//------------------------------// // A Place for Joy and Kindness // Story: Upheaval: Reckoning // by Visiden Visidane //------------------------------// Upheaval: Reckoning Chapter 37: A Place for Joy and Kindness Several days had passed since Applejack and Twilight went after Rainbow. During that time, Fluttershy busied herself in the hospital: tending to every patient assigned to her, and trying to keep Redbrand calm while he consulted with various doctors. As no news on Vanguard’s group arrived, Fluttershy settled into a strange, unfeeling routine. She greeted each pony with a smile, and a kind word, moving from one task to another as if everything was going smoothly. Things couldn't be further from the truth. Ever since she saw the grim and worried expressions on Twilight, and Applejack, then heard the silence of the secrets that Special Operations made them keep, Fluttershy sensed something terrible bubbling beneath the surface. She was no longer in the harsh, frigid north. She was a long way away from a besieged city with soldiers within, and vicious invaders without. Things should be better now with the reunification, and the wolven being driven back. But they weren’t. Things were even worse. At least, the wolven were visible, and clear in their intent. Now, her friends were being hurt by foes that appeared and disappeared as they pleased, and for reasons she couldn't understand. It was for that reason that Fluttershy was now about to check up on another one of her friends. She trembled slightly when she opened the door to Pinkie’s room, remembering that moment when Princess Luna flew her wheezing, barely conscious friend into the hospital. Fluttershy was shocked and terrified when they wheeled in a blood-soaked Rarity. Rarity was no front line fighter. Even if she was, they were in Canterlot, not Bastion City. When it was Pinkie, the pony who had nothing to do with any of the fighting, the panic was no longer there, just dread realization. There was no stopping this tide of violence that washed over all of her friends: not walls, not other legionnaires, nothing. Even now, Rarity was either working on crafting weapons and armor, or practicing with those mage-blades. Whatever traces of concern she had for dressmaking had been cut away by that awful Lion Court. Now, it was Pinkie’s turn. By the time Pinkie had settled into her room, Fluttershy was already waiting for the next terrible incident. “You’ll get your turn. I don’t know what that turn’s going to be but you’ll get it.” Redbrand’s words never left Fluttershy. Though she threw herself into taking care of her friends, she was quietly waiting for that turn. She didn't know what would be worse: staying by the sidelines while they each fought and got hurt in turn, or being attacked herself. The mood within Pinkie’s room reflected that depressing thought. Pinkie only had a few cuts and bruises. With Princess Luna’s magic, she had been purged of the poisons that coursed through her system. A couple of legionnaires had also been brought in. They were suffering from severe bleeding caused by some sort of poison gas. Though worse off than Pinkie, they had also survived. Only Nightcanter's squad got out of that incident without being poisoned. Fluttershy remained worried. After a few days rest, Pinkie should be fine by now. But there seemed to be one more poison still afflicting her. She remained in her room, her mane limp and straight, often just staring vacantly ahead. Visits from Rarity, and Copper Mane, had done little to improve Pinkie’s mood. “Hello, Pinkie, are you feeling any better today?” Fluttershy asked. Pinkie looked up, and tried to muster a smile. Her lips twitched a little from the futile effort. “Hi, Fluttershy,” she said softly. “A little.” That Pinkie had even responded was enough for Fluttershy to believe that. She hummed a little tune to herself, and began tidying up. “Fluttershy?” “What is it, Pinkie?” “Am I…?” Pinkie’s voice faded to barely a peep. “Am I just birthday cakes and party hats?” “B-birthday cakes…what?" Flutershy stopped tidying, and focused on Pinkie. "Pinkie, what are you talking about?” “You know. You told me that before: frivolous things. Maybe I should have listened.” Fluttershy gasped. “Oh no, Pinkie! That was new Fluttershy! I didn't mean all those things!” “The princesses…” Pinkie said. “Oh, and the prince...they're always going on about how important the Elements of Harmony are. Everypony is always about fighting these days.” She looked down to her chest, where the Element of Joy would have been hanging. “I thought that being the bearer of the Element of Joy would be wonderful, but all I’m doing is holding ponies down, and putting them in danger! Where does joy come in when nopony wants to be happy and smiling? When all they want to do is fight? I think…I think I should quit.” “Pinkie…” Fluttershy found herself unable to answer. The question found itself a mirror image within her. Where did kindness fit into all of this fighting? “The only way to quit is to die,” was the deep-voiced reply. Fluttershy gasped again, and