Meadow Step, Princess of Serenityby randomkidChaptersSpark of MagicEnd of WarReason to TravelSpark of MagicFar away from Equestria, on the other side of the world, stood a vast forest. This forest was called the Animated Woods, named after the strange beings that lived there. Tall, tree-like creatures that tended to the nature, called Treants. Ponies lived in these woods as well, but it was not in peace. Generations of ponies grew up fearing these aggressive plant monstrosities, fighting to keep their homes and crops from safe. One such pony was Meadow Step, an Earth Pony, born to High Peaks and Valley Spring on a potato farm. During the day, Meadow and her parents would work the land tirelessly, while trying to avoid the attention of the Treants. At night, High Peaks would warn his daughter of the dangers the Treants posed. How the Treants would use their magic powers to turn ponies very livelihoods against them, causing massive damage with overgrown produce and vines. Meadow Step was always skeptical of her father's stories, thinking they seemed more meant to scare than teach. Whenever Meadow asked why the Treants attacked, her father could never give her a good answer. While ponies hid from the Treants and stayed in small groups to lower chances of being found, Meadow wanted to meet a Treant! Her father spoke of the beasts littering their battle grounds with multicolored plants he called flowers. She could only imagine what those were like, as the ponies of the Animated Woods were forbidden to grow flowers of any kind, which seemed silly to Meadow. One day, the young filly's curiosity overtook her. One of her father's friends had been driven from their land by Treants recently. Meadow had to see the flowers left by the Treants! She snuck out of the house, carefully and quietly making her way to the now overtaken farm. The old stone building had crumbled under the weight of massive vines that flowered with tiny pink petals. Moss thrived on stones that looked like they were placed there years ago. It was mesmerizing to take in all the colors of the blanket of flowers that stretched to the horizon. It amazed her that only a day or two ago, this place looked much like her own home. The little filly giggled and couldn't help but to run towards the flower bed, frolicking in them and taking in the sweet scents. It was nothing like she'd ever seen before! Potatoes aren't much to look at, even if they were tasty. But this was something completely different! She watched bees flutter around from flower to flower, butterflies landing on delicate petals, it was everything she ever dreamed flowers would be! But suddenly, a loud thumping rang out. Meadow's flight instinct took over and she quickly scurried to find a hiding spot. A crumbled arch with more of those pink flowering vines hanging from it made a perfect spot. She ducked past the vines and hoped whatever was approaching wouldn't find her. Meadow cowered behind the crumbled bit of stone for a few breathless moments, until the stomping stopped. She waited a bit before poking her head a little past the vines, and there was one of them. Tall, dark bark that dwarfed her in size, but not as much as she expected. Green leaves sprouting from the branches on it's head and small vines hanging down with petals scattered about them. Even if she'd never seen one before, she knew what this was in an instant. It was a Treant. But... It seemed small. Meadow's father was a big pony, even for an Earth Pony, but he would always describe the Treants as larger than him. This one looked like it was about the same size as her father. Meadow watched as it plucked a few flowers from the ground before placing them in it's branches. The Treant seemed pretty discerning, going for specific flowers. It seemed to really like the Iris flowers. Meadow kept watching as it grabbed more flowers and threw then in the air, making it rain petals. Was the Treant... Playing? Maybe... Was this one a child like her? She had a growing urge to get closer. Meadow took a step forward and heard the loud cracking of a stick. She froze up as the Treant shot it's gaze towards Meadow. It froze too, almost like it was surprised by Meadow back. The beast made the first move. It stood up, slowly approaching as flowers started to blossom from it's leaves. Small arrangements of Lavender started to overtake the green leaves on the creature's head as it closed the distance. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt. You... You have some really pretty flowers~" Meadow stuttered, as she stepped out from behind the vines. The Treant didn't respond. The only reaction was growing more Lavender from it's head. Meadow examined the creature more, eyes were clear as day to see but anything else resembling a pony face just didn't exist. Clearly it must be able to hear. Maybe it couldn't speak? The Treant was getting closer, Meadow had to think quick. She quickly gathered up some of the Iris she saw it collecting before. The Treant paused as the small pony presented the bouquet. "H-Here. You like these... Right? Maybe we can be friends?" Meadow gave the Treant a hopeful smile, still holding the flowers out. After a few seconds contemplation, the Treant took the flowers from the small pony. The Lavender that was growing in it's leaves started to fall from it's branches. It held the Iris there, observing it, almost like it was judging the filly before it. "I saw you picking that one before. Do you like it~?" The filly's eyes twinkled with innocence and admiration for the beautiful creature before her. The Treant reached a branch out to Meadow, placing it on her head. Meadow felt magic surge through her as a strange sensation enveloped her. She felt... Trust, hope and a wisdom beyond her years. When the Treant pulled it's branch back, the feeling left. Meadow looked to the Irises again and something clicked. "Is that... What those flowers mean? Trust?" The Treant gave her an answer, but not in the way she was expecting. Goldenrod started to sprout from it's leaves. It plucked a stem of Goldenrod and presented it to Meadow. Meadow's eyes widened and she quickly took the flower in her hooves. A feeling of encouragement and good will radiated from it. Meadow understood now. "You guys... Speak with flowers, don't you?" Meadow immediately wanted to know more, but she heard voices calling to her. It was her parents! She turned towards the calls, worried what they'd do if they found her new friend. Luckily, that wouldn't be much of a concern. When she turned her head to warn the Treant, they were already gone. It wasn't long before Meadow's parents found her. After assessing her for any injuries, she was promptly scolded for running off like that. Meadow didn't tell her parents about her new friend. They'd just get too worried and probably ground her for even longer than they already were. There was one more bright side to this encounter. Once Meadow's parents had calmed down, they noticed a certain mark that hadn't been there before. Valley Spring was the first to point it out to the little filly. "Meadow dear... That mark you have...?" Meadow turned to where her mother's hoof was pointing and she saw it, a cutie mark! A small grey cat head with a little halo above it. Meadow squealed and giggled and she bounced up and down. Her cutie mark! She finally got her own cutie mark. And she had a feeling she knew why. Her curiosity and kindness was what made her an impossible friend that day. And a curiosity to learn more about the Treants and how they communicate. If she could