//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Worth of One // by DouglasTrotter //------------------------------// As the days came and went, so did the rehearsals. Voices resonated throughout the grand theater. Costume upon costume flew out onto the mannequins in each dressing room. Rarity threaded her final needle and plunged it through the costume. On the final day, the pony gave a firm nod. She clenched her hoof and raised it toward the sky and brought it down hard. Rarity tapped her hoof against Coco Pommel's outstretched hoof. The two smiled at each other. In a unison voice they said, "Finished!" Ponies filed into the theater, guided by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. Twilight tapped a pencil against her clip board, marking off a quick checklist. "Still no sign of this 'thing,' Twilight." Rainbow Dash said, flying towards her friend behind the curtain. She sat near Rarity and Coco Pommel backstage. The pony shrugged and said, "What?" "Keep your voice down. The last thing we want to do is panic the other ponies and cause problems for Soapbox's sister." Twilight said. She pulled back the curtain and looked out towards the crowd. "Unbelievable. This place is packed." "O my, is everything ok?" Fluttershy said, having come behind the curtain. Pinkie Pie bounded towards the others, soon running off stage then returning with a bag of popcorn. "Nice and hot." "Right. Anyways, the truth is I promised Soapbox we keep things quiet. This is Highlight's biggest performance yet. If it gets ruined, I don't know what will happen." Twilight said. "Okie, Dokie, Lokie. We'll keep things on the down... low." Pinkie Pie said, lowering herself to the ground, being once centimeter away from touching it. She crept along the backstage floor. "Is your friend alright, Twilight?" Highlight said. She backed up as Pinkie Pie passed her. "That's just Pinkie being Pinkie, Highlight. Anyways, ya'll set for tonight." Applejack said. "I hope." Highlight said. She gazed at the curtain. The young mare pulled a small section aside. Her eyes glanced at each filled seat in the house. "This isn't just about me. It's about all of us. Tonight will be the greatest performance of our lives. Many of us have a lot riding on the outcome." "Don't worry, we're all here to help." Fluttershy said. "Yea, leave the grunt work to us." Rainbow Dash said. She zoomed up to the lights, adjusting each one. The pony flew down, prepared to pull back the curtains. "Looks like the shows about ready to start." "O, indeed. The show is ready to start." a mare said. "Huh?" Highlight said. "Hmph, such ridiculousness, hiding amongst my dinner." the mare said. She plowed into the group of ponies, knocking them down the trap door. "I was worried when you destroyed the portal, but the deed had already been done." "Soapbox!" Highlight said. The young mare slammed into the pony that stood in front of her. She lunged towards her brother, undoing the bindings. "Who in Equestria do you think you are?" "Who am I, you ask, my pretty young thing." The mare said, creeping forward. A flash of green light enveloped her. "Do you recognize me now?" "Chrysalis," Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie said in unison. The six ponies stood their ground while Highlight glared at Queen Chrysalis. "What game are you up to now. Why kidnap Soapbox?" Twilight said. "That pathetic little donkey almost ruined my plan. I had never imagined a creature such as Tirek existed." Queen Chrysalis said. A small bump appeared in front of her horn. The bump shot forth into a point, the Queen of Changelings now sporting a second horn. "Just think of it. There's world of possibilities with his magic intertwined with my own power." "Uhh, Twi, what's goin on?" Applejack said. The green glow from the empowered creature illuminated the stone walls. She crept forward on steady strong hooves. Her once translucent wings began to resonate in several colors. "She didn't," Twilight said. The pony gazed at the transformed ruler. "But why absorb his power? What could would is serve you?" "Twilight," Soapbox coughed, "watch out. She'll try to drain your emotions." "Love is just one point, one ray of color in the spectrum of emotions. Anger. Kindness. Fear. It's beyond what I could desire, and those poor, unknowing, gullible foals in the audience will be my main course once I'm done with all of you. You'll be