My Little Pony: Stormbreaker

Record 03: Gathering Forces

Apple Bloom trotted down the shimmering halls of the Empire toward the grand library, where she knew she would find her friend pouring over the collections. Sweetie Belle had spent the last few days in here, after the events that summoned the Element of Honesty out and into Apple’s eye, with a renewed purpose in finding some key to all the mysteries surrounding the Elements of Harmony. She was even more consumed by the cause, with her own Element of Magick to unlock, and the very future of ponykind in need of her discovering the trick.

Entering the stores, Bloom was directed by the librarian, who held a very annoyed expression. The pegasus, one of very few who did not go to the call of President Dash and her Aerials, gestured with one tan-brown wing toward where the disruption could be found. When the mare followed the guide, she discovered just why the caretaker was so miffed. Their were piles of books and collections all around the area Sweetie had set up camp. It was a mess, even by the most chaotic organization standards. “By the turn’n of the leaves, she is so much like Twilight” Apple mused.

Not finding her friend right away, it was soon clear to where the pony was. As a tower of books shifted and crashed, and a sleepy mare arose in a yawn. “Wh-what time is it?” She did not know she was with company, she had only asked in her daze.

Snickering, Apple Bloom moved to her friend’s side, helping clear away some of the tomes. “About 8” She answered, adding. “Y’all are gonna get a bad back sleeping in all them books”

“I have to-” She stretched, several joins popping as she strained. “Find the answers to unlocking the Elements” She cast a spell and drifted a cup over to her, then took a regretful drink, spitting the brew out. “Ack… cold tea…”

“Y’all should take a break, even Twilight would get out to smell the flowers” Apple thought on this. “I suppose it was more because she had friends to pull her, so here I am”

Still reeling from the events in the cave, the mention of her name caused the zebracorn to get a little upset. “She wouldn’t give up, not until she had a solution or a better idea…” She sounded a little bitter.

“I think again, it was because she listens to her friends who told her to get out of them stuffy old books, she could see a better solution outside” Apple countered.

“I get it!” She snapped, shocking Apple Bloom. “She had all these great resources, but she still faced the Shatter Storm and lost, and now I gotta clean it up with next to nothing!” When she took notice of her friend, Sweetie looked down in shame. “I’m sorry… There is so much weighing on me, and nothing I do seems to work, and no answers are forthcoming”

“Y’all sure that’s it?” Apple dug deeper. “Since y’all came back from the North… it seems something else got a bug in yer britches. Was something else out there?”

Turning away, not sure she could hide the truth if she was looking at her friend. “I looked up to Twilight, and I hoped against all odds I would find her… I don’t know… Knowing she is truly gone, is devastating”

“I’d figure you’d be worse when y’all fought Nightmare Rarity, but Twilight’s death’s got ya pretty down”

Wrinkling her nose in annoyance, Sweetie glared at Apple. “That monster isn’t my sister, ok?! I let her go a long time ago, when that… monster… tried to kill Zecora, Trixie and me. Why can’t anyone get that?” She huffed, getting tired of people reminding her. “Rarity is fucking dead! Twilight is-” She stopped herself, nearly letting it go. “Maybe she couldn’t stop the storm at the start, but believed she might be able to help, and that little bit of hope I held onto for almost the whole time Zecora and I were on the run has been crushed. Now it’s all on me to take up her mantle, take her damn crown” She knocked one of the earrings with her hoof. “So I’ve lost some hope, and gained a whole shit ton of pressure!”

The same librarian was going to shush the two loud ponies, but seeing the anger of the zebracorn, decided against challenging a being he could not even comprehend.

“Sweets, don’t put it all on yerself. Ya ain’t alone, there’s me, and Cadence, and Shining, plus they are working on recovering all those still good folks to join together here. If’n the elements are out there, we’ll find em. Maybe more we got, the easier it will be to unlock. None of us are asking for miracles, just that we all do our best”

Hanging her head again, letting her anger go, she sighed deeply. “I’m sorry Apple Bloom…”

Hugging her friend close, Apple did her best to ease the others mind. “Come on, let’s get some grub, take a break from all these old books, and rest that big ol brain”

Sitting at a table in one of the little restaurants, enjoying their food and the company. They shared in idol conversations, like it was just another day, until they both became aware of it. There was a mix of happiness and sadness in that moment.

