open ~* The Tragedy Of The Flutterponies *~

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

OOC: https://mlpforums.com/topic/155039-the-tragedy-of-the-flutterponies/

 

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The palace guards barely gave the earth pony mare approaching the palace more than a cursory glance. The mare had dark grey fur, light grey eyes, and a dull pink mane and tail in a generic style. Her cutie mark was a single flower, and she carried saddlebags. As she stopped in front of the gates, a guard looked at her as if to ask her purpose, but didn't seem to think her worth speaking to. The mare said, in a nervous, dull voice, "I have an appointment to see Princess Celestia."

 

"Come in," the guard replied, barely looking at the boring mare as she passed thru the gates and on to the palace. Once inside, the mare sighed with relief. As always, her disguise had worked. Nopony ever looked twice at a mare as uninteresting as this. She made her way to the throne room; despite the nature of her mission, she could not suppress a slight flutter of nervousness in her chest as she knocked on the door.

 

"Enter," a voice said from within. The mare took a deep breath and entered. Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne, and looked without surprise at her visitor. She used her magic to close and lock the doors; unusually for her, she was alone in the room. She spoke to the mare.

 

"Please sit down, and reveal yourself," she said. "There is nopony to see; as you requested, this will be a private interview. I would also like you to explain why you are here."

 

The mare sat down in the seat that Celestia indicated, then with a quick indrawing of breath, dropped her disguise, revealing herself to be a Changeling. Then, without any further ado, the Changling began her speech.

 

"My name is Mariposa," she said. "I am one of the high tier Changelings of the Hive. I have come here to ask for help in an important matter. As you know, centuries ago, Discord ruled Equestria. Before that, the race of Changelings were once a peaceful race of ponies known as Flutter ponies. We avoided the chaos that suffused Equestria, til Discord attacked our valley, forcing us to take action and confront him. He defeated us and used his chaos magic to turn us into Changelings, and also scatter the jewels that were the only things that could have changed us back."

 

"Hmmm..." Celestia mused. "The Flutter ponies are forgotten by most of Equestria, now. But I remember them, also that they vanished without trace during Discord's rein. I still need some proof tho before I take your word as fact. Tell me the name of your leader during the time that your race confronted Discord."

 

"Queen Rosedust," Mariposa replied, without hesitation. "Our last leader, Queen Chrysalis, died after the Canterlot incident, and my sister Cicada now rules as regent, as the Hive Princess, Devora, is too young."

 

"That is correct," Celestia replied. "Proceed."

 

"Queen Rosedust and many of her subjects searched fruitlessly for the Irisa jewels to try and overturn the spell," Mariposa continued. "But without any idea of where to look, the searches were soon abandoned and the Changelings tried to live with their new state. Recently however, a traveler appeared at the Hive. He had a book which, by its appearance, had been lost at the same time as the Irisa jewels. He had found it hidden in a cave and had decided to bring it to the Hive. Cicada and I talked it over and decided on one last try to find the jewels so that we can go back to being Flutter ponies. However, we will need help from you in the form of ponies who can accompany me on the search. We have discovered a means of keeping one Changeling intact without having to feed on love, which is why I have come alone, relying on your help."

 

Mariposa stopped speaking and waited for Celestia's reply. She had already decided to help the Changelings; she could not go herself on this quest, but would instead send the ponies she considered to be the best to perform this task.

 

"I will help you," Celestia said. "I will send immediately for the ponies who will accompany you on the quest. Please take your disguise again as it may alarm them if they arrive and see a Changeling."

 

Mariposa nodded and took her pony disguise. Celestia then sent out letters to the ponies who she considered to be the best ponies for the job, giving them a brief explanation and asking them to come straight to the palace. Mariposa waited patiently, hoping against hope that the expedition would be successful, and the centuries old curse could be lifted.

 

 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Pripyat Pony, 

 

"Prince Copper Strikes," a guard said as he entered the throne room.  "Princess Celestia has sent you a letter requesting assistance from herself."

 

"Hoof it over, please."  Copper ordered.  The guard obliged, and Copper held it with his magic and read its contents.

 

Copper Strikes,

 

This letter is to inform you that we have a situation in our hooves.  Do you remember the story of the Flutterponies who took on Discord before they vanished?  A pony here has asked for our help in retrieving the Irisa jewels to bring them back.  I ask that you help her in performing this great task.  I have chosen other ponies that will assist you in this journey, so you are not alone.  I also ask that you arrive at the castle immediately.

