//------------------------------// // S8 E23: Sounds of Silence (What If?) (Bonus Chapter) // Story: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic What If?: Volume 10 // by SuperPinkBrony12 //------------------------------// Even though the map's expansion had been a motivating factor for Twilight to open her own school, she had not been expecting the map itself to suddenly flare up again so soon. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were the ones called by it, as they had both informed Twilight upon arrival at her castle. But it was to the surprise of all three mares as to where this mission would take place, the Peaks of Peril. "Not much is known about this place," Twilight told her friends as she looked over the map. "Despite the namesake though it doesn't seem like the peaks themselves are particularly dangerous or deadly." "Then why are they called the Peaks of Peril?" Pinkie Pie questioned. Twilight could only reply. "I don't know, I didn't name them and no clues behind the origins of their name exist," Then she used her magic to produce a shield that depicted strange creatures. One looked almost like a mix between a pony and a deer, complete with extra fur, antlers and a strange looking horn. "What I do know is that Rockhoof and the Mighty Helm once surveyed the area long ago. Though if Griffonstone and the Smoky Mountains are any indication chances are things have changed greatly." "What are those creatures, Twilight? They look so... strange." Fluttershy commented. Twilight explained. "They're called kirin. Apparently they have very strong mental powers and emotions. But they are actually quite gentle creatures who live in peace in their own village," She flipped the shield over. "However, the kirin are said to live close to creatures called the nirik. They are fearsome beasts made of fire that destroy everything they touch, and are driven solely by anger." Fluttershy gulped. "Oh my. Uh, you sure you don't want to go instead of me, Twilight? Those nirik sound an awful lot like dragons, and dragons and I have a... complicated relationship." Twilight shook her head. "Sorry, Fluttershy, flanks don't lie. My flank isn't glowing, yours is." Pinkie just bounced towards Fluttershy and reassured her friend. "Come on, you've got nothing to be afraid of! If we can face down a nasty, overgrown brute like the Storm King, we can handle anything! Am I right?" Fluttershy slowly replied. "I guess so. And the map has never been wrong before." And indeed it wasn't wrong this time. But nopony in the room could've guessed that there was more to the kirin and the nirik than first thought. The true nature of the two was a discovery that would make this particular mission one to remember for both of the ponies called for it. The only way out to the Peaks of Peril was by train, so Pinkie and Fluttershy boarded the first one available and set off. Neither knew what truly awaited them in a location that neither had been to before. "It's too bad Twilight didn't have a guide to give us," Pinkie Pie commented with a giggle. "I remember how crazy prepared she was when Rainbow Dash and I got called to Griffonstone." Fluttershy nodded. "I remember how determined she seemed when we were heading to the Smoky Mountains. Still, it does seem odd that the map would call us so far away from Equestria." Pinkie wasn't concerned. "Hey, we'll be fine. The map's never led us into danger." The formerly timid pegasus replied. "Except for when it called us to Starlight's village and to Hollow Shade." The pink party pony waved a hoof. "And we came out of both experiences just fine. This is going to be no different, you'll see." "I hope you're right," Fluttershy nervously commented. "And I just hope we're not gone for too long. I'm not entirely sure the volunteers will be enough to keep Sweet Feather Sanctuary under control. Even Tree Hugger doesn't understand animals the way I do." Pinkie just reassuringly told her friend. "Relax. These things don't usually take too long," Then she asked. "So, what do you think we've been called for?" Fluttershy blinked. "Why are you asking me?" The party pony answered. "Because the last two times I got called by the map it was the pony I got partnered up with who had all the ideas on what to do. Rainbow Dash wanted to rescue the idol and Rarity wanted to get The Tasty Treat packed with ponies. And I heard how much you took charge when you and Applejack went to Las Pegasus." Fluttershy took a deep breath. "Well, it's impossible to determine what kind of friendship problem we'll need to solve until we get there," Then she put a hoof to her chin. "Although, considering what kind of life lives out here, it wouldn't surprise me if we're supposed to solve a friendship problem with the kirin." Pinkie pondered. "Do you think it'll involve the nirik? Like maybe the kirin and the nirik don't get along with each other?" The pegasus flinched at the question. "Oh, I hope not. Those nirik don't sound all that friendly. They sound a lot like dragons: Especially the anger and fire parts." "But we're friends with dragons now, we even have a dragon student," The party pony pointed out and then gasped! "Maybe the map is telling us where we can find even more students for Twilight's school! Maybe we're supposed to befriend the kirin and the nirik so we can get them to come to Ponyville and attend the School of Friendship!" Fluttershy nervously laughed. