Author's Note
This is just a chapter to set up the plot and to tell who would get which stone. The main action will "probably" be next chapter.
A Pony's Element/Stone
Twilight and her friends were having fun at her castle. The day seemed like any other with them goofing off and Pinkie seeming to defy the laws of space.
Tonight, they were having a sleepover and were playing truth or dare. “Truth or dare,” Twilight asked Applejack.
“Truth”
“Of course, you must have a great soul, speaking the truth all the time,” replied Twilight, “ anyways, have you ever gotten interested in any of my confusing, mindful moments."
“Are we starting off small or something,” Rainbow Dash stated.
“Of course Rainbow that’s how you’re supposed to start,” said Twilight
“Hmm, I guess that time you fixed the portal to the human world was somewhat interesting,” answered Applejack, “also I have an average soul.”
“Being modest, like I said a good soul”
Applejack just moved on “Rainbow, truth or
dare.”
“Dare.”
“Try to fly out the door, up to Cloudsdale, and all the way back in under ten seconds without doing a sonic rainboom.”
“Easy,” Rainbow suddenly flew out the door and completed the dare in not only under ten seconds, but at the most under three seconds.
Rainbow whooshed back causing some of Twilight’s books to fly off the shelves, “Sorry about that Twi I’ll clean it up after the game.”
“No need I got it,” said Twilight using her magic to put each book in its proper place, ”I’m pretty sure you just defied reality though. You going that fast and not breaking the sound barrier shouldn’t be possible.”
“Like I always say, I guess I’m just too awesome. Rules of physics don’t apply to me unless I want them to.”
Before Twilight could respond Rainbow Dash moved on to Rarity, “Rarity, truth or dare.”
“Dare”
“Alright, thought you would choose truth,” said a surprised Rainbow Dash, “I can still go with the flow though. I dare you to give your bigger makeup and such to any pony here that wants to try it. At least until the morning when we all go home.”
Rarity was a little hesitant, but powered through it and replied, “Alright, who would like to try it.”
“Ooo ooo me, pick me pick me!” said Pinkie with her hoof raised.
“Alright, Pinkie it is,” said Rarity while transferring some of her things to Pinkie’s suitcase.
“Thanks, Rarity. That’s something I like about you," said Pinkie, “ when it comes to being generous you always power through even if it’s something that you would rather not do.”
“Thanks, Pinkie, also, truth or dare,” said Rarity.
“Ooo, dare!”
“I dare you to try to go to the other side of the room at the same speed that Rainbow was going during her dare”
Before Rarity could even finish giving her dare. Everyone noticed Pinkie was no longer sitting down and instead was at the other side of the room.
Twilight was looking back and forth between Pinkie and where she used to be sitting and said, “ I know I more or less don’t question you anymore, but I just can’t help but say, how?! This might as well be manipulating space instantly. Even Rainbow took about three seconds.”
Rainbow immediately pointed out, “Technically I went a longer distance though.”
"Fair enough," stated Pinkie popping back into existence where she was sitting. "Fluttershy, truth or dare?"
"Oh, um truth."
"Is it true that you always take care of your animals in time and still have free time."
"Um, yes," Fluttershy asked questionably as if the answer should've been an obvious yes.
"But how?" Questioned Twilight. "Where do you get the time to do it while still having free time? I mean, you have to have at least 100 animals under your care."
"I never really thought about it before actually," considered Fluttershy, "I guess I must work fast without realizing it. Finally, Twilight, truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Do you, um, have a favorite time running a test on one of us and if so, which experience."
Twilight automatically said, "Yes, and when I was trying to figure out Pinkie's Pinkie Sense." Ironically, Pinkie's tail started twitching and one of the roots on the chandelier above fell just a foot away from Twilight.
Rainbow tried to suppress a giggle as Twilight glared at her. "It's not that ironically Pinkie's Pinkie Sense just started acting up. It's because only a pony of your mind's size would automatically have an answer to that sort of question," stated Rainbow defensively.
"Alright everypony," Twilight said calming down", let's just start the next roun…, "
"Twilight!" Spike said running through the door with a letter in his claw,"It's from Princess Celestia!"
Twilight automatically took the letter and started reading it out loud.
