//------------------------------// // A Spark Of Hope // Story: One Bolt, Spreading Harmony // by Boltsinger //------------------------------// "So you have everything all set up?" Starlight asked, looking over her desk at Boltsinger. "Eeyup." He confirmed, patting a folder next to him. "We just need to set out." Starlight breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness! With all the students needing advice and this baby and everything else that's been going on, just thinking about the kind of 'help' Sparks wants is just… overwhelming. I still can’t believe she wants me to cast that spell on her!” “So Sparks seriously wants you to take away her Cutie Mark?” He wondered, leaning toward her. The guidance counselor softly nodded, clutching her head with her hooves. “Well… I guess I can understand why, given what she saw up in here.” He tapped his head with one of his feathers, remembering a rather harrowing recent experience. “I’d doubt myself too if I…” He took a deep breath, adding some force to his tapping. “If I created monsters…” Starlight raised an eyebrow, putting her weight on her elbows. “You… know you didn’t make any monsters, right?” “That’s what everypony says.” Boltsinger affirmed, leaning back again. “I just wish I could confirm it.” “I guess you have more to gain from this trip than what we thought, huh?” She guessed, giving him a miniscule smile. “I’d better find my notes on the spell… Just in case, you know?” The stallion nodded, hopping off of the couch. “I guess so. I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” Starlight nodded in kind. “Tomorrow.” “So you’ll cast it after this little field trip, huh?” Sparks inquired, sitting in a train car across from Starlight and Boltsinger. "I might." The pink mare corrected. "It depends on how things go while we're there." "So, after this trip you'll definitely cast it. Right?" She stressed. Starlight facehoofed. “That’s not what I mean…” She paused for a moment, straining to find the words she needed. Her eyes drifted down to her currently-occupied belly, bringing a smile to her face. “I want to do what we set out to do today, and then have another talk with you about whether or not this is what you really want.” Sparks gave off an annoyed sigh, turning toward the window to view the desert landscape. “Fine. Can you at least tell me where it is we’re going?” "Well, Starlight and I talked it over, and we both feel like you could use a heaping helping of hope." Boltsinger explained. "So we're going to see Somnambula." Sparks sat up, casting a glance at her brother-in-law. "Okay. And where is this Somnambula?" "Somnambula, of course." He repeated. Sparks turned her glance into a glare. "So we're going *to* Somnambula? Then who are supposed to be seeing?" "Somnambula." He deadpanned. Sparks had begun to grit her teeth. "Somnambula, Somnambula, Somnambula!" She jutted forward, stomping on the floor below her seat. "JUST TELL ME WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHO WE'RE SEEING, OKAY?!" Boltsinger recoiled, covering his ears as a tiny smile graced his muzzle. Yes, he wanted to help her, but this had been one moment where the little brother in him wanted some payback. "We're going to Somnambula to meet Somnambula. The town is named after the pony. Get it?" Sparks hung her head, shaking it slowly. “Yeah, okay, I get it… Let’s just get this over with so I can get this darn thing removed.” She turned her gaze to her own flank, nearly giving off an aura of pure scorn. “Well, you won’t have to wait long, at least.” Starlight stated, gesturing to the pony at the head of the car. “Next stop, Somnambula!” The pony announced, raising his hoof to his mouth. “I repeat, next stop in Somnambula!" “Finally.” Sparks got up from her seat, looking to the desert town outside. “Can we go now?” Starlight and Boltsinger looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders and following suit. The trio took their time on the trek to town, with Starlight leading the way while Boltsinger regaled the gray mare with what he remembered of his first visit to the town. He mentioned helping a friend he refused to refer to by name to save the citizens alongside Twilight and Rainbow. Sparks rolled her eyes in disbelief as the tale came to its close. "Oh, come on, that sounds like a bad Daring Do adventure!" Boltsinger stopped moving for a moment, cocking his head to the side. “You read Daring Do?” “Brightling got me into it.” She told him, lighting her horn to pull him along. "Brightling reads it?!" He exclaimed, his eyes going wide at the revelation. “And why did you not tell me this before? You totally need to join us next time Daring-con comes up!” Once again, Sparks rolled her eyes, plopping him beside her and releasing him from her aura to walk with her. “Yeah, sure, whatever. So… This Somnambula… The pony. What’s she like?” Boltsinger grinned, raising a poignant hoof. “I…” The hoof fell as his face turned flat again. “... have no idea. Never met her.” “You’ve… never met her?” She repeated, more than a little put off. “You expect me to go and meet some pony in a barren little town in the middle of nowhere, talking about how she’s supposed to be some source of hope, and you’ve never even met her?!” Starlight looked over her shoulder at them, waving her hoof. “I’ve met her! And all of the other Pillars, back when Twilight and the rest of us pulled them out of Limbo. She’s about as happy as Pinkie Pie, but at the same time… I’d say she’s a bit more ‘zen’ like Zecora." "Please tell me she doesn't speak in rhyme!" The green-eyed pony begged, sending her companions