make friends with one Treant, maybe she could be friends with all of them! Then they wouldn't need to fight anymore! Meadow left that pedaled battleground galloping, too excited about finding her friend again to learn more. She was so excited that she never even noticed the grass growing longer with each hoof step she took. End of WarYears passed as Meadow grew from a filly into a mare. It wasn't long before she realized something was strange. Unlike her family or any other Earth ponies she'd ever met, Meadow had been given magic! If she focused, Meadow could cause flowers to sprout, fruit to grow, and could control vines. She kept this power hidden from her parents, worried that they'd connect it back to her new friend. She would practice whenever she had the chance, and if the family ever faced a famine, the crops would seemingly return to full health over night. Meadow kept visiting that sight, meeting with her friend. She'd taken to calling them Oakheart. Through her visits, she learned more about the Treant's language. It also explained a few things about their first encounter. Lavender is a sign of distrust, so Meadow presenting Irises in response told Oakheart that she trusted him, even if he didn't trust her. It was fascinating to learn and Meadow wished to bring this language of flowers back to her family and people, but the ponies still saw flowers as an ill omen. Even her own parents barely tolerated the small Goldenrod flower Meadow had preserved from their first visit. The attacks only got worse, with more pony's farms being attacked. Friends and family Meadow had known when she was young would never make it to adulthood, dying from famine. The ponies were getting desperate, resorting to violent magic to fight back and even push into Treant territory. Meadow worried for both sides. Obviously she had her family on this side, but Oakheart was proof that the Treants weren't bad. They were gentle, caring, silly. Not the traits of a monster. She knew she had to make a move. Meadow once more slipped away from her parents, going to meet with Oakheart. She needed to know why this war started in the first place. Without knowing the cause, the only way to end this war would be annihilation of either side. Oakheart sat in their usual spot, examining the Irises until they saw Meadow. Oakheart waved one of his trunk like arms as she approached. It took some pleading, but Meadow was able to convince Oakheart to introduce her to the leader of the Treants, a tree that sprouted the first Treants when the Animated Woods were first formed. Meadow figured if anyone knew why this war broke out, it was the elder. The elder stood well above Oakheart and the other Treants, towering even above the local treeline. It seemed the elder was rooted to the ground, stuck forever in the serene spot Meadow was lead to. To the best of her abilities, Meadow tried to explain what she wanted to do, end the war between their people by finding out why the war started in the first place. After hearing her story, vines from the canopy above reached down to Meadow, enveloping her as magic coursed through them. Meadow's vision faded, taking her to a time long forgotten. The forest was still young and ponies has just arrived in the Animated Woods. The Treants were merely servants of nature back then, ensuring no creature stepped out of line. It was their job to inspect the ponies and find out if they would respect the nature around them or not. When the Treants first approached the ponies, they seemed hesitant. But one pony stepped up, saying something they knew how to communicate with them. They spoke on how the Treants speak through flowers, and they had been trying to study this language, but clearly they needed more practice. When the Treants presented their Goldenrod, the ponies responded in kind, but with the worst flowers they could. The pony presented the Treants with Lavender and Orange Lillies. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Orange Lilles were one of the flowers you never gave a Treant, a sign of hatred. The Treants were confused, why did the ponies have such a strong dislike of them already? The ponies caught onto their confusion and in a panic, they presented the flower that would doom them for generations. Tansy, a declaration of war. Before the first battle of ponies and Treant could play out before Meadow's eyes, the vision ended. Everything clicked into place. Meadow had to tell the ponies back home! She ran as fast as her legs could take her, only to find her worst fear came true. The ponies advanced on the Treant's home and were attacking their home land. Among the battling ponies, she saw her parents and on the defending side, Oakheart. Meadow tried to stop the invading ponies, but no one would listen. Weapons and magic clashed with vines and roots, the sounds of battle filling the woods. Meadow tried to make it to her father, dodging stray blasts and thorns in a panic. It wasn't until she saw her father that the world seemed to slow around her. High Peaks stood beneath Oakheart, a flaming pitchfork clenched in his teeth. Oakheart stood above High Peaks, a large trunk like arm crashing down towards him. High Peaks narrowly dodged the attacked before bucking Oakheart back. The Treant stumbled and fell onto their back and High Peaks leaped into the air, planning to finish the creature off with his weapon. Oakheart shot a hand forward, a spiked root hurtling towards High Peaks. If nothing was done, the two most important people in Meadow's life would finish each other off. Adrenaline took over as the magic in her hooves sparked. She let out with a call that could be heard all across the battle field. "No more!" With that, a pulse of pale green magic shot from her, knocking every pony and treant to the ground. It knocked Oakheart's vine off course and sent her father flying, leaving him in a bed of flowers. Before the ponies could react, Meadow turned to them, green magic still swirling around her. "We don't need to fight! We all want the same. To protect these woods and make a home. This war... It's all a big misunderstanding. Please... Give them a chance." It was then that the Treants and ponies looked to the massive flower beds created by Meadow. Columbine, a sign of foolishness to explain the start of the war and Zinnia, to explain why they kept fighting. A sense of all the ponies lost from the first bad impression with the Treants. While the field of flowers grew to spread the message, Ivy and Violet grew near each pony. "The Treants speak through flowers. We just needed to learn their language. And I have. We can end this war if we all present these flowers." Meadow looked out to the ponies as she spoke, hoping someone would make that first step... But no pony did. Meadow frowned and walked over to Oakheart, helping him up from the ground. "I know it's hard to trust something we've feared for so long... But we don't have to. We can choose friendship and peace. I know because... This is my best friend, Oakheart." As she spoke, Meadow gave Oakheart a bright smile. Even as gasps rang out and ponies started to chatter, Meadow stayed resolute. "They are not our enemy! Fear is. And I'm tired of being afraid!" After a few more whispers from the crowd, nopony stood up to present their flowers. Meadow was growing more worried when she saw her father approaching. High Peaks wore an expression Meadow struggled to read. As he got closer, she worried he would scold her or cut down her words but instead... "Meadow... You... You know how to speak with this