Chapters Twilight Sparkle hummed to herself as she prepared herself a cup of tea. She blew the rising steam from the porcelain cup and took a cautious sip. A bit hot but still fantastic. She happily trotted into the library's sitting room and made herself comfortable on the small couch she kept. Placing the cup on her coffee table, she magicked a thick tome toward her. She snuggled down to read.
Deep under the ground, something stirred. It peered up at the world above it. A smile graced the beings lips.
"Perhaps," it thought, "it is time to visit the surface again. I'm sure they would be happy to see me." It chuckled and began roll its joints as it prepared for its journey. it was sure to be a rough one.
Twilight was pulled from her book by a slight rattling. She peered around quizzically before her eyes settled on the tea cup. It was shaking along the coffee table. Soon, it began to bounce and jump. The reality hit Twilight.
"Earthquake!" She cried as she tried to steady herself of the sofa. She heard Spike yelp as he was woken from his nap upstairs. Books began to tumble from the shelves and her cur fell from the table to shatter on the floor. The quaking of the ground continued to get worse until suddenly... it stopped.
"Spike..." Twilight called "are you okay?'
"Ugh... yeah I'm fine." Came the reply. A belch soon followed. "Uh... Twi, you got a letter from the princess." Spike said as he descended the stairs. Twilight seized the letter from his claw with magic. She frantically tore the letter open and read it.
My Dear Student, Twilight
As you no doubt noticed, we just suffered an earthquake. This in of itself is not that much of a problem, I fear it may have just been a sign of something much worse. I need you to gather the other element bearers and meet me and my sister outside the Everfree. This is very important, please do not keep us waiting.
Princess Celestia
Twilight was out the door with speeds that would have made Rainbow Dash proud.
Several minutes later Twilight stumbled toward the forest gasping and panting. Not surprising seeing as she basically just ran a marathon in about fifteen minutes. The other five elements looked at her with worry in their eyes. She looked about ready to collapse. Which, upon seeing her mentor, she did.
"We're...all ...here your majesties." She gasped through ragged breaths. Celestia looked rather surprised that her student had gotten here so quick. Luna, on the other hand, was trying not to laugh at the poor, disheveled unicorn.
Twilight stood as Rarity tired to make her look somewhat presentable.
"So, what do you need us for princesses?" She asked. "Has something happen. Did that earthquake unleash Discord or open one of the gates to Tarturus?"
"Shucks, that would stink. That earthquake really helped down on the farm. Shook all the loose apples off'a the trees. I'd hate it if'n that got ruined." Applejack drawled.
"Not quite." Celestia said. "Follow me and you will see the problem." The ponies diligently followed their princess into the forest, worry gnawing at all of their minds.
It was a fairly short walk before the group entered a clearing. In the center of the clearing there was a jagged gash of earth. Steam billowed out and an eerie red glow shone from the crevice. The six element bearers braced themselves as they approached. Celestia and Luna slightly in front of them. Oddly enough, Celestia looked uneasy while Luna looked almost...Excited?
"Get ready. I'm not sure what exactly is about to happen." Celestia said out the corner of her mouth. Suddenly, a deep laughter rang out. A dark form burst from the earth and landed with a heavy thud a few feet from them. The mane six stumbled back in surprise while Celestia Pawed angrily at the ground. The dust cleared to show a large pony... an Alicorn to be exact.
It had a coat the color of old parchment and a mane of what seemed to be liquid earth billowing behind it, shimmering shades of brown. Great billowing wings were shook as it swung its head back and forth, its horn waving like a baton. The young mares were shock as they realized this Alicorn was male. He looked at them with eyes of a deep hazel and a calm half-smile. A cutie-mark of swirling greens, blues, and browns adorned his flank. He took a deep breath and spoke.
"Hey." A voice so deep it was as if the ground rumbled with every word.
"Who-who is that Princess?" Twilight asked as the other five stared with slack jaws. Celesta growled and opened her mouth when something very odd happened. Luna squealed and clapped her hooves together before jumping at the newcomer. She wrapped her hooves around his neck and pulled him into a hug. This made the six non-Alicorns very confused.
"Tia! Look who it is!" Luna cried, her voice brimming with glee and excitement. The new Alicorn spoke in that avalanche like voice.
"Come on. Ain't you gonna give me a hug too?"
"No." Celestia snapped. "You aren't supposed to be here."
"Aw, what, I can't even visit ya?" He said.
