Luminous Atonement Chapter 6:
Paranoia in Ponyville
Just as Luna and the others reached the path that connected the Everfree Forest to Ponyville, Luna motioned for everyone to halt.
"Something wrong, Lunatic?" asked Discord. "Fluttershy already said that we probably don't have anything to worry about here."
"One cannot be too cautious," said Luna. "After that checkpoint in Fillydelphia, I want to make sure that we can enter town safely."
"Um, I actually doubt that, Your Majesty," said Fluttershy. "Ponyville has always been a very open town. We would never organize things like that."
"Even so," Luna said firmly.
Fluttershy exchanged glances with Discord, and the two of them shared a shrug.
"I don't think she's going to budge on this, Fluttershy," said Discord. "You'd better prove her wrong."
"I, suppose," said Fluttershy timidly. "W-wait right here, Your Highness."
Tentatively, Fluttershy tiptoed out of the forest and onto the path that led to Ponyville. She glanced around left and right, but nopony could be seen. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"See? Nothing to be afraid of," she called back to Luna. "Now, let's get..."
"Fluttershy!"
A familiar voice interrupted Fluttershy, and she yelped in surprise. Zooming in from the air was none other than her friend Rainbow Dash, with little Scootaloo keeping pace on her scooter. Rainbow landed in front of Fluttershy, concern in her magenta eyes.
"Thank Celestia you're okay," said the cyan pegasus. "What the hay happened to you?"
"I-it's a long story," said Fluttershy. "I-I'm sorry I made you worry. How are things in Ponyville?"
Rainbow Dash sighed and shook her head. "Not good. Twilight's doing her best to keep everypony calm, but there's only so much she can do. All we heard from Princess Celestia is not to believe the rumors of Nightmare Moon's return."
"Which is why I had this awesome idea to stop the rumors before they start!" Scootaloo pipped up. "Cutie Mark Crusaders Rumor Police!"
Rainbow smirked. "As you can see, not everypony is mad at Princess Luna and Discord," she continued. "Personally, I'm not buying it. I mean, didn't anypony else see that big tower holding up the sun before it collapsed? That had to be Discord, and it didn't look like he was trying to bring about eternal night to me."
Fluttershy smiled. "I'm glad to hear that," she said, turning back to the forest. "It's alright, you two. It's safe."
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened as Luna and Discord emerged from the forest. She and Scootaloo were left speechless, not knowing how to respond.
"Well, that's a fine greeting," said Discord with a huff. "I thought you said you believed us."
"I-I do," insisted Rainbow. "I, just didn't know you two would be here. What's going on?"
"As Fluttershy said, it's a long story," said Luna. "We can explain everything once we get to Ponyville."
Rainbow looked over at Scootaloo, sheepishly brushing back her myriad-colored mane. "Yeah, you guys actually have pretty bad timing. Twilight's giving a speech to Ponyville right now, and I don't think it would make it any easier for her if..."
"Oh, don't worry about me," Discord interjected, snapping his fingers. He disappeared, and reappeared as a constellation. "I'll just be watching from up here."
"And I am already disguised," Luna added. "Please, take us to Twilight Sparkle."
Rainbow shrugged. "Alright, whatever you say. C'mon, Scoot."
With that, the two pegasi led Luna and the others into Ponyville.
***
"Everypony, I ask that you all remain calm."
As they arrived at Twilight Sparkle's house, Fluttershy and Luna could barely see the studious mare over the crowd of ponies that gathered outside her door. There was a nervous tension in the air as mumbled cross-conversation and general mutterings were heard.
"Now, I have been in contact with Princess Celestia," Twilight continued. "She says that everything is under control."
"What about the rumors?" asked a stallion in the audience.
Twilight sighed. "I already said this countless times, Filthy Rich. Nightmare Moon has not returned. All of the rumors about her and Discord are lies."
"Then what's really going on?" asked another voice. "We have a right to know, don't we?"
"I understand your frustrations, everypony," said Twilight. "But the truth of the matter is we still don't have all the facts yet."
"Well, when are you going to get all the facts, huh?"
"This kind of thing takes time. I ask that everypony be patient."
"Quit stalling for time, Sparkle! We want to know the truth!"
"I'm telling you the truth," Twilight insisted. "You just have to..."
"There's another rumor going around that Princess Luna is afraid of us," another pony interrupted. "It just came in from Fillydelphia."
"Well, I personally don't blame her," said a familiar rustic voice. "I mean, how would you feel if all of Equestria was callin' for your head, huh?"
Miserable, Luna answered mentally, heaving a great sigh.
"And why are you so quick to defend her, Applejack?" asked another pony.
"What in tarnation are you implyin'? I don't know any more about this than any of you."
"I think it's because you support that silly little Rumor Police your sister organized."
"Hey, you leave the Rumor Police out of this, Diamond Tiara! We're only trying to help!"
"Now now, Sweetie Belle. Let's try to calm down before you say something you'll regret, alright darling?"
"Ponies, please..."
But Twilight's voice was lost in the argument and cross-conversation. Sighing in frustration, she went back into her house and slammed the door.
"Oh my," was all Fluttershy could say about the spectacle unfolding before her eyes.
"Well, at least it's better than Fillydelphia," said Discord with a shrug. "We have some supporters here, after all."
"That still doesn't mean much," Luna sighed. "We should probably go."
"Oh, on the contrary," said Discord with a sly grin. "I think our uptight little friend deserves an explanation, don't you?"
Luna mulled over the question for a moment. "I, suppose you're right," she relented. "But how will we..."
"Reach her?" said Discord, finishing Luna's thought. "Not a problem."
***
"It still looks pretty bad, huh?" said Spike.
