Watermelody lazily propped her head up as she watched in boredom at the earth ponies unloading crates off a cargo ship that had drifted in port with a few royal guards checking the manifest and a few crates at random.

She knew the likelihood of one of those crates having drugs in it was pretty high since the whole port was pretty corrupt. She could name a few royal guards who were paid off themselves.

It was rare for the guards to be paid off but money talks, especially for the underpaid. Though Celestia is fairly good at punishing the corrupt when she knows about it.

“Hi,” Watermelody said and waved to some tourists getting off a boat, sighing as they ignored her and trotted by. Her mom always did say life as an artist would be a difficult one. Watermelody was fortunate enough to have a small house she rented on the eastern side of the town. Sure, it may be in a rough part of town but Watermelody was nice enough where she didn’t get fucked with. Benefits of keeping her word and helping her neighbors. “I really should have brought my coffee.”

If only her parents could see her now. Watermelody knew they’d have a lot of words for her and not a lot positive. Ending up in a port town that had a reputation for narcotics slipping into the country, living in a dirtyish part of town by herself with a booth set up in a market selling paintings. It wasn’t necessarily the life her parents imagined for her and honestly, it was the life she had imagined either at first.

But she had to admit, it was a decent life. She couldn’t afford all the rich things like her parents could up in Manehatten but Watermelody got by.

“Busy day, huh?” A blue pegasus asked as he leaned against the stall and Watermelody paused to examine him briefly.

“You could say that. You?” Watermelody shifted into a more proper sitting posture on her bench behind her stall.

“Eh, it’s a bit busy. Keeping Surprise in check can be a chore,” Soarin admitted as he watched said mare doing a triple barrel roll.

“That’s right, you’re one of the flyboys,” Watermelody pointed a hoof and Soarin raised an eyebrow at her.

“The flyboys?” Soarin echoed and a smile tugged at his lips.

“Yeah, you know one of the Wonderbolts,” Watermelody wagged a hoof in the air. “Flyboys. Though most of them are female for some reason. There’s only what, four males?”

“Yeah unfortunately. Spitfire hates when I talk sports with her,” Soarin shook his head with a smirk. “I mainly do it now to annoy her.”

“Uh huh. Aren’t you supposed to be up there with the others?” Watermelody asked with a flat expression and Soarin shrugged.

“Taking a break. And besides, I had to force Spitfire to go spend time with her sister since she’s in town. Spitfire and I fought for hours this morning when I first brought it up. She hates leaving her team or taking days off.”

“Oh, you mean Sunset? Yeah, she’s pretty excited to be back. Though I suspect seeing Silverspeed and Silver Spoon is the highlight,” Watermelody mused and Soarin looked at her.

“Didn’t know you know those two. Yeah, Spitfire hides it well but she’s happy to see Sunset too. She and Blaze both rarely get to see Sunset. Neither of them will admit it but it is pretty stressful on all three of them,” Soarin commented and stretched his wings.

“Trust me, I know.”

“Yeah, me too. How did you get to meet Sunset exactly?” Soarin examined some of the pantings she had on display of various structures and the moon.

“Met her in Manehatten at an art show when she was doing some work investigating something for the princess. Did you know Sunset has police powers specifically given to her?”

“Like all students of the Princess or just Sunset?” Soarin asked as he continued going through the paintings curiously.

“Just Sunset. Twilight turned it down. It was a bit weird finding out Sunset carried hoof cuffs and magic inhibitors in her saddlebags on trips. When I first met her, I thought it was some kink thing. But yeah, that’s how I met her. We both love art and started sending letters back and forth once she left Manehatten. I assume you met her through her sisters?”

“Yeah,” Soarin confirmed and placed a painting of a pie on the booth gently. “I’d like to buy this please.”

“That’ll be thirty bits,” Watermelody said and Soarin nodded before sliding sixty over.

“Keep the change. Can I come by after practice and pick it up?” Soarin asked as Watermelody paused her wrapping of the painting and tapped a hoof against her chin.

