//------------------------------// // CH 11 // Story: The Edge Of Harmony // by Alazak //------------------------------// The trip to Los Pegasus was so long. It stretched further than Pearl had ever traveled. The forests and small lakes made for a very scenic adventure. It would take about 4 days to reach the strange city of perpetual light, and to where Laughter has taken up residence. Pearl had never wanted to visit Los Pegasus it reminded her of her home but more colorful. Gallatais seemed to have a pretty good lock on to his lost elements. He had ported them straight to Rarity, and her heart broken pleas to take the element of generocity from her. and then straight to Cloudsdale to Rainbow Dash’s Loyalty. “Gal, You mentioned the Dragon King is the one that killed you right.” “Yes Pearl for the dozenth time, He was the progenitor of the dragon race, we fought over the fate of the ponies and his lust for power. Ultimately he stole the power from the other progenitors and became the spirit of chaos you know as Discord.” He sounded more annoyed with Pearl than usual. “Well since you won’t use your magic to take us to Los Pegasus, I figured we could talk.You want your deeds to be remembered so tell me more. Was there really a grand city in the Everfree Forest?” “It was actually above the forest, and yes it was the height of Alicorn culture and sophistication. A mix of cloud and earth that pony kind won’t see for at least 100 years. The city sparkled in the darkest of nights and glowed with a radiant hope for all of Equestria.” When Gallatais spoke of his home Pearl felt warmth in his voice. “But its gone now, after my fall it crashed from the sky, all the while The Dragon King laughed as its people fell one by one to the might of the dragon race. The sky burned that day and balance died with me. many brave warriors defended the weak and dozens more perished to their cruelty.” “But the history books say the princesses defeated Discord and lead the ponies to the unicorn capital Canterlot to start over.” “Yes they did, with the combined power of the Elements of Harmony I left them and the remaining strength of the Alicorns they pulled victory away from The Dragon King.” Gallatais emerged from the sword and looked Pearl deep in the eyes. “I can see this has taken its toll on you but you must understand what we do is for the betterment of your pony folk. Pearl You told me you wished to become the hero that would impress your hero. I can understand that, I took many ponies under my tutelage while I was still alive. They wished for he same thing, to change Equestria for the betterment of pony kind. And you’re no different than any one of them, I can feel the fire of determination burning within you. You just have to believe in that fire and realize that what we are doing will change Equestria for the better.” It was the first time Gallatais had ever spoken this much to her and it was inspiring. Pearl lifted her head as she walked. “I can only pray that you’re right Gal. So many have had to suffer because of you,” Pearl closed her eyes and thought back to Spikes death, Rarity’s self-destruction, and how Rainbow and Scootaloo are doing. “because of me. I miss my family Gal, it’s been so long since I’ve contacted them and I left my father's shop in Ponyville abandoned.” She thought to her Father and the furious look he would give her when she finally came home. he thought about if they knew what she was doing, maybe her sister would say something. It wouldn’t exactly be happy words but at least they were words. “Gallatais!” Pearl stopped in her tracks to a voice behind her. “Let her go...” Pearl knew that silky small voice. She quickly spun around to see a peach pegasus not too far behind them. Autumn stood fast and tall in the distance, Pearl could feel her eyes well up in happiness from seeing her friend. “Please.” Oh so close Autumn Breeze, that solitary moment of backbone was quickly extinguished by the mass of black smoke that made up Gallatais’ form. “I’ve been waiting for you.” Gallatais slithered across the ground up to Autumn. “Ever since Ponyville you kept a distance watching us. What do you want?” Pearl couldn’t believe her ears, Ponyville, Autumn Breeze had been following her since the beginning? “I can’t stand by anymore you're hurting Pearl and I want you to stop.” Autumn really did care it was so touching it brought a tear to Peal’s sapphire eyes. “You don’t need her to accomplish this Luna told me herself.” “Oh did she now? Tell me pony what else did she tell you?” “You’re killing her, with every passing day her heart breaks more and more, I can see it from here she looks ragged and its as if she’s wasting away. Now let her go!” Pearl stopped for a moment and hung her head in shame Autumn was right Spikes death weighed heavily on her conscious and tricking Rainbow and Scootaloo tore her heart out. She just masked the pain with a hollow smile. Nothing was right anymore, Gallatais told her it was all