Story Nr. 5 preview (see last post) · 8:15pm Oct 26th, 2016
Okay so here's a small part of a chapter from story nr 7, I've chosen to call: A Fine Line. Keep in mind that this is a very small piece of a very long story. The story will be segments like these and also about Twilight discovering other alternative universes.
The bit below is unedited, and unpolished.
Light danced across Twilight’s eyes before gradually becoming smaller, until they were but stars leftover in her vision. She was standing atop a mountain, looking over the landscapes of Equestria, spotting both Ponyville and Canterlot upon its mountain in the distance. Yet it was a mountain she had been on before. Turning around, she saw the cave. There was no mistaking it. It was the same mountain she and the girls had driven away the dragon, or did that really happen? Didn’t they bring the dragon? No, they’d driven it away, and it had gone on a rampage below, torching Ponyville. As a sudden feeling of dread threatened to grab her, Twilight turned back to looking at the landscapes, and instead of seeing an ashen landscape where Ponyville used to be, she saw it as it was. Ponyville was still whole. Twilight could even spot ponies walking about in the sunlight, small like ants to her.
A sigh escaped her companion next to her, and Twilight turned her head. He had never sighed before. Her partner had a look of content on his face as the sunlight reflected off of his serene white fur and scales, his eyes sparkling like the sun above.
“Why are we here?” Twilight asked, although she quickly realised her question wouldn’t exactly be sufficient. “When are we?”
“Seconds before you came to meet me,” the serene being said. “You asked your questions, and I will do the best to my ability to answer. Today I will be teaching you about fear.”
Twilight rose a brow. “Fear? Why fear?”
“Because fear is such an excellent catalyst for emotions and actions.”
Raising his white talons, Twilight watched in awe and disbelief as the light of the sun dimmed to a purple and red color that quickly spread across the land below. Clouds gathered above and thunder could be heard, lightning slithering their way through the clouds but never leaving their homes.
The effect was instant. In a flash, the peaceful ponies below went from going about their day to standing around in confusion, even as thunder boomed over their heads.
As if forced, Twilight looked back at her companion, and he looked different in the light. His appearance had changed from serene to and peaceful to more animalistic and threatening to look at. Those features only became more noticeable as Twilight watched his talons grow longer, and she even noticed the razor sharp teeth in his mouth as it moved, talking with no voice behind the words. Gulping, Twilight threatened to step back, but suddenly her companion looked at her, his fiery eyes grabbing her and refusing to let go, yet instead of her sudden uneasiness increasing, Twilight became calm, and the features seemed less threatening.
Looking back at Ponyville, Twilight watched in confusion as the villagers changed from being confused to terrified within seconds, quickly running inside of their homes and likely barring the doors.
When life had completely disappeared from their sights, Twilight’s companion took down his talons and his mouth stopped moving.
“Fear is a powerful tool," he said, "one so ancient and primal to all living things that it would seem nonsensical to have a world without it. Do you have any questions?”
Looking over Ponyville in the terrible light of the sun, Twilight couldn’t help but wonder, “Was that really necessary?
“Is fear necessary?”
“Huh?” Twilight rose a brow again. “You can’t just answer a question with another unrelated question.”
“My answer depends on yours.”
“Then I say no.”
“No? Interesting. Many share your opinion.”
“Really?”
“You’d be surprised. Many believe fear holds them back, and makes them weak, afraid to take chances, that it makes them doubt themselves and hold back.”
“I agree. Doubt holds us back. Nopony should ever doubt themselves. They should stand firm in their beliefs, and be open to the beliefs and opinions of others.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“If a pony told you that in the Badlands there lives a seven-headed dragon with whiskers would you believe him?”
“No, of course not.”
“Why?”
“Well if he had any proof I might consider it.”
“Would you go investigate?”
“No, I would stay home.”
“What if ten ponies were saying the same thing?”
“It would still depend on the evidence. But I would be more willing to investigate.”
“What if the whole of Ponyville told you the same, including your friends?”
“I-I would still like to see some evidence.”
“What if the whole of Equestria told you the same, including the princesses, your brother and parents?”
Twilight steeled herself. “It would still depend on the evidence.”
“And if they had none?”
“Then I wouldn’t believe them.”
“Would you then still go investigate?”
“Well I...uh…”
The Illidan story segment will come out at the end of the week.
