Harmony always found a way to protect Equestria and the lands beyond by bringing guardians of all shapes and sizes to protect her and all nations beyond. From the Pillars, the fellowship of legendary ponies who would protect the young kingdom through their virtues, to the Mane Six, the six ponies who protect their home a thousand moons later through their elements, to the Young Six, the six young creatures of all sorts who continue to protect the pony kingdom and carry with them the virtues and elements of their predecessors while showing us the magic of friendship. Each of these three groups has a representative that has a tie to one another, through their character and virtue/element.
 
After Equestria was founded, a newfound harmony came to be between the three pony tribes (the Unicorns, the Pegasi, and the Earth Ponies) through friendship. However, danger and evil threatened the new pony nation. In order to maintain and share the light and virtues that shine within all, six legendary ponies, two from each tribe, were united and together they stood against the darkness, serving as Equestria’s pillars through their virtues.
 
Representing the Pillars of Old Equestria is the Pegasus mare Somnambula. Long ago, her village south of Equestria was menaced by an evil sphinx who demanded most of their crops the villagers as tribute. To keep the poor villagers from giving up hope, Somnambula used what little she had, such as her pearl necklace, to give them food. The pharaoh’s son, Prince Hisan, was so moved by Somnambula’s compassion that he stood up to the sphinx to free the villagers from her tyranny. However, the sphinx captured Hisan and told the pharaoh that she would only set him free if somepony solved her riddle. Somnambula volunteered to try and solve the sphinx’s riddle: “I shine brightest in the dark. I am there but cannot be seen. To have me costs you nothing. To be without me costs you everything.” Somnambula correctly answered “hope.” Fearing that the sphinx would go back on her promise to release Hisan, Somnambula asked for another challenge and told the sphinx to leave the kingdom forever if she completed it. The sphinx challenged the Pegasus to walk across a narrow bridge to Hisan—blindfolded and without the use of her wings. Guided by Hisan’s voice, Somnambula succeeded with a leap of faith, and the sphinx furiously flew away. In gratitude for saving him, Hisan replaced Somnambula’s pearls with a string of glowpaz, made her his trusted advisor, with a statue erected and the village named in her honor. She also carries the blindfold she wore during the sphinx’s final challenge, and thus became an artifact that reminds everypony that those with friends will never go through life blind. Somnambula came to represent the Virtue of Hope.
 
When the Pillars of Old Equestria were forced to banish Stygian/the Pony of Shadows and themselves to Limbo, they left behind a magic seed through their enchanted possessions in hopes that one day it would grow into a force to stand against the darkness for all time. And sure enough it did, as the Tree of Harmony. It carried the best elements that shined within the Pillars and Equestria’s foundations. For a while, the princesses of Equestria, Celestia and Luna wielded these Elements to protect their kingdom from more foes. But a thousand moons after Celestia was forced to trap her fallen sister to the moon, the Elements of Harmony would find new bearers: six mares, two from each type of ponies, who each represent the elements that together forge friendship.
 
Representing the Mane Six is the silly Earth Pony mare Pinkie Pie. Bubbly, spirited, perky, playful, and a total chatterbox, she is a free spirit who prances to the beat of her own drum. It’s not unusual to find her bouncing through the streets of Ponyville. Pinkie is a party extraordinaire who can cram a lifetime of fun into her much-loved portable party cannon in the blink of an eye. As the silliest pony around, Pinkie Pie always brings laughter and levity to even the most serious situations. Anypony who hangs around her long enough is bound to get caught up in her infectious spirit. She is also always bursting with energy and an eagerness to make sure everypony is having a good time. Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents Element of Laughter.
 
Through the Elements of Harmony and the magic of their friendship, the Mane Six would continue to protect their home from enemies, old and new. Even after freeing the Pillars from Limbo and making amends with Stygian, they all knew that they couldn’t keep the world safe forever. When Twilight opened up a school of friendship to walks of life, even she didn’t know that she managed to find successors. Attending the school were six creatures students, one representing each race, and while they became fast friends, they would play an even bigger role given to them by the Spirit of the Tree of Harmony.
 
Representing the Young Six is the chatty Hippogriff Silverstream. She spent most of her life underwater as a Seapony so is very excited to be back on dry land! Of course, Princess Skystar’s cousin maintains the Hippogriff royal family’s reputation for extreme bubbliness. As such, she is the very lovable Hippogriff of the Young Six. Since Silverstream spent most of her young life under the sea when the evil Storm King attacked Hippogriffia, it took some time to be readjusted back to living on dry land again. And she got to make some new friends after the storm-obsessed tyrant was defeated. Like Pinkie Pie, Silverstream always brings levity to her friends. But much like her, Silverstream’s desire to obtain and share happiness goes much deeper than it looks. Like how Pinkie Pie’s tendencies stem from her strict upbringing and a desire to make sure no one would ever feel as sad as she used to, Silverstream’s passion for life comes as a result of the trauma she suffered under the subjugation of the Storm King. This explains why she approaches life with such gusto; Silverstream refuses to take anything at all for granted, even something as simple as a flight of stairs, because she knows how easily it could be lost forever, especially if the Storm King could return to make it so. That’s also why she wants everyone else to appreciate the lives they have as much as possible too. Laughter is her best element, and her desire to bring hope shows that it’s her best virtue.
 
Just like the Pillars of Old Equestria and the Mane Six, the Young Six would bring harmony through their virtues, elements, and the magic of friendship, not only to the ponies, just as their predecessors did, but to all creatures, and they continue to the day.
 
 
Here’s the next batch of the Mane Six, Pillars, and Young Six together. Representing Laughter are Pinkie Pie, Somnambula and Silverstream.
 
Somnambula, Pinkie Pie, Silverstream by me
 
Three down, three more to go. :D (Big Grin)