“Funny,” The earth mare started. “Who’da think we could find ourselves in a shop, just shoot’n the breeze like nothing was go’n on?” She looked down at her cup, a faint hint of heat danced between it and her nose. “All these years, I’d never believed I could just enjoy a moment of not try’n to survive”

“I know what you mean,” Sweetie looked around the place, seeing so many ponies just being without any concern apparent. “Do you think that any of these ponies feel like this? Like, do you think they understand just how precious this is?” Her tone was sounding a little bitter. “King Sombra knocks on their doors, but because of all the protection they have, it’s like there is no danger at all. Have they forgotten how bad it is out there?”

Agreeing with her, Apple Bloom also was concerned for how much Sweetie’s voice would carry. “Easy, just cause we had to fight fer our lives, don’t mean these ponies ain’t got their troubles, or forget just how close it is to goin’ all to pieces”

With a groan, Sweetie slouched into her seat. “I know, and I guess I’m happy that they didn’t all have to go through the shit like we did, some even being spared any of the horrors of the storm, or the worst of those villains”

Changing the subject before she slipped, Sweetie asked about something else. “So, I never did get the details about just how Shining’s plan worked to coax your Element out”

“Not sure there was much to say, just like any of the other times, he just really turned my cider to vinegar”

Not finding the answer she hoped for, Sweetie thought a moment. “Doesn’t really help with my case. Honesty, conviction, being true to yourself, it all seems to be natural for you. I got magick, and though I think I’m just as adept at it as you, I can’t get even a flicker. I even attempted to simulate a fight, and nothing came of it. Like what am I missing about this damned Element, that you have in yours? How can I hope to free others, if we find any, if I still have no clue to what really triggered it?”

“Maybe it ain’t about the obvious, maybe y’all gotta think about the deeper levels. Sure I’m honest an all, but it was because I was driven, speaking from my purest and deepest depths of my heart. I think it might be like when we get a cutie mark, find’n our truest and deepest calling, before we get our marks” She paused, taking a look at her flank, then snickering as it remained bare. “Well, been awhile since I felt that, but nada”

“Makes sense, your special talent isn’t going on about you hold dear. Still, I wonder if there is something to that line of thinking?” Sweetie lingered.

Apple took a moment, eating some of what she had left. “Ain’t the Elements all tied to friendship? Like, Twilight used to go on about how they all had some bond before any of them ever met. Then when they all got together to fight Nightmare, Twilight realized the thing miss’n in her life, and poof. Their Elements all awoke” She took another moment for her food. “Have’n y’all around, and think’n about how important y’all are to me is really what triggered it fer me”

Sweetie studied her friend, focused more on what she said than the reason she brought it up. “R-really?”

“Shucks, ain’t no secrete Sweets. Y’all been my friend fer years, even if’n we’ve been apart, and now more than ever are y’all important to me. I really value the fact we got back together” She could feel herself blushing. “I-I think we had a special bond, just like they did. We hid together that night, but it was a bit later before Me, you, and… Scootaloo… became friends…”

The mood shifted, as they thought of their old friend. They wondered just what had become of her. “We all drifted apart, but she’s out there… maybe… I hope…” Sweetie struggled. “I can’t deal with this” She got out of her seat, and charged out of the restaurant, with Apple quickly behind. The two galloped through the Empire, until Sweetie reached the edge of the protection, and crumbled to the ground, sobbing harder than she had before. Everything was crushing her, and she could find no strength to fight it.

Apple Bloom was not far behind, but approached slowly, not immediately taking any action, to let her friend unload some of the bottled up pain. When she could bear it no longer, she came around and embraced the zebracorn. “I’m here Sweets”

“How can we change anything, what good will it even do?” She spoke, after a hysterical fit, and calming enough to be coherent. “Family, friends, home, we’ve lost everything, so what’s left?”

