It was quiet nights like this that Harmony could appreciate.
The mare closed her eyes, letting the gentle breeze of the night flutter through her purple mane, her body basking in the ambiance in the dead night of winter, her face glancing up in the afterglow of the crescent moon hanging amidst the scintillation of stars scattered across the sky.
The town of Pendant Lakes still shone fervently below, somehow marveling the mare yet annoyed her at the time. Despite being in the remote regions of the north, it was like every other city in the rest of Equestria: always intent on celebrating the arrival of winter with the usual majesties of sparkling shops and adorned windows exhibiting an array of polished items standing on mere wooden racks that are able to interest even the most fussy of mares.
Speaking of winter, however...
Harmony turned back, her breath a shiver, towards the bedroom, smiling contently at the stallion draped under the crimson sheets.
Winter Palgiot let out a fuzzy snore, nearly making his marefriend laugh off the balcony. He cringed a little, his grip on the blankets tightening despite his given name.
"Silly stallion, you are..."
Her hooves padded onto the carpet, the mare slowly crept out of the door, shutting it behind with a near-silent click.
With one more circle of the scarf, she trotted down the corridors, illuminated only by the filtered rays of the moon. She had always considered herself a nocturnal pony, seeing how much energy she has in the darkest of night compared to early morning.
The direct opposite of Pinkie Pie.
Her attention quickly turned to that of the pink mare. She had seen her lingering around the palace lately, almost like whatever she was doing now, though only in the bright of the afternoon.
There wasn't a trace of happiness left in her since Gypsum's death. Harmony couldn't imagine the burden her friend was going through; the ones that she herself had started to strained under as well.
A few right turns, then a left ended her in the Music Room, once the haven of Carillon Palgiot.
The mare had read about her in one of the many books around the library a year ago, and had always looked up to her since then. Her talent in music seemed to have passed down towards Gypsum, who had a flute as her Cutie Mark.
She bit her lip, the signature chortle of the deceased Voyager echoing in her head.
"Not now, Harmony," the pink mare scolded herself. Now's not the time.
Her hoof scanned the brass instruments perched on the white cupboard, its knobs glistening a fine gold in the dazzling moonlight. She sighed with boredom, flicking one of the bells at the side.
*CLICK*
The turbulent noise of grinding stone made her turn around, a loud, metallic snap nearly making her heart leap out of her chest.
It seemed to be coming from everywhere, only fueling into her anxiety. The loud cacophony of whirring gears and crumbling rocks smashed like a distorted symphony around her, pounding the mare in a state of dilemma.
Harmony scrunched her eyes shut, her lips almost bleeding from the forceful bite of her lips. With hooves to her ears, she laid herself onto the floor, the chaos around becoming louder and louder...
The loud bang from around signaled the end of the pandemonium of noise, an influx of silence immediately replacing it.
The mare tried to stand, her ears ringing.
Her vision was a blur, though she could see instead of the white cupboard that stood, there was now a black, gaping cavern, with darkness eating away at the walls.
With one giddy step forward, Harmony nearly tumbled inside, her migraine stirring up again. She clutched her head, though it only blazed with every inch deeper into the cavern.
She held her breath, her horn emitting a bright glow of a ball, illuminating the uneven, rock walls of the dark passageway down.
The bottom was still an endless infinite of black, though her hooves clenched with determination. There was no doubt about it; she was going to find out whatever the heck's down there.
Even if Winter would forbid her from it.
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"Stellar..."
"No... impossible..."
"Stellar Lionheart..."
"We... We've sealed you.... Harrow, he..."
"All for naught..."
"MORTEORO!!"
His blade thrust into the air of the night as Stellar awoke with a shock, panting and wheezing hastily with cold sweat flung across his white satin sheets, dampening it in his perspiration.
The butler exhaled once more, releasing the rapacious aura out into the open to be replaced by one of serenity and calmness, his blade lowered onto the bed.
A flurry of slurs and rasps hissed from his mouth, all directed onto the colt himself.
Succumbing his conscience into a bunch of nightmares... ridiculous, he scowled.
Stellar glanced at his blade, his heart simmering with hatred at the smooth, glinting surface of it, the weapon bathed in the dim light of the moon.
He tossed it aside, hearing the unmistakable clang of metal onto the floor. With a crack of his hooves, he dragged the sheets back up to his waist, longing to return to his desired sleep.
The pair of eyes just looked into the blackness of the ceiling above, the butler letting out a long dejected sigh as he began to list down the recent turn of events happening around lately.
