//------------------------------// // Harmony and Sacrifice // Story: Experiments in Haiku // by Midnight Moon //------------------------------// A world built upon Harmony and Sacrifice Ruled by the Sisters Tree of Harmony In this world, it did not grow No more Elements Spirit of Chaos Discord the Draconequus Unopposed, he ruled With no Elements He could not be trapped in stone Instead, he was slain Lives were sacrificed Lives were given willingly To kill Lord Discord The Princesses said “Remember the Fallen, and Remember them well.” And the dear Princess, Luna, Warden of the Night She Remembered them Lives that were given Ponies, drained of their essence For the ones they loved Then, she made a vow “I live not for my own self. I live, so they can.” “They’ve suffered enough. I will bear our ponies’ pain So they can live free.” Anger did not grow Jealousy did not linger For her, only love For her dear ponies She moved on, and Nightmare Moon Never came to be Now, in the present Twilight Sparkle, Student of the Princesses That’s right, both of them Sent to Ponyville Festival of Remembrance The one thousandth year Specters of the Past The Spirit of Chaos lives Discord has returned The Princesses march To battle with an old foe One they could not beat Even when weakened Not yet at his full power Still stronger than them As much as she’d trained To take on any that would Hurt those she cared for Against Lord Discord Even with her dear sister Luna was too weak “Too strong... I’m too weak... No! I can’t let them suffer!” The darkness took root “Discord! Now you die!” A Nightmare for those that would Harm those that she loved Even in darkness Her eternal love shined through Guardian Nightmare “You shall not harm them!” Luna, aided by Nightmares Fought Discord once more Even Lord Discord, Spirit of Chaos, could not Survive her onslaught Slain, once and for all But, some would say that the cost Was too much to bear Dear Princess Luna For her ponies, she would die That’s what came to pass With her sister dead Princess Celestia wailed Her poor heart, shattered “My sister, Luna, Gave her life for all of you. Please, just leave me be.” No more did she love No more did she care for those Her sister died for Yet she still moved on As her sister would have wished To take care of them Alternate ending: One to bring her sister back One more sacrifice Dear Twilight Sparkle With the Princess heartbroken Devised one last plan Equivalent Exchange: To bring someone back to life Someone must give theirs Still, just one pony Her life force could not bring back The Goddess Luna Five friends she had made... No! She could not ask them to Throw their lives away Find another way Do not take a pony’s life Only she should die Her five friends found out When they did, almost too late To save their friend’s soul A hideous spell A ritual to drain life From the Whitetail Woods “My life force alone Isn’t enough for Luna To be brought back with.” “The forest’s life force? Just enough to bring her back When added to mine.” A few seconds more The Whitetail Woods would be dead And their dear friend, lost When they learned her goal They gladly offered their lives To bring Luna back “No... No! I just can’t! None of you should have to die! I can’t lose you, girls!” “And WE can’t lose you!” But, if they go together Best Friends Forever Their world is built on Harmony and Sacrifice They choose the latter “I so love you, girls,” Twilight Sparkle’s final words ‘Fore their final end The Princess Luna Brought back by their Sacrifice Much to her dismay “I died so you’d live!” But she cannot bring them back She can only mourn “I shall honor their Sacrifice, and so shall I Remember them well." Dear Celestia Overjoyed for her sister To be by her side But their dear Twilight, who willingly died To bring Luna back “I will Remember Your Sacrifice, and the friends Who joined you in death.” Princesses returned Six friends to be Remembered Now and forever "Goodbye, dear Twilight Goodbye to your friends as well May you rest in peace."