Author's Note
Written and Art: Sketchbook
Editor: Tenenbom
Chapter 1 Rocks
Stable 5459 an oddly number cold and divided stable. There are only two races that live here; unicorns and earth ponies. Luck was on your side if you were born as a unicorn. You got to live at the top of the stable with the best food and a pipbuck on your arm. Earth ponies like myself, we get rocks, rocks, and even more rocks. We work the mines feeding gems into the power core. While the unicorns get the luxuries of using the power. If you are born as a unicorn you get the chance to be overmare like my aunt Diamond Heart; my mother's older sister. My mother always said, "Well, why shouldn't they? They are the ones who control the stable. We would be lost without our lovely overmare." I rolled my lavender eyes and smashed the large stone under my hoof.
"They wouldn't have anything without us," the charcoal color stallion replied.
"Midnight Jade! Don't speak like that. Not in front of Gemmy!" she turned on him narrowing her ocean blue eyes that shined bright against her light tan fur.
"Mother I'm not a filly," I picked up the coal between my mouth. I had long gotten used to the earthy taste. I dropped it into the fire and watched the flames dance around the coal. I don't even know why my mother was down here in the mines. She worked up top with most of the unicorns, I don't know if it was because of the overmare or because despite being born as an earth pony she is the best doctor in the stable.
"Gemstone is not a fool. She isn't going to be like some other fools around here..." my father said smiling gently at me. I smiled back at him and went back to smashing more stones. I knew some other earth ponies were every unhappy with how things were run in here. I have heard the whispers around me all my life but last week a young stallion tried to do something about it. He really was a fool. If you do your job then everything is fine, but Fireruby had the balls to attack the overmare. Standing next to me he towered over me, which, wasn't hard to do as I was short for my age. My eyes moved up his body to his face. He had light sliver fur with a dark red main that made his golden eyes shine like Luna's moon. I blushed and turned away before he got a glimpse of me staring. My head shot up and I stand in attention, I see the overmare walk quietly in. Her head, up in pride as two stallions follow behind her.
Her orange and white main is in a bun on the back of her head and her long tail sways behind her back. Floating her clipboard to her face with her blue magic she began roll call. It takes a moment to get to me but when she does, I call out "here!" as quickly as I can. She smiles and nods before going to Ruby.
"Fireruby?" He doesn't say anything but stares at her with eyes filled with hate. "Fireruby!? Did you not hear me?" she sternly says turning herself so she is standing in front of him.
"Yes...here" he growled and met her eyes. The overmare nods and turns to start calling names again and I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. She was only four ponies away from us when Ruby charged with a yell. I can still remember the look of fear when he was shot down by one of the security unicorns. Ponies scream and yelled and an older mare with bright red hair and a white coat ran to the body.
"My boy.." she sobbed into the corpse. The right side of his face was gone and most of his brain was splattered behind him. "QUIT! If you are not in line up in 10 seconds he will not be the only one on the floor!" she yelled, and just like that everyone was standing in attention even the now quietly sobbing old mare. "Order must be kept..." Suddenly a loud horn blows, snapping me out of my flashback.
My father smiles turning to me "Let us wash up and go to the dining hall." The dinner hall was crowed like always and my parents talked with the other earth ponies. However, I felt no need to talk to others. I never really got along with others and it never really bugged me. Two mares giggled, walking pass me "Freak" the light purple unicorn hissed. Looking up from my rock soup I narrowed my eyes and the unicorn gasped stepping back.
"C..Can I help you Gemstone?" she said when she saw that every pony was watching her.
"I was just going to say bless you..that was an awful sneeze, Lillymoon" I stood from my seat and began to walk away. I had no time for Lillymoon's shit, she was the overmares daughter and thought she could do no wrong. At least she was smart enough not to give the others more reason to dislike unicorns. Freak. I was used to the names. When you are stronger than most stallions who've been working the mines before you were even born does not really make you a lot of friends. My parents were proud though and they were the only ones I care about in this cage. Why do I feel so nauseous? I shake my head and I finally get to our living quarters and press my hoof to the scan.