“It’s hard, and I’ve asked myself many times before I got back to Equestria, ‘why?’, but it ain’t always bad” Apple tried to reassure her. “Come’n back to Ponyville fer supplies, I’d never dare to hope I’d find anypony, and there y’all were. Get’n y’all back, it restored my hope. It gave me a reason to fight another day. Now I believe in a chance to at least get a world we can rebuild”

Sweetie Belle stopped being hysterical, as she listened to her friend’s words, but heard even more there. She began to feel something inside her. She looked out into the wasteland, but she could only see her friend. She was looking into the past and present, and all those treasured moments she had with those she had cared for. Now she felt it. “Yes… That’s it! Harmony isn’t just about yourself, and it becomes something more when you find it with others. It is those around you, and that is why I can’t unlock the Element, because I’ve just focused on myself” Apple tried to get her attention, but the mare was lost. “The truth lies in others…”

Turning to face her friend here and now, she was excited by her revelation. “I should have been thinking about you, about all my friends, near and far, alive or dead. Friendship, that is the truest magick” She smiled wide, a new hope in finding the answers now before her. “Like you. You took me from just surviving to stay alive, to actually trying to live. You gave me hope, and to find love again. I’m so happy to have you back, and it doesn’t matter what happens, because you and all those I love makes life worth living, worth fighting for, and I want to fight for you and all those out there!”

Apple Bloom smiled at her friend’s words, but also at what she was seeing, being only one of the two to be able to see it. “That’s mighty good, but I think y’all are forgetting something”

“What?” Sweetie blinked in surprise. “What could I possibly miss that is as great as what I now know? I know the true value of life, and why mine is worth living. Friendship” With that, the glowing that she was oblivious to flared, and caught her attention.

Apple Bloom winced at the sudden light, though she was a bit more use to it, it was more the feeling in her artificial eye. “Mine is reacting…”

The flare was not theirs alone to experience, and though the light did not touch every soul, the surge of power did. Most would dismiss it, but a select few would be more touched by the power that was now shifting.

***

High above the land, in the eternally dark clouds, in the grand complex of the twisted factory, deep in is bowls, past the screams and horrors that caked the halls and rooms. Beyond the laboring, groaning machines, the turning soups of bloody colours, and all the discarded things no longer of use, two ponies were trotting above in the shadow embraced trotways. One, smaller, stopped in their movement, to make a sound of pain and it drew the attention of other.

Her colours were faded, but no one could mistake the cyan coated mare, with the rainbow mane and tail. She had cut the back down to nothing, letting the fetlock out. She wore a business suit, from her role as president. “What?” Rainbow snapped, looking back to the pony. She did not truly care, but she was using this to mask that she too felt something inside.

The second mare was a dirty orange-yellow, with a weak, magenta mane, styled to match her leader. She bore many scars and marks of a hard fought life, but she had claimed the seat as Vice President. It took her a moment to respond, searching her mind to figure out just what it was that she felt. It hurt, but also was almost soothing. “I-I don’t know…”

Snorting out in disgust, the lead mare started forward again. “If you are going to die, then get to the extraction room, and don’t waste the precious Spectra that we’ve pumped into your broken body”

“If I was, I would” She shout back, standing tall, as tall as she could with a beaten body and broken soul, and briefly giving light to her violet eyes. “There is no greater honour than to die for the Flock, and being fed to the Pegasus Device is the highest glory. If I did not have more to give, of this shattered form, I would march proudly into the maw”

The other laughed, a dark, twisted laugh that held no comfort. “You’re a demented little cunt, Absentia”

“No more than you…”

***

Back on the ground, in one of the many scattered camps of refugees, a pair of ponies grimaced at the sensation they felt in their bodies. “You feel it too PC?” The young, soft yellow, Unicorn mare asked. Her mane was light orange like the early sun, with crystal blue eyes.