There was the return of Caduceus Brineheart; one of his oldest friends. He had forgotten to greet him today, knowing of his recent return from the excavation of Jezuthar. Then, of course, there was the assassination of Gypsum Palgiot, one of the brightest and most energetic mares of the household.
He trembled, remembering the solemn yet enraged faces of the Patriarch and his siblings during the funeral.
Especially the youngest one, who was utterly confused by everything happening.
Sure enough, there was the soft knock on the door. The butler lifted himself up, his hooves dragging with a turn of the knob. It was a sort of routine these days to have the filly come to his room at night, just to listen to a bedtime story.
The butler sighed. That was once Gypsum's job.
"Stellar?"
He grinned at the turquoise filly standing outside his door, a plushy pillow tucked in her hoof.
"You're a little late, Spring."
"I slept a little, but I had a bad dream..."
Spring pouted as the butler chuckled at her naivety, before guiding her in. She let out a small yawn, dragging herself onto the bed in exhaustion.
The butler strode to his armchair, reaching for the set of books he had hoarded from the library after hours and hours of scavenging.
"Now," he began, "which one would you like to read first?"
"Actually, I don't really wanna read any..."
"Oh?" Stellar said in surprise, looking at the dismal look on her face.
"What's wrong, Spring?"
The five year old filly shuffled reluctantly, her mouth muttering inaudibly.
The butler could only guess what's behind her expression, though her glistening eyes only told him of one possibility.
"I won't tell anypony else."
Spring looked up, her grip on the pillow tightening.
"Really?" she asked skeptically.
"I promise."
There was a sigh, before the filly began:
"It was a week ago, I think. I was sleeping then I saw something..."
"What did you see?" the butler asked, sitting at the edge of the armchair.
"It was Gypsum. She was running to Winter and Autumn. Then something came out of nowhere and..."
A sniffle, then a loud sob prompted Stellar to hug her tightly, before she continued:
"There was some red... stuff... I don't know.... i-it was e-everywhere and sh-she just fell..."
"Wait," Stellar cut in.
"You said you saw it a week ago?"
"Th-That's the problem! She was still alive then!"
Spring held her tears in, the butler's gentle pat on her back calming her down.
"I saw her die before it happened, Stellar!"
"Well, I-I'm sure there's a logical explanation for that," he replied, albeit with doubt.
"You certainly need some rest. We'll think about this tomorrow, alright?"
His words somehow reassured the filly, who gave a large grin and an equally large yawn. It wasn't long before Spring's head finally slumped, her body all curled up like a feline with a quiet snore.
Stellar smiled warmly, placing her pillow beside her, in which she instinctively grabbed in her sleep. He held his breath, watching the filly stir about in her restless sleep, before finally settling down in a tranquil slumber.
His mind, however, pondered on the filly's words. Seeing Gypsum get shot before it occured... it wasn't any ordinary thing that would happen, even in a family such as this.
A blinding glow erupted suddenly, making the butler shield his eyes.
He peered from beneath his hooves, watching as the sleeping filly glowed, particularly at her flank.
"Her talent..." he muttered to himself, the intensity of the light starting to die down.
Stellar rose from the armchair, cautiously approaching the filly. Surprisingly enough, Spring had slept soundly through it, oblivious to everything that happened.
The butler rubbed his eyes. Her Cutie Mark was revealed.
A crystal ball.
She had the ability to tell the future, Stellar concluded.
That would mean her premonition wasn't just a coincidence, he thought to himself. It was meant to happen.
He bit his lip; her talent was seeing the future, yet the future always arrives, no doubt endlessly.
Won't that mean...?
He held his breath, stumbling upon the realization.
That she was always showcasing her talent, no matter what.
Talent meaning the catalyst for the family curse.
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The darkness of the cavern was foreboding, the only source of light being the globular radiance shimmering from her horn.
Harmony Peridot glanced around, her hooves sliding down the wall of uneven rock, smoothed by the endless drips of water from the stalactites above. A set of unnatural stone stairs were carved into the ground, its slippery surface covered in moss and a few mushrooms.
There were a few cairns she had passed, the top of them resembling the shape of a bowl with water collected at the edges. The musty, hollow draft flowing between her hooves only reminded her of her unwelcoming presence, a part of her wanting her to turn back.
The descending steps finally came to a halt, into a grand expanse of stone. The unicorn couldn't help but gasp, her sphere of light expanding to illuminate the immensely wide stretch of the cavern.
The granite plateau was carved into the shape of a Maltese cross, its arms extending to the sides of the dome-shaped cavern. At each respective end, there was a stone doorway, the top of it all carved in some strange, runic language.
