The hall was silent. The only noise in the grand palace came from the hooves of a gray earth pony trotting through the corridor. Her mane and tail were a darker gray, though not quite black. She bore a perpetually dignified expression on her face and a purple treble clef cutie mark on her flank. She approached a set of double doors guarded by a fierce and vigilant looking pair of guards.

Octavia pushed the doors open with her hoof as she passed silently by the guards. No words were needed; they knew who she was, and she knew she needed no permission to enter. Not to mention she outranked them by a mile. The double doors slammed shut behind her, drowning out the clopping of her hooves against the stone tiles as the thunderous echo resounded through the hall.

Octavia now stood in the throne room, where Princess Celestia herself guided the ponies of Equestria and governed their country. She trotted along the majestic red carpet. The gleaming white stone floors reflected the images of beautiful and massive stain glass windows adorning both walls of the hall. Most ponies gazed at awe at the magnificent scenes of Equestria’s history, as they recalled the epic tales that they displayed. Octavia  passed each one – Equestria’s first dawn, the successful treaty with the dragons of the far east, and the banishment of Nightmare Moon, who threatened Equestria with eternal night – without giving even a single glance. Octavia already had every minute detail of the windows perfectly committed to memory.

Princess Celestia waited, sitting gracefully upon her throne. Her multicolored mane and tail flowed as if they were submerged in water.  Octavia approached her majesty and gave a graceful bow, before rising again and looking up at the Princess with a serious look.

“Greetings, Octavia,” the princess said as Octavia rose, her voice conveyed warmth with a subtle hint of urgency.

“Greetings your majesty”

“I apologize for the haste. Time is short, and I’m afraid we must skip the pleasantries.”

Fine with me, Octavia thought. As much as she revered Princess Celestia, she was never one for small-talk.  “If our business benefits Equestria, then I too am eager to begin, my princess” she proclaimed, before giving another bow.

Princess Celestia arose from her throne, high atop a set of stairs, and gently glided down to the bottom. Her wings spread wide, much wider than a regular pegasus pony. She trotted gracefully to one of the massive stained glass windows. “A thousand years ago, I banished Nightmare Moon using the elements of harmony.”

Most ponies believed the story to be nothing more than an old mare’s tale, but Octavia had access to a much more complete library pertaining to the history of Equestria. One guarded against even the most scholarly and powerful of unicorns. The library was only known to those who dedicated their lives to defending the pony world in secret.

“My sister Luna, rose against me and attempted to plunge our world into an eternal night. Her jealousy and rage twisted her, and she became a terrible threat to Equestria” said Celestia, as she gazed sorrowfully at the window depicting her sister’s exile.

Yes. I’ve heard the story, thought Octavia, beginning to become impatient.

“But before her eventual defeat, she succeeded in turning a good deal of ponies against me, promising them power or riches in return for their service. Others she turned by convincing them to worship her. Now, a thousand years has passed and there are still those who wait in the shadows, loyal to Nightmare Moon, awaiting her return. I have received intelligence that claims that her cult has found a way to release her from her prison.”

This too, Octavia already knew. She was one of the agents tasked with obtaining this information. But she knew important facts would come next.

“The plot has already been put into motion, and within the week, Nightmare Moon will return from her exile to once again plunge Equestria into eternal night. This cannot be stopped at this time,” she turned and looked at the gray earth pony. “Our only hope now lies with the elements of harmony.”

Octavia at last spoke up, “But can’t you simply use the elements yourself? They are placed here in the castle are they not? What prevents you from returning Nightmare Moon to her banishment?” Other ponies simply would have waited for Celestia to explain, but Octavia was anxious to get to the information about her mission. And she was used to speaking less formally with the princess than other ponies. Her rank was high enough to do just that.

Celestia looked at the window again, “The elements no longer obey my command. It seems they have chosen a new replacement.”

This was news. Octavia now waited for the alicorn to continue.

“Do you remember the mission I sent you on a few months ago? Your stay in the town of Ponyville?”

“Yes. You asked me to gather information on several of the ponies there. Are they affiliated with the Nightmare Cult?” She committed their individual traits to memory during her mission. A hardworking earth pony, a fashion-obsessed unicorn, a pink pony who giggled incessantly, a speedster pegasus and a timid one who cared for the animals. She had observed no possible connection with the cult among them. But then again, the cult contained impressively cunning agents.

Celestia returned her look back to Octavia, this time very serious and somewhat grim. “No, they are not. They are the new manifestations of the Elements.”

Octavia took a step back and her eyes widened, visibly surprised. (Which, if one knew Octavia, was a rare occurrence.) “But…My princess, how can you be sure? Why would the elements go from being items to being ponies? How do you know they’re within those ponies?”

“There is ancient magic of this world that even I cannot possibly hope to understand. The elements are powerful and unpredictable. As for your second question, a great many spells were cast to obtain that information. Even with your intel, we had to be sure.”

Octavia did not understand the reasoning for her reconnaissance at the time of her mission in Ponyville. Despite the fact that full information was rarely given on such missions, she felt spying to be beneath her talents. Now she understood the gravity of her information.

“Come the summer solstice, those ponies will be Equestria’s only hope. We must make certain that they realize their power, and vanquish Nightmare Moon.”

Octavia instantly recognized a missing factor. “What of the sixth element, Magic?” She already understood how the personalities of the five corresponded with five of the elements. For example that ridiculous pink pony would undoubtedly be the element of laughter.

“You’re very quick, Octavia. Not once have I doubted my faith in you.” Octavia’s question wasn’t answered. That bothered her.

“One of my personal students, the unicorn Twilight Sparkle is the element of magic.” Octavia raised an eyebrow. She knew of this Twilight. A gifted unicorn sure, with a clear amount of potential. But she had not been known for her “harmony” with other ponies. She was quite reclusive in her studies.

Princess Celestia noticed her reaction. “Yes she may not be very friendly yet, but the spells I mentioned could not possibly be wrong. Besides, I have seen the potential for deep friendship within her.” Octavia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “That is why I am appearing in Ponyville in this year’s Summer Sun Celebration. And I am sending Twilight to oversee the party’s preparations.”

“But princess, you shouldn’t appear in public on the very eve of Nightmare’s return! Not when Nightmare’s cult is planning – “

“It wouldn’t matter, Octavia. Whether I am killed that day or if I hide away in my deepest bunker, our only hope lies in the elements. We must be sure that those ponies meet and become friends. That is priority one above all things, even my own protection.” The gray pony gazed at the floor, contemplative.

“And they must not know importance of their friendship?”

“Again you impress me my little pony. If the elements are to be used, their friendship must grow naturally. It cannot be forced. That is why neither Twilight nor the other five can ever come to know about their importance until the time is right.”

Octavia waited for the final bit of info.

“That is where you come in, Octavia. No doubt the Nightmare cult will eventually figure out the value of those ponies and seek to stop the elements themselves. You must make sure they find their way, and use the elements against Nightmare Moon. I want you to assemble a team…”

Crap.

“…and you must protect those ponies with your lives. Precision and stealth are essential here. That is why I can’t simply send an army.”

Octavia saluted.

“You have one week to assemble your team, Octavia. I want you at that Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville.”

“Understood!” Octavia said loudly.

“You are dismissed my little pony” Celestia said as she bowed before the gray earth pony. Octavia bowed in return and quickly made her way out of the throne room.

There was much to be done.

Next Chapter: Duel of Wits Estimated time remaining: 56 Minutes