Nine years ago the Elements of Harmony defeated the mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon, and returned her to her formal self, Princess Luna. Since that day the Elements have had more battles with stronger and more deadly adversaries. The spirit of chaos, Discord. The ancient dictator, King Sombra. The changeling queen, Chrysalis. And the monster from the beyond Equestria, Tirek. Each villain threatened the very peace and tranquility Equestria had flourished in for generations, and each fell in defeat.

We know the Elements, their identities, their story, but do we know them? What you are about to read is by story of each of the Elements and how their lives became intertwined, creating the long lasting friendships that have pulled them into and out of the many battles they have...

---

"Damn it!" A voice yelled, paper and pencils fly up into the air in a small fit of a magical tantrum. The source, a young unicorn, red coat with a tail and mane to match it. His cutie mark was a closed book with a quill on the cover and an inkwell next to it. "Why can't I rewrite this intro!?" He slammed his head down onto the desk he's working at in defeat. His work and utensils falling on his head.

Bio Quill is the stallion’s name, a recent graduate of Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. And a new member of the Friendship Guard, he has no real life goals. He only joined the Guard for the benefits and because they get sent to other places on Equestria for peace keeping or to study some possibly unknown or undiscovered thing. That and the hope for a fight. Despite never having any combat training, fighting came rather naturally to Bio Quill. Every now and then he has to get it out of him or he ends up punching stone.

Sadly though, ever since he insisted he has been placed on "Restoration of necessary documents." In other words, he was to rewrite and fix damaged books from the public library in the castle. It was a near endless, thankless, and time and soul devouring task that he hated with every cell in his body. He had requested a transfer on more than one occasion, but was denied by the Royal advisor, Starlight Glimmer, since his transfer went against the codex of placement. He could quit, but quitting or being discharged from any Royal guard leaves a bad mark that affects ponies opinions of you. He'd rather be miserable than homeless.

The job itself wasn't hard. He just rewrote the page(s) that were damaged or missing, he is even given a copy to copy from. One of the only things that made his day was his friend in the guard, Chaos Spirit. His name tells half of the kind of pony he is. All in all Bio's life is boring, dull, and near pointless. And it's about to get better.

Knock, knock, knock. "Yo, Bio it's me, open up."

"Door's open!"

"Too lazy."

"Goddess dammit." Using his magic, Bio threw the door open. "How you got into the guard is a mystery to me."

"And that's how it's goanna stay." A black Pegasus stallion entered the room, he flipped a small wall switch and the darkness disappeared, revealing a small living room, Bio sitting on the couch, half lying on a coffee table. "Bruh, get up. Princesses called all guards, this seems legit."

"Better be." Bio said, getting up and stretching. "If this is another inspection I'm goanna punch a hole in those crystal walls."

"Again?"

"Again."

The two quickly galloped over to the castle, changing into their purple guard armor in one of the locker rooms. Their armor on the two made their way to the map room, where princess Twilight and the royal advisor where. But it was only those two, no other guards were present.

"Princess, where are the other guards?" Bio Quill asked.

"There are no others, I had Starlight tell Chaos to bring yourselves here." Twilight said. Total confusion covered Bio's and Chaos's faces. "As you know, thanks to Starlight, The Castle of Friendship has one of the best guard placement programs in Equestria. However, no system is perfect. You two seem to have... been misplaced."

"Are we being transferred?" Chaos asked, a slight tone of eagerness in his voice.

"Sort of." Starlight said. "From what your fellow guards have said about you two we have decided to try an experiment. Albee it a risky one."

Bio and Chaos looked at each other for a brief moment before they returned attention to the princess.

"That said," Twilight continued. "We are sending you two to the Tree Forte."

A shock went through Bio and Chaos. The Tree Forte was built out of the old castle of Celestia and Luna. Rebuilt and made to protect the Tree of Harmony under the castle, now forte. Only the best of every royal guard is sent there to keep the Everfree's most unwanted away or at bay, and these two just got assigned there?

"Upon your arrival," Twilight continued. "You are to help a small recovery team find and retrieve artifacts from what records indicate, is one of Starswerled the Bearded's secret laboratories." Twilight gave a small squeal at the end of that sentence.

