I do not own MLP
Chapter Four: Finding the Cores
"I can't wait to see what our lessons are today!" Apple Bloom commented as they walked away from the school house. They headed towards their clubhouse to find Inkwell standing there looking confused.
"I don't know what I am doing here, though that white stallion from before might have had something to do with it." the author told them as the fillies approached. "Though I am supposed to be meeting with Gryph for my fitting soon."
"I understand perfectly." Arcane said appearing with a brown pouch on his back. "It is a good thing that Aqua Star had not taken these."
Three objects were drawn from the bag and shown to the fillies.
"These are the focus points that you will use to find your cores." explained Sky looking at his student with a wink. "We believe that you are ready to find them."
"What do we have to do?" asked Apple Bloom as an oval shaped sapphire floated in front of her.
"Just look into the depths and focus. Apparently that has been forgotten." the white unicorn stallion instructed and Inkwell watched closely. The fillies looked into the objects floating in front of them.
"Ah don't think it's working." Apple Bloom stated as she looked around only to find herself in a misty area. "Seed?"
"Find the wall." explained Seed's voice. "I won't be able to help you after that."
"What wall?" the cream colored filly questioned as she began to move forward only to bump into stone. "Found it."
She looked at the wall carefully when she found a section of it with large cracks in it. Pressing a hoof against the area and the wall crumbled under her touch. The red maned pony took a step back before peering inside. She caught sight of a large stone and moved to examine it. There was an inscription on the stone that read:
"One brings chaos but never lies….
One brings harmony but hides the truth….
One protects but never chooses….
Pick the one you will follow."
Scootaloo looked around and noticed there were three walls different from the rest. One had a picture of Discord, the second a picture of a tree with the elements of harmony, and the third of a crystal heart.
"Well Discord is the bringer of chaos, I'm guessing the one with the elements of harmony brings harmony, and the heart protects." she mused out loud looking at the drawings. "I don't really know…"
"I guess I will follow my heart." Sweetie Belle decided looking around before walking over to the door with the tree. "One that brings harmony but hides the truth. Hmmm, I don't know why is says that but harmony is good. But then there is Discord who brings chaos but never lies. Then the last one is the heart that protects that never chooses. I guess I will go with… harmony. It's no fun when friends aren't in harmony."
The white unicorn pressed a hoof against the wall with the picture of tree on it. The wall crumbled under her hoof.
Scootaloo watched as the wall with the drawing of Discord crumbled under her touch. She continued onwards looking around.
Applebloom had chosen the wall with the heart on it. She always wanted to protect her kin and her friends and always hated choosing between friends and family. The cream colored filly approached the second area with a stone. The three walls each held a drawing. The first was a picture of a sword, the second a hammer, and the third a book. Apple Bloom read the inscription:
"Which do you value more?
Courage?
Power?
Wisdom?"
"Well that's just easy Courage!" Apple Bloom stated before looking at the walls. "Well wisdom is the book. Which one is power and courage? Well the sword could be power, but the hammer is more powerful than the sword. That means the sword is courage!"
"Courage!" Scootaloo looked at the sword. "Glitch always said that the sword and courage go hand in hand!"
"Wisdom!" Sweetie Belle walked over to the drawing of the book and pressed her hoof against the wall. The wall crumbled and the white filly moved on until she came to the next area and read the stone.
"What do you utilize more often?
Heart?
Mind?
Strength?"
"I guess I use my mind more often." Sweetie Belle mused before walking over to the door with a crude drawing of a brain. The other two pictures were of a heart and a hoof holding a sword.
"I use my heart more often." Apple Bloom said before walking over the drawing of the heart. She pressed her hoof against it watching the wall crumbled.
"I normally follow my heart." Scootaloo said with a grin as the wall fall in front of her. She continued on her way before coming up to a crossroads seeing a large obelisk off to the side. The orange pegasus filly walked over and read.
"Oh weary traveller choose one to rest your head.
One leads to great adventure.
Another leads to vast knowledge.
The last to peace and serenity."
Scootaloo looked down each path, she spotted a castle to left. The middle path led to a tall mountain that reach far past the clouds. The right path led to a serene looking lake.
Scootaloo just rushed towards the mountain.
Sweetie Belle headed towards the lake.
Apple Bloom moved towards the castle interested in what she could learn. When the earth filly got to the castle she decided to look around. There was an already opened door that she decided to look around. Inside was three display cases in the walls and a stone tablet on a table. In the display cases was three sets of items. In the first was three sets of swords: a short sword, a long sword, and a claymore. The second contained three sets of jeweled encrusted tomes: A white one, a black one, and a brown one. The last display case contained shields: a small wooden shield, a medium sized iron shield, and a large steel shield. Apple Bloom walked over and read the tablet:
"Choose one of the six to continue on.
The sword to prepare yourself against unknown foes.
The tome to learn and use.
The shield to protect and defend."
