

“Ooh! I do!” Pinkie cheers, raising her front hooves in the air.

The others nod as they look at the glass, licking their lips. With a laugh, Discord manifest more clouds with a clap of his hooves. The clouds unload their chocolate milk into their glass-cups before twisting themselves around a stick. Each filly grabs the cotton candy clouds and begin consuming their treats. “So?” Discord puts his hooves on his hips.

“Good as always!” Pinkie hums.

“Very yummy.” Fluttershy nods.

Twilight looks at the god and gives him a smile. “Thanks…”

Discord smiles. “I knew I could get a smile out of you.” Looking at the clock over the door, he chuckles. “You fillies better hurry. You have court duty in five!” He laughs before vanishing into a cloud of white mist.

Twilight and her friends look at the clock and give defeated sighs.

-12:28 p.m. Canterlot Royal Courthouse-

Celestia sits in a judge’s chair made of cherry-oak wood and soft velvet fabric for its seat and back. From her perch she sits ten feet above the court’s marble laden floor. Below her on the second rung of benches are two Major judges – one a unicorn mare in her late thirties and an earth pony stallion in his late seventies. Below them are ten minor judges representing the ten territories of the Equestrian Empire.

Hearing the muffled voices of eager ponies looking to plead their cases – large and small, Celestia sighs and looks at the last row of seats that are in front of the ten-minor judges’ seats. Six empty benches grace her vision. Looking to her left she eyes the side doors and the two royal guards standing watch beside them, looking like emotionless statues.

The doors swing open.

Celestia smiles as she sees Twilight and her friends enter. Her smile fades however when she notices their solemn expressions. “You alright little ones?”

Twilight and her friends look up at their princess and bow. “Yes… Your highness.” Twilight speaks for her friends. They take their seats and eye the large oak doors before them at the opposite side of the courtroom.

Celestia frowns at the response. Twilight’s tone and their demeanor tell her otherwise. “I’m going to have a talk with them afterwards.” Taking a breath, she looks at the guards by the main entrance to the courtroom. “Guards, let the first case enter!”

The guards bow and open the doors.

A stallion and mare enter the courtroom and bow. “My princess, my name is Fancy Paints and this is my wife Fleur de Lis. We are here to ask if you or one of your siblings can be one of the speakers for our fundraiser in Vanhaven?”

Celestia smiles. “And what is this fundraiser for?”

“For the orphanage ‘Hope and Hearts’.” Fleur de Lis states with a hum.

Celestia ponders. “I can see if Luna could do it. She’s not that busy.” She smiles, “Yes I’ll look into your request.”

“Thank you.” Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis bow.

As they leave a tall regal unicorn stallion in his late teens walks into the courtroom and up to the bench. “Blue Blood, what are you doing here?” Celestia wonders.

“Auntie!” Blue Blood bows. “I come to request funds…” He eyes the element bearers. Applejack catches his eye. Feeling his gaze, Applejack blushes and looks down, biting her lower lip. Her friends giggle at her embarrassment.

“Blue Blood?” Celestia huffs, giving her nephew a smirk.

His cheeks blush. “Um, yes… I request funds for a project.” Blue Blood smiles. “I want to build a golf course in the Red Poppy Hills.”

Celestia raises a brow. “And why do you wish to build a golf course?”

Blue Blood swallows a lump in his throat. “My friends and I want to add another course to the Equestrian Golf Club.” He gives his aunt a smile. “I have the plans ready to go, but we’re short… On the money side of things.”

“By how much?” Celestia leans back in her seat.

“Four-thousand bits…” Blue Blood gives a sheepish smile.

Celestia gives a long sigh and looks at her nephew. “Do your parents know of your startup?” Blue Blood nods. “Have they helped you?” He nods again. Celestia scratches her chin. ‘I need to have a word with his mother…’ She looks at her nephew. “Then… I will give you half.” She sees the glow fade from his face. Before he can protest, she raises a hoof. “You need to ask your uncle for the rest. As you know he loves golf and would gladly help.” She gives her nephew a sly smirk.

The judges maintain their expressionless posture. The element bearers however snicker and giggle at her tone of voice.

He blushes from the fillies’ laughter, swallowing a lump in his throat. “Thank you, auntie…” He begins to turn around but stops to look back at Celestia. “Where would uncle be at this time of day?”

“Oh, training the royal guard.” She hums.

Blue Blood’s ears fold back, his facial expression goes pale. “Oh…” He moans as he leaves the courtroom.

Hearing about the royal guard causes Twilight’s throat to tighten as painful emotions work their way to surface. Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes and thinks about her brother. Out of all the element bearers, she was the lucky one to have a relative that was close enough to the castle. Even though she rarely got to see him, when she did, she made the most of it.

On the nights he would sneak out from bootcamp, and meet by the gates of the ‘Royal Garden’, they would talk about anything that came to their minds. He’d talked about their father and his job as professor of history at Canterlot University. Their mother’s part-time gig as a newspaper editor for the local paper. The events going on in their neighborhood. She’d talked about her training, her other fellow element bearers and her studies. However, she would try to prod about his love life, but that conversation would always go nowhere.

Her friends see her emotions trying to manifest themselves. They look at one another and let out their own defeated sighs. Looking at the clock they read the time. “Two and a half hours more!” Rainbow Dash whispers.

“We’re asking the princess once we're done!” Applejack states with a whisper.

“We need to see our families!” Rarity adds.

“I think I’m going to go loopy-doopy if I can’t…” Pinkie moans. Fluttershy nods in agreement.

“We’ll get through these remaining hours…” Twilight huffs. “Just take deep breaths.”

Celestia hears their woes. They’re faint, but she can clearly make out their frustration. Her smile fades. ‘I knew they wouldn’t last without seeing their families…’ She tells herself. ‘Brother would never agree to such a thing though…’ She looks at the doors and watches as another pony enters. ‘I hope he does… For their sake.’

It’s nearing the end of the court hearings.

The element bearers groan as they rub their tired eyes. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash feel like they’re dying. Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity manage to keep a professional appearance, but they are quickly fading. Celestia and the rest of the judges sit at full attention, making it look easy. Way too easy.

“Your highness!” A guard comes running in. She stops and takes a deep breath. “A special guest has arrived to see you!” She bows, gasping for air.

The court heightens their attention. “Who is it soldier?” Celestia asks.

“Ivory Gorge of… AH!” The guard gets pushed aside as a twelve-feet tall dragon burst into the room.

CELESTIA!” Ivory Gorge shouts. His silvery-white scales shimmer in the court’s lighting. “It’s been a while!” He laughs. “Sorry I waited so long to see you.”

Celestia smiles. “Ivory!” She giggles. “Long time no see.” She stands up from her seat and flies up to the dragon giving him a hug. “How’s the family?” She pulls away from the hug.

“All is well!” Ivory Gorge laughs as he steps up to the bench and looks down at the element bearers. “So, these are the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony?” He studies them, his long under-teeth sticking out as he grins at them. His rich blue eyes piercing their souls.

The element bearers cower a bit, but quickly stand their ground, studying him right back. “Hello!” Pinkie cheers. “Mah name is Pinkie Pie, and these are my friends, Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash!” She giggles, her long-straight mane covering the right side of her face.

He laughs. “Nice to meet you all!”

“How do you know the princess?” Rarity ponders.

“We go a really, really long way back!” He slyly eyes the princess.

Celestia blushes. “Ivory, how rude to assume my age…” She giggles, rolling her eyes as she sits back in her judge’s seat. The element bearers have a hard time controlling their laughter. Even the stout judges let some snickering and giggling past their lips.

“Oh, that never gets old.” Ivory Gorge wipes his eyes.

“Why are you here?” Celestia gives him a playful frown. “I know it’s not to tease me!” She laughs.

“You got me!” Ivory Gorge holds up his claws. “I came here to introduce you to my youngest son, Spike!” He states pridefully. His tale moves, pushing someone out from their hiding spot. The court eyes a small, dragon with purple colored scales. He’s chubby for his age and a little short. He looks up at them with his large green eyes.

Celestia smiles. “How old is he?”

“He’s seven.” Ivory Gorge states, patting his son’s head.

Celestia gives a knowing hum. “Let me guess, you want the element bearers to teach him?”

“Wow, how did you know?” Ivory Gorge laughs. “Yes, I do, just like the last element bearers did, with my eldest daughter.”

Celestia looks down at the element bearers, studying their reaction. “Fillies?” They look up, giving her nods of approval. Fluttershy and Pinkie are nearly shaking their heads off her bodies. With a pleased sigh, she looks at her friend. “Of course, they can, they seem interested enough.” She looks at Spike. “Do you have a love for books little one?”

Spike nods. “Yes, your highness.”

Celestia smiles. “Twilight’s going to love you.”

Twilight blushes as she hides behind the oak barrier of the bench. Spike blushes at Celestia’s comment and eyes Twilight. He sees her rich-purple eyes peak behind the wall staring at him. He blushes and looks away staring at his feet.

Ivory Gorge chuckles as he bends down. “Son?” Spike turns to face his father and gives a nod. “Remember what I told you. You behave yourself, be an open book and absorb all that is taught to you.” He lays his claws on his son’s shoulders. “I’ll be back to pick you up in five years. So, be a big dragon you hear?” Spike nods, though his eyes begin to water. “Now son, no crying.”

DING! DONG!

Hearing the bells ring their song Ivory Gorge stands up. “Looks like the court is adjourned.” He stretches his back. “Well I’m off. I must attended to my kingdom.”

Celestia stands from her seat. “You must come and visit more often, you, big goof.” She gives him a sly smirk.

Ivory Gorge nods. “Yes, I should. I’m so, sorry my dear Celestia…” He returns her gesture before looking down at his son. “See you in five years.” He leaves the courtroom. “Love you son!”

Watching the doors close as his father leaves, Spike lets out a long sigh and looks at his new mentors. “What do I do now?”

“I know! We can go get some ice-cream and then show you to your new room!” Pinkie cheers.

“Not so fast!” Celestia shouts. The element bearers, Spike and even the judges shiver from her tone. “Judges you may leave. As for the bearers, we must have a talk.”

“A talk?” Fluttershy murmurs.

“Talk about what?” Twilight asks, her ears rest flat against her head.

“About your solemn, downtrodden moods,” Celestia states dully.

The element bearers look at one another and give long nervous sighs.

The walk to Celestia’s chamber is long and uneventful. The element bearers walk in silence behind Celestia. They keep their heads down, eyeing the white tiled floor they walk. To them at least, it feels like the walks on either side are closing in ready to swallow them whole. Pinkie gulps as a shiver runs down her spin.

Spike walks alongside Celestia as he looks back at the element bearers, studying their worried expressions. He’s worried as well, from the tone of Celestia’s voice, she sounded displeased with them.

“Enter!” Celestia activates her horn, throwing open the doors to her chambers. The element bearers shiver as they step inside. “Spike, wait out here.” She smiles at the dragon, giving him a loving pat on the head. Spike nods and sits on the floor, leaning his back against the wall.

With a sigh, Celestia shuts the door.

Turning around, Celestia studies the young element bearers. “What is bothering you, little ones?” She sits on the floor, her eyes softening their harsh gaze.

Twilight and her friends look at one another. Nodding, Twilight looks at their mentor. “We’re missing our families, princess.”

Celestia closes her eyes and gives a long sigh. “I knew this day would come…” She groans. “How come you waited so long to tell me?” She gets closer to them. “I knew something was bothering you fillies. For the past week, you’ve been down in the dumps.”

They blush. “I guess we need to work on our ‘poker faces’?” Pinkie chuckles, with a sheepish grin.

Celestia shakes her head, holding in her laughter. “Oh, you fillies make me laugh.”

They smile. “So, is it a yes?” Applejack hopes. Her anffriends’ eyes go wide in anticipation.

Celestia’s smile fades. “I can’t give you a direct answer.” She states.

“Why?” Fluttershy whines.

Celestia sighs. “I would gladly allow you to see your families. Even Luna would. But Terren, he would be the one to say no.”

“Why do we need his permission?” Rainbow Dash groans as she gives the princess and frown.

Celestia returns the guesture. “Rainbow Dash!” She hisses. Rainbow Dash cowers. Even her friends find themselves, joining her, their heads hang low to the ground. “We are a triarchy if you’ve forgotten. All three of us must agree on a decision.”

Twilight swallows a lump in her throat. “Could we ask him?”

“We’re going to have to,” Celestia states flatly. She activates her horn. An audible hum rings out, filling their ears. “Ah…” She hums. “I called my siblings to my chamber. They should be here shortly…”

Two consecutive flashes of light fill the room. Terren stands to Celestia’s right and Luna stands to her left.

“What is it, sister?” Luna asks.

“Yes, what is it?” Terren huffs. “I was busy making our nephew beg for his mommy…” He sees the element bearers are with them. “Why are they here?”

Celestia sighs. “The element bearers wish to see their families.”

“For how long?” Luna asks.

“Yes, how long?” Terren frowns at the element bearers. They dare not look at their prince directly.

Celestia ponders their questions. They never told her a time frame. “Two weeks.” She states. She smiles when she sees them light up with joy.

Terren huffs. “They want to go against tradition?”

“Terren, they’re teens!” Celestia groans. “You know how much I value tradition, but this is the first time the elements have chosen children. We’re asking them to give up their childhoods!” She rubs the base of her horn. “I believe it would be healthy for them to see their families while they're young. Who knows how they’ll cope in the real world if they’re not allowed to see their families until adulthood?” She gives her brother a hopeful, yet stern glare.

Terren growls, his eyes glaring at their elements, studying their pulsing glow. With a grizzly huff. He closes his eyes. “Luna? What do you think?”

Luna smiles. “I agree with Tia.” She smirks at Twilight and her friends. “I think we can bend tradition, after all, this is a unique situation.”

Terren huffs as he opens his eyes. “Fine… They can see their families… Just this once.” He activates his horn. “Next time they’ll do so as adults!” He leaves the room in a flash of orange light.

Celestia smiles. “Looks like you’re going home.”

Chapter 4

“Take deep breaths. Concentrate…”

Twilight squeezes her closed eyes further, her face contorting into a determined scowl.

“You’re losing focus…”

Twilight groans, rubbing her hooves together.

“Focus…”

“Err!” Twilight opens her eyes. “I am!” She glares at the figure in front of her.

The figure’s white crystalline body, a mirror image of herself, shimmers in the white light of the void they’re in. “You’re not…” It stares at her with a dull no-nonsense glare.

Twilight stares at the figure watching its mane sway with the wind that flows over them. The breeze neither felt hot nor cold. Neutral is the best way she can put it. It always felt… strange… normal? “Sorry… I’m just excited.” She plays with her tail.

“I bet you are.” The figure smiles. “But you need to learn to control your emotions!” It glares at Twilight, studying her facial expression, searching for confidence or a lack there of.

“Sorry element.” Twilight mumbles.

Well, there was some confidence. “I didn’t know you were such a nervous nanny?” The element of Magic laughs.

“You should know!” Twilight points a hoof at her element. “You’ve picked me after all!”

“Hey no fair… I may’ve picked you, but just like you’re learning to live with me, I’m still learning to live with you…” Her element’s chest begins to glow, so does Twilight’s. “Even if it’s been six years.”

Twilight feels her cheeks blush. “Sorry element…” Her shoulder goes limp as she stares at the grey grass surrounding them.