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Pinkie. We don't know what we're going to face or if the kirin will even want us. Any creatures that live in a place like the Peaks of Peril probably don't get a lot of visitors." "Which is why it's up to us to make sure we solve whatever problem they're having: Friendship or otherwise!" Pinkie vowed. "We'll make things right or our names aren't Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, which they are!" There was a train station when the tracks reached their end near the Peaks of Peril. Actually, calling it a train station would be misleading considering it really wasn't more than a small platform with a lone, wooden shack that could only fit one pony. There was not a sound to be heard anywhere. Despite this unsettling scene Pinkie and Fluttershy departed from the train. The Peaks of Peril loomed overhead but gave no indication to any traces of civilization anywhere. "This can't be right! This looks like a dead end!" Pinkie commented. "Did we somehow get on the wrong train?" But at that moment there came a raspy cough, soon revealing itself as an old earth pony stallion who wore a torn and tattered station master's outfit that had clearly seen better days. "Oh no, you're definitely in the right place," He seemed to laugh, before coughing into a hoof as he spoke in a raspy tone of voice. "Sorry, my condition's acting up again. The Peaks of Peril are not completely deserted." "So the kirin live here?" Fluttershy hopefully asked. "And the nirik too?" Pinkie Pie inquired. The stallion nodded. "Mind you, I ain't see either of them with my own two eyes. But I've heard tale of strange happenings just beyond here, high up on the peaks. They say the kirin have their own little village deep within the woods. As for the nirik, well, they say that if you see a kirin a nirik can't be too far away," He gestured a hoof. "Just head straight up those peaks and you'll find civilization. But they say nopony's ever gone up there, and come back to tell the tale of what they've seen. Who knows though, perhaps you two will be the first?" He started laughing again, but it soon devolved into a coughing fit. The two mares looked across to each other, as if briefly considering turning back. But they knew that they had been called by the map for a reason. They couldn't abandon their mission before they'd even truly started it, and so they bravely (if reluctantly) set off. As the two trotted along, Fluttershy's wandering eyes happened to notice something rather unusual. It looked like some kind of plant, albeit one that the nature loving pegasus didn't recognize. She was going to say something but decided against it, she had no idea what the plant was but its strange blue coloring reminded her of poison joke. The trek went on in silence, until at last both Pinkie and Fluttershy stumbled upon the very village the mysterious stallion had told them about. Sure enough, there were a whole host of kirin in a variety of different coat and mane colors. Strangely, though, not a word could be heard from any of them even as they were going about their lives as usual. "Just what is this place? Why's everything so quiet?" Pinkie Pie wondered aloud, maybe a little bit too loudly. Suddenly, all the kirin stopped what they had been doing and turned to look at the strangers in their midst. Among them was a rather tall kirin with a dark red horn, a dark green mane that flowed around her neck, and a light brown coat with even lighter brown stripes above her eyes and down her nose. Her eyes were a dark red in color. The kirin eyed the newcomers with suspicion. "Who are these strangers?" One asked without moving its mouth. "Um, sorry to intrude," Fluttershy tried to apologize. "We're Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, we're from Ponyville." Pinkie Pie asked. "How come you guys can talk even though we can't see your lips moving? What's up with that?" The tall, female kirin explained as her horn glowed. "We kirin communicate telepathically," Her tone of voice sounded flat and emotionless. "I am called Rain Shine, and I am leader of this village. I do not know why you have come here, we've no problems or any need of assistance." Another kirin nodded as he telepathically stated. "We have worked to rebuild and preserve our village. None may know that it exists." "Why? This forest seems pretty safe." Pinkie commented in an unconcerned tone of voice. But Rain Shine gestured a hoof out towards a small clearing. "The peace is not as secure as it seems. We have problems with the nirik, their anger and firey powers pose a threat to all we hold dear. We've left them to their own devices beyond that clearing, but we fear that one may try to return one day and destroy all we