The door opens with a quiet swoosh revealing a small but cozy sitting room where there were pictures on the walls above a small table with fake flowers in a gem vase. Walking over to the wall I stare at the old picture of my great, great, great and so on grandmare and her sisters. There are four of them and on the left is a silver hair mare with a grayish purple coat and bright yellow eyes. Next to her was my granmare she was a light gray color coat like me but unlike my ugly pumpkin orange hair, hers was a dark gray that made her purple eyes that weren't covered with her mane shine. Next to granmare was the odd one out of the four, a bright pink pony with an even darker pink mane. AS far as I knew, the pink pony was the director of the Ministry of Morale during the war. She made sure this stable was the home for her family but my grandmare and her older sister the gray coated purple hair mane were the only ones to survive. "You know you look like your grandmare," I heard my father say as he walked up next to me.
"I'm not that pretty," I replied. He chuckled and smiled brightly at me and pulled his hoof over my neck pulling me into of his famous bugbear hugs.
"Don't let the others ever stop you from being you. You are beautiful and stronger then you know. One day you will show everyone else the mare I see."
I blushed and looked away "You are obviously blind."
I would say that I'm closer to my father than my mother. Shining Opal or the head medical nurse for the earth ponies and my father Midnight Jade the chief of the earth ponies are both strong and so sure of themselves. My mother was a mare that both unicorn and earth ponies cared for. She, like my father, saw no differences in unicorns and earth ponies. They both help each race without question. My father was the link between unicorn and earth ponies. He speaks directly to the overmare for us. Even though some earth ponies think he's too soft and should demand more. My father and mother both know how to negotiate with others and trust them, but not me. I don't really know how to talk to others. Hell, most don't like me anyway so I never really made friends. Never really needed to. The only thing I had with my parents was my cutie mark, as they were all gems. A jade stone with a star next to it for my father, and a bright almost rainbow opal with a red cross for my mother, and me I had three bright purple crystals on my gray flank. I look down at my cutie mark and sigh even though I still have no clue what it means. It didn't matter as I am happy as long as I have my father and mother. I need no one else and couldn't care less what my flank tattoo means.
"JADE!" I am pulled out of my thoughts as my mother gallops into our home, the father quickly goes to her and I am not far behind.
"What's wrong Opal?" he asked her and she tried to catch her breath.
"Haa...Iron Hoof is trying to fight with the overmare, it could be ugly," her worried eyes meet my fathers.
"Gemstone stay here," he turns to me. I wanted to protest but he had that look. You know the look that parents give you when they are telling you not to question them or you'll have hell to pay.
"Okay..." I nodded and took a step back as I watch them both runoff. My stomach turns once more and it got worse as time passes on. One minute goes by then five, then ten and finally I can no longer stand that sickly feeling, I race out of the living quarters. I hear my heart race as my hooves beat along the metal floor. Klank, Klank, Klank goes the sounds that echoed around me. My heart began to pound against my chest. It was unbearable.
I finally get to the crowd and my parents are nowhere to be seen. Fighting through the crowd I can see a clearing up ahead. There are six ponies in the middle of it. Two unicorn guards are on the floor, and I think one is dead, and the other one is hurt pretty bad.
"Now just calm down Iron Hoof," my father says with a calm and collected voice. I can see my mother next to the overmare holding her close. She has a small cut above her shoulder but besides that she is okay.
"NO I'M FUCKING SICK OF THIS SHIT! IT'S NOT FAIR WE WORK OUR ASSES OFF AND DON'T EVEN GET A THANKS," the large and dirty, dark mud brown coated pony roared.
"Look, we can work this out and talk about these matters over in private. "
"FUCK NO THIS SHIT ENDS NOW!" he let out a fierce and angry yell as he races towards my father. My father stands strong; ready to protect mother and the overmare. He did everything he could to protect others, he was kind and gentle but I knew my father wasn't a fighter. Iron Hoof was bigger and stronger than them and soon had him under his hoof. My eyes widen, I was going to stand there and watch this bastard kill my father. Narrowing my eyes, I run-up to the large earth pony and turned using my back two hoofs to kick him in the side. I heard a bone crunch under the inpack and he went flying into the hard metal wall. All eyes are on me and the room has grown so quiet I can hear nothing but my heavy breathing and the burners below us.
He grumbles as he struggles to stand up, "What the..fuck" he growls, his eyes locking on to mine. I don't break eye contact with him even when my father begs me not to fight. "You would choose a unicorn over a fellow earth pony!" he yelled taking a weak step forward.
