I call it a first draft for a reason. I am looking for criticism, and I don't care if it's just a typo. I may be changing large chunks of text if need be. I don't know what you think which is why you should tell me.
Untitled
(First Draft)
The summer day was unusually hot; but then again Princess Celestia was enjoying a good, hot cup of tea in her private chambers, her rising body temperature relating directly to the sun. She sipped contentedly, attempting to temporarily ignore the growing list of royal duties she still had to complete until the day was over. She breathed the semi-humid air in, then released slowly, magically placing the cup perfectly on the saucer on the end table before her. Celestia listened to the birds singing, closing her eyes, contemplating a nap. Hoof steps outside her door, though, quickly roused her into suspicion. Her ears twitched irritably as the two ponies outside her door made no move. Finally, she rose, her long slender legs ending in golden shoes carrying her gracefully across the floor, and she opened the large door. Outside, two guards stared at her.
"What is going on out here?" Celestia asked, arching an eyebrow. She absolutely detested having ponies work for her who couldn't speak straight. She was more of a 'don't shoot the messenger' kind of leader.
"Well, your Majesty." One started. They looked at each other and shifted nervously. One was a white pegasus, the other a brown unicorn. The pegasus continued, "There is a mare here who wishes to speak with you." He almost made the statement a question, nervous as he was. Celestia looked at him closely, realizing he was a new recruit.
"Insists, actually." The unicorn stepped in, and almost immediately regretted it, as Celestia's gaze turned to him.
"I am extremely busy today. Does she have an appointment?" She didn't want to be disturbed by anything today. It felt like a lazy day.
The pegasus shook his head nervously, "No, ma'am." The two guards shared looks at each other though. They were obviously not going to get to the point any time soon.
"Then turn her away until tomorrow." Celestia's mind was already groggy from thoughts of a mid-afternoon nap. The soft pillows enveloping her in more warmth, her wings spread softly over the bed, fully extended, a loose smile on her lips as she dozed.
"She says she doesn't need an appointment. And—and she is a very strange pony." The pegasus spoke, snorting. The unicorn nodded. Their tone made it obvious that it was a physical deformity, and not strange as in mentally different.
Celestia froze, her blood running cold. "Peculiar, how?" Her thoughts ran in circles, it was either one of two ponies. Four were immediately rejected, leaving only these two. The two she wasn't too keen on seeing right now and spoiling such a wonderful day she had created.
The unicorn took over, "well, for one, she has no mane or tail." His swished as an example.
The pegasus nodded before adding, "And she has two small horns, in the middle of her forehead." His head dipped to show where they were located, but Celestia already knew who it was. Only one pony in the universe had two horns like that.
Celestia's expression deadpanned instantly. Her mane and tail actually froze with her for a moment before beginning their flowing, with more vigor, if nothing else. "Tell the chambermaids to clean everything." Celestia kicked off her shoes and lifted them into the air, her horn glowing, "don't go back down to the pony; I will meet with her personally." It was rare for Celestia to order around the guards and maids, as they were generally told what to do then keep doing the same job for months before being switched. This large change in behavior in Celestia meant this guest was important.
The two guards looked at each other then back at their Princess. "Should we also alert Princess Lu—"
"NO!" She barked. The guards stepped back. "I will—" She cleared her throat, lowering her tone, "I will talk to her too."
She placed the shoes carefully on a shelf before removing her crown and necklace. She passed by a mirror and noted how plain she looked. Perfect. She thought, Matter hates adornments. She trotted over to Luna's apartments, contemplating how much the arrival has changed since she was last seen, and knocked quietly on the grand doors.
"Yes?" The moon Princess called out slowly. She was probably doing the same thing Celestia dreamed of doing; sleeping.
"Luna. Somepony very important is in the castle." Celestia's anxiety played through her voice. She needed to get down to the hall before Matter took matters into her own hooves.
There was a pause, "how important?" Skepticism and worry showed in Luna's voice.