have worked so hard to restore." "But we're not associated with the nirik!" Fluttershy protested. "Then how did you know about our village? It has been kept secret for many years!" Rain Shine demanded while stomping a hoof down. Forcing back a gulp, Fluttershy explained. "We were sent by Princess Twilight, more specifically a map in her castle. It didn't tell us about this village but we assumed there had to be one if it called us out here." At that Rain Shine blinked and the other kirin exchanged concerned whispers. "There is another princess?!" They seemed to sound rather concerned, and for a moment it looked like some kind of smoke was forming on the tip of their horns. But it faded almost as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the ponies to wonder if it had ever actually existed or was just a figment of their imagination. After a bit of discussion with her fellow kirin, Rain Shine turned back to the ponies. "You must forgive our surprise, we have not kept touch with Equestria for a long time now. The news that there is a princess besides the two we know was a shock to all of us," Then she added. "And I must apologize if we sounded off upon learning of the news. Long ago we suppressed our emotions after an incident resulted in the destruction of our village. I hope you can understand why we are weary of letting others in since then. We thought perhaps you might've been sent by the nirik to expose us to attack." "But the nirik weren't responsible for your village getting destroyed, were they?" Pinkie pondered. Rain Shine shook her head. "No. But if they got half a chance they would surely destroy all our hard work. They lack control over their emotions the way we kirin do." "That doesn't seem right, you shouldn't be blaming the nirik for something that wasn't their fault!" Pinkie Pie protested and then gasped as she looked at Fluttershy! "This is it, Fluttershy! This is the friendship problem we were sent to solve!" "Are you sure, Pinkie?" Fluttershy nervously inquired. "We don't even really know what happened to the kirin's village or why they've tried to live without emotions." The pink party pony just stomped a hoof down. "Well I bet the nirik will know! If we're going to get to the bottom of this we're going to need to find out why the kirin don't like them so much." Fluttershy gulped as she eyed the clearing. "Why don't you do that, Pinkie? I'll... stay here and see if I can get more information out of the kirin," She then whispered. "I think they trust me more than they do you right now." And she seemed to be right if the number of eyes suspiciously focused on Pinkie were any indication. Pinkie, suspecting nothing, happily obeyed and bounced off into the clearing without a word. "Sorry about Pinkie, she can be a bit noisy sometimes," Fluttershy apologized to the kirin. "But she does mean well, and she can be really quiet if she wants to." Pinkie Pie bounced along in the clearing, noticing how, much like the kirin village, it was very quiet. Assuming the nirik weren't like the kirin and couldn't control their emotions, there should've been a lot of loud noises. The fact that there were none did not go unnoticed by the prancing pink party pony. Suddenly, as Pinkie began to draw near what appeared to be some sort of cottage, she could've sworn she heard singing. Not just any singing though, but rather strange and somber singing. To Pinkie not only was the singing beautiful, but also strangely similar to her own singing. Even though she should've known better she couldn't help but gasp at what she'd heard! That turned out to be a mistake, because Pinkie's gasp alerted the creature had been singing! There came a sudden shriek, and the sound of whooshing flames! Pinkie crept closer, her curiosity getting the better of her, only to suddenly find herself face to face with a creature that seemed to be made entirely of fire, except for the black body and charcoal gray scales! Though normally one to laugh in the face of danger, the party pony found herself stricken with terror at the sight of such a creature! This had to be the nirik that Twilight and the kirin had been talking about and had tried to warn her of! But then, all of a sudden, the nirik twitched. Its entire body began to shake as an amplified cry of "Achoo!" rang out through the surrounding valley! Suddenly, the firey creature was no more! In its place stood what appeared to be a kirin. It had moderate gold eyes that were staring into Pinkie's blue eyes, a moderate brown mane and tail that looked like leaves during autumn, a very light gray coat, a very dark red horn, and grayish apple green scales ran from her horn down to her nose. The kirin look alike shook about and shuddered. "Sorry, sorry, that just slipped out!" She apologized! "And I didn't mean to scare you, but you kind of scared me!" "What do you mean?" Pinkie Pie pondered. "I thought you were a nirik, not a kirin." The kirin blinked in surprise. "What are you talking about? I'm a kirin!" "No you're not, silly!" Pinkie giggled. "All kirin talk telepathically or whatever, they don't show