Author's Note

Ah, you've made to chapter nine of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more.

Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the second half of the story's progress; somehow, the new year had provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that's coming on: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough.

One last thing before signing off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before because this is the first time I've written a character such as herself; of course, considering the fact this is the same story where over half her friends had appeared, it shouldn't be so surprising so to speak of: what is surprising is that my original character will be making an appearance too.

Crescent

Now, it would seem that one part of the world had its very atmosphere already applying some direct pressure upon itself with coldness and calculation. At the very least, the spacious skies had objectively held up the flashing lights, all bearing silver linings within themselves among the sea of dark clouds. The air all throughout crisp and cool enough to commute many different aromas from all walks of life had each of them varying in quality and quantity. Even so were many flowers had slowly sprouted from the brilliant green, instantaneously bearing witness to ever rushing waters roaring from the cataracts. A calm gentle breeze was surfing onward and sliding about throughout the stony roads and dusty trails already cutting across the vast hillside landscaping. Nesting nearby the rocks and water was but a civilization currently defined in such an intricate manner, bearing more colors and shapes than the earth. Density notwithstanding, it was only a matter of perspective to find an utter abundance of such individuals from finite but numerous typed demographics.

Out of many buildings in this rather quiet place, there was one that had stood out amongst others: an enormous one nearby the heart of the city remaining in the cold distance within the premises. It’d stood up as high as about several stories tall, complete with a triumvirate of bicolored spires poking upwardly against the skies above with the middle being the point of absolute symmetry. The predominately ligneous roofing the very complex had shared happened to be more elaborate, reminiscent of a clearly nocturnal firmament with all the temperate swirls beneath a gilded rail. Almost all of the stony lonesome walls were just simply painted in the richest shades of purple, save for the bleached entrance where a gilded chronometer hung under the rectangular window. Speaking of which, many of the crystalline surfaces found imprinted amongst the front had bore an identical arching shape with the very same accents found throughout the entire surface area. Neighboring it all were thin blades of grass with some of them bearing a lighter shade to serve as pathways to and from this place as well as the others, something which many could ascertain to. All that remained to guide whichever individuals in and out of the building in particular was a gilded stairway holding up two proportioned pillars painted predominately in a darkened peach.

Anyways, there had been one ray of light beaming in the center of a room but it wasn’t provided by the outside world; nevertheless, it was more than enough so to speak. Within the very location thereof, its sights and sounds were currently blending in with the colors more ornately than the exterior in question, no doubt the work of people. Much of the background altogether happened to be bleached like the very entrance and yet it was adorned with the many purple draperies attached to them all so presently. Of course, there were bound to be exceptions overall: the flooring itself was but a checkerboard of greens; the adjacent wall possessed a screen with a still image therein. Huddled together within the confined space were at least some scores of people, all from various demographics imaginable sitting down upon the spacious stands intently. Standing betwixt themselves and the opposite wall is a white quadrangular electronic lit up, the scope of it all reflecting the light back onto the latter in a series of colors.

One singular person is found to be standing up to face the small crowd of people up in front, a lonely towering woman with bright skin. She’d wore a pair of thick black glasses overlaying her darkly rank irises of purple, staring at the multitude with a somber yet stoic glance. The woman’s hair consisted mostly of scarlet with two violet stripes down in the middle, starting with an extra adjunct holding up the peak. Snugly in place, she’d donned a thick black turtleneck sweater alongside with some beige pants into the mix and a pair of brown boots.

“If I’d known that there would come a time I would be back at Celestia’s School, then the least I could’ve done was build some more confidence earlier in my life; after all, I was willing to let my former classmate and friend, Twilight Sparkle, be up to the task at hand like she’d have…” the bright skinned woman said jubilantly before the listeners already in attendance.

One of the audience members had sneezed, followed by another whispering softly, “bless you…!”