"Princess, we've been requesting transfers for almost a year-" Bio started, only to be cut off by Starlight.

"I know Bio, I was there for all of your requests. And after hearing about your skill in combat simulations I've decided to give you your chance."

"What about me?" Chaos asked. "I haven’t requested a transfer."

"Chaos, we're sending you because you're bad for moral, sending twelve of your fellow guardsmen to intensive care, and punching holes in the walls of the castle!"

"Oh come on, that last one wasn't even me!" He gave a dirty look to Bio, who was suppressing a chuckle.

"Whatever. You two leave in an hour, pack your things and anything that will be of use."

As the two left the map room Chaos punched Bio's side. Creating a hoof shaped dent in the metal. "Why the hell you let me take the fall for that?!"

Bio burst into laughter for a brief moment before answering. "It's not like your reputation can get any worse."

"True... I'm still goanna get you back for it though."

"Don't you always?"

---

The Tree Forte. Despite being in the Everfree Forest not many beasts roam near here. Most action happens outside the forte walls, or in the sky but that's a rare case. The Tree Forte is also on of the few guard sectors that used lethal weapons rather than weapons meant to detain. Firearms. A weapon made by the Minotaurs and Griffins decades ago. A deadly tool at long or close range. When Equestria finally picked them up, smaller guns were modified to be shot by biting the grip and pulling the trigger with their tongue. Larger guns are worn on holsters like a saddle bag and are either fired by using a wing or biting a trigger, depending on the users race. Unicorns can use all forms of firearms because of their levitation magic.

Bio Quill loved these weapons. He studied about how to keep them clean so they don't fail when needed, and he can assemble them from parts. Now he gets to use one.

The two entered the forte, guards from every branch could be seen running drills and marching across the court yard, few gave a glance at the two. Eventually a rather large unicorn approached them. He was muscular and practically towered over the two, his coat was blue and his mane was midnight black. He wore a near full body solar guard armor set, minus the helmet.

"Are you two the runts princess Twilight sent?" He asked.

"Yes, and I'm not a runt, I'm a bastard." Chaos said. Giving a sarcastic grin the whole time talking.

A magical aura wrapped around Chaos's head and he was slammed against the floor, the unicorn in front of him looked very angry while his magic held Chaos's head in the dirt. "Listen here you worthless fuck. You're here on princess Twilight's orders, and I've read your record. I have permission to use whatever means necessary to keep you in line. Understand?"

Rather than a verbal response, Chaos, somehow, managed to spin his hind legs around, hitting square in the unicorns jaw, causing his spell to fail.

All ponies in the area were now watching.

"Well don't think I'm just goanna stand there and take it." No sooner when he finished talking, a black blur rammed Chaos in his side, throwing him all across the yard and slamming into the wall.

Bio was just facehoofing the whole time. "Bruh."

Soon as Bio said that Chaos stood up, shaking himself free of any dust. "Hey it was better than how basic training went remember?" Chaos said, walking over towards Bio.

Bio looked up, seeing the blur that struck his friend. She was actually dark grey, her mane was emerald green and her horn was still lit up with a small magic shield.

"Battering ram spell?" Bio asked.

She turned to him. "Y... Yeah. How is your friend not... Limping?"

"It will take a lot, A LOT more than that to break one of my bones." Chaos answered for Bio.

"Looks like you got some competition Emerald." The muffled voice of the unicorn Chaos kicked in the face said as he stood up. "Very few ponies can get me this good." A small line of blood started to spill from his mouth. "You get these two armed and informed on the task at hoof. I'm headed to the medic."

The mare, Emerald, opened her mouth to protest but nodded instead. "Yes captain."

"So... your names Emerald?" Bio asked, failing to ease the tension and confusion.

"Emerald Fire, and judging from how that went," she motioned towards Chaos. "You must be Bio Quill."

"Just Bio is fine."

"I've read your file as well as Chaos Sprit’s files. Unlike him you don't stand out all that much. What made an average pony Joe like you wanna join the Friendship Guard?"

"My mom. She said I have two options with my life. A, join one of the royal guards and be somepony, or B, follow my special talent and fuck up my life."

Emerald was slightly taken back at that last part. "Some support she gave you."