Dearest Twilight,
I have an urgent matter I must discuss with you and your friends about recently discovered information. Please come to Canterlot castle along with them and the Elements of Harmony. In this letter, you'll find a spell that will keep the Tree of Harmony alive long enough for us to discuss the matter. Other than your friends and Spike please tell nopony about the matter after you learn it.
Your Loyal Mentor, Princess Celestia
After she finished reading, Twilight and her friends immediately started packing already knowing the normal procedure. Once finished, they all agreed it would be best to leave at dawn, with it almost being dusk.
***
In the morning, all the Bearers other than Twilight who was collecting the Elements started towards the train station eager to catch the morning train to Canterlot.
"What do you think it'll be?" asked Pinkie excitedly. "An ancient lunatic, a purple warrior, a mix of the two?"
"Oh, I hope not," stated Fluttershy. "I do know though that we'll be fine as long as we stick together."
Luckily, Twilight got to the train station just at the same time the train did. "Oh, thank goodness I made it," wheezed Twilight after running so fast, "I cast the spell and collected the Elements. Let's get to Celestia and help in whatever way we can," said Twilight as they climbed on board the train.
When the Element Bearers burst into the throne room, worried about what might be happening, the first thing they noticed was that Princess Celestia was also ready for them for once instead of just waiting for them on her throne, like usual. She had an ancient scroll with her along with some strange looking objects none of them recognized.
"Ah girls, thank goodness you're here."
"Of course Princess, why wouldn't we be here, " said Twilight with a curious expression.
"Well, he could've...Never mind," dismissed Princess Celestia, " It'll make sense once I explain the scenario. However, this might be the toughest challenge you'll ever have to defeat." This made Twilight even more worried than she already was if that was even possible.
"What!? Who is it."
"An enemy older than anyone ever in existence. His name is Thanos," stated Celestia, " He is an immortal being that did have a legend, but since it was old, it was eventually dismissed as a make-believe legend. No one really knows his actual story, not even at the time I was a kid, but we do know facts about him." The Bearers hadn't even heard these facts yet, but they could already tell there was something wrong with this Thanos.
"Alright, what do we know about him and what can we do about what threat he shows," asked Twilight scared but curious.
"Yeah, let's take this Thanos down!" said Rainbow, punching the air in front of her.
"Ok, but know he sounds good at first, but has dark secrets," warned Celestia with fear in even her eyes despite her trying to hide it. She then started to summarize what was on the scroll she was carrying in her magic, "As you know, the Universe was created by The Big Bang, however, other than immortal beings like Discord, Luna, and I no one else knows that it was Thanos who caused The Big Bang. He simply snapped his fingers and the Big Bang originated from the snap. It is also known that six stones flew away from the said spot of origin. For reasons unknown, until recently, he just seemed to retire at a garden."
"Um excuse me please," said Fluttershy hesitantly, "Sorry for me intruding, but while I know you said it would eventually get bad this seems to be the kindest thing you can do, creating everything and then not bothering anypony, so how can he be a bad pony?"
"I was just about to mention that part, and it's okay Fluttershy."
"Oh okay, sorry."
"Anyways," continued Celestia, "Until my teacher Starswirl the Bearded started looking into it, everyone did think he was good, but he started thinking what were those stones, how could he just simply make a universe, and why would he just simply rest. Then Starswirl thought what if the stones helped him create the Universe for his end goal and then he would finally retire after. However, that would mean something terrible. In order for him to get stones to create a Universe and then retire, he would have to have lived in a different Universe before ours and then destroy it and all its life forms to make our new Universe." At this everypony gasped at the thought of all the life that must've died.
"So wait, are you saying our Universe is one built out of blood!" said Twilight with a shocked face.
"I guess you could say that. Starswirl believed he might've had a reason he thought was moral, but I think we can all agree that is no excuse, murdering possibly trillions or even more."
Just at the thought, everypony shivered. So much death and destruction caused by just a snap and it being a snap showed he didn't care what happened.
"Anyways, the last thing could finger out was that each stone must have its own aspect of the Universe in order to create it. Sadly he could never finger out the six aspects. I chose to continue his work with Luna, but we were never able to figure it out, although we do know them due to, I guess you could say us being told," said Celestia mysteriously.
"Who told you?" asked Twilight eagerly
"Not who, what."
"Huh?"
"When we found the Elements of Harmony and felt the tree tell me two things. One, the Elements were more powerful than we realized and two, it warned me of Thanos sensing the stones having been found."