"Like you better not be wearing your necklace when she comes up to greet you."
A flurry of sound before the heavy door was opened frantically, "Matter is here?" She shrieked quietly, her voice raising a few octaves. Her eyes were wide and her pupils were tiny as she stared up at her older sister.
"Be ready in less than five minutes." Celestia said, "I'll try to delay her but she hasn't seen you in nearly three millennia, of course she'll be eager."
Luna bowed her head before withdrawing into her chambers, just as a small group of maids rushed by, many magically holding multiple cleaning apparatuses. Doesn't matter. It won't be clean enough.
Celestia descended the grand staircase, staring down at the mare. She was absolutely beautiful, but not a beautiful that any pony nowadays would understand. When Celestia and Luna were young, this mare was the cream of the crop, the most fought over filly in the universe. She had her choice of stallions, and picked Energy. She had no mane or tail, like the guards said, but that was not the strangest looking things about her. Her legs, longer then the average pony were curved to the extreme. Her neck was also slightly longer, and her pupils were set—they did not grow or shrink compared to her emotions.
The horns were the most obvious physical attribute about her. Two small, short spikes rose from her skin, one white, one black. Each containing more power then every unicorn in Equestria mixed together. Her black markings on white coat, though, were startling. On her face, from the tip of her ear to the middle of her eyelid was black, down to a curl of black under her eye. The darkness travels down her neck into a large curl on her chest that settles on her left side. Her rump, partially black, has a curl on it as well. This pony, about the size of Luna when she first returned to Equestria, stared up at Celestia with a smile on her lips.
"Hello Celestia," She trotted forward into a quick bow, "thank you for allowing me into your glorious, rambunctious castle. I didn't realize how much you enjoyed gorging yourself on physical beauty." The entire room was silent as the guards and help looked between their naked Princess and this obtrusive stranger.
Celestia nodded once, and then raised an eyebrow, "Is it always necessary for you to insult my living arrangements every time you decide to grace us with a visit?" Malice showed in her voice.
The mare chuckled, and trotted up a few steps. "Well well, Celestia, I see you've got your fathers quick tongue."
Celestia almost rolled her eyes, "Must you always comment on my speech when you come, too?"
The mare did roll her eyes, "where is Luna? I feel like I haven't seen her in forever."
Celestia stared down with annoyance, "It's been three millennia, Matter. For you that isn't so long."
"Of course not." Matter trotted up past Celestia to the top of the stairs, where she swung her head around, searching. "Can I at least attempt at being a regular pony when here on the planet? Or must I don my monocle and moustache?" Instantly, she had both, and cocked an eyebrow at Celestia. "Do I look ridiculous yet?"
"You always look ridiculous." Celestia muttered under her breath.
"Despite that, where is Luna? Where is my daughter?" She took off down a random hallway, half shouting, half singing, "Luuuuunaaaa Luuuuuuuuuunaaaa, where is she? My Luuuuuuunaaaa?" Celestia followed behind, dreading this reuniting moment.
Luna emerged silently from the room Matter had just passed. "I'm here, Matter."
Matter stood before her. Celestia blinked, forgetting how fast Matter's teleportation is.
Matter stared at the mare, taking in her flowing blue and star mane, her shy look, "Luna!" She sighed.
Luna smiled, looking down nervously, "Please, Total Matter, don't be too upset."
"Upset? Whatever for?"
"I attempted to destroy the beautiful planet that you created for us." Luna hung her head.
Matter angrily stomped, "You weren't the only one, and you weren't the worst." A shadow of memory passed over Matters face before she lit up, "So, what do you fillies want to do?"
Fillies? Celestia thought. "Well, when will Energy show up?"
"Oh, him? Not for a few more hours. Had a small issue with one of the stars off in a galaxy. He'll be here as soon as possible." She smiled quickly before trotting off in the general direction of the kitchen. "It's been quite a while, girls. What sort of food do you have on this planet?"
