Meadow Step, Princess of Serenity

Years 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.