turned towards the voice. A pretty, blue-maned unicorn mare leaned against the door frame. She walked past the mare, and looked outside. There was nopony there save for a couple of heavily-barded legionnaires a few feet away. They looked at her expectantly until she looked away. “Excuse me, miss,” Fluttershy said to the mare. “Did you see a stallion walk in here for a moment to say something?” “No,” the mare replied in a deep, masculine voice. “But I did walk in here, and say something.” “Oh…my…well…um…” Fluttershy felt like she should apologize, but she usually felt that way about almost anything she did that involved other ponies. Pinkie was less hesitant. “Who are you?” she asked. “My name is Blue Moon, former captain of the Thorns,” the unicorn replied. He, Fluttershy decided to assume that this pony was a “he”, said both the name, and title confidently. “You--” Pinkie's voice needed no coaxing this time. “You’re a Thorn! Just like Sablesteel!” She looked around for something. It must be that strange slab of rock that she was clutching earlier. Fluttershy froze halfway between preparing for an attack from Blue Moon, and trying to get Pinkie to calm down. “Was,” Blue Moon said. “There’s no need to panic. I’m not your enemy anymore. Even if I was, you can see that I am horn-locked, and my escorts are just outside.” Pinkie’s eyes narrowed, but she stopped searching. Fluttershy remembered the two legionnaires standing nearby, and tried to relax. Just as Blue Moon had mentioned, his horn had a band of metal wrapped around it with a small glowing gem embedded on the device. He didn't have any kind of weapon on him, and he wore a simple, white, collared shirt. Still, what he just said… The mere mention of the name melted through the awkwardness. Fluttershy had encountered plenty of mean, opportunistic, and greedy creatures in her life. She had seen the viciousness of the wolven. But these Thorns…they were a different sort of vile. Lion Court was one of them. Another one named Longstride was after Rainbow. Now, there was Sablesteel, who was bent on hurting Pinkie and her loved ones. They deliberately stayed on hurting. All of Lion Court’s cuts had been made to cause as much pain, and as little damage as possible. Sablesteel’s poison also turned out to be very slow-acting, and painful. Only monsters reveled in causing pain for pain’s sake. “Is it true?” she asked. “You were one of the Thorns?” “I just said that,” Blue Moon replied. “Then, maybe you can stop them!” Pinkie said. “Please, stop them from hurting my friends! Especially Sablesteel!” “There is no stopping them,” Blue Moon said, his gaze apologetic. “The Thorns are committed to Black Rose’s orders. Only she can tell them to stop.” “They’re monsters then,” Pinkie said, her voice dropping. “My friends and family never did anything to Sablesteel. She’s going to kill them because somepony told her?” “Is that what she told you?” Blue Moon asked. Not even a trace of emotion crossed his face at the sight of Pinkie’s rising anger. Even Fluttershy found his uncaring expression arrogant. “You should consider them safe then.” Both mares stopped short. “What?” Pinkie asked. Fluttershy shook away her daze. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Sablesteel takes assassination very seriously,” Blue Moon said. “She's the sole remaining heiress to a very old tradition. She treats her failures as shaming herself before the hundreds of ponies who belonged to that tradition. She would never do something so stupidly theatrical as to announce her targets. Unless assassination isn't part of her plan to begin with.” “Then--” Pinkie's angry scowl cracked. “Then they’re safe?” she asked. “Sablesteel won’t hurt them?” “No,” Blue Moon replied. “But it's best that you don't celebrate. If you provoke her, she’ll do something to prove a point.” Blue Moon’s warning reined in some of Pinkie’s enthusiasm. More than that, she must still be pondering her question. Blue Moon’s words gave her hope, but that still left her in the dark about the Element of Joy. “But if she’s not going to hurt them, why would she say she would?” Pinkie asked. “Sable has been tasked to draw out the power of the Element of Joy,” Blue Moon replied. “She may believe that the best way to do that is to make you as miserable as possible.” He snorted. “I suspect that she’s been spending too much time with Lion Court to come up with a plan like that.” Finally, a trace of emotion marked Blue Moon’s words. He spoke of Sablesteel with concerned disapproval, the kind of tone Fluttershy had heard her friends use before. His bright blue eyes went from icy and confident to liquid with emotion. For him to introduce himself as “former captain of the Thorns” must mean more than just identifying himself as once an enemy. These Thorns were his friends. Something bad must have happened to make him abandon them. “Well…” Pinkie mumbled. She pressed her front hooves together absentmindedly. “She’s still pretty mean. Those poisons really hurt. If they want to make the Elements of Harmony become stronger, why don’t they just help us