Beside her, the tan Pegasus, with a light brown mane, and deeper brown eyes was still figuring out what it was that affected them both. “Yeah Kin, how are you feeling?” He returned. The pair were not much older than the broken Equestria, growing up knowing only the horrors of the post Storm Era. They were, however, adept at it because they have know nothing else. They seemed much older in how they acted, as this world did not let much time to be a child.

“I’m ok” She replied. “What in the wastes was that, and why did we both feel it?”

Struggling to understand, PC looked toward the North, something calling his gaze. “I feel it has something to do with the Crystal Empire… I feel drawn toward it”

“Same” She quickly agreed. “I think it’s time we head for the Empire… call it a Uni-sense”

“He won’t like that” He said a little softly, like who he meant was listening. “But, he will have to agree to go. You do have a weird ability like they always said Auntie did. He will have to listen to your gift”

***

Outside of reality, in the Chaos Realm, a yellow Pegasus, with a bright, pink, long mane was rocketing through the twisted, unpredictable void, until she came to a perfect stop just outside the door of the only house in the expanse. “Discord!!!” She shouted, laughing like a madmare, enough to shutter the door. “Something’s wrong!”

The whole side of the house opened, leaving just the door in place, as the Draconequus (You all know what I look like) stepped out. “Oh dearest Fluttersnide, of course something is wrong, did you miss the first story?” He held up a book titled “Shatter Storm”.

She jumped up, and smacked the book, and it exploded into splinters. “Don’t play stupid” She growled. “You didn’t feel that wave of energy, oh great Lord of Chaos?”

He raised the larger of his two brows at that, and made a face of thought. “No… I don’t like that…” He became more serious. “There is a shift in the air” He then grinned darkly. “Maybe this means the end is finally near! I’ll get my sandwich board!!!”

“What end?” The once timid pony got into his face, demanding an answer.

Discord gave her a quick kiss, and said. “That, my ball and chain, is up to the players”

***

Deep in the Evergreed Forest, in the lavish, restored castle, now of Nightmares. The ruler of the demons here, was draped over her throne, with a devious grin upon her face. “Oooh, I have not had such a marvelous tingle in such a long time” She looked down at the dark, bug-like, equine Queen of the Changelings. “Are you trying to seduce me with tender feelings?”

“Please” Chrysalis sneered at the very idea. “I feed upon them, I don’t give them” Annoyed, she continued. “I don’t know what is happening with your ‘tingles’ and I really don’t care. I’ve heard you are a sexual deviant, among other such types, but do try to focus”

“Too bad, it might have swayed me” Nightmare yawned. “Now, your offer simply bores me, and something else now draws upon my focus toward the North”

The Queen laughed. “What, the foal Sombra? So called ‘King’? He is more a pawn to those Umbra than their leader” She argued. “You must see the benefit of our forces joining together, with so few ponies left out there for either of us. I need them to feed upon, and you need them to draw from, but so long as that damnable Pegasus President keeps grinding them up or whatever she does, our resources are running dry. We can steal away Rainbow Death’s-”

Hearing that name invoked the anger still boiling deep in the mare, and she cut the Changeling off. “Do not dare say that wretch’s name in my presence!”

“Yes, we all know of your failed war, and that is just another reason we need to unify. With the terror you bring in their dreams, they will be begging for something to turn to. My Changelings can feed on their desperation, and give false hope, allow them to be even better sport in their dreams. How can such a tantalizing offer go unreceived? How could you say no?”

Still seething from the reminder of her great defeat at her rival, the wicked mare was in no mood to entertain any longer. “Simple. No. I need no help from any other villains, least of all the parasite Queen, and I do not desire it. I am forever, just as the dark will always be. The light may shine, but the shadows are always surrounding it to move in on whatever was standing in it. That harlot will run herself dry, and when she is weak and desperate, my demons will move in and claim everything she has. I will have my revenge” She now sat straight in her seat, looking as imposing as possible. “My demons and I can go without ‘feeding’ for much longer than you can. Whilst you starve, she falls from the sky, and that deranged King bashes his head against the wall until he is finally defeated, we will clean house. Not even Discord, who will likely go insane, or be killed by that traitor, or that elusive slut Trixie will be able to stand against me”

Standing from her throne, she descended it, disregarding anything further. “Now go, while I give you leave to do so. I have a tingle I wish to enjoy”

Rejected, annoyed, and disgusted by such primal needs, Chrysalis turned and flew away, her contingent of Changelings following soon behind. “Too blind, too self absorbed in self pleasures, they cannot see that they must adapt and change with the times” She curled a smile. “Luckily, that is what we do best my brood” She laughed softly, as she moved to her next plan.