creature...?" He looked between his daughter and the beast he'd been taught all his life to fear. Meadow nodded shakily, the smallest hints of a smile forming. "He's my best friend. He's been my friend for my whole life. And... You can talk with him too. Just... Hand him these. He'll know what they mean." Ivy and Violet sprouted in front of High Peaks. He pondered the flowers, not sure if he was ready for the next step. But when he saw the look of faith and joy on his daughter's face, he knew there was only one option. High Peaks plucked the flowers and presented them to Oakheart. Silence overtook the crowd as the pony kneeled before the Treant. Oakheart took the flowers and High Peaks felt something given to him in return. It was a hydrangea. High Peaks looked at it before turning to Meadow. "What... Does this one mean?" "It means... Thank you for understanding me." Slowly, the other ponies did the same, presenting flowers to Treants who would in turn grow Hyrdangeas for the ponies. Ponies and Treants were communicating and Meadow had stopped a battle before anyone got seriously hurt. She wanted to enjoy this victory, but she was exhausted, using too much energy in that burst. She swayed on her hooves before collapsing. *** Meadow woke in a dream like space, a swirling cosmos behind her as she contemplated where she was. A part of her wondered if all that exhaustion had killed her. But that thought was short lived as somepony approached from the starry void. It was a tall pony, pure white in color with a flowing mane and tail of several different colors. A long horn extended from her forehead and massive feathered wings adorned her back. She was like nothing Meadow had ever seen. When the mare's voice rang out, it was soothing and calm, almost motherly. "Hello Meadow Step. I am Princess Celestia. And you have pulled off something quite remarkable today, haven't you?" A slight giggle like an angelic bell filled the void. "Princess Celestia...? You're the pony that raises the sun and moon...? But you live on the other side of the world, in Equestria! What are you doing here?" "I'm drawn to ponies with remarkable abilities all over~ And what you did today is something else. A war torn land, brought to peace by true understanding. I have to say, you've done a remarkable job." Meadow laughed nervously, not fully sure how to handle compliments from this near God on earth. "I... Guess it was a lot, huh? But I did it for my family and friends. I couldn't let them keep fighting over a misunderstanding. But... Why are you here? Is it just to congratulate me?" Celestia shook her head before standing tall. "No, my little pony. I am here because you have a gift, and I think the whole world could benefit from a pony like you. Have you ever considered that you might one day become an Alicorn?" Meadow's jaw hit the ground. Her eyes sparkled and she giddily trotted in place, failing to contain her excitement. She giggled as she remembered her childhood dream of soaring above her farm, covering the lands in flowers and protecting her home. "What pony hasn't?! It's only the coolest thing ever! Magic AND wings! It's the whole package!" Meadow stopped her rant when she heard Celestia's giggle. She paused and rubbed the back of her head, a slight blush forming. "M-Maybe once or twice..." "It is indeed the, 'whole package,' as you say. But it's also a big responsibility. One that you'll need to be ready for." "Wait... Ready for... Are you-?" Meadow didn't get to finish her sentence before ribbons of light snaked over to her, surrounding Meadow in their magic and lifting her in the air. Meadow watched as the beams of light turned to wings before her eyes. Magic poured from her as a horn extended from her head. Once her transformation was complete, she was lowered to the ground. She couldn't contain it any more. Meadow squealed and tapped her hooves on the ground before taking to the sky. She was sloppy and her wing patterns were out of whack but she was able to take off. Never before had Meadow felt so free. The ground was no longer the best she could hope for, she had a new home in the air. As Meadow flew around, Celestia watched her, a proud smile on her face. "Henceforth, you will be known as Meadow Step, Princess of Serenity. I look forward to seeing you spread your peace and joy across these lands. And maybe some day, we'll meet up in Canterlot." Meadow crash landed in front of Celestia, groaning before quickly recovering and hopping to her hooves. She beamed at Celestia and gave a nod. "I won't disappoint you Princess!" "I know you won't. Now... Your work isn't done yet. Peace is a work in project afterall." Celestia spread her wings once more and she was gone, the dream like world fading with her. *** Meadow woke in a bed the next day. At first, she thought everything with Celestia was a dream, but the sudden jolt of pain from new horn hitting her bed frame shook that thought. She rushed to tell her parents and Oakheart. Meadow found them all in the garden, Oakheart helping seed the latest crop. Meadow called to them and the family rejoiced. After addressing Meadow's new wings and horn, Meadow told her family she had to leave. It wouldn't be for long, but there might still be ponies who think they're at war. She had to spread the message so everypony could be safe. This was her new job after all. Keep the peace of the Animated Woods. And maybe... Maybe once things finally settled, see if she could spread that peace even further. She took off in the air before quickly crashing back down again. She would need some flying practice before she could make her dream a reality. Reason to TravelThe TS-5 incident, a strange circumstance which echoed far beyond the reaches of Equestria. Murder, despite none occurring in that fateful case drove Meadow to make her way towards Equestria. Peace was so often easily broken and she worried the peace Equestria had enjoyed for so long would be threatened. That was a year and a half ago that Meadow left her home and started to roam Equestria. All the while, sensing something was wrong. Even stepping into Equestria for the first time, she could feel the threads of Chaos pulling it's strings. Meadow arrived in Canterlot to meet with the Princesses. After sharing pleasantries, Meadow felt an odd feeling, like something was off. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna... Are you quite certain your palace is safe? Ever since I arrived in Equestria, I've felt an odd brewing. Like... Something is lurking. And nowhere more than here, right now." Celestia looked to Meadow with a sunken gaze. "These have been tumultuous times. Ancient threats are returning for unknown reasons. But fear not. Equestria's peace is in good hooves with my pupil and her friends. So don't worry yourself Princess Meadow Step." Meadow Step was unsure, but Celestia had ruled for over a thousand years, she had to know what she was doing... Right? Then the invasion happened. Ponies screamed and ran from the attacking Changelings, and Meadow Step did her best to protect everypony she could. Using her plant magic, she made safe passages for escaping ponies, created walls of vines to block off pursuers and put changelings to sleep with spores. One family was cornered, two ponies that almost looked like brothers. A Unicorn with a grey coat and black mane with a top cutie mark that pointed down, and an Earth Pony with a slightly lighter shade of grey coat and a yellow mane who's top cutie mark pointed up. She rushed to protect them, but dropped her guard. While her