It took a lot of willpower, but Gem managed to hold off running straight there just long enough to take a look at some of Rarity’s displayed works and nab a couple of magazines for later. Currently, Twilight carried them on her bags.
Gem was back in the world of symphonies of colors, describing some of the things she heard and saw with a dreamy sigh. It’d be easier if she were an earth pony, but once she got going it didn’t make much of a difference. Maybe she could teach this? She’d have to start from the basic experiences, and it was likely she’d have to brew some Light-River wine, but it would be nice to do something for Twilight.
*****
We ponies make the earth sing beneath our hooves, our steps and heartbeats shaping the world around us; depending on the type, mood and condition of the pony, the sounds fluctuate in a never-ending orchestra of color, shape, and movement. Unicorns like me make the tingling of glass bells, or more solid bells on occasion, or the sound of a piano, marimbas or similar instruments, and delicate strings like harps. Pegasus ponies are some of the more sonorous string instruments, as well as wind instruments like flutes. Earth ponies are the brass section of the ensemble, the bass-spectrum instruments, and the percussion as well.
Flight, vigorous activity, and spellcasting also have a noticeable effect on the area, enriching the sounds to a different level.
This is by no means fixed, as she said that with but a simple spell, things could get turned on their head. I guess the could-walking spell has a more profound side to it; this is a whole new side to magic I intend to explore for possibilities. More efficient spells and maneuvers ‘sound’ and ‘look’ better, as they are better-structured and/or flow more easily.
There are exceptions as well; just as Fluttershy is highly attuned to wildlife even when compared to an earth pony, there are unicorns with ‘deep’ and ‘tough’ music attached instead of ‘crisp’ tones, earth ponies with ‘airy’ or ‘delicate’ instruments, or different combinations of the effects. Gemini herself has no particular affinity even without spells acting upon her, instead just picking whatever she feels would compliment this ‘environmental symphony’ – which seems to do wonders to improve her mood.
She has expressed great curiosity as to how would you and your sister would sound like, even if discovering it meant that she has to walk all the way to Canterlot.
We caught the scent of baked goods, and she looked ready to start floating from the pleasant feeling freshly-baked cake produced inside us. I know I love it!
*****
“Hi! Looking good!” Pinkie said from behind the counter, holding Pound Cake on her forelegs. “The breakfast rush happened super-duper fast! Everypony and I mean everypony wants to prepare for the par-TAY!” She gave a small whoop to accentuate, which was imitated by the foal.
Gemini let out a squee of happiness upon seeing the Cake’s foals. “Babies!”
*****
From her stories and actions, it is evident that she’s fiercely protective of young children and their families regardless of species; quite understandable, I have the impression that she just wants a family to call her own.
Unfortunately, Dash chose that moment to make a harsh remark about ‘taking forever to get dolled up’ and that if we had taken any longer she would have gone to get her. Then she stomped in irritation.
The effect on Gemini was immediate, as if she had had a bucket of ice emptied on her. She got really quiet and went to sit at a corner, facing away from us like a scolded filly; she then began to hold her tail on one hoof and stroking it with the other, a habit she developed due to the lack of physical contact. I understood quickly that saying ‘get you’ so angrily was a poor decision, and, judging by the slap to the back of the head she gave Rainbow Dash, so did Applejack.
Pinkie tried offering her a complimentary cheer-up cupcake, but she rejected it. I did not understand how much of a bad sign that was at the time, although, given that she just stood in a single place instead of running away, she understood that Dash didn’t mean anything by it; she still needed some time for her heart to catch up to her head, though.
Pinkie, of all ponies, swore off a large variety of surprise parties for Gem and a great deal of scare-type pranks as a result – anything where somepony jumps at her in a way that might be misconstrued as an ambush of some sort; Gem abhors surprises, at least that specific kind, and Pinkie Pie is just that mindful of others. This arrangement is called ‘Partial Fluttershy Treatment’, since not all pranks were disallowed. Sure, if Gemini is prepared, she would be nearly impossible to surprise, but all it would take is a small distraction and a bad prank to get her to flee Ponyville altogether - like it almost happened when the two first met.
“Tia, all will be fine.” Luna gently lifted her sister’s chin with the very tip of her wing. Celestia was revisiting some unpleasant memories, and needed an attentive ear and kind advice.
“Oh, Twilight. I-I only meant it as a joke…” She said in a low, tired voice. Luna hated seeing Celestia like that; she wasn’t her strong, smart, and kind big sister, with eyes sparkling with brilliance and the wisdom of ages. Right now, she wasn’t Celestia, princess of the Sun and co-ruler of Equestria, exuding charisma and inspiring awe with her presence. No, whenever she was like that… she just looked old.
Old, and heavy with her mistakes.