She groaned with annoyance, her migraine reaching its near-peak point, her hooves trying her best not to stumble over as she strode giddily towards the center of the platform, glancing up in awe.
Standing on a cylindrical base was a statue, depicting a pony with his hooves raised up in a fighting stance. Its eyes frowned down upon Harmony, whose ball of light shone across his bitter expression of animosity.
But what mystified him was the object at the bottom of his stone hooves.
It was a book, though thicker than most of those she had seen in the library. The cover was wrinkled with age, the pages it held behind tainted yellow. The red, rough spine was already starting to tear, with an intricate, elaborate signature of some sort painted gold at the bottom of it, covered in a fine layer of dust.
The pink mare could only squint her eyes at the intimidating words, managing to make out:
Mundus Regis
"The World King"
She glanced at the ornate letters in disbelief, unable to perceive what she just saw.
"Wonder what's it doing down here?" she asked herself. Something this unique couldn't be just left here underground without any reason.
A loud bang from somewhere made her whirl around, her breathing growing frantic as the sound of trotting hooves echoed throughout the cavern. Her ball of light suddenly flickered, before the entire cavern plunged into darkness.
Biting onto the book, she quickly duck behind the statue, her face peering out just in time to see two cloaked figures entering from one of the doorways.
"So your plan is to excavate deeper?"
Harmony held her breath, her ears straining.
"The usual," the other voice replied. Like his friend, his voice was deep, yet there was a certain rasp to it.
"I'm assuming you want the others to join in as well."
"They must at least know of our conquest down here, don't they?"
There was a pause, before the other voice began again:
"You might be right about that. But at least let me scan the area for a moment."
The mare let out a silent gasp, noticing the pair's hooves approaching from the corner of her eyes.
She slid herself around the base, her ears perking to receive the message as the two shady figures continued their conversation:
"Who would've thought there would be ruins right below the town?"
Harmony stopped short, creeping back again out of curiosity.
"I can't believe it either," the other voice said with a chuckle.
"I wish the others could spare a little time. They should've seen how magnificent these structures are."
There was no doubt about it, she thought to himself, glancing at the direction the two ponies were heading into, completely oblivious about the pink mare's presence.
She felt her heart leap with anticipation. Ruins at the bottom of Pendant Lakes? Nopony would even think of it, considering already how old the town itself was.
"Hand me your damn spyglass, Caduceus."
Her mind stopped at the name. It couldn't be...
"What? You're going to examine it again?"
"I can't just stand on the balcony and gander at it, right?"
Caduceus... That name was too familiar for her to ignore.
Then it clicked, the mare blinking in realization.
"You're sure Winter would allow us to excavate it?"
The mention of her coltfriend's name made her linger around a little longer.
"He already gave his permission."
Another surprised, silent gasp. The Patriarch knows this as well?
That does it, she scowled under her breath, out of earshot from the shady duo. She needs answers.
As the two ponies entered through one of the doorways, she quickly scampered back to where she came from, relieved yet infuriated as well.
Why didn't Winter tell her about this? That damn stallion...
She spat at the stone stairs, ascending the path back up into the music haven. The crumpling book glowed a bright pink, hovering freely as her horn wishes it to be.
Her thoughts immediately focused onto the Patriarch. Harmony gritted her teeth, her brows furrowed once she stepped back into the palace from the musty caverns, finally re-invited into the dim glow of moonlight.
If Winter doesn't want to speak, she told herself, then Celestia be damned she would find out herself.
Even if it means crossing the line.
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Pinkie let out her thousandth whimper of the night, wiping the endless rain of tears that were running down her face. Her mane was still flattened, though not completely with a few strays already sticking out from the dark pink curtain of hers.
The sorrow still ravaged in her chest, never diminishing since her friend passed. Her one effort of suicide was stopped by Winter, much to her ease, though she soon scowled about it afterwards.
"Forgiveness..."
Her breath shuddered as she inhaled, though the storm never seemed to calm. It wasn't long before the images of Gypsum's cheerful grin came back bouncing into her head, making her let out yet another sniffle.
The knock on the door saved her from breaking down once more, the mare softly calling out:
"Come in."
The door swung open slowly, the pink mare grimacing the instant she saw the stallion entering the room.
Winter Palgiot approached modestly yet cautiously, his face a bright smile. Judging from the ruffled, matted blue mane - Pinkie held back her giggle - he had a very bad case of bedhead.
"What do you want?" she scowled grimly, crossing her hooves with spite.
"Just seeing if you require any companionship."