withered up husks." Chrysalis said. She charged forward. The creature illuminated her horn. "I'll drain you all dry." The ponies galloped toward the staircase. Each of them came to a halt. They sped towards the corners of the storage area. "Soapbox, are you in here? Soapbox?" A voice said. "Where are you, Soapbox? Highlight." another voice said. "No." Highlight said, biting down on her lip. In a quivering tone she said. "Mom and dad have backstage passes." "More appetizers. How delightful." Chrysalis said. She licked her fangs. The creature shifted into the little donkey's form and said, "Down here, mom. Down here, dad." Sky Flare and Bright Spark descended the stair case. "What's going on?" Bright Spark said. She gazed at the area, "Soapbox?" "Mom, these mean ponies are trying to hurt me. Please stop them." Chrysalis said, disguised as Soapbox. "Shh, it's ok. Mom is here." Bright Spark said. She illuminated her horn. A donkey sized hole formed in the stage. "Really. Do you know how hard it is to fool a mother?" "She's all yours, honey." Sky Flare said, ascending the steps to the stage with the others. "I've fed upon the cast of your daughter's play. What makes you believe that a mere unicorn can take me?!" Chrysalis said. She floated to the stage, having returned to her new form. "You won't defy me." "Chrysalis, do you know how I earned my Cutie Mark?" Bright Spark said in a calm manner, her horn starting to glow. "What does that matter?" Chrysalis said. "Unlike other unicorns, I wasn't very good at magic. I stunk. That is until I started to study. One book illuminated my world. I got the 'bright' idea to try a spell. The amniomorphic spell." Bright Spark said. She frowned and illuminated her horn. A puff of smoke surrounded the mare. She snarled. The unicorn flashed a wicked set of teeth. Her claw lunged forward, gripping the creature in front of her. With a snarl she said, "What did you do to my son. To my daughter. To their friends?!" Chrysalis laughed as green flames surrounded her. She stood at eye level with the transformed mare. "How charming, a mother defending her child. It's almost cliché, worthy of this worthless theater. That emotion of yours will be your undoing. I don't need to 'charm' my meals with coos and calls anymore. I'll just take what I want." The two dragons clashed with each other. "Soapbox, you best stick close. When your mother is like this, she's one hard mare to deal with." Sky Flare said, sitting down. He glanced towards Pinkie Pie, "Hey, I remember you. You're the one who throws parties, right. Can you get us some popcorn?" "Aren't you concerned about your wife?" Fluttershy said. "Nope." Sky Flare said. He thanked Pinkie Pie for the popcorn. He gazed at the action. "That mare is a force to be reckoned with when she's mad. It's best to stay out of her way." "You're beyond cold. We gotta help her." Rainbow Dash said. "I wouldn't, Rainbow Dash." Sky Flare said. He held out his hoof. "Besides, we best prepare for the next course of action. What if those curtains go down? The audience came for a play of the century, and we need to reassure them what they see on stage is all part of the act. If Queen Chrysalis indeed feeds off emotions and her attention isn't focused on my wife, we will be in bigger trouble." "Is that true?" Fluttershy said. Twilight shrugged. "Hey, now that you mention it, why didn't Chrysalis try to feed off of us down there?" Pinkie Pie said. "Pinkie Pie, you're right." Twilight said. Pinkie Pie scratched her head. She shrugged. "I am right. I think? Uhh, I am right, right? I'm right for being right, and it's alright to be right." "Yes. Look. Chrysalis didn't feed on us because she's not used to her power. She needs to focus." Twilight said. The pony stood close to Sky Flare and said, "Not to mention, she is acting odd. Chrysalis is way more arrogant than usual." Sky Flare nodded. As the two dragons battled each other, the curtain began to tear. "Soapbox, do not get any ideas. You will not engage the target, do you understand me." Sky Flare said. He placed a hoof over his mouth after Bright Spark glared at him. The stallion waved a hoof at his wife after giving a sheepish grin. "Listen, Soapbox. Your mother has this under her control. She will be fine." "No, she doesn't. You taught me to look, listen, and focus. Don't you see what's happening to mom?" Soapbox said, his body shivering. The little