for the good of Equestria and she truly wanted to believe him. “But you came to save her, touching but how do you propose to do that? She has a contract with me and I’m on a mission.” Autumn clearly hadn’t thought this out. “Nothing? Oh but don’t lose hope my little pony perhaps we both can have what we want.” Gallatais slithered up to the shivering pegasus and spoke into her ear. “You’re right she is dying from all the pain and sorrow that has come from this little adventure, but you can save her all you have to do is agee to my terms.” he pulled away and they both looked at Pearl. “What do you want you monster?” Pearl couldn’t hear what Gallatais had told her but Autumn looked determined about what ever it was. “Oh come now dearie it's nothing like that. I only require you to take the burden from your friend and become the bearer of sorrow.” Pearl heard that. Pearl rushed to Autumns side. “NO! I won’t let you I’ll be fine it hurts but if I can’t handle a little pain what kind of hero would I be?” he hugged Autumn and cried o to her shoulder. “What would Fluttershy think? I haven’t even gotten around to helping you fly.” Autumn didn’t shed a tear with her friend she only stared past Pearl and at Gallatais. “I’ll do it.” Pearl tried to stop her but it was too late and Gallatais shot his smoky spear through the two ponies bodies. It was a warm feeling as if a powerful hose had been shut off inside of Pearl. No longer could she feel her heart and mind being overwhelmed by grief and worry. It was all replaced with the cessation of pure bliss. Pearl pulled away from Autumn and noticed her coat had gotten a shade lighter and her eyes filled with tears. “Welcome my bearer of Pain and lament, I’m sure you can feel it already all that suffering from those around you? I know it must be heavy the burden but once I finish my task you shall be free.” Pearl held Autumn tighter as she could feel the warmth of her tears drip onto her shoulder. “Now tell me pony what has my child of the night told you of me?” “She admitted that Celestia had left large portions of the history surrounding the Alicorn sisters omitted so that her utopian society would have no need for the knowledge of such tragedies.” Autumn relayed what little information that The Princess Luna had told her in their meeting after she found her sneaking around the castle's outer walls when Spike had been slain. “Even information on Princess Luna had been slightly obscured to help hide the actual events.” “Yes, I can see that from what I’ve gathered from Pearl’s memory of history my child of the sun has been busy covering up history but why.” Gallatais thought for a moment. “At any pace it matters not, my lost Laughter awaits.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So I said , Hey! Thats not my mane that’s my scarf.” The chipper happy voice filled the room and it responded with a burst of laughter and cheers. “Look at all the ponies out there tonight you know I lived on a rock farm when I was little? Crazy thing was It was all rock but no roll.” another burst of laughs erupted. “I’ve lived here in Las Pegasus for a few years now and I’ve noticed man the electric bill here must be crazier than Discord.” She looked around to see all the smiling faces and It made the pink comedian fill with glee. “And something else about this town that makes my fuzzy mane tingle is the food, a hundred restaurants and not one can make a decent pie.” The crowd went silent and from the side sage a pie flew across the stage and hit the Pink stand up directly in the face. “See look at this not a one can stay together for the entire trip to me.” and again the crowd went into hysterics as she licked the entirety of the mess from her face. “Good though.” she gave them a smile and waved them goodnight leaving the stage. “Thank you Pinkie Pie and that wraps it up for tonight ladies and gentle colts. Enjoy your time in our fine establishments and don’t forget to tip your waitress.” the announcer waved the cheering audience off as the curtains closed. “Another fine show Pinkie,” The announcer meet Pinkie backstage as she cleaned off the little remaining pie leftover. “Are you still upset about that letter you got the other day? I could tell you were a little off tonight.” He gave Pinkie a stern look. A short pony the announcer a light tan in color with a red mane he wore a showy suit and tie. “Don’t be such a worry pony my little cupcake,” Pinkie walked over and rubbed his cheeks together. “Spike was a good friend and it’s a tragedy to hear what happened but it’s nothing the Princesses couldn’t handle.” Pinkie could see that the worry hadn’t left his face. “Come on Mike, there’s nothing to fear. Yah I was the element of Laughter back before I came to Las Pegasus but I left that thing in Ponyville with the rest of those party-poopers.” Pinkie giggled as she spun back to her dressing room mirror. “I’m getting too old for this Mike, sure the laughs keep my spirit up and your