"Go away. Get back in that hole."
"That's what she said." He quipped. Luna, Rainbow, and Pinkie laughed, Applejack chuckled, the others blushed and Celestia ground her teeth together. She spun on her hooves and marched out of the clearing with Twilight following confused.
"Who was that Princess? Why was Luna so happy but you so mad?" Twilight inquired.
"That, Twilight, was a dim-witted, slack-jawed, mouth breathing jerk." Celestia grumbled. "He is also my older brother."
Twilight stopped dead in her tracks. She was stunned into silence, but only for a moment.
"You have a brother? Why wasn't anypony heard about this?"
"Because I don't like him." was the only reply. Twilight hurried after her mentor hoping to get better answers.
Meanwhile, back at the clearing, Luna and her brother were catching up. At least, until the new Alicorn noticed the other five mares.
"And who are these fine, young ladies?" He with a raised eyebrow. Luna smiled.
"Meet the current holders of the elements of harmony." She began to introduce them one by one. With introductions done the mares all tried to figure out how to ask the same question. It was Rainbow who finally said it.
"So, uh, who are you exactly?" She asked without tact. The Alicorn pulled back in surprise. Before anypony could scold Rainbow Dash however, he burst in to a deep laughter.
"I thought i had forgot something. I am Tercreavi, but you can call me Terry. I'm Celestia and Luna's older brother."
"Her brother? Then' why didn't she seem happy to see you?" Applejack asked.
"No clue. Celestia has always been like that." Terry sighed. "But at least Luna here likes me!" He exclaimed as he pulled the indigo Alicorn into a bone crushing hug. The five mares, while moved by the display and amused at Luna's face when she was crushed, couldn't help but wonder why Celestia disliked this stallion. He seemed friendly enough. Maybe she didn't approve of his work?
" Well Prince Terry, what is it you do?" Rarity asked. Terry set Luna down before replying.
" Okay: one, no prince, just Terry, and two, I manage various factors concerning plants, animals, and geological formations."
"What?" All five of the present element bearers asked. Terry thought for a moment.
" I make sure plants grow like they should, animals act like they should, and things like mountains, hills, and gems form like and where they should." The mares understood this a bit more then what he had said before. Each of them noticed something that grabbed their attention.
" Wait, so, you make gems form?" Rarity asked with a gleam in her eyes.
"And apple trees sprout?" Applejack questioned.
"And sugar grow?" Pinkie drooled.
"And you make animals like bunnies so cute and cuddly?" Fluttershy squeaked.
"And cause the mountains that are so awesome to fly around?" Rainbow sputtered. Terry backed away slightly from the curious mares.
" Um, yeah, sort of. I didn't make Animals cute but I make sure they stay that way." The mares each grew a huge and rather frightening grin. Pinkie jumped at Terry, laughing as she bore him to the ground. Rarity began to monologue about gems and Fluttershy gushed about animals, while Rainbow reenacted one of her many, heavily enhanced flight stories.
Luckily for Terry he was saved from the insanity of four blabbering mares. His savior was the orange farmer know as Applejack.
"Hey now, this ain't any way to behave. Ya'll are badgering this poor stallion with alla yer nonsense." She pulled Terry back on to his hooves.
"Thank you, Miss Applejack." He said nodding politely.
"No need to thank me. Oh and it's just Applejack, I ain't old enough for 'miss' yet." Applejack replied with a chuckle. " Besides, I think I owe you some thanks."
"Oh, and what for?" Terry asked.
"That earthquake of yours was just strong enough to shake the ripe apples from my orchard. Now I have myself some free time to relax." Applejack said with a grin.
"Apples, you say? I love apples." Terry said with a big goofy grin. Luna buffeted him upside the head with a wing.
"You don't like apples, you like apple cider and you know it." Luna said with a scoff.
" So what? Apple cider is just like... liquid apples.' Terry muttered. Applejack tried not to laugh.
"Well, I think we might have some cider back at the farm if you want some." Terry perked up instantly. Rainbow, however, became irate.
"Hey, you said you didn't have any more cider!" She exclaimed.
"No, I said I didn't have any more cider for YOU." Applejack said as she stuck out her tongue.
"Oh, you rotten little-!" Rainbow shouted as she charged at Applejack. Applejack laughed and fled from her angry friend. The others just chuckled and followed.
While the others were having fun, Twilight was dealing with a sulky princess Celestia.