“I thought she had gotten over it, after all, it’s been years already. I mean, I knew she was anxious, scared that I was going to give her a surprise test; after you managed to calm her down, I thought- I thought that a little teasing would be fun. I should have known better.”
Luna said nothing, limiting herself to nuzzling and listening.
“But no. I had to say it, didn’t I? I had to poke fun at her nervous breakdowns. I had to ruin my chance to apologize just to have a little laugh. I had to forget everything I planned just to say ‘I hope you studied well, I just finished making up the exam’.” Celestia’s face contorted with a pained frown.
“Twilight Sparkle forgave you for that.” Luna said firmly.
“She blacked out!” Celestia snapped back. “She had a blackout from sheer stress!”
“Twilight Sparkle forgave you for that.” Luna solemnly repeated herself, pressing herself just a little bit into her big sister.
“But I couldn’t bring myself to tell her. Sure, I loved spending time with her again, to get her to forget my cruel joke.” The tired white pony sighed. “But pretending that nothing else was wrong…”
“It made you feel sick, yes, but you were afraid she would not be in the right frame of mind.” Luna then had an idea. “This new friend could help you get another chance, even indirectly.”
“How?”
“Invite them all to Canterlot, and then leave them to me while you ask Twilight Sparkle to do something with you and converse, like tea.”
“Or we could visit. Twilight would feel more comfortable at Ponyville.” Celestia’s words were gradually recovering their usual strength. Her mood was still grim, but her determination had been re-ignited; as the sun rose each dawn, so did her resolve gain warmth and strength.
*****
“Rain-bow Dash!” Rarity stomped a hoof of her own. “I will have you know that Gemini is a mare after my own heart; while you may be content with your ‘windswept’ look, others like us prefer a sophisticated touch!”
“Please, don’t cry, you’ll… ruin your make up?” Twilight said, and then bit her lips. Things had been going so well, with Gemini very pleased after the bath…
“Pound Cake, she likes you already, do something!” Pinkie told the foal, right before holding him inside Gemini’s range of vision.
Gem looked at the tiny pony, who stared back in mild confusion as babies often did when meeting strangers. She smiled softly, while Pound tilted his head.
“And who’s this handsome little colt?” She said, still somber, as she gently –oh so gently- took hold of the foal and cradled him.
*****
Mom, dad, later that day she told me outright that she would rather face dragons again than allow a family to be broken. She also expressed a desire to see you, if nothing else, because you raised me into the kind of pony that has an open mind and heart. She wants to thank us as a family.
Speaking of which, seeing her with a foal was… different. She does not spout ‘foal talk’ very often, instead speaking like she would to anypony else. Understandable - after all, a baby does not judge if they have their needs taken care of and shown affection. While she can be a ‘large filly’ most of the time, she showed all of her restraint and moderation at those moments, caring for Pound and Pumpkin like they were her own.
Yes, even if the Cake’s foals are in that stage. It helps that she could perceive the moment they were about to have one of their surges of magic, prompting her to literally blow the wind out of under Pound’s wings and somehow blocking Pumpkin’s magic with her own body before it could build up, effectively ending the surge before it could start.
=====
I could feel it, big brother. I might not be as sensitive as her, but I could feel a small pulse or ripple synchronized with her breathing, produced due to sheer will. She blanketed the foal she held as if shielding him; anything unfortunate enough to threaten the foals of Ponyville would discover just how dangerous a ‘grown filly’ could decide to be. She was on high alert, should something unexpected happen.
At first glance she appeared relaxed, though. She even produced a couple of rubber balls for the twins.
*****
“Are you alright?” Dash asked Gem, who had been knocked on her side by the twins chasing their presents around.
“Better.”
“Sorry.” Dash said as she extended an aiding hoof, pulling the downed mare back up.
“Don’t be, I’m always jumpy when Aer isn’t with me.”
“Who is-?” Rarity began to speak, but Gemini’s attention seemed to be pulled outside; she didn’t have to wonder why for long, as the sounds of laughter could be heard through the door.
“I have it! Carrot, Cup, I have it!” Cried the rapidly approaching voice from the outside, scant few seconds before the sound of hooves skidding through the earth made itself known, followed by the dry sound that could only come from the impact of a pony’s body against the bakery’s door. Even Pound and Pumpkin made a face.
“With the force her spirit is shining with, I’m surprised she didn’t put a hole through the wall.” Gem commented, as Lyra made her way to the door.
“Gemini, this is Bon-Bon, my flatmate.” Lyra opened the door with a small flash of golden magic, allowing the candy-maker mare’s body to fall inside. The mare’s blue and pink mane was disheveled and her eyes swiveled about in their sockets. The foals giggled at the scene. “Bon-Bon, is there any reason to laugh like a mad-mare?”
The other pony sprang back to her hooves, straightening her hair and saddlebags.
