When Stars Fall...

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Note: This is my second fanfic based upon an idea I had a while ago.

It was a hot and sunny day in Ponyville, so all the ponies were outside in the boiling sun and making the most of the crisp, blue sky. Rarity was working outside her boutique fashioning a whole new range of designer dresses based upon the glorious weather that the pegasi had created. Rainbow Dash was supposed to help the pegasi, but was instead dozing on a fluffy loud as usual. Pinkie had donned her frilly and bright sunglasses, and then merrily hopped to Fluttershy’s house where the two of them were planning to have a picnic together. Applejack mopped the sweat off of her brow as she bucked the 50[SUP]th[/SUP] apple tree that day. “A new personal record,” she mused to herself. Finally, Twilight Sparkle was lounging on her balcony and researching her latest finds on friendship. All was normal in Ponyville, but the same couldn’t be said for Canterlot…..

Stargazer marvelled at the brightly lit stars in the distance through the brand new telescope installed into the observatory. Luna was located behind him grooming her hooves and spinning round on her chair in boredom. The scientist lifted his head and spoke ecstatically, “Doesn’t the moon look beautiful? I wish I could go there.” Luna scoffed and muttered something incomprehensible. Stargazer looked through the gadget once more, but then frowned in confusion. He spoke more quizzically this time, “Are the stars supposed to be disappearing?”

It was night now, and the six of them burst into the Canterlot throne room where Celestia was pacing up and down the same spot. She turned her head to them and, unlike other meetings; a serious expression was etched into her face. “We came as soon as we could princess!” Twilight gasped and bowed tiredly. “I’m fine with being called here,” grumbled Rainbow Dash, “but couldn’t it have waited until the morning? I mean, do you know what time it is?” Pinkie bounded up in front of her, arms outstretched, and shouted, “Is it party time, I love party time, it’s one of the best times of the day, I mean when is party time not the best part of the day, i-“Applejack rose a hoof over her mouth to silence her, Pinkie’s shoulders sagged, and she gave Applejack a grumpy stare in return. “I called you here”, spoke the princess,” because of this.” Her horn flashed white, and all seven ponies vanished.

More like ghosts than real ponies now, they stood in the throne room at a different time. Guards were rushing around and bolts of energy shot out and hit walls and floors. A dark-grey unicorn was holding a staff of sorts on the main staircase and was controlling the madness like a conductor with an orchestra. A younger looking Celestia appeared and a familiar rainbow cast over the mage. With that, the sorcerer was gone, the room flashed white again, and the seven ponies were now standing back in their own time.

“I’m afraid that’s all I can show you,” Celestia’s head dipping slightly as she spoke grimly. “That was Disharmony, a powerful unicorn who was brought to Canterlot to study harmony’s magic, however, he wanted to use the Elements for evil purpo-“ Surprised she hadn’t been interrupted, Celestia turned to find all the ponies with large eyes frozen in shock and mouths agape. “As I was saying,” she continued embarrassingly, “He wanted to use the Elements of harmony for evil so, because Luna was on the moon,” her sister walked by and shot Celestia a menacing glare, “I banished him to the centre of the world.” Twilight gathered up her courage and walked up to the princess then said, “But what does this have to do with us?” Suddenly, she opened as eyes wide because she understood what they had to do. “We believe that he is taking power from the stars,” Celestia said, “And you six need to go and stop him.”

Suddenly, a green blast of energy expanded outside and they gathered at the window. To their despair, Cloudsdale was crumbling in the sky as parts broke off, leaving some pegasi drifting on segments of cloud. Tears welled in Rainbow Dash’s eyes as her home fell to pieces. Through the wave of green, an almost transparent face shone over the land. Disharmony had a small beard and a long, black mane, which curled around like vines at the tip. His voice was deep and commanding, and he spoke, “I know you can see this Celestia, it’s only a matter of time before I have enough energy to make the whole of Equestria meet Cloudsdale’s fate. I know of your champions, come to me if you think you have a hope of beating me, but this time, those little trinkets of yours won’t help.” The face imploded and a green portal grew in the centre of Ponyville.