emotion. They sound like my sister Maud, except not as expressive." The kirin let out a sad sigh. "Not all kirin, but I guess if you were listening to my song you know the story. It's a lot for me to pro-cess. Process? Uh, deal with. I'm Autumn Blaze by the way. And it's been so long since I've been able to share anything like this with another creature, especially ever since that unintentional vow of silence." The pink party pony blinked. "Huh, what was that about a vow of silence? If you're a kirin, then how come you're out here and not in the village?" Autumn Blaze explained. "When our leader made us step into the Stream of Silence after our village burned down, I don't think she realized it was a permanent thing. We had to learn how to adapt to a world without voices, without emotions. But I couldn't take it, it drove me up a wall. I had voices in my head that wanted to be heard. I wanted so badly to talk and sing and dance and tell jokes and all that stuff," A smile formed on her face as she added. "Then one day, after I strayed from the village to be alone with my thoughts, I found this wonderful plant that could cure me: Foal's breath! All I had to do was mix up a tea with its leaves and presto, I was talking and chatting up a storm! I even started creating my own theater group to get other kirin to see what they were missing. It was hard when I had to play every role." "So you're not the only kirin who doesn't live in the village?" Pinkie realized. Autumn Blaze nodded. "I found enough foal's breath to restore a small number of kirin who were interested. But when I went back to look for more they were all gone," She began to walk towards her cottage as she sadly declared. "That's when our leader found out. She thought I was unleashing a force that was just going to destroy our village all over again, and even though I tried to tell her otherwise it was a lost cause. Too many other kirin found me annoying and drove me away. After that I had no other choice but to come out here, to be alone with my thoughts and my words," Her mood quickly changed to cheerful as she added. "But it's not all bad, all the kirin I cured came with me to support me. We're trying to work on a way to get our anger under control so we don't turn into those fiery demons again. Until then, I've got a lovely cottage with a lovely view." "Can I... meet these other kirin?" The party pony asked her new friend. Autumn Blaze nodded. "Yeah, and on the way you can tell me everything about you! There's so much to say, so much to do! Oh, look at me. I'm going on, and you haven't seen the best— I mean, have you seen the best—? W-What am I saying? Of course you haven't. Follow me!" The kirin led her new friend towards the cottage and up to a balcony overlooking a rather beautiful valley below. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Autumn chimed in. "The way the light shimmers off everything, like, like it all suddenly woke up the moment you saw it. And you realize maybe the water and the mountains and the forest and the... yes, the rainbow and the stars and the sky are all looking back at you thinking the same thing? That we are a part of the everything. That maybe there's just one thing and we are all it. You were thinking the same thing too, right?" "Uh... yes, I think," The party pony blinked very slowly. "So, what was up with your singing earlier? You sounded a lot like me. Is that something you kirin do?" Autumn blinked back. "Huh, that's the first time anyone's ever said anything about my singing. It sounds just fine to me. But then again I haven't really sung in that firey form, so maybe when I'm like that it affects things." "So you don't just turn into it when you get angry?" Pinkie pondered. "Well, sort of. Ever since we were forced to come here we kind of just tried to focus on what we had," Autumn explained. "But I thought that maybe if I could gain control over our fire forms I could show my village that it's not something to fear. That we don't have to stay quiet and speak with our minds so much," A sigh of regret escaped her lips. "But you saw how well that turned out, I couldn't hold it for very long. One sneeze and 'Poof!' it was gone!" Pinkie frowned as she and Autumn observed the other kirin from afar, all of them at work on what appeared to be some kind of play. But it was obvious from how they were going about it that they didn't have enough parts filled in for the play to work. "No one should ever be forced to give up being able to feel just because of one accident!" The earth pony protested. "It wasn't even your fault it happened, why should you be treated like it was?" Then she gasped in realization! "My hunch was right! This is what Fluttershy and I were called here to solve!" The kirin lept up as she eyed Pinkie. "Who's Fluttershy? I don't see anyone but us!" Then she exclaimed! "Oh, I get it! Did you name your shadow?! I did that too! But mine's called 'Silhouette Gloom of the Sundown Lands'," She waved to said shadow with a rather bright smile. "Don't worry, he doesn't bite." But Pinkie protested. "Fluttershy's not