act of bravery let the ponies go free, the changelings that were attacking her had her pinned. Meadow tried to use her magic to free herself, the changeling goo on her horn prevented any such means of escape. "Got you now, Princess~ I can just taste all the love on you~ We'll never go hungry again with ponies like you." One of them sneered as he opened his mouth to drain the Alicorn, but another Changeling stopped him. "Let the runt get a first taste. Maybe he'll actually toughen up with a good meal." The changeling pointed to a smaller one in the back. He mostly stayed out of the conflict, seemingly not wanting to participate. "O-Oh... Uhhh... I don't need to do that. I had a big breakfast and I-" The small Changeling sputtered as another clopped him on the back, pushing him towards Meadow. "Don't be a wimp! Feast!" The other sneered and snickered as the little one tried not to cave to the pressure. He caved. At least it looked like it. The small Changeling opened his mouth wide, but Meadow felt nothing. After a few seconds his voice rang out again. "I can't do it! Not after I saw those ponies before! Do we realpy have to fight?" The others grumbled and argued, giving Meadow enough distraction to free her horn and send the bullies packing with some vines. All except the little one. He cowered before the Princess, worried as to what this powerful pony might do. But instead of harming him as she did with the others, Meadow sat beside him, a soft smile on her face. "That was very brave back there~ You're right, you know. Ponies and Changelings don't need to fight. You just need the right friends." The Changeling looked up to Meadow, a stunned look on his face. Meadow stood back up and reached a hoof down to him. "What's your name?" He hesitated for a second before slowly reaching out to her. "My... My name is Thor-" and before he could finish, he was gone. Banished with the rest by Shining Armor and Cadence. Meadow would look for her friend after but could never find him. She'd hoped he'd find his own way some day. As time went on, Meadow got more skeptical of the Princesses, wondering why whenever danger reared it's head, they would choose to flee or withold their power. Yet, despite her disagreeing on their methods, Celestia was right. The bearers of the Elements of Harmony would always save the day in the end. Even in times where she couldn't help. And when Twilight Sparkle became a Princess, it made sense. Meadow decided to stay in Equestria, finding a room with the brothers she'd saved in Canterlot. Topsy Turvy and Loop De Loop didn't feel safe in Canterlot anymore, so they moved to Manehattan. The three shared an apartment and would help the brothers with their carpentry job with her plant expertise. The three made an excellent team. Meadow Step didn't spend all her time in Equestria. There was a point where she had to leave to visit home. And while she was away, Chaos reared it's head again in the form of Tirek. Looking back, it was probably best she wasn't there for that. There wouldn't have been much she could do to stop Tirek from taking her magic as well. But she did shorten her trip home and made it back to Manehattan... Just in time for Overall Concept's murder. Meadow tried to get herself assigned to the case, knowing there was no way Coco could've committed such a heinous act, but by the time the paperwork was filled, that Human from a year and a half ago returned. While it worried her, she trusted he could save the innocent pony. Topsy and Loop got a pretty big job, crafting a large statue for the Equestria 600, so Meadow threw herself into helping them. While her faith had paid off, news of another murder occurred in Ponyville. The ensuing madness that was Royal Order's death shook Equestria to it's core. That lingering doubt of Celestia and Luna's abilities to retain the peace propped up again. But there was nothing she could do. The lawyer assigned to the case got the truth, and Overall's case was reopened. Meadow struggled to get out of bed that morning. The day they were putting the finishing touches on the statue for the Equestria 600. Topsy, the younger and brighter colored of the brothers was his usual self, acting as the light for the other two. Loop, the older and darker was more glum than usual, but that was pretty common. Meadow was the only one to notice the red clothed human trying to get their attention. She didn't recognize him at first, glossing over that he was standing on two legs before doing a double take. He had already turned from them when she realized he must be the lawyer helping Rarity. Meadow tried to approach before a voice called to her. "Hey Meadow! Where you going?" Topsy Turvy asked, looking to his friend in the sky. "Well... There's a human over there and I-" "And he's probably busy trying to solve a murder," Loop interjected. He had a neutral expression on his face. "Meadow, what do you plan to do? Talk to him? You don't know anything about that case." "I know the accused is innocent!" She pointed out. "Under what grounds?" Loop raised an eyebrow. Meadow recoiled and tried to think. "Because a pony like Rarity wouldn't murder somepony." "Meadow, that won't hold up in court. If you truly believe Rarity is innocent, the best course of action is to allow the lawyer to do his job. This country already gives no time for investigations and I'm sure he needs ponies who know about the case." Meadow sighed, realizing the truth in her friend's words. There wasn't anything she could provide to this case. "Now, let us return to our work. There's still more to do." With that, Loop turned to continue the statue. Topsy stepped closer to Meadow and bumped her hoof with his. "You alright Meadow?" Meadow nodded as she took in what her friend said. "I'll be alright. I just... Hate feeling useless, you know? I wanted to take on the case. As a Princess, I have that right. But maybe that was a dumb idea..." Topsy started to walk with Meadow, a comforting smile on his face. "Now why do you say that?" "I know next to nothing about these lands rules. What good would I be as a lawyer?" Meadow seemed deflated. "Well... Maybe. But you don't need to do everything. I know you're the Princess of Serenity but that doesn't mean you have to keep the peace on your own. Have a little faith. I'm sure the humans will save that pony in the end. They have a pretty good track record." Topsy shot her a bright smile. His words made Meadow feel a little better. "But... It still feels wrong to do nothing." "You're not doing nothing. You believe she's innocent, right?" Meadow nodded fervently. "Then there you go! So many ponies are quick to throw the ponies accused of murder to the wolves. But you believe in her. You might make a better lawyer than you think~" With that, Topsy Turvy trotted ahead of her excitedly. Meadow smiled, looking to her friends back to work on their project. She turned her head, seeing the Lawyer and his group leaving the field. "I trust in you, human from another world. I hope you can bring some peace and justice in this hard time." And with that, she got back to work. Author's Note Thank you for reading my story! As I said, this is a rewrite of the winning story from Name that Alicorn Event in the Elements of Justice Discord server. If you're coming from there I appreciate every vote and view on this story and I couldn't have done this without you. If you're new, I hope you check out my other stories! I'm not done writing and I even have some more ideas involving Meadow! I'm leaving this story as incomplete for when I feel like writing for Meadow again, so stay tuned!
