Forging Harmony Arc 1; Creating the Elements

I could feel my heart beating through my chest. There was just so much adrenaline coursing through my veins. I sat there, outside the examination room, ready to show Celestia all I had. I had to succeed. The village had been hit by the plague, and we were all ill and famished. Brother and I figured if I could become Princess Celestia's disciple, maybe we would have a chance.

Canterlot was a small place built over a forest. Already, just walking here, I saw unicorns dumping trash into the streets, which were poorly built. Everywhere I stepped, I had to watch out for incoming trash, or cracks in the road's foundation. It reeked of vomit and rotten swamp water. The bricks themselves felt squishy, and of poor quality. Not that I would've ever know what "high-quality bricks" would feel like. Terrible times were ahead of us. Rumor has it the neighboring nations were preparing an uprising, in the hopes of throwing over Celestia.

She wasn't a bad ruler, so to speak. Personally, I think she's far too young to be a ruler. We've had alicorns before, but now they're all gone. Nopony knows why. All we wanted were results.

On my way here, I couldn't help but feel unwelcome. I looked too good, even for a mare. My mane was pale and royal blue, the colors swirling into one on my head. Most of the mares in my family were born in a white coat, and I was certainly no exception. Nothing about me screamed fragile or weak, but it didn't spell strong and independent either. I had a hard time trotting my way here. Guess some wounds just don't heal. Again, I heard clashing steel, a high note being blown in a horn, and cries of warning, telling us to run.

Brother and I thought maybe we could at least make things better back home. I offered to join the Princess' school of mages, while he would risk his life on the battlefield. A part of me wanted to object. Sadly, nothing could be done. If we were to die anyways, why not go out in a final blaze of glory? Yet, I cried whilst walking. I cried over the bodies of our parents, and those who burned in the flames of that day. I cried over the ashes of our home. I cried over what could have been. I cried over my former self, lying on the ground dead. We couldn't turn back now. Not like this. Not without bringing glory and honor home with us.

Finally, somepony called my name. "Are you Crystal Springs?" I nodded. "Please step over here." I obeyed. "Now then, before I ask you anything, show me what you can do. A simple spell would suffice." She placed an apple in front of me. "Do what you want with in." I didn't hesitate for one second. A glacial white beam came bursting out my horn, slicing the fruit in half, freezing its insides.

"It's nothing big, just a simple ice spell." They wrote down notes on their parchments.

"Please proceed to the next room. Once inside, stand in the individual stable slot." I nodded once more. Once in my place, a small gate shut behind me. "Alright then! Everypony is inside!" I heard some announcer shout. A buzz was heard across the area. We fell through a trap door, and into some sort of arena.

A gruff voice echoed through the stadium-like place. "Celestia doesn't have time to personally test you all, so we decided to make things quick and easy. And only the one who survives passes!"