support keeps me going but I think it may be time for me to go back and settle down.” “Ha! You settle down?” Mike could only laugh at the thought of the bouncy energetic pony he had come to know calmly sitting in a rocking chair with a foal running about. “this coming from the only pony I know who ingests more sugar than a kindergarten at a party.” Pinkie gave him a raspberry and punched him in the shoulder. “I could do it you know, I’m actually really good with children” Pinkie thought of the cake twins and all the fun times they had together. “And you mister know-It-all I think I could do it, my Grammy Pie always told me I could become anything as long as I put my mind to it.” “So you’d leave all this glory for a quiet life in some rinky dink town?” “Come with me Mike, together we have enough bits to live the rest of our lives together and not have to worry about anything.” Pinkie shot up and took Mike by the hooves she danced him around in a circle. Mike couldn’t help but want to say yes to the most stable crazy thing in his life. he remembered the last seven years he’s spent with his best act, and at one time he wouldn’t have hesitated to say yes but that time had past, He and Pinkie had a lot of fun together but in the end that's all it was, fun. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “And so I said, Hey! That’s not my mane that’s my scarf.” Another show and another crowd of cherrie faces. Pinkie was a little sad that mike had rejected her the day before but it was for the best, as much as she wanted to settle down and return to Ponyville there was just no way she would be able to do it with Mike. She went through the motions, the jokes and the cheers cushioned the blow a little and made her feel alot better about the rejection and suddenly she felt a sharp pinch in her knee. ‘Oh boy’ she scanned the crowd looking for the source of the sensation that she explained to Mike once she called Pinkie Sense, but he just thought she had a little too much sugar. noting out of the ordinary until she came in eye contact with a white filly and both her knees went ballistic. The white filly had no expression on her face nor did the pegasus she was with. And then Pinkie thought she recognized the pegasus. ‘Autumn Breeze?’ Fluttershy little filly way out here without Fluttershy? But there it was again the pinchie knee, this wasn’t good. “Welp folks I’ve got bad news for you today.” The crowd went silent as they hung on Pinkies words. “This is my last show, I’m retiring and moving on it’s been a joy making you all laugh for all these years but all good things must come to an end.” The collective aww made Pinkies heart melt like butter on a warm muffin. She wiped the last of the airborne pie off her face as she gave them a bow and exited off stage. “Your last show! you shouldn't say things like that without discussing it with me first Pinke.” Mike was furious with Pinkie as she cleaned herself up. “Oh you big softy we did talk about this yesterday remember?” She gave him a kiss on the forehead and proceed back to the stage. “So I see you’re still here.” Pinkie stepped out onto her stage like she had for the last 4 years, te hard wood floors were so clean the pie was nowhere to be seen, her curtains matched her mane perfectly and the neon sign that spelled out her name was everything she had ever wanted after leaving Ponyville. Across from her sat Pearl and Autumn Breeze they had waited after the crowds had left. “It’s so nice to finally meet the famous Pink Smile I’ve read about all these years.” Pinkie put a hoof to her lips. “Oh, Oh you’ve read Twilight book too it’s been so long since any pony made the connection between the two.” Pinkie bounced around in a circle. “But I’m surprised Fluttershy let you come here Autumn,” Pinkie looked straight at the peach pegasus and she shied away. “yep that’s Autumn allright, I use to foal sit for her when Fluttershy would go to Cloudsdale to see her father.” Pearl never cracked a smile. “I noticed you never laughed at my show, and that's no good. You know I use to be the Element of Laughter a long time ago. I could bring a smile to any ponies face with a little time even a stubborn donkey.” Still nothing from the steadfast white pony. “I know what you want Gallatais thats your name right? The letter said you were a ghost though, you look pretty solid to me. Or are ghosts solid? I mean I’ve never meet one so I guess they could be a liquid for all I know.” Pinkie pondered and Mike put a hoof to his face. “Pinkie what are you doing call security already.” He called out to her from the sidelines. “Don’t be silly Mikey this guy killed Spike and he was a dragon what do you think some rent-a-cops could do to him? But its weird, the letter said Gallatais was a guy but this pony is definitely a girl.”Pinkie shielded the stage lights from her eyes to get a better look at Pearl. “Yep a girl indeed.” Pearl got up and walked to the stage. “Tell me Laughter it must be so tiring