//------------------------------// // CH 14 // Story: The Edge Of Harmony // by Alazak //------------------------------// For as long as anypony could recall Equestria had lived in the shimmering light of Harmony, a great and powerful force that was said to have brought all things into being. I was the first known as the Seer of Eternity I was to watch history unfold and record it for future generations to learn from the wisdom of the past. I looked out across the vastness of the universe and saw all its splendor long before the land had form and the water washed the world clean. I was one with Harmony and felt peace, serenity, and most of all I felt happy. But Harmony had other plans for its wonder, soon came the other great forces of power; Balance found that the universe was good all was in its rightful place and needed nothing. I loved the overwhelming joy that Harmony and Balance brought to the universe. Then along came Chaos, a blackness that argued with the other forces that the universe was too big to be so predictable, and thus came the creatures of the land sea and air. They amassed across the universe, some staying where the forces spent their power and others ventured out into the cosmos to find their own path. Chaos reviled in the sher confusion that the new beings had brought, Harmony and Balance spread their touch to them and they began to live in a coordinated way. Chaos lashed out at the creatures and began to break their minds. With Chaos’ influence they brought forth the force of War. Empowered by Chaos, as Harmony sought the comfort of Balance, War would create strife in th beings and cause them to turn form Harmony and embrace Chaos. After watching the four great forces wage their senseless struggle with each other the final force appeared, when one being stamped out the life of another Death appeared. Vastly different than the other forces Death did not care for anything, it did not see the beings as playthings like Chaos and War, nor did it see those who brought structure into the world as Harmony and Balance, it only saw it self in the beings. Death scared the other forces, it would stand over the beings and give its gift to them as it saw fit and the beings would no longer exist. The other forces were outraged they couldn’t understand Deaths design, it was nothing like them but it emcombased all of them as one. So the forces each created a guardian for the beings and called them Progenitors. Balance created the Great Snake, Ouroboros, a monstrous creature who for all eternity would devour itself so to stay off Death. War Gave birth to the Bat King, Hazzarak, bringer of conflict and the great instigator. Chaos sought to take its rightful place in the universe and created The Dragon King, Discord, vicious and so hungry for power he coveted everything. And finally Harmony turned to me. “I have chosen you to safeguard against death.” I can remember the force’s soft voice, it filled the vast darkness of space and made me feel whole. I protested, I was but a watcher in all of this I came long before the other forces made their marks and I should keep watching to recount for those who would come after. “I have chosen you, Gallatais, Seer of Eternity you have seen the universe before the beings and now you must watch over them and bring harmony to them. Create your children so they may teach others of the unity of the five forces.” And so I did, myself and the other Progenitors reached out across the world and brought forth many children. Oroborus created his children and hid them away under the earth so death wouldn’t bless them with his gift. Hazzarak Created thousands of his bat children more than any could count and smaller than most beings, they would whisper deceit in the ears of beings and break them for the other forces. The Dragon King laughed as he created the great dragons and gave them his lust for material possession believing all belonged to him and his children. And then I looked out to the land and the beings that were scattered across it and I decided not to hide from them or death, not to conquer them and not to pit them against each other, but to teach them and bring them harmony. I was Gallatais, Seer of Eternity, no more I was now Gallatais, Lord of the Alicorns. It was early afternoon when Fluttershy got back from Cloudsdale, she had hoped to see if Stormcaller had helped Autumn get through losing her only friend. Pearl had suddenly vanished one day after seeing Twilight, an accomplishment even she couldn’t achieve, and then a sudden surprise visit from Princess Celestia herself put her on edge. “My dear Fluttershy it’s been far too long since I’ve seen you.” Celestia Stood at Fluttershy doorway. “Oh my Princess, it has been too long.” Fluttershy gave a quick curtsy and stepped aside so the Princess could enter her small cottage. “I wish to I could have come under better circumstances.” The princess sat and let out a sigh. “I can remember