It had been some time since Albedo and Harmonia had left to conduct the manifestation’s test for the alchemist and around now, Ocellus was getting a bit nervous. Not because of having to babysit Klee with Headmare Twilight while they waited for them, but because of something else. The changeling was nervous about what the outcome of the test might be for a couple of different reasons. The main reason though, was because when she and her friends had done their test that Harmonia had given them, they were only able to complete it because they were able to stand together and help each other out instead of having to face it alone.
Yet, if Harmonia was going to give him the same test that they gave her and her friends, then the alchemist would not have such help. While Ocellus knew that Albedo was exceptionally talented and skilled, she was worried that it might not be enough in order to convince Harmonia to help them. After all, it wasn’t talent or skill that led to them succeeding in the test they were given. Though, there was one small thing not related to the test that the changeling had trouble with in regards to Albedo. Much to her surprise, it was actually something that changelings were normally good at.
That being emotion. More specifically, feeling the emotions of other creatures. When she was around her friends or any other creature, Ocellus had no trouble feeling whether a creature was happy, sad or angry. Even when around Klee, the changeling had no trouble. However, when it came to Albedo, things were different. He may look calm and composed on the outside, but to Ocellus, there was no emotion for her to feel. Almost as if he was empty or hollow on the inside. It didn’t make any sense to her because all living creatures have emotions or feelings, so why exactly was he different?
Her pondering on this oddity didn’t last very long though. For around twenty minutes or so after the two of them left, Albedo and Harmonia had returned. Much to the surprise of the others because they weren’t sure how long they were going to be away for. “Big brother, you’re back!” Klee proclaimed with joy, before running up to go hug the alchemist.
The alchemist smiled, taking a moment to pat Klee on the shoulder before he looked back towards Ocellus and Twilight. The latter of whom was the first to speak. “Are you alright? How did everything go?”
“A lot different from how I thought it would go, actually,” Albedo answered, before looking to Harmonia, “Would you like to tell them or should I keep going?”
“They asked you, so go ahead.”
“Right,” the alchemist said, before looking back to his companions as Klee returned to Twilight’s side, “So, the test went rather well. I had my doubts at first, but in the end, I was able to meet Harmonia’s expectations.”
“What was the test even on, if you don’t mind me asking?” Ocellus spoke up as she looked at Harmonia.
“Well, first, I was wanting to determine why he sought my power in the first place,” the manifestation began to explain, “All throughout Equestrian history, there have been villains that have pursued power for their own personal endeavours. So the first part of the test was to see why it was that he came searching for my help. Once that was done, we went on to the other half of the test.”
“Which was wanting to know more about my alchemy and elemental abilities,” the alchemist then interjected, “She wanted to make sure that my abilities were not the same as somebody else that I had heard about until now. Someone named Discord?”
That led Twilight to let out a small sigh, “Yeah, I can see why Harmonia might’ve been concerned,” the alicorn replied, “Discord is our resident spirit of chaos and mischief. Used to be a villain, but with my friends' help and a lot of patience, he’s found a way to turn things around for the better.”
“That… doesn’t really explain the concern though,” Albedo mentioned as he looked towards Harmonia, hoping that she could clarify on what was missing.
“Well, from what I observed, your alchemy only works where you create something by giving something up in return,” Harmonia replied, “Discord is more or less the opposite of that. His magic allows him to manifest pretty much anything at any given time with a snap of his paw. Have the clouds in the sky be made of cotton candy? Done. Make it rain chocolate milk? Simple. Pranking Princess Celestia by having a slice of cake cry out and scream ‘Why would you do this?! I have a wife and family’? To him, that’s hilarious.”
“The way you phrase that makes him sound like he’s a constant headache.”
“Trying to make sense in anything he does will do that to you,” the manifestation told him, “Though, I think that’s enough talk about Equestria’s chaotic troublemaker. There’s a far more pressing subject to address now that you have passed my test, Albedo.”
“Really?” Twilight now asked, “What subject?”
“I did promise that I was going to help you. Though, I didn’t share the specifics as to how,” the manifestation replied, “I was wanting to explain that after the test so that your friend can fully focus. Many creatures endure grueling tests because they know what lies at the end if they succeed. However, I only share what awaits them if they’re successful.”
To Albedo, that made sense given what Harmonia shared during his test. Though, there was now a different question in the back of his mind, “Makes sense to me. You wanted for me to prove that I was not a creature driven by greed or selfish desires. That I prove that my intentions were good not just through what I say, but also through my actions.”
Harmonia nodded as the manifestation looked towards the rest of the group, “Exactly. Now, as for how I wish to help you,” she said, before fixing her gaze to Twilight, “Twilight, would you happen to remember the story of how the Tree of Harmony came to be?”