“Yeah, that’s fine. You gonna be at that party Sunset was mentioning earlier?” Watermelody asked and hesitantly pushed the bits into her register. She only rarely ever got to keep the change from her customers. Most didn’t want to pay more willingly for the obvious reasons of saving money.

“Yeah. You?”

“Mhm,” Watermelody nodded and placed the painting under her booth with a sold sticker on the packaging. “I’ll see you there.”

“Yeah I’ll uh see you there?” Soarin said weakly and took off into the sky as Watermelody’s eyes followed him briefly before she blushed and shook her head.

“Great. Now I have nopony to talk to. Who buys a painting of a pie? Better yet, why did I make that painting?” Watermelody wondered aloud as her stomach growled and she blushed again. “Oh, right.”

Sunset sat with Silverspeed and Silver Spoon, hiding her beer from the filly as she and the other two listened to loud music playing across park, Sunset occasionally pointing out some constellations to Silver Spoon.

“Why is she always doing that?” Silver Spoon asked once Sunset left to use the bathroom. “It’s weird. She’s always offering to take me places.”

“Because she’s trying to connect with you,” Silverspeed answered and scowled slightly at the filly. “You and her could get along quite well if you gave her the chance, you know? And don’t let her or me hear you talk about her negatively, it’ll hurt her feelings.”

“Yes mother,” Silver Spoon muttered and rolled her eyes.

“I saw that. Now why don’t you run along and go see if your friends are able to play?” Silverspeed suggested with a smile. “I made a lot of good memories of playing with my friends when I was your age.”

Silverspeed watched her trot away to a pink earth filly before returning her attention to Sunset trotting back up with two glasses in her magic and Watermelody behind her.

“I got your favorite,” Sunset bumped her flank against Silverspeed’s and set it down next to her. “Where’d Silver go?”

“Playing with Diamond Tiara. Told her to go be a kid for a few hours. Hey Watermelody. What’s that?” Silverspeed gestured to the box on her back.

“It’s for Soarin. Said I’d bring his painting so here I am. I don’t know why he wants a painting of apple pie but whatever. He seemed nice,” Watermelody answered and gently shrugged it off onto the ground. “I even saw Wallflower here. I’m surprised she decided to come. Not many in town have talked to her. She only leaves her house for food and stuff. Even then it’s kinda hard to see her.”

Sunset hummed in response as Silverspeed nuzzled her, wrapping a wing around her as Sunset smiled slightly.

“I see you’re all having a good time,” they glanced behind them at a white pegasus with a sun cutie mark and Sunset grinned widely.

“Mom!” Sunset exclaimed as she hugged her, Silverspeed choking slightly. “This is Celestia’s disguise but tell nopony. How are you?”

“Good Sunny. I get to finally meet your marefriend,” Celestia smiled at her and hugged Sunset. “Silverspeed, was it? And your friend, Watermelody?”

The two stared in awe and Sunset smugly closed their jaws with her hooves. She had kinda figured that would have been the reaction.

“You talked about me to the princess?” Silverspeed demanded in a whisper with wide purple eyes that Sunset adored. She’d be lying if she said they weren’t the first thing that got her attention that time in Canterlot when she accidentally bumped into Silverspeed and spilled coffee on her.

“Of course I did. She’s practically my mom,” Sunset answered and nuzzled Celestia as she blushed. “Way better than my real one.”

Watermelody and Silverspeed both hastily bowed in front of Celestia as Sunset and the princess both laughed quietly.

“You can stand up now. She’s in disguise, remember? And of course I’d tell her about you two. She knows about my entire life. Mom is my best friend, I tell her everything and she tells me everything. Sometimes,” Sunset teased as Celestia chuckled. “She’s secretive occasionally.”

“Occasionally,” Celestia agreed readily and glanced at the moon. “Almost time.”