Spark of MagicFar away from Equestria, on the other side of the world, stood a vast forest. This forest was called the Animated Woods, named after the strange beings that lived there. Tall, tree-like creatures that tended to the nature, called Treants. Ponies lived in these woods as well, but it was not in peace. Generations of ponies grew up fearing these aggressive plant monstrosities, fighting to keep their homes and crops from safe. One such pony was Meadow Step, an Earth Pony, born to High Peaks and Valley Spring on a potato farm. During the day, Meadow and her parents would work the land tirelessly, while trying to avoid the attention of the Treants. At night, High Peaks would warn his daughter of the dangers the Treants posed. How the Treants would use their magic powers to turn ponies very livelihoods against them, causing massive damage with overgrown produce and vines. Meadow Step was always skeptical of her father's stories, thinking they seemed more meant to scare than teach. Whenever Meadow asked why the Treants attacked, her father could never give her a good answer. While ponies hid from the Treants and stayed in small groups to lower chances of being found, Meadow wanted to meet a Treant! Her father spoke of the beasts littering their battle grounds with multicolored plants he called flowers. She could only imagine what those were like, as the ponies of the Animated Woods were forbidden to grow flowers of any kind, which seemed silly to Meadow. One day, the young filly's curiosity overtook her. One of her father's friends had been driven from their land by Treants recently. Meadow had to see the flowers left by the Treants! She snuck out of the house, carefully and quietly making her way to the now overtaken farm. The old stone building had crumbled under the weight of massive vines that flowered with tiny pink petals. Moss thrived on stones that looked like they were placed there years ago. It was mesmerizing to take in all the colors of the blanket of flowers that stretched to the horizon. It amazed her that only a day or two ago, this place looked much like her own home. The little filly giggled and couldn't help but to run towards the flower bed, frolicking in them and taking in the sweet scents. It was nothing like she'd ever seen before! Potatoes aren't much to look at, even if they were tasty. But this was something completely different! She watched bees flutter around from flower to flower, butterflies landing on delicate petals, it was everything she ever dreamed flowers would be! But suddenly, a loud thumping rang out. Meadow's flight instinct took over and she quickly scurried to find a hiding spot. A crumbled arch with more of those pink flowering vines hanging from it made a perfect spot. She ducked past the vines and hoped whatever was approaching wouldn't find her. Meadow cowered behind the crumbled bit of stone for a few breathless moments, until the stomping stopped. She waited a bit before poking her head a little past the vines, and there was one of them. Tall, dark bark that dwarfed her in size, but not as much as she expected. Green leaves sprouting from the branches on it's head and small vines hanging down with petals scattered about them. Even if she'd never seen one before, she knew what this was in an instant. It was a Treant. But... It seemed small. Meadow's father was a big pony, even for an Earth Pony, but he would always describe the Treants as larger than him. This one looked like it was about the same size as her father. Meadow watched as it plucked a few flowers from the ground before placing them in it's branches. The Treant seemed pretty discerning, going for specific flowers. It seemed to really like the Iris flowers. Meadow kept watching as it grabbed more flowers and threw then in the air, making it rain petals. Was the Treant... Playing? Maybe... Was this one a child like her? She had a growing urge to get closer. Meadow took a step forward and heard the loud cracking of a stick. She froze up as the Treant shot it's gaze towards Meadow. It froze too, almost like it was surprised by Meadow back. The beast made the first move. It stood up, slowly approaching as flowers started to blossom from it's leaves. Small arrangements of Lavender started to overtake the green leaves on the creature's head as it closed the distance. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt. You... You have some really pretty flowers~" Meadow stuttered, as she stepped out from behind the vines. The Treant didn't respond. The only reaction was growing more Lavender from it's head. Meadow examined the creature more, eyes were clear as day to see but anything else resembling a pony face just didn't exist. Clearly it must be able to hear. Maybe it couldn't speak? The Treant was getting closer, Meadow had to think quick. She quickly gathered up some of the Iris she saw it collecting before. The Treant paused as the small pony presented the bouquet. "H-Here. You like these... Right? Maybe we can be friends?" Meadow gave the Treant a hopeful smile, still holding the flowers out. After a few seconds contemplation, the Treant took the flowers from the small pony. The Lavender that was growing in it's leaves started to fall from it's branches. It held the Iris there, observing it, almost like it was judging the filly before it. "I saw you picking that one before. Do you like it~?" The filly's eyes twinkled with innocence and admiration for the beautiful creature before her. The Treant reached a branch out to Meadow, placing it on her head. Meadow felt magic surge through her as a strange sensation enveloped her. She felt... Trust, hope and a wisdom beyond her years. When the Treant pulled it's branch back, the feeling left. Meadow looked to the Irises again and something clicked. "Is that... What those flowers mean? Trust?" The Treant gave her an answer, but not in the way she was expecting. Goldenrod started to sprout from it's leaves. It plucked a stem of Goldenrod and presented it to Meadow. Meadow's eyes widened and she quickly took the flower in her hooves. A feeling of encouragement and good will radiated from it. Meadow understood now. "You guys... Speak with flowers, don't you?" Meadow immediately wanted to know more, but she heard voices calling to her. It was her parents! She turned towards the calls, worried what they'd do if they found her new friend. Luckily, that wouldn't be much of a concern. When she turned her head to warn the Treant, they were already gone. It wasn't long before Meadow's parents found her. After assessing her for any injuries, she was promptly scolded for running off like that. Meadow didn't tell her parents about her new friend. They'd just get too worried and probably ground her for even longer than they already were. There was one more bright side to this encounter. Once Meadow's parents had calmed down, they noticed a certain mark that hadn't been there before. Valley Spring was the first to point it out to the little filly. "Meadow dear... That mark you have...?" Meadow turned to where her mother's hoof was pointing and she saw it, a cutie mark! A small grey cat head with a little halo above it. Meadow squealed and giggled and she bounced up and down. Her cutie mark! She finally got her own cutie mark. And she had a feeling she knew why. Her curiosity and kindness was what made her an impossible friend that day. And a curiosity to learn more about the Treants and how they communicate. If she could make friends with one Treant, maybe she could be friends with all of them! Then they wouldn't need to fight anymore! Meadow left that pedaled battleground galloping, too excited about finding her friend again to learn more. She was so excited that she never even noticed the grass growing longer with each hoof step she took.