donkey pointed towards his mother, "She's putting in more magic than she typically does with that spell. It'll overwhelm her." "How can you tell, Soapbox? Can you see her magic?" Sky Flare said. Soapbox looked away. The little donkey remained silent. "I see. Well, luck favors the prepared." Sky Flare said. He pointed towards Rainbow Dash. " Ok, assume your places. It's time to give the audience a show of a lifetime, so," Rainbow Dash unfurled the curtain, "behold, the greatest show in Equestria!" "What in tarnation are ya doin?" Applejack said. "Where do you think Highlight got her theatrics from?" Sky Flare said, ending with a coy smile. He nudged Highlight. "Psst, give em the performance of your life. Just tell the story as it unfolds and leave no dry eye in the house." "Right, dad." Highlight said. Bright Spark lunged forward. She lunged again and again. The transformed unicorn traded blows with her adversary. Fire boiled over from her mouth. Bright Spark stepped back. Her eyes focused. She let loose with a torrent of fire, Chrysalis doing the same in turn with green and blue flames colliding. The two streams molded into a sphere of fire, and exploded in a shower of sparks, eliciting several "ooo's" and "aww's" from the crowd. "Twilight, can you and the others summon up the elements of harmony?" Sky Flare said. He glanced at his wife's head, midsection, and her legs. "This isn't good. I underestimated the power that creature now possess, and my wife can't hold her own for long." "Take off my box and throw me at Chrysalis when mom runs out of energy in the next thirty seconds." Soapbox said. The little donkey moved forward. He looked towards the group in front of him. "It's the only way." "I refuse to put you in harm's way!" Twilight said. "Do we have a choice?" Soapbox said. He stepped forward and said, "Isn't friendship about trust?" A loud thud resonated throughout the theater. Bright Spark reverted to her unicorn form. Her heavy, exasperated gasps for air resonated throughout the theater. The crowd leaned in. A green, spectral stream of magic left the mare. Several ponies in the crowd gossiped amongst each other. "Soapbox, no matter what I say, do. Not forget. To. Remember. I love you, son." Bright Spark said. Her body turned grey. The unicorn went still. Sky Flare nodded to the ponies behind them. "My turn." "And what do you, a pitiful pegasus stallion, think he can do against me. You going to fly away?" Chrysalis laughed. She stood back, a bolt of lightning vaporizing a desk behind the creature. "What?!" "Science and magic are both wonderful things. I didn't take an interest in either till Soapbox came home with some books." Sky Flare said. He faced Chrysalis, "Did you know it's possible to generate static electricity by utilizing some simple techniques. Though it's a weak form of lightning, you can add a little pegasus 'magic' to it and 'zap,' instant lightning bolt." Sky Flare rose into the air alongside Chrysalis. Stallion and Changeling Queen traded blows with each other. Powerful blasts of pseudo-lightning flew through the air. "You need glasses!" Chrysalis said. She dodged left, and then right. The creature powered forward. "What do you mean, 'tag?'" Chrysalis let out an ethereal wail. She fell to the floor. The creature snarled. Her fangs gleaming in the spotlights, she stood up. "Imagine it. A touch of science with a dab of magic, and you can do some impressive things. Ball Lightning included. It makes for one Tartarus of a punch." Sky Flare said. He swished his tail. "A lightning rod is quite nice, but a magical one, even of pegasi magic, is quite unique." Twilight moved towards Soapbox, "Your dad wasn't normally this talkative." "He's stalling. Those tail swishes are --" Soapbox said. "Code. The Wonderbolts use them to communicate. He's stalling for us to get the elements." Rainbow Dash said. She gritted her teeth. "What do we do? They're back in Ponyville. Can you make it in time, Twilight?" "I don't know if I can make it. No!" Twilight said. She held Soapbox back, Sky Flare falling to the ground. "Disgusting stallion. It'll take a good, long soak to remove these marks." Chrysalis said. Sky Flare smirked at his son. He said, "What your mom said, it kinda goes for me too, son. Your sister has your back." Chrysalis licked her lips. She stopped. Her eyes grew soft as she gazed at Soapbox. "It's ok little one. I'll protect