***

Somewhere in the ruins, hovering over the withered corpse of a Unicorn, the darken-blue mare, with a sharply curled, white mane, and blazing red eyes, turned them toward the North. She bore a look of a satiated spider, already thinking of her next victim. “Something tells Countess Trixie, it is time to visit the Crystal Empire. Her evil has lingered in this venue for too long, now a new stage will be made ready” Lustfully, she rolled her head back toward her prey, blood still warm off her fangs, painting her lips in a crimson glow that was only matched by the glow of her eyes. “These meals have done so well for Countess, but Trixie now desires the feast befitting her. Such magick, such blood, and the endless combinations. Countess Trixie will drain the Empire, and be Greater than the legendary Tirek, and certainly more Powerful than any of these foal villains”

Her cloak flared out, as a bone structure spread out in the form of wings she had stolen long ago. Her blood magick covered and coated the bare appendages, forming something to give her lift. She let out a piercing cry, the sent terror in the rest of the camp she had attacked, making the survivors to scurry in fear she was coming for them. She shot into the sky, and the vampire was no longer interested in the food below. She now directed herself toward the Empire.

She passed one of the Aerial patrols, but they avoided her, hiding in the clouds they ruled. They would not tell it, no pony would, but many below the Apex Villain Lords feared Trixie. She was a Lord herself, and even posed a threat to her peers. They could only hope that word would not get back to President Death, their cowardice.

***

To the North, in her hidden cave, Twilight screamed out in shock. “A new challenger approaches!” She looked around, feeling a lingering power inside her. “Well there was a time when you let me know what’s really going on below, but now you never show that to me do ya?” She looked at a crude picture of her former Element. “But remember when I moved in you, and the holy dove was moving too, and every breath we drew was Hallelujah?” Her eyes filled with tears, as she started to sing, repeating “Hallelujah” over and over as she cried.

***

Back at the epicenter of all the fluctuation of powers, Sweetie Belle was recovering from the sudden surge. She looked over at Apple Bloom, who was still rubbing at her Element Eye. “What just happened?”

Squinting at her friend, she offered. “Not sure, but I’m guess’n y;all unlocked yer Element, seeing how it’s on yer horn”

Rushing to one of the spire-like crystals, Sweetie looked at herself, and saw what Apple did. The Gem was no longer purple, but a pure white, and shaped like a triangle, tapering upward with her horn. It covered only the bottom fourth of her alicorn, set in a golden band that was ornate and wrapped around her horn. “Wow, weird… the earrings were just a temporary form?” She was excited by the fact it was now open to her, but also perplexed by the placement and form it took. “I guess I don’t have anything missing, but I was expecting something like what yours did” She glanced back at her friend, who came closer now. “Seems like a weird place for it, but I guess magick, horn, kinda makes sense, and kinda glad it's not a crown or something silly… still, seems a little blah for the binding Element of Harmony”

“They are all important right?” Apple asked, not really that read up on the subject. “Maybe cause we ain’t like the last generation, they‘re more even?”

“Maybe, they were pretty even when the Princesses had them”

Apple Bloom wondered. “So, why’d I feel it when y’all unlocked yer’s? It was even more intense than I think it was when mine unlocked”

Thinking about this a bit, Sweetie tried to find the most logical reasoning. “Well, when Twilight rediscovered it, it awoke all the others. Like I said, it is kind of the binding one, so maybe me unlocking it cause all the others to react too?”

“I wonder if the dormant ones also reacted?” Apple questioned, just before a guard came to them.