“When she’d asked me to speak to you on her behalf today, I was obligated to honor the occasion due to her contributions not just as the Bearer of Magic, but also as my neighbor…” she said softly before clearing her throat straightaway, soon seeking the seconds needed to segue, “it’s fitting that Twilight Sparkle would’ve loved to talk about her favorite subject of choice. Growing up, the two of us had studied in this very school looking for a purpose in our lives: it would seem as if that we were all set in our ways and with good reason as many of you can see clearly; after all, if it weren’t for our passions of learning, then we wouldn’t be here today. Of course, there are plenty of other factors that would’ve impacted every single thing about our existence to even the smallest of details, whether it’s the friends you have or your choice of fashion; while that many would not see every decision, good or bad, as something that can decide the fate of the world at large, they can, however, play a role in our very lives. Overlooking the past war alone, I’ve felt crestfallen on the day when my friends told me Twilight Sparkle was sent to Ponyville the day before the Summer Sun Celebration; all that I’d looked forward to on that day was seeing her face again because it was the first time I’d decided to put myself out there. Despite feeling humiliated and estranged, I had others whom stood behind to convince me that I still had value, not just as a friend but also as a person: Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Minuette; they were the three people whom kept me close since that fateful day seven years ago, like they have before. Decently put, Twilight wasn’t the first person to leave me behind in Canterlot without saying goodbye: another girl whom we’d thought was our friend, Sunset Shimmer, went to the same school as us over a decade ago; in retrospect, it’d happened to be a good thing I hadn’t met her again before she even tried to do so. But don’t insinuate that I’ve become a hypocrite in the process, let alone took those experiences as a disincentive to reject friendship: even when I’d devoted myself to my studies, there was always a feeling in the back of my mind that either one of them would return home one day; of course, I didn’t like how it’d come to pass. Years before Canterlot was besieged, I’d heard the news about the library burning down and thought back to the newspapers that said Twilight was staying there since the Summer Sun Celebration: I was at a loss of words and all of us were both worried, not just for her sake but also for the others living down in Ponyville; after all, she wasn’t the only one whom was there. Even to this day, I still wonder about how many lives could’ve been greatly affected by this very war alone, especially considering the damage she and the other Bearers had undergone during this time: barring the lost literature therein, the burns Twilight suffered through were just part and parcel of the whole picture; everything in that town had changed over time since the fire. Still, I’m blessed to have all of my friends alive and well to this day, yet I feel guilty knowing what had happened to them, besides Twilight: Lyra and Minuette were assaulted by changelings while Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine lost their homes in the war; if anything, I’ve more than enough reason to believe it should’ve been me suffering alongside them…”

“What makes you say that, Mademoiselle Moondancer…?” a distant male voice was being heard nearby amongst the muttering crowd.

The titular speaker fixed her eyeglasses and replied only softly overall, “I’m sorry, but who are you…?”

“Bag, Messenger Bag; most people call me Mess ‘cause of my reputation, yet you’re free to call me whichever nomenclature you choose…” he’d instantaneously introduced himself without any hesitation whatsoever so to speak, “I want to start off by apologizing for the sudden interruption; it’s just that you had me at the whole ‘suffering’ thing: would you mind elaborating about it…?”

“Of course I mind: even though it’s been only seven years, I still bear their pains alongside mine; besides, the war had changed them far too much…” the bright skinned woman simply scoffed straightaway.

It wasn’t long until she’d heard small footsteps coming her way gently as Messenger Bag said, “I understand: after all, I’d came across others whom felt the same way; I’m a certified psychotherapist, nothing more…”

Moondancer could easily see a man without a plan yet on a mission for something only known to him alone; of course, compared to her, he was in dire need of an introduction. His skin was much unlike the speaker in terms of quality: a scant fifty shades darker, it matched that of some copper toned tableware of a bygone era best stored in a museum. Messenger Bag also wore some spectacles, albeit thinly rimmed to outline his fiery yet tamed scarlet pupils, restricted by none other than his very welcoming visage therein. The man’s locks were short, darker than the dimmed environment everyone was in yet had some bits of star platinum within themselves to be easily differentiated upon study. Another contrast between him and her was the attire, the former being more colorful: aside from the white overcoat, there was a blue shirt, some green pants, and black shoes.

