'Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there lived two regal sisters who ruled together, and created harmony for all the land.
To do this, the elder used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and all their subjects, all different types of ponies.
But as time went on, the elder became mad with power. She believed the younger too weak to handle the powers of the moon.
One fateful dusk, the eldest refused to lower the sun to make way for the night. The younger tried to reason with her, but the greed in the elder's heart turned her into a wicked mare of burning light: Sol Invicta. She vowed that she would bathe the land in eternal burning light until she received the power of the moon. Reluctantly, the younger sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony.
Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her elder sister and banished her permanently to the stars. The younger took responsibility of both sun and moon, and harmony has been maintained for generations since.'
"Hmmm," you murmur after reading the passage. "What a quaint little story."
 
You close the book after a moment, reflecting over the story before a bump from the carriage shakes you from your thoughts. Turning, you face your parents and your younger brother.
Your mother is currently speaking to your father about the rise of taxing on oats, while your brother constantly slams his hooves on the controller of his JoyBoy, his horn shooting sparks as he loses again.
>Speak to your mother
>Speak to your father
>Speak to your brother
 
You turn to your mother, waiting a moment before speaking up. You are too polite to interrupt a conversation so suddenly.
"Mom, how long will it take to actually get to Ponyville? I'm feeling motion-sick," you whine. Your mother seems to ignore you half a moment before turning towards you.
Your mother is a unicorn, as well as your father and your brother. However, you yourself are an earth pony. Something about genetics, you have no idea, but your grandfather was an earth pony, so it made sense, in a way. But you can't help but feel a mite jealous of their magic.
"At least fifteen more minutes," she shrugs, her tone dull. Your mother brushes her dark hair from her eyes. Her cutie-mark is a feather-duster.
She notes your lack of excitement, attempting a smile.
"I know moving from Manehattan to a village is hard, hun, but you'll get used to it."
"Yeah, whatever."
>speak to your father
>speak to your brother
>look out the carriage window
 
The carriage seems lifeless, except for the sound of electronic blast from your brother's JoyBoy. Suddenly, your lip twitches. Your mother notices.
"What's so funny?" she snorts.
"I proclaim that I wish to be a gay, clown stripper!" You raise your hooves in the air, declining the thought to rub your unspeakables. She looks at you with a raised brow, your father chuckling with amusement.
Suddenly, the carriage bumps, surprising you. It soon stops, revealing that your mother's destination time to be false. Your father pays the driver a few bits, levitating the luggage. He looks to you.
"You explore for now, we'll go set up at home. How about you go see if the Summer Star Festival is getting set up, huh?"
>Decline and go with your family
>Go explore
>Free option, If dubs Anon decides
 
You nod to your father before trotting down the street, noting a particularly large building in the middle of town. Stepping lightly up the path, you note a yellow pegasus mare arguing hotly with stallion with three horseshoes on his flank. The stallion seems to be losing, however, appearing frightened.
"I don't CARE if he cried for days on end! If you come to me asking me to take him back, I'll have you deal with a few... friends of mine." She sneers, her pink mane swept out of her eyes, pinned behind her ear. "Now get out of my sight."
The stallion runs off, and you are stunned by the sight. The yellow mare turns towards you.
>"Err... what just happened?"
>approach mare cautiously
>Sloooowly retreat from the scene
>Free opt, dubs decides
 
Seeing such terrible rudeness angered you, causing all promises of being polite out of the window.
"The fuck you doin' mate?! I swear I'll wreck yer' arse!" you shout, surprising the mare a moment. She stomps over to you, looming over you as you cower.
She begins chuckling, then laughing. You don't understand what is so funny, but she slaps you on the shoulder with her hoof. The mare was stronger than she looked.
"That was brave of you." She sneered at you. "Your cutie-mark should be a bravery cutie-mark. How old are you, anyways? You look too old to be a blank flank."
"I'm about as old as you." You shrug, your tail unconsciously going to uncover your markless flank.
She laughs aloud. "Right, whatever, loser. My name's Fluttershy." She twists her body to the left, flashing her cutie-mark. "I'm Ponyville's most popular escort."
On her flank was a few broken, winged hearts. You blinked. Well, the mare had the looks to be an escort. You were just surprised by her ability to tell a random stranger about it and not be embarrassed.
"What's your name?" She muses after a moment, giving you a one-over.
>"My name's Sunny Smiles."
>[Lie] "My name's, uh, Kicker."
>Dubs decides
 