“Yes! I mean, no! I mean, it’s a surprise!” She blurted out, before her eyes fell on the new mare in town and she began grinning maniacally. “Don’t worry! These pastries are going to blow your mind!”
With that, Bon-Bon hastily disappeared into the kitchen, where conversation and intense hoofbeats and clattering of implements promptly started. Lyra just shook her head and sighed.
“And that is why I’m working the counter right now!” Pinkie chimed in. “The Cake’s super-special baking project!”
“They are baking… like their lives depended on it?” Gem asked, slightly amazed that the fierce energies radiating from the kitchen of the shop were due to cooking.
“Uh-huh!” Pinkie nodded so quickly it was a wonder that her head hadn’t popped off. “They said that what happened to you –you know, that thing about not being able to eat cake when you wanted- was a tra-… a trasv-…”
“Travesty?” Twilight completed.
“Yes! An affront to their cutie marks and everything Sugarcube Corner stood for! And so they said that they were gonna put their secret baking research to use so you can taste it!” Pinkie juggled the two new balls, a cupcake and what Dash could swear was a cloud lump wearing a diaper, but obviously couldn’t be. “They even kicked me out of the kitchen and took over the catering!”
“Huh.” Gem blinked. “I-I actually like the sound of that. Bread was the first thing anyone ever gave me, and then she played with me…” Gemini trailed off at the end.
’The child she saved.’ Rarity mused.
Gem was pleasantly surprised. The smell of baked goods was already capable of provoking happiness beyond words, and now they were trying to make it more amazing? And for her?
“It’s official. Ponyville is the greatest town ever.” Gemini said, while the other mares nodded in agreement.
“How long have they been at it?” Twilight asked.
“Ever since Pinkie here told ‘em that yer willin’ ta eat paper if it means getting cake.” Applejack eyed Gemini, and then continued. “Was the strangest thing too.”
“I’ll say!” Lyra added, picking up Pumpkin and preventing her from chewing on the furniture. “Mister Cake looked ready to drop, but suddenly, the bags under his eyes are gone, poof, like he was never tired!”
“He’s a bit on the lanky side, but I swear that, for a second, he was Snowflake-size!” Dash’s contribution was followed by a glance towards a waste basket, a half-eaten muffin adorning its top.
“Ah thought Ah was the only one!” Applejack exclaimed, looking towards the basket as well - more specifically, the bitten cookie underneath the muffin. “Ah thought mah eyes were playin’ sum nasty trick on me.”
“And his stubble disappeared!” Pinkie piped in, then shuddered. “It’s the freakiest thing I’ve ever seen…”
“They must take their baking seriously if they are doing that.” Gem had a small blush, concealed by her makeup. She played a little with the thin ribbon holding her braided mane, pointing with the other hoof. “It feels nice.”
“An’ what is ‘that’?” Applejack asked, following with her sight the unicorn’s gesturing hoof towards the kitchen.
Gemini took a deep breath, sitting at one of the tables before continuing.
“Well, it’s the use –through intense will and/or focus- of… something known by several different names; Spectra, Soul-fire, Essence…”
“Wait, what?” Twilight interrupted the other unicorn. “How is that possible?”
Before Twilight could get into scholar mode, Gem answered. “… Because they wanted to? Seriously, I knew peacetime lands wouldn’t know certain things, but this is pushing it.”
“That’s not an answer!” Twilight said. “What about side-effects, the dangers?!”
“Look, while it’s true that going too far would have serious consequences, I doubt that making bread is such a demanding activity that it causes a burnout.” Gem chuckled. “Sooner or later, they will calm down and the energy will settle. Done. They’ll tire, but they are baking; worry if they have to do something dangerous and don’t know how to handle their Essence.”
“But- but that’s impossible…”
“I’m going to prove otherwise.” Gem was frowning, but soon her face relaxed slightly and her voice became cold and calm.
’She’s very, very upset, but why?’ Rainbow wondered to herself, trying to discover just what would make the cherry-haired pony abandon her cheerful persona like that.
“Has anyone here –besides Pinkie- ever felt like you wouldn’t be able to live with yourselves if you failed to do something?” Gem asked, in a neutral voice, as she looked around. “That is- have you felt like you’d do anything to prevent something that you would regret?”
Pinkie pouted, since she had been excluded.
“Have you ever felt like what you have, what you are, is not yet enough? Have you ever screamed at yourself to make that final push and do something? And then… you did it. You felt it was beyond you, and you did it anyways, because you truly, absolutely wanted it with all of your being. Because you searched deep within for the one part of you that could do it.”
Rainbow Dash nodded, closing her eyes and becoming absorbed in her thoughts.
*****
Cloudsdale – Best Young Fliers competition.
“Eeeyaaah!” The scream reached her ears even as she kept climbing.