Celestia could not figure out what was up with Total Matter, as both munched on freshly grown apples. Luna nibbled nervously on an orange. The silence quickly became overbearing for the older pony, who began rambling off on what's been happening the last three thousand years. Matter was her usual, confident self, totally out of this world, but something was off. Something was wrong. Celestia took a bite just as Matter muttered; "…and one day, must have been at least four centuries ago in this time, we thought we saw Black Hole over near Orion, but it was just some dark matter. Took care of that!" Celestia nearly choked on her bit.
"Black Hole?" Luna asked as Celestia cleared her throat. The younger sister had only heard of this pony, she had not yet been created when he died. Celestia remembered easy enough. Luna's face was dubious.
"Yes, Black Hole, that's what I said right?" Matter bit into her apple and chewed while she spoke, "we thought he was in Orion. Anyway, a few years later—"
Celestia was appalled that Matter could have just jumped over that entire statement. Although it was obvious the mare was trying to avoid the subject, Celestia couldn't get the name out of her mind. She had avoided any mention of the pony. "No," Celestia spoke, "no no no, you can't just leave it off like that. Black Hole is still a touchy subject in this area."
Matters eyes hardened visibly, "It's a tough subject everywhere in the universe. Black Hole was loved, anomaly that he was. So anyway-"
Celestia felt anger bubble deep within her. Her eyes narrowed in disbelief at the way Matter brushed the topic off. "He was the personification of anomalies!" Celestia glared across the table. "He was an amazing pony; don't speak of him as if he was nothing!"
"How DARE you?" Matter stood, "He was more important than you can IMAGINE. He CONTROLLED the universal anomalies. Without him, the universe was in danger! The Universal balance was off and Energy and I could barely keep a hold on it!"
Luna stared wide-eyed at her family members. She took another bite of her orange before speaking, "We can all agree he was magical, yes?" The two angry mares made no move, "He deserves to be remembered, Tia" and turning to her mother, "but the thought of him still hurts, after what happened." Though she didn't really know what happened to him.
The stare down continued. Celestia's flowing mane was running two time, and Matter's horns pulsed an angry red.
Luna finished and put a bald hoof on Celestia's flank. Her sisters' head whipped around angrily. "Tia, please, it's been three thousand years since we've been together."
Celestia's eyes softened, and her mane and tail relaxed, returning to their normal speed. Matter calmed, taking one more bite before transporting the apple to the recycling container, three rooms away. Silence fell over the group, as they stared awkwardly at each other.
Finally Matter spoke, "you know why we created Black Hole, yes?" She stared at Celestia.
"Yes, as a mate for me." Celestia's eyes watered slightly, remembering the sweet pony. She turned away from the mare. "We tried, we really did, but we could only be friends."
Matte nodded, "Remember, darling, none of us have the same DNA, to protect royalty. We could all reproduce safely. I mean, if you and Luna…"
"Mother!" Luna gasped, shocked at the implications.
Matter laughed and hopped up, trotting energetically towards the doors that led to the gardens, and maze. "Where are you going?" Celestia called out, standing slowly.
"I want to see an old friend." Sadness in her voice as she drifted away. Luna and Celestia looked at each other before following the older mare into the sunlight.
The sun only increased Matter's beauty, contrasting even greater the black and white in her coat, bringing out a little sparkle in the white. She galloped quickly at a speed that astounded passerby's. The Princesses needed to use their wings just to hold pace, not the mention catching up. Matter took a longer path to her final destination, the statue garden. She stared up in wonder as she slowed to a walk, inspecting each closely; both the statue and plague regarding the name and reason for the pose. She had a slow, continuous "oh my," on her lips as she passed by many.
She ended up at Discords statue. Matter stared up at him. It wasn't until the Princesses got closer they saw the tears in her eyes. Celestia and Luna lost all reason to fight with the mare. Matter dropped her head sadly before staring up at the dangerous mixed creature again. "Mother…" Luna began.