 

Princess Celestia.

 

Copper read this letter over and over again.  He had heard of the Flutterponies, but he didn't really believe of their existence.  But whatever the case, he had to help.  He got up from his throne and told his guards, "I'll be gone for a while until further notice.  Take care of my castle until I get back."

 

The guards bowed in response, and Copper vanished using his magic.

 

At Canterlot, Copper appeared a few yards from the castle entrance.  He trotted to the front doors, and fluffed his wings out, to show his royalty status.  "I'm here by request of princess Celestia."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

An alicorn mare arrived at the door at the exact same time. This was Clover, the Princess of Magic. She lived in a comfortable house in Trottingham which had a library attached, where she wrote and stored her books of the magic spells she'd invented. Clover had been offered a castle by Princess Celestia, but she preferred to live in her house. The moment that Clover received the letter, she had used her magic to teleport herself over to Canterlot. Truth be told, Clover was very phobic about heights and avoided using her wings as much as was possible, preferring to use magic or hoof to get around instead. Clover had white fur and a mauve and pink mane and tail. Her cutie mark was of two crossed magic wands, each one emitting three sparks.

 

Clover was intrigued by the story of the Flutter ponies; she had of course read about them in her books on the history of Equestria, but since the books all agreed that they had disappeared during Discord's reign, she had given up any hope of ever seeing one. Clover packed up some things that she might need, before rushing to Canterlot. She was in such a hurry, she bumped into Copper Strikes outside. "Oh, sorry!" she gasped, as the guards opened the doors for the two alicorns to enter.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Pripyat Pony, 

 

Copper was bumped by another pony, and he turned to see another alicorn joining him.  He smiled at her and said, "It's okay.  Try to be careful next time."  This was said after the doors opened for them to come in.  He motioned for the other alicorn to come with.  "If you're here for the same reason I am, then come with me."  He was the first to get into the castle, making his way into the throne room, where he gave a slight bow of his head to Celestia.  "Hello, Celestia.  I have been given your letter.  Who needs help in collecting these Irisa Jewels?"

 

He noticed a pony with her, and raised his eyebrow, before turning back to the princess, waiting for her answer.

[Contrast 292]

@@Pripyat Pony,@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

A mare had arrived at Canterlot castle, just in time to see two ponies enter through the castle gates. If those two were the others mentioned in her letter, 'That would mean I'm late... as usual.' The mare let out a small sigh, before smiling and continuing towards the doors. 'But what are the odds?'

~

 

She arrived at the gate and approached the guard checking visitors. With an uncharacteristic bow, the mare began to speak. "The name's Witty Thought, I'm here by order of Celestia." She took a moment to think, before adding, "Also, you wouldn't happen to have directions to the throne room. I maybe running a bit late."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@DwhitetheGamer, Celestia smiled at Copper Strikes and Clover as the two alicorns arrived in the throne room. "Welcome, to both of you," she said. "This is Mariposa. She's a Changeling, and needs your help recovering the Irisa jewels so that the Changelings can be restored back to being Flutter ponies."

 

"Wow, I was only just reading about the Flutter ponies yesterday," Clover exclaimed. "My book states that they disappeared without trace during Discord's reign."

 

"That's right," Celestia replied. "Discord cursed them and made them Changelings. I know that the Changelings have committed many crimes but if we can help them, then we should. It would benefit us all if the Flutter ponies were restored."