“It’s alright…” The element of Magic stares at the filly. It frowns at her nervous demeanor. “What is on your mind Twilight?”

Twilight lets out a long sigh. “It’s about my parents…” She can feel her throat tighten. “What will they think of me after all these years? I know my brother told me that they still love me but… My appearance…” She sees her element giving her a raised brow. “I mean no offense but having a magical crystal sticking of their daughter’s chest would make any parent do a double take!” Her element stays silent. “I mean, I’m no longer the same filly they know!” Her rant continues.

The element of Magic sighs as it sits up and steps up closer to its bearer. Twilight eyes go wide as she feels it’s hoof on her lips. Looking up she sees her element staring down at her with a dull expression. She feels her cheeks blush, realizing that she needed to take a deep breath, which she does. “Much better…”

“I’m… Sorry…”

“Shush!” Her element groans. “Let’s return our minds to our training before the taxi makes it to your old childhood home.” Her element sits back down. “Besides you need to be able to handle my magic”

“I-I can handle your magic…” Twilight mumbles as she tries to hind her blushing behind her bangs as she bows her head.

“You’re not there yet… Especially when it’s time to face my other half.” The element of Magic opens one eye and glares at its bearer with a hint of skepticism.

Shivering, Twilight copies her element’s pose. “Why can’t I or my friends see our other half? What so dangerous about it?”

Her element opens its eyes, their bright white glow piercing her soul. “You can’t! None of you can at this time! You and your friends are too young for such an encounter… Balance is key… If either Harmony or Disharmony overwhelms its bearers and takes absolute control, we’ll kill our bearers and ourselves in the process!”

Twilight shivers at that thought. “But don’t you have full control as we speak?” She asks with a hint of confusion.

Her element stares at her with a blank expression. “No… unlike my other half I know how to control myself. And besides, Disharmony flows through you, in all sentient creatures … You just can’t feel it yet…” Her element hums.

“Oh… I understand… Sort of?” She gives her element a sheepish grin.

Her element huffs. “That’s why we train!” It puts its hooves together and bows its head, closing its eyes. Twilight watches a haze of aura surrounds her element’s body. Letting out a huff of her own she copies her element. Soon she too has an aura of magic surrounding her.

Several minutes, or what feels like several minutes… it could’ve been hours or mere seconds given the void’s inner workings has passed. Twilight and her element sit in relative silence as their aural magic communicates with one another. Feeling her brow begin to perspire. Twilight gasps and breaks her concentration. “Darn it!” Twilight growls.

The element of Magic stares at its bearer with a dull expression. “You’re still not giving it a hundred percent… Your thoughts are still on your family and friends.”

Twilight stares at her lap. “Sorry…”

“Don’t be…” Her element holds up a hoof. “It’s kind of my fault to expect you to be fully on board with today’s training…” It studies her further. “You excited?”

“Yes!” Twilight gulps. “Very excited!” She taps her hooves together. “But I’m so nervous!”

“Let me guess, your appearance?” Her element tilts its head to the side. Twilight nods. Rubbing its brow, it stares at Twilight with dull eyes. “It not like they haven’t seen you with me sticking out of your chest!” It huffs, pointing at her chest. Before Twilight can respond it holds up a hoof. “And besides they’re your parents, they still love you.”

Looking at her bare chest, seeing a faint white glow Twilight huffs and looks up at her element. “I know… WHOAH!” The void she’s in fades away as her meditation breaks. She finds herself flying off her seat and slamming face first into the diving window of the royal putter taxi. “Ow…” She moans through mushed lips against the mesh.

The royal taxi driver looks back from his seat. His face goes pale as he sees her awkward position. “I’m very sorry bearer!” He looks at the putter-wagon in front of him. “I had to slam of the breaks, traffic is heavy in this part of the city.”

“It’s alright…” Twilight rights herself with the help of a royal guard sitting next to her. “Are we here?”

The taxi driver looks out the driver side window. “Yes a few blocks… hold on…” He drives the putter-car further pulling up to her home parking the vehicle alongside the sidewalk. “Now we are." He smiles. “You need any help with your bags?”

“No… I got it.” Twilight picks up her saddlebag with her magic. “Thank you for the ride.” The royal taxi driver tips his hat. The royal guard activates his magic and opens the door for Twilight. With a happy sigh she gets out of the putter-taxi and waves to it as it leaves. “I’m home…” She hums out loud as she looks up at her childhood home.

Her element glows, warming her chest.

She studies the exterior of the apartment complex. Its brick façade has seen better days. Some of the mortar welding the bricks together is chipping away allowing some bricks to wiggle themselves loose. The white paint covering the19th century styled windows is chipping away from the many years of wind, sun, and rain. The rich stained color of the maplewood trim breaking up the brick is faded, now a dull dirty tan.

Twilight’s smiles as she walks up the concrete steps of her home. Her old rustic home.

“Is that the bearer of the Element of Magic?!” A mare gasps.

Twilight’s ears fold back. “Oh… no…” She groans, closing her eyes. She hated being the center of attention.

“It is!” A colt cheers. “Mommy look!”

“I see dear.” His mother coos.

Before a crowd can gather around her, Twilight quickly presses the buzzer. “Hello? This is the front desk. How may I help you?” A voice asks over the speaker.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle… I’m here to see my parents.”

The speaker is silent, only static. A click sounds off. “Oh yes,” The voice giggles. “One of our element bearers… I have to say you made this humble apartment complex very popular…” The door unlocks. “Come in. Do you want me to alert your parents?”

“No!... I, uh mean no… that’s alright.” Twilight throws her saddlebag on her back and steps into the building.

Standing in the lobby, Twilight takes a deep breath. She shivers at the familiar old musty smells assaulting her senses. They stir old memories, forcing them to the surface of her mind. She shivers again as she closes her eye. Letting out a sigh, she opens them.

She sees her and her friends running across the lobby’s dark pine floors, flaying a game of tag.

She sees herself and her friends running across the dark-pine floors of the lobby, playing a game of tag. The image fades into another. She’s now with her parents and older brother. They’ve just come back from the carnival. Her brother holds a large rubber ball in his magic while she carries a stuffed pony-doll in hers. This image fades into another as well. Now she sees her younger self standing by the entrance of the apartment complex. Two royal guards stand behind her, Celestia stands in front of her, speaking to her parents by the base of the stairs. She sees the tears her younger self is crying.

Her element hums, its glow illuminating the space around her.

The image fades like dust in the wind. Shaking her head, Twilight looks at her element. “I’m fine…” She states, wiping away her tears. “It’s just good to be home.” She reassures.

Her element hums softly.

“Welcome home element bearer.” The voice that spoke over the intercom states with a hum. “Oh… Are you alright?”

Twilight looks at the mare. “Yes… Miss?’

“Baker, Mrs. Baker.” The mare bows. “So, I take it that you want to surprise your folks?”

Twilight giggles. “Yes.”

“Well I think that’s a splendid idea.” Baker smiles. “Do you need help with your bag?” Twilight shakes her head. “Well then, if you need anything, just give me a buzz.” Baker bows before heading back to her office.

“Thank you!” Twilight waves. Looking up at the stairs, she smiles and makes her way to her apartment.

Getting to the fourth-floor, Twilight looks down the hall and takes a deep breath. The musty smell of the wood flooring brings back strong childhood memories. Shivering away her nervous emotions, she takes and step and strolls down the hall until coming to the last door at the end of the hall. Standing in front of the door, she reads its metal letterings, 427. ‘They’ll be bare metal by the time I’m finished with my training.’ She smirks at their chipping gold paint.

With a happy sigh she gives the door a knock.

“Hold on! I’ll be right there!” Twilight hears her mother’s muffled voice.

The chain unlatches and the door’s lock disengages. The door swings inward revealing a unicorn mare in her mid-thirties. Her white fur shines in the light from the ceiling fan above the kitchen table. Her light-purple mane lays flat against her face, while her tail kisses the floor. Her bright-purple eyes stare at Twilight in disbelief. “T-Twilight?!”

Twilight fights back a sob working its way up through her throat. “Mom!” Tears swell around her eyes.

“Honey?” A stallion calls out. “Velvet? What’s the matter?” The stallion appears from the hall. “It sounds like you’ve seen… a… ghost?... Twilight?” He stares dumfounded at his daughter.

“Dad!” Twilight smirks. Tears pour down her face, dripping onto the floor.

Her parents drag her into a hug with their magic. “How?!” Her mother cries as she squeezes the life out of her daughter.

“I thought you couldn’t comeback until you were an you turned twenty-five?!” Her father asks with a happy sob.

“The royals allowed us to see our families for two weeks!” Twilight cheers, tightening her grip around her parents’ necks.

“Two weeks!” Her mother gasps as she pulls away from the group-hug. “Oh, Night Light! Our baby filly is home for two weeks!” She puts her front hooves over her lips as she stares at her husband and daughter, tears of joy flooding her eyes.

“Thank heavens!” Her husband laughs as he runs his hoof through their daughter’s mane. “I’m glad you’re home sweetie.” He looks into their home. “Come inside, stay awhile.” He chuckles.

Twilight giggles. “Don’t mind if I do!” She follows her parents into their small abode.

“Why don’t you put your saddlebag in your room, sweetie.” Her mother states, motioning towards the hall with her hoof. She catches a glimpse of the element of Magic. Twilight doesn’t notice her mother’s expression as she trots down the hall towards her old room.

“You noticed it to?” Night Light asks his wife.

“Yeah…” Velvet whispers. “It doesn’t look to bad?” She frowns. “Does it?” She shivers. “It’s protruding out of her chest from the last time… we saw her!”

Her husband stays quite as they watch their daughter eye the décor lining the hall. “No… it doesn’t look to bad and besides it’s no different from the other element bearers of the past.”

Velvet sighs as her and her husband watch their daughter step into her room.

“You… You kept it the same.” Twilight walks timidly around her room. “Just like I left it…” Tears swell around her eyes again.

Ignoring her thoughts on the element, Velvet walks up to her daughter. “Yep, we haven’t touched your room since you’ve been gone.” She sits under the doorframe.

Twilight looks back at her parents and gives them a smile. Her element lets out a hum as it blinks, lighting up the dimly lit room in white light. Her parents stare at her element once again, their eyes wide like saucers. “Oh…” Twilight looks down at her element. “It’s just speaking to me is all.”

Her mother keeps staring at her element. “Oh…” She forces herself to look at her daughter. “That buzz, what that it speaking?”

Twilight ears fold back a bit from her mother’s expression. “Uh, yes…”

“What’s it saying?” Her father asks, noticing her discomfort.

Twilight looks down at her element and places a hoof on it. “It said, deja-vu.” She sees the paleness in her mother’s face. “Mother… are you alright?”

Her mother shivers as she drags herself out of her thoughts. “Uh… Yes sweetie…”

“Velvet?” Her husband looks at his wife with a raised brow.

“I’m fine Night!” Her voice is shaky. “I’m just… a little overwhelmed…”

“Why?” Twilight asks as she steps up to her mother. Her element lets out a soft hum.

Her mother looks down at her daughter and runs a hoof through her mane. Twilight can feel the how badly her mother’s nerves are shot by how bad her hoof is shaking.

“I’m just… I thought I would be ready for this day… When you’d show up… all grown up, a young mare… a… a warrior.” Her mother fights back a sob. “I still can’t believe the elements chose you!”

Twilight feels tears swelling around her eyes. “They chose me for a reason…” She buries her face in her mother’s chest. “I don’t know why… yet?”

“I tell you one day…” The element of Magic speaks out loud in Twilight’s mind.

Twilight ponders the element’s words, but she quickly puts it in the back of her mind. She would have to press her element on the matter. “But I know that I will always be your little filly!”

Her mother returns her gesture with a hug. “I know…”

Night Light looks at his wife and daughter with a growing smile. “I think having something to eat will make us feel a lot better.”

Twilight and her mother break their hug. “I that sounds good.”

“What are you hungry for?” Her father asks.

“I would love the cabbage stew you would always make for me when I was sick.” She smirks at her mother.

Her mother chuckles. “Are you sick?” She asks as she wipes her eyes of clear of lingering tears.

Twilight gives a fake cough. “Maybe?”

Night Light laughs. “She’ll make it for you!” He wraps his arm around his daughter’s neck, pulling her into a hug. “Besides, I like it too.” He gives his wife a sly smirk. She just rolls her eyes as she heads into the kitchen.

They follow after her.

“So, what are your plans?” Night Light asks as he helps his wife with lunch. “Now that you have two weeks to yourself?

Twilight takes her seat at the kitchen table and ponders his question. “Well…” She taps her chin with a hoof. “I’m… I don’t know?”

Her parents stop in their tracks. “What?” They look at their daughter. “That’s unlike you sweetie?” Her mother states, playfully raising her brow.

Twilight blushes. “I guess I was so caught up on getting home…” She rubs the back of her neck. “I know I want to visit my old friends and Shining.”

“I think you should make it a surprise.” Her father states. “Imagine you showing up to the military base he’s at!” He laughs. “Your brother will flip out!” His wife nods her head, holding in her laughter. Twilight joins her parents her own laughter filling the room. Even her element joins in with soft hums of its own.

Pinkie watches countless rock formations pass her by as she looks out the train window she sits by. She sighs as she places her right elbow on the window trim, resting her head in her hoof. Her blue eyes lock onto a lonely cactus in the middle of the high desert, all alone; its closest neighbor being a small rock about a hundred and fifty yards away.

The train and its cars bob, its wheels grinding against the train tracks that conform to the hilly Appaloosan landscape.

She steadies herself as the train rights itself, hearing the wheels of her car thud, then return to a metallic humming, she leans back in her seat, all the while keeping her gaze on the passing landscape.

Her element hums.

“Mmm?” Breaking her gaze, Pinkie looks down at her element, eyeing its soft blue glow. “What is it?”

Her element buzzes.

Pinkie huffs as she resumes looking out the window. “I just wish the train would go faster…” She grumbles, brushing her long bangs from her eyes, laying them behind her right ear as she looks at the interior décor of the car for the fifth time this day.

The car is a government car, the royal family’s shield is on either side and directly in the middle. At each end of the car is the Equestria flag, its symbols of the sun and moon shining down upon three figures, one an earth pony, pegasus and a unicorn carved into the fine cherry oak siding making up the interior. Rich ruby red curtains adorn each window. The seats are made of oak, lined with red velvet fabric, stuffed with cotton, making them comfortable enough for long rides.

The occupants of the train car are predominantly military personnel, senators of the ten territories of Equestria and various government employees. Sighing, she looks at the end of the train car that’s in front of her and sees two royal guards standing post. Looking behind her, she sees two more guarding the other end. One of the guards notices her and gives her a small bow. Returning the gesture, she sulks in her seat and stares at the lamp above her head, eyeing its green lampshade.

Still sensing her dull mood, her element lets out another hum.

Pinkie moans out a hum. “Oh…”

Her element hums in confusion.

Pinkie grunts as she sits up, placing her hooves in her lap. “I’m okay…”

Her element grumbles as it glows bright. It sends its magic through Pinkie’s body, causing her to twitch and shiver. Her eyes glow bright blue and her body goes limp, falling on her seat……

“Ow…” Pinkie groans as she rubs her head. Her body shiver as she feels sterile air washing over her. Opening her eyes, she finds herself standing in a field of grey grass surrounded by vast white nothingness. Feeling someone or something behind her she grumbles as she turns around. “What was that for?” She glares at her element floating behind her.