into a fit of laughter. “No, Sparks, she doesn’t.” Starlight assured. She led them into the bazaar, were all kinds of ponies went about their day. As they took in the sights, it became obvious that every one of the townsponies wore a peculiar kind of green jewel that gave off a warm glow. They wore the jewels with pride and conviction, keeping them ever on display for the world, which sparked Sparks' curiosity to no end. They came to what looked like a stage in front of a statue of a blindfolded Pegasus, stopping just short of it to find the statue's inspiration sitting before them on her hind legs, her forelegs raised and her eyes closed. Her coat was a light scarlet with thick eyeliner and dark blue eyeshadow, her eyelashes styled to the point where they looked like rectangles. She had a mane and tail of arctic blue and turquoise. She wore a crested gold band on her head that led to a headdress over her sleek yet bobbed mane, with another gold band around her barrel to hold on her translucent gown, and yet another on her tail. Around her neck was the brightest-glowing string of the green jewel that both Boltsinger and Sparks had ever seen, giving her a kind of radiance that one did not often see in ponies that weren't Alicorn royalty. Starlight stepped up to the stage, Boltsinger staying close to keep an eye on the pregnant mare, and cleared her throat. “Um… Somnambula?” The Pegasus mare slowly opened her foggy violet eyes, turning the corners of her mouth upward as Starlight came into view. "Starlight Glimmer! How good to see you." She greeted, speaking in a deep Haygiptian accent. She pulled the magical mare into a hug, squeezing tight. “Oh? What is this?” She stepped back, beginning to examine her from nose to tail. “There is something different about you.” Starlight laughed sheepishly, patting her belly. "Yeah… Got a bun in the oven." “Only one?” Somnambula wondered, giving her head a curious tilt. “Can you not fit many buns into a single oven? I’m sure they are delicious regardless, of course. But why only one?” “That’s… not what I mean…” Starlight stated, slowly shaking her head. “So there is no bun?” Boltsinger chuckled, pointing to Starlight’s belly. “She means she’s pregnant.” Somnambula’s face lit up extensively, pulling Starlight into another, much tighter hug. “Congratulations, my friend! You have my hope that your foal grows happy and healthy!” “Thank you.” She replied, stepping back. “But that’s not why I’m here.” She motioned to the Pegasus next to her. “I’d like you to meet my friends, Boltsinger and Dimming Sparks." Somnambula’s hoof met with her chin as she stepped up to the orange pony, looking him over as she had Starlight. “Boltsinger? I believe I know that name... “ She circled him a couple of times, poking his tail and lifting his wing to be certain of her thoughts. “I remember now! You were the sweaty pony at Princess Twilight’s wedding!” Boltsinger quickly pulled his wing back, shooting the Pillar of Hope a wide-eyed glance. “You were at the wedding?” "But of course." She confirmed. "All of the pillars were there." She let out a laugh, walking past him. "It is a shame you missed your own reception." Boltsinger raised an amused eyebrow as Somnambula approached the final member of their group, who looked back at her with a stern glare. “You’re Somnambula, huh?” Sparks supposed, offering a greeting hoof. “Certainly not what I expected.” “And you, Dimming Sparks, are exactly as I expected.” The Pillar retorted, meeting the hoof with her own. “As full of doubt as you were at the wedding. If not more so.” Sparks’ glare seemed to only intensify. “So you were watching me at Bolt’s wedding?” “I simply noticed you back then.” Somnambula assured her. “I pay close attention to all of the ponies around me, and you happened to stick out like a sore hoof at the time.” She put her hoof on the Unicorn's shoulder, letting some of her serenity flow into her. “Now, tell me. Why do you have such doubt?” Sparks pushed the hoof away, turning to leave the stage. “You’d be the same if you did what I did.” “And what is it that you supposedly did?” An annoyed sigh came from the annoyed mare, taking one more look back at the pony she’d just met. Her sigh turned to a scoff as she flicked her tail, hopping off the stage and moving away in her slow but deliberate manner. “I don’t wanna talk about it.” Somnambula's hoof hung in the air, her smile fading slightly at the sight. "Did I say something wrong…?" Boltsinger softly shook his head, placing his hoof on Somnambula’s shoulder. “No, you didn’t.” He stepped up next to her, looking solemnly at his sister-in-law. “She’s… Well… She’s the main reason we came. Nothing we say ever works.” “And now she’s asking me to remove her Cutie Mark.” Starlight added, joining the Pegasi. “Do you think you could help her?” "I will do what I can." Somnambula stated. "But I must admit that I, too, have been faced with troubles as of late." “Anything we can help with?” The stallion wondered. Somnambula quirked an amused eyebrow. “Did you not come here seeking my aid? Why are you so quick to offer yours?” Boltsinger chuckled a little, scratching his mane with his wing. “That’s right, you don’t know me very well.” He offered his wing to the mare, giving her his best friendly smile. “My name is Boltsinger, and I like to help ponies with their problems.” The Pillar of Hope placed her wing in his, meeting his grin in kind. “Just as Princess Twilight said you were.” She rapidly shook his wing, throwing him wildly off balance. "Let us work through our problems together, then!" She put her hoof around