//------------------------------// // 0 - Part 1 : The Struggle for Harmony // Story: Fighters Don't Have Friends // by BackroundVoice //------------------------------// "Equestria, the land of peace and harmony. As it is so titled, has been a melting pot for the last millennia. And from ages long ago to now, this once barbaric kingdom, now a teetering government, has been ruled by the Alicorns and their single-minded view that the 'Elements of Harmony' are what stops this land from going to war with itself. I, however, dare to believe differently!" The spokes-pony said, speaking through a microphone that echoed out to the rest of the shopping district. It was busy as it always is in Canterlot. Ponies trotting from one place to another. The only ones that stopped were those who visited clubs and stores, or the curious ones, who stood near stands of different public speakers like this one. Listening to the garbage of popular opinion. "Where were these peacekeeping attributes when the riots broke out in Manehatten? Where was the harmony when ponies lied to you and your friends betrayed you? And where were they when you were having a bad, gloomy day, with nothing but the rain showering down on you? This world isn't filled with order, it is more like disorder!" The mare talking, a blue coated unicorn, was grabbing more attention as the topic of sadness became her main idea that she used to describe our society. She made valid points, and was correct in saying as much, but still... "That is why we should band together! In 'Our Town', there is no one to hurt you or to insult you. It is a happy place for all and all are welcome! You there! Are you looking for a home where you can be equal with everyone around you?" The spokes-pony called out, pointing to me. I was in the middle of a passing crowd, and I just so happened to stop and listen to the nonsense. I waited for a moment, pretending that the silver cloaked mare was speaking to some other pony. But when she got off the stand and walked toward me, I felt my stomach begin to turn. I'm not in the mood for this, I thought. "Yes, you! Purple pony," the mare identified me with a wide grin. Her even cut bangs on either side of her horn were styled to perfection. She was the prime example of an Equalist pony. And I really wouldn't expect anything less from the leader of that nut-job organization. "You look like a pony who's been hurt by our Princess's rule. Please, tell us your tale of woe, sister," she continued. I stayed silent, hoping she'd just give up and move on to the next religion crazed equine. But she didn't. "I understand that it must be a hard subject for you," the mare grabbed my hoof, "but remember that you are among friends here, there's no need for fear." "I'm not afraid," I said, "I just don't want to." "That sounds like a type of fear to me," the cult leader whispered. "You're not going to let go, are you?" I asked as I tried to pull my hoof from her grasp. "Humor a fellow friend," she encouraged, still holding onto me tightly. Friend... Ha! I thought. Yanking my hoof out of her's, walking to the front of the crowd. Another silver hooded follower hoofed down the microphone as I stood in front of the stand. The device whistled as it turned on, and I started my speech in a dismal tone. "My name is Twilight, a pony who was hurt," the crowd around me was intent on listening to a common pony, but none were as eager as the Equalists. They all leaned in, smiling, wanting to hear more about me. "But who hasn't been hurt before?" I asked the crowd. All of whom, started to converse and share opinions as the cult around me started to frown. "Life isn't about living perfectly. If it was supposed to be that way, we wouldn't need education or emotions. And striving to be exactly like everypony else is a stupid idea." The cult members on the stand began to glare at me, yet, only their leader continued to smile. But I could tell, that past those turned up corners of her lips, her eyes didn't smile. She honestly expected nothing less from me. "And in my own opinion," I continued, looking at the mare, "conflict is necessary to understand peace, cause if you don't have both, you're just as out of order as the Dragonequus himself." The mare took back the microphone when I was done. She still smiled, but now glared purposefully as quite a few ponies began to leave the crowd. I guess even Equalists took offense to being compared with the devil. "Thank you for your thoughts," Starlight Glimmer, the Equalist leader said in kind. "We understand that our message is not for everypony yet, we only hope you will one day see the possibilities of living an 'Equal' lifestyle, farewell sister." And with that, I walked off. The remaining crowd parted as I left, most of them didn't think I should've been so blunt, or so rude when I spoke. But there was no pleasing these Canterlot ponies. They only wanted things one way, and that was their way. Which wasn't much of a problem for me, I use to be one of them. Ignoring poor opinions was a talent of mine. And when they scowled and sneered at me in passing, I smiled back. Never thought I'd miss those disgusted faces. The nightlife of Canterlot was always filled with stingy rich folks. Unicorns and Pegasi who always thought highly of themselves. Spending money on whims instead of