"Princess? Will you please open up and talk to me?"
"No!"
"Why? What is so bad about your brother?"
" I don't want to talk about it!" Twilight groaned and began to thump her head against the wall.
" Hiding isn't going to fix anything princess." She said. "Sheesh, your acting like a little brat." She muttered under her breath.
"I heard that. And if I stay hidden, maybe he'll go away."
"Fine, be that way. But can you at least come out of the bathroom? Spike really has to go." There was a moment of hopefully silence.
"NO!" Twilight sighed and started down the stairs.
"Come on Spike I'll teleport you to Rarity's."
"What?" Spike asked as he came in from the backyard. Twilight looked at him for a moment.
"Aw. Go wash your claws." She said disgusted.
Outside of Ponyville, at Sweet Apple Acres, Terry sat at the dining room table in the farm house. He dug furiously at a pile of apple pancakes, pausing only to wash it down with a sip from his mug of apple cider.
Across the table sat Applejack's siblings, Big Macintosh and Applebloom. Both of them stared at the large Alicorn with gobsmacked expressions. Granny Smith walked out from the kitchen with another huge plate of pancakes.
"Heh, heh, hungry feller ain't cha?" Granny chuckled. Terry smiled at her.
"So, uh, what was it ya said ya did... Yer majesty?" Big Mac asked.
"Oh, none of that your Majesty stuff, I'm not royalty. I basically go around making sure plans and animal and the like are behaving. "
"Uh-huh... Can you gimme an example?"
"Sure, a little while back i had to go fix some messed up parasprites. They were eating buildings and the like instead of actual food, like they are supposed to. Not sure how that happened." Applejack and the others made a point of not pointing out they knew what had happened.
"Oh, and then there were those apples that tasted like grapefruit." The Apple family all just shuddered at the thought.
"Well, good thing you fixed that." Big Mac muttered. Terry nodded as he polished off his second plate of pancakes. Suddenly, the front door swung open and Twilight trotted in.
" Girls, Princess, I need your help with Celestia." She said looking rather put out. " She's, well, it would be easier to see for yourselves." The five mares and the princess looked at each other before standing and following Twilight out of the farmhouse.
For several moments Terry and Big Mac sat in silence while Applebloom and Granny Smith went back into the kitchen. Big Mac sniffed and cleared his throat.
"So,uh, Terry right?" Terry nodded. "You want to go get something a little stronger then that cider? I got a little stash of moonshine me and the fellas make every so often." Terry gave Mac a wild grin.
"I thought you'd never ask."
The elements of harmony and princess Luna stood silently outside of the library's restroom.
"Is she seriously hiding in there?" Rainbow asked in disbelief.
"Yes, yes she is. I have no idea how to get her out. Do any of you girls know?" The other elements looked at each other before shrugging.
"Perhaps I can." Luna said as she stepped up to the door. she rapped on the heavy oak door." Sister? Can you hear me?"
"Go away!" Celestia called from inside the bathroom.
"Please come out Sister. This is no way to behave."
"I don't care. I'm staying in here until he leaves."
"Why, what has he done to make you so angry? I know he hasn't visited you in, what, three or four THOUSAND years? Is there seriously something you can't forgive after that long?" There was a moment of silence. The door unlocked and opened. Celestia stepped out with a apprehensive face.
"Maybe you're right Luna. I should at least talk to him, right?" Luna and the Mane six all nodded enthusiastically. Celestia put on her best determined face." Right. Let's go find my brother."
It took them a little longer then expected to find Terry. He was no longer in the farmhouse. No he was in a small barn Big Mac used for the gatherings he and his friends had. Terry and Big Mac weren't alone either. Two mares, Berry Punch and Carrot Top, were also lounging with them on an old couch Big Mac had Drug out there. All four of them were blind, stinking drunk. Mac and Berry lay sprawled on the floor in front of the couch unconscious. Empty masonry jars lay scattered around them. Carrot Top sat snuggled against Terry with a half empty jar in her hoof. The liquid sloshing back and forth as she brought it up to her flushed face. Terry, on the other hoof, was surrounded by jars with only a faint blush and lip marks on his face.
The six mares and Luna stood silently for a moment as they stared at the scene in front of them. They turned to look at Celestia. Her face was beet-red and she was grinding her teeth as she seethed with anger. Terry looked up from the mare against him and saw his spectators. He paled when he saw the very obviously angry princess of the sun. He turn to Carrot Top and muttered into her ear. She nodded, stood shakily, and made her way out the back door of the barn.