"I choose my family..."
He began to laugh and moved closer, "Are your fellow earth ponies not your family?" I stay silenced under the pressure and held my ground. I glance behind me to see mother; now working on the injured unicorn. I look back over just in time to block his back hooves from kicking me in the face. He lands a sharp kick instead on my shoulder and I almost lose my balance. Recovering quickly, I slam my hoof down on one of his hooves then elbow him in the face knocking him out cold.
"Enough if anyone else wants to lay a hoof on anyone else I'll take you down too." No one moves towards me and I feel a hoof on my non-injured shoulder.
"Come one Gemstone let me look at your shoulder."
I never really cared for the medical wing; it was always too bright and too clean. I don't know if it was because I was so used to the mines with the burners being the only source of light or maybe I only came here for shots but I still did not care for it. "Gemstone..." looking up, my eyes are met with the overmare smiling warmly at me, "Thank you."
I return her smile, "I didn't do it for you. I did it because he was trying to kill the father and because if anything happens to you I'm sure mother would be most sad."
Her blue eyes widen and then she began to chuckle, "You really care for your parents. I'm glad Opal has you as a daughter. She was always too gentle growing up and saw the best in every pony." I open my mouth to reply but then the door slides open and Lilymoon ran in grabbing on to her mother sobbing like a filly.
"Mama are you okay? I was so scared!" the overmare pulled her daughter close and soothed out her tears.
"I told you that the overmare was fine," I was surprised when I saw a light blue coated stallion walk in. He was bandaged up pretty good and needed a small cane to help him move around.
"Sapphireshield this is Gemstone, the pony who saved our life," Diamondheart smiled as she walked guiding her still sobbing daughter out. He walked up to me somehow still looking amazingly graceful for someone with a cane. He wasn't much older then I and he had beautiful emerald green eyes and long dark blue mane and tail.
"Thank you Ms. Gemstone I am in your debt," I looked away, my cheeks getting a hint of pink, stupid hot ponies.
"N..no it's fine."
"No if it wasn't for you I would be like my father," I could hear the sadness in his voice. He sounds as if he was about to cry.
"I'm sorry for your loss..." I would be a mess in anything happened to my father. Mother wouldn't let me see him. He was hurt a lot worse than it looked. A rib punctured a lung and mother was having trouble getting him stable.
" Are you alright?" I hear him ask.
"Yes just a bit worried for my father is all," he smiled and I felt a hoof on my cheek.
"I know your father Midnight Jade is a noble and strong pony. I have gotten to know him the last few years of becoming the overmares personal guard. I can tell you took that after him." Now I know I was blushing, I wasn't sure how to feel about another pony aside from my parents saying nice things. Definitely not a very handsome unicorn.
"I'm nothing like him but thank you." I let a gentle smile brace my lips, "I would love to stay and talk but I want to go and check on my father."
I began to walk out and he gallops up to me and smiled, "I'll go with you. I would also like to thank him for saving me."
I was mad no, I was pissed off. I paced around the living quarters trying to think of something. How could this happen? My father was fighting for his life and stupid Iron Hoof took the fucking power core gem and left the stable. He had the balls to ask me if I chose unicorns over earth ponies. Hell, I didn't choose to doom us all. The unicorns were trying everything to find another gem to work but nothing was helping. We have emergency power saved but I wouldn't last long maybe a half month or if we only used it carefully a month. Mother's words echo in my head, "If we don't get full power soon...I don't think Midnight will live long." She didn't know I was listening. I know I shouldn't be there but I had to know what was going on. Power? What do you mean enough power father being out shouldn't slow down the power?
"I know this is hard Opal but without the power core gem that Iron Hoof stole there isn't anything we can do." the over mare said putting a hoof over my mother's shoulder pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Can't we just find him and take it back!? The stable is not that big!" she sobbed.
"I wish we could but...he left the stable."
I wanted to cry or scream or maybe vomit? I wasn't sure but all I knew was that I was alone and I could really use some pony. Made me think of nights when I used to have nightmares of the evil zebras coming to kill us all in our sleep. My mother never woke up but father always did.
He would hold me close and tell me "I would never let anypony hurt my family."