“Because you’re not telling me anything!” The element of Joy grumbles as it floats around its bearer.

Pinkie eyes the blue crystalline version of herself. “Sorry…” Her element’s tone was harsh, almost metallic sounding. “I didn’t want you to worry…”

“Really?” Her element raises its brow. “Like I can help it! I’m connected to you, don’t you remember?”

“Yes… I remember…”

Her element sighs. “What’s wrong little one?”

Pinkie looks at her element. “I’m worried my parents will think of me differently.” She stares at her element, looking into its bright blue glowing eyes.

Her element lets out a long sigh. “They will not think of you differently. You are their daughter…”

“I think they will…” A darker sounding version of the element of Joy laughs. “How can they not?”

The element of Joy glares at the void. “Return your realm Despair!” it growls. “You do not belong here!”

The dark voice grumbles. “But I do, we three belong as one and you know it!”

Pinkie stares at her element and the void with wide confused eyes. Her element growls as she looks at Pinkie. “You’ll be fine little one…” Blue aura surrounds Pinkie. “Now enjoy the time with your family…” It looks at the void. “I must attend to our other half…”

A gut-wrenching sensation radiates from Pinkie’s stomach as the white void fades around her, morphing back to reality. A quick flash of blue washes over her eyes before she can see again. She finds that she’s laying down on the train seat. Ponies are looking down at her studying her predicament. “Uh…” Her cheeks blush. “Are we at Dodge Junction?”

An old stallion in his mid-eighties looks out the window. “Yes, little one, we are about to pull into the station…”

“Are you alright bearer.” A senator of the northern regions asks.

Blushing even more, Pinkie sits up and grabs her saddle bag. “Yes… Thank you for asking…” Feeling the train coming to a halt, she stands up and quickly thanks the occupants of her train car for looking over her during her little… uh, episode. Leaving the car, she steps off the train and onto the train station’s wooden platform.

Feeling the steam gently washing over her, Pinkie takes a deep breath and lets out a long sigh. “I’m almost home…” She looks out over the bustling iron mining town. Seeing ponies stopping their tasks to look at her, she gently waves and makes her way off the platform.

“Alright let the bearer have her space!” The sheriff shouts, waving ponies away. Looking at Pinkie his gives her a tip of his hat. She giggles and gives him a small nod.

Several yards away from the train station, Pinkie makes her way over to a taxi station and steps up to the booth. “Hello?” She calls out, looking into the booth. She sees a stallion in is late sixties sleeping the morning away. “Mr. Dingo!” She shouts his name, as she recognizes him.

“Uh, What! Who?!” Mr. Dingo wakes up from his nap. “Who is it!” He looks out his booth’s window as sees a teen filly, with pink fur and a long straight magenta mane staring at him with her bright blue eyes. “Hello… Little one…” He notices a blue crystal sticking out of her chest. “Element Bearer?!” He studies her further… Pink fur? Magenta mane? Blue crystal? “Pinkamena!?” He sits up. “I thought you would not be back until you turned twenty-five?”

Pinkie giggles. “I’m back Mr. Dingo!”

Mr. Dingo smiles as he sits back in his chair. “So, why are you here?”

“The Royals gave us element bearers two weeks to visit our families.” Pinkie smiles.

“Breaking tradition?” He eyes her with a raised brow.

“Well…” Pinkie gives him a sheepish smile. “Since this is the first time the elements chosen children, the royals believe it will be good if we at least have some semblance of a childhood.”

The stallion laughs. “Well let me guess, a one-way ticket to Rock Cove?” Pinkie nods. “Well then, let’s go surprise your family!” He gets up and steps out of his booth. “Let me personally take you. My numb-nuts of a staff can handle operations while I’m gone…” He looks over at his employees failing to put on a new tire on a putter-car. “I hope…” He mutters.

Pinkie laughs at his expression. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

Dingo looks down at her and gives her a smile. “I hope you’re right… Come one let’s get going.”

The ride to her small hometown of Rock Cove is short. Her conversation with Dingo was a fun one, she quickly filled him in of her life at the Castle in Canterlot, the other element bearers and their personalities, her new magical skills she learned from her element, and what’s it like living with her element.

“Well that’s quite a life you’re living Pinkamena.” Dingo states as they pull into town. Getting close to her home, he parks his putter-car and pulls on the e-break. “Well this is your stop.”

“I see you stopped a few feet from my house.” Pinkie gives him a knowing smirk.

“I knew you want to make it a surprise.” Noticing some of the town folk mulling about, truing their gaze towards his vehicle, he bites his cheek. “Looks like you’re going to have to make it quick. The towns out and about.”

“I know…” Pinkie notices some of her old friends in the small gathering. They notice her and giver her wide-eyed stares. “I figured the town will want to celebrate later on.” She gives the old stallion a smile. “Thanks.” She says while grabbing her saddle bag.

Dingo smiles. “No worries… Tell your parents I said hi!” He waves, watching her get out of the putter-car.

She waves back, watching him pull away.

Alone, she looks back at the growing crowd. At this rate the whole town’s population of only fifty residents will be out. No doubt wanting to meet their town’s celebrity resident. But to her surprise, they keep their distance and only wave, nodding their heads as if telling her to get a move on. Pinkie blushes and waves to them as she makes her way to her home.

Her element silent during her trip from Dodge junction to Rock Cove finally speaks.

‘Yes, they are an interesting bunch.’ Pinkie replies eyeing the familiar and unfamiliar faces. She notices a colt two years older than her standing in the crowd. His white fur and grey mane stand out from the crowd. But its his bright emerald eyes that draw her attention. The colt gives her a smirk and a friendly wave. She blushes and waves back.

Her element feeling her flustered emotions buzzes.

“Uh…” She breaths out loud as she nears her home. ‘He's just an old friend of mine…’ She tells her element as she stops in front of her home’s front door, eyeing the old stained oak door and its bronze handle and hinges.

Her element grumbles.

‘No!’ Pinkie blushes as she looks over her shoulder at the crowd, eying the colt. ‘He’s just a friend!’ She turns her attention to her element, seeing it giving off a constant glow she sighs as she steps up to the porch. Looking over her shoulder once more, she notices the crowd returning to their tasks. Smiling she turns her attention back to the door. Before she gives it a knock, she feels her body shiver. ‘I’m finally home…’ She gives it a knock.

“I got it!” Pinkie hears her sister, Limestone on the other side. The door swings inward. “Yes, what do you… P-Pinkie…!”

Pinkie feels her warm tears rolling down her face. “Hey Limestone…” She sobs. “I’m… I’m…!” Limestone pulls Pinkie into a hug, squeezing the life out of her. “Lime…stone… I can’t breathe…”

“MA! PA! Pinkie’s home!” Limestone shouts. “Maud! Marble! Get your flanks over here!”

Pinkie hears the frantic hoof steps getting louder as her family members enter the living-room. She sees her mother and father standing in the doorway that leads to the kitchen/dining room. “PINKIE!” Marble and Maud run towards her, joining Limestone in squeezing the life out of her.

“Okay fillies let her breathe.” Their father states as he and his wife walk up to their daughters. Looking down at Pinkie he gives her a smile. “How’s my little filly?”

Pinkie rubs her eyes. “I’m fine!” She giggles. “Now that I’m home.” Her father and mother look at her element, studying its blue glow. Pinkie notices them staring at her chest. Feeling the warm glow of her element, she places a hoof on it. “It’s saying hello to you, all of you.” She looks at her family with a smirk.

“It can talk?” Her mother asks, tilting her head to the side. “But I don’t hear anything?”

Pinkie bushes. “Well Ma, sometimes you can hear buzzing or humming, but right now it’s just glowing.”

Limestone stares at her sisters’ element with a raised brow. “Well…” She rubs the back of her head, her cheeks red. “I guess… Um, hi!” She waves. “Can it understand me?” She gives her sister a bewildered look.

Pinkie giggles at her sister. “Yep!” Limestone blushes some more and pushes her sister playfully.

Pinkie rolls her eyes and gives her mother and father a hug. “I missed you so much!”

“We missed you too.” Her mother hums.

“Are you here for good?” Limestone asks as she taps her hooves together. Marble nods her head vigorously, asking the same thing.

Pinkie breaks her hug and looks at her sisters. “No… Only two weeks.”

Her parents’ smiles fade at the mention of the news. Limestone and Marble lower their heads in defeat. Maud who stands stoic behind her sisters only sighs at the news. Looking out the front door window she sees several of the town’s ponies watching their home from afar. She smirks slightly. ‘These two weeks will be one heck of a ride.’ She tells herself. “Let’s make the most of it.” She smiles at her family.

The family nods.

“Like always Maud, you know how to make the most of a situation.” Their father smirks. Maud blushes and stares at her front hooves.

“You hungry?” Their mother asks.

Pinkie feels her stomach growl. “Uh…” She sheepishly giggles. “Always.” Her element groans in her head. ‘Shut up! You know I cannot turn down a meal… especially when it’s my Ma’s cooking!’ She chastises her element. Her element rolls its imaginary eyes. ‘I won’t eat to much…’ She looks into the kitchen. “What’s on the menu?”

Her mother giggles. “Well I’ll think of something… What did you have in mind?”

Rarity and Applejack sit in the back of a putter-wagon as it drives along the cobblestone road that cuts through the Neighing Valley towards two large trading towns of Ponyville and Horseshoe Meadows along the Winy Creek river.

Looking out her passenger side window, watching the passing trees and multiple-prismatic flowers, Rarity gives a sigh as she buries her head in her hooves. Noticing a street sigh, she squints her eyes and reads it from afar. ‘Ponyville in three miles.’ Her eyes light up. She gasps. “Applejack, we’re almost there!”

Applejack looks down the road and sees the silhouette of their hometown in the distance. “I see it!” She smiles at her friend. “You excited?”

“Oh, darling! Being excited is an understatement!” She claps her hooves together. “Oh, I want to hug my parents… And see my baby sister!” She bites her hoof. “I hope she’s not afraid of me?”

Applejack smirks, but it soon fades as she thinks the same thing. “I know how you feel.” She looks down at her element. “I hope we can have a normal relationship.”

Rarity looks at the earth pony. “I know… But not to sound like a Debby downer, but I highly doubt it. We’re element bearers, we’re famous.” She huffs. “We’re big news.” She frowns. “I have no doubt that once we’re se settled in with our families the press will be all over us asking all sorts of questions.”

Applejack feels her stomach twist itself into knots. “I hope the Royals do something about that.”

“You know they can’t, and wouldn’t. Freedom of speech and all that.” She giggles. “We’ll just have to lay low.”

“Like spies!” Applejack says in a low voice. They look at each other with goofy grins before bursting out into laughter. Feeling their bearer’s joy, their elements glow joining in on the laughter.

As they laugh, the putter car pulls into Ponyville, making its way through the quite streets, it makes its towards the outskirts of downtown. Turning left off of a main street, it drives down a small humble road and pulls alongside several rustic Germanic looking apartment buildings. Rarity’s body shivers as she sees her home. “Well, looks like you made it.” Applejack quips giving her friend and fellow element bearer a smirk.

Rarity looks back at her friend. “I guess so…” She hears the driver get out of the vehicle.

Her passenger side door opens revealing a tan furred stallion with a grey mustache bowing for her. “Welcome home element bearer.” He extends a hoof. Rarity hugs Applejack before taking the stallion’s hoof. Stepping out of the putter-wagon, she takes a deep breath and enjoys the sweet smells of nearby flowers carried by the winds washing over the town. “May I get your saddlebag?” The stallion asks. Rarity nods. The stallion opens the trunk of the wagon and pulls out her bag.

Taking her luggage, she waves to Applejack until she sees the putter-wagon turn right, disappearing behind a shop on the corner.

Smiling, she looks at her surroundings. Seeing that the sidewalk she stands on is bare of ponies mulling about, Rarity gives a hum and makes her way makes her way up the steps of her apartment and goes inside.

Entering the lobby, a strong musty smell assaults her senses. ‘I forgot how old this place is…’ She tells herself as she rubs her snout. Her element blinks as it smells what she’s smelling. ‘Yes, this place might need a makeover…’ Seeing the front desk she walks up to it and looks over the counter. A mare sits in a worn wooden rolling chair, sleeping the day away. Her blond mane covering her eyes as she leans up against the filing cabinet on her right.

Smirking at the mare, Rarity sees the ledger and gently scoots it over to her. “I’ll just help myself…” Even though this was her childhood home, her younger self never took the time to remember the number of her apartment. Looking for familiar name, she smiles as she finds it. “Apartment number 214…” She giggles heading up the stairs.

Getting to the second floor, Rarity makes her way to room 214. Eyeing the worn metal numbers on the door, she smiles, setting down her saddlebag next to her. “I’m… Home...” Shivering from excitement, she gives the door a hurried knocking.

“Honey are you expecting any-pony?” She hears her mother’s thick ‘Boston accent’ sounding voice on the other side of the door.

“No…” She hears her father. Her body shivers more. “Sweetie Belle can you check who’s here?”

She hears a young filly groan. “Okay…”

Hearing her sister nearing the door, Rarity takes a long breath and calms her nerves. The door opens revealing a six-year-old unicorn filly standing before her. Her white fur shines brightly in the light of the dining room ceiling lamp. Her greyish-mulberry mane is a curly mass of fluff hugging the sides of her face. Her tail is the same. Her light-green eyes stare dully at her, but as the seconds pass, her eyes go wide in shock. Rarity fights backs a sob as she looks at her baby sister. “Hello Sweetie Belle. It’s me, Rarity, your big sister.”

Sweetie Belle moves her shocked gaze from her sister’s face to her chest and eyes her purple hued element. “AH!” She screams slamming the door.

Rarity lets out a long sigh as she hears her sister’s little hooves clopping along the hardwood floor. “Really?” She groans. She can hear her element laugh in her head. ‘Very funny!’ She chastises.

“Sweetie Belle what’s gotten into you?” She hears her mother walking up to the door. “That’s no ways to great a guess…” Her mother opens the door, her voice lodges itself in her throat as she lays her eyes on her daughter. “Rarity?!”

“Hello mother.” Rarity smiles. Before she could say more, her mother pulls her into a hug.

“Oh, my baby’s home!” She kisses her daughter’s cheeks. “Hoofington get your flank over here!” Her mother shouts.

“What!? I’m coming, what’s with all the commotion?...” An earth pony stallion with white fur walks into the front room. “Oh, dear sweat heavens!” Her father’s eyes going wide. “Rarity?! Pumpkin?” He laughs hugging his daughter in a tight embrace, squeezing all the air from her lungs.

Her mother runs her hoof through her daughter’s mane, scratching her behind the ears. “How’va been sweetie?”

Rarity goes limp in her father’s arms. “I fine…” She huffs. “I would love to breathe…”

Her father ends his hug. “Sorry about that Pumpkin.” He gives her a sheepish grin.

Rarity rolls her eyes and playfully jabs her father’s shoulder. “It’s alright father…” Noticing Sweetie Belle peaking around the hall’s corner, she softens her expression and smiles at her sister. “Hello Sweetie Belle.”