"We were broke at the time so there wasn't many options. She wanted me to join the Solar Guard, but when I told her that that Friendship Guard makes more bits she started looking more towards Ponyville."

"Some parent, what about your dad?"

"Never knew him. I asked once but she just told me that he's burning in hell."

"Some stallion."

"You're telling me. Mom never even told me his name... So... Weapons."

"Oh, right. This way." Emerald lead the way, closely followed by Bio and Chaos. The trio went through several security doors and magical barriers until they had reached a set of metal barn doors.

Emerald went up to a microphone on the wall and pressed a small blue button. "Password?" A voice asked

"Sidrat." A loud buzz rang and the doors opened. "Welcome to the armory."

---

The armory was packed with firearms, explosives, and other assorted lethal weaponry. Bio took a twin pair of griffin styled Wasteland Ravens, and twenty clips for each. Chaos picked a large automatic rifle that was designed specifically for a Pegasus. Emerald's weapon made Bio's and Chaos's feel and look inferior by comparison. The barrel was longer than Emerald herself! And the bullets were big enough to choke a pony if it needed.

"The fuck is that!?!" Chaos shouted.

"This is my not-so-little-friend I've named Calamity. I'm sure you can guess why."

Once well armed the trio went off, leaving the safety of the Tree Forte and into the Everfree. The mission was simple, recover anything related to Starswerled the Bearded and get out, the only issue was that Mantacores had moved in. Normally the element of kindness, Fluttershy, would be called in to handle the issue, but these seemed immune to the animal lovers charm. Rabies didn't help either.

Orders were to kill every Mantacore on sight.

"Almost there." Emerald whispered, crouched down under the thick forest plants.

"How many Mantacores we looking at?" Chaos asked. Crouched next to her.

"Intel said six but more might be inside."

"How are we gonna do this?" Bio asked. Checking the magazines of his guns.

"As I see it we have two options, go in tactical or guns blazing."

"Given the weapons we got, tactical guns blazing." Chaos said. "Bio and I will go in and unleash hell, while you snipe anything that gets too close for comfort."

"Sounds good. Didn't expect that from you."

"I'm an asshole, not stupid." Chaos replied. "Bio, let's get. Emerald you shoot whatever gets to close to use."

"Will do." She replied, lifting her rifle up with her magic.

Bio and Chaos made there way down the nonexistent pathway, Emerald made her way up a tall tree, using self levitation when needed. Once at the top she lifted her rifle and through the scope saw Bio and Chaos at the clearing in front if the entrance to the laboratory. "Don't go dying on me, something about you is unique." She said to herself, keeping the two in her scope's sight.

Bio and Chaos stood at the edge of the forest and at the entrance of the clearing. The entrance to the once lost laboratory, an old cave, was clear within sight. At the entrance was a sleeping Mantacore, foam oozing from it's mouth.

"Nervous?" Bio asked.

"Yeah."

"Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire."

"Bruh, we missed the frying pan and fell straight into the fire."

"Fair point. Well, who gets first shot off."

"Me, consider it payback for letting me take the fall for that."

"Fair enough."

Chaos and Bio walked forward, the Mantacore didn't notice them. Chaos took aim and fired, sending a dozen bullets into the Mantacores skull. Blood and brain matter covered part of the cave and most of the floor. The sound of multiple, massive roars came from within the cave and all hell broke lose.

Three rabid Mantacores came out of the cave at once, startled, Bio and Chaos quickly fired off rounds at two of them, the third, all that was heard was thunder in the distance before it exploded. The two Bio and Chaos shot at lay dead in front of them.

There was little time for celebration as three more Mantacores came at the two. Bio quickly fired both pistols at one of them, several bullets dug themselves a home in the skull of his target. Chaos shot until his foe began to resemble Swiss cheese. Bleeding Swiss cheese. The third, like the one before it, exploded into bloody chunks as thunder was heard in the distance. Bio noticed a near pony sized crater underneath where the Mantacore once stood.

Thank goddess she's on our side. He thought.

More Mantacores came from the cave entrance, Emerald now started shooting at the ones coming out rather than the ones that got near Bio and Chaos. It was surprisingly effective, the shock wave from the bullets severely injured or crippled the beasts near it.