out instead of attacking us like this?” She pressed her lips tightly for a second. “I’d like to know how to make my element grow stronger. I really do.” Blue Moon gazed downwards. “Various reasons,” he said. He opened his mouth to say more, but he stopped himself with a shake of his head. Another moment of silence passed. “None of them matter. The Thorns will continue to antagonize you as per their orders anyway.” He turned around. “I should let you get some more rest.” Pinkie was about to say more when her eyes lit up. She fell into such a thoughtful silence that Fluttershy didn't dare disturb her. “Wait!” Fluttershy called out after Blue Moon. She managed to catch up to him by the hallway. Around them, doctors, nurses, and patients moved through with barely a glance at them. Blue Moon paused before he could rejoin his two escorts. “Why did you come here?” she asked. “I wanted to see how Pinkie Pie was,” Blue Moon said. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s not out of any overwhelming concern for your friend. I wanted to see how badly Sable was willing to hurt her.” He smiled a little. “The full recovery is a relief.” “You’re really worried about Sablesteel, aren't you?” Fluttershy asked. Blue Moon moved to the side of the hallway, and gestured for Fluttershy to do the same. “I worry for all the surviving Thorns, save for Lion Court,” he said. “Sable tends to make bad personal choices, while Stride can’t be bothered to make any to begin with. If there’s anything I regret over going against Black Rose, it would be leaving them to themselves.” Fluttershy wasn't sure she wanted to hear more of this. Just a few minutes ago, her friends’ tormentors were all cruel monsters. Hearing somepony talk about them as…well, as ponies, was difficult. Blue Moon called these “monsters” by nicknames, and spoke with an affection that made her miss her friends in return. “If…if it would be alright, may I ask you something more personal?” she asked. Blue Moon shrugged. “I've been cooperating with the Legion since I came to the prince. Cooperating with the Element of Kindness’s bearer won’t be much of a strain.” “Why did you leave your friends if you care about them so much?” “Because I care for other things more." The emotion in Blue Moon's voice was gone. “They chose to follow Black Rose after she has overstepped her boundaries. I chose to remember my place in the grand scheme of things.” “I…I see,” Fluttershy looked away, and scolded herself for letting him lead her on with his sympathy. What had she been expecting anyway? A tearful confession from this hardened soldier? Perhaps, it was because Blue Moon looked so delicate and graceful that it was hard to see him as the former leader of such a dangerous group. She should just walk back to her duties, but there was something more she wanted to hear. “Is there something else?” Blue Moon asked. “N-no, not really,” Fluttershy said. “I mean--” She closed her eyes for a moment. There was something else. She just needed to say it. Even if she had to force it out like a bad meal. “Is that really all?” She let out a sigh when she managed to ask it. A second later, she was already holding her breath nervously. Blue Moon stared quietly at Fluttershy for a while, lips in an even, unfeeling line. Then, he snorted, and gave a wry smile. “No, that’s not all of it,” he said. “But why the interest, Fluttershy? A while ago, you looked like you were going to string me up in the middle of Canterlot for saying I used to be with the Thorns.” “That’s not true!” Fluttershy said. She glanced to her sides. “Well…not mostly…I mean, I didn't think about using string…or even the middle of Canterlot!” “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Blue Moon said. “Animosity towards the enemy is natural. Again, I must ask why you're so persistent about this topic.” “I’m just…I’m just trying to see you Thorns as something other than the enemy,” Fluttershy said. She winced. That sounded weak. It also sounded ridiculous. Vanguard would scold her for thinking such things, just like when he scolded her for not wanting to wear those wolven-fur cloaks. Rainbow would probably laugh, and agree with him while her other friends would just stay silent, “necessity” taking away whatever protests they felt. Blue Moon must be laughing inside already. Blue Moon’s eyes narrowed. “It’s a dangerous thing you’re doing, Fluttershy." “W-what do you mean?” “Trying to sympathize. Leave the worrying about my former comrades to me. The Thorns are your enemies. That’s all you should really treat them as.” Fluttershy remembered her earlier ire. It was so easy to slip into that kind of thinking; the same sort of thinking that Blue Moon was now suggesting. She had almost forgotten to see them as ponies, or even as living creatures. Almost. “No,” she said. “No, what?” Blue Moon asked. “I’m not just going to treat them as enemies,” Fluttershy replied. “That’s the easy way out!” Her defiant look softened. “How can you suggest that when you care about them?” After a moment of confusion, Blue Moon’s smile widened. “Element of