“For the sun to rise?” Watermelody asked once she and Silverspeed sat back down, the pegasus wrapping a wing around Sunset with a smile.

“Yes,” Celestia answered after a moment and her eyes lingered on the moon. “I’m going to go to my position now. I’ve been walking around for a bit.”

More like several hours. Celestia always did this at the Summer Sun Festival to ensure ponies were enjoying themselves and not getting into too much trouble. The last time she did this was in a small farm town, chasing after a purple earth pony who was drunk and causing chaos that Celestia had to admit was fun. She idly made a mental note to invite Berry Punch to the castle in the near future.

“Alright bye mom,” Sunset waved with a fond smile as Silverspeed continued nuzzling her.

“You know, you’re full of surprises. You could have told me the princess knew about me!” Watermelody snapped and Silverspeed nodded her agreement. “I sold a painting to that mare earlier in the day. She gave me almost two hundred bits.”

“You’re so getting it later for this,” Silverspeed muttered in Sunset’s ear and Sunset gave her a grin.

“Oh, I’m counting on it.”

Twilight stood next to a light green earth pony in a striped sweater who’s eyes were locked firmly on Celestia, having shed her disguise talking on the stage with a stallion wearing spectacles.

“This is so cool,” Spike commented and a small colt next to him nodded. “Oh hey Wallflower.”

The green mare flinched and glanced over at him, smiling nervously as she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof.

“H-hi Spike,” Wallflower stammered and circled her hoof in the dirt. “How are you?”

“Good but tired. Oh hey boring speech blah blah blah,” Spike waved a claw and Wallflower let out a faint laugh.

“Don’t be rude Spike,” Twilight said flatly as she stared at the moon and her eyes widened when it glowed and the mare in it disappeared with a flash. “Oh no.”

“What is it? Are my plants not good enough?” Wallflower asked nervously and Twilight continued to stare at the moon with a dropped jaw and Wallflowers ears drooped. “I knew my flowers weren’t good enough. I’m uh gonna go home I think. It was nice meeting you Spike.”

Spike watched her leave as Wallflower pushed through the crowd.

“We have a problem,” Spike told Twilight and she nodded slowly, pointing with a hoof at the blue smoke swirling around their hooves and Celestia paused her speech.

“Yeah we do,” Twilight agreed nervously and backpedaled slowly from Nightmare Moon standing in front of her as Sunset and Watermelody’s jaws dropped.

“What the Tartarus is that?” A stallion shouted and Nightmare Moon ignored him, locking eyes with Celestia.

“Sister,” Celestia stepped forward and Sunset watched in stunned silence. “I take it surrender isn’t an option?”

“Of course not,” Nightmare Moon sneered at her. “Surrender is a sign of failure. I’ve come for that crown.”

“Yeah like that’s happening,” Watermelody snorted and Nightmare continued walking past the ponies, pausing at Silver Spoon.

“Adorable,” Nightmare stroked her mane and Sunset pushed Silver Spoon back to Silverspeed and stepped in front of them with a glare.

“Back off,” Sunset warned and internally hoped her voice didn’t crack. She’d be lying if she wasn’t terrified. Nightmare Moon was a bit scarier up close, more so than the old stories Celestia had told her.

“You’re no fun,” Nightmare Moon muttered and rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t going to harm the filly.”

“Likely story,” Sunset scoffed and her horn glowed a light red. “I’d rather trust a Changeling than you.”

“I wouldn’t antagonize her dear,” Silverspeed whispered and gulped nervously as she wrapped her forelegs around Silver Spoon. “I don’t think she’s here to be friends.”

“Who even is this?” A stallion in the crowd complained. “Nightmare Night was months ago dude. Get with the times.”

Nightmare Moon spun around and glared him as he stepped back in fear.

“Did none of you truly see the signs? Did nopony warn you of my arrival?” Nightmare Moon asked and shot a glare at Celestia. “Forgetting those closest to her, as usual.”