“Sweetie Belle.” Her mother says, noticing her youngest. “Come see your big sister!” She coos.

Sweetie Belle slowly reveals herself and stands before her family members. Her head hangs low. Her eyes never leaving her sister’s chest. Noticing where she’s looking, Rarity places a hoof on her element, eyeing its purple glow.

Her parents realize what’s going on and look at the element as well. “Oh…” Her mother quips. “It looks really lovelies on you dear.” Her mother studies its diamond shape and its puling glow.

“Interesting shape it’s taken.” Her father chuckles. “I’ve been studying up on the past element bearers who bore the element of Generosity.” He gets closer to her elements, rubbing his chin, giving it a funny look. Rarity rolls her eyes at his playful behavior. Even Sweetie Belle gives a small chuckle. “Usually the element of Generosity formed into rounder shapes.” He smirks at his daughter, messing her mane. “Seems like you’re special!”

Rarity feels her element buzz. ‘Really? I’m special…’ She looks at her father. “I think it agrees with you.”

“I-It can talk?” Sweetie Belle asks as she tilts her head to the side.

Rarity looks at her sister. “Yes.”

Sweetie Belle frowns. “But I only heard buzzing!”

Rarity giggles. “I can only hear it speak; others just hear what you heard.” She feels her element buzz once again. ‘Sound like a great idea.’ She replies. “Do you want to feel it when it speaks?” Her sister’s flat ears go erect. Timidly she steps up closer to her big sister. Closing the distance, Sweetie Belle reaches out and places a hoof on the element. She gasps as she feels the warmth radiating off it. “Listen.” Rarity hums as she places a hoof on her little sister’s shoulder.

The element blinks and begins humming a tune.

Sweetie Belle giggles as she feels the vibrations run up her arm.

Their parents smile as they watch their children interact with one another for the first time in a long while.

Applejack feels a cold sweat roll down her forehead as she sees the sign to her family’s orchard in the distance. She begins to shiver uncontrollable as the putter-car closes the distance. Her element blinks, humming a low tune. “Sorry sugar-cube, just excited!” Applejack reassures. Her element blinks several times before warming up. Applejack’s shivers subside, a little, enough for her to take back control of her body. “Woah nelly, I didn’t know how bad my shivers were…”

The putter-car sharply turns left, up the small dirt road going up the hill. Seeing her family’s farm’s sigh in all its glory. “Applejack taps her hooves waiting for the vehicle to come to a stop.

Breaks engage forcing her to hold out her hooves to catch herself. Her passenger side door opens. “Here we are… Somepony’s excited.”

“Shoot mister, you have no idea!” Applejack mess with her braids.

“Well in that case, I shouldn’t keep you waiting.” He hands her saddlebag and bows. Applejack returns the bow and watches him get into his vehicle and drive off.

Taking a deep breath, she looks towards the humble plantation house on the hill overlooking Ponyville. Her childhood home is a one-story tall, Germanic styled farmhouse with dark oak beam trimming breaking up the white plaster. A two-story barn made of oak and topped with a galvanized steel roof sits several yards away. Hearing the faint squeaking of the small windmill, she turns her attention to it and watches its blade turn slowly in the thick humid breeze.

Feeling tears swelling around her eyes, she sniffles and wipes them away, regaining her composure. Taking her first steps, she ascends the dirt tail up the small incline to her home.

She sees several figures through the kitchen and living-room windows. Watching their silhouettes move about doing whose knows what. One of the figures stop in their tracks. She can barely make out what the figure is doing. It could be looking out the window or looking through a cupboard… Seeing the figure dart out the kitchen, Applejack feels her spine tingle as she hears the screen door slam open. A mare in her late-thirties stands on the porch. Her curly orange mane hugs her face and hangs pass her shoulders. The tip of her curly tail touches the ground. Her light-peach fur stands on end as she stares at her with wide cyan eyes.

Before she can make heads or tails as to what happened. The mare tackles her and gives her an ‘Apple Family’ bear hug. “Oh! Applejack! My little filly’s home!” Applejack melts in her mother’s arms as she returns the hug. Looking over her mother’s shoulders, she sees her other family members exiting the house. Her emotions finally let loose their full fury. Tears pour down her face as she buries her face in her mother’s chest. “Oh, shh…” Her mother coos. “You’re home…”

“Homes my sugar cube?” Her father asks as he sits behind is wife, stroking his daughter’s scalp.

“I’m good!...” Applejack mumbles through her tears. Breaking from her mother’s embrace, she hugs her father. After a big hearty squeeze, she looks at her siblings. “Macintosh!” She laughs hugging her brother. “You’ve gotten big!” She laughs. Her brother gives a deep hum as he returns the affection. Seeing her baby sister look at her with curious yet hesitant eyes, Applejack breaks her head and walks up to her baby sister and opens her arms. “Hey Applebloom.”

Applebloom unsure of what to do stares at her sister. “Uh… Hi…” She stares at her element watching its yellow glow pulse at a soothing rhythm.

Silence takes hold as an awkward standoff occurs.

“Applebloom.” Their mother eyes the element, studying its glow. Closing her eyes, she puts her own reservations aside. “Give your sister a hug…”

“It’s so cool!” Applebloom shouts as she skips around her sister. “I’ve been telling all my classmates that my big sis is the bearer of Honesty!” She giggles. “I also have a friend whose sister is the bearer of Generosity!” She shivers.

Applejack laughs. “That would be Rarity…” Her parents and Macintosh chuckle as they watch Applebloom bounce around.

Her giggling however, dies down. Her ecstatic demeanor fades, replaced by sorrow. “I… I…” Applebloom stares teary eyed at Applejack. “I wanted to see you for so long!” She sobs… “I… I…” She wails, her hot tears watering the grass beneath her hooves.

Tears begin pooling around Applejack’s eyes as she stares at her distraught sister. “Bloom…” She pulls her sister into a hug. Nuzzling her cheeks with her muzzle. Macintosh sighs as he strokes his baby sister’s scalp.

Their parents look at their children, proud of their gentle nature. Looking at their home. Their mother claps her hooves as she looks at her children. “I think we’ll all feel better if we have some apple pie.”

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walk down the grand dense cloud steps of Cloudsdale International Blimp-port. Many of their adoring onlookers bow, some cheer, while others watch them from a distance, giving them friendly nods and or waves. The bearers acknowledge their friendly gestures as they make their way towards the taxi station a few yards from the blimp-port’s station.

“You alright Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash asks looking at her friend. “You’re shaking like a leaf.”

“Um… Sort of… I just want to get home…” She mumbles, her eyes staring at the large crowds around her with dread. Her element gives a dull glow. “I mean, I don’t mind ponies giving us attention, but I not, well you know the outgoing type…” She murmurs, blushing when she sees a colt her age giving her a flirty smirk.

“I hear you…” Rainbow Dash frowns at the colt. “I like the attention, but right now all I care about is getting home and seeing my parents!” Fluttershy only nods, but Rainbow Dash notices that her demeanor uplifts a little as they near the taxi booth.

Stepping up to the booth’s window, Rainbow Dash gives the window a knock. “Hello!” A stallion peaks his head out. “What can I do for…” He sees their elements. “Element bears… Ah element bearers.” His eyes go wide. “Well welcome to my humble booth. What brings you back to Cloudsdale?”

Rainbow Dash smirks at the stallion. “To see our families.”

“Ah…” The stallion returns the smirk. “Are you going to the same place?”

They shake their heads. “No, I’m going to 453 Goldie Road and she’s going to 111 Feather Drop Drive.” Rainbow Dash states.

The stallion types on a typewriter. “Okay,” He yanks down on lever and two tickets pop out onto a try next to him. “Here are your tickets.” Rainbow Dash rummages through her saddlebag looking for the right number of bits. “Don’t worry bearer, it’s on the house.” He smiles.

“Really?” Rainbow Dash questions.

“Yes, why its not everyday an element bearer, let alone two of them show up asking for taxi rides.” He laughs.

“Why thank you.” Fluttershy gives the stallion a smile.

“No problem little missy.” The stallion, waves to them as they leave. “Be safe!”

“We will!” Rainbow Dash shouts as Fluttershy and her make their way over to the waiting area under a rather large brick tree.

“Well this is it.” Fluttershy hums. “Were going home.” She smiles at her friend.

Rainbow Dash smiles back. “Yeah…” She fidgets with her front hooves. “You nervous?” Fluttershy nods. “How do you think our parents will react with they see us?”

Fluttershy giggles. “That they love us dearly.” She laughs. “And I thought I was the nervous one?”

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes. Seeing a putter-taxi drive up. She sighs and stands up. “Well here we go.” Fluttershy does the same.

Fluttershy stares at the blue tinted cloud that makes up the door to her childhood home. With a shaky sigh, she looks at the flower garden surrounding the front of the house. She sniffs the air and enjoys the sweet-smelling aromas the flowers throw into the air. Shivering she looks at the door once again and gives it a knock. Hearing the door unlatch, she feels her spine tingle as the opening door reveals a twelve-year-old pegasus colt. He stares back at her with his greyish-cerise colored eyes. “Hello Zephyr Breeze!” Fluttershy smiles, tears in her eyes.

Zephyr’s eyes go wide as he looks over his sister. Eyeing her green element, his mouth hangs agape.

Not liking the silence and scared that she may have broken her brother, Fluttershy waves her hoof in front of his face. “Zephyr?... YEEP!” He drags her into the house and hugs her tight.

“Fluttershy!” He cheers. “I’ve missed you so much!” Feeling her element’s warmth, he jumps back and stares at it with some hesitation.

“It won’t hurt you.” Fluttershy giggles, eyeing his defensive stance.

Zephyr tilts his head. “Does it hurt you?” He drops his stance and moves closer to get a better look at its heart shape.

Fluttershy shakes her head. “Sometimes it feels like it’s moving under my skin, but other than that, no… It’s just a part of me.” She taps her hoof on her element.

Zephyr smiles. “Mom and dad are out back!” He laughs grabbing her left-front-hoof preictally dragging her as he leads her through their home to the back of the house. Arriving at the large-sliding-glass-doors, Fluttershy sees her parents working in the garden in the corner of the yard. Her chest tightens and her body numbs. “Mom! Dad! Fluttershy’s home!” Zephyr shouts as he opens the sliding-glass-door.

Their parents drop their gardening tools and whip their heads around with such hast, Fluttershy and Zephyr sore that their heads would have popped off their heads and go flying across the backyard. Their parent’s gaze falls upon her and her element. She sees them studying her teenage form. Her tall thin body. Her long pink mane that hide half her face. Her long pink tail that kiss the ground. They study her element’s pattern and how well its heart shape conforms to her chest. “Fluttershy!” They speak, running up to her.

“Mom! Dad!” Fluttershy runs up to her parents and wraps her arms around them. “I’ve missed you guys so much!” Feeling her parents’ touch releases her emotions, causing her to cry them out onto their shoulders.

“Oh, Flutters, it’s alright.” Her mother coos. “You’re home… You’re home…”

“Safe and sound you hear.” Her father reassures her, patting her on the head.

Ending the hug Fluttershy looks at her parents and gives them a tear-filled smile. “Thank you…” Look over at her brother, she gives him a smirk. “My you’ve gotten big!” She giggles.

Zephyr rolls his eyes. “I am growing?” He groans playfully punching her shoulder. “The same goes for you…” He giggles. “I didn’t know sticks ran in the family?”

Fluttershy rolls her eyes. “Very funny…” She rustles his mane. “You dating some-pony, you hopeless romantic?”

Zephyr huffs, his cheeks blushing madly. “Really! After six years of being away and you ask that?!” He raises his arms in the air.

Fluttershy puts a hoof to her lips trying to control her laughter. “Because you’re easy.” Zephyr gently punches her arm again causing her to lose her footing.

Her parents shake their heads. “They haven’t changed…” Her father looks at her element. “Much…”

Her mother nods while she studies the element. “Fluttershy?”

“Yes, mom?” Fluttershy halts her playful bickering.

“How long did the royals give you?” She moves some of Fluttershy’s bangs away from her eyes, tucking them behind her ear.

Fluttershy plays with her right wing. “Two weeks.”

“Oh…” Zephyr pouts at the news.

“We’ll make the most of it.” Their mother states. “So, to get on the happier thoughts. How have you been?”

Fluttershy takes her mother’s words to heart and sits down on the grass. “Good. Gotten use to living with my fellow element bearers.” She messing with the ends of her mane. “Most days we just do a lot of training and studying.”

Her mother holds a hood to her lips. “They haven’t been too hard on you with your training?”

Fluttershy shakes her head. “No… But at the same time, they have to make sure we’re strong. Physically and mentally.” She giggles.

Her mother feels sick at the news. “Oh, I still can’t believe my little filly is an element bearer…” She stares at the element, watching it glow. “Does it hurt.”

“No…” Fluttershy giggles. “I’m fine mom.”

But…” Their father puts a hoof to her lips.

“I know your worried honey, so was I, but we have to let her be.” He looks at his daughter. “She a warrior after all.”

Fluttershy smiles.

Their mother gives a long sigh. Looking at her children she hums as she heads into the house. “You kids want some lemonade?” Fluttershy and Zephyr nod their heads, following their mother

Rainbow stands at the door to her childhood home. Her magenta eyes glares at its cloudy texture. Even though she’s a pegasus, it still amazes her that her race of ponies could bend clouds to their will. Molding them into durable building material. Shaking her body of the shakes and shivers plaguing her body, she takes a deep breath and knocks on the door.

“Coming!”

Rainbow Dash is taken back by the young voice on the other side of the door. “Wha?”

The door opens, revealing a five-year-old-filly standing before her. Her wings are small for a pony her age. Her orange fur is a frizzy mess and her purple mane and tail are wild. The filly’s purple eyes stare wide eyed at Rainbow Dash’s element. Her mouth hangs open in a position of awe and bewilderment “Ooh…”

Rainbow Dash tilts her head studying the little filly. “Uh… Hi.”

The filly breaks her attention on the element and looks up at Rainbow Dash. Her smile grows. “Sister!” She lunges forward and wraps her small arms around Rainbow Dash’s legs, giggling as she rubs her cheeks against them.

‘Sister?!’ Rainbow Dash questions. Her eyes staring at the filly in shock and udder, um well, confusion, anger, fear. Every emotion you can think of, she feels at this moment. Her mind spins as she tries to comprehend the filly’s words. ‘What’s going on?!’

“Scootaloo, I told you not to answer the door without mommy or daddy…?!” A mare in her late thirties chastises before her mind and eyes are drawn to Rainbow Dash. “D-Dash?!”

Her current worries fade for a moment as Rainbow Dash eyes her mother. She feels her chest tighten as she looks into her mother’s eyes, feeling the warmth and comfort they bring. “Mom! I’m…I’m home…!”

Her words are cut off as her mother pulls her into a hug. “Oh, my Dashie is home! You’re home!” She strokes her daughter’s mane.

Mushed in-between the two, Scootaloo squirms, working her way free of their unintentional grasp. “Guys!” She groans as she finally breaks free. “You s-squished me!”

They look down eyes her wild expression. Rainbow Dash’s mother giggles as she rubs her mane. “Sorry sweetie.” Rainbow Dash on the other hand, stares at the filly with a raised brow, her early thoughts rushing back. noticing her expression, Scootaloo returns it. Sigh at their sisterly standoff, their mother takes Rainbow Dash by the hoof. “We’ll explain everything.”