you and keep you safe. That's a promise from Chrysalis -- wait. Where did that come from? No matter." "You monster!" Highlight said. She darted toward the nourished creature. The young mare let loose with a flurry of attacks, sweeping Chrysalis off her hooves. "Quick, get the elements and hurry. I can't hold her for long." "Such strength. Such resolution. Such foalishness. Such impudence!" Chrysalis said. She struggled. "What?!" "I'm stronger than I look." Highlight said. She leaned in and said, "Try dragging a boulder almost the size of house behind you for a warm-up." "Enough. I will not be denied my right." Chrysalis shouted, her voice resonating throughout the theater. Her horn glowing in a fierce light, the creature let loose with a powerful blast. She latched onto Highlight. The empowered Changeling Queen threw her opponent to the stage below. "Durable too." "You got that right," Highlight said. She jumped up. "You can fly?" Chrysalis said. "No. I can jump, good." Highlight said, her back left hoof meeting her opponent's body. She landed on the stage. "Twilight. Get Soapbox out of here, please. Protect him." Chrysalis rose from the ground. Her wings buzzed. The creature's eyes glowed in a vicious green light. She snarled, the creature landing on the stage floor. Twilight looked at Highlight. She illuminated her horn, pulling Soapbox back. "You are mine." Chrysalis said. She stood up. The stream of green, ethereal, emotional power left Highlight, along with the young mare's color. "Delicious." "Mom. Dad. Sis. No..." Soapbox said. He hooves pressed against the sides of his head. The little donkey's vision glanced at each collapsed pony. "Not, not again. It can't happen again. Please. Somepony help." "It'll be alright Soapbox. Just stand back and -- what are you doing!" Twilight said. The box on the little donkey's back rocketed through the air. The Changeling Queen winced. She spit out a small piece of wood. "That. Will. Cost you. Dearly." "I-It already cost me my family. Twilight, please. Go with the others and get the elements of harmony." Soapbox said. He crept forward. His hooves shook. The little donkey glared at creature that towered above him. "Give them back. Give me back my family." "Hmm, no." Chrysalis said. She blasted Soapbox, and then laughed. "Unbelievable. Such power." "Ow," Soapbox said, struggling to stand. He gazed at his mother, his father, and his big sister. His eyes began to water. "Not again. Please. I can't lose them again." Chrysalis floated towards Soapbox. She crept forward. "Shh. Let momma Chrysalis help you out." The thin green stream of ethereal, emotionally charged magic left Soapbox. Soapbox jumped to his hooves. He rammed into the Changeling Queen's midsection. In a confident voice he said, "Let it rot you to the core." "You brat. W-What are you. Talking about?" Chrysalis said. She collapsed. The Changeling Queen looked at her glowing horn, shivered, and curled up into a ball. "What's happening to me?" "Twilight, I do apologize, but could you and the others please go get the elements while the enemy is down." Soapbox said, maintaining his confident tone. He looked at the shivering Chrysalis, "I estimate you having two minutes." "Umm, ok." Twilight said. Rainbow Dash poked Chrysalis with a nearby stick. She leaned in, and then jumped back. "My word Soapbox, what did you do to her?" Rarity said. Soapbox sat down and smiled at Rarity. "Ever eat something that didn't agree with you?" "Oooo, I get it. There's this one time I made a cotton candy sandwich. Phew, I'll tell you that's the last time I ever make that recipe." Pinkie Pie said, pointing towards her open mouth. "Yes." Soapbox said, raising an eyebrow. A single tear crawled down his cheek. "I hope you can reverse the damage to my mother, father, and my big sister... and me." Two bright flashes of light consumed the area. Twilight opened the box containing the elements. She and her friends rose into the air, a powerful beam of light rocketed forward. The second horn on the Changeling Queen's forehead reduced in size, but it still remained. "There, it's done." Twilight said, descending to the ground. She looked at Chrysalis. "I doubt she'll ever be the same." Soapbox looked towards Twilight. He sighed and shook his head. "Soapbox, what's wrong?" Highlight said. "Now I feel like the villain." Soapbox said. The little donkey looked at Twilight. He