the two of them, pulling them into a huddle. “Now, tell me of your friend’s plight.” Sparks strolled down the streets of Somnambula, headed for the nearest inn. She had taken the time to look around the little village. It was small, it was run down, and all of the buildings looked like they were from a time before ponies had evolved into what they are today. They had almost nothing to really be proud of, and yet they carried themselves like they were the best thing since the advent of musical theater. She made her way into an inn at the nearby oasis, taking in the rustic decor as she approached the reception counter. “Three rooms, please. The other two will be here later.” She stated, placing a number of bits on the counter. “How long’re you staying?” The receptionist asked, taking the payment. “I dunno yet.” She admitted, letting her eyes wander. “So, what are those green rocks everypony’s wearing?” The receptionist leaned on the counter with a smirk. “I’m guessing this is your first time in Somnambula?” Sparks eased up, letting out a quiet laugh. "Is it that obvious?" The receptionist rolled her eyes. "Not as much as some of my other… guests…" She motioned to one of the occupied tables in the room. "They're called glowpaz, and they're only found around these parts." She lifted her own necklace with her hoof, giving sparks a better look at it. "Around here, they serve as a symbol of hope. A reminder of the time, long ago, when Somnambula took a leap of faith to save Prince Hizan from a horrible sphinx." "Somnambula as in the pony outside, Somnambula?" “The very same.” She looked at a photo of the Pillar that hung on a nearby wall. “Her return was nothing short of a miracle. As soon as she came back, she was helping every soul she could find to have hope again. Taking up motivational speaking, guided meditation, and really getting involved when it matters… She’s a one-pony beacon, and all of Equestria’s caught on!” Sparks' gaze lingered on the image of Somnambula, thinking on just how odd that pony had been. At the same time, though, she was remarkably perceptive. "So that's the pony they brought me all the way from Vanhoover to see, huh?" The receptionist gave Sparks a curious look. "Your friends went that far to get you here? Sounds like you got some good friends, indeed." She chuckled to herself, placing three keys on the counter. "Well, you're all checked in. You best get back to your friends." Sparks floated the keys over with a smile. "I think I will." She turned toward the exit, taking one last look around the inn. It was rather sparse in terms of occupants, with only a single table serving any guests. They were easily the oddest group she’d ever seen. Two of them were yellow-coated Unicorn stallions with green eyes and manes of red and white in styles she could only describe as ‘swanky’, complete with the moustache that sat just under one of their noses. Their Cutie Marks were an apple slice and the remainder of the apple respectively, and they both wore straw hats along with blue and white striped vests. Odder still was the creature that sat with them at the table. It was an enormous, muscular bovine creature with a blue coat, darker blue legs and gigantic gray horns that came out of the sides of its head, with a silver ring in the nostrils of his pink muzzle, with a mane and beard of the same color blue that made up its legs and the very tip of its tail. And yet, even despite all of that along with its beady yellow eyes, the strangest thing was what he wore. Just a simple black necktie that seemed far too small for his enormous frame with the same vest and hat the Unicorns wore, albeit only just barely staying on. That’s a… Minotaur, right? I remember reading about those once… Sparks stepped closer to the table, wondering just why such a strange group would be in this town. “Leave everything to Iron Will!” The beast declared, flashing a smile and giving the Unicorns a thumbs-up. “You have Iron Will’s guarantee that you will not be disappointed!” “You guarantee, huh?” The mustachioed Unicorn repeated, leaning in inquisitively. “I’ll have you know my brother and I have been working on this project for weeks already. What makes ‘Iron Will’ so confident?” Iron Will arched back, flexing his muscles. “Iron Will is always confident!” “Like you were when you came crawling to us for a job?” The other Unicorn teased. Why, you were on your… What did you call them again? ‘Hands’?” He waved a dismissive hoof, crossing his forelegs and leaning forward. "What's so different now?" The bovine creature slammed his fist into his hand. "Because confidence is Iron Will's business!" “You mean our business.” The moustache-less pony corrected. “Remember, you work for us.” The fuzzy-lipped one added. Iron Will’s face soured a bit, quickly giving way to a powerful snort. “Right!” He stood forcefully from his seat, putting his fists on his hips. “Now let’s get down to business!” Sparks stepped back from the assertive display, looking back to the inn’s entrance. Why the heck is this making me worry so much…? She trotted out the door, shooting the occasional look back at the inn to see if anyone else was doing the same as she drew nearer to the town proper. Those three were strange, but something about them made her think twice. “What in Equestria am I even doing?” She asked herself. She wasn’t used to this kind of worry. It was off-putting, and she was surprised it could even happen at all, given her history. As she looked back at the village, a shadow passed over her head, followed by a small tremor in front of her. As the dust cleared from Iron