//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Roots of a Heart // by adcoon //------------------------------// One year later … The massive iron gates opened silently. “Your Majesty! You grace—” The copper-coated stallion took a hurried step to the side as princess Celestia walked through the gate. She had a look on her face that seemed to dare anything to stand in her way. “Er, your Highness …” he said helplessly and rushed after her down the grand entrance hall. This wasn't part of the tradition at all. A pair of guards standing at attention by the base of a grand flight of stairs glanced at each other and seemed to come to a hurried agreement. Clearly the princess did not feature on any list of things they were supposed to keep out of anywhere. They bowed and made sure to be sparse. Guards all through the castle appeared to reach the same silent agreement as Celestia walked purposefully down winding corridors and ancient halls. She came at last to a heavy door of carved oak and threw it open. “Brother! We need to talk!” The room on the other side of the door was richly decorated with tapestries and rare paintings covering the walls, thick carpets on the floor and antique furniture of solid wood arranged around the room. The room was overgrowing with decorative plants of a great variety, giving it the appearance of a rain forest. But the most impressive was the domed ceiling painted with vast fields and ancient trees, one side dark under the moon the other side brightest day under the sun. The grand painted vista seemed to move imperceptibly, microscopic leaves blowing in the wind while clouds billowed and stars twinkled. The more one stared up into it the less painted it seemed until, just maybe, one would find oneself floating above the world between the night and day. A pair of eyes looked up over a set of silver-framed reading glasses. The owner of the eyes, a large stallion, set down the book he had been reading. His coat and wings were an exquisite dark metallic gray and his long, flowing mane was like the finest threads of silver. The horn extending from his forehead was stout and impressive, giving off a sense of great strength. Yet the pain of ages seemed to weigh down heavily upon his broad shoulders as he rose to greet her. “Celestia?” There was a deep melancholia in his resonant voice. “I thought we had—” The princess cut him off and threw a scroll at his hooves. It unfolded in a silver glow before him. “This has gone on long enough, Terra! You will accept this invitation, and you will attend. I will brook no excuses, do you hear?” Terra looked down at the annual invitation, wizened eyes not daring to face the princess. It was best, in his experience, to not face Celestia when she was in this sort of mood. “You know I can not break my promise to her, Celestia. Three years. Three years I would endure for every single year she had to suffer, as loyalty demands it. I can not go back on my word now.” “You can, and you will! I have honored your wish for a thousand years, Terra, even though it pained me to do so. I worked hard to make sure no pony remembered you. I removed your name from every book as you requested. But Luna doesn't want you to suffer in obscurity for her sake, all she wants is her big brother by her side now that she is home. When you didn't show up last year it broke her heart. Is that really what loyalty means to you?” The great stallion's shoulders sagged as he turned and stepped up to a large fireplace and looked up at the painting above the mantle piece. Three happy ponies looked back down at him from a time before the darkness tore them apart. On his left was a young Luna, looking up at his younger self with brilliant eyes like starry black nights. On his right stood Celestia, ever radiant. Terra heaved a long, pained sigh. *** “Do you remember what today is?” Derpy looked at Carrot Top with an expression of profound non-comprehension. “Um, Monday?” she ventured after a little thought. Yesterday had been Sunday so it followed that it must be Monday today, but something in Carrot's voice made the gray pegasus uncertain. She'd gotten things wrong before, maybe she'd not looked at the calendar right. Her eyes instinctively searched for a calendar somewhere nearby. “And what date?” The earth pony was standing in front of the door, blocking her way out. Derpy's search for a calendar grew frantic, her eyes rolling around in her head while Carrot seemingly lost her patience. “It's been a year, Derpy. Remember? You've been pining for a year, it's been driving us all crazy.” “A year?” Derpy's brow was one big crease. “Pining?” She wasn't much good at trees. Fluttershy liked trees … a few wheels began whirring in her head, connecting the pieces into a slow comprehension. “Since you met a certain pegasus,” Carrot reminded her. “Or have you finally stopped thinking about her?” Derpy shook her head. Carrot nodded. “Didn't think so either, but have you talked to her in all that time? Have you told her what you feel?” “I gave her a rose,” the pegasus said brightly, eager to turn the conversation