Rainbow Dash loosens her tense muscles and allows her mother to guide her into the house. Entering the humble abode, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and their mother walk into the living-room. “Honey! I have a surprise for you!” Her mother calls out.

They hear muffled sounds of objects falling over in the back rooms. “Did you get me that new wood carving set!” A stallion enters the living room. His prism hued mane is combed back and coated in gel. His yellow eyes are drawn to his eldest daughter. “Rainbow Dash?” He asks out loud in shock.

Rainbow Dash smirks at her father. “Hey dad…”

Her father laughs, “How are you squirt?” He rustles her mane.

“I’m good!” She giggles as she looks at her parents with tear filled eyes. Her parents smile, nuzzling her cheeks with their snouts.

“Ooh! Ooh! I just re-re-remembered! I have to-to show you s-something!” Scootaloo shouts as she heads to her bedroom. Rainbow Dash watches her disappear down the hall. Her brows raise in mild confusion as he hears frantic sounds of rummaging echoing back into the living room.

“Why don’t you sit down, Dashie…” Her mother sighs, noticing her expression. She motions towards the couch. Rainbow Dash sits down in between her parents, her eyes never leaving the hall. “So…” Her mother taps her front hooves, weary of her daughter’s thoughts. “About Scootaloo…”

“When did you adopt her?” Rainbow Dash gets right to the point.

Her mother looks down at her lap. “Two years ago.” She takes a photograph off the nightstand beside the couch. Rainbow Dash sees its a photo of her and her parents at the Wonderbolt’s air show. She’s five in that picture. “I know you’re confused and maybe even upset…” Her mother breaths in a sigh. “But without being able to talk to you, see you…” She looks into her daughter’s eyes. “I… We were so lonely.” Tears begin to swell around her eyes.

Rainbow Dash feels her element warm up. Chills run throughout her body. ‘I was gone for a long time…’ She tells herself. “I’m not mad.” She takes her mother’s hoof and rubs it.

Her mother smiles, her squinting eyes forcing tears to run down her face. “Thank you…” Her mother kiss her on the forehead. “We also adopted for other reasons.” She laughs. “We thought you’d would like to have a little sister.” She squeezes her cheeks. “A number one fan.” She giggles.

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes. “Like you guys weren’t that already.” She eyes her trophies on the mantle above the fireplace. Her mother looks at them and sheepishly smiles.

Her father shakes his head. “Dash?”

“Yes?” Rainbow Dash looks at her father.

His smile fades. “There are some things that you need to know about Scootaloo.” He lays his arm over her shoulders.

“What do you mean?” She asks, a tinge of worry coats her words. Her element buzzes a reaction.

Her father sighs a little as he looks at the element. “When we were talking to the adoption center, they mention that she came from a broken home.” He scratches the back of Rainbow Dash’s neck. “They told us very little, but what they would tell us is that her mother verbally abused her, and her father… her father physical abused her.” Rainbow Dash feels her father’s muscles tense up. “Something inside your mother and I told us that we needed to adopt her.” He looks at her and smirks. “Even though you’re a mighty warrior.” He points at her element. “We should at least do our part.” He laughs.

Rainbow Dash feels her chest tighten at the news. She looks down at her lap and frowns. ‘I feel guilty now.’ Her element hums, warming her. She closes her eyes. ‘Thanks…’ She smiles. “I’m glad you did…” She looks at her parents. “How has she been since moving in?”

Her mother takes her daughter’s hoof. “Oh, some days she’s been great. She’s a ball of energy! Loves building things with your father.” Her smile fades. “But other days she has outbursts and sleepless nights.” Her smile returns. “But she’s been a joy in our lives.” She giggles. “She doesn’t stop talking about you. She’s asked so many questions I swear she was writing an expose of you for the paper!”

Rainbow Dash snickers. “I hope not.”

“I found it!” Scootaloo runs into the living-room jumping up and down. Her small wings flapping rapidly. She giggles looking up at Rainbow Dash. “I-I made t-this for y-y-you!” She holds a piece of paper in her mouth. It’s a drawing of her, Scootaloo and their parents with large happy faces, drawn in crayon.

A feeling overcomes Rainbow Dash. It feels foreign to her, strange even. ‘Is this what it’s like to have a sibling?’ She asks herself as she takes the drawing and studies it.

“Do y-you like it?” Scootaloo shivers.

Rainbow Dash giggles. “Yes, I do!” She smirks. “I have to say you’re a great drawer!”

“Y-You think so?!” Scootaloo gasps. Rainbow Dash nods. Overwhelmed with excitement, Scootaloo runs around the couch. “YAY!”

“Scootaloo settle down.” Their mother follows her every move. “You’re going to work up an appetite.

Rainbow Dash feels her stomach growl. Her parents hearing her stomach’s roar, smirk. “Um… Can I have lunch.” She sheepishly smiles. “I’ve missed your cooking.” She looks at her father.

He laughs. “Of course! One deep fried hay sandwich coming right up!”

“Food!” Scootaloo cheers running into the kitchen.

Chapter 5

Luna sits on her balcony that overlooks the river cutting through the canyon floor below the peak the castle and its city is built into. Her horn is alight. Her magic’s blue aura pulsing as she mediates. Her ears flicker, swiveling in the direction of a noise coming from her room. Hearing the door open and hooves walking along the marble floor, she smirks. “Hello sister.”

“How did you know?” Celestia wonders, walking up to her sister. “What if it was Terren?”

“I just know.” She ends her meditation and looks at her sister.

Celestia rolls her eyes and sits next to her sister. “How are they?”

Luna hums. “Last I checked, they were fine.” She smiles. “Spending time with their families is all.” Celestia gives a sigh of relief as she looks up, watching the stars dotting the night sky flicker about. Luna giggles as she too looks up at the stars. “You worry too much.”

“You know why I worry for them.” Celestia glares at her youngest sister.

“I know.” Luna looks at her sister with a raised brow. “But they have only been gone for a day.” Luna frowns. “I swear Tia! Remember what mother and our sister Solis said about your anxiety? You need to remain calm.”

Celestia groans out a yawn, “I know…”

“Why don’t you sleep sister.

Celestia yawns again. “I will only if you promise to check up on them in their dreams.”

“I will Tia… Now go get some rest.” Luna chuckles. Celestia nods as she slowly makes her way to her chambers. Hearing her door shut, Luna sighs as she closes her eyes. “Oh, Tia you worry too much.”

-An Hour Later-

Crickets sing their nightly songs. Winds flows down the northern mountain slopes of Canterlot’s northern mountain range, washing over the town.

Celestia is sound asleep in her chamber. Her blankets wrap her in protective warmth. Her lips flap as she breathes softly. Her soft snoring fills the room. Spike sleeps at the foot of her bed, sleeping in a basket with a large down pillow acting as its mattress. The pillow consumes him as he lays on it in the fetal position. His breathing is shallow and his breath his warm.

A breeze colder than the last pours into her room. She shivers a bit as her face takes the brunt of the assault. She moans and rolls over, burying her face into pillow. Her mind still heavy with slumber.

Spike hums a soft tune, enjoying the cold air. Smacking his lips, he buries his face into his pillow and lets out a sigh of hot air.

A hissing moan softly passes of the room. A dark shadow figure lurks in the corner of the room. Its bright white eyes glare at Celestia with an unclear set of emotion or any emotion that anyone could pinpoint or confirm this creature’s state of mind. Slowly blinking its eyes, it slithers across the ceiling over towards Celestia’s bed. Dangling above her, its eyes melt into its tar like body as it begins dripping from the ceiling onto her. ‘I… Will… Achieve… Salvation…’

Celestia sits on her throne in the Grand Central Palace. A room made of rich cream marble, stained glass windows depicting important events in Equestria’s history. Large limestone crossings hold up the ceiling that stretches about thirty feet. Her gaze is upon six little fillies, their ages ranging from eight to nine. She looks at their chest and sees the Element of Harmony glowing their colors softly.

“Fillies settle down.” She commands. The fillies stop their conversations and look up at the royal. “Good, now,” She manifests a notebook. “Who remembers what lesson we are learning today?” Three hooves go in the air. “Rarity?”

“Um… We’re learning about Equestrian history?” Rarity states with confidence.

“No… That’s tomorrows lesson.” Celestia smirks. “Pinkie?”

“Ooh, we’re going to learn about, um… uh… I forgot.” Pinkie whines, hiding behind her long magenta mane. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy giggle at her facial expression.

Celestia shakes her head. “Oh, Pinkie…” She looks down at Twilight. “Twilight, do you know?”

Twilight shakes her head. “We’re going to learn about the third group of element bearers.”

Celestia nods. “Yes… That is the lesson, but that’s for later on in the day.”

“Then why did you ask us?” Rainbow Dash tilts her head to the side.

“Making sure you’re paying attention.” Celestia smirks.

“Then what are we learning?” Applejack ponders.

“We’re going for a walk.” Celestia stands up and walks down the steps to her throne and past the young element bearers.

The fillies’ elements light up. “A walk?” Twilight asks in confusion as she follows their mentor.

“Yes, a walk.” Celestia hums. “Just a walk…”

High above them, Luna watches as they leave the throne room. Her ghostly figure smiles. ‘She’s dreaming of them… That’s good to know… You keep dreaming sister.’ With giggle she leaves her sister’s dream.

Unknown to her, a black mass begins to slowly consume the throne room.

Sending herself back to her realm, ‘The Realm of Dreams’, Luna walks down the endless hall, passing many mirror-like doors. Stopping at one of these doors, she looks into it and sees a stallion dreaming of being a part of the opera. She looks into another and sees a mare dreaming of a vacation at the beach. Huming in content, she summons the doors to fly on past her.

‘Stop!’ The doors stop. Activating her horn once again, she summons the doors to close, leaving only six. ‘Time to get to work.’ Nearing one of the doors, she looks into it and sees a younger version of Twilight playing a game of cards with her friends. With a hum, she enters the dream.

“Minuette it’s your turn.” Moon Dancer states.

Minuette huffs looking at her playing cards she holds in her magic. Biting her tongue, she moans as she debates on what card to play.

“Minuette, it’s not rocket science.” Twilight mumbles as she lays her head in her hooves as she lies on her stomach.

“It is!” Minuette huffs. “I only have five mana cards!” She points at the cards on the ground in front of her.

Lyra looks at the trio with wide eyes as she chews her gum in silence. She looks at her hand and field and smirks.

“Just play something.” Moon Dancer huffs.

“Fine…” Minuette taps out her mana and plays a card.

Twilight, Moon Dancer, and Lyra look at the card. It’s a creature card, with five toughness and three health. Reading its ability, they see it has the ability to strike first in combat. Twilight frowns as she looks through her cards.

“Don’t stay out to late sweetie!” Twilight hears her mother shout.

“I won’t!” Her brother replies as he heads for the front door.

“Where are you going?” Twilight asks.

Shining Armor looks at his sister and her friends. “Hanging out with some friends from school.” He looks at their card game. “Who’s winning?”

“I am.” Lyra giggles.

“No, you’re not.” Moon Dancer retorts.

Shining rolls his eyes as he activates his magic. “You fillies have fun.” He smiles at his sister. “See you later Twily.”

“See you later Shine.” She waves, watching him shut the door. Hearing a content sigh, she looks to her right and sees Minuette looking at the front door with googly eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah…” Minuette giggles. “Your brother’s cute!”

Twilight’s face blushes. “Minuette! He’s my brother!” Hearing an older feminine laugh. Twilight looks over her shoulder and sees Luna standing behind her. Her friends look at Luna, their eyes staring at the princess lifelessly. “What are you doing here?”

Luna smiles. “Just checking on you.”

“Oh…” Twilight’s younger form morphs into her current self. Her element appearing on her chest. Her surroundings and ‘friends’ dissolve as her dream world transforms into a white void. “Is Celestia worried about us?”

Luna walks up to the teen filly. “Yes.” She sits down next to Twilight. “So, I told her I’ll just check on you.” She smirks. “So, one of your friends likes your brother, mmm?”

Twilight blushes. “Well yeah… But I’m not sure she still does… I plan on visiting them tomorrow morning, however.” She laughs. “So, I’ll let you know if she still does.”

Luna smiles. “So how has your first day being back home been?”

“Its been wonderful!” Twilight states with glee. “Oh! I’ve missed home. My mom made me, my favorite soup!” She smacks her lips, rubbing her belly. Her element glows. Twilight goes stiff for a moment as her element materializes from her chest.

“Let’s say she enjoyed it a lot.” Her element giggles leaning up against its bearer. Twilight blushes and looks away, staring at the white ground of the void.

Luna laughs. “Well I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” Twilight’s smile fades. “What wrong?” Luna asks.

“I just thought my brother was still living at home.” Twilight huffs.

“Which base is he located in?” Luna asks.

“He’s just on the outskirts of Canterlot.” Twilight smiles once more. “So, he’s not too far.” She giggles. “I can’t wait to visit him tomorrow.”

“You going to make it a surprise?” Luna asks. Twilight nods. “So how are your parents? Before I forget to ask.”

“They’re good.” Twilight hums. “They’re ecstatic to see me.”

“But not me.” Her element chimes in as it floats around them. “I think they’re still apprehensive of me.” Its white crystalline mane and tail flapping in the nonexistent breeze of the void.

“No, they’re not.” Twilight huffs.

“Of course, they are. Didn’t you see their faces when they looked at your chest?” Her element sighs. “They still can’t picture you as a bearer of the elements.”

“They’ll adjust to you being a part of her, element.” Luna reassures, watching the element float around them. The element sighs, agreeing with her. Her body flickering in and out of being.

“Luna?”

“Mmm?” Luna looks at Twilight.

“If you want to make your task easier, why not combine all of our dream voids together.” Twilight nods with a smile. “Like you’ve done before.”

Luna smirks. “That does sound like I good idea.” She activates her horn. Five spherical mass of magical energy surrounds them. They pulse and shimmer for several seconds before dispersing into dust, revealing Twilight’s fellow element bearers.

“Hey!” Pinkie whines. “I was having the best dream ever!”

“Was it about a mountain made out of different flavors of ice cream?” Applejack asks, giving the pink teen filly a knowing smirk.

Pinkie is silent as she tries to come up with a rebuttal. “Uh…” Her mouth hangs agape. “Yes…” She sighs in defeat. “But this time it was with whip cream and cherries!” She giggles. “And my sisters were there!”

Ignoring Applejack’s and Pinkie’s banter, Rarity walks up to Luna, Twilight and Twilight’s element. “Why did you summon us?”

Celestia is worried about you.” Luna states with a smile. “So, I’m making the rounds.

“When is she not?” Rarity’s element states as it manifests next to her. Its purple hued crystalline body shimmering in the void’s light.

Luna looks at the element of Generosity with a dull expression. “You know how she is.”

“I know.” The element of Generosity sighs dramatically. “But one day it’s going to cause her to have a heart attack.” It puts a hoof on its chest.

Applejack and her element walk up to the princess. “You can tell her that we’re fine.” She giggles. “Shoot if she wants to hear how we are I have a story to tell her.”

Luna smiles. “Tell me.” Her horn activates. “I’ll record it for her.” She looks all the element bearers. “How about all of you say something interesting that happened on your first day back.”