the last time I came here all those years ago I believe it was to celebrate the birth of your foal?” Fluttershy gave a warm smile. The cottage had changed drastically since Autumn’s birth, another ground floor room was added and a large amount of the animals had moved to a nearby tree that Fluttershy and Storm built for them. “It’s tragic really; an ancient spirit has awoken and will be coming for the Elements of Harmony.” Fluttershy had no reaction to the news. “He has made it quite clear on his intentions, and to prove his point he made an attempt on my life.” Fluttershy Walked to the kitchen and retrieved some tea to calm the Princess as he relayed the rest of her story. “It must have been so scary.” She put a concerned hoof on Celestias shoulder. “It was only by the heroic deeds of Spike that I can sit here and tell you this news. It was unfortunate that he did not survive the battle. The spirit took over his cairer and cut Spike down with trickery.” Celestia waved a concerned hoof in front of a stunned Fluttershy. “Spike, oh my is he really gone? Our Spike, no he was so young.” Fluttershy began to shed a river of tears for her fallen friend. “How could anypony harm such a gentle soul?” “He’s not just anypony he’s my... father.” Fluttershy stopped crying and stared at the princess. “I know how it sounds, but he is misguided and sees this as the only way of saving Equestria. And I’m afraid he may be right.” Celestia turned away as Fluttershy went to comfort her. “It was his sacrifice that gave Luna and myself the strength over a millennia ago to defeat Discord and even my own sister when she fell to the darkness in her own heart.” Fluttershy didn’t understand her princess’ tears and the pain behind them but tried the best she could. “No you must listen Fluttershy; he will come for you as he will for the others I’m not sure who he has already gotten but I fear this may be too much for you to handle.” Celestia held on to the worry struck pegasus. “My father isn’t Discord; he won’t play games with you to get what he wants, he will use the very essence of what you are to obtain his element.” “But what if we all got back together we could use the Elements of Harmony to stop him just like... before.” Fluttershy excitement died as she thought about what it would mean for her friends to return to Ponyville and to face Twilight. Pinkie would come Fluttershy knew that but Rarity and Rainbow wouldn’t return let alone attempt to patch things up with Twilight. As Celestia went to leave she imparted a final piece of wisdom to her subject. “It would take a miracle for the Elements to return to their former harmony. And maybe a miracle is what we’ll get.” and with that the princess was gone. *** “That filly I swear, I ask her to do something as simple as get some supplies and she runs off to to see Stormcaller.” Fluttershy sighed as she walked through the market, that morning she had went to feed the animals only to find the pantry empty. It had been a few days since Autumn had left for Cloudsdale to see her father. It wasn’t unusual for her to go out of the blue, she must want to tell him about her new friend. Speaking of Pearl the Emporium had been abandoned since Pearl’s accident. Fluttershy gathered some supplies and decided to stop by Pearls store to see if either of the girls were there. Fluttershy got to the odd little blue store, but it was as it had been: vacant and so lonely. “To think it took me over a year to gather the resources to build this place and here it is just becoming an antique all on its own.” Fluttershy jumped at the voice behind her. She turned around to see a deep brown coated stallion with a cream mane standing behind her. “Hello, my dear you must be Fluttershy. Sorry to startle you I’m Coffee Pot.” “How did... you know my...wait, Pot!” Fluttershy’s head was swimming in confusion. “Your Mr. Pots as in Pots Emporium?” Fluttershy pointed to the store sigh and shook her head clear. She looked to Mr. Pots to see him open the front door and invite her in. “I’m going to apologize for my daughter she a dreamer, and had always dreamed of meeting her hero.” Fluttershy and Mr. Pots sat in Pearls living room and shared a cup of tea. “I’m sure you’ve heard this from her herself. She wrote us about you and the others she had meet.” Fluttershy nodded it was all Parl spoke of even after seeing what Twilight had become. “So tell me is Twilight still locked up in the library?” Fluttershy stopped, “Yes I know all about you and the other Heroes of Equestria, and your relation to the book.” beads of sweat began to run down Fluttershy’ face. “It may sound strange but I knew all about it a year or so ago, I had read that book enough times to recite it. And after my daughter came to me and begged to move here after finishing school, I looked into this place.” “Wait, if you had been here before Pearl, then you know about Twilight?” Fluttershy was confused by Pearl’s father. “Yes, I