As Rarity dragged Fluttershy to the portal, Twilight was engrossed in her book, and Applejack slid the Elements into Twilight’s rucksack. The elements felt heavier than usual. Rainbow Dash kicked at the ground with her hoof, but Pinkie kept tapping her on the shoulder every now and then to try and trick her. “Okay girls,” Twilight ordered, “He’s just another pony who wants to destroy the world, we’ve done this plenty of times so let’s go!” Twilight dashed into the haze, with Applejack and Rainbow Dash following close behind. Pinkie somersaulted inside and Rarity stuck one hoof in before entering entirely. Fluttershy attempted to walk away nonchalantly, until they all pulled her inside as well. The portal evaporated.

This world was dark and a single spotlight coated the ponies. Again, the face appeared and boomed at them, “Welcome to my world!” They were in oblivion. Shards with distraught ponies imbedded into them floated past. A bridge, which seemed to be made of glass, lay ahead. At the opposite end lay a doorway with a lightning bolt covering it. Rainbow and Fluttershy’s wings puffed away and Rainbow Dash grumbled, “Not again.”

Pinkie poked the bridge and a segment shattered, so she recoiled and grimaced at the large drop below. “How do we get across there?” Rairty said, flicking her mane. Rainbow Dash face-hoofed herself and then peeked out of one eye at the others. “I don’t know, maybe there’s something in one of my books,” Twilight replied and used her horn to pull a large, purple, leather-bound book out of her bag. She and the other ponies scanned the pages, except for Rainbow Dash, who let out a weary sigh. Before the others could react, Rainbow Dash sprinted across the bridge, which splintered as she ran, until she had made it. The other ponies rubbed their heads in embarrassment.

Rainbow tilted her head in wonder, and then used her hoof to open the door. On the other side was paradise, with a world full of spell-binding clouds and dreamy blue skies. Clousdale was still there in all its glory. Her eyes sparkled and she stepped forwards, but then she remembered her mission and slammed the door shut before she could fall into temptation. Next to her was a lever. She heaved it down and, with a groan, it slotted into place and a more solid bridge connected together over the gap.

But, when Twilight opened the door, there was no paradise; instead there were three doors this time. Above the doors was a placard, which read, “We will always be friends for years to come.” These doors had three apples on them. Three smaller placards rested on the doors and there was one for “Yes”, one for “No”, and one for, “I don’t know”. “Go on Applejack!” Pinkie blurted cheerfully, “You’re the most honest, open the right door! Although I think we all know what the answer is!” Applejack nervously trotted forwards. She couldn’t tell a lie. She knew that. She opened the door, and tears flowed from everypony’s eyes when they realised it was the “No” door.

Each of their heads lowered in turn. Does this mean what they thought it meant? “I must be a little nuts in the head recently y’all,” Applejack choked out. Suspiciously, they soldiered on through the door. This one was obvious, the door had balloons on it after all, but the room seemed completely normal. As it was so clear, Pinkie hopped forwards delightfully and then froze. Images popped up like some sort of twisted, cruel maze with only one way through. Her mouth widened and tears wept from her eyelids as pictures of Rainbow Dash being rejected from the Wonderbolts, Fluttershy being bullied, and Applejack leaving Ponyville for good floated around her. This was Pinkie Pie hell.

Forcing back the tears, a frail laughter erupted from her mouth as she shakily stepped forwards. Her eyes were screwed shut tightly as the drops of water streamed through. “Remember what Grandma Pie said Pinkie,” she spluttered to herself over and over again. The others couldn’t stand to watch, it was the most horrifying thing they'd ever seen. Pinkie collapsed against the side of the door and curled up into a sobbing ball. She let her hoof scrape against the door and the others could reach her now. Rarity moved up to her and placed her hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. Pinkie looked at her and the corners of her mouth turned up, but only very slightly.