"I know, I know." She turned to her daughters, wiping a hoof under her eyes, "he was dangerous, devious, and disastrous. But at one time…" She returned her eyes to the tortured face, "He was my friend."
The two sisters had heard the story before, many, many times. But still, Total Matter continued. "He was my best friend, after what happened to Black Hole. You were too young yet, Celestia, to rule the planet we made for you. But he was full-grown. Discord could keep an eye on the race of creatures we created for you to rule, until you were ready. Before that, though, he was a figment of my imagination brought to life by Complete Energy. He was a little bit of me, of your father…but mostly Black Hole." She turned and smiled at the girls, sitting down on the stone path, "it was a dream come true." Tears began to mat the old mare's fur under her eyes. She sniffed. "I had no friends back then, remember. There were no ponies yet. Your father and I were still designing what would belong in the universe our parents and grandparents created together. We barely saw each other, and you. Oh you, Celestia." She laughed lightly, "You were a doll. You would prance from galaxy to galaxy, placing your own power in each sun you passed. This sun was your favorite, you said. You said, 'it's my favorite, Mama, because it is the perfect size.' I couldn't believe that of all the suns, you chose this one.
"Time passed and your father and I saw more and more of each other. But something was wrong. The universe was unbalanced, undisciplined. It needed rules, laws, to run and govern it. So we created these rules and laws that could only be broken by us. Thus, the creation of Black Hole, a phrase that was given to him much later, of course, as were all our names."
Luna's ears pricked up; Matter had never spoken much on Black Hole. Celestia's eyes never left Discords'.
"He represented every loop hole in the universe, and kept them in check. We had hoped that the body we made, by mixing both of our powers equally, unlike what we did with you girls, we would create a vessel strong enough to hold the power, even at a young age." Matter's head dropped and the stone began to grow dark from her tears. "Black Hole was lost to us before he was mature." She shook her head, "You have no idea what it's like to lose a child; especially when there are only eight living life forms in the universe. Your father tried to cheer me up; he took an idea from my mind and made it so. The form, originally not as grotesque and wretched as he is now, needed a soul. I gave a piece of my own and a piece of Black Holes' to fill the body with life. Discord, he was called, when we found he had received many of Black Holes' powers, mixed with my own. "
Pain sounded in Matters' voice as she cried, "Discord!" And fell in a bow before the statue, sobbing uncontrollably. Celestia stared harshly at the statue. Luna's ears had fallen back, and she looked shyly away. Celestia's mind cracked between different issues; the jar she hide behind a book in her library, to Discord when she was a little filly, all polite and friendly to the Princess, to Discord a few months ago, as he tried to control Equestria again.
"He became power hungry, Matter." Celestia dropped her gaze to her weeping mother. "We had to take him out a second time."
Matter slowly sat up, "from your reports, though, it sounded like you didn't do it yourself."
Celestia shook her head, "no, actually. It was my protégé and her group of friends." Matter scuffed the ground with a hoof, "They are some of the most powerful ponies I have ever known. And they each contribute to the Elements of Harmony."
Matters ears popped up, "The Elements, you say?" She turned to her daughters. A smile twitched on her lips. "Children, I require your assistance. I wish to meet this group down in their town. And…" She turned to the Discord statue, "and I want Discord to accompany me."
The daughters' eyes popped and their mouths hung open. They knew that, at the time, Matter could feel Discord messing with her creation of a planet, and bending the rules that governed the universe in that area. And she wanted to release him? She had, personally, felt the decay of all universal laws beginning in that one area, as had Complete Energy. She knew what Discord was capable off, and she knew that she couldn't control him completely.
"That's insane!" Luna gasped. Matter slowly turned toward the younger mares, "we won't let it happen!" Luna looked desperately up at Celestia for support.
"He's too clever, mother." Celestia spoke evenly, "It won't be difficult for him to bend some universal law and jump through a loophole, especially without a pony like Black Hole."
Matter laughed quietly "I know that. But I also know that now, if necessary, I will be willing to break a law and uncreate matter."