Will’s landing, she let out a low growl. Whatever confidence Sparks had in making it before anyone else quickly vanished. She took a deep breath, quickening her gait to a gallop. “SON OF A ROTTEN PEAR!!!” "I gotta say, that's an… interesting situation." Boltsinger said, sitting down to process the information he'd just received. He, Starlight, and Somnambula stood over a large poster with heroic images of each of the Pillars on it, with two familiar Unicorns plastered in the center. “So, basically, Flim and Flam are trying to get you to join some new attraction of theirs?” “Precisely.” Somnambula confirmed, folding the poster and stowing it away. “They first came here claiming to know Star Swirl, but I'm not entirely sure if they speak the truth." "Oh, they know Star Swirl, all right." Starlight stated with a sneer. "Twilight had a run-in with them not too long ago, and Star Swirl was a part of it." "So I should lend them my ear?" "NO!!!" Starlight and the stallion simultaneously screamed. “Trust me. Those two are not the kinds of ponies you wanna make a deal with!" Boltsinger continued, swiping his foreleg in front of him. “Then how about you make a deal with Iron Will?!" "Yeah! Make a deal with Iron Will!" Boltsinger affirmed, nodding enthusiastically for a moment. Realizing what he'd just said, his face contorted with confusion, turning to the source of the suggestion. "Wait… Who is Iron Will again?" The bovine before the group gestured confidently to himself. “Iron Will is Iron Will!” He stepped up to the stage, offering a hand to Somnambula. "And Iron Will would like to talk to you about an opportunity!" "If it is about Flim and Flam's offer, I'm not interested." Somnambula deadpanned, moving the hand aside. “I am not some performer for a carnival attraction. I live to help ponies find peace and live better.” “And what makes you think you can’t still do that?” Iron Will inquired, stepping closer. “Can you possibly imagine how many ponies would flock to a place that gives them access to ponies like you? Iron Will has heard of what you can do, and this tiny town is so far out of everypony’s way that nopony can even find you!” Somnambula raised an eyebrow to the Minotaur, raising her hoof and motioning to the town. “If somepony wishes to find my village, all they need do is look at a map. They do not require a lavish retreat.” “That might be what you say, but Iron Will took a survey before he arrived in town." He reached behind him, pulling out a scroll and a pair of glasses. He gingerly put the spectacles on, unrolling the scroll and tapping it. "When Iron Will asked some visiting ponies what they thought of the town of Somnambula, they said the following." He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath. "'Somnambula the pony is great, but Somnambula the town is dry and boring!'" He tapped another spot on the scroll. "'I came here to better myself! But I can't do that if I don't have anything to do with my down time!" He pointed at one more spot, looking more closely at the print. “And here another pony said ‘Daring Do made this place sound way more exciting, but the only good thing about it is the pony it’s named after!’” Somnambula took to the air, hovering just high enough to get a look at the scroll only for Iron Will to put it and the glasses away. He turned to face her, keeping his hands behind his back as he looked her confidently in the eye. “The way Iron Will sees it, this offer would give you a chance to help more ponies than ever, while also showing them a good time no matter what. So whaddya say?” “I’m… not sure.” She stated, putting her hooves back on the ground. She looked around at the town she loved and the ponies in it, noticing a certain gray mare galloping into view. "Allow me the night to consider your offer. I have other business to attend to at the moment." Iron Will glared down at the Pegasus, raising a scrutinous eyebrow. She met his gaze equally, pursing her lips in contemplation. After a moment, the bovine blinked, standing straight and adjusting his tie. "Iron Will can work with that." He turned back toward the inn, beginning a confident strut. "Iron Will will be back tomorrow to talk business." As the Minotaur walked away, Boltsinger jumped down next to his fellow Pegasus. “That was… oddly reasonable.” He noted, cocking his head to the side. “Are you sure he’s working with Flim and Flam?” “Iron Will has always been a bit more… understanding than those two.” Starlight explained, coming down the steps. “Sure, he’s manipulative, but he does his job and keeps his word. Just… Don’t hire him to teach lessons about friendship." Boltsinger looked back at her with amused intrigue. "Long story." Somnambula chortled at her guests' commentary, stepping up to meet the Unicorn that now panted in front of her. "You've returned?" Sparks nodded, looking up at the mare. "Yeah… Saw the… Minotaur… You okay?" The Pillar placed her hoof on Sparks' shoulder, attempting to let her draw from her calm. “I am alright. My main concern at this moment is you.” "Let me guess…" Sparks looked over at the ponies she'd arrived with. "They told you what's going on?" "They did indeed." She admitted. "And I would like to do what I can for you, if you'll have me." "Well…" Sparks looked at the necklace Somnambula wore, recalling what she'd learned at the inn. "I guess we came all this way for a reason…" She flashed a smile, returning the supportive gesture. "Okay. I'll give it a shot." Candles lit up a solitary room at the Get On Inn. In their soft light sat Somnambula and Sparks, hind legs crossed on plush pillows with