“I did,” Twilight announced and everypony parted to reveal the mare standing protectively in front of Spike. “You’re Nightmare Moon.”

“Somepony with a brain at least,” Nightmare Moon said as she stroked Twilight’s cheek and she resisted the urge to smack the taller alicorns hoof away. “So you must know-”

“Don’t drag them into this. This is our fight, not theirs,” Celestia interjected and Nightmare Moon scowled at her.

“It’s rude to interrupt,” Nightmare Moon growled and fired her horn at her. Sunset and Watermelody locked eyes and they both galloped towards Celestia, jumping in front of the blast.

“Sunset!” Silverspeed screamed as the unicorn went rolling across the ground with Watermelody, the two laying in a pile with dazed expressions.

Celestia glared at the other alicorn before she fired her horn, striking Nightmare Moon in the chest and watched as she tumbled to the ground.

“Lucky hit,” Nightmare Moon admitted and stumbled to her hooves. “It won’t be happening again.”

“So many birds,” Watermelody moaned and gestured with a hoof. “Just look at them all.”

“And for you all,” Nightmare Moon glared at them as her horn glowed and Twilight cast a shield around herself, Sunset, Watermelody and Spike.

Twilight opened her eyes and stared at the snoring ponies. Silverspeed was hugging Silver Spoon and Celestia was snoring next to them, Sunset shakily running to the pegasus and earth pony.

“What happened to them?” Sunset demanded angrily as she started shaking them. “And Celestia.”

“It’s obviously a sleep spell to get us distracted,” Twilight answered from Celestia’s side. “Take care of them. I have to go.”

Sunset gawked as she hugged the two sleeping ponies and sighed.

“What is going on down there?” Spitfire fumed as she paced back and forth, her goggles hanging around her neck. She and the others had been posted up on a hill, awaiting Celestia’s signal to fly over but nothing came. There was muffled screaming but they had all assumed it was just normal excited ponies seeing royalty.

“I don’t know Cap,” Lightning Streak commented and set down his binoculars. “There’s a weird blue mist and shit.”

“Blue mist?” Spitfire echoed in confusion. “That wasn’t part of the show. Give me those.”

Spitfire’s jaw dropped slightly as she watched Sunset and another pony get shot in the chest, going flying as Celestia watched with a horrified expression that Spitfire was sure she was wearing herself.

“Sunset,” Spitfire whispered and sighed in relief when she saw the mare moving. She really didn’t want to watch her sister get executed, especially not with her just doing nothing. She personally would never forgive herself. She may argue with her, but she loved Sunset a lot.

“What is that?” Soarin asked and pointed a hoof at a blue wave coming at them rapidly and Spitfire’s eyes widened.

“Down!” Spitfire shouted and she faintly made out some thudding bodies behind her as her eyes locked onto Blaze standing still with a confused expression. “Blaze, move!”

Spitfire inhaled and launched at her as Blaze collapsed and started snoring, kicking a hind leg occasionally as Spitfire slowed in shock before getting tackled by a white blurr.

“She’s gone,” High Winds held down Spitfire. “I don’t know why we aren’t.”

“What the hell just happened?” Spitfire fumed as she startes shaking Blaze. “Why won’t she wake up?”

“I don’t know but Fleetfoot and Soarin are out too,” High Winds answered as she started dragging Fleetfoot next to Spitfire. “What do we do? This is far from our job description!”

“Relax damn it. Breath in. Then we find Sunset. She’s a smart unicorn. If anypony knows what to do, it’s my sister,” Spitfire reasoned and watched as Misty groaned. “Misty, you okay?”

“Feel like I got tossed in a washer but I’m good. What the hay happened?” Misty answered and gasped at the other Wonderbolts sleeping around her. “Woah.”

“Misty, stay here and look after the others. Make them comfortable. High Winds and I are going to find Sunset,” Spitfire ordered and Misty nodded before saluting quickly, watching Spitfire pick up Blaze. “We’re taking Blaze to Sunset. I’d take the others but we don’t have enough of us to carry them all. And we all three can’t carry Soarin.”