a shadow, she's a real pony! She's back at the village with the other kirin, but she has got to hear this!" She stood up and firmly declared. "Trust me, once she's on board it'll be a snap to get your village to welcome you back, and then you can cure the rest of the kirin!" "Except there's one not so small problem," Autumn Blaze confessed. "I don't have any more of the cure, it's all gone. I used the last of the foal's-breath flowers to make it. And I-I haven't seen them bloom since. I don't even remember where I found them the first time!" "Not to worry," Pinkie smiled, her expression not changing or faltering in the slightest. "We'll find more once we have Fluttershy on our side!" And with that she ran back to the village, leaving her new kirin friend alone. "Yeah, don't mind me," Autumn sighed and sat back down near her little hut. "I'll just... stay here... with my thoughts." Meanwhile, back at the kirin village, Fluttershy was starting to grow frustrated by the vague non-answers the natives were giving her about the destruction of their village. "Please, I just wanna know how it happened. It must've been really bad if it made you resort to such an extreme measure." Fluttershy pleaded with Rain Shine. Rain Shine just titled her head. "There is nothing more to discuss. You know enough already. Our village was destroyed and the nirik will only ensure its destruction again if they are allowed back. I wouldn't have made such a decision if I knew of a valid alternative, but as leader of the kirin I will do what I must to ensure the survival of our species." She walked away as soon as she had finished her telepathic speech. Feeling annoyed and running low on patience, Fluttershy was about ready to give up when she happened to stumble onto (or rather over) something in a remote corner of the village. The pegasus blinked. "Could it be?" She thought to herself as she leaned down for a closer inspection. Suddenly, there it all was: The answer to her question, plain as day! A neglected sketch that appeared to have been crudely drawn in a great hurry still depicted enough details to tell the story better than words could've ever conveyed. It showed what looked like two kirin, arguing over an object that both wanted. The sketch next showed them turning into the fire creatures referred to as the nirik. And the sketch then showed several other kirin doing the same as their flames spread to the surrounding landscape! The final part of the sketch showed the still nirik looking kirin as they stood over the ruins of their village, while an unhappy sketched version of Rain Shine appeared to be standing over them. Fluttershy nearly gasped! "The kirin are the nirik! Now it all makes sense!" She was relieved that none of the kirin seemed to be around to overheard her outburst, it didn't seem like this was something that was meant to see the light of day. Uncertain of what to do and fearful of the kirin finding out, Fluttershy not so secretly rushed for the clearing! She had to tell Pinkie Pie of her discovery. The party pony would surely have already befriended the nirik, no, the other kirin! As luck would have it, at that very moment Pinkie Pie was on her way back to the village. So she and Fluttershy bumped into each other quite literally! "Fluttershy, you'll never guess what I just found out!" Pinkie Pie fondly exclaimed with widened eyes! "I know the truth about the nirik, they're really just like all the other kirin!" Fluttershy spoke up before Pinkie could say so. "Some kirin left a sketch detailing the whole thing!" "I'll bet it was Autumn Blaze! She's the key to all of this!" Pinkie insisted as she grabbed Fluttershy by the hoof! "Come on, you need to meet her! She can actually speak and sing and everything!" Pinkie brought Fluttershy back to the hut where the other kirin were taking a break from their rehearsal that was not going well at all. "Hey everykirin!" Pinkie called out! "I've brought Fluttershy, just like I promised!" She then gestured to the lone kirin that Fluttershy had yet to meet. "Fluttershy, meet Autumn Blaze." Autumn Blaze looked at Fluttershy but at first she didn't say a word. "Uh, Pinkie says you talk. So, do you actually talk?" Fluttershy asked, hoping for a reply. Autumn Blaze was silent for a moment, before she started to snicker and then burst out into full blown laughter! "Sorry, but that was too good. I couldn't resist! Oh, you don't know how much I missed jokes. Hi-larity! Am I pronouncing that right? Some words I haven't said in a will. While! While. Hi, I'm Autumn Blaze. Oh, I haven't been able to share all of this in forever!" Fluttershy blinked quite slowly. Even though she was used to rapid paced conversations thanks to Pinkie Pie, hearing any other creature speak so fast was still a shock to her. "Um, did you ever think of maybe switching to de-cafe or something?" She proposed. "What are you talking about? I don't drink coffee, don't like the taste!" Autumn Blaze replied as she stuck out her tongue. "But enough about me, I'm so glad that you found my sketch. I was afraid the kirin in the village would