"I don't even think that's a word." Luna whispered.
Celestia looked up at the statue, "How will you contain him?"
Matter shook her head, "careful watching and forcing him into his old form."
"His old form?" Celestia asked.
"Discord was originally a single idea, but from his strange shape was where we got the idea for many races you have here in Equestria." Matter sat up straight. "You two don't believe I can handle him."
"No, we don't." Luna said, looking at the bright mare. "He's just too…"
"Clever." Celestia finished.
Matter stood, making her way over to her daughters, she stared up at them, "I have no friends in this universe anymore since my full-time job is keeping the worlds in order. Discord is my last chance, so give me one. Give me one last chance to change him." Matter's eyes narrowed slightly.
Celestia could never stand that look on her mother, as could Luna. They both looked at each other, and a thought passed between them, Equestria is screwed. "Fine." Celestia said, "But you keep him behaved."
Matter was so happy her voice changed into the old tongue, spoken by the first ponies. A series of chirps and whirls and she leapt, high-kneed, towards the statue. Matter placed her horns at Discord's feet, and the horns began to glow softly, beautiful lavender.
Celestia and Luna stood guard, watching uncertainly. Matter though, seemed to know what she was doing. Her eyes closed in content as the purple light consumed her and the statue. Unlike before, when the rock had broken away and chipped painfully, Matter melted the stone, causing it to run and drip down his long body. Discord's head was the first thing free, and he took in a large gasp of air.
"What is this black magic?" Discord asked in his gruff voice. He cleared his voice as his eyes adjusted to the bright light. He easily spotted two very familiar mares, Celestia and Luna, glaring up at him. This light purple light, though, also seemed familiar. His first thought was it was Twilight Sparkle, the resilient filly, but the whispers in the magic were unmistakable. He attempted to crane his neck to look down, "Total Matter? Is that you?" His face lit up with glee.
"Yes, yes it is old friend." Matter picked up the pace, and the drops became rivers and streams. "I regret to inform you, though, that soon you will be reverting to your regular self and not this morbid, snake thing you have become."
Discords eyebrows expressed his confusion before a look of knowing crossed his face, "I made myself," he growled, "as ugly as I am on the outside as I am on the inside."
"Nothing I made is ugly."
"Technically, Complete Energy made me." He made a gesture with a freshly freed claw.
"He gave you life. I gave you form." Matter said, her polite tone running thin.
Discord caught the hint and stayed silent for the rest of the process. When at last the fur on the end of his tail was free, he hunkered down, face to face with the old mare. The Princesses twitched irritably. But Matter only stared flatly back at the creature. Discord's tail twitched and his uneven eyes stared, unblinking. Celestia was waiting for him to teleport away, or send the three mares to the moon.
"How long has it been?" Discord asked, sneering.
"Over five thousand years, friend." Matter smiled a little, before turning to her daughters. "He has already tried to kill you both multiple times since I began to melt him out." She smiled wider, "thankfully I am here to keep his power under check."
Luna relaxed slightly. Matter turned back to Discord, "Now, old friend, there are some restrictions I must place while we are both in near proximity." Her horn glowed and encased Discord, his body beginning to shrink. "You will, I'm sorry, be forced into your old body. And all of your powers will be withheld. And," as his body stopped changing, "you will not leave my side the whole time." She smiled ruefully, "we have many thousands of years to catch up on."
"This is ridiculous." Discord spoke, as he attempted to get used to his lengthened limbs and shorter body. He raised his eagle claw experimentally, "I wouldn't try anything with you around, Matter."
Matter shook her head, "That does not matter. We can't take any chances with you."
The Princesses stared at Discords new body, which they saw everyday around the castle; a regular pony body, though the same size as Matter. His neck was a normal length of male ponies, while his muzzle was a bit slimmer. His goatee still dangled, but his eyebrows were less bushy, and his horns smoother. His snaggletooth was much less obtrusive, and his torso was normally sized. His wings looked perfectly functional now, while he gave them an experimental flap. Discord hunkered down and dropped his head a little, his snarl only for Matter. Her eyes closed from how wide her smile was, seeming to lessen his anger.