by thought. A real insulting lifestyle compared to other places, where hard work and earnings are treated with respect, rather than as a convenience. But that's the kind of world I live in, a world where the powerful get what they want and where the weak scrounge for what's given out. And for as long as I've lived, 'Magic' had been my belief. Not 'Harmony', nor 'Equalism'. I always believed that answers were given when one understood the potential and limitations of magic. But sometimes I find myself asking if that's really true. Can magic solve the problem of conflict? Can it stop ponies from being hurt? I asked myself. I took a quick glance at my bandaged horn. The white wraps hid the hideous cracks underneath. It was still healing. Of course not, I answered. A philosophy based on the idea that a perfect world can be achieved isn't possible. Like I said, conflict is necessary. Without it, you wouldn't know peace. And if you knew peace, you most certainly knew what conflict looked like. "Come on girls, spend the night with us, don't be shy," said a loud stallion. I looked across the street and saw two mares surrounded by a group of tall stallions in night clothes. As I continued to look, I saw that this section of the district was left particularly unpopulated. Only the mares, myself, and the stallions trotting here. "W- We don't want any trouble," said a hushed voice, I could barely hear what this yellow pegasus was saying as she tried to stand up to them for her friend. But then, the Pegasus's friend bolted from behind her and sprinted down the street, just out of the stallion's reach. "I'll be back with the royal guard, Fluttershy!" the red maned mare shouted back as she galloped away. But when the stallion's heard that, laughter escaped their lungs in a hysterical eruption. "But we are the royal guard!" a blue-maned stallion boasted as he turned in the direction of the running mare. And in the street lamp light, I recognized his face. Flash Sentry. It actually amazed me that some ponies never changed. Flash had three golden stars pinned to his scarf. Captain, huh? Screw my life. Here I've been, holding onto whatever job I can get hired for, and yet jerks like Flash get to ride the escalator of success. He must've somehow gotten on my brother's good side and promoted himself since I'd last been in Canterlot. I think I actually had a crush on him once, didn't I? I don't really remember. All I knew now was that he was a prick that I wanted to keep my distance from. And for that Pegasi's sake, I hope she does the same. "Someone, please..." I heard that hushed little voice again. It was the pegasus, Fluttershy, was it? She wasn't standing tall anymore, she was cowering. Backing up into an alleyway like a scared defenseless animal. For the Alicorn's sake, fly away! I began to grit my teeth as I watched. She was taking no action. The stallions were closing in on their prey, laughing under their breath and remarking how cute the mare was for acting so scared. "Don't get involved, Twi, don't get involved," I told myself. Picking up my walking pace again. But then I heard that call for help again. Quietly, though it was, I glanced back at that Pegasus. "Help me," she whimpered. Pony feathers. "Hold still," Flash Sentry said, "All I want is-" "Fluttershy!" I exclaimed. Flash and the other guards looked back at me, annoyance dominating their expressions. "I've been looking everywhere for you," I started to lower my voice as I neared the crowd, pretending to be this mare's friend whilst avoiding any other conversations if possible. "Come on, we're going to be late to the book club," and that should've ended that. But if I was able to recognize Flash so easily, he'd be able to spot me too. And he did, unfortunately. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Twilight Sparkle, the dropout," he said, standing tall in front of me, "I heard you got an internship at the library in 'Stickville'." "It's pronounced Ponyville," I corrected him. "How sad," he began again, "I could've sworn that going to that backwater town would've lowered that IQ of your's a little, just so you could at least act normal. And here I thought miracles were possible." "But what really is 'normal', Flash? Acting like a model citizen? Which you've never succeeded at, or being a grade-A creep? I thought you would've straightened up by joining the force, but I suppose even we can agree that miracles are a stretch these days." Flash hardened his glare on me after that, not at all pleased with my wit. "Are you insulting an officer?" He sternly asked. "Officer?" I looked around at all that were present. "I don't see any officers around here. Now, if you'll excuse us," I said as I tugged Fluttershy from behind him, "we have a book club to attend, right?" "R- Right," Fluttershy stuttered as we started to leave. And so far everything went pretty smoothly. But I wanted to keep it that way. The faster we got away from here, the less trouble that would follow us. So I didn't look back, but I could hear some of the guards saying things like, 'not worth the trouble', or 'forget her', and some sudden trotting hooves egged me on to peek. And when I did, Flash Sentry's hoof hit me square in the face. I stumbled forward from the surprise attack, Fluttershy gasped in horror as I fell, disoriented. "Buck