There was only a humph in response, relieving the Patriarch to be able to gain at least one subtle reply.
"It seems you're faring well."
"Better without you," she snarled.
"Still contemplating suicide?"
Pinkie whirled back, almost as if insulted as Winter snickered under his breath.
"W-What do you mean 'suicide'? I'm over that!"
The Patriarch tried not to laugh, only making the pink mare pout.
"You know," he said, "you seem to be cute when you're angry."
"I. Am. NOT!"
"Okay, okay!" he hastily replied the rising mare, who settled back down, making him breath a huge sigh of relief.
"I just wish you and your friends can... you know... forgive one another..."
"They've argued, Winter," she snapped, her tears quickly flooding back.
"Argued when their friend is lying on the floor and bleeding her heart out!"
"But it's not entirely their fault-"
"Now she's DEAD!!" Pinkie broke in with a scream into his face.
"S-She's gone..."
The Patriarch suddenly felt himself being jerked towards the mare, who began to cry in his chest. He held back his surprise, trying to absorb what just happened.
"Uh, Pinkie...?" he called, though her endless sobs drowned it out.
He sighed, letting Pinkie bawl out her devastation, ignoring the dampness it was causing across his chest and hooves. His hoof instinctively patted her back, gently hushing her with every stroke down her mane.
It was about fifteen minutes that the pink mare finally stopped crying, wiping her tears away. The Patriarch looked down at her, watching her eyes sparkle gently.
The feeling in his gut kicked him, making his hooves tingle. His mouth fumbled and fuddled, before Winter could finally figure out what to say:
"Are you alright, now?"
She only let out an inaudible mutter, prompting him to speak:
"Look, I know Gypsum's... passing. Has you a little overworked and all."
The Patriarch held his breath, before pressing onwards.
"But it's time we let go of the past, Pinkie. It's time we should move on."
"But-"
"We will never forget about her, Pinkie," he cut in, knowing in his gut what she wanted to say.
"There are so many happy memories of her, so why bother reminding ourselves of her death?"
Pinkie just looked down sullenly, before feeling a hoof around her shoulder.
"Gypsum told me a little about you," Winter said gently, making her blink in surprise.
"She told me about how you were found in Canterlot by the Princess herself," he continued, stopping for a moment as the pink mare started to tremble.
"I'm sorry... about your parents..."
"I-It's... alright..."
She tried to smile, albeit a sad one. Shifting towards the white stallion, her heart beating an echo, she let out a tired yawn, before leaning against his shoulder.
"Thank you for being here..."
Before he could reply, Winter's ears perked at the sound of light snoring.
He chuckled quietly, absentmindedly combing her mane as she slept on his lap. Without any hesitation, the Patriarch gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead, the pink mare grinning in her slumber in response.
She looked beautiful.
"If only..." the stallion whispered into her ear. His heart throbbed with painful longing, watching Pinkie sparkle with the dancing lights around her.
Winter closed his eyes, striding towards the door. He glanced back once more, still mesmerized by the adorable yet graceful serenity Pinkie was embracing.
He has Harmony now, the Patriarch reminded himself. He must remain loyal.
The aching feeling in his heart prospered, growing into full bloom. With a twist of the knob, Winter stepped out of the door, finally able to finish his sentence:
"If only I had met you sooner..."
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Present Day
The sounds of humming violins and blaring trumpets erupted in a calming, sensational performance of satisfaction and enjoyment, the Equinox ballroom filled with the ponies of Pendant Lakes, literally. Among the clattering hooves against the polished marble floors, there were the endless chatters revolving around from each corner of the room, only adding to the lively scene the Patriarch had arranged for today.
Winter Palgiot stood humbly yet proudly, his horn glowing indistinguishably among the dazzling spectacle of crystals hanging above, recently repaired to perfection. He gave every single pony a modest nod as they passed by him, not knowing of the plans he had prepared, just in case.
A tap on his shoulder made him turn, immediately facing his loyal butler.
"What is it, Stellar?"
"I'm sure you're aware of the Princesses's presence, my Patriarch?"
"Of course," he justified.
"Doctor Brineheart had notified me of this."
With a quick bow, Stellar left in a hurry, leaving Winter to gaze upon the ever-shifting crowd.
The stallion straightened his bow tie, ruffling his white collars neatly before nodding towards one of the servants in waiting, who quickly raised a spoon towards a wine glass.
*TINK TINK TINK*
Winter cleared his throat, watching as everypony turned towards him.
"As always," he began, observing each and every face within the crowd.