cover it up completely. Oh, I just wish I could find more of that foal's breath. When I had that it was so easy to make things happen." "What exactly is foal's breath?" Fluttershy questioned. "I don't believe I've ever heard of that flower before." Autumn fondly exclaimed as she recalled her memories with the plant! "Oh, it was the best miracle flower I'd ever encountered! Heck, it was the only miracle flower I'd ever encountered! All I had to was make a tea out of it and presto, I was chatting up a storm! And it worked for the other kirin just as well," She added. "I can even remember what it looked like, I had to learn how when the supply ran out because I thought I could just get some more. It was small, low to the ground, and a dark blue with light blue stripes." The pegasus suddenly gasped as the description made her realize something she had dismissed earlier! "I think I passed by those flowers on the way to the village, though I don't remember exactly where. I thought they might have been poison joke though, so I didn't touch them." The kirin practically lept up and started shaking Fluttershy! "Well they're not! I absolutely need those flowers! I'm putting on a play that'll hopefully convince my village to welcome me back. But I need more foal's breath to make it work. Please, if you even have a faint idea of where they might be, take me to them! I've been searching for them for ages and haven't been able to find a trace of them anywhere! I'm desperate for any possible lead!" "Well, I don't know if I can remember exactly," Fluttershy began while eyeing the surrounding wilderness. "But I bet the local wildlife will know where they bloom. I'll just make sure," She trotted over and started to talk to some squirrels and birds. She returned shortly with great news. "The animals say they know where the foal's breath is, they'll take you to it." "Why not you?" Autumn Blaze asked. Fluttershy gulped. "I don't know if the kirin know what I know, and I don't wanna find out. Besides, the animals say they know a short cut, but I wouldn't know where it is because I've never been here before." Autumn Blaze stood up. "Well, alright, guess I'll go with the animals then!" And then she called out to her fellow kirin! "Keep rehearsing, everykirin! If all goes well, our troubles will be over by tonight!" The excited kirin returned a short time later with an entire wagon's load worth of the miracle flower she had discovered. "This should be more than enough to get everykirin chatting away!" She excitedly declared. "Oh, it's going to be so great to have a sold out audience to tell all my jokes to and do all my plays for!" But Pinkie and Fluttershy were a little concerned, their cutie marks hadn't glowed yet so the friendship problem still hadn't been solved. Autumn Blaze's idea looked promising though. "Um, what exactly are you going to do?" Fluttershy asked Autumn. Autumn flashed a toothy smile. "Oh, I'm so glad you asked," She motioned for her pony friends to come close. "Here's what I'm going to do," She promptly whispered her plan into their ears. "Well, whaddya think? Is it the best plan ever or what?" "I dunno, sounds scary. And not the good kind of scary either," Pinkie blinked as she stepped back. "You really think that'll work?" Autumn only smiled further. "How could it not? They'll never suspect it, and once they're all chatting up a storm they'll have me to thank for it! Just do exactly as I told you to do and everything will be just fine." So it was that Pinkie and Fluttershy returned a short time later to the kirin village, this time accompanied by Autumn Blaze and her kirin players. Rain Shine and the other kirin were there to greet them. "Autumn Blaze, you have returned?" Rain Shine's tone of telepathic voice made it clear that she was not happy to see the exiled kirin again. Autumn nodded, seemingly ignoring all the harsh stares and glares the village kirin were giving her. "Yeah, because I want to invite the whole village to a special performance of my kirin troupe! It's a play we've been working on for a really long time, like 'Since you banished us from the village' kind of long, know what I'm saying?" Then she coughed into a hoof. "But I'm gonna need a few more kirin to fill some parts, just in the background. Trust me, it's going to be the best play you've ever seen!" Some of the kirin surrounding Autumn Blaze seemed to whisper in stern tones. It didn't sound like they trusted her even a little bit. But Rain Shine threw up a hoof to silence them all. "Very well, Autumn Blaze. We shall attend your little play and grant you the request of a few additional players. We have longed for entertainment." "Great! Thanks a bunch! You won't regret this, I promise!" Autumn Blaze declared as she looked at several of the village kirin. "Come on, let's get you fitted for your costumes! Oh, this play's gonna be the best thing since... since... well, I don't even know when!" Pinkie and Fluttershy were soon with Autumn Blaze as the kirin stood on a massive stage that looked like it had seen better days and had not been used for a very