you, Twilight!" Flash growled. He had no other reason for hurting me besides regaining dominance. Proving that you don't get away with treating the strong like every other spineless pony. This was yet again, proof, that my world was filled with struggle. If you weren't in a war of words with one another, you were in a real fight for your life. "And what's that about this girl being your 'friend', huh?" Flash kicked me, pulling the whimpering Pegasus to his side. "You've never had friends, and you never will!" This time, he kicked me so hard that I rolled over into the nearest street lamp. He then walked to me and raised me up by my mane. The sharp feeling at the top of my head made me grab his hoof to stop the pain a little as I looked up at him with a glare. "Don't mess with me again, or I'll personally put you in jail for public disturbance!" Flash threw me to the ground, and I clasped my head with my hooves as I felt my horn throb from the impact. The pain felt like a knife being twisted into my skull. Nearly unbearable. "N- No!" The yellow Pegasus said as she struggled against Flash, watching me seethe. What the hell were you thinking, Twilight? Didn't you learn your lesson in Ponyville? The only one that matters is 'number one', yourself! Why would even think about helping another pony, or defend them? It's only brought you pain and hurt, you idiot. Then I started to hear other ponies in my head calling me that. One voice specifically stood out over the rest. Rainbow Dash. I ground my teeth as my mind kept repeating that word in that raspy voice of her's. Idiot, idiot, idiot! "I know that," I grumbled as I sat up. Blood trickled from my horn and down to my face as I looked up at the sky. My mind went numb to the pain, I saw no stars thanks to the city lights that polluted the view. There really was nothing here for me in Cantertlot, just a reminder of how weak I am. Wait; I'm weak? That thought alone left me perplexed and sickened. My sight turned to Flash Sentry, he had dragged the girl along far enough to reach his little gang again, and after a good long look, I decided to break my own promise, 'not to fight again'. I stood up, walking toward Flash Sentry. It only took a second for his friends to spot me and tell him. Flash turned and glared. "Do you have a death wish, Sparkle?" He asked. "No, just a bone to pick," I answered, quickening my pace as I approached him. "Boys, get the hoof-cuffs," he began, "we're taking this delinquent in for disturbing the-" but finishing that sentence was going to be hard as my hoof ended it early. One punch knocking his head back. He wasn't expecting such a hard hit, leaving me time to smash one more hoof into his face before I kicked him back into his buddies. Two of the other guards were there to catch him while three others stepped up to the plate. The Pegasus girl had moved back to a safe distance but continued to watch. Which was good, I needed the room to fight. I got up on my hind legs, putting one hoof in front of the other, ready to break some bones. Because it wasn't about saving a defenseless girl anymore. It was about me. Fighting with no cause to justify myself. And no other reason made sense to me for doing so. "Get her!" Flash Sentry ordered, the guards responded with a charge. All I had to do was wait. The first guard threw a punch that I sidestepped with a spin to his right. Allowing me to grip his hoof with my left and elbow him in the head with my right. The punk was stunned, I elbowed his rib cage next, a few snapping sounds echoed from that attack, it was safe to say he wouldn't be getting up again. The next guard in front of me was reeling back a hard punch, but he wasn't quick enough to stop me from kicking him in the gut. I had let the other guard go to focus on the stallion holding his stomach like a child. I punched his lights out with one hard hit and now he wasn't worried about anything. But I was. I failed to pay close attention to the other dozen guards still present, I was grappled from behind by two of them. Flash Sentry walked up to me as I attempted to shake free, and Flash began to beat my head back and forth, no holding back. I could only feel bruises forming and hear the panicked cries of that girl as she watched. Eventually, Flash got dirty and struck at my horn. The scream I let out was gut wrenching, but it also made me mad. I lifted my back hooves up to my chest and bucked Flash right in the face. The force from the kick against Flash made the jerks behind me trip back and over the other pony with the broken ribs. After they hit the floor, I rolled free. But I wasn't just going to stop. I stood up above one of them and stomped my hooves onto his nose, breaking it. The second one was getting up and I felt inclined to help him to his hooves as I punched him just under the navel. Pulling him to my right, I continued my assault. He was right to focus on blocking my attacks instead of thinking about his wounds, but I refused to leave him without making him hurt. I alternated between punches and kicks so much that the poor bastard didn't know what to block as I only sped up my attacks, forcing him up against a wall on the other side of the street. Now he could barely stand, no hooves lifted to defend himself and no attacks to counter me. He just took it. And