Spitfire nuzzled Blaze briefly and wrapped her forelegs around the mare.

“Where to?” High Winds asked as she followed behind with Surprise drooling on her back. “Hopefully soon because I can feel Surprise’s drool.”

Spitfire winced slightly and landed on Sunset’s door step, nudging it open with her back as Sunset looked up from draping a blanket over a sleeping Silverspeed and Silver Spoon.

“Oh Blaze,” Sunset sighed and trotted forward to kiss the mares forehead. “I’m sorry. Is anypony else with you?”

“No. Misty stayed behind to look after the others. There was this blue wave thing of magic and everypony passed out. Except us and Misty. We got to our stomachs in time. They’re out too?” Spitfire asked as she nudged Silver Spoon, watching the filly roll over. “Shit. Are you okay? I watched you get shot. What was that?”

“I’m kinda sore, but I’ll be okay. I’m more worried about them, you all and Celestia,” Sunset answered and Spitfire froze.

“What happened to the princess?” Spitfire asked slowly and idly watched Twilight tucking Spike into a bed in the corner. Sunset’s grimace and look away told Spitfire everything she needed to know. “Fuck.”

“The sign. No cussing inside unless Silver Spoon is away,” Sunset pointed a hoof to a wooden sign in the kitchen. “Silverspeed had it made by Oak Wood.”

“Where is the library?” Twilight demanded and they all looked up at her. “I need to find the elements of harmony.”

“And just what the hell are those?” Spitfire snapped and took a step forward. “Why don’t you try to find a way to wake everypony up? My team is passed out and won’t wake up, my sister is passed out in my hooves and my other sister is standing above her girlfriend and daughter. Why don’t you do something about it, bookworm instead of looking for a book for some stupid shit I don’t even understand!”

Twilight was cowering on the floor with Spitfire standing over her, glaring down before High Winds hastily pushed her back.

“Easy Spitfire,” High Winds warned quietly as Spitfire inhaled. “Breath in and out like you said.”

“Okay,” Spitfire allowed High Winds to pull her away.

Twilight shuddered and stood up to face Sunset and Watermelody pacing back and forth, Sunset occasionally stopping to stare at Silver Spoon.

“Where’s the library?” Twilight said finally and Watermelody paused her pacing.

“Downtown near my house. I go there often when it’s not being repaired. Why?”

“I need to find a book about the elements of harmony,” Twilight answered and Sunset gave her a confused look.

“Why?” Sunset commented and her eyes widened slightly. “Of course. Celestia used them to banish Nightmare Moon back then. They can probably be used to banish her now and fix everything. Good idea.”

“How do you know all this?” High Winds asked as the two pegasi joined the group, Spitfire slightly less angry.

“Benefits of knowing Celestia. But they aren’t here in town. They’re miles away from here,” Twilight answered and shook her head.

“Actually that’s not true,” Sunset interjected with a frown. “Celestia had them moved. She didn’t think I heard her talking about it to Kibitz. There’s a castle nearby in a forest nearby. An extension of the Everfree. Goes for miles and miles.”

“Why did she not tell me this?” Twilight muttered and sat down. “I’m her star student!”

“I’m going to ignore that insult and allow you to keep thinking that,” Sunset glared at her with a scowl. “I’m going to this stupid castle, with or without you.”

“I’m going too,” Spitfire stood in front of the doorway with her wings spread to block Sunset. “Like hell you’re going alone after bring shot point blank. Let’s get a move on.”

High Winds shifted nervously on her hooves before coughing into into a hoof. She didn’t necessarily like going into the woods, especially not the Everfree but if the others were she might as well follow.

“I’m going as well,” High Winds said finally and Watermelody nodded her agreement, rubbing her side that was definitely going to be bruising soon.

Twilight rolled her eyes and watched Sunset kiss the two on the couch foreheads before doing the same to Blaze.