Matter trotted up to him and put her face in his, "I'm just happy to see you, old friend." Discord did not look amused. Celestia heard whispers behind her. In a fright she swung around to see the castle ponies talking in low murmurs to each other.
"Mother," Luna said in a low voice, "I think we should abscond soon."
Matter pushed her side against Discords' to force him to stand. He followed along, downtrodden, as the three mares led the way back to the castle. As they approached, the crowd dispersed, though Celestia summoned one guard forward. She spoke quietly in his ear, "send a letter to my student, Twilight Sparkle in ponyville and warn her. Warn her that I am arriving with my sister and two very special guests." Her tone meant for no questions. He scurried off.
Twilight Sparkle put down her book, Life in Space; Other Planets and at Home at the faint sounds of wings. Her ear twitched as she looked around. A Royal Pegasus trotted over to where she was laying in the park. She stood immediately. "Hello, sir." She smiled.
The guard looked at the girl with pity before presenting the note from his saddlebags. Twilight held the note with her magic, "What's this about? Is it the Princess? What's wrong?" But he gave no answer and instead began flying away. Twilight watched him go for a bit before turning back to the note. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she opened the folds. She read,
"To the starred pupil of Princess Celestia,
Princess Celestia and her Royal sister, Princess Luna, will be arriving at your lodgings in Ponyville shortly with two strange peculiar guests. Please be prepared for accommodations."
Twilight stared at the note before putting it in her saddlebags along with her book. "Why would Celestia have a guard write her note? And who are her guests?" Twilight cantered off, back to her library.
"Spiiiike?" She called in, but heard no response from the baby dragon. Twilight replaced the book just as she heard voices at the door. Magically opened, it revealed the baby dragon and his love interest, Rarity.
Rarity laughed as they entered, still looking at each other, "Well Spike, darling, perhaps next time you should eat it." Spike laughed.
"Twilight!" The dragon turned towards the purple pony, "why are you back so early from reading?"
"Yes, it's most strange to see you before sundown." Rarity's head cocked to the right, "what's wrong?"
Twilight took the note out of her book bag; "The Princess is arriving soon with two guests. But I don't know who!" She magically handed it to Rarity, who read it quickly then dropped it into Spikes hands.
"Twilight, this is most peculiar of the Princess. I suppose all that's left to do is wait for them to show up." Rarity trotted into the kitchen, "Spike and I just went on a fabulous walk and now I am famished."
"I-I'll help you!" Spike rushed after the fashionista, leaving Twilight alone with her books. She thought harshly before calling down every ancient history book she had, which were quite a few since her recent visits to Canterlot has allowed her to expand. She poured over them, looking for clues as to who the Princess's would be so worried about. She paged through the creation of the universe, to the creation of planets, the evolution of life, but found no mention of ponies. It wasn't until the third book she skimmed through, The Possibilities and Probabilities of Ponies before Ponies that she found anything remotely interesting.
She read aloud, "Quantum Dust and Radiation X are said to be the two oldest spirits in the universe; having the power to create planets, galaxies, and the cosmos, hence the name for their type of omnipotent ponies; the cosmponies. The subspecies of ponies includes them and their children, who have various names throughout the world. It is also rumored, but not confirmed, that they are the ancestors of the Princess's Celestia and Luna, the rulers of Equestria." Twilight stopped at a particularly large clang in the kitchen, before laughter erupted. She continued; "They need to be their own subspecies as are assumed to not look much like the ponies we know today. From the remains of past ponies, we can see elongated legs; and even a backward curve to the frontal two. As that is just what has changed in the last few millennia, who knows what ponies who are older then the sky may look like?"
Twilight set the books aside and allowed the information to sink in. It was a long shot but perhaps Celestia and Luna were bringing two cosmponies? If that was true, then Twilight would be one of the first people to ever have met them on this planet! But she couldn't get excited; as much as she'd want to note every one of their behaviors and customs, she still had to be polite. Perhaps they would be nice enough to answer a few of her questions?