Applejack nods. “I guess I’ll go first.” Her and her element sits down with the others. “Well, after mah family and I hugged it out. We sat down and had some apple pie and hot cider as we spent the time to catch up.” She sighs remembering the moment. “Ha!” She laughs. “I told them about the time when Rainbow Dash, Pinkie and myself pranked you on your birthday!” She giggles.

“Oh yeah!” Pinkie snickers. “I remember that!”

Rainbow Dash and her element fall on their backs, laughing. “That was the best!”

Luna rolls her eyes. “Yes… How could I have forgotten about that…” She remembers her dark chocolate cake exploding in her face. “You fillies were hysterical…” she huffs. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity hold hooves to their lips. “Pinkie?” How was your first day?”

Pinkie settles down as she ponders her question. “Well, it was… Great!” She giggles. “Well when I got home, I was hungry, so my mother made lunch for my sisters and I. After we ate, I showed them some magic spells we were taught. Then they told me what happened in the six years since I’ve been gone. The I told them what happened. Then we went and got ice cream. Talked to some of the towns folk and then we sat around the fireplace, listening to Pa read the newspaper.” She finally takes a breath.

The element of Joy looks at its bearer with wide eyes, amazed by the speed at which she talked.

“You seen her talk that fast before.” The element of Kindness states with a smirk.

“I know, but it still amazes me.” The element of Joy stammers.

Luna chuckles as she eyes the element of Joy. “That’s quite a summary Pinkie... Rarity?”

Rarity smiles. “Well, when I first arrived my baby sister Sweetie Belle was afraid of me.”

“Really?” Applejack tilts her head.

“Yes, Applejack… But she soon warmed up and we had a wonderful evening as we sat around the table, having tea and cookies.” Rarity hums. “She was so excited to tell me about her school and your sister.” She points at Applejack.

Applejack smirks. “They’re best friends.” She looks at Luna.

Luna smiles. “Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy hums. “Well, nothing much happened… We just sat around the radio and listened to one of our favorite radio shows while we drank some hot chocolate.”

Luna smiles. “Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash looks at her element. Her element nods, its red crystalline body shimmering. “Um, so I have a sister.” Her friends and their elements stare at her in shock. Even Luna raises her brow. Silence falls over the group. “Uh… Fillies?”

“I think you broke them.” The element of Loyalty states, leaning in closer to its bearer.

Pinkie inhales dramatically. “THAT’S SO AWSOME!” She shouts, before squeezing the air form Rainbow Dash’s lungs.

“Pinkie… Can’t… Breathe…” Rainbow Dash wheezes.

“Pinkie let her breathe.” Twilight commands, laughing all the while. Pinkie lets her go and looks at her friends sheepishly.

“What’s her name?” Fluttershy asks as she skips up to Rainbow Dash. Her element following her all the while. “How old is she?”

“Her name is Scootaloo.” Rainbow Dash flaps her wings. “And she’s five.”

“What does she look like?” Fluttershy giggles to herself. “Does she look like your mother or father?”

“Neither.” Rainbow Dash states flatly.

“She’s adopted?” Rarity ponders.

“Yes.” Rainbow Dash rubs the back of her neck.

“How are you taking it?” Luna asks.

“I… Uh…”

“She’s alright.” Her element speaks for her. “She still a little apprehensive, but I can feel that deep down inside, she’s excited to be Scootaloo’s big sister.” The element of Loyalty looks back at its bearer with a smirk. Rainbow Dash blushes and looks away.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash, you shouldn’t be embarrassed, you should be happy.” Fluttershy coos. She sees tears are forming around her eyes. “Dash?” She places a hoof under her chin and lifts her head.

“I’m worried that I won’t be a good sister!” Rainbow Dash moans. “I don’t know where to begin!”

Twilight giggles as she walks up to her friend. “You have us to help you.” She states with a smile.

Rainbow Dash looks at her friends and sees them nodding.

“Shoot!” Applejack hoots. “I know my sister would like another friend.” She hangs her arm over Rainbow Dash’s shoulder. Her element does the same to Rainbow Dash’s. The element of Loyalty looks at the element of Honesty with an unamused expression. “Her and Sweetie Belle will help her get through the days when were gone, saving the day.”

Rainbow Dash’s lips slowly turns into a smile. “Thanks.”

“Hey fillies?!” Pinkie shouts, trying to get her friends’ attention.

“Yes Pinkie?” Twilight acknowledges.

“Since we’re all together, I want to run something by you, I just thought of!” Pinkie hums, rocking side to side on her flank.

Her friends look and her with raised brows. “Uh, tell us.” Twilight huffs.

“We should get our families together and have a huge picnic!” Pinkie smiles wide.

Her friends murmur, thinking to themselves.

“That sounds like a great idea!” Applejack claps her hooves. “Ooh! We should have it at mah place! We have a barn we can use to accommodate every-pony.”

As the fillies converse with one another, Luna activates her horn. ‘Elements, when they’re done, send them to their own dream realms.’ The elements nod, letting her know they understand. Smiling at the element bearers, she opens a portal and enters.

Arriving back to The Realm of Dreams, Luna takes a long sigh as she stretches her neck. “I have a long night a head of me…” Materializing a pocket watch, she looks at the time. “One o’clock in the morning! I’m cutting it close!” She calls several doors to appear before her. With a grunt she goes through one of them.

“What are these called?” Fluttershy asks.

Celestia looks down at the young pegasus filly and smiles. “They're lilacs.”

Fluttershy smells the flowers. “They smell pretty!”

Celestia smiles as she looks at the others. She sees Applejack and Rainbow Dash playing with the wispy branches of a willow tree by the pond’s edge. Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie are standing by the stream connected to the pond as they eye a frog sitting on a lily-pad. With a content sigh. She closes her eyes and takes a long breath. “Come fillies, we must head inside.” She sits in silence. She feels uncomfortable as the silence lingers. “Fillies?” She opens her eyes.

She finds herself in the center of a massive courtyard. A dense fog roams the landscape. A chill runs down her spine as a humid breeze washes over her and the surrounding landscape. “Fillies?” Celestia takes several steps forward. “Little… Ones…?” Her eyes are drawn to two lights in the distance. One red and the other white. “What?” She looks around, her heartrate increasing. Curious, she moves closer to the lights.

Nearing the lights, she can hear a feminine voice, sobbing. “What did we do wrong?” The voice exclaims. “We did nothing wrong!” Celestia hears a masculine voice growl. “Then, why! Why is this happening!” The feminine voice wails.

Closing the distance, Celestia sees the lights are attached to, two figures standing in the fog. Taking the final steps, the figures’ features come into focus. The white light is attached to a unicorn mare with light grey fur. Her green mane lays flat in the back and her bangs cover her eyes. Her green tail is long and thin. Her bright green eyes scream in agony as they look up at Celestia. The red light is attached to a pegasus stallion with silver-grey fur. His white mane and tail are short and wavy. His yellow eyes look at Celestia in shame.

“Clover?!” Celestia feels her heart skip a beat. “Axiom?!”

Clover crawls up to Celestia. “Please!” She cries. “What have I done wrong?!” Celestia sees her element’s glow flickering haphazardly.

“She doesn’t know!” Axiom hisses. Pounding his hoof against the limestone floor of the courtyard.

“She has to, AXIOM!” Clover spits. “She has to save…” Clover slowly turns to stone. Axiom stares at her in fear as he turns to stone as well.

Celestia trembles as she looks at her surroundings. “No…” She moans. “This nightmare must…”

“Mom!” Celestia feels her throat tighten as she hears the voice of a young colt. “Dad!” Celestia watches in horror as the stone statues of Clover and Axiom fade into dust. “Where are you?” She sees a small figure step out of the fog. The colt walks up to Celestia and stands before her. He’s a unicorn. His light-green mane and tail is wild and unkept. His white-grey fur blends in with the fog. “Hi!” The colt smiles.

Celestia stares into the colt’s yellow-green eyes. The colt stares right back. ‘No…’ Celestia cries in her mind as she sees the colt’s chest glowing white and red.

“What’s the matter?” The colt asks. Celestia tries to speak, but she feels like hooves are choking her neck. Her legs feel like they're supporting several tons. The colt tilts his head. “Can’t speak?” The colt smiles menacingly. Celestia sees his eyes light up white with red wispy light pooling along their outline. “I tried to make you understand!” The colt spits, his tone sounding cruel, yet defeated all at the same time.

Feeling a surge of courage work its way to the surface, she glares at the colt and grits her teeth. “I have always understood!” Tears begin to pool around her eyes.

The colt scampers back from her tone, “You never have!” The colt growls, regaining his composure. “I found out the truth!” The colt cries. “I found our path to salvation!”

“You were fed lies!” Celestia steps forward, stomping her hoof. The colt doesn’t flinch. Celestia steps back, her eyes growing wide with fear.

“They weren’t lies! He taught me everything! He showed me our future! Our evolution!” The colt shouts. A hot wave of energy pushes Celestia back, sending her tumbling across the ground. “Our salvation!” The colt deforms into a black mass. Its eyes appearing as white orbs, glaring at Celestia with reckless abandon. The courtyard shatters sending her flying into the air. “I’ll make you see!” The mass lunges upward, ingulfing Celestia.

“AH!” Celestia screams as she throws herself out of her bed. She crashes onto the floor. Her eyes look around, dazed and full of pain. Her limbs flail about. Her voice gurgles out as she chokes for air.

Spike wakes with a fright. “UH!” He looks around and sees Celestia writhing on the floor. “Princess!” He panics. Getting out of his bed, he runs over to his bag and rummages through one of the pouches. Pulling out a small black marble, he holds it out in front of him and blows hot green flames over it. The marble crackles and pops before vanishing in a cloud of smoke.

Not even five seconds after Spike used his magic, Luna and Terren teleport into Celestia’s chambers. “What’s the matter Spike… CELESTIA!” Terren shouts as he sees his sister seizing on the floor. He and Luna rush to her side.

“What’s wrong with her?” Spike cries.

Luna looks back at the small dragon and walks up to him. “Terren will help her.” She coos. Looking back at her brother, she sees that he’s holding Celestia’s limbs in his magic.

Standing over her, Terren stares into her eyes. He glares into her soul. Searching for the cause of her distress. Seeing a flash of darkness. Terren growls, calling another spell. “Leave her apparition!” He casts the spell, sending a beam of magic into Celestia. Her body goes stiff as her eyes and mouth open wide. Soon her body goes limp. “Sister?” Terren drops his magical restrains and gently lifts her head. He sees her eyes trembling.

“B-Brother?” Celestia mumbles as she shakes in fear.

Terren sighs. “I’m here...!” He sees a black tar like substance ooze out her eyes and mouth and pool on the floor around her head. He and Luna watch in horror as the blob of black goo slivers across the carpet floor towards the door. “Call the castle staff, I’m following it!” He growls.

Luna nods as she walks up to her sister, with Spike in her arms. “Oh, Tia…” She coos. “I’m sorry I didn’t since your distress.” She activates her horn.

“Luna?” Celestia chokes.

“Yes sister?”

“He… He… He’s back…” She cries. “He’s back!”

Terren follows the black tar creature as it jumps around madly. ‘Where are you going?’ He sees it crawl out one of the windows. With a grunt he teleports out of the hall. Teleporting in the air, he hovers over the garden courtyard searching for the blob. Seeing the creature crawling down the wall of the castle, he smirks, flying down to it.

Landing on the ground, the creature hisses in response. Terren raises his brow. “You’re upset that I’m still following you?” He asks. The blob hisses more as it contorts into itself. Its thin wispy tentacles smacking the ground as it moves away from the prince. “What’s the matter? You’re scared?” Terren laughs. The creature gives a hiss coated in panic. Terren chuckles, his smile leaves however as he sees its trajectory is aimed at the Chambers of the Elements. ‘So, you think you’ll find sanctuary there?’

Terren and the black-blob enter the chambers. He watches it scamper across the marble floor. To his surprise it stops in front of front facing statues. Looking at the statues, he sees that they are the ponies who bore the elements of Loyalty and Magic. Looking down at the creature he frowns. “What are you?!” The creature hisses back. “All you do is hiss! Speak with words!” The creature screams and rushes for the second chamber. "Where are you going?"

Running into the chamber he sees the black-blob slivering on top of the chest that once held the elements. Its hissing and screaming fills the air, as it tries to break the chest. “They’re gone creature!” The blob’s wispy tentacles snap back at him. Stepping back, Terren smirks at the creature. “You’re not a smart one, are you?” The creature screams. Bored of the creature’s antics, Terren activates his horn. “So long you foul creature!” He fires a searing hot beam of plasma. The creature wails in agony as it turns into dust.

Ending his spell, Terren scans his surroundings, searching for any remnants of the creature. Not seeing or sensing anything, Terren lets out a sigh. Activating his horn, he teleports to his sisters.

“How is she?” Luna asks the doctor monitoring Celestia.

“She is fine. But she lost a lot of fluids and sprained several muscles during her seizure.” The doctor sighs. “She needs rest. In the morning when she’s wakes we’ll check to see if she’s improving.” The doctor bows for the royals before leaving.

Alone, Luna walks up to her brother. “Are you alright?” He doesn’t respond. “Terren!”

Terren looks at Luna. “Sorry… Just been thinking.”

“About what she said?” Luna looks at her sister with worry.

“Yes…” Terren huffs. “I told her not to worry about the past.” He growls. “I let her get naïve!”

Luna frowns. “Terren this isn’t your fault!” She punches the tiled floor with her hoof. “Let’s not play the blame game!”

“Yes… I agree with Lulu!”

Luna and Terren see Discord’s floating head hovering over Celestia. “Discord?” Terren growls.

Discord looks at the irate price. “You think I take joy in this?!” Discord fully materializes. “I take pleasure in harmless pranks! If ponies cry from them, so be it! But this! I do not like seeing one of my old friends in such a state!” He looks at the royals, frowning all the while.

Luna nods her head. “My brother didn’t mean it.” Luna pats her brother on his shoulder. “You know how protective he is of his sisters.” Luna smiles at the two.

Terren softens his expression. “Sorry Discord.”

“Whatever…” Discord waves his talion. Looking back at Celestia, his sour face morphs into a solemn expression. “Will she be alright?”

“Yes.” Terren states. “But, I’m more worried about the creature I killed.”

“But you killed it!” Luna groans. “Why are you worried about it?”

Terren looks at his sister with a scowl. “Because it was pure dark mana!” He huffs. “I doubt it will be the last! I’m sure there will be another one like it!”

Luna sighs. “We’ll keep the guards on high alert.”

“I’ll keep a look out as well.” Discord states as he looks down at Celestia. “You two get some sleep, I’ll keep an eye on her.” Luna and Terren are hesitant, but they eventually give in and bow their heads in thanks.

In a dark corner in the back room of the Chambers of the Elements. A small quarter sized speck of black ooze vibrates as it slowly moves across the ground.

Chapter 6

Twilight sits at her mother’s makeup table, humming a tune as she brushes her mane. Her element glowing to the beat of her melody.

Twilight Velvet watches her from her bedroom’s doorway. She smiles at her daughter’s antics. Old memories surface causing warm feelings to wash over her. She closes her eyes, picturing her baby filly back at home, five years old, with no element, getting into her makeup table, her face covered in lipstick. ‘She was such a mess…’ She opens her eyes and stares at Twilight’s element, eyeing its ten-pointed-star shape.