“Hmm, I see and what were the commonalities you’ve found in your time…?” Moondancer inquired calmly now that Messenger Bag was in full view of the others at once, “surely the research your profession has gathered may as well have served a purpose in mental hygiene following into the postwar era, Mister Bag…”

“Increased stress levels, paranoia, anxiety, depression, insomnia, suicidal tendencies, panic attacks, hallucinations, night terrors, hypochondria, and the like; these were symptoms of serious problems survivors had suffered from since the war, from invalids and the able–bodied alike…” the dark skinned man answered the brightly skinned woman steadily so to speak.

She’d soon spoken to him at once, “yeah, I’d had those problems too; they’re not pretty and the fact my friends were suffering from them did us no favors: Twilight especially gotten the worst of them since she’d watched Princess Cadance die in front of her during the wedding.”

“Ah yes, the Canterlot Tragedy, a day in which Equestria lived in infamy and with good reason no less…” Messenger Bag sighed with restraint, sitting back down in a different location unoccupied, “how did you react to hearing the news personally…?”

“Initially, not much at all for the most part: I was sick on that day studying all night before; however, the explosion later that night literally knocked me out of my bedside so to speak…” Moondancer answered back before pointing to the device residing nearby the first row up in front with a remote in hand.

The image shifted into something more simplistic: three circles represented by primary colors with the overlapped regions in a mixture, save for the midpoint completely blackened out; the dark skinned man observing this change cerebrated, “and so the story begins…”

“For at least over a millennium, Equestria has been founded under a singular common goal, a new home to escape from the perilous old world…” the bright skinned woman began to speak as she pointed to the picture in question abaft herself, “even though most of us are of Polyphonic demographics, our collective homeworld used to be all the way out across the Celestial Sea. Contrary to popular belief, Princess Celestia didn’t name the body of water separating our homeland from Griffinstone and the Dragon Lands; in fact, the nomenclature predated her nascency by at least over another millennium, long before Starswirl was even born as many of us knew. Conversely, although the Luna Oceans and Bay were associated with her younger sister, it was only at least over four centuries ago, especially before Nightmare Moon’s return; at that timeframe, few people other than the Princess herself remained aware of that foregone conclusion soon enough. Either way, it was known as the Aeon Tenabram, or more commonly in the Ponish tongue, the Shadow Epoch, a time when there was great strife in the Platommic Continent between three major civilizations: Ponyland, Trowa, and the Germarial Tribes; each of them was at war with each other as well as the wildlife that had attacked them, especially Bugbears. Nobody know where these creatures came from but the common consensus besides numerous variations and subspecies is that they’re believed to be the work of Grogar’s evil magic; whatever the case may be, the temporary truces that came as a result of these encounters led to fewer friends and neighbors alike after the bitter end. To combat the rising mortality as well as the overpopulation of their own homes and gardens, they’d chosen to set sail and foot for new worlds as they had thought: of course, this didn’t mean that everyone set sail westward to what would become Equestria for there were ships that had gone in other directions, sometimes finding themselves in places already inhabited by others. Realistically, adapting to the new world as we’d have known it meant coming to terms with the changes differentiating between our ancestral homelands and places like Equestria; as previously mentioned, there were other lifeforms like us that were inhabiting it: normal tribespeople living deep within wildernesses made up of trees, rocks, sands, or even near the coastlines. In addition, there were others that were known for manipulating the elements to their advantage migrating to and from here as well as changing their forms whenever needed: of them happen to be those that breathe fire from out the mouth, despite being reminiscent of individuals like ourselves; although solitary, the threat they’d once posed was too significant to be left alone. Compared to our ancestors where people die for all kinds of reasons, be if old age, suicide, and illnesses, especially terminal ones such as cancer and tuberculosis, there was one commonality between both worlds: the number one most terrifying cause of death is death by fire, and being around lifeforms which had wielded such a power served to be enough reason for violence.”