"Wait so you're saying.."
"Yes, the Elements of Harmony you are currently wearing are stones that each control an aspect of our Universe."
"But the chances of them all ending up in the same place is less than unlikely," Twilight" It's next to impossible."
"I don't know how it happened, but remember Thanos sensed they were found so remember the facts are not over."
"Right, you have to tell us how you beat him last time, so we'll know now," Rainbow pointed out.
"That's just it until now there haven't been any other signs of Thanos."
GASP
"I guess he must've decided to live on the other side of the Universe, or something because I recently felt his presence passing by the sun so we don't have too long until he tries to remake he Universe, once again, to keep the stones hidden from any being. We will have to keep the stones hidden from him so he can't do so, which means using the Elements is too risky, we won't use the Elements together to defeat him."
"Just out of curiosity, would you happen to know which of us has which aspect of the Universe," asked Rarity
"Of course Rainbow, the six stones are Power, Space, Reality, Soul, Time, and MInd. Raibow you have Reality, Pinkie has Space, A.J. has Soul, Rarity has Power, Fluttershy has Time, and Twilight has Mind. Just like the Harmony attributes I've seen these aspects more or less in all of you." Celestia then turned to the strange objects by her side. " Each of these objects are specifically made to help contain the stones so it's harder for Thanos. Only take them out if you need to use them to defend them from Thanos, however, the Space, Time, and Mind stones can be used in their casings so Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Twilight, don't take them out until Thanos is defeated."
"Alright, which object belongs to who," asked Twilight.
"Well yours is this scepter," Celestia said handing Twilight a large scepter near her," The mind stone will grant the scepter the power to fire energy projectile blasts, manipulate minds, enable teleportation, perform astral projection and allow mental communication. I understand you are able to do most of these abilities already, but the stone is even stronger than alicorn magic theoretically. Also, when not contained by the scepter it seems to have its own intelligence and can be used to grant others powers such as energy manipulation, super speed, and phase through matter. However, just to be safe let's just use the scepter since the stone's intelligence could theoretically turn against us."
Twilight nodded and then took off her crown and touched it to an empty spot in the center of the scepter. After it seemed to be sucked into the empty spot in a flash of light and when looked at again instead of its normal like purple color, it was now a glowing yellow. Twilight could tell it was giving the scepter incredible power and could feel the power and abilities just holding it in her grasp. She could also tell if somepony other than the proper Element Bearer were to try to use it, the stone would start to try to corrupt them with the power. "Only use your appropriate stone," said Twilight," I can tell if used by the improper pony, bad results could happen like possible corruption."
Every other simply looked at her for a few moments with wide eyes. Twilight normally wouldn't act so serious, but everypony could tell she was. "Okay, thanks for the advice," said Celestia recovering from the scene Twilight made," Anyways, Pinkie, you'll use this cube that I've named the Tesseract." Pinkie then took the clear cube from Celestia and somehow managed to put her necklace in the center of the Tesseract, expect it was no longer a necklace. It had transformed into a glowing blue stone, lighting up the cube, making it look blue as a whole. "The Tesseract can open portals, teleport anypony/anything, control where matter is, just basically control space itself." Just holding the Tesseract, Pinkie could tell what Twilight meant. No one else would be able to handle it, so after her epiphany, she just stored it in her mane."
"Okie Dokie Lokie!" said Pinkie with a smile.
"Right anyways, Fluttershy, this necklace is codenamed The Eye of Agamotto," said Celestia handing her the necklace," To use it, open it to expose it and use it. You could manipulate time itself by reversing time, see possible futures, put a moment in a time loop, etc.. This may be the most dangerous stone though as you know what happened when Starlight tried messing with time. However, you'll probably only have to use it for something recent, which means any negative effects probably won't be too bad, like you won't destroy Equestria or anything. Still, try not to use too far back."
"Oh, um, okay," replied Fluttershy with a worried smile as she put on the Eye. When the Eye touched the stone, it went inside, now showing a green stone before it closed and once again could tell what Twilight meant. It felt like she now no longer restricted by time, but luckily could still use it.
"Rarity, your stone may be the most dangerous one for the user to use," said Celestia a little worry shown for her, " Therefore while we know you can use it, it will have to be contained in this orb to make sure it doesn't accidentally hurt anypony else. The power in it would simply overpower anypony else's bodies. They wouldn't be able to survive it. Finally, while you won't be able to use it in the Orb, it can be used to send out extremely powerful blasts and strengthen other objects."