"My name's Sunny Smiles," you reply gracefully, smiling as you do so. Fluttershy raises a brow, shrugging a shoulder.
"Yeah, alright."
You remain standing there awkwardly a moment before you pipe up.
"Uh, so, is the Summer Star Festival being set up in there?" You point your hoof to the building ahead.
"Yeah," she shrugs a shoulder. "Princess Luna hasn't arrived yet, but her guards have."
Speak of the devil, a large carriage arrives near City Hall. Out steps a large group of very intimidating guards. Even Fluttershy steps back to allow them through, however reluctantly.
One guard, however, catches your eye. It was a mare with a straight pink mane and very cold blue eyes in a lieutenant's uniform. She steps off the carriage, gazing around the area a moment before stepping lightly up to the hall.
>Approach pink mare
>Explore the rest of Ponyville
>Free option, dubs decides
 
"I'm gonna see who that mare is," you say to Fluttershy. "See ya."
Fluttershy sneers, "Good luck with that, I've met her before. She's as entertaining as a rock." And with that, she takes her leave.
You approach the pink mare, who looks down her muzzle at you. "State your business here, citizen. The Summer Star Festival has not yet begun. Food and decorations are not yet accounted for."
On her chest was a tag, 'Lt. P.D. Pie'.
>"Hi, my name's Sunny Smiles. What's yours?"
>"The decorations and food aren't here yet? Maybe I can help?"
>Leave
>Free option, dubs decides
 
"The decorations and food aren't here yet?" you inquire. "Maybe I can help?"
The lieutenant frowns at you a moment, studying your appearance.
"Alright, I suppose I need a few extra hooves." She gestures to a guard, who levitates a local map to you.
"You'll need to head over to Sweet Apple Acres. Try not to mention the granddaughter to the old mare, it's still a sore spot. Then head over to the Boutique, you'll find a couple there. Just check up on them and remind them we need their supplies today."
"Alright." You tuck the map in your arm. "It was nice to meet you Lieutenant Pie."
"My full name is Pinkamena Diane Pie," she replies, nodding.
You turn to leave.
>Ask Lt. Pie to join you and Head to Sweet Apple Acres
>Ask Lt. Pie to join you and head to the boutique
>Head to the boutique
>Head to Sweet Apple Acres
>Inquire about the Summer Star Festival
>Inquire about Luna's arrival
>Free option, dubs decides
 
You turn around, biting your lip a moment. The lieutenant raises a brow, clearly confused why you have not left yet.
"Yes?" she inquires.
"Well, I'm not that great with maps, and you seem like you'd know where to go..." You smile a bit. "Mind guiding me to the boutique?"
She sighs through her nose, checking with her men before stepping down the stairs. She looks back at you.
"Come on, we're wasting time," she muses, and you fall into step beside her.
You soon arrive to a boutique, entering the building. Inside, it is decorated to a point, but not to the extent you would consider proper for a princess's arrival.
You are approached by an un-stylish stallion with a football cutie-mark. "Hiya there! S'pose you're here for the decorations?"
"Indeed. I thought it would be ready by now?" Lt. Pie comments, raising her nose at the area.
Suddenly, a door in the back slams open, revealing a white unicorn pony with mud and black dust on her hooves. Her mane was a mess, her cutie-mark sporting a rock, diamonds peeking from it, a pick-ax jutting from said rock.
"Daddy, I told you they'd need 'em today!" Her tone of voice is slightly whiny, batting her thin lashes at you. "I believe mom set them upstairs. Oh, please wait a moment, I need to clean up."
"Don't worry 'bout it, dear. Sweetie Belle, would you mind bringing the decorations down please?" yells the stallion aloud as the white unicorn mare cleans her hooves.
Down trots another white unicorn, albeit a filly, who carries the decorations on her back. "Here yah go!"
Lt. Pie slides the decorations onto her back.
>"I can take those."
>"Hi, my name's Sunny Smiles. Can I ask what you do here?"
>"Thanks!" Leave for Sweet Apple Acres.
>Free Option, dubs decides
 