End of WarYears passed as Meadow grew from a filly into a mare. It wasn't long before she realized something was strange. Unlike her family or any other Earth ponies she'd ever met, Meadow had been given magic! If she focused, Meadow could cause flowers to sprout, fruit to grow, and could control vines. She kept this power hidden from her parents, worried that they'd connect it back to her new friend. She would practice whenever she had the chance, and if the family ever faced a famine, the crops would seemingly return to full health over night. Meadow kept visiting that sight, meeting with her friend. She'd taken to calling them Oakheart. Through her visits, she learned more about the Treant's language. It also explained a few things about their first encounter. Lavender is a sign of distrust, so Meadow presenting Irises in response told Oakheart that she trusted him, even if he didn't trust her. It was fascinating to learn and Meadow wished to bring this language of flowers back to her family and people, but the ponies still saw flowers as an ill omen. Even her own parents barely tolerated the small Goldenrod flower Meadow had preserved from their first visit. The attacks only got worse, with more pony's farms being attacked. Friends and family Meadow had known when she was young would never make it to adulthood, dying from famine. The ponies were getting desperate, resorting to violent magic to fight back and even push into Treant territory. Meadow worried for both sides. Obviously she had her family on this side, but Oakheart was proof that the Treants weren't bad. They were gentle, caring, silly. Not the traits of a monster. She knew she had to make a move. Meadow once more slipped away from her parents, going to meet with Oakheart. She needed to know why this war started in the first place. Without knowing the cause, the only way to end this war would be annihilation of either side. Oakheart sat in their usual spot, examining the Irises until they saw Meadow. Oakheart waved one of his trunk like arms as she approached. It took some pleading, but Meadow was able to convince Oakheart to introduce her to the leader of the Treants, a tree that sprouted the first Treants when the Animated Woods were first formed. Meadow figured if anyone knew why this war broke out, it was the elder. The elder stood well above Oakheart and the other Treants, towering even above the local treeline. It seemed the elder was rooted to the ground, stuck forever in the serene spot Meadow was lead to. To the best of her abilities, Meadow tried to explain what she wanted to do, end the war between their people by finding out why the war started in the first place. After hearing her story, vines from the canopy above reached down to Meadow, enveloping her as magic coursed through them. Meadow's vision faded, taking her to a time long forgotten. The forest was still young and ponies has just arrived in the Animated Woods. The Treants were merely servants of nature back then, ensuring no creature stepped out of line. It was their job to inspect the ponies and find out if they would respect the nature around them or not. When the Treants first approached the ponies, they seemed hesitant. But one pony stepped up, saying something they knew how to communicate with them. They spoke on how the Treants speak through flowers, and they had been trying to study this language, but clearly they needed more practice. When the Treants presented their Goldenrod, the ponies responded in kind, but with the worst flowers they could. The pony presented the Treants with Lavender and Orange Lillies. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Orange Lilles were one of the flowers you never gave a Treant, a sign of hatred. The Treants were confused, why did the ponies have such a strong dislike of them already? The ponies caught onto their confusion and in a panic, they presented the flower that would doom them for generations. Tansy, a declaration of war. Before the first battle of ponies and Treant could play out before Meadow's eyes, the vision ended. Everything clicked into place. Meadow had to tell the ponies back home! She ran as fast as her legs could take her, only to find her worst fear came true. The ponies advanced on the Treant's home and were attacking their home land. Among the battling ponies, she saw her parents and on the defending side, Oakheart. Meadow tried to stop the invading ponies, but no one would listen. Weapons and magic clashed with vines and roots, the sounds of battle filling the woods. Meadow tried to make it to her father, dodging stray blasts and thorns in a panic. It wasn't until she saw her father that the world seemed to slow around her. High Peaks stood beneath Oakheart, a flaming pitchfork clenched in his teeth. Oakheart stood above High Peaks, a large trunk like arm crashing down towards him. High Peaks narrowly dodged the attacked before bucking Oakheart back. The Treant stumbled and fell onto their back and High Peaks leaped into the air, planning to finish the creature off with his weapon. Oakheart shot a hand forward, a spiked root hurtling towards High Peaks. If nothing was done, the two most important people in Meadow's life would finish each other off. Adrenaline took over as the magic in her hooves sparked. She let out with a call that could be heard all across the battle field. "No more!" With that, a pulse of pale green magic shot from her, knocking every pony and treant to the ground. It knocked Oakheart's vine off course and sent her father flying, leaving him in a bed of flowers. Before the ponies could react, Meadow turned to them, green magic still swirling around her. "We don't need to fight! We all want the same. To protect these woods and make a home. This war... It's all a big misunderstanding. Please... Give them a chance." It was then that the Treants and ponies looked to the massive flower beds created by Meadow. Columbine, a sign of foolishness to explain the start of the war and Zinnia, to explain why they kept fighting. A sense of all the ponies lost from the first bad impression with the Treants. While the field of flowers grew to spread the message, Ivy and Violet grew near each pony. "The Treants speak through flowers. We just needed to learn their language. And I have. We can end this war if we all present these flowers." Meadow looked out to the ponies as she spoke, hoping someone would make that first step... But no pony did. Meadow frowned and walked over to Oakheart, helping him up from the ground. "I know it's hard to trust something we've feared for so long... But we don't have to. We can choose friendship and peace. I know because... This is my best friend, Oakheart." As she spoke, Meadow gave Oakheart a bright smile. Even as gasps rang out and ponies started to chatter, Meadow stayed resolute. "They are not our enemy! Fear is. And I'm tired of being afraid!" After a few more whispers from the crowd, nopony stood up to present their flowers. Meadow was growing more worried when she saw her father approaching. High Peaks wore an expression Meadow struggled to read. As he got closer, she worried he would scold her or cut down her words but instead... "Meadow... You... You know how to speak with this creature...?" He looked between his daughter