 

~~~

 

@@Contrast, The guards nodded, and gave Witty Thought full directions to the throne room. "You had better hurry," one said. "The other two are there already."

[Contrast 292]

@@Contrast, The guards nodded, and gave Witty Thought full directions to the throne room. "You had better hurry," one said. "The other two are there already."

(Posting from phone)

 

Witty spoke after a small sigh, "I'd figured as much." She then thanked the guard for thier help, and began making her way towards celstia's throneroom.

~

 

Upon reaching the throneroom doors, Witty was surprised to find that they were still open and slipped inside. Immediatly, she took note of the two alicorns she'd never seen before, and was overflowing with questions. 'That would be for another time,' she thought.

 

"Hello, sorry I'm late."

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

@Pripyat Pony

 

Deep within the White Tail Woods lies Fort Elise, the Stronghold of the Shadowlurkers...

 

A shadowlurker presents herself "Frostflame, we have a letter. By the looks of it, its from Canterlot Castle."

 

Snowflake one of the leaders of the Shadowlurkers, looks away from the planning map. "Canterlot Castle you say? Bring it here, lets see what those ponies of the city want." Snowflake reads the letter, not showing emotion at first, but then grins. "It would seem Equestria requires our help." Snowflake puts the letter in his saddle bag, and grabs his sword. "Tell the others only, that I will be gone for a long while, and that I will return with treasure. Don't mention where I will be going."

 

Snowflake headed to Las Pegasus to take a train to Canterlot. Snowflake hadn't been to the city in years, and had hoped he wouldn't. Especially since they were never really fond of his group, but none the less he wanted to see what Celestia meant in his letter. After a few hours journey he eventually arrived at Canterlot Castle. He made sure his facewrap was on tight before heading up to the main gates where he met the guards. "I have been summoned by your leader" Snowflake handed them the letter as he knew they'd try to arrest him.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Contrast, @@DwhitetheGamer, "That is fine," Princess Celestia replied. "You are still not the last, we are waiting on one more to complete the group. This is Mariposa," she said, indicating the changeling. She then gave a quick rundown of the facts, knowing that she only had to do this once more.

 

"I'm Clover, the Princess of Magic," Clover said, introducing herself.

 

@@Snowflake Frostflame, The guards scrutinised the letter suspiciously, as if suspecting a forgery, but after finding it was legit, waved Snowflake thru. "Go to the throne room," one said. "The others are there."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Pripyat Pony, @@Contrast, 

 

Copper raised an eyebrow at the fact that there was a changeling here in Canterlot, but he decided to go with it, since Celestia was content with Mariposa.

 

He turned to the changeling and said, "My name is Copper Strikes, and I am the Prince of Speed."  Then he turned to Celestia and said, "I figured as much that Discord had a handling with the changelings, but I had no idea about the Flutterponies."

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

@@Snowflake Frostflame, The guards scrutinised the letter suspiciously, as if suspecting a forgery, but after finding it was legit, waved Snowflake thru. "Go to the throne room," one said. "The others are there."

Snowflake did just that, he knew most of the layout of Canterlot Castle from more... questionable visits... so he found his way there real quickly. He opened the doors leading to the throne room. He walks over near the others, remains silent, and doesn't even kneel to the princess.

[Contrast 292]

@@Pripyat Pony,@@DwhitetheGamer,  

 

Being surrounded by so many royal figures started to make Witty feel slightly out of place; however, if she did harbor any feelings of anxiety, she made sure not to let it show. As everyone introduced themselves, she smiled softly, placed her bags on the ground, and bowed, "The princess of magic and prince of speed." There was a small laugh as she continued, "You'll have to forgive me, I'm not very acquainted with royalty."

 

Witty then turned towards Mariposa and spoke, "Pleasure to meet you as well Mariposa, thank you and the princess for having me..." For a moment, Witty stared silently at Mariposa, carefully examining her. While she has heard of many rumors revolving around the changeling species, or flutter ponies as she's recently learned, it had been her first time seeming one up close. 'I'm starting to stare again...' 

 

​She smiled and finished speaking, "Right, I suppose I still haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Witty, Witty Thought~"

~

@@Snowflake Frostflame, 

 

As she finished speaking, a small object began to move from Witty's bag. Soon, the object had freed itself and began hoover in the air, just above the her bag. It was spherical in shape, red, and looked very much like a parasprite. 

 

After being stowed away for so long, the first thing the object spotted was Snowflake. "...?" Taking care to not be noticed by Witty, it fluttered over to Snowflake and silently stared.

Edited August 9, 2016 by Contrast

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@DwhitetheGamer, @@Snowflake Frostflame, @@Contrast, Princess Celestia chose to ignore the fact that Snowflake didn't bow, as she needed him to join the group. She explained for the last time what was needed.

 