Bio kept firing, until. Click, click. "Damnit, cover me while I reload!" Bio dropped both of his empty mags, as he placed the full ones into his pistols a shadow covered him, a Mantacore was raising it's claws at him. Before Bio could finish reloading the beast exploded, showering him in blood and mic pieces of flesh. He finished reloading. "Note to self, properly thank Emerald for saving my life."

Chaos off loaded his magazine shortly after Bio reloaded. Rather than reloading he flew up and landed on the back of a Mantacore, biting down hard on it's leathery wings. It roared in agony. The beast used it's scorpion like tail and tried to beat Chaos off if itself. Despite being badly bruised, and his bones ready to crack, he held on. Eventually he started to bite down harder and pulled on the wing, once the copper taste of blood hit his tongue his pulled hard and fast, ripping the Mantacores wing off.

The creature gave a blood curdling roar, only to be silenced by Bio, who fired three shots into it's head. The final Mantacore was dead and Bio was enjoying his adrenaline rush.

"That was the most amazing thing I've ever done!"

"Least you had fun." Chaos said stretched out on the floor.

Bio ran over to him. "Where does it hurt?"

"EVERYWHERE!!" He screamed, only to be slapped by Emerald who just arrived.

"Maybe next time don't go doing stupid things like trying to piggy back ride a Mantacore!"

"And take the fun out of it?" He said with a grin.

After Emerald tried, and failed, to chew Chaos out for his reckless actions, the trio finally entered the cave. Bio and Emerald cast flashlight spells and the cave became visible. Animal corpses and large egg shells littered the cave floor. After some time walking they found a large cast-iron door, engravings and magical ruins decorated the door.

"Crap! I didn't want to have to go back empty hoofed." Emerald stated.

Bio stared at the door. He spotted four ruins he knew: fire, water, earth, and sky. They were placed rather strangely from each other, something else he noticed where that the ruins meaning heaven and hell were together at the center of the door. Normally the heaven ruin it towards the top of scriptures and the hell ruin is at the bottom. In other words, they're usually as far away from each other as possible.

He explained the abnormality to Chaos and Emerald. "How do you even know that?" Emerald questioned.

"I was part of the Ancient Magic Codes club when I was in Celestia's School. It was the only club I ever joined and the only reason I kept coming to school."

"Egghead." Chaos said.

"Says the stallion who was in, and passed, every advanced science and mathematics class in Celestia's School."

"Wait, I thought Celestia's School was only for unicorns?" Emerald asked.

"Yes and no," Chaos said. "Unicorns are most commonly enrolled, but an Earth pony or Pegasus can also get in if they keep up a high grade point average."

"And that egghead never went below a B in any class the whole time we were in school." Bio stated.

"Whatever, so what you want us to do?"

"Anypony got a knife?"

"No- Ouch!" Chaos was replying before Bio magically plucked a feather off of his wings. "Mother fucker."

Ignoring Chaos, Bio bit down on his hoof. He flinched a few times from the pain but after several tries he managed to draw blood. The hell ruin suddenly lit up, glowing like the light from a fire. "That I didn't expect." Bio said. The ruin soon began to sprout lines of fire from it, each one heading towards an elemental ruin. They all connected, but the hell ruin moved down and the image became clear. It was a pentagram. After a few seconds the door opened, revealing a small hallway.

“How did you know that would happen?” Chaos asked.

“I didn’t, I thought I had to trace blood on the ruin carvings, I didn’t expect it to react to bloodshed.”

“Either way, thanks rookie. Can’t wait to show some ancient relic to the princess, she’s gonna fanfilly out so hardcore.” Emerald said.

“I’d pay to see royalty freak out like that.”

“Same.” Chaos said.

The hallway was extremely small, the thee had to enter one after another. After an unknown amount of time spent walking in the small hallway the trio entered a large chamber, lit by strange crystals and littered with dusty books and objects.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, I present to you,  Starswerld the Bearded's no-so-long-lost-laboratory.” Bio said in his best announcer voice.

“Daring Doo eat your heart out!” Emerald screamed in joy.

Author's Note:

For those who are curious, Emerald's rifle is my version of the JDJ .950 rifle click Here to see it