talked to an Applejack; she explained it to me in detail. I love my daughter, I really do but she needs to grow up. Her love for those stories was stagnating her and preventing from growing. She needed to see her hero as she really was.” Mr. Pots hung his head low. “But I fear my plan may have caused more harm than good, the letters she sent were stained in tears and seemed so sad. And lately they have all but stopped.” Mr. Pots looked around. “Where is my daughter?” *** It didn’t take as long to reach Cloudsdale as Fluttershy could remember, but then again she had never traveled with such purpose before. After her talk with Pearl’s father she realized that Autumn wasn’t in Cloudsdale visiting her father, but she had to be sure for herself and maybe if she got there in time she could help Dash, she would run away with her back to Ponyville, and convince Twilight to come out and stop this ghost pony Celestia was so afraid of. Tears streamed from her eyes as she flew at speeds that would even impress Dash, never much for flying Fluttershy prefered to stay grounded and left the flying to the pros. And then to see Stormcaller would be nice; he hadn’t come home in months. The Wonderbolts were getting ready for a big event that would need most of his attention. Fluttershy never minded the long periods away from her husband of thirteen years, since she refused to move to Cloudsdale to be closer to the compound. He was a wonderful husband having many traits that Fluttershy liked in a stallion; he had a sense of humor that could always make make her smile, somehow he always reminded her of Pinkie in that sense. And then there was his charm since the moment they met his radiant personality made her heart flutter like a swarm of butterflies, he always knew just what to say to make her fall head over heals in love with him. The day she married Stormcaller was the happiest day of her life, for a long time she had fell into depression over Twilight and her friends leaving Ponyville one by one until she met him and relit the light in her darkness. Fluttershy was filled with both dread for Dash and overwhelming worry for her foal. Autumn Breeze was born in Cloudsdale and at that time Dash, Stormcaller, and even Scootaloo were part of the Wonderbolts, so the celebration was a grand event, not many of the other members were married and even less had foals of their own so it was rare and caused quite the ruckus. Reporters and a mass of magazines traveled far and wide to get a little piece of the event, and to top the cake some of the photographers remembered Fluttershy from when she was a model for a short time. So much had happened for Fluttershy’s new family, she never really knew her parents and it seemed like that for most pegasus, but she was determined to keep her new life safe and not lose it to the tragedy of the past. She had finally arrived in Cloudsdale and it moved as if nothing was out of the ordinary pegasi went from cloud to cloud, a race would break out and zip across the sky, nothing seemed out of the ordinary for the bustling city. Until she passed a large billboard with a Wonderbolts picture with the massive red words ‘cancelled’ across it. The billboard was one of the larger in Cloudsdale showing off their pride and joy, The Wonderbolts, it was a listing of upcoming events the group would be holding and where. But all of them had been cancelled. It wasn’t a good sign. Fluttershy stopped a passing pegasus. “Uhh, I’m sorry to bother you but why are all of these shows cancelled?” Fluttershy shyly asked the red stallion with a white mane. “It’s the strangest thing I’ll tell ya, Captain Rainbow Dash resigned yesterday and the Bolts are inducting a last minute surprise and they need a new captain.” Fluttershy couldn’t believe what she was hearing Dash quit? “Rumor has it that something big went down there days ago and then just yesterday she quits and here's the crazy part,” He leaned in to whisper. “The manager is supposed to take over as acting captain.” Fluttershy just stood there in shock. She had known Scootaloo since she was a school filly and she also knew there was no way for her to BE a wonderbolt let alone their captain. With her UWS (Underdeveloped Wing Syndrome), she was unable to fly but she did manage the Wonderbolts, Scootaloo was an inspiration to all pegasus showing that the ability to fly isn’t what makes a pegasus great; it’s what they do that defines them. “I know crazy right? Wait, haven’t I seen you before?” he put a hoof to his lips in thought. “Nope, uh... thanks for your time.” Fluttershy dashed off before he could recognize her. Fluttershy being the wife of a wonderbolt brought her lot more attention than she cared for at times, turns out living on the ground and in a secluded cabin has its advantages. She rushed through Cloudsdale to the Wonderbolt compound to find it gated up and a mass of reporters and mering to get a story. Two of Canterlot’s