//------------------------------// // Episode 5: Spirited Hope // Story: EoH Evolution: Season 4 // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// Ah, peace. A feeling I used to think I'd never have at my workplace. Venus Bloomer thought with a content smile as he worked on the shop's floral arrangements. Ever since he'd went on those trial dates with the Flower Girls (he'd dubbed them as such given they worked and owned the shop) they'd stopped gawking at him and/or hitting on him. I can get my work done with no interruptions. It's just so reassuring not having three pairs of eyes staring at me. After finishing the arrangements, Venus moved on to his favorite part of the job. Actually growing and tending to the flowers in the greenhouse portion of the shop. "I love my job." Venus said with a content sigh as he tended to the flowers. It was very clear that his spirit was present as he worked since the flowers seemed to bloom especially nice after he took care of them. However, unknown to Venus, he was being watched. A small orb of what looked like concentrated light hovered as it observed Venus joyfully tending to his work. It especially took note of Venus' appearance and the quality of job he did before flying off into the sky! The ball of light returned to its source. A floating sanctuary in the sky! The sanctuary looked like somewhere Princesses Celestia and Luna might be depicted in a painting with the heavenly beauty it seemed to embody. A radiance shared only by the Chaos Kin who called the sanctuary her domain. "Ah. The Shine Ball has returned." Splendid Venus said as she extended her hand for the Shine Ball to land in. "Show me what you've seen of this world." The Shine Ball projected images of what it had seen. "The world in its current state can't contain my beauty. No wonder the people are left weakened by my radiance." Splendid Venus sighed, but then caught sight of Venus Bloomer tending to flowers. "But it appears there are specs of beauty are present. If I'm not mistaken, this one is a member of the Elements of Heroism. The same group that responsible for destroying Neptune. Hmph. Good riddance to the brute." Splendid Venus then saw an aura around Venus Bloomer. "His spirit shine so radiantly. Such a shame that he is confined to such a drab world. But that will soon change." Splendid Venus raised her staff, and the entire sanctuary began to move! "I must find a suitable venue to herald the coming of my radiance." She then turned to the fairy-like beings that served as her agents. "The city they call Castalot is quite lovely. It shall make the perfect site of my descent. As well as the one who shall become my beautiful companion in this sanctuary." Splendid Venus' sanctuary soon hovered over the sky above Castalot! In a pillar of light, Splendid Venus descended to the ground below! "CITIZENS OF CASTALOT! REJOICE! FOR YOU NOW BEHOLD MY RADIANCE!" Splendid Venus flared out her wings, and a shower of angelic feathers fell upon the entire city! "TELL YOUR LEADERS OF MY ADVENT!" She didn't have to wait long as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna teleported onto the scene. Splendid Venus may have been a creature of beauty and grace, but Celestia and Luna were literal goddesses. The beauty of the Chaos Kin was left stunned by their arrival! "Such divine beauty. . . " "Your message has been heard loud and clear." Celestia with a firm but calm tone. "I am Princess Celestia, and beside me is my sister Princess Luna. And you are one of the Chaos Kin. Splendid Venus if I'm not mistaken." "What business do you have with us?" Luna demanded. "If you desire to take our kingdom, you will find yourself on the receiving end of our fury! We will show you no quarter if you've come to declare yourself our enemy!" "I come with no hostile intent." Splendid Venus said with a small bow. "In fact, I come with tidings of good will! For I wish to improve this world! And I have chosen a companion who will reside with me in my sanctuary as we make this world into one filled with radiance on par with my own! Though I could never match either of your divine splendor." "And who might be this companion you've chosen?" Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow. "Did you want us to summon him for you?" "I had thought of sending my agents to retrieve my chosen companion. But if you are offering your aid, I shall be more than happy to accept it." Splendid Venus replied. "There is a member of the Elements of Heroism that has caught my eyes." Splendid Venus then used her staff to display an image of Venus Bloomer! "But please have all of them come. He deserves a fond farewell from his friends." "Your request is. . . not what we had anticipated. But it's easy enough to grant." Celestia answered with a cautious tone as she whipped out for phone and texted Burst Stream. "They should be here in a moment." A massive flash went off, and both the Elements of Harmony and Elements of Heroism arrived via a group teleport spell! "Make that a second." "Well. You're certainly not lacking in punctuality." Splendid Venus noted. "Would the one who has half my name step forward please?" ". . . Me?" Venus asked as he pointed to himself. "Why me?! I wasn't the one who wasted Tyrant Neptune! Heck, I haven't done anything to ANY of the Chaos Kin!" "Oh do not sell yourself short." Splendid Venus said with a giggle. "How could a beauty such as yourself not be noticed by the people around you? Tell me, might I have your name?" "Oh. . . " Venus Bloomer frowned and let out an exhausted sigh. "Of course. My name is Venus Bloomer." Things were bad enough with just regular human girls swooning before me. Now I gotta deal with this fairy?! But the Element of Spirit had no time to lament the curse that were his good looks as he needed to figure out what Splendid Venus wanted him for. "So just what do you want me for anyway?" "Is it not obvious?" Splendid Venus asked with a tilt of her head. "Why with our beauty, we would most certainly make an excellent pair of lovers. And I am to make that happen." "Are. . . are you serious?" Venus Bloomer asked witha dumbfounded expression on his face. "I-I'm sorry. It's just that. . . WHAT AND WHY?!" "I believe I already made it clear." Splendid Venus said with a wave of her hand. "I wish to have a being whose beauty is on par with mine as I bring this world to a radiance befitting of myself." "Okay." Venus Bloomer said with a slow nod. "That answers most of my questions. But how do you plan to do that?" "I am so very pleased you asked! Allow me to demonstrate on these drab beings!" Splendid Venus' entire being seemed to radiate light! "BEHOLD!" A wave of light washed out over the gathered crowd! Celestia, Luna, and Twilight brought up shield spells to guard the heroes from whatever effect the wave had! As soon as the light died down, the entire crowd had been turned into fairy-like beings! "Is this not glorious my future love? The beautiful new forms that I shall bestow upon this entire world! Does this not take your breath away?" It did take Venus Bloomer's breath away. In all the wrong ways. ". . . Change them back." Venus Bloomer growled as he clenched his fists! "CHANGE THEM ALL BACK RIGHT NOW!" "W-What are you saying?!" Splendid Venus asked in shock! "I have made them beautiful! Like myself!" "NO YOU HAVEN'T!" Venus Bloomer snapped! "How. . . HOW COULD YOU?! HOW DARE YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO CALL YOURSELF BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU'VE STRIPPED THESE PEOPLE OF THE BEAUTY THEY ALREADY HAD?!" "How. . . how can you say such things?!" Splendid Venus was in utter disbelief! "How can you deny such beauty?!" "'Beauty'? You call this beautiful?!" Venus Bloomer asked with his voice full of disgust. "Why would I ever want to be with a being whose pretty face hides an ugly heart?!" Venus Bloomer's words pierced right through Splendid Venus' core and made her undo the unwanted transformation she'd performed on the crowd! "Everyone has something special to them that makes them who they are. THAT is what gives everyone their own kind of beautiful. And to take that away from them? I can never comprehend something that awful. I'm sorry that I sounded so cruel, but I also hope that you do some reflecting on my words." ". . . " Splendid Venus was silent as she returned to her sanctuary in the sky and willed the sanctuary to return to its original position. Back with the heroes, Venus Bloomer looked sadly at the sanctuary as it floated away. "I hope I got her to do some thinking. With every bit of my spirit, I hope that I made her think. . . "