and the beast he'd been taught all his life to fear. Meadow nodded shakily, the smallest hints of a smile forming. "He's my best friend. He's been my friend for my whole life. And... You can talk with him too. Just... Hand him these. He'll know what they mean." Ivy and Violet sprouted in front of High Peaks. He pondered the flowers, not sure if he was ready for the next step. But when he saw the look of faith and joy on his daughter's face, he knew there was only one option. High Peaks plucked the flowers and presented them to Oakheart. Silence overtook the crowd as the pony kneeled before the Treant. Oakheart took the flowers and High Peaks felt something given to him in return. It was a hydrangea. High Peaks looked at it before turning to Meadow. "What... Does this one mean?" "It means... Thank you for understanding me." Slowly, the other ponies did the same, presenting flowers to Treants who would in turn grow Hyrdangeas for the ponies. Ponies and Treants were communicating and Meadow had stopped a battle before anyone got seriously hurt. She wanted to enjoy this victory, but she was exhausted, using too much energy in that burst. She swayed on her hooves before collapsing. *** Meadow woke in a dream like space, a swirling cosmos behind her as she contemplated where she was. A part of her wondered if all that exhaustion had killed her. But that thought was short lived as somepony approached from the starry void. It was a tall pony, pure white in color with a flowing mane and tail of several different colors. A long horn extended from her forehead and massive feathered wings adorned her back. She was like nothing Meadow had ever seen. When the mare's voice rang out, it was soothing and calm, almost motherly. "Hello Meadow Step. I am Princess Celestia. And you have pulled off something quite remarkable today, haven't you?" A slight giggle like an angelic bell filled the void. "Princess Celestia...? You're the pony that raises the sun and moon...? But you live on the other side of the world, in Equestria! What are you doing here?" "I'm drawn to ponies with remarkable abilities all over~ And what you did today is something else. A war torn land, brought to peace by true understanding. I have to say, you've done a remarkable job." Meadow laughed nervously, not fully sure how to handle compliments from this near God on earth. "I... Guess it was a lot, huh? But I did it for my family and friends. I couldn't let them keep fighting over a misunderstanding. But... Why are you here? Is it just to congratulate me?" Celestia shook her head before standing tall. "No, my little pony. I am here because you have a gift, and I think the whole world could benefit from a pony like you. Have you ever considered that you might one day become an Alicorn?" Meadow's jaw hit the ground. Her eyes sparkled and she giddily trotted in place, failing to contain her excitement. She giggled as she remembered her childhood dream of soaring above her farm, covering the lands in flowers and protecting her home. "What pony hasn't?! It's only the coolest thing ever! Magic AND wings! It's the whole package!" Meadow stopped her rant when she heard Celestia's giggle. She paused and rubbed the back of her head, a slight blush forming. "M-Maybe once or twice..." "It is indeed the, 'whole package,' as you say. But it's also a big responsibility. One that you'll need to be ready for." "Wait... Ready for... Are you-?" Meadow didn't get to finish her sentence before ribbons of light snaked over to her, surrounding Meadow in their magic and lifting her in the air. Meadow watched as the beams of light turned to wings before her eyes. Magic poured from her as a horn extended from her head. Once her transformation was complete, she was lowered to the ground. She couldn't contain it any more. Meadow squealed and tapped her hooves on the ground before taking to the sky. She was sloppy and her wing patterns were out of whack but she was able to take off. Never before had Meadow felt so free. The ground was no longer the best she could hope for, she had a new home in the air. As Meadow flew around, Celestia watched her, a proud smile on her face. "Henceforth, you will be known as Meadow Step, Princess of Serenity. I look forward to seeing you spread your peace and joy across these lands. And maybe some day, we'll meet up in Canterlot." Meadow crash landed in front of Celestia, groaning before quickly recovering and hopping to her hooves. She beamed at Celestia and gave a nod. "I won't disappoint you Princess!" "I know you won't. Now... Your work isn't done yet. Peace is a work in project afterall." Celestia spread her wings once more and she was gone, the dream like world fading with her. *** Meadow woke in a bed the next day. At first, she thought everything with Celestia was a dream, but the sudden jolt of pain from new horn hitting her bed frame shook that thought. She rushed to tell her parents and Oakheart. Meadow found them all in the garden, Oakheart helping seed the latest crop. Meadow called to them and the family rejoiced. After addressing Meadow's new wings and horn, Meadow told her family she had to leave. It wouldn't be for long, but there might still be ponies who think they're at war. She had to spread the message so everypony could be safe. This was her new job after all. Keep the peace of the Animated Woods. And maybe... Maybe once things finally settled, see if she could spread that peace even further. She took off in the air before quickly crashing back down again. She would need some flying practice before she could make her dream a reality.
Reason to TravelThe TS-5 incident, a strange circumstance which echoed far beyond the reaches of Equestria. Murder, despite none occurring in that fateful case drove Meadow to make her way towards Equestria. Peace was so often easily broken and she worried the peace Equestria had enjoyed for so long would be threatened. That was a year and a half ago that Meadow left her home and started to roam Equestria. All the while, sensing something was wrong. Even stepping into Equestria for the first time, she could feel the threads of Chaos pulling it's strings. Meadow arrived in Canterlot to meet with the Princesses. After sharing pleasantries, Meadow felt an odd feeling, like something was off. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna... Are you quite certain your palace is safe? Ever since I arrived in Equestria, I've felt an odd brewing. Like... Something is lurking. And nowhere more than here, right now." Celestia looked to Meadow with a sunken gaze. "These have been tumultuous times. Ancient threats are returning for unknown reasons. But fear not. Equestria's peace is in good hooves with my pupil and her friends. So don't worry yourself Princess Meadow Step." Meadow Step was unsure, but Celestia had ruled for over a thousand years, she had to know what she was doing... Right? Then the invasion happened. Ponies screamed and ran from the attacking Changelings, and Meadow Step did her best to protect everypony she could. Using her plant magic, she made safe passages for escaping ponies, created walls of vines to block off pursuers and put changelings to sleep with spores. One family was cornered, two ponies that almost looked like brothers. A Unicorn with a grey coat and black mane with a top cutie mark that pointed down, and an Earth Pony with a slightly lighter shade of grey coat and a yellow mane who's top cutie mark pointed up. She rushed to protect them, but dropped her guard. While her act of bravery let the ponies go free, the