Her pleasant mood fades as she keeps staring at the crystal. She had gotten a good look at it the other night when they sat around the dining table. Twilight even showed her the magic the element possessed. Seeing the element flicker, her thoughts fade with a sigh. ‘Why did you choose her?’ It blinks. ‘Of course, it can’t speak to me…’

“How do I look?” Twilight asks, playing with her mane.

Twilight Velvet turns her attention to her daughter. “You look beautiful sweetie.” She hums. “Excited to see your brother and friends today?”

“Very!” Twilight giggles. “I’m glad you didn’t tell him last night when he called.”

Her mother giggles. “Your father wanted to tell him so badly.” She sighs and looks at her element. “I know he’s seen your, um, element before, when he would sneak in to see you when he was still stationed in Canterlot.” She smirks at her daughter. Twilight blushes. “He said it was unique for sure…” Her expression goes flat again. “It’s just looks a little odd... In person you know. I’ve seen the statues and pictures, but…”

“Mother?”

“Yes?”

Twilight places a hoof on her element. “I know you’re not comfortable that I’m an element bearer...”

“No!” Twilight Velvet shakes her head. “I’m very proud that you’re an element bearer. It’s the highest honor a pony can hold in Equestria! And, I… Uh…” Her mouth hangs agape.

“And?” Twilight tilts her head.

“And… Oh…” Twilight Velvet hangs her head. “I wish you could live at home while you become Equestria’s mightiest warrior…” Tears well up, clouding her vision. “I still can’t picture my baby as a soldier!” She holds a hoof to her mouth. “Both my children are soldiers…”

Twilight’s ears fold back. “Mom…” She walks up to her mother and gives her a hug. “I will always be your little filly.” She hums, rubbing her cheeks against her mother chest.

Twilight Velvet returns the hug. “I know…” Twilight groans out an annoyed sigh. “What’s wrong?” Her mother asks, worry coating her voice.

“Oh… nothing, it’s just my element said something snarky!” Twilight frowns at her element.

“Really?” Her mother tilts her head. “What did it say?”

“It said, ‘now I know where you get your worrying from.’.” Her mother giggles. “Hey! You’re suppose to be on my side!” Twilight points a hoof at her mother.

“Its not wrong.” Her mother teases. “I remember when you participated in your school's science fair back in second grade…” Twilight blushes and rolls her eyes as she quickly heads for her room. “You stayed up all night working on… What was it…”

“Magnets! MOM!” Twilight groans as she walks up to her bed and picks up her saddle bag.

“Oh yes, you thought that they would fly away if you didn’t keep an eye on them.” Twilight Velvet laughs. “You were so tired…”

Twilight blushes even more as she hears her element laughing in her head. Eyeing the clock on the wall, she sees its 10:03 a.m. “Oh I need to go!” She rushes for the door. Hearing her mother cough however, forces her to stop and look back at her with a sheepish grin. “Oh yeah, I forgot…” She gives her mother a hug. “Bye mom!”

“Enjoy yourself, but don’t be to late.” Her mother gives her a smirk. “You’re still a young mare so I’m still giving you a curfew.”

“I’m fifteen, mom!” Twilight groans.

“Doesn’t matter.” Her mother laughs. “Now go before you burn daylight.”

“Fine…” Twilight moans as she opens the door. “?!” Before her stand two elite royal guards, wearing their formal uniform, consisting of a red beret, white dress shirt and black dress coat. An emblem of a pony’s skull holding a dagger in its jaws, wearing a dark-red beret on top of its head is embroidered on the right-side chest of their black dress coats. “Um… Hello elites…” She studies their stone-cold appearance. “What are you doing here?” Her ears lay flat against her head. It meant business when elites are called in. “What’s wrong?”

“By order of Prince Terren, we are to accompany you at all times while you are away from your place of residence!” The guard to her right speaks.

“Accompany me?” Twilight ponders.

“Twilight, who’s at the door? Oh!” Twilight Velvets eyes the guards. “Why are they here?”

“Prince Terren ordered them to accompany me…” She frowns. “What for?”

“If you think Terren is doing this to baby you element bearer, you’re mistaken!” The guard to her left huffs.

Twilight drops her scowl, just a little. “What’s the reason then?”

“There was an incident at the castle involving Celestia.” The guard on her right states.

Twilight goes pale at the mention of the Princess. “What happened?” Her mother places a hoof on her shoulder.

“None of your concern.” The guard on her right huffs.

“None my concern? I’m the bearer of the element of Magic, it is my concern!” Twilight shouts. Her element glows bright as a reaction to her tone.

“By order of Celestia herself, it is none of your concern!” The guard holds out a hoof to silence Twilight. “She wishes not to tell you the details of her indecent. She doesn’t want to cut your trip short.” The guard gives a sigh. “Even though I disagree with her decision, orders are orders, bearer.” The guard raise his brow. “You should know that by now.”

Twilight looks down at her hooves. “If she was hoping I or the others would just forget about this news, she’s mistaken.” She looks at the guards once more, her expression showing a hint of frustration.

“I understand bearer, but do it for her sake.” The guard on her left sighs. “She was very adamant that she will be able to take care of this matter herself.” The guard smirks. “They’ll be plenty of times for you to be a heroine.” The guard laughs.

Twilight huffs at the guard’s statements. “Fine… But I will write a letter to her about this.” She picks up her saddlebag. “Love you mom… I’ll be back by…”

“Ten. I know sweetie.” Her mother hums. “You just enjoy your time with your friends and brother. It seems like what ever happened to our princess, its nothing her and her siblings can’t handle.”

Feeling her element warm her chest, Twilight smiles and nods before heading down the hall. The guards bow for her mother before following after her. Her mother watches them head down the stairs to the lobby. With her daughter gone, she sighs and closes the door.

Heading down the steps of her apartment, Twilight breaths in the crisp morning air. Letting out a sigh she, secures her saddle bag as she watches ponies walking the street.

“Where to element bearer?”

Twilight groans. “If you two are going to be guarding me, I have to set some ground rules.” She stands in front of them giving them an annoyed frown. “Frist, you will call me by Twilight. Second you will give me your names, I don’t want to keep calling you elites, it’s to formal…”

“Woah… I need to stop you right there.” The guard on her right, holds up a hoof. “We can’t do that!”

“Why not?” Twilight huffs. Her element blinks in response to her mood.

The guard stares at her element for a second before answering. “Because that’s against protocol and tradition!” Twilight raises her brow. “Fine, just protocol.”

“Well,” Twilight gives a sly smirk, “If you’ve forgotten. I out rank you.”

The guard’s eyes go wide. His comrade nods his head as he pushes his lips to the side, giving her a pleased smile. “She’s right you know.”

The master sergeant frowns. “Fine…” He messes with his hat. “You can call me Zulu, and his name is Foxtrot.”

Twilight chews her cheek as she mulls over his words. She knows the names he gave her are not their real names, but it will do. “Thank you, Zulu.” She giggles. “As of to where we are going. We are heading to my friend, Minuette’s house.” Her element buzzes as she heads down the street towards her destination.

Zulu let’s out a drawn-out huff as he follows after her. Foxtrot finds it hard not laugh at his comrade. “Shut it, Foxtrot!” Zulu growls. Foxtrot zips his lip as he walks alongside Zulu both keeping pace with Twilight.

The walk to Minuette’s house was somewhat uneventful for Twilight. The first few minutes of the trek was peaceful for her and her guards as most ponies kept their distance. But as they got closer to the main street of her district, ponies mulling about on that street begin to gawk at her, some even followed her. Then the press came.

Even though she was mad that Terren wanted guards to watch over her, she was glad that they were with her at this moment to ward off the press. She never liked being the center attention. Even though she’s glad that the citizens of Equestria and its ten territories admired her and her fellow element bearers, she just wished they would treat her like a normal pony.

Finally getting to the steps of her friend’s apartment building, Twilight smiles as she eyes the black painted door. Walking up the steps, she looks at the call-box and reads the names on the list above the speaker. Seeing her friend’s last name next to the fifth button, she giggles and presses it. “Hello, this is Minuette, if you’re looking for my parents, they are at work and will not be home until five.”

“Hello Minuette. Its Twilight!” Static fills the air. A hint of dread fills Twilight’s heart. “Minuette?...!”

The door to the apartment complex swings open violently. Minuette stands before her. Her sapphire blue eyes stare wide, their pupils small like pin-needles. “T-Twilight?!” Her moderate-blue and light-light-Persian-grey mane waves in the breeze that blows down the street.

“Hey Minuette, I’m back…! AHH!” Twilight screams as Minuette pulls her into a bear hug. “Minuette! Can’t breathe!”

“Oh, I missed you so much!” Minuette giggles. Opening her eyes, she sees Twilight personal guards standing at the base of the steps. Their faces stout and stern. “Oh? Who are you’re friends?”

Twilight gasps for air as she looks at her guards. “They’re my personal body guards.” She gives them a smirk, “Meet Zulu and Foxtrot.” She snickers. Zulu frowns at her. Foxtrot bows for Minuette.

“That’s their names?” Minuette looks at her friend for confirmation. Twilight nods. “Weird names…” She smirks. “Well look at you rolling with security.”

“I didn’t want to…” Twilight huffs.

“Well you are a very important pony…” Catching a glare in the corner of her eye, Minute looks at the source and sees Twilight’s element softly glowing. “Is… That?”

Twilight smiles. “Yes, say hello to the element of Magic.”

“It knows how to communicate?”

“Yes. How would I be able to control its magic?” Twilight laughs.

“Well then… Hello!” Minuette waves. “Can I um, touch it?” She gives a sheepish smirk. Twilight nods. She places her hoof on the element. A strong overwhelming sense of calm stimulates her senses. “Woah!” She pulls away. “That’s so… strange. Do you feel that too?”

“Yes.” Twilight laughs.

“Oh… Duh… Of course.” Minuette laughs as well. “How’ve you been?” She looks at the element again. “You know, besides being a bearer of the elements.”

Twilight hums a giggle. “I’ve been fine. Life’s been mostly, studying, training, court duties, and entertaining political figures.”

“Sounds kind of tedious?” Minuette tilts her head. “Do you do anything fun to pass the time?”

“Of course, we’re allowed to have some personal time. My fellow element bearers and I play games, watch moves, and read books.” Twilight nods her head. “I read a lot of books.” Her cheeks blush.

Minuette rolls her eyes. “Typical you.” Twilight moans, covering her eyes with her long bangs. Minuette giggles. “How are the other element bearers?” She sits at the top of the steps. “I’ve only seen them in newspaper clippings and news reals.” She smiles. “They seem like nice ponies?”

“They been good. Though the first couple of years were awkward for us. Fillies from different backgrounds and all. But we got use to each other. The royals have been impressed with how fast we’ve taken to our lessons.” Twilight gives a prideful smirk. “I think we’re on track to being the best element bearers Equestria has ever seen!” Her smile fades however. “But I have to say, we’ve been missing our families and friends back home.” She gives her friend a smile.

Minuette gives her a comforting smile. “Is that why you’re here?”

“Yes…” Twilight sighs, running a hoof through her mane. “The royals gave us two weeks to be with our family and friends.”

“Only two weeks?” Minuette frowns. “We’re going to have to make the best of it.” Twilight nods. “Well,” Minuette smiles, standing up and stretching out her back. “Let’s go meet our friends. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to see you!” She walks down the steps. Passing the guards, she gives them a playful smirk. The guards ignore her teasing. With a huff she looks at Twilight. “They’re bland.”

Twilight giggles. “There just doing their job.” She walks up to her friend. “So, who are we meeting first?”

“All of them.” Minuette smiles.

“What?” Twilight raises her brow.

“Well, call it a coincidence or luck, but we were heading to the market today!” Minuette laughs. “You arrived just in time. I was just about to head out when I heard your voice over the intercom.” She skips as she walks alongside her friend. “Oh! I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces!”

Twilight smirks. “Same!”

“Where is Minuette?” Limon Drops whines as she lays her head on the table.

“She should be here soon.” Moon Dancer takes a sip of her espresso. “You know she takes forever to get ready.”

Lyra sitting in between them, plays with her Frappuccino. “I wish Twilight was here…” She sips her drink.

“Every time we come here you say that.” Moon Dancer huffs as she lays her head in her hoof.

“Because I miss her!” Lyra huffs. “Don’t you?”

Moon Dancer groans. “I do Lyra, but we can’t dwell on it. She’s an element bearer now, she has a new life.”

“I’m sure she’ll come visit us when she’s done with her training.” Limon Drops adds, patting Lyra on the shoulder.

“I hope so…” Lyra pouts. She lays her head on the table and watches the busy market with dull eyes. She sees several ponies standing by a candy-corn stall. Smells of salty caramel drifts over to her. She licks her lips as cravings for the treats begin to fill her thoughts.

Limon Drops sighs at her friend’s sour mood. She looks at the start of the market, searching for Minuette. She stares at the entrance for several minutes with no sign of her. She’s about to give up when she sees her. “Hey she’s here…” Her eyes go wide.

Moon Dancer looks at her friend. “Earth to Limon?! Are you alright?...!”

“TWILIGHT!” Limon Drops yells as she takes off running. Lyra and Moon Dancer look at each other. Their eyes wide in shock n’ awe. In a flash they give chase.

Seeing three ponies running frantically towards them Minuette giggles. “I think they spotted us.” She steps to the side. Even the guards behind them put some distance between themselves and Twilight.

Twilight laughs. “I think so… Hey? Why did you…!” She’s tackled hard to the ground from three overhyped unicorn teen fillies. Three pairs of arms wrap around her, squeezing her life essence form her body. “Fillies! I’ve… Missed… You… Too…!” She chokes.

Minuette giggles. Even the guards finally drop their act and chuckle at the display of affection.

“Twilight’s back! YAY!” Limon Drop cheers.

“You’re back! Are you finally done with your training?” Moon Dancer asks as she ends the hug. Lyra and Limon Drops nod their head vigorously, asking the same thing.

Twilight shakes her head. “No, I’m not. The royals gave us element bearers, two weeks to see our family and friends.” She smiles. “So, I’m going enjoy my time while I’m here!”

Her friends hang their heads. “Oh…” Lemon Drops whines.

“Hey, fillies, cheer up. Like Twilight said, let’s make the most of it!” Minuette states, with a smirk.

Moon Dancer nods as she mulls over some ideas floating in her head. “What did you fillies have planned for today?” Twilight asks, seeing her friend deep in thought.

“Nothing much.” Lyra shrugs her shoulders.

“You fillies want to see a movie?” Moon Dancer asks.

“Yeah!” Twilight replies. “What movies are playing?”

“Well, I’m not sure, let’s go see.” Moon Dancer heads towards the theater, motioning for her friends to follow. They oblige and following after her.

Zulu and Foxtrot look at each other as Twilight and her friends enter the theater. “Well looks like this assignment going to be easy.” Foxtrot states with a smirk.

“I guess it is.” Zulu hums as he follows after them.

“I just hope they pick a good movie.”

“So, what did you think of the movie?” Moon Dancer asks as they leave the theater.

“It was good.” Twilight hums as she chews on several pieces of popcorn.