pegasus guards stood at the gate not permitting any entry to anypony including her. Fluttershy headed back into the city; maybe Dash would be home and it wasn’t too far away. Nothing, it was deserted and clean. Not empty, just clean. This was weird for Dash and Scoot, they weren't the tidiest pegasi in Equestria. Fluttershy entered the midsized cloud home of the Wonderbolt captain. Most of Dashie’s belonging were gone leaving only a mildly lived in house with no pictures to be found and no clothes, not that they had any to start with. “You just missed them.” Fluttershy squeaked and dashed under a nearby table. “Celestia I love when you do that, it’s so cute.” Fluttershy jumped from under the table when she realized it was Stormcaller. She zipped across the room and hugged him tight. “Whoa, there sweetheart I’m fine now turn off the water works and sit down I got a tale for you.” After a nice pot of tea and an hour long story Fluttershy was left dumbstruck. “And that’s all that I know, the Captain and the Manager gathered a few things and left yesterday to return to Ponyville and from the look of it they're taking the scenic route on hoof.” Stormcaller tried to relay the events the best he could, but not a lot of it made sense to him. Fluttershy on the other hoof had seen the unbelievable power of magic first hoof and could better believe what she was being told. “Poor Dashie, her wings meant everything to her, I can only imagine how hard it must be no longer being able to fly.” She shed a few tears for her friend. “Wait, you said they're on their way back to Ponyville?” Storm stopped in mid sip and nodded. “I have to get back home, what if they need me?” Fluttershy jumped up from the table and rushed the door only to have Stormcaller blocking her path. “Where is Autumn? She never came to Cloudsdale like you said in her letter, and she wasn’t with that white filly either.” Fluttershy realized she had forgotten her purpose in coming to Cloudsdale in the first place. “I’m sure she’s with pearl now. That filly, I’ll ground her for so long we’ll have grand foals before she’s off my list!” Fluttershy clenched a hoof and her eyes set ablaze. “Hah, that doesn't even make sense. you’re right though, go to the cottage and meet up with the Captain. All of our shows are cancelled for the foreseeable future until we get a new captain, so I’ll look for Autumn and this Pearl. I’ve seen her so I know who I’m looking for. Any Ideas on where they may have gone to?” Storm Stood proud and gave Fluttershy a heroic pose. “Well, Pearl’s looking for the girls, and you said the ghost mentioned Generosity so Rarity is out. That leaves Ponyville and...” Fluttershy stopped for a second and her head filled with visions of the bouncing pink pony. “Pinkie!” “Wait as in Pinkie Pie? Didn't you say she lived in Las Pegasus?” Storm’s pose deflated as Fluttershy nodded to confirm. “Thats like a two day flight. and I’m not the Captain so it's more like two and a half.” He wanted to cry, it was a long trip that he wasn’t looking forward to. “Aww, thats my hero. Now hurry there’s little time and it’s running out.” Fluttershy gave Storm a kiss on the forehead and he rushed to the door. “Storm before you go,” He stopped in mid flight. “is it true? Is Scoot going to be the new Captain?” Stormcaller only smiled as he left. “We can only be so lucky.” *** Fluttershy had never flown for as long as she did that day. A speedy trip to Cloudsdale and back to Ponyville was too much on the yellow pegasus, she quickly learned the error of being a grounded pegasus and rarely flying at all. She had to make a stop and rest she was angry with herself for having the means of speedy travel but not the power. As she rested under a nearby tree she laughed at herself as she thought Dash could have made both trips and not have broken a sweat. That's when she realized Dash would never fly again. Her mind flooded with grief knowing that the greatest flier in Equestria would never leave the ground again. it was like a greek tragedy, Storm had told her Dash explained it was like, it was giving back to some one who gave everything for her. Fluttershy really didn’t understand it. But then she thought: what would she give for Autumn to be safe? After that thought entered her mind Fluttershy was renewed with vigor and she set off on her quest to Ponyville. It was nightfall by the time she had gotten home and everything was as she left it. Her guardians stood watch over the other animals while she was gone and as much as she wanted to find anypony she was so tired she passed out in the floor. “Do you wish to save Autumn?” A voice filled the darkness of Fluttershy’s dream. She stood alone in an empty room, nothing or no pony in sight. “Tell me Kindness.” Fluttershy shook off her worry. The voice was female and seemed very familiar. “I would give anything to save my daughter.” She stood brave against the darkness. “Then you must follow where the