“But people around them living in places such as Fillydelphia don’t do that anymore, don’t they…?” another feminine voice interjected, bearing more youth than the likes of Moondancer herself so to speak.

A small frown grew on the bright skinned speaker’s face as she’d asked, “and who might you be…?”

“Skye… Skye Interwar: I’m a foreign exchange student from Neighpon; also, I’m sorry for interrupting you…” an answer was heard in the far rear, prompting Moondancer to settle back down into her previous state, “I’d came here alongside a few others to watch the cherry blossoms this month…”

Unlike him, Skye was also shown to be female yet her stature in question had set her apart from many of the adults by virtue of being shorter than them. Like the bright skinned speaker, the youth in question also happened to be one of the same yet the latter’s integument was lightly tanned so to speak of. Another distinction that Skye possessed was the utter lack of eyewear even as she’d also bore some lukewarm eyes, darker and more down–to–earth. Between the two, the youth in question had worn some orange hair reaching to her shoulders, despite being hidden away by a bluesy brimmed beanie. Much like Messenger Bag, Skye donned colorful clothing: a yellow turtlenecked shirt with white accents, scarlet gloves, blue jeans, and black sneakers.

“Ah, yes the cherry blossoms: in your native tongue, they’re called sakura and the Hanami you’re speaking of refers to a simpler time when your people watched them bloom before you; forgive me for say this, but it’s kind of sad that they’ve changed, wouldn’t we all agree…?” the dark skinned man wistfully wheezed wantonly.

Moondancer regained her composure, pressing the same button towards the electronic before the image changed again: this time it was a sextet of individuals about much older than the others within the crowd, each with their own similarities and differences; afterwards, she’d said softly, “yes, I’m aware of the festival in question but that’s not what we’re here to talk about today. Even now as you can see on this slide, the founding of our nation was no less perilous than the others countries within the Polysphere such as Austailia and the like; after all, it was before the Discovery Generation, a time when the Ternary Islands were invaded by the Castro Empire over half a millennium ago during tumultuous times. Speaking of which, the first time Equestria had some trouble was due to Grogar, an evil sorcerer whom created various monsters in an unending pursuit of expansionism, no different from the other entities, save for his powers; because of his wretched ways, one hero stood up to challenge him: a woman named Gusty whom united other like–minded individuals together to banish him. Though she’d been remembered as one of the earliest heroes, she didn’t live long enough to see more following after his imperialist reign: even though this homeland had plenty of agriculture before that time, many of the tribes didn’t share the prosperity with one another, let alone appreciated the peace earned and kept. Eventually, winter came but unlike the ones experienced in much of Platom, it was so much more: the ensuing blizzard destroyed much of the crops, forcing the three leaders to meet together at a summit to search for the cause; still, more blame gotten passed around between one another before deciding to seek greener pastures. Running from the blizzard, the tribes came to the same place only to make the same mistakes like before: as a result, the trouble in paradise started over again, this time burying their homes and gardens along them; soon enough, their trusted assistants learned the cause of the snowstorm happened to be a bunch of windigos. Decisively realizing the hate their peers have given one another led to this ordeal, they’d casted aside their grudges old and new alike, embracing each other’s companies to the point where their newfound camaraderie have led to lives being saved before reaching past the points of no return and the foundation of a new holiday, Hearth’s Warming. After the Fire of Friendship was stoked, the windigos were driven away due to the eventual lack of hate; with these lifelong lessons learned, the tribespeople joined forces together and shared the land alongside with its seemingly unlimited bounty, not just with themselves but also with others like and unlike them, including those whom were indigenous to Equestria prior to its founding. Yet, as history has taught us, more obstacles have remained to this day: from the magical to the mundane, be if the end of the world as we know or just a loss of a certain ice cream flavor, perilous times have yet to end; aside from the lingering possibility of Grogar’s return, there were other threats that had to be combated here and there throughout this time.”