"I can take those," you offer. Lt. Pie reluctantly slides the decorations onto your back. She turns towards the door.
"And, uh, my name's Sunny Smiles. It's nice to meet you," you introduce yourself. The stallion tips his woven hat to you. The filly grins shyly, waving a bit before running upstairs.
"It's a pleasure, darling. My name is Rarity, and my family and I run this boutique. Although it's more of a hobby. My main source of income is mining." She refers to her cutie-mark. "I hope you have a good time in Ponyville!"
"Alright, c'mon you." Lt. Pie tugs your arm. "We're burning daylight."
You trot down the path to Sweet Apple Acres, careful to keep the decorations on your back. The acres were filled with earth ponies bucking apples from trees.
As you arrive, a white carriage catches your eye. Down near the barn, you can see six ponies. You and Lt. Pie approach cautiously.
Ahead were three orange color ponies, one was blonde with her hair up in an elaborate bun, her coat orange. Her cutie-mark was a margarita glass with an orange wedge on the lip.
It appeared the two groups were attempting to be polite, but it was obvious the eldest mare was agitated.
"Now you listen here, missy, y'all left here years ago n' never wrote back! If y'all're expectin' a warm greetin'-" begins the eldest mare with an apple pie cutie-mark when she caught sight of you and the military pony.
"Granny Smith, we gots guests!" shouted a little yellow filly.
"Ah see'em Apple Bloom," said Granny. "Howdy there, strangers! Are y'all here for the food?"
>"Yes, could you show us where that might be?"
>"Is there a problem here?"
>Let Lt. Pie speak.
>Free option, dubs decides
 
"Is there a problem here?" you asked, tilting your head. The elder mare frowned.
"No, not at all," said one of the orange ponies, batting her eyelashes. "We were just here to visit Orange Jack's... relatives."
One of the ponies near the Granny, a big red one with a shining green apple on his flank, flexed his muscles a bit but remained quiet.
Orange Jack stepped forward, and you think you might have seen her before back in Manehattan.
"Ahem, yes. I just wished to visit my brother and sister." Her voice was the Southern Belle type. "But I guess if we are not welcome here, we can meet... 'y'all' at the Festival."
Apple Bloom trots up to her sister, giving her a hug around the middle. "I love you Apple- ... Orange Jack."
Orange Jack appears surprised by this action, patting her sister's head awkwardly before squirming away. She glances at you as she leaves, climbing into the carriage and supposedly heading towards Town Hall.
They remained quiet a moment before Lt. Pie spoke up. "May we see the food now?"
"Ee'yup," replied the larger stallion, leading them out back where a large number of earth ponies were cooking and picking apples.
You breath in deeply, the sweet smell tantalizing. "This looks amazing!"
"Yes, yes, good. Just have it delivered before the Summer Star Festival starts, got it?" Lt. Pie commands firmly to the stallion, who’s slightly surprised by her directness.
"Alright, now that that is handled, we should go see if-" Lt. Pie had begun to speak before something blue streaked from the sky, screaming shrilly, landing in an apple tree not four feet away from you.
>"What in the hay was that?!?" Go see what happened.
>Retreat behind the lieutenant
>Allow one of the Apple family investigate
>dubs option
 
You cautiously approach the tree, apples and branches fall from the tree all the while.
You begin laughing as you make crashing noises, accompanied by the various burning hiss. The Apple Family looks at you with a mixture of confusion and irritation, Lt. Pie looks un-amused (as she always does) but is distracted when whatever crashed into the tree fell to the ground.
A rainbow-maned, blue pegasus mare with a raining cloud cutie-mark appears. An is apple lodged in her jaws and twigs in her mane. She spits the apple out, beginning to whimper, her eyes watering up in preparation to cry.
>"Err- No, don't cry!" Run over to the pegasus.
>Ask Lt. Pie who this is.
>Dubs option
 