white rabbit dances with the frog to the blue circle in green, here red will cover yellow and warm rain will fall with the final Kindness.” Fluttershy didn’t understand; rabbit dancing with frogs, warm rain, and blue circles in green. “I don’t understand, what does it all mean?” “Battle and Pain will seek out Hatred only to find the past that haunts. Do not be fooled by the spirit of things to come, it is blinded by its own sight.” Riddles made Fluttershy’s head hurt and didn’t make a lot of sense. “When the Princess’ dance the waltz three steps, seek the lost and you will make your choice.” Fluttershy startled awake and looked around her small cottage, there was no pony here no Autumn, no Stormcaller no one. The voice from her dream still lingered in the back of her sleepy head. Fluttershy was a mess she had passed out in the floor that night and felt stiff all over. Her wings were so sore and refused to let her fly, she had overdone it and would need time to recuperate , but that wouldn't stop her from walking. “Oh My Celestia Fluttershy! Fluttershy?” Her door burst open and a Yellow filly stood in her doorway out of breath and looking quizzically to the shaking yellow pegasus latched on to the ceiling. “I’m so sorry Fluttershy, I didn’t mean to scare you like that, but the most incredible thing happened yesterday while you were gone.” It was Applebloom she danced around Fluttershy barely able to tell Fluttershy what had happened. “Rainbow and Scootaloo came back to Ponyville?” Applebloom stopped suddenly. “How’d... never mind that. It wasn’t just them, I was in town and saw the Carousel Boutique had some pony in it.” She was so excited she had seen Scootaloo and Dash the day before but was too afraid to approach them, and now if the boutique was alive again maybe Sweetie Belle had returned also with Rarity. “Maybe a miracle is what we got Celestia.” Fluttershy whispered to herself and gave Applebloom a big hug. “What about grumpy, does she know?” “Oh, uh, well I kinda didn’t tell her. Last Time she and Dash spoke it didn’t end well from what I gathered and only Celestia knows how she'll react to Rarity.” Applebloom looked around to see if anyone was watching. “I ain't too sure but either Sweetie Belle looks just like her sister, or Rarity hasn’t aged a day since she left Ponyville.” Fluttershy laughed at the thought of Sweetie Belle all done up with Rarity’s mane style. “Because I swear the pony I saw in the boutique looked just like the Rarity that I remember from when I was a kid.” Well Rarity was always a little vain maybe she did something to look young. Fluttershy had heard Rarity had become one of the most wealthy unicorns in Equestria. “Applebloom sweetie, where is Dash now? I need to see her!” “In your doorway.” A strong voice interrupted their conversation and Fluttershy looked up to see none other than Rainbow Dash darkening her doorway. “I’d figure Stormcaller would be here, that lazy good for nothing.” Dash looked around the quaint cottage and gave the two ponies a happy smile. “I’m so glad you’re safe I was so worried.” Fluttershy wrapped herself around her longtime friend and began to cry. “Always with the waterworks eh?” Dash patted her sobbing friend on the head. “Hey runt, I’m sure Scoots would love to see you. I think she’s down at the lake, practicing.” Dash gave her a warm smile and Applebloom zipped out past them and to the lake to see her lost friend. *** It had been two days since Rainbow and Scootaloo had returned to Ponyville. Fluttershy was still worried about Autumn but Storm would find her, he always did have a knack for hunting her down when she would wander off. Fluttershy was overjoyed to see most of her friends in the same town but others didn’t see it that way. Applejack refused to leave the farm and catch up for the last decade, Rarity was in town Fluttershy had seen the boutique with somepony in it from time to time and even caught Sweetie Belle at the market. Sweetie was happy to be back but she said Rarity wouldn’t come out just yet she needed to get over herself and get the shop ready for its grand return. All that was left was Pinkie and to somehow get Twilight out of her home and together they may be able to stop this ghost before he can complete his quest. “I’m not sure it’s possible Fluttershy,” Rainbow sat out front of the sugar cube corner and munched on a cupcake. “man I’ve missed these things, but that Galla-what’s-his-face took my element and Rarity’s. I’m sure he got Pinkie by now and is on his way here to get Applejack and you.” Fluttershy sighed in defeat. “I guess you’re right Dash, is there nothing we can do?” The two mares brainstormed for about half an hour before calling it quits. “Have you tried to see Applejack?” “Oh ya I’ve tried but she won’t see me. Even Big Mac was happy to see me again, but she refused to even talk to me from the other side of her office. Some ponies never change.” And with that Rainbow stretched