"Alright," said Rarity taking the Orb," I'll make sure to be careful." Rarity then opened the Orb and touched her necklace to it. Like usual, it became a glowing stone in the Orb. Feeling how much power it had and the damage it could do to others, she quickly closed the Orb. "I could definitely feel the power in it."
"Rainbow and Applejack, the way your stones are going to be stored is a little different and I'm not sure if you'll be able to use them," Celestia said turning to them, "Rainbow, after millennia of researching I have reason to believe your stone technically isn't a stone, but a liquid that I've renamed the Aether. Therefore it'll be stored differently by injecting into something."
"Alright, what are you going to inject it into."
"Try not to freak out but you."
Rainbow suddenly looked at her with a blank expression, eyes wide and said, "What?"
"I've determined you'll be the safest place to store the Aether," Celestia said seriously," Not only do you need to keep it safe but inside you will be the last place for him to look. When the Aether is injected into you, it may simply reside in you or it could give you its powers as well which is manipulating reality around you in ways that are simple, to completely destructive. None of the changes you make will be permanent, but they will be there as long as you will them to be."
After a deep breath Rainbow said, "Alright, how are we going to inject it."
"Touch your Element to this mechanical syringe and it'll become the Aether. Then just inject it into yourself."
Rainbow did so and when her Necklace touched the syringe, it went in turning into a red glowing sort of sludge. She hesitantly injected it into herself feeling a rush of power as she did so. She could tell if this were injected in anypony else, they would eventually die. She still couldn't tell if she could use it though, so she asked Celestia, " Should I test it out, to see if I can use it."
"Good idea, we don't exactly have time for normal field training," said Celestia stepping back a little, "Try it on the table the objects were on."
Rainbow then turned to the table trying to channel the power of reality to change the table. Suddenly, it exploded into at least 100 pieces flying everywhere. When everypony recovered Twilight stated, "Don't you think that was a bit overkill."
Rainbow turned towards the table wide eye. "I only meant to cut it in half." Everypony then joined her wide-eyed expression until Applejack broke them out of their daze.
"Why isn't there an object for me?" asked AJ with a slightly disappointed look on her face.
"Because, my little pony, soul seems to be one of the more mysterious and dangerous stones. Everypony has one, but not much is known about them. Even using magic ponies throughout the ages could only figure out so much. Through my study of the soul stone, however, I've determined a way to keep it safe. This method, however, is very terrible for one who wishes to retrieve it. Luckily you won't have to use it to retrieve it after Thanos is dealt with and since it's the only way, never tell him this method. Even though it'll cost him great pain, we simply can't risk it."
"Well, your Highness?" Applejack asked with a scared expression, " What is this method?"
"For you, it's simple. Simply touch the necklace to your heart to bring it in your soul, or the soul realm," said Celestia with a straight face, " To bring it out, touch your hoof to heart and will it out, using your soul." Turning to the other girls, she said with an apologetic face, " Sorry girls, but only A.J. can know the method of one bringing it out in case an enemy working for Thanos is listening in on us." The girls nodded in understanding, knowing this would be the hardest stone for Thanos to retrieve even though they didn't know how Thanos would need to retrieve it. Celestia then turned to A.J. and whispered in her ear, " The pony who wishes to retrieve the stone must sacrifice the soul of the one they love the most. A soul for a soul."
Applejack then went wide-eyed and looked up to Celestia. "I can't ask ANYPONY to do that, not even Thanos."
"It was the only way the soul could properly be contained, and hopefully you won't have to. Remember we're trying to make sure he doesn't get the stone. I'm not sure if you'll be able to access to soul realm to use the stone, but if you can from what's known, you could see others' souls, control them, change them, and worse of all control life and death itself." Applejack wasn't even hiding her fear anymore, so much power for on pony is just wrong. Being able to just think it and kill somepony is terrible and Thanos had used even more power along with it.
"If it's alright with you, I don't want to know if I would have the power," said Applejack looking down at the floor and inserting the soul stone with an orange glow. She felt the power mentioned and while she knew she could survive it, she still felt nopony should wield the pony she felt.