Twilight shook her head. "No. Calm down." She said quietly. Rarity is right; the only thing she can do is wait for them to-
CRASH
Rarity and Spike ran out into the main room, "What was that?" Spike asked frightfully, some frosting still on his cheek. Rarity looked, wide-eyed, at Twilight.
The three heard hooves land on the road out front. Whatever had crashed on top the tree seemed to slide off and land hardly out front as well. Someone out there laughed. There was a knock, and Twilight froze.
Muffled through the door, they hear, "perhaps, sister, your student is not home?"
"I almost hope she isn't." A sigh, "but it'd be easier to just get Matter's wishes done and out of the way."
A males voice, smooth and evil, "I can't believe you've dragged me back here."
A females voice, high and beautiful, "oh hush, it'll be fun! Haha."
Rarity looked between Twilight and the door. Her face and posture shifted to her high-class standards, and she trilled out a "coming!" as she slowly walked to the door. "Spike, do be a dear and go get cleaned up. Twilight, make sure there's enough room for our…large guests."
Twilight nodded, dumbfounded, before beginning to magically move piles of books to their respective locations. Rarity stopped at the door and took a breath, putting a light smile on her face. As she opened the door, she began to speak, "I'd like to thank you all for coming, and we'd like to graciously welcome you into Twilight's hooooooommmmme…" She trailed off as she noticed Discord in the back of the group with a hood over his head. She took an involuntary step back.
"And you said this was going to be fun," Discord glared at the pony Rarity didn't know, but could recognize her beauty anywhere.
The mysterious mare laughed, "You'll see, you'll see." Discord sighed.
"Hello, Rarity." Celestia stepped into the pony's view, "please let us in." Celestia looked over her shoulder, but as the day was almost over, not many ponies were out.
Rarity moved aside quickly, allowing the Princess's to pass. Luna nodded graciously, and the strange black and white mare trotted past, giving no look at the Element of Generosity. Discord hung his head warily, giving nothing but a quick once-over. As soon as all four were in the tree, Celestia closed the door and turned to Rarity. "Where is Twilight?"
"Ah, uhm, uh..." Rarity couldn't answer.
"Here I am, Princess." Twilight appeared on the stairs that led up to the bedrooms. She bowed quickly. Twilight quickly trotted over to the group, but froze when she saw Discord, just like Rarity had.
"Discord!" She gasped.
He flicked his pony head back, throwing off the hood, "no duh."
"Don't worry!" mused the black and white mare, "he has no power right now." She walked right up to Twilight and began to walk around her, inspecting her. "Well, nice job on the ponies of this generation, but dang can a race change in three thousand years." The mare looked between Rarity and Twilight. "So which one did it?"
Celestia looked at Twilight, "I would like to apologize on the behalf of Total Matter," Celestia glared at the smaller pony. Twilight took in her comment on the pony race, and her strange body, and immediately placed her in the cosmponies category.
Twilight gleamed, "It's perfectly alright, Princess."
Luna spoke up, meeting eyes with Twilight, "She wanted to meet the Elements of Harmony, so we brought her here."
Spike entered warily, scanning out the group of ponies before him. Matter saw him.
"A baby dragon!" She shouted and launched herself at him. Spike cried out and fell backward at the black and white sight, but it wasn't long until she had him pinned on the hard wooden ground. "Wow these have changed so much as well!" She inspected him, sniffing him, "what is it's relation to you, Twilight?"
Spike froze up before squeaking out, "I'm her assistant!" Matter froze.
"Uh-oh." Luna whispered.
Matter stepped off of Spike, and turned to Celestia and Luna. "They can talk?" Her head dropped angrily and she looked up at the sisters. "I thought we had an agreement."
"It was evolution, Matter. We didn't have a hand and it's not like we were going to repress a race just because you said so." Celestia took a step back and the room got darker, and colder.