“Miss Moondancer, based on your research, you’d learned about what Equestria was like before the Regal Sisters rose to power…” he’d said, this time raising his hand for the bright skinned speaker to see clearly despite the darkness, “what methods were used to ensure that this peace and prosperity were maintained…”

“We’re getting to it shortly…” Moondancer replied, clicking again at the device so the picture changed; another sextet appeared, this time more balanced when it’d came to genders, and alongside them were some corresponding objects: a shovel, a shield, a mask, a flower, a cloth, and a book.

The youthful ginger looked at the people and the items in question and asked the bright skinned speaker straightaway, “who are they and what are those objects…?”

“Well, as you can plainly see, Skye, they’re known as the pillars of Old Equestria as we know it, each with their own distinctive artifacts in question…” Moondancer answered confidently yet with utter humility in her very tone, “coupled with the set of skills, they were face of the post–Gusty era, intermediates between her untimely end and the beginning of the Royal Sisters. The shovel was wielded by Rockhoof whom embodied the element of Strength: once an underweight farmer, he’d found greatness by saving his village from an erupting volcano against insurmountable odds, digging a trench to divert the lava flow away into the ocean; his heroics became a literal living legend. The shield, Netitus, was wielded by Flash Magnus whom embodied the element of Bravery: a member of the Royal Legion of Cloudsdale prior to the Wonderbolts’ foundation, he’d created a diversion to save his comrades from firebreathers by luring them into a thundercloud; said item was kept as a reward at the behest of its previous owner, Ironhead. The mask was worn by Mage Meadowbrook whom embodied the element of Healing: a plague doctor studying under her mother, she found a cure for the Swamp Fever epidemic that ensnared their village; afterwards, she’d left home to seek patients in need of treatment from other illnesses, bearing the article of clothing used to protect herself from the flash bees since then. The flower was grown by Mistmane whom embodied the element of Beauty: unlike the others, she’d came from a foreign land that happened to become modern–day Neighpon itself; she’d left for Equestria after defeating and saving its empress from herself and her own expansionist campaign by planting it back into the ground and restoring the land in exchange for her beauty. The blindfold was worn by Somnambula whom embodied the element of Hope: her village took inspiration for the name after saving it and their Pharaoh’s son, Prince Hisan from an evil Sphinx; even since that fateful day, it was also left behind by her alone in exchange for a necklace of glopaz replacing the pearls sold away to feed her neighbors as a gesture of gratitude. The journal was written by Starswirl the Bearded whom embodied the element of Sorcery: inside it were various spells and events recorded by him detailing the adventures had alone and alongside the five others; little is known about the contents overall save for the fact it was written in Olde Ponish and that it has been hidden away from the general populace upon rediscovery.”

“About the journal, if it were the case, then how was it obtained…?” Skye inquired again without hesitation whatsoever.

The bright skinned speaker wasted no time replying, “it was obtained in an antique shop at least several years after the war: rumor has it that a child purchased Starswirl’s journal amongst other items; apparently, she’d brought it to a similar school one day and happened to be studying it alongside other classes taken, even during lunch. At long last, the girl attracted the attention of Princess Luna whom was visiting on that day: when she’d told her about how it was obtained, the princess relayed the news to her sister Celestia whom had to host a conference the day after; it was explained that the book had belonged to their mentor from over a millennium ago…”

“To what extent was Our Royal Highnesses’ reaction…?” Messenger Bag now shot a question in Moondancer’s range, his scarlet irises now focus on the artifact in particular, “it’d seemed surprising that they would’ve be attached to it very much….”

“Indeed, he’d shepherded them to be the new rulers of Equestria: based on their conversations, they’d learned a lot from Starswirl when it’d came to magic; of course, considering the upmost importance regarding his journal, it’d been confiscated for our protection due to the treaty…” the bright skinned speaker spoke, much to the growing intrigue of the audience present.