out her arms, legs and gave her belittled wings a speedy flapping that sounded like a swarm of bees. “I’ll tell you Fluttershy I’ll never be able to get over that Scoots had these things her whole life and still managed to smile. I don’t hate them but no longer being able to feel the wind in my mane and the cool feeling of passing through a cloud again, It kinda feels like I’m stuck in a nightmare.” Fluttershy returned home she thought about what Dash said about her wings, Rainbow Dash was the fastest and one of the greatest fliers in all of Equestria. She had made it into history books and held numerous records for speed and endurance, but when she spoke of losing the one thing that made her special Fluttershy never heard a complaint or speck of regret for what she gave up. It made Fluttershy respect her friend on a whole different level than before. She went and laid on her bed, the horde of white rabbits piled on her to give her comfort. Her little guardian angels always there for her when she needed a friend, companion or someone to tell her thoughts to. She had lost Angel a few years back and it broke her heart to see him go; she would look at his picture and remember the stern gaze that helped her through tough decisions, and the way he wouldn’t budge on a decision. He always found a way to fill the gap in her life with authority. “Goodnight boys don’t cause too much trouble.” She smiled and drifted off to sleep. “Seek that which is lost.” Fluttershy shot out of bed scattering the rabbits about the room. The regathered on the bed and stared at her. “Oh my.” She covered her mouth when she noticed one of the rabbits was gone. “Michael!” She sprang from her bed and searched her home for the missing rabbit. “Gabriel where is Michael?” She picked up one of the rabbits and he pointed outside. “Oh my the suns comin up soon I’ll have to go get him. All of you stay here.” She gave a stern glare at her rabbits and the five of them dashed under the bed. The sun had finally broke over the Everfree and morning had come before Fluttershy found her missing bunny. He was hopping back and forth punching at nothing, he’d stop hopp a little bit and do it again. Fluttershy was both confused and a little entertained but what was he doing? AS she got a little closer she saw a large toad in the grass and the rabbit boxing at it. Fluttershy scooped up the rabbit and popped him on the head. “You scared me Michael, don’t wander off like that again.” “I could feel her presence in the forest more than any other creature that inhabited the Everfree.” Fluttershy froze when she heard another voice near the Everfree she went to inspect who would be all the way out here and near the everfree. After a moment she stood stunned she quickly dashed behind a tree when she saw three ponies enter the forest. It was Autumn and Pearl but she didn’t recognize the third pony with them. From where she stood she looked to be a unicorn but he was much taller than either Autumn or Pearl. Could he be Celestias father? “Michael I need you to go home, be quick and don’t pick any fights on the way.” She set down the little white rabbit and took to the air following the trio’s voices into the Everfree. It had taken a few moments for her to find them, she had lost them in the thicket, but when the sounds of combat rang throughout the forest and menacing birds flew to escape the commotion Fluttershy gasped in horror watching a massive Manticore attack Pearl. She readied herself to jump in to help the distressed fillies but a glowing Purple ball appeared infront of her path. “This is the choice you must make Fluttershy.” It was the same voice from her dream. “Will Kindness save the one she loves, or will you turn away and carry on to battle the Past?” “To stand by would just be wrong. Even if I wasn’t Kindness the choice would still be the same.” Fluttershy watched as the Manticore knocked Pearl to the side and stood over her daughter ready to strike. “Goodbye my friend.” the orb vanished as Fluttershy zipped past it and in the path of the stinger. It all happened so fast, the orb the manticores strike and Fluttershy could hear somepony calling her name. The stinger had pierced deep into her back, she could feel the warm sensation of blood covering her body. But looking down and seeing her daughter safe made her smile. She finally understood how Dash must have felt when she gave up her wings, Fluttershy felt overwhelming joy for having done something that she never thought she would be capable of. She could hear the manticore die behind her as Pearl slew him, she wept tears of happiness. In the last moments before the creeping darkness set in she leaned into Autumn’s ear and whispered. “Don’t be sad ear, Kindness can never really die. Look deep into your heart and you will find the strength when you need it the most. I love you Autumn Breeze.” And then Gallatais swept in engulfing the ponies in his smoke taking his prize.