//------------------------------// // Chapter 57: Balancing // Story: The Trinity of Moons: Mending Shards // by Cloud Ring //------------------------------// ⊛⊛⊛ “What, sister? Well, no!” the transparent unicorn flickered twice, and Gentle heard that the voice was not coming from Sunset — Gentle decided to call the projection that name until she decided to introduce herself any other way — but from all sides, echoing in a cramped room. “No? Okay, okay, I'm sorry,” Cursory said in a soothing tone, “I thought you’d be glad to be remembered, to have those who care for you. That you have relatives. You have had no contact with the Red, haven’t you? I get that you are divided. Sorry.” “Can we at least talk about it?” Gentle asked. “If you don’t mind. My life is hanging by a thread right now, and not only mine. We are all in danger. Everypony here, those who came to visit you. And ... didn't you call for us? We have all dreamed about the ocean — about your domain — it just can’t be a mere coincidence.” There was no answer but silence, long enough for the team to gather together along the circular wall of the compartment, opposite to Sunset. Sunset looked confused, slightly angry, deep in thought, and Gentle closed her eyes and tried to see her true feelings. But Gentle saw neither the rainbow web like those of ordinary ponies, nor the extremely dense weaving of the Moons, nor the absence of Dispassion — only an all-over membrane, shimmering with worry and concern but hiding a lot more behind it. Also — Gentle had little doubt about it — in fact, the membrane was here only for her eyes. A show; a mask holding the truth against a known observer. Gentle frowned and, attempting to copy her future wife's tone, hurried Sunset up, “If you really have objections, we can leave. It’s your choice. But please, at least say it out loud — then we will know that we did our best and you chose to deny us. We are willing to behave as you prefer — we are at your home after all.” Sunset blinked, in both senses, twice and thrice, and disappeared entirely. Gentle looked back at Cursory, confused, "Did I say something wrong? I do not see her... that is, not in the common sense…” Cursory smiled, getting Gentle’s stammering, “Do not worry, my dear. Even though you didn’t go into details, and didn’t talk to me about your abilities as you should, it’s your eyes that betray you. I know what they mean, I understand, and I'm not afraid.” Gentle took a step back, “What do you mean? “The blue web over your irises,” Cursory said slowly, carefully, “You may have not known about it yourself, and scarce few ponies will get what it means, as it is still a rare feature... but I know. I had to... resolve issues of the sort, you know what I mean, so I have ponies to compare you with, you know? And if I do compare— if I do, then you are, at least, fit to live by yourself, not at somepony else's expense. When I invited you to stay with me, you refused, and that was a really good sign. Others of your lot could just ride on me, use me up, then unhook and jump to another pony to use them. That’s how issues of the sort often enter the system.” Gentle blushed, "So... everypony else knows too? Have you all always known?” She looked around the team. Solid Line nodded; the rest politely glanced away, clearly not getting it. Plum, prancing on the spot, chimed in, “I know a lot: the recipe for pancakes with cherries, how to fall from heights and keep standing, how to be near you when you need it or away when I would be a nuisance. What are you talking about now, I don’t even have a clue.” "It’s not terribly important," Cursory smiled at her, “An open secret of the family.” Gentle, still embarrassed, reminded, “If we’re done with personal secrets… What did I say wrong to Sunset? Well, this pony…” “I have no idea, my dear,” Cursory twitched her ear, “But you definitely found her spot. Let’s wait, then. How much air do we have, Storm?” “For three more slices. We can wait for one slice, then one is for the rise, and one reserved for unforeseen circumstances,” she responded. “No need to turn on the shield?” Cursory asked. Meanwhile, Blacklight walked over to the terminal and began digging through it; nopony minded her. Storm narrowed her eyes and replied, condescending, “Well, how do you picture communications from under the shield? We close ourselves off from external reality. We do not even exist for it anymore. She could attack alright, but at that point no further negotiation would be physically possible. We can call her again once the battle subsides, though.” Blacklight smiled, “At least this is a genuine adventure. Dartline, could you take a picture of us as a keepsake? While the sensors are silent.” “Maybe say that we don’t want to offend her?” Plum suggested. Blacklight nodded and said into the microphone, “Sunset, please come back? We still have a lot to say to each other. We—” She had no time to finish: the previously dark sector of colored light bulbs on the terminal’s panel blinked blue and green, and Sapphire’s face appeared on the terminal’s small screen, “The Moons are here!” the metallic blue unicorn blurted out. “Who? Where exactly?