"I think I understand why. The power is frightening to you, isn't it? I had a feeling you would feel this, which is why we don't have a known way of defeating Thanos. Very well, then don't try to use it unless you feel you absolutely have to." The girls, who were watching this scene from afar, deciding to comfort their friend.
"Don't worry A.J., This'll all be over soon and it'll be back in the Tree of Harmony, only accessible by Ponies the tree accepts," said Pinkie for once being serious.
"That's not what scares me, " said A.J., "It's the thought that I technically have used it before, as an Element of Harmony."
"Don't worry these Elemental stones are still those treasures of Harmony," said Celestia.
"Actually, they're called infinity stones, "said a purple huge bipedal creature with a scar down the right side of his body.
"I was hoping the stones would be brought together again," chuckled the creature the mares now recognized as Thanos standing in the throne room doorway with tens of bodies behind him, "It's just ironic."
Author's Note
I'm sorry if you foud this chapter a little too long. I wanted to get all the stones set up together since they're very brief introductions. Also I know my grammar isn't too good, but I've never been the best at it so don't expect the grammar to be perfect. If you're upset on who got which stone, I decided not to go by color, but by personality fitting since some of the colors don't fit.
"Pinkie, use the space stone to get your friends and the stones out of here!" whispered Celestia in a stern, but nervous tone.
"What about you?"
"I'm going to buy you all some time," replied Celestia, "If he's as powerful as the stories say, you'll need it." Indeed, even then Thanos was striding up to them with a double edge sword, not even looking exhausted from fighting the dead soldiers behind him.
"But based on the soldiers behind him, he won't hesitate to kill you!" For once, Pinkie had a serious and worried expression on her face.
"Please Pinkie Pie," with an insistent tone, "just do it, if not for yourself, for Equestria and your friends."
Pinkie looked to her mane that was currently holding the powerful cube and sighed. She then looked at Thanos, then Celestia one last time, and turned to her friends and said with her mane droopy, "Time to go girls." Before any of them could object, she opened a portal beneath the six of them and fell into it, with the rest of them thinking things along the lines of, "No Celestia wait!"
"Sorry girls," Celestia thought as she teleported on her armor.
***
The girls felt themselves fall into some chairs in Sugarcube Corner and before any of them could comprehend what happened and try to go back through the portal, it closed leaving an upset group of mares glaring at Pinkie. Twilight was especially angry, as Celestia was like a second mother she had known all her life to her and Pinkie just left her with a monster that killed an entire universe.
"Pinkamena Diane Pie," said Twilight in a slow angry tone, "take us back to the throne room right now or so help me I will feed Gummy to the Timberwolves, go back in time, and do it again for as long as he has ever existed, all the while making you watch each and every time and not be able to do anything. I don't care what effect it might have on the timeline!"
Everyone then turned to Twilight as she was giving off an extremely dark vibe. She looked like she could pounce at Pinkie at any moment. No one knew where her mind was at the moment, but they also didn't really want to know based on her expression. That's when AJ noticed a yellow glow seeming to come from Twilight's scepter.
"Um, Twilight didn't Princess Celestia say that tha' mind stone could turn us against each other?"
"Yeah, so what!" Twilight snapped at AJ. As Applejack recoiled, she pointed to the scepter and how it was glowing. Twilight turned her attention to the scepter, with her eyes wide, realizing what was happening. She then calmed herself, put the scepter down, and turned her attention back to Pinkie. However, this time instead of anger in her eyes, she showed sorrow.
"Sorry Pinkie," said Twilight, "The stone may have contributed to my anger, but it was still my anger and I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
"It's okay, I do understand where it's coming from, but taking you and the others away was the last thing Princess Celestia asked of me. I could also tell she wanted me to save you all, and not just keep the stones from him."
Twilight growled at that last word, but quickly calmed herself. "I guess for now we should try what we can to get the hang of what we can do with our stones in case we need to use them, except for Rarity and AJ since Rarity's stone is completely concealed and AJ doesn't want to use her's. Applejack, keep in mind though that if it turns out you can use it and it's in danger, you may have to."
Applejack looked down with a sad expression, lost in her own thoughts, and said, "Alright, but I still feel it should only be used as a last resort."
Author's Note
I just wanted to apologize for the wait again and also that the chapter was very short. I originally was going to show off the stones' powers, but it felt like it would take too long. Please tell me if you want to see the powers shown off in individual chapters or one big one. Thanks for the feedback