to something positive. She had done that. She had been quite proud of herself, for giving Fluttershy a rose during the Iron Pony competition. “Months ago. And did she take note?” Derpy scraped the floor. Others hadn't been as impressed. “I just don't know what I did wrong.” Carrot Top sighed hopelessly and stepped inside to give the pegasus a sympathetic rub. It must be a strange and incomprehensible world for somepony like Derpy, she always thought. The winding mazes of the heart no doubt doubly so. “Everypony was throwing roses, Derpy. We've been over that already. What I mean is, it's time you got out there and let her know. In a way she can't possibly misunderstand or ignore.” “But—” “No more 'buts', Derpy. I've been talking with some of our friends, and we all agreed. The Gala is coming up, and you're going to accompany Fluttershy there.” “But I've no ticket,” Derpy said and looked longingly at the door. The sun was rising and there was mail to deliver. Mail was easy. Mail you could understand. It went in little boxes with names on, like the names on the letters. She was good at mail, and everypony always thanked her when she did a good job with the mail. “What did I tell you about these 'buts'? You remember Roseluck's good news? With the foal expected in a few months she'll be a might busy. Too busy for fancy parties. She offered to give you her ticket to the Gala instead, and we all agreed it was an excellent opportunity.” Derpy looked up. “Really?” “On one condition,” Carrot added quickly. “You are to go there with Fluttershy, and you will make sure she knows how you feel, do you hear me? No 'buts', no excuses, and no mistakes. If you have to just …” Carrot restrained an urge to throw her hooves in the air in frustration and mild despair “… I don't know, grab her and plain kiss her then so be it!” She hesitated. She could picture the possible rejection, and the hell she would endure afterwards. But at least then they could move on. One way or the other. “Just please try something else first, alright? But she must not leave the Gala not knowing. Do you understand? I want you to understand.” “Bu—” Carrot shot her a glare. Derpy took a step back and nodded. “Good.” Carrot looked a little relieved. “Roseluck will be waiting for you at her shop after work. After that you will run straight over to invite Fluttershy to the gala, or there'll be hell to pay!” Derpy looked miserable. Carrot almost felt sorry, but if she'd learned anything over the last couple of years with Derpy it was that sometimes you had to be firm or nothing would ever happen. The pegasus was a good pony deep down, she deserved a kind heart to look after her. “Now run along.” Derpy nodded and hurried out the door. She was going to the gala. *** The newly restored castle of the royal pony sisters rose up above the gloomy treetops of the Everfree, like a bright new star amidst the darkness and a testament to just how much one could accomplish in a little over a year if only one put one's mind to it. And hooves … a lot of hard hoof work. Luna stood on the balcony of the high tower, surveying with regal pride the procession of lights through the forest. Getting most of Canterlot's elite here for the gala, for the first time in more than a thousand years, was quite an accomplishment of diplomacy in itself. Ensuring their safety wasn't entirely easy these days either, but nothing was going to ruin this night for her. The princess looked up, her ear flicking slightly in the still night air. “Thou hast been most neglectful in thy duties,” she said to the night behind her. It was punctuated by a long silence. “It has been impressed upon us,” a voice replied. Luna lifted a hoof and placed it on the railing of the balcony, leaning out to look over the canopy of the forest. “Once lush beauty grew in this heart, now She wilts and grows wild without Her shepherd,” she spoke wistfully. “Alone and abandoned, old roots and darkness under Her boughs.” “Yet beauty and life still lurks beneath the fallen leaves, ready to bloom anew upon a touch.” “Too late—” “Nothing is ever too late.” Luna paused. “An amusing sentiment coming from thee, Prince Terra.” A large, dark steel-coated stallion dressed in a slightly archaic-looking suit of black velvet stepped up beside her by the edge of the balcony. “Old memories can be rekindled, and that which lives in our memories is never truly gone.” “Surely thou hast a lot of rekindling to do.” Luna didn't look at him. “Also, thou makest more noise than a dragon in a bramble bush when thou tryest to be sneaky. It is not becoming!” “It must be these big, clumsy hooves, my lady,” he said, waving one hoof idly. “A sign of being a proper stallion, We hear. Surely thou knowest what they say? Big hooves, big—” “—heart?” Luna cut him off like a sword. “Whoever did say such a thing never met thee, surely.” It could be hard to tell with Luna when she was intent on not showing it, but he thought he detected a wry little smile playing across her lips regardless of the tone. “We can't have it all. Only thine is perfection, fair Luna!” He turned his