You step over to the pegasus, kneel down, patting her awkwardly on the shoulder.
"It's, uh, alright." You smile. "It's probably just an off day for you or something, no need to cry."
The rainbow-maned pegasus looks up at you, sniffling loudly. "T-Thank you... M-My name's Rainbow Dash."
"Sunny Smiles," you beam.
"Yeah, that's sweet and all, but we've gotta go. Wait, Rainbow Dash, right?" Lt. Pie interrupts.
"Y-Yeah?" she mumbles, looking up to the straight-maned mare.
"You're on weather duty, correct?" she asks.
"W-Well, m-my supervisor is, yes..." RD stutters. "I t-tend to flee when s-storms show up. I-I should be, th-though."
Lt. Pie rolls her eyes at the pegasus' initial fear. "Right. Is the weather under control?"
"I-I think so," she replies, getting to her wobbly legs.
"Alright. I'm pretty sure that's all we need to check up on," says Lt. Pie. "I suppose I shall see you at the... party." She seems sickened at the word.
Lt. Pie takes her leave. Rainbow Dash begins walking shakily towards the exit of the ranch.
>Accompany Rainbow Dash
>Go explore Town
>Speak to Apple Family
>Dubs option
 
You trot down the beaten dirt path to the exit, the larger red stallion giving you a nod as you leave. You catch up to Rainbow Dash, who is stretching her wings, still looking crestfallen.
"Hey, could you, I dunno, show me around town?" you ask her. She brightens up slightly at the gesture, floating a bit from the ground.
"S-Sure thing..." she replies, gesturing for you to follow. The two of you enter town once more, exploring the shops.
You near a large tree in an opening of town. Above, a flying carriage descends to the ground near the tree, a family of unicorns climbing out. A white unicorn stallion trots out with whom you guess is his sister. She's a purple unicorn with a sparkling book cutie-mark. She immediately trots into the tree building, leaving her family behind.
>Ask RD to show you the tree
>Approach white unicorn stallion
>explore rest of town
>dubs option
 
You turn to Rainbow Dash, "Do you know who lives there?"
"U-Uhm, l-last time I checked out a book, P-Professor Lancie from Pony University was living there. He r-ran the library before he moved closer to the university." She flexed a wing. "M-Maybe that family is moving in? Or that purple mare?"
You shrug in reply. "Alright, what next?"
"T-The Cakes are throwing a p-party before the festival starts," RD suggests.
"Alright, lets go."
>[Two Hours in the Party]
The quaint celebration the Cakes had planned had sprung into a block party. A blue-haired unicorn DJ had set up in the streets, scratching out sick tunes, causing ponies to go crazy. A pony named Berry Punch broke out the apple cider and fruity drinks, already tipsy.
Food was being served out, and you catch Lt. Pie having an eat-out with her men. She surprises many by pouring hot sauce onto a cupcake and eating it whole without needing a cool drink.
Fluttershy seemed to have caught a crowd, dirty-dancing with a stallion with an hourglass on his flank.
Rainbow Dash had made a small spot for herself near the concession area, drinking a small glass of punch, trying to keep away from talk.
You currently are standing near the red stallion from the Apple ranch. You sip a bit of apple cider, awkwardly swaying to the beat.
>Strike up conversation with red stallion
>Get out on the dance-floor and boogie!
>Explore party
>Dubs option
 
You set your glass of cider down after one last gulp, for nerves. You were always a bit nervous about going out on the floor, but you felt looser after a few drinks. You strut to the beat, ending up on the dance floor.
You dance a way you never have before. In private, you tended to dance while doing chores. A few ponies stared at you before continuing on their dancing. Suddenly, a slow song comes up.
Ponies look to each other bashfully before joining hooves, swaying gently.
You're alone on the floor. You need a partner!
>DUBS DECIDES WHO YOU INVITE ON THE FLOOR!
 