“Miss Belle, Miss Bloom?” He waited for them to give their attention before going on. “The Princess is requesting your audience”

Joining Cadence in her special map room, she was standing by it as she spoke. “Congratulations on unlocking your Element” She started, noting the horn jewelry. “However I believe it may have set a chain reaction throughout the remains of Equestria. As I was seeking out the pockets of refugees, I was overwhelmed by the magick your Element sent out, and now I sense echoes in areas similar to it” She paused a moment, as the two looked around the map. “I believe these are potentially new ponies of Harmony, but I’ve counted more than just the missing four. I believe that even those who once held an Element also are pinging, at least those still alive” She looked at Apple Bloom, and stopping herself from speaking of Twilight’s ping.

The effort was for not, as Apple Bloom looked over the areas, and pointed out. “Sure ‘nough, Nightmare Rarity in the forest, Rainbow in the clouds, but it looks like even those who are gone. I’m guess’n Twilight was here in the North part”

“Oh, yes… Maybe it’s just cause she was so close, because if I add it all up, new and old, we are missing a couple. I would guess that would be Applejack and Pinkie Pie’s” She quickly thought of a lie, but the earth mare was studying her. She was not sure if she was buying it.

Apple Bloom opened her mouth, but then closed it again and just made a sound of knowing.

“Can she see through lies with her Element?” Cadence wondered, before attempted to move beyond the subject. “We should attempt to reach these places, and get those ponies here before something befalls them”

“Does yer magick work on these signals?” Bloom dropped her questioning of the lie she had seen through, knowing now was not the time. “Can you still tell if’n they are bad or good?” She pointed to a couple spots where more than one ping was. “Like here and here, there’s two”

“These two” Cadence pointed to a pair far south. “Seem to be positive hearts, but these two where the Rainbow Factory is, one is very clearly wicked, the other is a bit grey”

Sweetie spoke now, deciding on their course in gathering these ponies. “I think we should go out alone again, seeing how hard it would be to travel in a large group, and you have to keep your guard against Sombra and the Umbra. I think I can move further, even with Apple Bloom, thanks to the Element, and we can keep under the radar of those villains, so no suspicions are raised”

“I was considering the same thing, however I have sent out missives to several of the camps since trying to rally our fellow ponies,” Cadence explained. “They move, and it might be gone before you reach them. Some have been scooped up already” He concern only grew as she spoke. “What's more, how are you going to transport so many ponies, when you have trouble going far with two? There is no safe way to move large numbers across those wilds in the open, and even Twilight could not have moved such numbers so far”

Sweetie smiled, with a knowing glint in her eyes. “Actually, I think I may have a solution to that very problem” Cadence and Apple Bloom looked at her with a little bit of doubt, but curious to hear what she proposed. “In my brief times around Twilight, when she was very busy, I would spend time with Spike. He told me about that spell he and Princess Celestia had to send their messages. His dragon breath was something special, and he was about to move those messages because of the spell. There are a lot of details I will spare you both, but he, Twilight and Celestia had a special bond, and could move simple objects between themselves. If I have a pony here to act as a receiver, I can do something like that and move numbers of ponies across the world”

Being skeptical, the Princess asked. “Have you attempted this?”

“Not just yet, but I’m sure of it!”

“What about the distances and the number of times you would need to cast this spell? Any Unicorn knows that casting a spell once is one thing, but to do it over and over takes a toll. You think you could clear whole camps?”

Only more sure of her skill, Sweetie went on defending her idea. “That is the beauty of this spell, it really only requires the effort of focusing on the destination. It takes very little to cast it, and it moves on its own to the address. The receiver doesn’t even need to be awake for it to arrive, it just homes in on who it’s being sent too”

The Princess had her doubts, where as Apple Bloom was only excited by how smart and clever Sweetie was proving to be. She made solution from a seemingly unrelated idea.

Continuing to press the mare, Cadence went on until she had all her questions answered. “That only leaves one thing, and that is the pony here. You need somepony you are close too, but where I’m sure Apple Bloom is suitable for a test here, I imagine she will be going with you”

“Actually…” Now Sweetie informed. “She couldn’t be the receiver point, it needs to be a Unicorn or something with a magickal able to cast spells. They don’t need to be aware, but their magick will act like a guide, and give a bit of it to change the delivery back to its natural state”

“So, a flaw here. You don’t know any ponies here that well, correct?” Cadence wondered, again feeling this plan to be faulty.