Terry smiled awkwardly at his sister.
"Uh, heh, Hey Sis. When'd you get here?" He squeaked.
"Don't you 'Hey Sis' me! Not here for one day and you're drunk and trying to get under the tail of some mare!" Celestia yelled. Big Mac and Berry Punch snorted awake at the noise. They looked around and, upon seeing the other, made their way out the back too. Bic Mac ,however, got to see the glare form Applejack that promised he woulr be catching Tarturus for this later.
"She-she came on to me!" Terry stammered.
"Oh, don't give me that! You were always doing this sort of thing when you were younger! Just another reason to be disappointed in you!" The others gasped and Terry recoiled as if struck. Celestia smiled smugly as she stared down her nose at her brother.
"Well, at least I don't declare myself God-Ruler to satisfy my massive ego!" Terry shouted. Celestia gaped at Terry.
"That's just because you're an anarchist!"
"No, I trust Equestria enough not to lord over the denizens like an over protective parent!"
"Oh, please you ran off because you knocked up that Sweet Roll mare and were afraid to be a father!" The others held their tongues as they watched what was basically a slow motion train wreck.
"That's not true I always visited when I could and made sure they had plenty of money. Besides, at least I can run!"
"What are you insinuating?!"
"I'm saying YOU'RE FAT! WHAT, CAN'T HEAR ME PAST ALL THAT CAKE IN YOUR EARS?!" Celestia's mouth opened and shut several times, much like a fish. Instead of replying she turned and march past her sister and the Mane Six out of the barn. Terry sighed and plopped himself down on the sofa. Things just got a lot harder to patch up between the two of them.
Terry sighed as he leaned back against the ratty, old sofa. He floated a bottle up to his lips and drank a large portion. Looking at the group of ponies standing in the barn doorway, he sighed. They didn't look very happy. No they looked shocked, angry, and a bit confused, but not happy.
"What the hay was that about!" Applejack blurted.
"That is what happens every time Celestia and I end up in a room together." Terry mumbled.
"Why did she call you an Anarchist?" Twilight asked. Luna nodded, pondering that as well.
"There is a reason I don't want you to call me 'prince' or 'your majesty'. It's because i didn't think we should be Equestria's royalty. I thought we should leave the council of tribes in power, but no. Celestia had to be an old mother hen and babysit the pony race in obvious favoritism." Terry growled out.
"I'm more concerned about this 'him trying to get under mares tails' business." Rarity chirped.
"Oh that." Luna said waving a hoof. "That's just cause Terry is notoriously promiscuous."
"What's promiscuous mean?" Fluttershy asked looking at Applejack. She just shrugged in response. Rarity leaned over and whispered into their ears. Fluttershy turned bright red and squeaked while Applejack pulled her hat over her eyes.
" Did the Princess mention a mare named Sweet Roll just now?" Pinkie asked with a twitchy smile.
"Uh, yeah..." Terry replied cautiously. Pinkie squealed and hopped around excitedly.
"Was she brown with a white mane and a cutie mark of a tall, glazed pastry?" Pinkie asked quickly. Terry nodded. Pinkie gasped. "That was my great-great-great-great-great- grandmothers' aunt. I'm sure of it."
"I doubt it, but Okay." Terry said as he rubbed his forehead.
"Well, this is all well and good, but we need to patch up my family right now." Luna said. "Now Terry, go apologize to your sister."
"WHAT?! NO!" Terry shouted indignantly. Luna's' eyes narrowed and she snorted out her nose.
"Yes." She said through gritted teeth. Terry just turned his head. Luna stomped her hoof. "Fine, you brought this on yourself." She marched righted to Terry aaaannndd..... pouted. Big wobbly eyes, quivering lip, and flattened ears. The whole nine yards. All the mares except Applejack looked on confused.
"That is the weapon of the youngest sister." Applejack said nodding. The others just looked at her. "Applebloom uses it on Mac quite a bit. Works every time. In fact, Terry'll probably break in three...two...one."
"Alright, fine, I'll apologize... but only if she does too." Terry conceded.
"Great now all we need is to keep them from tearing each others throats out before they can apologize. Any ideas?" rainbow Dash asked. there was a moment of silence.
"I know!" Twilight said "All they need is a little sibling love. and who deals with love?" The others smiled.
"Cadence!!!"