their forelegs raised. Incense burned between the two, providing a scent that helped to ease their minds. The Pegasus inhaled deeply, letting out an ‘Ohm’ that reverberated off the walls so clearly that it caused a twitch in the ear of the stallion sitting to the side. “Wow. That’s some seriously good acoustics.” “Shush.” Starlight snapped, putting her hoof over his mouth. “Let them concentrate.” “Now…” Somnambula started, bringing her forehooves together. “Breathe deep… calm the storm inside your mind…  and relax…" "Okay… relax…" Sparks repeated, doing as instructed. "Calm the storm…" She closed her eyes, trying her best to make her mind as empty as her current field of view. "Breathe…" A flash of red lit up her thoughts, making her wince. "Focus on your breath." Somnambula reminded her. "You are in control. You are enough." "I am… enough…" Came the statement in stereo. Starlight cast a curious glance at the Pegasus next to her, finding that he had begun to mirror Somnambula's pose, albeit with his ears hanging low and a slouch as ever-present as the Cutie Mark on his flank. "Yes." She affirmed, placing her hoof on his shoulder. "You are." "But it's not about that…" Sparks replied, just barely raising her eyelids. "It's about what I've done…" Another red flash permeated the wall she attempted to build with her meditation, revealing a laughing, fractured face in the darkness. "And I can't forgive myself… And I CAN'T let it happen again!" Her hooves fell to the floor, lighting her horn and snuffing every flame in the room. "Why can you not forgive yourself?" Somnambula wondered, relaxing her shoulders. "What have you done that is so awful?" Sparks stood up, moving to turn on the nearest lamp. "Bolt and Starlight told you all about it, right? How I used to manipulate everypony I knew?” She stomped on the floor as she stepped toward her. “How I went insane and tried to take literal control over Twilight and her friends? Or, you know…” She pointed her hoof at her brother-in-law. “Destroy him?” Somnambula slowly nodded, eliciting another stomp from Sparks. “Okay, then. How about the fact that, even as a filly, I was doing things as horrible as putting monsters inside of Bolt’s head? There’s a… a creature in there that feeds on every negative thought and feeling he ever gets, and getting stronger because of it, then feeding more of them back in and just... “ She put her hoof over her heart. “I created that thing! Using the ‘special talent’ that comes with this stupid Cutie Mark!” She gestured aggressively at her flank, her glare getting all the more intense. “All I’ve ever done is hurt others! So why wouldn’t I want to get rid of it?” She took a few quick, panicked breaths, letting her hoof and her head simultaneously fall. “I don’t deserve… any of this…” The Pillar’s eyes opened in full, showing a sincerity that was matched by her smile. “I am reminded of my treasured friend, Stygian. But, perhaps you might know him by a different name.” “The Pony of Shadows…” Starlight added, recalling her first meeting with the pony in question. “Yes.” Somnambula confirmed. “He did… much… that caused harm in his day.” She averted her eyes, bringing her hoof up to her necklace. “Even my hope could not last against what he had become. To this day, it is my greatest regret.” “And what does that have to do with me?” “I was wrong.” She stated, returning her gaze to the Unicorn. “We all were. If it wasn’t for Princess Twilight and, more importantly, our friend, Starlight, we would never have learned the truth, saving him from the shadow that held him prisoner. Had he not had ponies who believed in him, he would have been lost.” She rose from her seat, walking up to Sparks and gesturing to the ponies that had brought her to the village. “I believe your friends have the same hope for you. And I believe you are capable of far more than you say.” Sparks set her eyes on her friends, finding herself reminded of the entire reason they had come. There was a reassurance in their presence and belief in her. But… “I’m sorry… But I don’t.” “You did WHAAAAAAAT?!” Cried simultaneous sales-stallions. They stood with their hooves on the table, glowering at a startled Minotaur. “I let Somnambula have a night to think on it.” He repeated, lowering his hands. “What’s wrong with that?” “You’re not supposed to ‘let them think’!” Flim pointed out, exaggeratedly tapping his own head. “You need to dazzle them!” Flam added. “Press them!” Flim affirmed. “Wow them!” Flam continued. “Make them give in!” Flim concluded. “AND MAKE THE SALE!” They finished together. Iron Will leaned forward, raising an indicative finger. “Well, that may be how you two do things, but--” “How do you think you failed so miserably before you found us?” Flim wondered, finally sitting back down. “Every time you tried your ‘hand’ at a business venture, you simply gave up and ‘listened to your customers’ when they complained!” Flam explained, following suit with a slam of his hoof on the table. “Even with all of your fancy contracts and jargon, you still ended up losing more bits than you earned because of your so-called ‘business practice’.” "Meanwhile, we own a fabulous resort hotel in Las Pegasus!" Flim boasted, shining his hoof on his chest. "Because our 'business practice' is to succeed by any means necessary!" Iron Will put his hand on his chin, scratching his beard thoughtfully. “Any means necessary, huh?” The next morning, Somnambula sat on her stage, deep in meditation. In front of her sat residents and visitors alike with an orange stallion in the front row, mirroring her stance as she guided