long time. "Oh, it's just like old times!" Autumn Blaze declared! "I used to do my jokes and plays here so many times! And I'll bet I'll be doing them here again very soon!" She then looked to her pony friends. "Now, you remember what you need to do, right? When I give the signal, release the cure!" "Okie dokie," Pinkie gave a salute. "Come on, Fluttershy, let's take our places!" Fluttershy nodded even as she murmured to herself. "I really hope this works!" The two mares then left the stage and retreated behind the curtain to keep watch. A spotlight shone down on Autumn Blaze as an awed hush fell over the crowd. "Thank you one and all for being here!" Autumn Blaze smiled and waved as she spoke to the crowd. "I hope you all enjoy tonight's presentation of 'A Kirin's Tale: The Sounds of Silence'," She then stomped a hoof down as music began to fill the air. "And now it's time for me to... siiiiiiiiiiiing!" And sing she did, her voice carrying so that every inch of the theater was covered by her powerful vocals. Her song took on a sort of musical narrative: La, la-la-la, la-la. La-la-la, la-la-la! We kirin used to talk and sing, We're not always quiet. We tell stories and funny jokes, My stand-up's a riot, As she continued to sing other kirin began to act out the parts Autumn Blaze was describing: But then one day a fight breaks out, Hurtful words are said. Flaming tames are inflamed, Destruction quickly spreads! And soon we're all burning from head to head! Autumn paused briefly as she spoke. "It even burnt our bread. Oh, sorry, I forgot how much I love rhyming. Now where was I? Oh, right!" She cleared her throat and started to sing again while the other kirin continued acting: Our once proud village lies in ruins, Relationships grow worse. Now we know all too real, Words can be a curse. 'No more talking!' yells our leader, it's the last thing said aloud! So into the Stream of Silence, we all step as a crowd. The water cools emotions, peace is now restored. But without a way to speak my thoughts I grow super bored. Autumn again paused in her singing to speak. "No, seriously, there's only so long that Sudoku can keep you entertained!" Then came the chorus, carried not just by her but by many of her kirin players: But rainbows won't light up the sky until you let it rain! And shiny apples sometimes come with worms. Oh, don't give up your laughter 'cause you're scared of a little pain! It's a lesson that we kirin need to learn! Another pause came as Autumn Blaze had to catch her breath, this part was extremely important. When the pause ended she sang: I am stuck in a silent prison, There's voices in my head. But then I trip over my salvation, In a helpful flower bed! I discover a way to clear my pipes, I become quite chatty! I unleash all my stored up words, And it drives you all batty! A more somber and perhaps even angry tone started to be reflected in Autumn Blaze as she continued to sing: You don't like my jokes, my songs, Or my daily dose of news. Not the speeches I give, the plays I do, In all their variety revues! I put together this theater group, To put you all in the mood. And it works all too well: Like really, really well. Suddenly I've got a whole bunch of kirin who want to talk and sing like I do and be a part of my troupe. But I don't have enough of a cure so I go looking for more flowers, and I can't find any, and the rest of you all turn on me! Autumn Blaze stopped singing and blinked, catching her breath. "Sorry, don't know how that got out," She apologized. "Anyway, as I was saying." She inhaled and started to sing again: The village leader makes it clear, I have to make a choice. Either stay and live with you, Or my troupe keeps its voice. So I move out but leave the couch behind, It's hard to move. I'm stuck with the view for company, But now you're hearing me groove! Take it away, my friends! The chorus started up again, and this time it sounded much stronger: But rainbows won't light up the sky until you let it rain! And candles just won't glow until they're burned. Oh, don't give up your laughter 'cause you're scared of a little pain! It's a lesson that we kirin need to learn! Autumn Blaze burst into a powerful solo as she looked out at the audience and sang: No matter how hard I school you, Fear of hurt is still what rules you! Sometimes you gotta let it raaaaaaaain! At that moment, Pinkie and Fluttershy not so secretly turned some nobs. Sprinklers all around the theater went off, creating a shower of water that landed on every kirin in attendance! Autumn Blaze smiled, her plan had worked to perfection! Confident of victory she finished her performance by singing: Yeah, sometimes you've gotta let it rain. As the unexpected shower ended all the kirin began to feel rather strange. Suddenly, it felt like a wide range of emotions had been unleashed inside of them! Emotions they had long since forgotten the feel of. To say that they didn't like what they were experiencing would be an understatement. They seemed to react in a state of panic, rushing about and trying in vain to find some way to fall silent! "Thank