“Luckily my time in the library I did manage to get close to some of those who came also fequinted it. I did get pretty close with Mystic Tome, and he would be perfect. He once served as Princess Luna’s record keeper, and has quite the mind for these sorts of spells. We’ve discussed the topic numerous times, how I’m so sure in the idea”

Reluctant, but seeing very little else in the way of a solution to move the masses, Cadence agreed to allow the mare to test her spell first. Apple Bloom, finding no reason to doubt her friend, volunteered to be the test subject. Mystic was summoned and the tests would begin.

Out in the courtyard, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and the Mystic Tome had gathered. The new unicorn was a bay colour, that hinted to almost a crimson shine, with a blanket pattern over their withers and a bit of the back, patches down each shoulder to their forearm, and hind stocking all of black with a gleam of blue. Their mane and tail were cut short and neat, with slight curls, and coloured of steel blue. They still proudly wore their dress coat, marked with the Lunar Republic emblem. Their ruby eyes were framed by simple, rectangular glasses, one glass being broken. They looked to be reserved, and collected, as he took stock of the earth mare he had yet to meet. He offered a polite greeting, but it was clear the pony was not very open to new relationships, rather a reclusive type.

Sweetie and Mystic had started to work on getting their energies aligned, and soon the eager mare spoke. “All right Mystic, we should be ready” She stepped back, for no real purpose but to show she was about to take the next step. “We can do the exchange now, and I will go to the second location” With a nod from her assistant, she was gone across the furthest point she could in the Empire’s protection. She had a letter prepared, and like she learned from Spike, only without fire breath, she turned the paper into a puff of smoke that swirled and drifted quickly away. It was not long before it appeared before Mystic, who read “Testing” Once read, he added to it, and sent it back, now with “1…2...3…” for Sweetie to read.

Reappearing with the pair, Sweetie Belle was even more excited that the connection was working. She grinned in success, and Mystic gave a hint to a smile, while Apple Bloom knew the next phase she was not completely excited about.

“Ok, are we ready to do the real test?” Sweetie looked at them both, and they nodded. “Good!” She moved closer to Apple Bloom, and transported them back to the testing location. “Ok,” She started, once they appeared, Bloom a bit woozy. “I can’t say for sure what this will feel like, but I can’t imagine it being worse than normal teleportation”

Forcing a smile, Apple replied with “Right…” She then thought. “I ain’t accustomed to that yet…”

Moving forward, Sweetie focused on her friend and the spell. It took more effort than the letter, but much less than teleportation, and soon the magick was being summoned. Apple Bloom was now floating, enveloped in an aura of magick, trying to keep as calm as she could given that she was not so used to these sort of things. Her body was tingling, almost in the same way a limb did as it was starting to fall asleep. She started to grow a bit more nervous, as all feeling was suddenly gone.

Standing on her own, suddenly back with Mystic, Apple Bloom felt like she had blinked in and out of existence. It was like she had passed out, then was awake again. As her reality returned to her, so did the tingling. “Oh… that ain’t right…” She shook, trying to get complete feeling back, and get rid of the sensation all over. Sweetie Belle had also returned, looking very pleased in the success of her trick.
“I’m all here, right? I’m feel’n like… OW! There it is…” She fell over, violently shaking her leg. “Get up Chuck!”

“Chuck?” Sweetie grew concerned, fearing something might have gone wrong.