Then he would tell me the stories of the Princesses and about my family. Once I was calm and ready to go back to sleep, he would sing to me. The same song the sung on the rock farm. I found myself for the second time that day staring at the old picture of my granmare and her sisters. Behind them was a rock farm white a little shack to the left of the shack a large bolder.
I study the bolder and my eyes widen, "It's a geode!"
"A what?" I turned to see Sapphireshield walk in. I forgot I just left him thereafter the news.
"A geode. It looks like a normal bolder but inside a crystal," I said walking up to him. He tilted his head to the side still confused, "I'll explain but I need to talk to the overmare and my mother."
"Wait a moment, Gemstone are you out of your mind or has spent too much time turn your brain to rocks?" my mother was not into the plan, not one bit. "You want me to let you go out there and either find Iron Hoof and get the power core gem back or go to the old Pie rock farm to see if a bolder from 199 years ago is still there for what!?"
"Now Shinning Opal we need to hear Gemstone out," the overmare said folding her hooves in front of her on the desk. This was the first time I was ever in the overmares office. Most of the time, if a earth pony was in here it wasn't good. The room was very clean and had a large picture of the first overmare on it. The unicorn's colors were a lot like Sapphireshield's but she had purple eyes and round glasses. Her hair was midnight blue, and short and curly. The rest of the walls were blank beside the wall behind the over mare that had a viewing window of the dinner hall.
"I understand this isn't safe. I wouldn't even call it smart but I think it's our only hope! If we sit here and do nothing we will die... father will die" I clear my thoughts and stood tall. I didn't break the overmare eye contact, "I have always noticed the power core was originally a geode from the smooth bottom. Meaning some pony had to prepare the gem. I believe that if I can not find Iron Hoof then I can go to the old rock farm and get another peace."
"I will not allow this!" My mother slammed her hoof down as she looks up at me, her eyes were still red from earlier and I knew she was about to cry again.
"Gemmy if you go you'll die!"
"If I stay we all die..." I said coldly.
I turned to my mother, "If somepony doesn't do something soon we will all die. I would rather die trying to help us than sit here and wait for it. I'm the only pony strong enough to break a bolder of that size..."
Mother's eyes widen and then she closes them, "I don't want to lose you.."
I saw the tears fall down her face and she begged me in silence to think of anything else. "Not to worry, Ms. Opal I will go with her," now it was my turn to be in shock. Sapphireshield walked up and stood next to me looking down at me, he smiled and nudged my flank with his.
"It's our stable and we must protect it even if it's a foolish plan it's the only one we got!"
The overmare sighed and stood from her chair, "I don't like it, Gemstone. I want to tell you no and go to your room and think of something less foolish" the large picture on the wall began to glow in blue magic as it was removed to reveal a safe behind the wall.
" You are right. This is our only hope, but I'm not going to let you go out there with nothing." She put a code into the safe and the door popped open. She floated out three things then locked it back. Floating the picture back onto the wall as fit into place, it was never removed. First thing was a book, it was large and old. The front was ripped in the top corner but you could still see it was a cutie mark of some kind. It was a sketchbook with a now-faded pink heart in the middle and an equally faded orange number two pencil. Next was two recording tapes that would fit into a pipbuck.
"How do I play these? I do not own a pipbuck?" I asked the overmare.
She smiled and walked over to me "Not to worry we will give you and Sapphireshield everything you will need in the morning."
"Morning?" I question, "Are we not leaving now?"
I think she could see the confusion in my eyes and she giggled "No, I would be a fool if I let either one of you leave before a good night of rest." She pulled both me and Sapphireshield into a hug. I gasp and looked over to the male unicorn who smiled at me. In all of my 25 years of living this was the first time, my aunt hugged anyone aside from her daughter.
Once I was back into my room, I sat the pipbuck, the two tapes, and the book onto my bed. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the bed and placed the first recording into the pipbuck and pressed play. Suddenly there was a mare's voice, "Hello Everypony I'm Sketchbook, your overmare. It's wonderful to meet you all...no that sounds so stupid!" I heard a bang, as if she slammed her hoof on a table, then a males chuckling could be heard.
"Easy Sketchbook," he said.
I could tell he was walking closer as his voice crept more. It was becoming clear with each step.