"So all Ah have to do is choose one of these here items?" Apple Bloom asked as she looked around. "This is going to be hard than I thought."
"The long sword of course!" Scootaloo ran over to the display with the swords and pressed a hoof against the glass. The glass melted away as did the wall and the long sword appeared on her back.
Apple Bloom pressed a hoof against the spot where the iron shield was watching the glass melt and the shield appearing on her back. The filly continued onwards down the hallway.
"I wonder what this next one is going to be." Sweetie Belle thought out loud as she walked down the tunnel that had just opened up a white and jeweled encrusted tome on her back. Soon she came upon a set of three doors with words above the doors. A rising sun carved into the first door, a fully risen sun on the second, and a moon in the last. Words were carved above the door that read:
"Which do you prefer?
Morning?
Midday?
Night?"
The fillies didn't even take a second each passing through the middle door.
"Ah wonder what's next?" asked Apple Bloom before coming across another set of three doors. The first was labeled, past. The second, present. The third, future. On a table in front of her was another stone tablet that read:
"Choose wisely friend for you will find
This question is about time.
Will you go to the past to discover secrets lost?
Continue your journey in the present?
Or find out what your life is like in years to come?"
"Wow these questions keep on getting more difficult by the second." the filly sighed as she looked at the doors. "I really want to see the past get a good look at mah parents. But I really do want to see what my future holds. Let's go with future, Ah'm sure Granny Smith has photos of them."
Sweetie Belle looked at the doors before heading over to the right. 'I really want to find out if we ever will find our cutie marks.' she thought touching the door and watching it open.
Scootaloo walked down the hallway that came from the door that read future. Soon she came across three sets of nine windows. One group contained three full moons: One was normal full moon over a forest. The second was over a red moon over an ocean. The final was of a large golden harvest moon over a field. Another group contained suns: The first was a normal sun over a plain. The second was of an eclipsed sun over a city. The third was a sun partially covered by clouds over a mountain. The last set contained stars: the first star was red, the second blue, the last white. The tablet on the wall read:
"What do you find taking a liking to more?
The sun and its all encompassing warmth?
The moon and the light it brings at night?
The stars and their cold beauty that guides weary travelers?
Be careful for each light has it's own choice."
"I'm gonna go for the regular moon." Scootaloo said walking over to the window and touched it with her hoof. "It reminds me of Princess Luna."
"I'm going to go for the harvest moon!" squealed Sweetie Belle running up to it. "It's like the luster dust has been brushed on the moon."
"Ah like the nice morning sun!" Apple Bloom ran over the window containing the sun over the plains.
The glass melted under the fillies' touch and they continued onwards down the hall or tunnel that was revealed. They soon come to an empty white space with a large obelisk. The inscription read:
"What is your greatest desire?
To find love?
To gain power?
To find peace?"
As soon as Scootaloo looked up she saw three images of her appear. One was of an older version of her cuddling with a mysterious stallion. The second was of her preparing for battle her hoof wrapped around a sword. The last was of her relaxing in the sun in a wide field with her friends.
"Ugh I don't need any ooey gooey moments like that." the orange pegasus said groaning the sight. "But don't I look cool holding that sword."
"Ah think Ah like to relax with my friends like that.." Apple Bloom mused as she walked over to the image and tried to touch it.
The image of Sweetie Belle and the stallion faded under the unicorn filly's touch. The purple and pink haired unicorn continued down the tunnel before entering a large room containing equal large statues. There were nine in total each holding a tablet. The first read loyal. The second honest. The third brave. The fourth strong. The fifth funny. The sixth kind. The seventh generous. The eighth friendly. The ninth patient. The pedestal in front of her read:
"Which trait do you value in a friend above all else?
A loyal friend who will never leave your side above all else?
An honest friend who would always tell you the truth?
A brave friend who will always have the courage to tell you when you are mean?
A strong friend who will protect no matter what?
A friend who will always make you laugh?
A kind friend who is always there for you?
A generous friend who will always give you what you need?
A friend who is a friendly pony?
A patient friend who will put up with you even you hurt them accidently?"
"I'm going to go with patient!" Scootaloo said walking over to the statue with the word and touching it with her hoof. "I know I really like it when my friends are patient with me."
"Ah'm gonna go with just an all around friendly pony." Apple Bloom walked over to the statue labeled friendly.
"I always like it when a pony is always honest with me." Sweetie Belle admitted walking over to the statue of honesty. She pressed a hoof against the statue watching it move to the side before continuing onwards.
Soon the three ponies came to another large empty room with an obelisk in the middle that read.
"When your time has come and you could choose
How would your life end?
Being at peace with yourself?
Fighting against enemies?
Protecting the ones you love?
Three images appeared of the fillies either grown up or old. The first was of an old version of the ponies resting peacefully surrounded by their loved ones. The second was of an older version of them surrounded by enemies. The last was them taking a hit for their friends.