“I enjoyed it as well…” Lyra looks over her shoulders. “But… I think your guards didn’t care much for it.” She nods at the stallions dragging their hooves across the cobblestone street.

Twilight looks back at Zulu and Foxtrot, seeing their annoyed expression. “We warned them. They could’ve seen another movie.” She giggles.

“Nah!” Moon Dancer laughs. “I think they enjoyed the filly-flick.” The rest of her friends join her, their laughs echoing across the four-way intersection. Zulu and Foxtrot roll their eyes at the fillies, trying their best to hide their blushing cheeks.

“So, what’s next.” Minuette cheers as she skips around her friends. “You want to go for a scooter ride? Maybe a hike through the Willow Mountain Park?”

Twilight thinks for a second as they stop in front of a milkshake shack. “Well… I did plan on going to see my brother later today.” She looks at her friends, “Maybe I can do one more thing before it gets too late.”

Minuette blushes a bit. “Well, we can think of something…”

“Why not go with you?” Limon Drops hops up n’ down.

“Well its an hour train ride to the base he’s at, and I don’t know what there is to do once we get there…” Twilight scratches the back of her ear. “I don’t want you fillies to get bored…”

“Bored? Really Twilight?! We want to be with our friend that’s been gone for over six years!” Limon Drops gets in her friend’s face. “We are going!”

Twilight looks wide eyed at her friends. “I wouldn’t argue with her.” Moon Dancer shrugs her shoulder.

“I guess you can come along…”

“Awesome!” Limon Drops sees Minuette’s blushing cheeks. “And besides it will give us an excuse to look at some cute military colts!” She gives her a sly smirk.

Minuette’s face burns bright red. “I…” She nervously chuckles, “Maybe we should give Twilight some ‘brother, sister’ time… We can meet up tomorrow…”

Twilight’s eyes go even wider as they bounce from Limon Drops to Minuette. “You still like my brother?” Her lips turn into a smirk. “Don’t you?”

Sweat rolls down her brow. “No… Naw, not at all…” She giggles nervously. “Hey let’s get a shake!” Minuette runs over to the counter of the milkshake shack. “Hey miss, I would like to order some shakes!”

The owner looks at her with a raised brow, hearing giggles she looks at her friends and rolls her eyes. “What flavors would you like?”

Twilight, Moon Dancer, Lyra and Limon Drops give each other knowing smirks. “Let’s get those shakes to go!” Twilight shouts through her laughter. Minuette looks back at her friends, her face as red as a lobster.

Zulu and Foxtrot roll their eyes at the fillies. Noticing a growing crowd, Zulu sighs as he steps up closer to Twilight. “I would suggest we get a move on bearer.”

Twilight and her friends look back at the elite guards. Noticing the crowds as well, they blush. “We will…” Seeing Minuette finishing up her order, she gives her guards a smile. “You want a shake?”

“No thank you…”

“I would.” Foxtrot nods. “What?” He sees Zulu’s stern glare. “I’m craving a mint-chocolate-chip shake.” He pulls out his wallet from his saddle bag. Zulu groans. Looking at Twilight he gives a sigh and nods his head.

Twilight smiles. “Hey Minuette. Zulu and Foxtrot would like a shake as well.” Minuette looks over her shoulder and blushes even more for no particular reason. “Well are you fillies ready for a train ride?”

“Yeah!” Lyra shouts. “Uh… Where is your brother stationed, by the way?”

“His living at Army Base Bravo in the lower valley near Fletcher Gorge.”

“Well we better get going?” Moon Dancer states as she helps Minuette hand out the shakes.

Minuette blushes as she holds her shake close to her lips. “Do we… I mean I’m not saying I don’t want to go…” Moon Dancer uses her magic to shove Minuette’s shake’s straw into her mouth silencing her.

“Yes, we are going!” Moon Dancer smirks at her friend. “Calm your butterflies.” She laughs. Twilight, Limon Drops and Lyra join her as they make there way to the train station. Minuette sulks, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Zulu and Foxtrot follow, but Zulu stops when he sees Minuette sitting in place, her eyes staring off into space. “Come filly, let’s get going!” Minuette breaks from her trance and blushes at the elite royal guard. Giving the stallion a small bow, she chases after her friends. Zulu watches her join up with her group.

“Should we alert the base that we will be arriving?” Foxtrot asks.

Zulu stares at Twilight. “No,”

“Why not?”

Zulu looks at his comrade. “No need, lets make it a surprise.”

Commander Dreadstep sits at his desk mulling over several stacks of folders. One of these folders holds his attention however. It’s red in color not your typical bland vanilla folder. It had been sealed shut with a wax seal, pressed over the folder's flap by a stamp of Prince Terren’s royal symbol. It’s now broken, bits of crimson wax on his table as he holds the folder’s content in his hooves, his eyes glaring at the words on parchment.

Letting a long sigh slip pass his lips. He sets down the letter and rubs his brow. “Oh colt…” The news of Celestia’s incident had made its rounds throughout the military. New details were slowly being sent every hour to the bases all across the empire. “I hope my stallions are ready?”. Hearing the sounds camp activity echoing into his office, he rubs his eyes and places the paper back into its folder.

“Commander!”

Dreadstep looks at the entrance to his office and sees a seventeen-year-old colt standing at attention. “What is it private?”

The solider drops his salute. “Sir…” He messes with the collar of his grey uniform. “We’re going to have a special guest.”

Dreadstep’s ears stand erect. “What do you mean by ‘special’?

The private swallows a lump in his throat. “We received a message from one of our offices at the Canterlot Royal Train Station, stating that the bearer of the Element of Magic is coming within the hour!”

Dreadstep goes pale. The bearer of Magic is coming today! He figured she would show up, but this soon. The military had been told that the bearers were going to see their families for two weeks. A mini vacation from their training. Terren even gave out the order to be on high alert during these two weeks, in case Equestria’s enemies decided to invade while the bearers were away from the capital. And now with Celestia's incident…

He shakes his head.

Why didn’t Twilight not give his base a heads up… oh… Her brother. Dreadstep looks out the window as sees a group of his stallions doing their afternoon drills by the western barracks. “Looks like the bearer of Magic wanted to make it a surprise.” He smirks

“What do we do… uh Sir?” The private asks.

“Business as usual… She coming to visit her brother, Private Shining Armor.”

“How do you know that! What if it’s a secret test…” The private shuts his mouth when he sees his commander’s annoyed glare. “Sorry Sir!”

He huffs as he walks out of his office. “Make sure Private Shining doesn’t find out about her arrival.” He shutters. “I don’t want to be on the receiving end of an angry filly who so happens to wield the most powerful weapon in all of Equestria!” He glares at the private.

“YES SIR!” The private runs out of his office and back to his post.

Dreadstep drops his act and lets out a long sigh. He’s torn, a part of him is excited to get a visit from an element bearer. But on the other hoof, the bearer is a teenager. A teenager who out ranks him. He smirks, “I’m fifty-three years old…” He laughs. “And I’ll be saluting and taking orders from a fifteen-year-old.” He looks at his wrist watch, “And I will be doing so, any minute now...”

Twilight watches the train pull into army base Bravo’s station. The steam from the engine pours over the wooden platform, engulfing passengers who stand nearby, waiting for their ride.

“Well looks like we’re here.” Zulu looks at his watch. “And several minutes ahead of schedule.” He peers at the military’s symbol above the door of their car. “Prime example of military efficiency!”

Twilight rolls her eyes as she giggles with her friends.

Zulu frowns at the bearer and her friends. “What’s so funny young bearer?”

Twilight groans. “You’re a party pooper!” Her element blinks in agreement. “And what did I tell you, call me Twilight.”

“And I said that would be a negative…”

“Hey, we are here, let’s go surprise Shining shall we!” Moon Dancer gets in between the two.

Twilight takes a deep breath. “Yes, that sounds good.” She stands up and leaves the car.

Zulu stares at Twilight and gives a long sigh. “Its going to be a long two weeks…”

“It shouldn’t be that bad.” Foxtrot encourages his comrade.

“I would rather be fighting northern rebels.” Zulu follows Twilight and her friends. Foxtrot huffs at his superior and follows after him.

Exiting the train car, Twilight and her group make their way to the station’s exit. To their surprise a high-ranking officer is waiting by the exit. Seeing them, the officer salutes with a smile. “I think they were expecting us?”

Twilight looks at Lyra. “I think someone on the train alerted the base…” Her expression dulls. ‘I hope Shining didn’t find out?’ Her element hums, warming her body to ease her tension.

“Welcome bearer to Camp Bravo.” He eyes her element and its ten-pointed star shape. ‘Seeing it in newspaper articles is nothing compared to seeing it in person.’

Seeing him still saluting, Twilight blushes and quickly gives him a salute. “So sorry…”

“No worries.” Dreadstep messes with his medals on his grey uniform. “I hope the trip was a pleasant one?”

“Yes, it was.” She smiles. “For future reference, you can call me Twilight.”

Dreadstep nods. “Understood.” He smiles. “You can call me Dreadstep.”

Twilight returns the gesture. “Dreadstrep, I was wondering, does the whole base know of my arrival?”

Dreapstep shakes his head. “No, only ponies who are on a need to know basis.” Twilight breaths a sigh of relief. “I figured you wanted to surprise your brother.”

Twilight ears stand erect. “How did you?...”

“Just a feeling.”

Zulu and Foxtrot look at each other with wide eyes. Looking back at Dreadstep, they take a mental note, never mess with Commander Dreadstep… He knows all…

“I see you have elites guarding you.” Dreadstep takes notice of the bewildered soldiers with a hint of amusement. “I would ask their names, but my guess is they gave you code names?”

“Yes, they did.” Twilight nods, looking back at her guards.

“And I see you brought a posse with you.” He looks at her friends. “And who would you all be?”

“They are my childhood friends. Moon Dancer, Lyra, Limon Drops, and Minuette.” Twilight points at each filly in question.

Dreapstep notices Minuette jittery demeanor. “Is she alright?”

Twilight looks at her and gives her a playful smirk. “Yes, she’s fine.”

“Well then, nice to meet you all.” He nods his head, commanding them to follow. “I will send you to my office. It has a great view of the base and I figured it will be a decent place to wait until I return with your brother.”

“Where will my friends go?”

“I’ll have one of my Staff Sergeants give them a tour of the base.”

“Why thank you.” Moon Dancer giggles.

Deadstep rolls his eyes at her tone of voice. “And you’ll keep your hooves off my soldiers.”

“Yes Sir…” Lyra giggles.

“They’ll behave.” Twilight reassures the commander. “What are you going to tell him?”

Dreadstep ponders for a moment. “I’ll think of something.”

“RUN YOU FAT LARDS!” A Staff Sergeant yells as he trots alongside a group of twenty stallions ranging from seventeen to twenty-tree years old. “A weekend to yourself and you’re already showing signs of becoming lazy colts!” He shouts in the face of an earth pony. “Did you raid the cafeteria of all its food? Because if so, I hope you show that same tenacity when doing the obstacle course!”

Shining Armor ignores his sergeant. He heard this sepal before. He was a particularly mouthy stallion who had a big ego and the camp knew it. But today out of all days, someone in his division had to say something that would hurt his ego. And for that pushups was on todays lunch menu… ‘They were serving pizza today…’ Shining groans through his teeth.

“Shining!” The staff sergeant yells. “Day dreaming?” Shining stays silent as he keeps doing his pushups. “Ah, you actually learned something from bootcamp!” Their staff sergeant huffs. Seeing something in his peripheral vision, he looks up and sees Commander Dreadstep walking up to him and his men. “At attention!”

Shining Armor and his fellow soldiers stand up so quickly on all fours, that they feel like they’re about to faint. “Crap!” On of his friends groans as he tries not to puke up his breakfast.

“Staff Sergeant Steel Bit!” Dreadstep calls out. “Why are they doing pushups? Its lunch!”

Steel Bit smiles. “They're getting a little fat, sir!” He flaps his wings.

Dreadstep nods. “Well I need to borrow Private Shining Armor.” Shining raises his brow.

Steel Bit looks over at said private. “What for?”

“Will tell you in a sec.” Dreadstep looks at Shining. “Shining Armor, pack your things, I have an assignment for you!”

“Yes Sir!” Confusion racks his mind as he salutes the commander before heading off for his barracks.

Steel Bit walks up to Dreadstep. “Assignment? What kind of assignment?

“His sister came down to visit.”

“Sister, what so special… Oh… The element bearer?” Steel Bit looks towards the barracks. “This is unexpected, why didn’t she warn the base?”

“She wanted to surprise her brother.” Dreadstep sees Shining walking out of the barracks with his navy-blue duffle bag. “You ready Private?”

“Yes Sir!” Shining Armor salutes.

“At ease. Steel Bit, you may return to your previous task.” He nods at the pegasus.

“Understood sir.” He looks at Shining. “Good luck with your assignment.”

“Thank you, sir!” Shining salutes.

“At ease… As for the rest of you, lets go for a run!” Steel Bit shouts as he starts the pace. The stallions groan as they give chase.

Watching his friends take off towards the tracks. He messes with his duffle bag. “Sir, what’s my assignment?”

“You’ll see when we get there.” Dreadstep replies as he heads for his office.

Shining tilts his head, his mind still trying to figure out what’s instore for him. With building excitement, he follows the Commander.

The walk is peaceful and uneventful. Though it was getting quite annoying to hear lower ranking soldiers constantly saluting the commander every time they passed. “Good afternoon, Sir!” Shining rolls his eyes as he rubs his brow. Please not another one… Seeing the Commander’s office coming into view, he breathes a sigh of relief.

Dreadstep opens the door. “After you?”

Shining gives his commander a strange look. Usually he would hold the door open for a high rank officer. Not wanting to question his actions he steps into his office. But he doesn’t get far when his drops his duffle bag in udder shock. “Twilight?!”

Twilight runs up to her brother and throws her arms around his neck. “Shining!”

Shining returns the hug. “What are you doing here?” He tightens his hug. “Is this a part of your training?”

“No!” Twilight giggles. “The Royals gave us two weeks to be with our families.”

Shining pulls away “No way!” His smile fades. “Sorry I’m stationed so far from home.”

Twilight waves a hoof. “Its only an hour away.”

“Yeah but still.” Shining messes with her mane. “I thought you’d be all crazy over maximizing your time?”

“Ha, very funny!” Twilight blushes.

Dreadstep shakes his head at their amusing banter. “Miss. Twilight, since this is a unique scenario, I believe I can allow Shining to go on leave for two weeks.”

Shining and Twilight stare at the commander with wide eyes. “Really?” Twilight smiles.

“Yes... But to be frank if you ordered me to do so, I would have too anyways.” Dreadstep smirks.

Twilight blushes. “Oh, I never thought of doing that.” Dreadstep shakes his head. Shining face palms. “Thank you.” She hugs the commander. Dreadstep, goes stiff, but quickly relaxes and wraps one of his arms over her shoulder, giving her a pat on the back. Pulling away from the embrace Twilight looks back at her brother and gives him a smirk. “Let’s go get my friends.”

Shining nods and opens the door. “Sounds like a plan.” As she leaves, he looks back at his commander. “Thank you, Sir.”

“No problem private, now go enjoy your time with your family.” Dreadstep takes the door. Shining quickly salutes and follows his sister to the visitor center. Dreadstep smiles as he watches them head to their destination. With a sigh he closes his door.