“ Storm rushed to the terminal, pushed Blacklight away from it, stood next to her, intently staring at the screen. “All three. They got to the shore through our base, armed, in primordial armor. Yes, in physical bodies, I see Them on all frequencies,” Sapphire replied. “Suggestions, conditions, requirements?” Storm spoke in a burst. “None heard. While we are talking, They have crossed through our base and are moving on,” Sapphire was still pale, “The shield will not hold up against their concentrated strike, you know. The sub’s even less so.” “Keep the channel open, I heard you, and will make my suggestion in a moment!” Storm fell silent for two beats, biting her lip, then spoke again at the same fast pace, “Prime the shield for automatic activation, with the trigger calibrated to the disturbances’ increase beyond one ninth above current threshold. Raise the sweep rate of the sensors to the maximum. Contact Black Moon on a reserved channel, open it for an answer, relay it to us. Make a note for the station.” “Roger,” Sapphire nodded, and the view on the screen changed. Now it showed the coast of the ocean from a typical height of a pegasus’ flight — the camera swayed and vibrated, looking around, then found the small figures of three alicorns and zoomed in without flying closer — but the camera was good enough to clearly see Their faces. Leading was White Moon, in solid armor of alabaster void — no contours, no decorations, no bulges or recesses, only the purest whiteness, where, it seemed, one could step in and wander forever under the all-embracing light. A five-color disc in evasively flowing hues — the same as in the sky — floated in the air right in front of Her chest. She was carrying a long white lance on one side, its tip needle-sharp and a gilded shield on the other. Serene content was on Her face, and pace was relatively slow. A few steps back and three to the side of the leader was Blue Moon. She was wearing a silver breastplate and black hoof armor, which comprised the material part of the vestment; besides them, twinkling stars and nebulae were draped over Her entire body, covering the sides, back and legs with a deceptive ghostly mist. A bow on Her side, at the front legs; a translucent hunting net — according to legends it could stretch across the sky or contract down  to a pony's head size — where bags are usually worn, on the other side, with a short spear next to it. Before Her chest, at a short distance, there was a blue sphere, and nopony would be certain about its exact shade of blue, or about its brightness, as it floated and flickered like swamp lights or an elusive disturbing dream. Her appearance was undoubtedly worried, all but frightened, and even Her steps were hasty. Black Moon was on the other side of White and even further back, in black armor with neon-green streaks, which, according to rumors, meant all the answers of the past and future; the weapon of the Moon, if She had one with Her, stood hidden in tightly closed bags on the sides; bags moved and trembled, as if something was trying to get out of them. The symbol of the Moon was not in front of Her chest, unlike other Apexes; instead, fields and ribbons of gray shadows swirled around, reminding Gentle of her visit to 12-S and obscuring the contours of the alicorn. She probably took Her very reality along, Gentle Touch thought and peered at Black Moon’s face; She was curious, anticipating, purposeful. They moved towards the shore, keeping this uneven formation with Blue Moon gradually coming forward, and the camera followed the Trinity. Finally, Sapphire's voice was heard, “Reputable ones… You crossed our borders, twice now. Under the terms of the contract, this is—” “Permissible in order to correct potential existential threats that require cooperation with your faction,” Black Moon answered dryly, “Had your property been damaged in any way?” “No, but— you could just say it. Our base is not even on the way to shore — you could manifest anywhere, this is your world!” Sapphire shouted. “Unrequired. By our action, We conveyed exactly what We wanted to say, and you understood Us perfectly, even if you still refuse to believe,” The Moons did not lose Their pace, and Blue almost caught up with White; Black Moon flashed forward, still out of the leading line. “You could have called off the expedition in advance if it is a threat!” Sapphire took a pause for that. “If it were only a threat, it would be so,” now Black Moon slowed, then turned a bit to look straight at the camera, which was hovering at a throw distance from the Moons. The ball of fire, slowly thrown from the tip of White Moon’s horn, melted the snow and the soil under it with equal ease, leaving nothing behind, and the hemispherical notch-bowl appeared where the fireball was just a beat ago, deep enough for the alicorn to come in and still stay below the surface, exuded a pale orange glow — until Blue Moon cooled it down, covering it with transparent ice. “In fact, the situation is no less a threat,” Black Moon continued, without looking away, “than it is the opening. You know that this war will lead to our defeat and the destruction of the world. We need to make a move, as otherwise the Red wins once time expires.” Gentle intervened, not knowing if they would hear her or not, “We are willing to give them a chance! The underwater one is much kinder and more lively, and even for the Red in heavens, not all is lost yet! We can correct your mistake!” “The Moons do not make mistakes. Your opinion has been heard and taken into account before,” Black Moon replied in a beat, “There is no need to repeat what you have already