"Protecting my friends." they said not realizing that they were in sync during this trial as well. When they touched the image it faded to reveal another hall or tunnel and they continued down it. The fillies soon came across to a last set of doors. One had a full moon, the second a half moon, the last a new moon. There was an inscription on the wall that said:
"Which do you find yourself looking at more?
A full moon?
A half moon?
A new moon?"
"Ah'm gonna go with a full moon." Apple Bloom thought out loud walking over to the door.
"Full moon!" was the response from both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. They each walked up to the door and placed a hoof against it. The door and the wall slid into the floor revealing an area surrounded by hedges.
"Is that the sapphire Ah was lookin' at?" asked Apple Bloom walking over to the oval shaped sapphire floating over a pedestal. The iron shield on her back glowed before shooting towards the sapphire which shot a light into the air before forming into into a bud. The bud bloomed into a large stone.
"Hey it's Arcane's Crystal!" squealed Sweetie Belle before watching as the white tome lifted off her back and shot towards the crystal. A light shot to the air revealing a circle with a dot in the middle. The symbol turned into a cross like seen on hospitals.
"Sky's Diamond! Does this mean I'm at the end?" Scootaloo questioned rushing up to the crystal. The long sword floated off her back before going into the spinning rhombus shaped diamond to revealing a humming bird. The bird vanished and a breeze blew past Scootaloo quickly.
"Huh?" the orange pegasus was confused as her vision returned to normal. "What was that breeze all about?"
"That is because you have the Wind Master specialization." Sky explained before looking off. "Princess Twilight! I'm afraid you came too late, they kind of found their specialty already."
"Well what did you get?" Rainbow Dash asked walking up to Scootaloo. "Something awesome I bet."
"A Wind Master." Scootaloo replied looking back at Sky. "If I remember correctly a Wind Master flies extremely fast. They were the fastest fliers before pegasi stopped connecting to their core. My wings will be a little shorter than most ponies but they will be able to lift me and fly really fast!"
"Uh who's this now?" Applejack questioned looking confused at what was going on. "What's goin on?"
"Oh right." Apple Bloom blushed and was about to explain until she was interrupted by Pinkie Pie. "Oh they're ancient spirits that are connected to the focus points and have been teaching these three how to reconnect to their cores! The pegasus is Sky, the unicorn is Arcane, and the earth pony is Seed!"
"Now how in Equestria did you know that?" the orange earth pony asked raising an eyebrow and Pinkie just smiled before bouncing over to Sky.
"Once you get him eating he might just spoil a few things." Seed chuckled before walking over to Applejack. "You must be Apple Bloom's older sister."
"That Ah am. Now can some pony explain to me what in tarnation is goin on here?" the green eyed earth pony inquired her tone quite exasperated.
"Well Arcane, Seed, and Sky had found the potential in these three to unlock their cores and so decided to teach them." Twilight explained looking at the stallions who was studying them carefully. "Though I don't know why Inkwell is here."
"Oh he is showing potential to unlock his core as well." Arcane explained. "As well as the bearers of harmony. Well maybe not you princess, no offense but you can stay if they are willing to unlock their cores as well."
"Are you kidding! I would love to unlock my core. Especially when it means flying with Scootaloo." Rainbow gushed walking over to orange pegasus and messing up her mane.
"That would be amazing!" squealed Pinkie Pie.
"Well Ah wouldn't mind but would you mind explaining what a core is?" Applejack was still confused.
"Well if I don't get to messy, besides I think it would help Sweetie Belle if I was there with her." Rarity said with a smile looking at her younger sister who ran up and gave her a hug.
"I wouldn't mind at all." Fluttershy replied with a smile on her face. "So what did you girls get?"
"Ah got a Guardian speciality!" Apple Bloom squealed happily. "Though it is a good thing that Ah've been studying potion making with Twilight."
"Yes it is very good." smiled Seed before looking at Sweetie Belle.
"I got the light core and healer speciality!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle hugging her sister happily. "That means I get to help ponies!"
"So when are we going to begin?" asked Rainbow Dash looking at Sky who grinned.
"Oh by the well Inkwell dearie Gryph was looking for you. You do have a fitting to go to." Rarity mentioned glancing towards the quiet Inkwell who was trying not to stare at Fluttershy. 'Honestly I am going to have to make Fluttershy's dress gorgeous indeed. Inkwell needs to start talking to her again, that colt's crush is just getting ridiculous. The Gala is only a week away.' thought Rarity shaking her head. Inkwell sighed before rushing over towards Gryph's house.
"This Gala might be my chance to destroy the bearers once and for all." snarled Sombra as he watched them on his throne of ice his gaze looking at Fluttershy. "And I have just the thing. I should thank you ancient spirits for you showed me how to summon the Mirror of Chaos."
Sombra's horned glowed darkly as a black crystal mirror rose from the ground and the dark unicorn king chuckled darkly his eyes focusing on the fang in Fluttershy's mouth.
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