Equestria: The Next Generation
The six gems adorned the golden monument. It was the last reminder of the past Equestria had left behind. 300 years after the Crystal Empire resurfaced, many ponies had forgotten of the world they used to have. The inhabitants of the world nowadays were about the grandchildren of the inhabitants of long ago. Only Celestia and Luna remained from an age long gone by. These were the last reminders of the past.
They stood upon a golden pedestal, engraved with the words that brought tears:
Requiem
In memory of the Elements of Harmony
Twilight Sparkle
Rainbow Dash
Fluttershy
Applejack
Pinkie Pie
Rarity
May they rest in peaceful harmony
It was the memorial to the historic Elements of Harmony. Nowadays, there was no need for them.
250 years ago, after the Elements of Harmony grew old and gave their lives to fuse the six Harmonic Artifacts to the Crystal Heart, Equestria had certainly mourned. But over time, they forgot of their fallen heroes, and they focused more on the things that needed fixing. They revised their government, and began inventing machines and industrial contraptions, and soon, the face of the world was changed, with massive cities, clouded skies, and a lack of evil.
They had successfully defended Canterlot from the Dragon rebirth, and the dark of the world had not messed with them yet. For 176 years, Equestria has been inventing and expanding with Industry. Nothing now was as it was long ago.
Now, at Requiem, Celestia and Luna had arrived to mourn the Elements. But why make a memorial now? The site of the Element's deaths, The Crystal Citidel, had been transformed into the previous monument. It's courtyard had become the site of the Harmonic Heart, what used to be the Crystal Heart, before it had been infused with the six Harmonic Artifacts. There were statues of each of the legendary Elements of Harmony and their embodiments. But 2 years ago, Princess Cadance, still stricken with grief after losing her husband, Shining Armor, to the Icesaber Tigers of the arctic north, had decided that the Crystal Citidel was now on hallowed ground. The Citidel was elected to be moved, but the Crystal Empire is all connected to the presence of the Citidel.
The Empire itself was moved to a site far away. The monument could not be moved, and without the Harmonic Heart, it was useless. No matter how historic it was, it had to be demolished. And now Requiem had taken it's place. But there were six ponies in particular that Celestia wanted to see. They were believed to be the distant descendants of the Elements of Harmony. Arith Matic, Thunder Crasher, Sabbath, Maple Tree, Lemon Drop, and Luminescence. They mourned like the others, despite their rather cheery names.
Celestia confronted Arith, and said, "Mister Matic?"
Arith Matic was in shock. The Princess was talking to him. But he didn't have enough emotion left in him to change feelings "Yes?" he sighed.
Celestia frowned in sorrow, "I'm sorry. I know the monument ment everything to you and your friends, but I need to talk to you."
"Then go ahead," he said, never locking eyes with the Alicorn.
"Come with me," Celestia asked, walking off through a door to the castle. Arith and his friends followed. They had never been inside Canterlot Castle before. He invisiged it as it was before the war. Before the security cameras and computer monitors. It must have been grand. But hose days of architecture were over. Everything looked bland and grey nowadays.
They followed Celestia into her private chanbers. They felt honored to even be within Celestia's personal walls, but the voice of the Princess seemed of the utmost urgency. "Alright. Arith, Thunder, Sabbath, Maple, Lemon, and Luminescence?"
They all nodded and agreed with their names
"I suppose you know of you ancestors. Is that why you are saddened by this monument?"
"Yes." said Sabbath, a Mare, "My great Grandmother was the Element of Kindness. She gave her life to fuse her rabbit's soul to the Crystal Heart. And now, her place of death has been abandoned, and left in the cold of the Arctic north."
"Me, too." said Thunder Crasher, one of the stallions, "My Great Gandmother was The Element of Loyalty, and she died gifting the Crystal Heart with the Reflection Ruby."
Luminescence, the mare, said, "My Grandmother was also in that ritual. The Element of Generosity, who gave her life for the Royal Crystal Mirror to be fused with the Crystal Heart."
"As did my Grandmother," said Maple Tree, A stallion, "The Element of Honesty."
"And mine, too!" said Lemon Drop The Mare.
"And Arith," said Celestia to the deeply sorrowed Stallion, "I know what this must feel like. Your mother was not like them. She did not die immediately. Being of her advanced magical state, it took generations for her soul to finally leak out, and for her to die. You were much closer to her than your friends. As was I."
"What would you know about my mother?" he asked, now slightly angry.
"She was my," Celestia sobbed, and said, "My most Faithful Student."
Arith looked up, as Celestia continued, "Your mother was so powerful, that when she gave her spirit to the Alicorn Amulet in order to Create the Harmonic Heart, it only took half of her spirit. She was left with half of her heart in her. But the ritual still worked: the Harmonic Heart was created, and evil was banished from Equestria. But Twilight was left with only half a soul."
Arith said, "She became irritable, and antisocial. She even became vengeful and aggresive sometimes."
"That is beacause she was fading." said Celestia, "How long ago did she die?"
"I don't know anymore. Two years, maybe."
"The same time as her brother, Shining Armor. Do you know why that is?"
"Do I look like I do?"
"Nopony can live very long with only half a soul. The only reason Twilight was able to live another 298 years was because her brother and her had shared a relationship of the most love I've ever seen. When he died, Twilight died with him."
" How does this effect me?"
"You are the direct descendant of The Element of Magic. These others are seperated by at least three generations to their Elemental Ancestors. You, and you alone, must lead the Next Generation of the Elements of Harmony."