you, foal's breath!" Autumn Blaze loudly declared as she stood on the stage! "Now do you see, my fellow kirin? Our vow of silence was silly. We can't suppress our emotions, we shouldn't have to hide who we are." But the other kirin only narrowed their eyes as they looked at Autumn Blaze, and at her pony friends! "You tricked us!" They all shouted in unison! "You have unleashed something we can't control!" "What do you mean? Of course we can control it!" Autumn Blaze protested. "I've been working on that since you forced me to leave the village!" The other kirin refused to listen. They just lit up their horns, grabbing Autumn Blaze, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy! All three were lifted into the air! "To the Stream of Silence with you all!" The kirin declared! Pinkie Pie gasped in horror! "If we hit that water, we'll never be able to talk or feel anything ever again!" "Please!" Fluttershy pleaded to the kirin. "You're making a mistake! I know you're scared to lose control of your anger, but this isn't the answer!" But it seemed like her pleas fell on deaf ears. However, as the kirin prepared to leave the theater and carry their captives down to the Stream of Silence, an unexpected and distorted voice shouted! "Put them down, now!" All eyes turned to see none other than Rain Shine, her body fully engulfed in flames just like the so called nirik that the kirin had been taught to fear! "I said 'Put them down'! That's an order!" Rain Shine sternly commanded, her voice shaking the ground as she spoke! Stricken with fear over their leader's appearance, the kirin obeyed and released their magical hold on their three captives. "Whew, that was close!" Pinkie sighed in relief. Autumn Blaze nodded. "Yeah, I was afraid they'd silence the first friends who would ever speak to me since the exile." Meanwhile, Fluttershy was looking at Rain Shine with concern. "You're in that firey state of anger! You're going to lose control and burn down the forest!" But Rain Shine responded by shaking her head even while her voice sounded distorted. "No. I have learned how to control it," She looked at all the other kirin. "Autumn Blaze is right, it is foolish of us to do what we've done for so long. Anger is a part of who we are, as is this form. We can either choose to live in shame of it, or we can learn how to cope with and adapt to it." "That's what I've been trying to say!" Autumn Blaze chimed in. "Though I guess with how much of a chatterbox I've been it was kind of hard for you to understand that." Rain Shine promptly took some deep breaths, and just like that her fiery form faded away completely. "I must apologize to all of you, especially to you, Autumn Blaze." Autumn blinked as the leader looked over her. "What do you mean?" Rain Shine explained. "I didn't want to admit it at first, I wanted to believe I made the right decision considering the circumstances. But ever since I sent you away I realized that you were right and I was wrong. I shouldn't have forced us to maintain a vow of silence, or even made us step into the Stream of Silence without knowing what it would do. I thought I was protecting the village from further harm and destruction, but I was only dooming us to repeat the same mistakes. Anger is like any other emotion, what matters is what we choose to do with it when we feel that way." Fluttershy nodded. "I know that I get mad quite often, but I always find productive ways to get rid of it. Ways to blow off steam that don't hurt me or anyone around me." "And you can disagree with others without having to resort to such extreme options," Pinkie chimed in. "You can't truly detach yourself from your emotions, they're what make you who you are." Rain Shine then offered. "Autumn Blaze, will you and your kirin players come back and live with us again? You have given us a tremendous gift, and it is up to all of us to learn how to use it properly. I can't say enough how much we've missed that beautiful voice of yours." After briefly looking across to her pony friends, Autumn Blaze nodded. "You bet, Rain Shine! And I can't wait to talk to you about making plays like this a thing! I mean really, who doesn't love musical theater?" Autumn Blaze soon got to work on spreading the rest of the cure, just to be sure there were no kirin that she had missed. And now they were all singing along with her as Autumn Blaze leaped across a small pond, leading the chorus: 'Cause rainbows won't light up the sky, until you let it rain. And candles just won't glow until they're burned. Oh, don't give up your laughter 'cause you're scared of a little pain! It's a lesson that we kirin finally learned. Oh, yes, 'cause rainbows won't light up the sky, unless you let it... Raaaaaaaain! Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy observed the whole scene. And when it had ended and they felt their cutie marks start to tingle, they knew that their mission was complete. They happily high hoofed each other in celebration! Much like the griffons, the changelings and the hippogriffs before them, the kirin had changed for the better.