Twilight hesitated as she looked at Spike sleeping on the floor before galloping off after the other four.

“So where to?” High Winds asked and started to unfurl her wings. She and the others stood at the base of the Everfree, shivering slightly at the growling and other noises coming from inside.

“Inside,” Watermelody answered with a large grin and was practically dancing on her hooves. “This is exciting. Think about all the works going to be done about us!”

“What is she talking about?” High Winds asked in confusion as Watermelody grinned widely, flinging a hoof around the other pony’s neck.

“We’re gonna be famous! Everypony will know our name and line up to get our autographs. There’ll be countless epics about our efforts, our struggles to victory with an epic, heart wrenching soundtrack! There will be tears, there be death and there will be sacrifices made by the hero trying to win the heart of a fair stallion! Ponies will be dressing up as us for Nightmare Night and we will be adored by all of Equestria for what we are about to do!” Watermelody exclaimed with a dreamy expression and stars in her eyes before shoving a hoof foward to the forest. “Onward, to victory!”

The others stood in stunned silence as Watermelody galloped into the forest with a cry and Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Rousing speech,” Spitfire broke the silence and smirked.

“I’d say,” High Winds agreed and Spitfire started following Watermelody into the woods, following her hoof steps. A green earth pony stood at the path Spitfire and Watermelody had just gone down before with Sunset and Twilight moving that way. “Wallflower?”

The mare jumped and paused tightening her saddlebags. They were a light green with a potted plant stitched into them with a few buttons of miscellaneous bands.

“O-h hi,” Wallflower mumbled and continued closing her saddlebags. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, just going into the scary woods to go defeat an evil mare of darkness. You?”

“Uhm going into the woods after said mate. She destroyed my garden,” Wallflower snarled and High Winds recoiled slightly. “Nopony destroys my hard work that I spent months on. I want an apology.”

“I uh don’t really think she’s in the mood to be giving out apologies anytime soon unfortunately. How about this, I’ll help you rebuild you garden if you come with us?” High Winds offered with a smile.

After a moment of contemplating, Wallflower nodded with a small smile.

High Winds watched the smile and together, the two caught up to a waiting Sunset.

Author's Note

https://www.deviantart.com/grapefruitface1/art/Wanna-Join-Me-Watermelody-MLP-FiM-852855301

Name: Watermelody.

Nickname: Water, Mel, Melody.

Status: Alive.

Age: 26.

Motto: Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.

Bio: Watermelody is a friendly earth pony who got her cutie mark in a elementary school play and is fond of dramatics, occasionally irritating the other elements and her family with her antics. She spends most of her time at the docks selling her paintings and is easily bored. Originally from Manehatten, Watermelody left the town to find her own path in life and rarely goes back to visit. Watermelody is closest to Soarin, Spitfire, Blaze and High Winds of the Wonderbolts and is fond of Soarin personally due to his appreciation of her work. She currently resides in Amethyst Harbor for the last five years and represents the Element of Loyalty for taking a shot meant for Princess Celestia alongside Sunset. You will always see her up at odd hours of the day and night, most likely working on some painting or a special project. She lives in the eastern side of town in a small house and is wary of most of her neighbors. Twilight often is loaning her books about art and drama from the library she resides in, and is often late in returning them. Watermelody is one of the more philosophical of the elements and can be found in heated debates with Twilight occasionally due to opinions but they both greatly respect each other for their differing views and often teach each other.

Element: Loyalty.

Abilities: Watermelody is good at acting and painting, often falling into character seamlessly. She has average strength for an earth pony and is intelligent.

Weaknesses: Watermelody often gets distracted from her tasks by the opportunity to paint landscapes and attend plays.

Allies: Sunset, Spitfire, Blaze, Luna, Spike, Wallflower, High Winds, Celestia, Twilight, Soarin, Wave Chill, Rapidfire, Lightning Streak.

Enemies: Chrysalis, Tirek, Nightmare Moon (Formerly).