day in and day out the same tired jokes for the same faceless ponies?” Pinkie stumbled back the fillies voice was definitely a males voice, and she didn’t like the question. “You look so unfulfilled as if there was one face that never smiled for you any more.” Pinkie’s entire body began to spasm, her Pinkie Since was going nuts, something big was coming. She thought back to the cheers and smiling happy ponies she had made over the years. “Now now Laughter you can try to hide in the memory of so many smiles but what about all the sadness that you could never stop, all the tears that will never dry.” In Pinkies mind the mass of smiles slowly melted away and there she saw countless Fluttershys beating on the dying Oak Tree Library trying to get Twilight to come out and on the other side of the door she saw just as many Twilights crying into a small book. “Stop it, it wasn’t my fault Twilight! I liked your book but it was Applejack and Rainbow that couldn’t handle it they made her cry, I tried to make it better but that door would never open.” Mike rushed to Pinkies side. He held the shaking pink pony. “Oh Mike even you, I tried to make you happy but I could never be the mare you wanted.” She held him back. Mike gave Pearl a cold look and stroked Pinkies hair. “Smiles and happiness wasn’t for them my Laughter but I make it all better, I can make the crying ponies disappear. The ponies that pushed away your smile and good cheer, I can make them silent.” Pearl was now standing over the huddled ponies with an extended hoof. “You’ve run so far from their suffering that you could never rectify and came to the furthest reaches of Equestria to bring your smile to hundreds of faces every day but they still followed didn’t they? No matter how many happy faces you piled on top of them the tears that would never dry always seemed to resurface.” Mike couldn’t hold on any longer he leapt at Pearl in an attempt to stop him from hurting Pinkie any longer. But it was in vain, Pearl stepped back and watched Pinkies would be savior trip forward. Pearl reared up and stomped him into the stage. “This is not your place or time hero.” Pinkie could only recoil in fear as she watched Pearl stand on Mikes unconscious body. “How many more will suffer? You can stop this Laughter take my hoof and you can be free from this heartache.” As Pinkie watched Mikes broken body bleed she closed her eyes and held out a hoof shaklee towards Pearls. “Remember Pinkie some days are dark and lonely,” She pulled back when she heard Mike's voice. “just smile for me thats all I really needed.” Pinkie looked at Mike he was a bloody mess but he still held on to a smile for her. Pinkie rushed past Pearl and held onto Mike rocking him through the pain. “My mother use to tell me so many stories from when you and the rest of her friends were so close.” Pinkie looked up to see Autumn standing over them. “she said I was too young to remember but you would throw the most extravagant parties for me on my birthdays. She said she would go to the Old Library and talk to Twilight trying to get her to come, she said she would never miss a Pinkie party.” Autumn’s voice danced across the stage and filled pinkie with pleasant memories. “You can have that again, Just reach out and Gallatais will bring all that back.” Pinkie had known Autumn since she came home from the hospital always shy even as a baby, timid as her mother Fluttershy was so proud, and Pinkie was just a little jealous, she had always thought about being a parent but no pony in Ponyville could stay more than a few weeks with her before she wore them out with her daily routine. Could Gallatais make this happen? She held mike he had passed out humming Pinkies favorite song in an attempt to give her some strength. “Just answer me this Gallatais.” She looked up at Pearl, “If you could see yourself now what would you tell yourself?” Pearl only smiled at Pinkie. “Remember the ones that have fallen for you and those that would stand with you now. Tell them I’m sorry.” Pinkie held out her hoof to Pearl. “Made you smile.” Gallatais left Pearls body and enveloped Pinkies body with his smoke. Pinkie smiled as she could feel the weight of all the tears in her memories have less of an impact on her soul. A brilliant flash of pink and Pinkie passed out on the stage with Mike still holding him in her arms. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Will she be alright?” Pearl walked the dusty road once again back to the greens of eastern Equestria. “The burden of Laughter made the sadness in the ponies around her torment her so she tried to run as far as she could, she will still feel their sadness but it will no longer be any more than empathy that she feels for them.” Gallatais swirled around the Pair of ponies as they traveled. “So... I take that as a yes.” Pearl rolled her eyes at him. “ And for the last time stop possessing me it’s really annoying and it makes me look like a villain when you speak for me.”