You quickly trot over to Lt. Pie, who's men chatter slows to a creep when you approach.
"Yes?" She raises a brow at you.
"Wanna dance?" You gesture a hoof to the dance-floor.
She appears surprised, and maybe a little frightened. "I... don't dance."
"C'mon, what're you? Chicken?" you tease.
"Of course not!" she snorts, joining you out on the floor. You sway to the beat, exchanging awkward small talk. Lt. Pie blushes quite a bit, but then the song ends, and a fast song begins. Lt. Pie must have been lying, because she pulls out a few good moves, and seems to start having fun.
That is, until, an announcement interrupts your dancing. The City Hall was now open, and the festival is about to begin.
You enter the City Hall, bustling with ponies, all excited to see the princess. Soon, a mare steps from the balcony above, raising her voice above all others.
"Fillies and gentlecolts! As mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Star Celebration!" She raises a hoof in cheer, ponies around you yelling with glee.
"In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the rising of the moon and celebrate this, the longest night of the year!" More cheering.
"And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony that gives us the sun and the moon every day. The good, the wise, the bringer of harmony..."
You jump up and down in excitement beside Lt. Pie, who looks on guard more than anything.
"....Princess Luna!"
But she's not there.
Ponies murmur around you as a guard checks her quarters. He appears more frightened than confused.
"She's... gone!"
>"What?! How can she be gone?"
>Turn to Lt. Pie
>Try to calm the crowd yourself
>remain quiet
>dubs option
 
You turn to the lieutenant, whose demeanor has straightened out from the exclamation. Ponies murmur in fright, looking ready to start a riot.
"R-Remain calm, everypony. There must be a reasonable explanation for-"
The mayor seems to be knocked off the balcony by an unseen force, the temperature rising sharply. Two pegasi guards dive and catch the mayor, narrowly missing the floor by inches.
The balcony above is suddenly engulfed by flames, light entering from the windows. Ponies that attempt to escape from the City Hall are forced back inside when the door catches fire.
Above, a pony steps onto the burning balcony, but it is not Luna. The mare looks wicked and cruel, her slit pupils studying each pony with malice. Her mane was made of pure fire, her coat a shade of fiery crimson. Guards attempt to capture the pony, but are slammed to the ground by a beam of light.
"Oh... my beloved subjects," she hisses icily. "It's been soooo long since I've seen your precious, moon-worshiping faces!"
The room becomes agitated, and a white unicorn, the one you met before, Rarity, pipes up. "What have you done with Princess Luna?!"
The pony seems insulted. "Why, am I not royal enough for you?" Her fiery mane reaches towards Rainbow Dash, who shies away from the heat.
"Don't you know who I am?" she hisses. "Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned over a thousand years? Did you recall the legends? Did you not see the signs?"
Somepony in the crowd pipes up. It's the purple unicorn mare you saw enter the library.
"I know who you are! You're the Mare in the Stars! S-Sol Invicta!"
The crowd gasps, growing agitated. The mare above chuckles.
 
"Well well well, somepony who remembers me," Sol Invicta clucks, blinking at the unicorn below. She turns her gaze on the crowd, a sneer forming on her lips.
"Remember this night, little ponies, for it will be your last! From this moment, the light will last forever!" She laughs wickedly before disappearing in a blast of light, fragments of burning wood shattering onto the crowd.You shield yourself and Lt. Pie. The building is still burning, ponies attempting to find other ways out.
Yourself, Lt. Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Orange Jack end up grouping together, looking for an exit.
>I'll try to bust down that burning door!
>Break open the windows!
>There should be a fire escape upstairs!
>Dubs option!
Choose wisely, you can become injured or die!
 
You run desperately to the entrance of the stairs, slamming your hoof onto the fire alarm. Water sprays from above, shower the flames down. Soon, only you and your group are left in the charred, wet building that used to be the City Hall, a purple unicorn being the last to flee the building.
"Hey she knew about Sol Invicta..." You chuckle a moment, the name reminding you of your brother's video games cliched villains. But you shake off the humor. This isn't a game. "We should follow her!"
Your group murmurs their assent, if only to find a safe place. Outside, the heat is almost unbearable. Orange Jack's make-up begins to drip as she sweats, but it appears that the little bit of country girl still in her has kicked in, so she does not make a fuss.
You hurry through the sweltering heat to the library. In hindsight, going into a tree when there's a fiery villain after your kind isn't such a good idea. But you really don't have any other ideas.
The purple mare is surprised by your sudden entrance, huffing. But OJ will have none of it.
"How, may I ask, did you know about this Sol Invicta?" She looks down her muzzle at the unicorn.
"Yeah, are you a spy?!" pipes up Rarity.
The unicorn shakes her head. "No, no! I just read about her legend and pieced it all together! On the thousandth night of the Summer Star Celebration, the sun will aid in her escape, and she would return to claim Equestria!"
>"Alright, now that we know this, what are we supposed to do?!"
>Ask if there is any way to stop her
>look out the window
>"...."
>dubs option
 