"Oh Bass, I can't do this! Why would Pinkie want me to be the overmare of her family's stable? Both Sweetiebell and Applebloom have cleared it but still, I'm not a leader! I couldn't even lead a pony to water if it was the last lake in Equestria!"
Now he was downright laughing at her "Sketchy, you are just being silly now," he said through his laughter.
" You and Pinkie family have been close for a while. Why wouldn't she trust you and besides, don't forget I'll be by your side during all of this." I could hear the smile in his voice.
"Yeah, and we don't even know if we will need the stable anyway! I mean who knows maybe tomorrow the war could be over and I'm stressing over nothing."
"Take a break lets go out a eat then we can come back home. You have your meeting with the Ministry of Image tomorrow over the new posters right?"
Sketchbook tsked and her voice became cold, "Yes, I never became an artist to make posters to put fear into ponies."
I heard paper move around, "Ohhh that's scary! I'm sure Rarity will love it!"
" It's not even Rarity I get to see but Coco Pommel. She doesn't have time to greenlight the art something about taking a trip to Hoofington."
"Oh, what for?" Bassnote asked her.
"Doesn't matter, I just want this war over..." Then the recording ended and I let out a long sigh taking the tape out and looking at what was written on it.
" It sounds as if the original overmare didn't want to be the over mare." I jumped on to my bed and turn sharply getting my back hoof caught in the white sheet. Then I learn that gravity works very well in the stable and fell right in front of the male unicorn.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's rude to go in a mares room," I blushed to get up and kicking the sheet off.
Sapphireshield chuckled "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you." Green magic surrounded the tape as he floated the first one over.
"No, she seems almost scared" I reply getting on to my bed.
I patted the bed next to me and grabbed the next tape. "Want to listen to the other with me?" I blushed to hide my face behind my hair. I didn't look at him but I did feel the bed dip and then warmth next to me. I press play and the next one started.
We were met with loud sobs, "If you are listening to this I first want to say I am sorry." She sniffed and continued "I'm not meant to be the overmare. I told Cloudy Quartz and even though she is sad she understands. If there is a chance that.." her sobs began again. "I won't leave him out there...Please understand my little ponies and please forgive me. Bassnote is still out there I can feel him...If there is any chance I have to sav him! I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." then just like the other one it was over. I open the book and inside was an old picture though it was in very good condition. There was a mare about my age she had bright purple eyes and her fur was a bright blue with curly dark blue hair. She had glasses and pulled a dark gray-blue stallion with midnight blue hair and bright ruby-colored eyes. She's a unicorn and the male, a pegasus and under the picture was the words Sketchbook and Bassnote.
"He was her very special somepony... and she left to find him."
The next morning came a lot quicker than I thought it would. Sapphireshield stayed with me until my mom returned. After he left, mother told me how bad father was and how little time we had. She told me that healing potions were not working and the healing chamber was had just enough power to keep him stable but not heal him. The overmare called for line up like normal but this time the unicorns were there. They stood up on the top walkway and they were not happy, some were growling and glaring at that the earth ponies. She told her ponies what happen and why Sapphireshield and I were fixed up in saddles. I had on chest armor and a blackguard jacket, It had protective lightweight plating. I had wrapped the bandage around the sleeves near my hoof to keep the sleeves bagginess in check. I looked over at mother her eyes were red and puffy from crying all night. It was hard for both of us to sleep. "We must stay strong my ponies! " she finished then turned to us.
"May Princess Celestia and Princess Luna keep you two safe and well."
I saw the tears fall from her face. "Don't worry aunt, I promise we'll get the gem back" I whisper and the stallion nodded in agreement. The overmare went over to the main control and pressed a button. A bright happy voice popped on and said," PASSWORD PLEASE!"
"Notebook party time," Dimondheart said and flashing red lights and a loud buzzing noise started.
The computer then said "OKIE DOKI LOKI!!"
The large steel door slowly swung open and Sapphire and walked out. We were blinded until the door shut and once we could see again. We were met with a sight that made both of us gasp. There was a long dark tunnel but in the end, there was a dim light.
We followed the light "So the overmare is your aunt?" he asked walking next to me.
"Yes, my mothers older sister," I replay and finally we reached the opening of the cave. I stopped and my eyes widened. They were met with an awful sight of a cold, dark and ugly world.