conveyed to Us. It is ironic that the outcome and the decision depends on you, and it is up to you to decide. We have no power under water. But when the two parts of Sunset Shimmer's existence move towards each other, then there will be an opening.” Three heaps of big stones — white, black and iridescent — lined the perimeter of the crater on the shore. The remaining Moons stood near the crater, not interfering with the conversation. “So everything is pointless?” Blacklight asked, “You will attack her on takeoff? “It is possible,” Black Moon nodded, “This move will lead to victory too. But I am against it. Infallibility requires reaching a consensus among all the Moons — or surrendering the initiative to the Red; and to you, as it befits its Heralds. The former option is infinitely far from the realm of possibility, so the latter remains.” Heralds' protesting voices, overlapping each other, rang out behind Gentle; Cursory had been a little louder “I don’t want to be the Herald of the Red!”, and Solid Line answered her “Me too! Is it at all possible?" Gentle herself knew that she too should be indignant, but instead felt a strange satisfaction. Everything went as it should have been. "I did not say that you are the Heralds of Red," Black Moon grinned, "But your functions overlap on this segment of reality. Go on and attempt to do your best. Know that We are on Our guard. I am ready to give the Red a chance if it is ready to end the war and rebuild the world with Us." "I object!" White Moon instantly appeared next to Black, also looking directly into the camera lens; She was clearly angry, "Too many victims, too many lives spent in torment, and constant fear among our ponies. Approached with good intentions the Red distorts them and turns evil. Remember what happened when We gave it mirrors in exchange for the reproduction and growth? It cannot be forgiven.” Black Moon nodded back to her, “I remember,” and not a word more. White Moon continued, without much distraction, “I am to close the loophole it will be using for release, and to make the next — the last — history with the Word of Disentanglement weaved in from the very beginning. It is unlikely that the Red will find something to counter it, and We will live the final move in proper peace, like all the ponies. What would you say, Blue?” Blue Moon slowly approached them, and Her first words were stifled and bitter, on the verge of tears, “I understand both your voices and agree with them, as well as with the opinion of those below. Somepony willing to abstain from Their opinion and let another Apex take priority in the question?” White and Black Moons shook Their heads slowly. “Then we vote,” Blue Moon said, “White stones for destruction of the Red and ending the game on the following turn, multicolored go for... synthesis and acceptance of the renewed Red, if I follow you right, Black?” Black Moon nodded silently. “Then black stones go for the status quo and the expectation of a new chance this turn, without an actual new turn.” Blue Moon finished. White Moon laughed bitterly, “Then We will make You choose anyway. Voice against voice leads to tie, which then We need to break.” “So be it,” Blue Moon nodded. Gentle looked at them with wide eyes, afraid even to exhale. Plum walked over to her and began to massage her back. Sunset still has not shown up. White Moon lowered three white stones into the bowl, and slowly moved away from it. Black Moon gave a curt nod to Blue Moon, inviting Her to vote first. Blue Moon, going up to the bowl, lowered a rainbow stone into it, then another one— There was no third rainbow one. Instead, held by the magic of Her horn, a white stone hung over the bowl. Black Moon, with a barely noticeable smile, silently approached the bowl, and exactly repeated the latter choice; two rainbow stones added into the bowl, one white suspended above it. White Moon, frowning, clarified, “Hmm... will you stay like that?” “Why not?” Black Moon asked in a completely neutral tone. “Their weight is negligible, and we have enough patience. Until we decide to drop them.” Two white stones floated above the bowl, enveloped in magic auras, blue and neon green. “Those underwater. In accordance with the current decision you may proceed, for now.” Black Moon said, and two other Apexes echoed her. Sunset's voice sounded quiet and frightened; she did not even play a ghost, just appeared in the comms channel between the submarine and the surface, “Do you understand... that I can not promise anything? The whole will not be me, and it will not even be our sum, and even if I do not want anything bad, there is still... that one in the heavens.” “We lay our hope on exactly this,” Black Moon said, “What you said, is true both ways. The very first history that made a foundation for all the others to follow had two Moons per each of the colors, sharing their bodies. Alicorns were divided, separated inside. Not the best way to live.” Sunset appeared, sitting on the terminal panel — translucent and imperceptible, she occupied the same place as Blacklight's hooves, and a little higher — the head of Gentle peering into the screen. There was not even a tickle, but Gentle jumped to the side anyway. “Then I need more details,” Sunset said firmly, “Why should I give up my ocean which I myself made a place for suitable existence, and my life with it, to be not even me anymore but some Moon?”