smiled. Pinkie Pie backed up. "That's not a real smile." "I know." Soapbox said. He hung his head. "If we all seek revenge, going blow for blow, the world will be left with no-pony to inhabit it." "Hey, don't say stuff like that, kid. Chrysalis got what she deserved." Rainbow Dash said. "No, misses Dash," Soapbox shook his head then gazed at Rainbow, "she didn't deserve that fear. It's a horrible malady. I see that now. Besides. The truth, the truth is I kinda don't like myself right now." "Y-You won't, won't get away with... this." Chrysalis said, shivering. She remained curled up into a ball. The Changeling Queen struggled to illuminate her horn. "Why won't it stop?" "The fear will consume you, and, I am sorry. It almost consumed me." Soapbox said. He looked at his reflection in the Changeling Queen's eyes. "By letting her consume my fear, stopping her short of taking all my emotions, it feels like I took the easy way out. If I had made the smallest effort to take some friendship into my life when I had the chance, this wouldn't have happened. Wait, go back to the beginning... that sly chaotic god. Twilight, do you mind getting that piece of burlap from my room with the item in it." "Ok..." Twilight said. She disappeared, and then returned. The pony unfurled it, "The alicorn amulet. Wait, why is it missing a gem." Soapbox looked at the amulet. "Friendship. That's the final answer, isn't it. Discord." Several loud claps resonated throughout the theater. The ponies in the audience turned. They watched a pony stand up, and then hop onto the stage. Several hushed whispers came from the seats in front of the grand stage. "Discord?" Fluttershy said. "Hello Fluttershy, so good to see you." Discord said. He transformed. The misshapen, chaotic god looked at the others. "What? No warm welcome for your friend?" "You could have stopped this!" Twilight said, her left eye twitching. "Now Twilight, what if Princess Celestia had intervened during Nightmare Moon? Would you have learned anything?" Discord said. He grumbled at Sky Flare. "Though, if I had to say anything, it appears I didn't fool every pony up here. Ateast you didn't spoil the surprise." Sky Flare nodded to Discord. "Honey," Bright Spark said, creeping towards her husband. She maintained an eerie, creepy smile. "Please explain. I'll give you one minute before I give you a thirty second head-start." "Umm, heh, heh, ehh." Sky Flare said. He backed up. "You knew Discord was in the audience, but you didn't tell us?" Highlight said. "After the little display against Chrysalis, those Sparks should have harmed the crowd. Instead, they behaved more like harmless fireworks and faded away. There had to be a powerful entity in the theater, and, it seemed one pony stood out from the group in the theater, so, I played along." Sky Flare said. He gave a sheepish grin towards the others. "The whole bit about lightning was kind of a farce. I took a leap of faith that the entity would help by providing a bit of magic when I called out. Though it's true static electricity can be coupled with pegasi magic, I can't do it to the extent I made it out to be during the act." Discord smirked. He bowed to the crowd then restored the damage to the stage. The misshapen creature said, "Deus Ex Machina. It's such a horrible thing in a play. It can set right once went wrong with a flick of the wrist, a snap of the claw, or a tap of the hoof, but, if used poorly, it can be quite overused. Where's the fun in life if it can all be solved so simply." "And?" Soapbox said. "Yes, well, you are correct. The final riddle is indeed, Friendship." Discord said. He huffed. "I'd say you cheated, but that's not possible." Soapbox groaned. He fell to the ground. The little donkey reached towards his forehead. "A gem?" Rarity said. The amulet flew towards the gem, the two swirling in the air. Gem and amulet combined as an ethereal light gathered around them. Four appendages shot forth, and then a tail. "A pony? She was locked inside your head?" Twilight said. "Ok, this makes no sense." Rainbow Dash said. "Well, what fun is there in making sense." Fluttershy said, receiving a quick hoof-bump from Discord. She looked at her friends. "What? We've seen some pretty unbelievable things." "Touché, dear." Rarity said. "If I may speak?" The ethereal pony said. She bowed to Soapbox. "Young Soapbox. Though I have passed, many once called me the granter