right when I was about to smash his head up against the wall, he fell, my hoof breaking the brittle brick above him, sending a ripple of cracks out from the impact. He was unconscious, and I could barely see past the blood dripping over my eyes. My breathing had steadied, but I heard more ponies coming for me from across the street. So, did you learn a valuable lesson today? I heard another familiar voice in my head. Vinyl's voice. They were words that I had heard a long time ago, but they were words that I would never forget. "Yeah, I've learned that I'm not done fighting!" Roaring as I turned, I met my opponents head on. The first to face me was actually a mare, but a member of the royal guard none the less. I leaped, drop kicking her backward. I managed to land on all fours before I got surrounded by three more. Dashing back into them, I elbowed the one right behind me, the one on my left got a punch off me, but I returned the kindness, socking him once, leading right into a kick to his privates. The one behind me tried to headlock me, one headbutt back made him drop me. The guard to my right turned and bucked me in the side with both back hooves. I took the pain with grinding teeth and grabbed his back hooves with my two front. It took some exertion, but I managed to swing him around and into another charging guard. The momentum I built from the swing led me into another striking kick against the one behind me. "Come on!" I shouted. The last four that could still stand all came at me at once. I tackled one in the stomach to escape being surrounded and brought his head down to the street. The next I bucked back and turned as I raised both of my hooves above my head and planted his face into the ground. The next one that stood his ground with me locked hooves with me as we both tried to overpower the other. But I knew better than to wrestle pointlessly. I reared one back hoof behind me, and kicked in under him, pulling his weight over me as I held his head over my shoulder. I fell on my back but used his head to cushion the fall. The last one was shaken. I couldn't tell at this point if he wanted to fight or not. My vision was so cloudy, and all I saw was a fleeing figure. I looked over to where Flash Sentry was. He wasn't feeling too confident either, but that didn't matter, as long as he was here, I could still push on and fight. I ran at him as he backed into the alley. And when I went for a punch he caught it and threw me against the corner of a building, hoping I'd fall from the sharp brick hitting the back of my head. But I refused to lose. I stood as if unphased. Truth was, I was hurting, hurting so much. And yet, I felt like I could see clearer now. This bloodlust of mine helped me somehow; I've never felt so alive. Flash stumbled back onto his flank, frightened of me. "I- I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!" He pleaded. "Are you?" I asked, still standing on my hind legs. My hooves were shaking in anger as I watched him beg. "Apologize to her," I said, gesturing my head to the Pegasus that now stood with a hoof over her mouth, tears falling from her face. "P- Please, I'm sorry," Flash turned to the girl, my hoof was ready to strike, "Please! Show mercy!" Flash lifted his hooves to protect himself as I brought my attack down onto him. I stopped as his words reached my ears. Mercy? I held my hoof just over him as I watched him cower. He didn't want to fight anymore? I had unknowingly surprised myself with this one ounce of compassion I had shown. I felt, wrong. But I shook past that feeling and picked Flash up by his jacket. Forcing him to make eye contact with me. "Listen, Greggory," I called him by his middle name, "If you ever treat your position as a guard captain like some title to threaten people with again, I'll know where to find you, and you know what'll happen." Flash merely nodded to that as he sobbed. I dropped him, now finished with my fight. Leaving him and his gang in the streets bloody and beaten. I walked past the Pegasus girl. She wasn't crying anymore, just puzzled that I didn't finish him like I did the others. And I wanted to know why I didn't too. But not even 'Magic' could answer that. All I knew was that I needed to get back to Ponyville. Where this all started. If I didn't leave Canterlot soon after what I just did, every guard in the city would be alerted to take me in. And that was not something I wanted to deal with. "Ponyville it is," I told myself as I walked in the direction of the train station. The streets were as bare as they were before, I was leaving the shopping district alone tonight. But I heard one more set of hoof-steps behind me. It was the Pegasus, keeping her distance. "What?" I asked. "O- Oh, I- I wanted to ask you something," she was speaking in that hushed tone again. Annoying. "H- How did you learn how to fight?" "Why? You want lessons?" "No! I- I just want to understand," "Understand what?" I asked. "How you became like this," she answered. How indeed, I thought, ignoring her. Why would anyone give a shit? I picked up my pace to a steady trot, I wanted to settle things. Become who I was apparently destined to be. If not an easy, quiet life, then I'd pursue struggle. Since that's all I'm good at now. Struggling. Becasuse that's what being at harmony means to me. To struggle.