them. To the side stood two Unicorns, waiting as patiently as possible through it all. Which meant the gray one was growing impatient. She tapped Starlight's shoulder, leaning in to whisper. "We're leaving after this, right? Because I'd like to get that spell cast as soon as possible so I can get back home." Starlight let out a defeated sigh. "Soon. We just have one more thing to take care of before we go." Sparks nodded, putting her attention back on the gathering as it began to disperse. From the center of the crowd came the sound of hooves clapping. When the plaza was clear, so was the source, a pair of familiar yellow-coated Unicorns sat alone in their applause with sly smirks lining their faces. “In-credible! Absolutely incredible!” Flim declared, climbing to his hooves. “Why, it’s no wonder ponies come to you for help!” Flam added. “I don’t think I’ve felt this good since we got the resort. How about you, brother?” “I have to agree with you there, brother.” Flim confirmed. The salesponies stepped up to the stage, each placing an elbow on it to appear symmetrical. “It’s a shame ponies have to venture so far for this experience.” “And with nothing to do in the meantime!” Flam stated, making an exaggeratedly forlorn face. “All there is here is drab desert!” “If only there was a place everyone could go to have complete and unfettered access to help like this!” Flim cast his gaze to Somnambula, extending his hoof to her. “Someplace with all the comforts of home. For a modest fee, of course.” “Someplace where she’d be doing twelve to thirteen of these per day with almost no rest in between?” Wondered a baritone behind them. Flim and Flam jumped, looking back to the source of the familiar tone to find Boltsinger deadpanning. “Hello, gentlecolts.” “Why if it isn’t our favorite solo act!” Flim greeted, spreading his forelegs with a slightly more genuine smile. “We’ve missed you at our hotel!” Flam gave a confirming nod with a tip of his hat, stepping up to the stallion. “Indeed! The Poneigh Fantastique Theater hasn’t been the same since you left us with that Trixie mare.” “Yeah, you’ve actually had to pay for your shows.” Boltsinger said, his expression unchanging. “Speaking of which, what’s this I hear about you replacing her with her own fathers?” “Oh, that’s just business.” Flim dismissed, turning back to the other blue-maned Pegasus. “And speaking of business, what do you say?” "I believe that is precisely what your associate said yesterday." Somnambula pointed out, leaping over the brothers to land next to Boltsinger. "If that is all you have to say, then I believe we are done." "But wait!" Called the growling voice of Iron Will from above. Somnambula, Starlight, Boltsinger, and Sparks all turned their attention upward, finding the silhouette of the Minotaur atop the plaza's central statue, the morning sun at his back as he flexed his muscles. "There's more!" "More?" The Pillar repeated. "More!" The Minotaur confirmed, jumping down among the equines. He pointed a firm finger at Somnambula, seeming to overflow with confidence. "Have you ever considered the kind of money you could make from a business venture like this? Iron Will's talking toys, t-shirts, posters, pens, photos, meet and greets, the whole enchilada! Why, you could be making more bits than could even exist back when you were fighting off monsters with your friends!" "That's right!" Flim exclaimed, pounding one hoof into the other. "Of course, you'd get a cut of any profits we make!" "Not to mention, royalties!" Flam added, rubbing his hooves together. Somnambula looked past the finger pointed at her, finding a new kind of confidence in the bovine’s eyes. “Royalties?” She gave a cursory glance to the darkly-coated Unicorn, chancing a small smirk before giving him her attention once more. “And what might I do with such royalties? I’ve no use for so many bits.” Iron Will curled up his finger, pumping his newly-formed fist enthusiastically. “Then pay as you go and make the cause grow!” “I’m afraid I don’t quite understand.” Iron Will raised his arm, taking a single bit and putting it on his bicep. “Take any bits you’re not gonna use…” He flexed the muscle in question, sending the coin flying into the air. He twisted his body around, now holding his left arm where his right had been and flexing his muscles where the bit finally landed. “... and put ‘em towards the customers!” He gave one more flex, shooting the coin back into the air to land balancing on Somnambula’s nose. “You know…” Starlight began, putting her hoof to her ponderous chin. “That’s actually a pretty good point.” Sparks openly scoffed at the thought, beginning to step toward the group. Flim swiftly stepped between Iron Will and his their business target, quirking his eyebrows. "A good point, indeed!" He stated, swiping the coin from Somnambula's nose. "And by putting it towards your customers…" "He means to put it towards the business!" Flam concluded, putting his hoof around his brother. "Just give us any extra bits you make and we will make sure that every guest has every necessary comfort!" He looked back at the muscular Minotaur with a triumphant grin. “Right?” “Um… Yeah!” Iron Will answered, stepping back almost defensively. “Whatever you say!” Flim and Flam paused for a moment, glaring at the enormous bovine like he’d committed some kind of wrongdoing. “‘Whatever you say’ what?” “Whatever you say, Boss!” He corrected. "Good." The brothers said simultaneously, turning back to Somnambula. "So, what do you say? Interested?" "I must admit, it seems tempting." The Pegasus mare started, smiling up at the