The youthful ginger couldn’t resist thinking about what Moondancer had just said, “I didn’t know that one of the pillars was from my homeland, let alone connected to the foundation of Equestria; speaking of which, I’d never imagined that she’d followed that man whom taught the sisters whom would grow up to be Princesses: I wonder how they’d felt about their destiny…”

“In any case, through their teamwork, they’d protected Equestria from threats far and wide during their lifetimes…” the bright skinned speaker announced, pressing the remote once more to show a late addition to the sextet, another man, “of course, their camaraderie wasn’t meant to last long, something that they’d even knew all too well. One day, the Pillars had encountered a man by the name of Stygian whom had brought them together to maintain and share the virtuous ideals they’d represented; however, according to Starswirl, he and the others had a falling out with him when they’d found him with their possessions. Apparently, they’d realized that he was so envious of their abilities he’d planned on stealing their attributes so he can have some power for himself; as a result, Stygian was cast out of the group, which had led him down further on a darker path, left with a lust for vengeance alongside. Following the expulsion, he’d returned to face Pillars again, this time after transforming into a Peon of Shadows; his new goal was simple to a fault: to extinguish their light and rob the world of hope alongside the other virtues he’d attempted to claim for himself. Realizing the immense power Stygian had now wielded at his disposal, Starswirl and five others came to the conclusion that a sacrifice must be made: this meant that they’d to cast a huge spell to stop his reign of darkness from ever taking root; speaking of which, they’d all taken the liberty of planting a seed in advance prior to the fated faceoff. To this day, no one knows of their collective whereabouts, not their friends, family, apprentices, not even their admirers; even worse, seeing that the events took place over a millennium ago, only the Princesses had survived to remember this day: Celestia took this especially hard yet knew that she and Luna had to take on the task of running the country at once.”

“Wow, I guessed they must have been very lonely…” Skye said sorrowfully, shedding a singular teardrop.

Sighing in solidarity, Moondancer responded, “not at all, they’ve understood the fact that their sacrifices were necessary to protect Equestria and those whom were living there, especially them alone; after all, the plant they’d left behind were the very things that the sisters needed to run it in their absence: the Elements of Harmony.”

“Yes, I’d once recalled that there at least two of the former wielders: Fluttershy and Twilight; one of them was involved in the program seven years ago…” the dark skinned man said, causing the rest of the audience to erupt in whimpers regarding his statement in question. “I’d happened to know because I was there on the day Persimmon Tart’s trial when he was convicted…”

“What trial: did something happen so long ago; more importantly, what does this have anything to do with her of all people…?” the youthful ginger ruminated as she was currently focusing her attention on him with confusion and curiosity.

It didn’t take much time for the bright skinned speaker to regain the floor soon enough, coughing about, “yes, I was informed of the trial in question and the role she’d played by Twilight but that’s not the issue: the important thing is learning about how our civilization came to be, especially regarding Equestria; however, I feel that we’ve talked long enough for the time being. Thankfully, lunch has been provided in advance for all the guests in this school: you’re all free to use the thirty minutes therein to unwind and intermingle with the others; in addition, I’m willing to continue on afterwards to anyone interested in the second part of the whole lecture after break. Please take note that any student looking to have their extra credit assignment validated will have to see me as soon as possible prior to leaving the premises today: after lecture, I will be hanging around the office at least until midafternoon at four o’clock; ‘til then, relax…”

It was at this point in time the lights pollution, if at all, had now increased in both quality and quantity alike, the dimness now vaporized instantaneously. Only then, it’d became crystal clear to everyone whom had listened clearly to Moondancer’s announcement seeing that they were freed from the dark. Therein, the very audience held a collective sense of relief and anticipation, even Skye and Messenger Bag despite their differences from much earlier. At long last, everyone altogether could look forward to indulging themselves into the pleasures of subsisting on the assorted foodstuffs and beverages alike.

“I gotta learn more about these Elements of Harmony…” the youthful ginger said to herself, moving along with the crowd as she’d remained aware of her enlightened surroundings so to speak of, “they seem to remind me of that adventure my friends and I had been on not too long ago; I bet Nina would love to hear about it…”

It wasn’t long until the bright skinned speaker followed after the spectators with a mixture of real pride and accomplishment, far from the unscrupulously avaricious failures of a future past the horizon.