changelings that were attacking her had her pinned. Meadow tried to use her magic to free herself, the changeling goo on her horn prevented any such means of escape. "Got you now, Princess~ I can just taste all the love on you~ We'll never go hungry again with ponies like you." One of them sneered as he opened his mouth to drain the Alicorn, but another Changeling stopped him. "Let the runt get a first taste. Maybe he'll actually toughen up with a good meal." The changeling pointed to a smaller one in the back. He mostly stayed out of the conflict, seemingly not wanting to participate. "O-Oh... Uhhh... I don't need to do that. I had a big breakfast and I-" The small Changeling sputtered as another clopped him on the back, pushing him towards Meadow. "Don't be a wimp! Feast!" The other sneered and snickered as the little one tried not to cave to the pressure. He caved. At least it looked like it. The small Changeling opened his mouth wide, but Meadow felt nothing. After a few seconds his voice rang out again. "I can't do it! Not after I saw those ponies before! Do we realpy have to fight?" The others grumbled and argued, giving Meadow enough distraction to free her horn and send the bullies packing with some vines. All except the little one. He cowered before the Princess, worried as to what this powerful pony might do. But instead of harming him as she did with the others, Meadow sat beside him, a soft smile on her face. "That was very brave back there~ You're right, you know. Ponies and Changelings don't need to fight. You just need the right friends." The Changeling looked up to Meadow, a stunned look on his face. Meadow stood back up and reached a hoof down to him. "What's your name?" He hesitated for a second before slowly reaching out to her. "My... My name is Thor-" and before he could finish, he was gone. Banished with the rest by Shining Armor and Cadence. Meadow would look for her friend after but could never find him. She'd hoped he'd find his own way some day. As time went on, Meadow got more skeptical of the Princesses, wondering why whenever danger reared it's head, they would choose to flee or withold their power. Yet, despite her disagreeing on their methods, Celestia was right. The bearers of the Elements of Harmony would always save the day in the end. Even in times where she couldn't help. And when Twilight Sparkle became a Princess, it made sense. Meadow decided to stay in Equestria, finding a room with the brothers she'd saved in Canterlot. Topsy Turvy and Loop De Loop didn't feel safe in Canterlot anymore, so they moved to Manehattan. The three shared an apartment and would help the brothers with their carpentry job with her plant expertise. The three made an excellent team. Meadow Step didn't spend all her time in Equestria. There was a point where she had to leave to visit home. And while she was away, Chaos reared it's head again in the form of Tirek. Looking back, it was probably best she wasn't there for that. There wouldn't have been much she could do to stop Tirek from taking her magic as well. But she did shorten her trip home and made it back to Manehattan... Just in time for Overall Concept's murder. Meadow tried to get herself assigned to the case, knowing there was no way Coco could've committed such a heinous act, but by the time the paperwork was filled, that Human from a year and a half ago returned. While it worried her, she trusted he could save the innocent pony. Topsy and Loop got a pretty big job, crafting a large statue for the Equestria 600, so Meadow threw herself into helping them. While her faith had paid off, news of another murder occurred in Ponyville. The ensuing madness that was Royal Order's death shook Equestria to it's core. That lingering doubt of Celestia and Luna's abilities to retain the peace propped up again. But there was nothing she could do. The lawyer assigned to the case got the truth, and Overall's case was reopened. Meadow struggled to get out of bed that morning. The day they were putting the finishing touches on the statue for the Equestria 600. Topsy, the younger and brighter colored of the brothers was his usual self, acting as the light for the other two. Loop, the older and darker was more glum than usual, but that was pretty common. Meadow was the only one to notice the red clothed human trying to get their attention. She didn't recognize him at first, glossing over that he was standing on two legs before doing a double take. He had already turned from them when she realized he must be the lawyer helping Rarity. Meadow tried to approach before a voice called to her. "Hey Meadow! Where you going?" Topsy Turvy asked, looking to his friend in the sky. "Well... There's a human over there and I-" "And he's probably busy trying to solve a murder," Loop interjected. He had a neutral expression on his face. "Meadow, what do you plan to do? Talk to him? You don't know anything about that case." "I know the accused is innocent!" She pointed out. "Under what grounds?" Loop raised an eyebrow. Meadow recoiled and tried to think. "Because a pony like Rarity wouldn't murder somepony." "Meadow, that won't hold up in court. If you truly believe Rarity is innocent, the best course of action is to allow the lawyer to do his job. This country already gives no time for investigations and I'm sure he needs ponies who know about the case." Meadow sighed, realizing the truth in her friend's words. There wasn't anything she could provide to this case. "Now, let us return to our work. There's still more to do." With that, Loop turned to continue the statue. Topsy stepped closer to Meadow and bumped her hoof with his. "You alright Meadow?" Meadow nodded as she took in what her friend said. "I'll be alright. I just... Hate feeling useless, you know? I wanted to take on the case. As a Princess, I have that right. But maybe that was a dumb idea..." Topsy started to walk with Meadow, a comforting smile on his face. "Now why do you say that?" "I know next to nothing about these lands rules. What good would I be as a lawyer?" Meadow seemed deflated. "Well... Maybe. But you don't need to do everything. I know you're the Princess of Serenity but that doesn't mean you have to keep the peace on your own. Have a little faith. I'm sure the humans will save that pony in the end. They have a pretty good track record." Topsy shot her a bright smile. His words made Meadow feel a little better. "But... It still feels wrong to do nothing." "You're not doing nothing. You believe she's innocent, right?" Meadow nodded fervently. "Then there you go! So many ponies are quick to throw the ponies accused of murder to the wolves. But you believe in her. You might make a better lawyer than you think~" With that, Topsy Turvy trotted ahead of her excitedly. Meadow smiled, looking to her friends back to work on their project. She turned her head, seeing the Lawyer and his group leaving the field. "I trust in you, human from another world. I hope you can bring some peace and justice in this hard time." And with that, she got back to work. Author's Note Thank you for reading my story! As I said, this is a rewrite of the winning story from Name that Alicorn Event in the Elements of Justice Discord server. If you're coming from there I appreciate every vote and view on this story and I couldn't have done this without you. If you're new, I hope you check out my other stories! I'm not done writing and I even have some more ideas involving Meadow! I'm leaving this story as incomplete for when I feel like writing for Meadow again, so stay tuned!