Mariposa managed to smile at Witty Thought and Copper Strikes. "That's alright," she said. "I hope that you and the others can help me, altho I don't know where the jewels are... how can we find them?" Her face clouded as she thought on this.

 

Clover said, "Don't worry about that detail. I have it all figured out." She brought a scroll from one of her saddlebags. "I came up with this spell a short while ago," she added. "It's a spell for finding things. I will concentrate it on the Irisa Jewels and it will show us whereabouts in Equestria they are."

 

Clover's horn glowed green, and a jet of magic shot from her horn at the scroll. It too glowed green as she concentrated all her powerful alicorn magic on it. When the green glow faded away, Clover unrolled the scroll.

 

"Look!" she exclaimed with satisfaction. The scroll, when unrolled, showed a full map of Equestria, Dotted about the map were seven faintly glowing spots, each one a different colour of the rainbow.

 

"Those are the Irisa jewels," she said. "This map now pinpoints where they are. The nearest one is in the Everfree Forest. As for the others, we will find them, don't worry. When we get close to where the jewel is, the spot will glow brighter."

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

As she finished speaking, a small object began to move from Witty's bag. Soon, the object had freed itself and began hoover in the air, just above the her bag. It was spherical in shape, red, and looked very much like a parasprite. 

 

After being stowed away for so long, the first thing the object spotted was Snowflake. "...?" Taking care to not be noticed by Witty, it fluttered over to Snowflake and silently stared.

Snowflake stared at the object for sometime before shrugging it off, as he needed to listen in on the conversation.

 

 

Princess Celestia chose to ignore the fact that Snowflake didn't bow, as she needed him to join the group. She explained for the last time what was needed.

 

Mariposa managed to smile at Witty Thought and Copper Strikes. "That's alright," she said. "I hope that you and the others can help me, altho I don't know where the jewels are... how can we find them?" Her face clouded as she thought on this.

 

Clover said, "Don't worry about that detail. I have it all figured out." She brought a scroll from one of her saddlebags. "I came up with this spell a short while ago," she added. "It's a spell for finding things. I will concentrate it on the Irisa Jewels and it will show us whereabouts in Equestria they are."

 

Clover's horn glowed green, and a jet of magic shot from her horn at the scroll. It too glowed green as she concentrated all her powerful alicorn magic on it. When the green glow faded away, Clover unrolled the scroll.

 

"Look!" she exclaimed with satisfaction. The scroll, when unrolled, showed a full map of Equestria, Dotted about the map were seven faintly glowing spots, each one a different colour of the rainbow.

 

"Those are the Irisa jewels," she said. "This map now pinpoints where they are. The nearest one is in the Everfree Forest. As for the others, we will find them, don't worry. When we get close to where the jewel is, the spot will glow brighter."

Snowflake nods at Celestia as she explains what she needs of him. He approaches the group, and looks at the map. Memories of the past begin flashing before his eye as he remembers stories about that area told by his father. He then continues to remain silent standing among the others, waiting.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Snowflake Frostflame, @@Pripyat Pony, @@Contrast,

 

 

Copper also took a look of the map, making note of the places where the jewels were.  He had a serious expression, and made a mental note to ask a bit more about the jewels.  He turned and nodded at Celestia, then at the changeling who came here.  "I shall help you find the Jewels."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Snowflake Frostflame, @@DwhitetheGamer, @@Contrast, "Thank you all," Mariposa replied. "This means a lot to me, and also, to my race as a whole."

 

"We had better start at once," Clover said. "We know, after all, that the closest jewel is within the Everfree Forest so we should start with that one. There's no telling how long it's going to take to collect them all."

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

@@Pripyat Pony Snowflake nodded agreeing with Clover, he knew first hand... err hoof... how dangerous, and labyrinth like forests can be, especially the Everfree. 

 

 

@@Contrast Now that everyone had finished talking Snowflake looked back at the red sphere. He opened up his saddlebag, and reached out for it.

[Contrast 292]

@@Snowflake Frostflame, @@Pripyat Pony, @@DwhitetheGamer,

 

As Clover explained how she planned to track the jewels, the object fluttered over Snowflakes' head and examined the map with the group. The objects' reaction to Clover's idea of entering the Everfree seemed to make it happy; and it began fly in tiny circles around Snowflakes' head.

 

By the time it had finished expressing it's happiness, the object noticed Snowflake staring. Still ever curious, it began to stare at Snowflake again. Not once did it find suspicion in the open saddle bag or the hoof slowly approaching it. "...?"

~

 

Before Clover Began to speak about her plans, Princess Celestia addressed the member their group had been missing. During Witty's introduction, she hadn't realized that another pony had entered the room. Seeing as it would be rude to interrupt her, Witty made the decision to say hi afterwards.

 

She waited patiently and listened attentively to Clover plans. If they would be traversing the everfree, there was one thing that came to Witty's mind that might help. 'But man is that para-sight a handful...' With a small sigh, that gradually turned into a grin, Witty scanned the room for Snowflake, only to see~ "..."