of wishes. Within you was the tome of Princess Che Desiderano Stella, the wishing princess. It was hoped that one last wish could be granted, and you are indeed worthy." Soapbox looked at those around him. "What do I wish for?" "Nothing is out of your grasp or heart's desire. You can be turned into a unicorn, an earth pony, a pegasus, an alicorn, a mare or stallion, made ruler of Equestria, or whatever your heart's desire. However, you must make your wish carefully. You will be granted only one." The ethereal pony said. She sat down, gazing at the theater. "There is no time limit either. You may make your wish when you like." "Anything I desire." Soapbox said. "It's your choice, 'Soapy.'" Highlight said. Soapbox turned towards Chrysalis. He sighed, and then looked at the wishing princess. "Hmm?" The ethereal pony said, her tail being tugged on. "Once I make my wish, will you disappear?" Soapbox said. "You are so kind." The ethereal pony said. As she stood up, being as tall as Princess Celestia and towering over Soapbox, the pony nodded. "It is true. Once you make your wish, the power that has been stored will vanish. Also, I'm sad to say the library you enjoyed so much will disappear as well." "Can't we do anything?" Applejack said. She took her hat off. "This ain't right. I know she seems all ghostlike, but she's a pony. It ain't right ta trade her away like an apple or a cart." "Discord, can't you do something?" Fluttershy said. "I am sorry, Fluttershy, but this is the one time I cannot do anything. It isn't within my power." Discord said. He turned toward Soapbox, "But, the power does exist within him. I wanted to see what you would do with such a power, Soapbox. The choice is yours." The audience leaned in. Several ponies chatted with one another. In the balcony, two elderly stallions chuckled at each other before turning towards the stage. Soapbox glanced at Chrysalis for a final time. He meandered toward the back. The little tan donkey returned with a box on his back. In a firm tone he said, "I wish you would grant the wish that I am wishing for in my heart." The wishing princess slammed her front hooves together. In a cheery voice she said, "Wish. Granted!" A powerful sphere of light enveloped the room. As the light dimmed, an orange, ethereal stream of magic launched into the sky, vanishing into thin air. The wishing princess faded into nothingness. "It's gone." Chrysalis said. She stood up and rubbed her head. "I poured every ounce of magic into that spell to steal Tirek's power, to shield it from your elements." Soapbox glanced at the Changeling Queen with a melancholic, expressionless gaze. Chrysalis took two steps back. She shivered for a second, groaned, and then turned away. "Forget it. You're not worth it, Soapbox. Mark my words though, Twilight Sparkle, you and your friends will be dealt with at a later time." As the queen of changelings vanished, the others stood beside Soapbox. The little donkey quivered. His withers twitched. He retreated into his box. "O, 'Soapy.'" Highlight said. Cheers of applause erupted from the audience, and then died down. One-by-one, the performers on the stage took their bow, Soapbox remaining hidden. Seats emptied as ponies filed out of the theater. Highlight let out an exhausted sigh, along with her mother and father. "Thank you, Soapbox." a voice said. Fine ethereal particles landed on top of the little donkey's box. "Thank you." "You did your best, sweetie. That's all that matters." Bright Spark said. Sky Flare smirked. He tapped on the small box, forcing Soapbox out. "Clever, son. Quite Clever. You made three wishes with one wish. That's impressive." "How? She could only grant one... o, I get it." Twilight said. The pony giggled to herself. "I never would have thought about it that way. Unbelievable." "Well. If you don't mind, I could go for a slice of pizza. My treat." Rarity said. The ponies laughed, smiled, and giggled at one another. She waved her hoof, "If you promise to behave, you can come along too, Discord." Inside the restaurant, the group and their chaotic god guest laughed at one another. Mr. Calzone tossed several pizzas into the air before he threw them into the oven. "Soapbox, I've been meaning to ask. What's the D in your name stand for?" Twilight said. Soapbox pulled the box down over his head. "Soapbox Doctrine Spark, be nice." Bright Spark said. "Mom..." Soapbox said.