You turn to the unicorn, "Is there any way to stop her?"
The unicorn sighs. "I've re-read it a thousand times, but I can't figure where they might be. The only thing that could possibly stop her is Princess Luna or..."
"Or?" Lt. Pie raises a brow.
"... Or the Elements of Harmony." She shrugs. "And they haven't been seen for a thousand years. The only known record of where they might be is... the Everfree Forest."
"The Everfree Forest?!" gasps Rarity. "That place is lethal!"
"One time a guy tried to pay me to get it on in there. Wasn't happening." Fluttershy swept the sweat from her brow.
Lt. Pie sighs, clearly not please the elements were there. "If it's the only chance we have at stopping Sol Invicta, I say we go. Who's with me?"
>Agree with Lt. Pie [Go to Everfree]
>Disagree [Find other Solution]
>Dubs option
 
You nod your agreement. The other quickly agree too. So you begin your way out of Ponyville, the purple unicorn levitating a few umbrellas over the group in order to shield you from some heat.
"You know, I never caught your name," you ask the purple unicorn. "My name's Sunny Smiles."
"Twilight Sparkle. I wish we could have met on better circumstances," she replies.
You soon arrive on the edge of the forest, your group nervous about stepping in.
"It's now or never," Lt. Pie says before stepping into the woods. You fall in step second behind her with Twilight. Rainbow Dash is pushed in by Rarity, Fluttershy in the back.
You soon hit a deep and crowded part of the woods, only shards of light peeking from the leaves. You can hardly see a few feet in front of yourself. You accidentally bump into OJ, who complains loudly about getting mud on her sundress, but quickly quiets down.
Twilight lights up her horn, illuminating the area in a purple glow. You swear you saw a flare of yellow light flicker from your side.
"Alright, we should be going towards the center of the woods..." she murmurs, turning towards the trees ahead of you.
>Head left
>head right
>through the middle
>Let them decide
>retreat
>dubs option
 
"Wait, I have an idea," you pipe up, gaining everyone's attention.
You turn to Fluttershy and RD. "Could one of you guys fly up and check which direction the castle is in?"
Fluttershy frowns. "Not me." She preens her feathers.
You turn to RD. "Looks like you're up."
"W-What? B-But--" she begins to stutter.
"Listen, I know you're afraid, but I promise you'll be okay." OJ pats RD's shoulder.
RD stares at OJ a moment before nodding, flying above the treetop, avoiding branches in her way.
"I lied; she's probably going to die," Orange Jack admits, causing your group to glare at her. "What?"
As if it were destiny, Rainbow Dash crashes down, her coat looking sun-bleached, her tail on fire. You quickly stomp the fire out, calming her. "What happened? Where's the castle?"
"It's g-getting hotter out t-there..." she wheezes, "M-My tail caught on fire from the h-heat."
Twilight nods at your side. "Alright, but which direction?"
Rainbow Dash points a hoof to the right before passing out. You pull RD onto your back before continuing into the woods.
You soon stumble upon the castle without any more obstacles. You step up the stairs and into the castle, RD having been moved to Rarity's back.
Twilight trots at full speed into the throne room, orbs of what you assume are the elements on the floor.
"This... this can't be right! The Elements..." She scans them with her horn. "They've already been used!"
"That's right, my little ponies," laughs a voice, Sol Invicta making her presence known. "You had no chance against me. Did you really think I would allow you to defeat me? Now that I have absorbed the power of the Elements of Harmony, I am only one step away from taking the power of the moon! Equestria is mine!"
The room heats beyond measure. You hear screaming as you fall onto your back, and above you can see the ceiling of the castle crack, rubble falling atop you.