head to look at her. “Canst thou forgive Us?” “That all depends …” said Luna and looked at him expectantly. “Shall We stand here all night, or art thou going to invite Us to the party like a proper gentlemane?” “Dearest sister,” he said and turned, bowing lightly as he held out a hoof for her her take. “Shall We have the honor of thy company this fair evening?” Luna nodded and took the hoof. “Certainly, dear brother. Our guests await.” *** “Do you like, um …” Derpy paused to look at the tray and the waiter holding it. “You have any muffins?” The waiter raised a single eyebrow as if to suggest the very question was absurd. “Oh …” Derpy hung her head a little and turned back to look cross-eyed at Fluttershy. “You want little things on sticks?” She was feeling terribly lost for words, and perhaps just lost in general, but the whole reason she was here remained foremost in her mind. She had to make Fluttershy know, somehow. Fluttershy smiled demurely and picked up one of the little canapés. “Thank you, Derpy,” she said without much apparent attention and looked around at the hall of the castle in which they found themselves. It was one of the halls off the grand main hall, smaller but just as spectacular to behold and not as crowded. “Isn't it just amazing what the princess has done? It's so beautiful, don't you think? Such an awful place a year ago and now …” Fluttershy was slightly ecstatic. It was like an indoors garden, small trees and flowering plants glittering in the light of the stars filtering in through stained glass windows. Here and there small birds flittered in and out of the branches, and fireflies glimmered in the shadows. “It's even more beautiful than Canterlot. It's like a … a fairy tale!” Fluttershy's voice was full of glee. Derpy followed her ecstatic companion through the glades of the castle. “You're very beautiful tonight …” she said, trying to turn the topic away from the distracting garden. Fluttershy blushed a little but didn't seem to put much significance in the words. It was the same always, not so difficult to say things but it never seemed to have much effect. “Oh, thank you. That's kind of you to say. You're looking very nice too. Is that one of Rarity's dresses?” “Amethyst Star gave me it,” Derpy said. “She said it was from Canterlot.” Fluttershy smiled, then gasped and rushed off to look at another flower. Derpy followed, dismayed. No mere rose would cut it here, and words it seemed couldn't compete with this spellbinding garden for attention either. Maybe if she could give Fluttershy the whole forest it would break the spell long enough. *** “We are impressed,” said Luna as they strolled through the halls of the castle, stopping occasionally to greet a pony in passing. “It took Us quite a while to get used to all these changes.” Terra picked up a glass of champagne from a waiter. “Ah, but of course. We weren't entirely alone, thou must understand. We had our servants and certain duties We could not neglect. Our sister was already strained handling both sun and moon, so We couldn't place any more burdens upon her shoulders. But it didn't matter, it wasn't just the solitude We wanted to share with thee, my sister. It was to see Our work ignored by everypony, as if We didn't even exist, or didn't matter. We wanted to know what thou went through.” “You didn't have to—” Luna said, briefly breaking out of the formal voice she had maintained for the evening. “Yes I did. It was important to me, Luna.” He placed a hoof under her chin and looked her in the eyes. Luna's eyes were like diamonds—harder than steel yet shining with the brilliance of a million stars. “Thou art important to Us, Luna.” Luna returned the look but didn't say anything. They walked for a time in silence. As they did, Terra glanced around the garden, his eyes following a pair of pegasi wandering among the trees. Luna followed his eyes. “What art thou thinking of, my brother?” “Hmm? Ah, excuse Us, sister. We must have drifted off.” Luna nodded. “Incidentally, the yellow pegasus over there is Fluttershy, as We told you about. The new wearer of the Element of Kindness. We must admit that We do not know her companion, however.” “Indeed, kindness? They seem to be doing well, perhaps we shouldn't disturb them just now,” Terra said and turned to Luna. “Although We look forward to meeting them all in good time. May We be excused for a moment?” Luna raised an eyebrow. “Will We see thee again if We let thee go?” Terra smiled. “By my honor, we shall not be parted long, my dear sister. We will be back with thee in a minute, and then We will have to insist upon a dance.” “Very well, then,” Luna said and watched her brother disappear among the crowds. *** Derpy followed Fluttershy into one of the small outdoor gardens surrounding the castle. The other pony was completely absorbed in the sights and sounds of the place, barely showing any awareness of Derpy. The gray pegasus wondered how she could compete with a garden like this, when a sound nearby caught her attention. “Psst!” Derpy's eyes swiveled around in search of the source of the sound. They