~

 

She casually walked up to Snowflake, before he could touch the object, and calmly said "You may not want to grab him."

Edited June 8, 2017 by Contrast

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

She casually walked up to Snowflake, before he could touch the object, and calmly said "You may not want to grab him."

Snowflake closed his saddlebag, and moved his hoof away from the light. He then stared at Witty wondering why not to touch the light, and could remain silent no longer. He said in a quiet tone "I have yet to see such a creature, I cannot tell if it is made of magic, or if its an actual living being."

[Contrast 292]

@@Snowflake Frostflame,

 

Witty placed a hoof on her head for a moment, in a contemplative manner, before breaking out into a small smile. "I suppose I'll take that as a complement. I can tell you for a fact that this little guy's not magic. As for living... I really can't say." As she spoke, Witty walked over to object and out stretched her hoof. "I know I made him from scratch, but~"

~

 

When she extended her hoof to touch it, the object reacted. The response wasn't necessarily one of fear or shock, but it was clear that it did not want to go with Witty. To make this point clear to her, the object flew away from Witty and circled around Snowflake once more.

~

 

Witty sighed, "He seems to have a mind of his own." She made a small gesture to the object with her hoof, "Four seems to have taken a Liking to you."

Edited August 16, 2016 by Contrast

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@DwhitetheGamer, @@Contrast, @@Snowflake Frostflame,

 

Meanwhile, Clover was talking to Celestia about the basic supplies that they would need. Celestia gave Clover some food and basic medical supplies, which she put in her saddlebags. Clover then turned to the others and said, "We had better leave now. No point really in putting it off."

 

Facing the changeling, Clover added, "Could you please affect your disguise, Mariposa? At least until we're in the forest. Ponies might panic if they see you."

 

Mariposa nodded, seeing the sense of this, and once again took the form of the dull earth pony mare.

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

@@Contrast @@Pripyat Pony

 

Snowflake stared at the light as it circled him. He continued to speak in a quiet tone "I can only assume four is what you call... him?" Snowflake turned his head again to look back over at his group, and noticed the changeling shape shift. Snowflake had not cared too much for Changeling so he shrugged off that one was among them, though not before a few more flashbacks hit him. He returned his attention to Witty.

[Contrast 292]

@@Snowflake Frostflame,@@Pripyat Pony, @@DwhitetheGamer, 

 

Clover was right; there would be a time and place for this discussion, but not now while there's work to be done. With this in mind, Witty returned her attention to Snowflake. "Four is what I call him, but that really is just a number." With a small shrug of her shoulders, Witty added, "Who knows, he may respond to other names as well." Realizing she was getting off track, Witty shook her head and said, "Right, we'd better be on our way. I don't feel like getting left behind. "

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Snowflake Frostflame, @@DwhitetheGamer, @@Contrast,

 

Clover led the way thru the palace, after a polite goodbye to Princess Celestia. Soon, they were in Canterlot. Clover thought for a while as to how to get there, and decided that they had better take the train. It wouldn't take very long and they had better save their magic for what would happen when they entered the forest. Undoubtedly, there would be creatures inside which were hostile. The journey to the station didn't take long, but Clover only really relaxed once they were on the train. Despite Mariposa's disguise, it made the alicorn mare nervous to have a changeling along. Of course, while Mariposa was disguised as the dull earth pony mare, nopony would recognise her for what she was, but Clover still felt nervous.

[Tao 7,756]

Lockett tried not to roll her eyes at the larger mare next to her in overlooking a book and glancing at the map a bit.   Sallie stood out in having the massive size of her father in looking close of that draft horse and stood above the normal mare by nearly 5 inches in shoulder to shoulder to the small blue female close to her that had rolled her eyes.

"Lockett, you sure we are meeting this Clover at the train station?"   Sallie peeked over the book and map and pushed up her rim glasses in keen question.

Lockett stomped a hoof,  having delt with this question at least 10 times from meeting this mare from the Crystal Empire nearly two weeks.  Her teacher and caption had asked Lockett as part of her training to enter into the Crystal Guard to help Sallie out on this mission in adding in tracking down these jewels and the lost history of some kina "butterfly" ponies after getting a note from the Princess of the Crystal Empire.  Given Sallie not only ran the Crystal Empire Library but acted as  chronicler ,  well it kinda made sense she was thrown on this mission to help out.

"Yes Sallie,  you should given how much you packed in books and maps."  Lockett said a bit dryly a bit.  "In speak of finding,  I think thats the pony there with the other mare!  Come on!"

Taking off at a trot with Sallie a bit awkward in packing up her books and maps and catching up to the blue one.   "Hey are you Clover?"  Lockett asked,  her breathing a bit short from the pushed trot.