"Others have, why couldn't you?" Matter's horns glowed, one blue, one red, and the color began to drain out of the room. Even Discord looked uncomfortable.
"Matter, please!" He began.
"What do you mean others?" Luna said, one eyebrow rising in suspicion. "You told us there were no other life then this planet."
Matter froze, and in an instant the color was back and everything was its normal color. "Yes, I did say that, didn't I?" She trotted around the room once, "We still aren't done about this whole dragon thing, you two. We will discuss it later. Now, where are the Elements?" She turned to Rarity, "Who are you?"
Rarity took a step forward, "I am Rarity. I-I suppose you'd also like to know that I am the Element of Generosity." Matter's face lit up.
"Yes, I would very much like to know that." She turned to Twilight, "And you are?"
"She is the Element of Loyalty, Matter; I thought I'd already said that." Celestia spoke quickly. Luna nodded.
"Yes, well, I'd like to hear it from her."
Everyone turned to Twilight, "uh, I'm Twilight Sparkle, and I'm the Element of Loyalty."
Matter's head fell to one side, "I would have thought you would take on the Element of Magic to be your protégé, Celestia."
"She is also adept at magic, Matter."
"Well, I can respect Loyalty as well." Matter trotted to the door, "where are the other Elements?"
"Spike, please go get the other Elements." Celestia spoke slowly, looking at the hurt dragon. Spike, saying nothing, left the tree.
Matter trotted up to Discord and rubbed her face on his, "Isn't this great, Discord? We get to meet the living Elements!"
"I've already met them, and they aren't too excited to see me." He turned away from Matter and found his eyes locked with Luna, "you look good, Luna."
She nodded, "Thanks, Discord." Luna had known Discord since she was pretty young, and he was always kind to the family. But the power of ruling a planet had gone to his head. The two sisters were still peeved with their mother for refusing to help with the tyrant. Discord hung his head.
Matter began to check out Twilights books, nodding approvingly or frowning harshly. Celestia and Luna pulled Twilight aside as Discord lied on the floor, and Rarity joined him, though sitting a good distance away.
"What's going on, Princess?" Twilight looked around Celestia's shoulder to Matter, who was getting closer to the history section.
"What we tell you now cannot be repeated," Luna glared down at her.
"Alright."
"That crazy mare back there is Total Matter, our mother." Celestia muttered, with Luna's approving nod.
"She, in a loose sense, created everything you know, see, hear, and touch."
"Her and her mate, Complete Energy." Luna added.
"And we had to tell her I was Loyalty why?"
"Because," Luna started, then looked at her sister.
"Because she is connected to the Elements even more then you are. She created them. She embodies Loyalty, Honesty, and Magic,"
"While Energy completes with Laughter, Kindness, and Generosity." Luna looked down at Twilight.
Twilight rubbed her chin with a hoof, "alright. But being Honesty, won't she find out?"
"We don't know." Luna whispered, "All we know is that she will cling to whoever is Magic, and she will control them. It's her favorite Element. Whoever is Magic will not escape Matter until they die."
Twilight blanched, "Then who's going to be Magic?"
The sisters looked at each other.
"What is this?" Matter called out, shoving a book in front of the ponies' faces. She held The Magical History of Magic by Star Swirl the Bearded. She glared angrily at Twilight. "Star Swirl was a knuckle-head. He didn't know anything about magic."
Twilight gaped, "he created the modern magical theory! You can't stand there and say he didn't know anything!"
Matter raised a brow while slamming the book on the floor, "and how many times has that theory been thrown out the window when creating a spell series or with enchantments?" Twilight lowered her eyes guiltily, "He gave ideas yes, but his theory is relatively discontinued. Get rid of it."
Twilight picked up the book and stared at the dark brown cover. Tears formed as she walked outside and trotted down the street until she came to Rarity's Boutique. She left the book on the porch, behind Rarity's trash. She whispered to it, "I'll be back."