found a tall black stallion standing behind the low wall surrounding the garden, shrouded in the long shade of the deep forest. Derpy squinted at the figure. Perhaps the shadows were playing tricks, perhaps it was her eyes acting up again, but she would have found it hard to describe the stranger. There were only a few vague impressions; she thought his mane was long and white, and he wore a wide hat, maybe a suit. Somehow it wasn't clear. He looked haggard, like the forest around him, or perhaps he had been standing tall and regal, like a mighty tree … The stranger beckoned Derpy closer, and without much thought she followed. “Don't be scared, young miss Hooves. I have been watching you and your friend. I think I can help you gain her attention.” “You can?” Derpy asked brightly. She was not a pony known to be suspicious, or perceptive, and help was just what she needed. That was good enough for Derpy. The black stallion gestured for her to get closer still and spoke barely above a whisper. “There is a plant that can help you. It grows in these parts down in the river valley, where the ground is soft. It has large green leaves and tall, deep red flowers. The roots will look a bit like a heart. If you wish to draw the attention of your friend, find this plant and present her with the root but throw away the flowers. Do you understand? This is important, do not ever give her the flowers, only the root!” “This will make Fluttershy like me?” Derpy looked eager to run off and find this mysterious root. “It will open her eyes to you. If love is present, her heart will follow.” “Wow, thank you, stranger!” Derpy said cheerfully. “Just remember, do not give her the flowers!” The stallion repeated with gravity behind the words, but Derpy was already gone galloping off into the forest. *** Derpy landed and skidded the last few feet down the river bank. She nearly stumbled out into the water but managed to stop herself with her wings. She could hear the faint sound of music from the gala somewhere above her as she looked up and down the river. Thick mist clouded the valley, obscuring sight. Many plants grew along the river and up the steep sides of the valley. Derpy set out along the gurgling waters with an eye out for red flowers. A few flowers turned out to be more pink than red, others were very small and didn't have many leaves, or roots. The valley and forest above was growing darker, and Derpy was feeling a little nervous as she continued on. She was about to turn around and try the other way when she caught a glimpse of red in the mud ahead. She galloped through the mist and stopped at the small patch of tall flowers hiding behind a rock. She sniffed the flowers and felt herself smile at the fragrant scent. They were very pretty flowers. Carefully she reached out and pulled them out of the soft ground. Derpy stared at the flowers and their root. Such pretty flowers, attached to such an ugly, old and gnarly root. Was she really supposed to give Fluttershy this root? Derpy furrowed her brow in thought, trying to remember what the black stallion had said. That didn't sound right. Her memory was probably playing tricks on her again. Her mind reached a conclusion. Derpy bit off the root and set off back towards the castle with the flowers in her mouth. Fluttershy would love these flowers. Derpy arrived back at the gala and galloped through the gate, looking around for Fluttershy. She found the other pegasus in one of the many small wings of the palace, lost in birdsong and seemingly unaware of her companion's absence. Derpy came to a halt behind her and held out the flowers proudly, expectantly. “I, um, I found you some pretty flowers, miss Fluttershy.” Fluttershy turned around with a smile. She looked at the bright red flowers. “Oh my … Are those for me?” She took them gingerly. “You like them?” Derpy asked hopefully. “They're very lovely.” Fluttershy sniffed the flowers. “Thank you, Derpy.” Derpy considered what to do next. She had hoped for something, she wasn't sure what. Something was supposed to happen. Fluttershy was just admiring the flowers, still not looking at Derpy. Maybe Derpy should say something. She remembered again the promise she had made to Carrot. “I, um,” she said, scraping the ground. “I really like you, Fluttershy.” It didn't seem to have much impact. “Actually I, um, love you. Um …” She looked at the yellow pegasus. Something was not right. “Are you alright, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy dropped the flowers and swayed slightly. The flowers hit the floor as the pegasus toppled over without a word. “Fluttershy?!” Derpy cried. Time seemed to drag itself along as Derpy rushed forward and caught Fluttershy in the fall. Fluttershy's mouth hung slightly open and her eyes fixed on something above them. Derpy looked down at her love in her hooves, and into a pair of eyes that no longer seemed to look back. “Fl-Fluttershy?” she cried and shook the pegasus desperately as a crowd of shocked ponies gathered around them. “Fluttershy? I love you! What is wrong? I-I didn't meant to … I didn't know!”