“My leg… I named it” She looked at the two Unicorns, who seemed confused by this practice. “I got it from my sister” She stood now, but was not fully over the effects. “Not… completely bad, but I do prefer a train. It worked though, and it’s a might bit better than try’n to brave the dangers out there to get here… I think”

Sweetie Belle laughed a bit unsure. “Well, not much of a ringing endorsement, but at least it will save lives”

“Y’all sure did something special here, and soon we’ll have everypony out there safe, and we can make the next step in taking back our land!” Bloom added, but muttered. “Just glad I ain’t doing it again”

Giving her a thankful smile, Sweetie turned then to Mystic. “Alright, I imagine the strains were reasonable?” They nodded. “Good, we can depart soon as we are ready, and hunt down our lost people. I will send notes ahead, giving an idea of what will be coming through” She snickered. “No sense of catching you in a stall or something like that”

“It will do great things, and be a monumental step in areas of mass migration spells. It is nice to again be working my magick, how little my efforts are in this, and doing good for Equestria. My Princess is gone, but I will carry her legacy, and protect ponies in the best ways I can. You be safe out there, I do not wish to lose another I care for out there”

She hugged him, and gave “I will, I have Apple Bloom to protect me, and the need of others to drive me” They broke, and she bid her friend a farewell.

As the two mares moved back to their room to prepare, Apple had to ask. “Seems a might stiff, but y’all work good together” She started, turning it into a joke. “Y’all go to the library, and found something good to check out?” She grinned proud of her word play.

Sweetie blushed, but shook off the implications. “No, no, he already has somepony” She paused a moment. “Actually, you did kind meet him back at the library. The Pegasus, Dust Jacket”

“Huh, figures two bookish ponies would get together, guess I figured y’all had something in common with the spells and what not, being able to cast a spell like that”

“Na, just good friends. I don’t think nerds like me, are my interest though” Sweetie admitted. “I like magick, and learning, and all of that, but deep down I will always like the thrills of being out and experiencing things”

Apple nodded. “I could never be stuck inside, not after all these years being out there” She lingered on a thought. “What’s with his glasses? Can’t they fix those things in an Empire of crystals?”

Without giving reason, Sweetie just laughed, knowing the why and not deciding to share it. It left Apple to keep asking “What?”

******

Now out in the fields, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had made it to the first few camps and groups. They explained their mission, expanding on what was going on in the world and the last battle to come. For the most part, it was met with skepticism, and doubt. Most believed it to be a trap, but some wanted so much to escape they jumped at the chance to escape. There were families and ponies so tired of fighting, broken and dying souls, seeking some salvation. As pony after pony decided to risk it, even more would decide it was better than being left behind. Still, some did refuse the help, even against Apple Bloom’s persuasion.

Avoiding trouble, the pair had made it far South, but for their good fortune in travel, they were also not finding any potential ponies that carried an Element. This grew worry in the two, as it was starting to seem that those signals may have been false alarms, or illusions in some way. She believed some were true, as they were with confirmed keepers, such as Rarity, Rainbow, and even Twilight. From their experience, it seemed the Elements could be given, but it was unsure if they transfer as well without original to instigate it. Sweetie did not know if Applejack had passed her Element, or if it just chose Bloom without a host to go too. She also had no idea if it found a suitable host, or just the nearest pony. Too many variables made this mission looking to be solely a rescue, not a retrieval. This meant one terrible truth. They would have to face the Villains with only their two, and hope they could somehow recover the Elements from them. She was not sure how, in the case of Pinkie who vanished, or Fluttershy in Discord’s realm, they could gather the six, if they were not in fact reborn.

Reading her friend too well, Apple Bloom offered. “We’ve saved a great number of ponies. Can’t say I’m too happy we ain’t found a single Element of Harmony or keeper, but at least we can return with the satisfaction of help’n them ponies” She smiled, trying to get Sweetie to do the same. “Imagine how full the Empire will be when we return, and all them ponies will be smiling at us. We saved them Sweets, we did a great thing out here”

Listening to her words, and after a time, accepting them, Sweetie Belle smiled. “Yeah, you’re right. The Empire is full of the last of Equestria’s hopes. For the first time in ages, we’ll be a united people. Equestria will be again, whole and safe”

Record 03: Gathering Forces

End

Author's Note

Two down, six to go. How long until those missing Elements return, or will they ever?

Things a looking pretty calm now, but is this a prelude to the next storm?

Hallelujah lyrics originally by Leonard Cohen