one who had pitched the idea. Iron Will smiled back, putting his hands on his hips only to have the Unicorn siblings rise to their hind legs with a foreleg on each other's shoulders, as if deliberately blocking the view. "Perhaps you could tell me more?" “Of course!” The salesponies stated, raising their hats and bowing courteously. “Just leave it to us!” "And what exactly are you gonna tell her?" Came a soprano from beyond the bovine. Sparks stepped up to Flim and Flam, bringing herself closer than the stallions could possibly find comfortable. "All you've done today is either repeat what that Minotaur says or try to twist it into a plot for more bits!" The brothers recoiled, pulling away from one another with Flim raising his hoof. “W-w-well, how else can we… e-extrapolate on his proposals?” “Yes! Make our intentions clear to our potential business partner!” Flam stated, nodding shakily. “We have to make a profit, after all!” “Uh-huh. Sure.” Sparks deadpanned. “You’re just trying to get it done without doing any actual work!” She turned to Iron Will, magically pulling on his tie to bring him to her level. "And why are you letting them trot all over you?" "Well, I mean… They gave me a job when I was desperate, so--" "So they can profit off of your skills!" She let go of the tie, causing the Minotaur's head to swing back and make him stagger. "Okay… I know these two helped you get work when you needed it." She looked back at Flim and Flam. "And it was very kind of you to do so." She returned her gaze to the blue bovine, strengthening her resolve and unwittingly lighting her horn. "Just overhearing you pitching to Somnambula here, I can tell you have good ideas. So why should you let Flim and Flam limit them? I'd bet that you could come up with something that works for you, Somnambula, and the swindlers like it was nothing! You just can’t give in!" Sparks' final words echoed in Iron Will’s mind, sending a soft green glow into his eyes. “You’re right…” “Yes, I am.” She confirmed, nodding confidently and looking him in the eye. Iron Will released a low growl as the glow intensified. “You’re right…” “Um… Yeah, we just covered…” She stepped back, fixing her attention on the glow in his eyes. Her jaw dropped at the familiar vision now reflected in her emerald orbs, reminding her of exactly what she wanted to prevent. “Oh no…” Iron Will’s eyes narrowed with a wide grin to his muzzle. His brought his fists together, letting out a strenuous grunt as his muscles began to bulge. With another grunt, the fabric of his vest began to tear at the seams. Finally, he gave off a yell, shredding the vest entirely as he spread his arms wide. “OH YEAH!!!” His eyes returned to normal, showing a confidence that Sparks had never seen before. “Never give in! Just GO FOR THE WIN!!!” “Wait, what?” Sparks wondered, tilting her head and ears out of sheer confusion. The Minotaur stood tall with his signature grin, stepping past Sparks to loom over the other equines. “That little pony has a point, and Iron Will has an idea!” “You have an idea?” Flim asked, stepping aggressively forward. “What kind of idea?” Flam inquired, mimicking his brother’s behavior. “Iron Will has a business proposal for Somnambula!” He affirmed, punching his palm. “Something that Iron Will guarantees will be worth your while!” “And who are you to be coming up with the business propositions?!” The salesponies shouted, pulling on Iron Will’s horns with the magic of their own. “You work for us!” Flim stated, tugging the bovine’s head toward him. “Not the other way around!” Flam nodded, pulling in the opposite direction. “That means we come up with the ideas, and you sell them!” The Unicorn stallions gave a simultaneous yank on Iron Will’s horns, getting as close as possible. “Got it?” In one swift motion, a pair of hands grasped the stallions’ horns, dousing their magic and lifting them into the air. “Iron Will is a creature of business. And Iron Will knows an opportunity when Iron Will sees it!” He looked the swindlers in the eye, bringing forth a mighty snort. “Now, you two can either listen to what Iron Will has to say, or you can walk outta here broke!” Flim and Flam’s eyes grew collectively wide as a newfound tremble overcame them. They directed their eyes away from their employee to chance a glimpse at the pony they had all come to see, finding a calm and intrigued smile on her face. She stepped forward, raising her hoof to her chest. “You say you have an idea that will benefit all of us? I’d like to hear it.” Iron Will smirked, releasing the salesponies from his grip. “Iron Will’s been thinking, and Iron Will thinks he knows a way that he could get your services to more creatures than ever without having to inconvenience the ones you’d be helping.” He put his hands behind his back, standing upright and clearing his throat. “You see, one of Iron Will’s most successful business ventures for a while was an ‘assertiveness seminar’ where Iron Will helped ponies to help themselves. Letting them stand up for themselves.” He closed his eyes, remembering his exploits in the market as he casually adjusted his tie. “Iron Will was so good at it that he even got complete doormats to become masters of the art of assertion!” “Intriguing.” Somnambula admitted. “But what does this have to do with what I do for ponies?” “Iron Will proposes that we do the same thing, but with you helping them find hope rather than just asserting themselves.” He divulged, offering a hand to the mare. “If we went on tour, going from town to town, then nopony would have to go very far to benefit from your wisdom, and