’What the- Rarity?!’ She looked back and saw Rarity plummeting to the earth.
She saw the Wonderbolts falling out of control… they were unconscious!
All doubt, all nervousness, every shred of anxiousness in her being evaporated. The stadium was far away from her consciousness. Her previous panic was destroyed and drifted away with any plans or objectives she might have had before. There was only one thing in her head – one goal.
‘Wings, you can’t fail me now!’
“Hold on Rarity! I’m coming!” She yelled back at the top of her lungs. Then, she shot downwards.
’Come on! I need more speed! Come on, body, this is what I’ve trained for all my life!’ She shot past the stadium without even noticing it. Only Rarity, the Wonderbolts, and the approaching ground existed in her world.
=====
Unbeknownst to all bystanders, Princess Celestia had her wings spread, and her millennia-old, magic-infused body was filling with the force of the winds.
Before she could lean forward or direct her will to her horn, a prismatic bolt charged with an ever-increasing amount of magic shot in front of her, forcefully pushing against the air and the magical field of Equestria even as they tried to slow it down.
To her senses, it roared with the power of a hurricane and fought back.
Only after blinking twice did she notice that the bolt was, in fact, a pony.
=====
Rarity focused her eyes on the pegasus flying at her, and she stopped screaming. The look on her eyes changed.
It was one of recognition, of trust. Rarity knew she would be saved.
Rainbow knew this, but she could feel the ambient magic closing in on her, trying to push her back.
Twilight had done some of her fancy mathematics. An object devoid of any kind of magic would generate a dome in front of it following some equations or something, then ‘boom’ and be done with it. Of course, an object completely empty of magic would be quite rare, but for practical purposes an ordinary bullwhip was a perfect demonstration, as it has its tip break the sound barrier when wielded properly.
It was hard already – the energy required for the mass of a pony was some number that sounded ridiculous to her. For a pegasus? It was harder. After a while, the magic that let them fly turned against them and made the air press against them from the sides, making the dome form a cone and increasing friction.
Like hell she’d let the air tell her what to do!
’I am the best flier ever! The sky is mine.’ She yelled mentally at her wings.
’Rarity needs me to save her, so I am going to do it, and nothing can stop me!’ She begged, pleaded, bargained with every fiber of her being for more energy, for more speed.
’I WON’T LET A FAILURE HANG OVER MY HEAD! SHE IS GOING TO LIVE, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!’ There! Something was filling her, pushing her downwards a bit more!
’MY NAME IS RAINBOW DASH!’ Her eyes watered from the friction.
‘AND I DON’T!’ The pressure, unbearable when she was training for the Rainboom, was receding.
‘LEAVE MY FRIENDS!’ It was pushed back by… something from within.
‘HANGING!’ Three things happened at that moment. Rainbow Dash pierced the wall of air, creating a shockwave that made the heavens sing like thunder.
The barrier of magic likewise opened and made an explosion of its own, one of light and energy, riding on the ring of vapor.
Her speed increased tremendously, thanks to some aerodynamics’ phenomenon Twilight had theorized about, as well as whatever magic thing inverted once more and helped again instead of push.
Rainbow Dash reached her friend and her heroes, and all would be well.
*****
“That’s the feeling, Dash, of being willing to do something as if it were the last thing you’d ever do.” Gemini said, startling the sky-blue mare out of her memory.
“Huh?” Dash looked at her, and she finally stopped scowling completely.
“I bet you could do something more, but so far, it’s perfect.”
“Did you see something, darling?” Rarity asked, being more aware of Gem’s abilities.
“I felt it; an echo of the flame she ignited. Unassisted, untrained, but still useful.” Gem said, still in that state Twilight found unsettling. “And, quite obviously, she’s fine. Pinkie does it constantly as well.”
“I take everything seriously!” Pinkie exclaimed. For a given, subjective value of ‘seriously’, as she was wearing a big clown nose and had a rubber chicken strapped to her head, waving it around to get Pound’s attention.
‘No wonder Pinkie is so intense all the time.’ Lyra thought, keeping an eye on the foals… Tootsie Flute had been troublesome, but at least she knew how to deal with the little ones now.
“And Pinkie is fine.” A tone of annoyance crept into Gemini’s voice, the tranquil demeanor fading quickly.
“Are yah… offended or sumthin’?” Applejack asked.
“Generally upset, but not quite offended.” She answered, and sighed. Twilight flinched.
“You see, saying that ‘it’s impossible’ is saying that…” She slumped, her voice dropped in volume. “That my friends shouldn’t survive the troubles they get in. And, since not only it’s the very foundation of my being, but a great part of the way my heritage was passed from my parent to me…”
She sniffled.
“You’re saying I shouldn’t exist.”
*****
It’s as if she was made to fit anywhere, but belong nowhere.