“What could be worse now?” All of them wondered. Fluttershy’s door. Fluttershy was not a brave pony at the best of times, so how could she possibly cope with this? A portal lay before the door, and through it was another dimension of a burning world with dying ponies and other creatures. Yet another placard read, “What would be the kind thing to do?” They weren’t getting through that door with the portal in the way, but what could they do? “Well girls,” Twilight gasped, “It looks like we’ve failed. There’s no way we’re going to be able to get past that.” Fluttershy’s eyes darted around the floor and then focussed on a single spot. For the first time in her life, she held her head high, with eyes burning fiercely and exclaimed, “For Equestria…..” With that, she charged, more tears burning ferociously from tired eyelids and then she vanished into the portal, sealing behind her instantly.

“FLUTTERSHY!” All the ponies screamed. Jaws dropped to the floor, and then Applejack took her hat off and put it against her chest, head bowed. Rainbow Dash saluted, eyes leaking like waterfalls and lips quaking. The others just glared at the spot where they’d last seen Fluttershy. “No more!” Twilight screeched. “Face us you coward, if you truly are who you say you are, because no-pony ruins our friendship!” A thunderous laugh rippled through the air. “If you insist,” Disharmony said slyly.

Suddenly, they were in the throne room, but this one was dark with black and red banners draped along the sides of the hall. Disharmony sat at the tip of the room on a throne of shadows, wielding his green staff, which had some sort of energy being absorbed into it. The power from the stars no doubt. Still sobbing, Twilight spoke, “Why didn’t you just see us in the first place?” Disharmony grinned a terrible grin and replied, “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but don’t you require everypony to use the Elements of Harmony?” Shivers went down all the ponies spines and Twilight’s heart lurched. He’d been playing this long game for a reason all along. “Now then,” he mused at his staff, “Do you give up?”

The ponies huddled into a group with arms outstretched onto one another’s shoulders. Even Rainbow Dash was solemn. “We can still do this girls,” Twilight lied. Then, an idea enlightened her mind. Disharmony must be using the staff to maintain his whole world, if it’s destroyed, so is his world. However, she then realised what that would then involve. “Are all of us,” she gulped, “Prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for harmony?” The other four ponies glared at her, stunned and then Rarity replied almost happily, “Of course dear.” Rainbow Dash grinned slightly and whispered, “They don’t call me the Element of Loyalty for nothing.” Applejack merely tipped her hat in slight agreement. Attention turned to Pinkie and she smiled delicately, “All good parties have to end.”

“For Fluttershy?” Twilight put her hoof into the middle of the group. “For Fluttershy,” said all of them as they joined their hooves in unison.

“Clock is ticking Twilight,” he said mockingly. “Now give me the elements.” The group dispersed into position and Twilight spun to address Disharmony. “We’ll never give up.” At that, Rainbow Dash moved like a leopard and bucked the unicorn directly in the face. Rarity loaded bottles of fragrances into Pinkie’s cannon and she fired at Disharmony angrily. Applejack kept kicking a never-ending stream of apples towards him and the sorcerer retreated and spluttered. This was it. Twilight blasted her magic at the staff and it toppled from Disharmony’s hoof, and then smashed onto the floor. “You stupid foals!” He screamed, “Do you know what you’ve done?” The ponies began to cry single tears and Pinkie smiled for one last time. The corner of Twilight’s mouth turned up, “We’ve just saved the world.”

Celestia smiled as she looked out the window, because the world was returning to normal yet again. Her student’s had never failed her and she had known that when she had sent them. A quill began to scratch against parchment on the stand behind her. “A letter from Twilight and friends so soon?” she thought. Her smile faded at what she read.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learnt that sometimes you have to put faith into your friends in order to achieve anything. Especially those who you never expected to succeed. Thank you for all your support, for I have learnt that, not only can friendship be magical, but friendship IS magic. This has been the most amazing experience and I only hope other ponies can learn to feel the same way. Goodbye princess.

Your Faithful Ex-Student,

Twilight Sparkle”

Celestia’s tear stained the page as it trickled down and onto the floor.

THE END​

 

The ending to this was crucial to me. I wrote this story as a kind of test to see what people's reactions would be to the different elements of the plot. Although I'll probably be more focused on "The Family" fanfiction from now on. Thanks for the feedback ;3