we could make a profit on the side from merchandise and self-help books!” “And who, exactly would write these so-called ‘self-help books’?” Flim queried, giving the pair a curious side-eye. “Somnambula and Iron Will would write them together, of course.” The Minotaur assured, gesturing to himself with his thumb. “Iron Will has a lot of experience in this market, and knows how to really reach ponies with writing!” “Oh, please. An idea like that could never work!” The mustachioed brother argued, swiping his hoof in front of him. “And why is that?” The Pillar asked, giving a curious glance of her own. “Are you afraid of how much work it would take?” With a twitch in his eye, Flim reared back a little. “Why not at all, ma’am! We just think it’s… um…” He tugged on his collar, looking pleadingly at his partner. “Go ahead and tell, her, brother!” Flam reared back in kind, looking frantically between the Pegasus and the Minotaur. “Well… we… We were… hoping to use a more reputable facility to house all of our customers’ needs!” “Like a resort in Las Pegasus that takes a lot of time, effort, and bits for most ponies to even reach?” Heckled a bluenette baritone that stood by Starlight. Flim and Flam gave a simultaneous gasp, each raising a hoof defensively at Boltsinger’s comment. “Why, I don’t believe we came to this wasteland just to have our perfectly legitimate place of business insulted like this!" Flim declared. "Indeed, brother!" Flam confirmed, turning up his nose. "I believe we should take our business elsewhere!" The brothers nodded to one another, turning tail and beginning their walk toward the train station. After a moment, they stopped, turning to face Iron Will one more time and point a hoof at him. “AND YOU’RE FIRED!” “Fired?” Iron Will repeated. He squinted at the yellow Unicorns, dragging his hoof on the ground. “You can’t fire Iron Will!” He took a deep breath, cupping his hands around his mouth and leaning forward. “IRON WILL QUITS!!!” The force of his scream sent a ripple through the air in front of him,  inadvertently slamming into the stallions and sending their hats flying into the distance. The salesponies swallowed lumps that had somehow lodged in their throats, immediately turning and galloping away as quickly as their legs could take them. With one more satisfied snort, Iron Will turned back to Somnambula with a less professional smile adorning his muzzle. “So… Now that Iron Will is back to business for himself, what do you say about that seminar idea?” Somnambula chuckled to herself, approaching the Minotaur with a wing extended forward. “If we move forward as you say, I believe it will work splendidly.” Iron Will nodded to the Pegasus, taking her wing in his hand and shaking firmly. “A pleasure to be doing business with you.” “And you as well.” She replied, returning her wing to her side. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have one more bit of ‘business’ to attend to.” She walked past her newfound business partner, stopping in front of Sparks. “Dimming Sparks, I want to thank you for your help.” “Help? How did I help?” Sparks wondered, motioning to herself with her hoof. “All I did was chastise someone four times my size and nearly send him into a horrible depression.” “No, you did more than that.” She corrected, putting her hoof on the Unicorn’s shoulder. “You used your talent for persuasion to remind someone of what he is capable of, and achieved the best possible result.” She took a step closer, looking her squarely in the eye. “You did something good. Just like I knew you would.” “I did something… good?” Sparks asked herself, staring back into the purple spheres before her. She fell silent for a moment, contemplating the facts laid bare before her as one of them came to the forefront. “Wait, what do you mean ‘just like I know you would’?” “Simple. I knew you would act and lead us to the best possible result.” Somnambula stated. “I was never going to take Flim and Flam’s offer, but I had faith that you would come through in ways none of us could even dream of. And you most certainly did.” “So… you manipulated me?” The Pillar of Hope shook her head vehemently. “Not at all. I simply placed my faith in you.” She looked back at Iron Will, who had begun to take in the sights of the village. “And it did not go unrewarded.” She once again returned her gaze to the emerald-eyed mare, giving her a soft and serene smile. “You have done that which you thought was impossible, and I know full well that you can do it again, provided you don’t lose hope. So…” She reached under her wing, pulling out a string of glowpaz identical to the one she wore and presenting it to Sparks. “I’d like you to have this. As a testament to that hope.” Sparks’ eyes grew wide at the sight of the glowing stones, with small pools of water forming at their corners. “I… don’t know what to say…” “Simply say that you won’t give up.” Somnambula suggested, pulling her into a hug. “That would be the perfect answer. Sparks accepted the hug with teary eyes and a grateful grin. “Okay… I won’t give up.” She pulled away from the embrace, finding the glowpaz to be hanging from her neck like it was always meant to be there. She put her hoof on the jewels, feeling a warmth from them that seemed to radiate through her entire being. “So does this mean I don’t have to cast that spell?” Starlight inquired with a nervous grin. Sparks let out a heartfelt laugh, giving her a simple confirming nod that caused the magical mare to breathe an immense sigh of relief. “Oh, good. I don’t know if I can even remember how to do the spell in the first place!”