“O-of course,” the alicorn stuttered, caught off guard by Harmonia’s request before she began to speak, “A long time ago in Equestria’s past, the Pillars of Equestria planted a seed in this cave that was imbued with the power of their elements before they went to confront the Pony of Shadows. That way the tree was able to protect Equestria from Darkness in their absence. It was something that we learned after we had rescued the six of them from Limbo.”
“Limbo?” Klee asked, “Like the game?”
“N-no, not that limbo,” Twilight quickly corrected herself just before Klee tried to demonstrate, “Limbo to us is the space between worlds. Remember how Starlight told you about the Mirror in my castle? Well, Limbo is the blank empty space between the two of them.”
“I see,” Albedo commented, before looking at the manifestation, “While the story sounds intriguing, how does that relate to you helping us, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“Simply put, I thought that what the Pillars had done to bring me into this world could be replicated. Just with a few differences,” After Harmonia said that, she had spread her wings as a shimmering light began to radiate from the tree, before a root with a flower bud at the end emerged from the ground like the Ley Line blossoms Albedo and Klee were all to familiar with. Though, when the flower bud bloomed, a crystalline seed that was the same color as the Tree of Harmony lended in the alchemist’s outstretched hand.
“A seed?” Klee asked, puzzled by the sight as she looked to her brother.
“I’m not particularly one for fancy names, but since Equestrian culture has no shortage of them, you may think of that as a ‘Seed of Harmony’,” the manifestation said, “As for how it works, if you plant that in a place that’s rich with magic and give it a couple of days, you will have the Ley Line that you’re looking for.”
“That… can definitely work out,” Twilight now said as she looked to Albedo, “We can use the time to make any preparations that you need before you start conducting any tests.”
“Yeah, but where would be a good place to plant it?” Ocellus now asked, unsure as to what kind of place would be the ideal location for their tests.
“I might have a suggestion for that,” Harmonia replied as she looked to Twilight, “While some creatures might not see it as the most ‘ideal’ place in order to be at any particular time, the magic there still lingers. Not to mention that it’s considerably far away from town and many of the creatures of the Everfree have steered clear of it since your last visit there with your friends. Same could be said for Ocellus and her friends too.”
Both the alicorn and the changeling looked back at each other, puzzled by the manifestation’s words. Then, things began to click and fall into place as they realized where exactly Harmonia was talking about.
“The Castle of the Two Sisters?”
It had been only a few moments after they had said goodbye to Harmonia and left the cave of harmony, but Twilight and Ocellus knew exactly where they would be going. As they were walking, the two of them took the time to fill them in while a tired Klee was riding piggyback on Albedo’s shoulders. “That’s right. Both Princess Celestia and Luna used to have a castle they called home out on the far reaches of the Everfree before most of it was destroyed when Celestia had to fight Nightmare Moon. For a time, my friends and I were trying to refurbish it, but after Tirek attacked Ponyville, things kind of slowed down to a halt. Nowadays, the only reason why we would come here is because much of the knowledge inside the castle was still preserved, even after thousands of years.”
“As for why I know about it,” Ocellus spoke up, “We had an incident at the beginning of the year where monsters attacked the school that led to my friends and I bringing most of the students here. However, when some of them tried to attack us at the Castle, Headmare Twilight and the others found us. Though, I don’t remember seeing anything relating to what you just said about knowledge.”
“Or why Harmonia would have us come here.” Albedo added.
“That’s because the castle is full of secret doors and passageways,” the alicorn told Ocellus, before looking to the alchemist, “As for your question, despite being thousands of years old, the magic in the castle has pretty much maintained the castle’s interior. The books I found when my friends and I went were still in good condition, the organ in the castle is in tune and there were sections of the castle where fresh produce could be found, despite it being abandoned for nearly a thousand years.”
Now things were beginning to slowly make sense. It must’ve been this magic that kept the castle in proper order that Harmonia thought they could utilize by planting the seed that they gave him. Of course, they needed to find a proper place to plant the seed once they arrived, but that probably wasn’t going to be too difficult to figure out.
As they approached the front of the castle, the alchemist chose to set down Klee by the entrance and have Ocellus keep an eye on her while he and Twilight explored the interior. At first glance, the castle itself was much bigger than Albedo originally anticipated. Each room was a potential candidate as to where to plant the seed, but after looking through all of them, the alchemist had one ideal choice in mind.
The Chamber of the Elements. Where Twilight and her friends first found where the Elements of Harmony were stored. Though, it wasn’t the pedestal in the center of the room that was needed. It was underneath, for even though it had been so long since they were last here, the ground underneath the pedestal looked as if it hadn’t aged a day. A place that was ideal for when they were going to begin their tests.
After the alicorn used her magic to move the pedestal, Albedo got to work and planted the seed in the ground underneath and used his alchemy to seal it up. Now that the seed had been planted, all they had to do was wait and prepare.