Twilight gave her assistant a sorrowful look as she paced back and forth. "I don't get it, Spike. Why is everypony doubting us? Princess Celestia would never lie to them."
"Yes, paranoia has a nasty habit of making ponies behave irrationally, don't you find?"
Twilight perked up at the familiar, smooth sounding voice that came seemingly from nowhere. When she turned around to find the speaker, she fell over in surprise. There stood Discord, Fluttershy, and Princess Luna, all in her library without any rhyme or reason.
"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Fluttershy, rushing to her friend's side. "I'm so sorry, Twilight. We didn't mean to startle you."
"I-it's fine," said Twilight as Fluttershy helped her to her feet. "Princess Celestia actually told me to expect you all."
"That sounds like Tia," said Luna with a smile. "Always one step ahead."
"It sounds like Ponyville is pretty divided right now," said Fluttershy.
"You could say that," said Twilight. "I've been trying to keep order, but the rumors just keep spreading. And the worst part is Ponyville's not alone."
"I know," said Luna somberly. "We just came from Fillydelphia. It was more or less the same there, only not as much support."
"So, what exactly has been going on?" Twilight inquired. "I've gotten some details from Princess Celestia, but she still insists that she doesn't have all the facts."
Discord snapped his fingers, and Twilight suddenly felt an easy chair pull in from under her. She landed in the chair with a plop, and a teacup and teapot appeared in her hooves.
"I suggest you get comfortable," Discord said, sitting in a chair of his own and pouring himself some tea. "It's quite a tale..."
***
"So, you think Orthrus is behind this?" Twilight asked as the story concluded.
"I don't think, Twilight Sparkle. I know," Luna said firmly. "I know what I heard before I cast my spell, and it was Orthrus's howl."
Twilight placed a hoof to her chin. "Hmm. No wonder it's taking so long to get all the facts," she mused.
"What're you talking about, Twi?" asked Spike. "I think it's pretty clear-cut."
"There are still some problems with the story," said Twilight. "First of all, Fluttershy's expedition into Tartarus. Even if we are to accept that Orthrus is the one who hypnotized her, it still doesn't explain that bat-winged pegasus she met."
"I-I keep telling you. I don't remember what happened," said Fluttershy, feeling very uncomfortable.
"Second of all, your encounter with the timberwolves is equally baffling," Twilight continued. "The howls I think I can deduce. It might be part of Orthrus's curse."
"How do you mean?" Luna asked.
"From what I know about Orthrus, he likes to assert his dominance," Twilight explained. "He probably made it so that whenever you hear a howl, you feel a certain level of discomfort. He's trying to break you."
Luna closed her eyes and bit her lip. "I'm sorry I asked," she mumbled.
"Anyway, as I was saying," said Twilight. "The most perplexing part of the story is Discord's magic being countered. Now, you claim that you lifted the enchantment on the wood that makes up the timberwolves' bodies, correct?"
"That's what I remember," said Discord with a nod.
Twilight furrowed her brow. "Then the timberwolves should not have reformed like you say they did. As it stands, there are still some holes in this story that need to be addressed."
"But you believe us, right?" asked Luna.
"Of course, Your Highness," said Twilight with a firm nod. "I never doubted you for a second."
Luna smiled as she became misty-eyed. "You have no idea how happy that makes me, Twilight Sparkle," she said.
"I'll be sure to let my friends know your side of the story, too," said Twilight. "They all support you as well, but I feel the more information we have, the more we can fight against these rumors."
"Thank you ever so much, Twilight Sparkle," said Luna, bowing her head. "It seems I once again find myself in your debt."
"It's nothing, really," said Twilight, her face turning a bit red. "I wish I could do more, but I already have my hooves full trying to keep Ponyville from tearing itself apart."
"We understand," said Fluttershy with a nod. "We're grateful for any help you can provide." She then stood up. "On that note, we should get going. Philomena here got hurt pretty badly fighting that timberwolf, and I need to nurse her back to health."
"Are you sure you can handle that?" Twilight inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Remember what happened the last time you tried to take care of her?"
"This is different," Fluttershy said firmly. "This time, she really does need my help."
"I think we should all get some rest," said Luna. "The road to Norneigh will be quite perilous, and we all should be at full strength."
"That's a good idea," said Fluttershy. "I have plenty of extra room in my cottage. We can rest there."
"Why are you even bothering with the journey in the first place?" asked Twilight, a bit confused. "Couldn't Discord just...?"
"We've already been over this," said Discord, cutting across the unicorn librarian. "That would make too much sense, and it wouldn't be any fun."
Twilight gave Discord a deadpan look. "Really? Are you really concerned about having fun at a time like this? Every pony in Equestria is calling for you to be turned back into stone, even though you tried to fix the problem."
"I'm well aware of that," Discord growled. "And honestly, it's quite annoying. But I find that taking the good with the bad makes for a more interesting journey."
Twilight sighed. "Alright, fine. Whatever. I'm not going to argue."
"We should take our leave," said Luna. "Stay strong, Twilight Sparkle. No matter what happens."
"I will," said Twilight with a nod. "Best of luck to you, Princess Luna."
"I do believe you mean 'break a leg,'" said Discord with a snap of his fingers. Suddenly, the easy chair Twilight was sitting in broke all of its legs and collapsed to the ground. Twilight looked up and scowled at Discord.
"Sorry, force of habit," he said sheepishly. "Well, it looks like you're pretty busy here, so we'll just get out of your mane. Ta-ta!"
He snapped his fingers once again, and Twilight's guests all disappeared. Twilight sighed.
"I hope they know what they're doing," she mused. "Spike, take a letter. Princess Celestia has to know about this recent turn of events..."