"I'm delighted to have guests to attend the ball, and I'm sure, as residents of Pendant Lakes, no doubt all of you are eager to finally step into the palace, and I'm happy that we, as ponies, understand each other, despite of class or type."
A cascading wave of clops followed, before the Patriarch continued:
"As always, the tragic events of the past must be forgotten, and I hold this ball partly as a memorial to those who had deceased recently, particularly my siblings, Summer and Autumn."
His eyes scanned through the ponies. She should be here somewhere...
"I suppose I couldn't have been more honored to have the town here with me. A round of applause for everypony here; for everypony that has attended this glorious festival."
Another grand applause followed, Winter smiling beatifically before his eyes stopped, glancing into the crowd.
Instead of a face, he spotted a mask. It was gleaming, with one half black, the other a contrasting white. Three teardrops were dipped at the side, with its eye-holes furrowed into a furious glare.
The noticeable feature of it, however, was the criss-cross of stitches at the lips, which seemed to curl into a smile at the excitement of being discovered.
"Now," Winter finally said, his focus fixated on the cloaked figure as she whirled behind one of the marble pillars, in some sort of seemingly entrancing and sultry attempt to lure him.
"Enjoy yourselves, and may this night be a glorious one for each and every one of you!"
One last bow, followed by another applause, before the Patriarch quickly headed into the scattering crowd, swerving past the number of ponies blocking his way.
At the end of the trail, the masked pony noticed his approach, though her raised hoof only beckoned the stallion to come closer.
Before he reached the pony, however, she suddenly stepped behind the pillars, losing herself from his view.
Winter scowled under his breath as he finally stumbled out of the crowd, glancing around the darker, more secluded corners of the room.
A pair of hooves suddenly wrapped around him, though he seemed unfazed by that, only responding with a dark, cold growl of his breath.
"Harmony," he snarled, never bothering to turn back.
There was a giggle from the mare, her mask seemingly removed.
"How's for visiting, Winter?"
"For an uninvited one, seemingly predictable."
The stallion could feel her lace dress rubbing against his black suit, realizing of her sudden change of attire.
"I suppose you're dressed for the occasion."
"As always," she replied meekly, yet there was a foreboding slur in her voice.
"Still with that pink freak?"
"Which pink freak?" Winter shot back, his hooves shifting uncomfortably.
"I assure you she and I had broken up already."
In response, there was a scowl, before the Patriarch felt himself being pushed harshly forward.
He tensed his shoulders, turning around to face the grimacing mare. Her dress was, as he had predicted, a lace one, glittering with a few diamonds carefully woven into the fabric, ruffling out with a white, translucent ribbon at her waist.
Behind it, however, was the unmistakable glint of the double blades strapped at her hooves, the stallion's brows furrowing at the sight of it.
"She's not here anymore, Harmony," Winter said nonchalantly.
"She's gone. I'm back. Happy?"
"You only said that just to protect that little slut of yours."
The unicorns glared at each other, a furious rage burning in each of their eyes. It wasn't long before the music suddenly erupted into a full crescendo, before a radiant beam of light suddenly shone towards the pair.
Winter held his hooves up, as well as Harmony, trying to shielding from the brilliant flare of light. A deep voice boomed from around, the Patriarch recognizing it immediately.
"Stellar, you sly fox," he cursed under his breath.
"And now I present to you, the Patriarch; who seems to have selected his dance partner of the evening!"
Laughs and chuckles echoed from all around, prompting the two unicorns to join along as well. Harmony turned to him, the imminent wrath in her eyes already making him snort with disgust.
"Please welcome them to the stage, everypony!!"
Forcing out a smile, the two unicorns holding each other's hooves, with a path separating the sea of ponies laid out just for them. Both ponies marched down the 'aisle', sweat already running down their foreheads out of uncertainty with the loud applause they were giving.
Winter wrinkled his snout, wanting to just loosen his grip on his ex-marefriend's hooves and flee, though the majority of voices in his head told him this will never be the case.
It wasn't long before both stallion and mare reached the center of the marble floor, forcefully joined together by the hooves. The stallion suddenly pulled Harmony closer, only making her let out a growl.
"Dangerous little minx you are now, aren't you?" he teased, albeit sarcastically.
Harmony just rolled her eyes, the once-couple grimacing among the other, noticeably happier pairs standing about the floor. As soon as the music starts, their hooves shifted effectively, the two ponies mirroring each other's moves.
Winter held his breath, the mare starting to turn in his hooves. He brought her closer, the pink unicorn trying to quell her flurry of rage as he whispered into her ear:
"Just like old days, ain't it?"