Kindness.” he remarked. “Maybe you do have a point, Fluttershy. My sister’s strategies seldom considered that.” The shyness was back with a vengeance. Fluttershy looked away when blood rushed to her face. “You’re going to need more than just your intentions,” Blue Moon said. “Or your skill in helping the wounded.” Blue Moon’s words reminded Fluttershy of a constant frustration. The same frustration that plagued Pinkie. “I know that," she said. "But what else can I do?” Blue Moon studied her carefully. “I was tasked with somehow drawing out the power of the Element of Kindness.” He raised his head with pride. “Leave it to Black Rose to assign me the most difficult task for her Thorns.” He paused again. “Not that Joy is any less difficult.” Fluttershy lowered her gaze. “Sorry,” she said. “That wasn't meant as a rebuke,” Blue Moon said. “But it does mean that you posed a different sort of task. Truth be told, I am still unsure of what can be done to that end. Information about you has given me some other details that can be improved on: your Stare ability.” The Stare. Fluttershy had no idea where it had come from, how she had come to have it, and what its actual purpose was. All she knew was that it had been useful on some occasions, she didn't have much of a control over it, and that it was scary. Really scary. Her experience with Scarlet showed her just how scary it could really be, for both the user, and the one being stared at. But, if it could be used to help her friends, to frighten their enemies away without all the violence…she’d try anything. “What can I do about it?” Fluttershy asked. Blue Moon looked at his guards before leaning closer. “Go to the hidden archives in the Canterlot Grand Library," he said softly. "You are a bearer of an Element of Harmony, a trusted pony in the eyes of our royalty. I’m sure you can find a means to access that place. Read more on the works of Hurricane and Pansy. You’ll find some answers for yourself.” “H-how do you know about all of this?” Fluttershy asked. “My sister has the uncanny ability to piece together conclusions from bits and pieces of information," Blue Moon said. "Your ability is one that fascinates her, and puts her ill at ease. It should be no surprise that she’s tracked down all possible leads. This is her best one.” This time, there was more than just a mere crack on Blue Moon’s emotionless mask. He spoke of his sister with unabashed affection. Black Rose didn't seem the caring sort. She had a smile that only appeared warm, but actually sent chills down Fluttershy’s spine. What did Blue Moon see? What fed that warmth in his voice? When Blue Moon noticed Fluttershy’s staring, the mask was back up. “You should go right away,” he said. “But, I’m still needed here!” Fluttershy said. There were patients to take care of, including Pinkie. Redbrand still needed her help. “There will always be more injured,” Blue Moon said. “They will be there when you leave, and they will still be there when you return. Opportunities like these are fleeting. Something grave is on the horizon. You may not get the chance again if you let this pass.” “I…” Fluttershy turned around, and trotted off to find Redbrand and ask for some time off. She didn't trust everything Blue Moon said, but she felt a growing sense of urgency about what he spoke of. With Fluttershy out of sight, Blue Moon finally had a chance to evaluate what had just happened. He had been too open in their conversation to the point of ridiculousness. What had started out as just a quick visit to Sable’s target had turned into a landslide of self-revelation on his part. Fluttershy was proof, once again, that researching a pony as much as possible was no substitute for actually meeting her. Sable would be furious once she discovered what he had told Pinkie Pie. He didn't mind. Sable was approaching this the wrong way. Of course, Sable would call him arrogant for thinking he knew best. He snorted at his own earlier boast about that matter. Rose didn't assign Fluttershy to him because of the difficulty. It was a process of elimination. Stride and Rhapsody would have deemed Fluttershy too weak, and would have asked permission to just kill her on sight. Sable and Frenzy Heart would have asked for somepony else. Lion Court would have found her boring, and boring ponies didn't last long with him. No, it was either Rose personally took care of the matter or he did. As Blue Moon left the hospital, he glanced towards the direction of Canterlot’s Grand Library. Rose was still unsure of whether to actually let Fluttershy tap into the Stare’s potential, or just let the whole thing slide. He had concurred at the time, but he relented at Fluttershy's determination. Rose had been afraid that Fluttershy’s timid disposition made her incapable of dealing with the Stare’s origins and nature, things that even she could only guess at. But today’s meeting let him see otherwise. ‘This will mean trouble,’ he silently told Fluttershy, who was likely on her way to the Grand Library. 'It’s your head if you fail, and mine as well. I hope you pull through.”