Chapter Five: A Time to Grieve
Celestia, battle-worn and full of sorrow, brought about the morning, and as the rays of sunshine attempted to penetrate the smoky haze from the fires, she assessed the damage. The majority of Ponyville was in ruins. Many houses had been burned to the ground or reduced to rubble. Most of the fires had died out, leaving only smoldering ashes. The townsponies that had escaped were slowly returning to their demolished town, weeping at their loss. Many of the survivors were covered in dirt, soot, and ash.
The Mane Six tearfully reunited, relieved to see one another alive and well. However, others weren't so lucky. The bodies of the Royal Guards and Obsidian Guards had all been gathered, and now came the difficult task of gathering and identifying any civilians that had lost their lives in the attack. The Princesses wordlessly looked on as six ponies were laid together side by side, their eyes closed and their hooves laid on their chests. Mayor Mare slowly stepped forward and publicly announced the identities of the slain ponies, her voice breaking as she named each pony she had worked with, lived alongside, and cared for like a family.
Pokey Pierce.
Roseluck.
Hugh Jelly.
Bon Bon.
Caramel.
Derpy Hooves.
Cries of anguish rang out as the victims' loved ones rushed to their sides and sobbed into their chests. Sparkler and Dinky's wails were the loudest as they embraced Derpy's corpse. Their emotional agony was too much for Celestia to bear, and the Day Princess excused herself, trotting up to the top of a hill overlooking what was left of the once-peaceful town of Ponyville and sitting down on all fours.
And she wept.
Sombra had struck her closer to home than she could have ever imagined. So many young, fruitful lives heartlessly cut short. A filly left without her mother, a sister without her better half. Families forever shattered. She should have known this would happen. "I could have stopped this," she whispered, lowering her head in shame. "I could have stopped this...and I didn't...My subjects...I'm sorry..."
"Sister?"
Celestia looked up to see Luna approaching her, a concerned look on her face. "Are you well?" Luna asked, sitting down next to Celestia.
Celestia was quiet for several moments as she watched the ponies grieve. "We could have stopped this, Lulu," she finally said. "We could have posted guards...put up a protective barrier...or just relocated everypony to Canterlot."
"Tia, you couldn't have predicted this," Luna responded, sighing sadly. "No one could. There has not been an armed conflict in Equestria since the First Sombratic War."
"Exactly!" Celestia replied. "We face the very same enemy as before! The same mindset, the same tactics! Remember...remember what happened in Stalliongrad all those centuries ago? They were attacked just as Ponyville was..."
Luna lowered her head in remembrance. "So many lives lost that day..."
"By all rights, we should have predicted this," Celestia continued. "Sombra is very bold, and trusts in his tactical instincts too much to deviate from his preferred methods."
The two princesses watched as their Royal Guard assisted the townsfolk with bringing in coffins and removing the bodies from the scene in preparation for their funerals. "I haven't lost anypony like this in over a thousand years," Celestia said. "I hate war. I hate what it does to good ponies. It's not fair, Luna!"
Luna looked away, as if fearing her sister's reaction to what she was about to say. "Tia...We should have killed him when we had the chance."
Celestia scoffed bitterly. "Would it have made a difference? He survived the Crystal Heart without ill effects. And you know very well that the Elements don't kill if they can help it."
Luna sighed. "I know."
"But I promise, Lulu," Celestia vowed. "I promise that King Sombra will not get away with this. Come Tartarus or high water, we will find a way to kill him! I won't let him threaten our subjects again!"
XXXXXX
Far away, within the confines of Canterlot Castle, a magnificent garden lay. Animals roamed, birds sang, flowers of all shapes and colors bloomed. At the center of this garden was a certain statue. It represented a dragon comprised of many animal parts, as if the gods of creation had gotten lazy or just threw together everything they had left after creating the world. The creature was twisted in a way to show fear, holding both mismatched arms out as if it had tried to push away some unseen force. An expression of horror was frozen on its face.
This, however, was no ordinary statue, for sealed within it was the ancient spirit of disharmony and chaos, Discord.
And he had been watching everything.
Hmm...While I admit that chaos is a wonderful thing, this Sombrero fellow's a little brutal for my tastes, the imprisoned spirit thought to himself. He's so...predictable. Evil, evil, evil. And I was rather fond of that little cross-eyed pegasus.
The statue shuddered oh so very slightly. I don't pretend to be a goody two-shoes, but I have boundaries. Sombra crossed the line when he attacked Ponyville. Chaos or no chaos, somepony needs to teach him a thing or two about decency!
Suddenly, a tiny crack spider-webbed across Discord's stone. If the draconequus could grin, he would have. Ohoho! Looks like I might get the chance after all! The Element Bearers must have suffered enough emotional trauma for their inner harmony to waver. How convenient for me...
The spirit's gaze wandered back over to Ponyville, where he saw Ponyvillians gathering near the local cemetary in preparation for the funerals. Discord sighed inwardly. Well, I've never witnessed a funeral before. Never been one for the gloomy atmosphere. But just this once, I'll watch...might as well pay my last respects to my favorite klutz.
And as the tiny crack slowly grew larger, Discord went silent out of respect for the first victims of war in a thousand years.
XXXXXX
The entirety of Ponyville quietly sat in the rows of chairs that all faced the line of coffins. Lyra, Dinky, Sparkler, and the other loved ones of the deceased all sat at the very front, wiping their tears with white cloths as Princess Celestia stood directly in front of the caskets, each depicting the smiling, happy faces of the ponies who lay within. Turning back to her audience, Princess Celestia cleared her throat and began.
"Greetings, my little ponies. We are here to honor the lives of Derpy Hooves, Pokey Pierce, Caramel, Bon Bon, Hugh Jelly, and Roseluck, who were unfairly taken from us before their time. Death is an omnipresent part of life, and sometimes it rides upon us just when we least expect it. As their surviving friends and family, we must take it upon ourselves to remember the times we shared, and the bonds we made with each other. We must learn to move on, and not dwell on the past. Now, all those who have something to share with us about the deceased, please step forward and speak your piece."
Sparkler slowly got out of her chair, rubbing Dinky's shoulder as she turned towards the assembled mourners. "Hello. I'm Sparkler, Derpy Hooves's older daughter. We all know Derpy wasn't the most...clever of ponies...But...she was dedicated to her job...and her family..." Sparkler sniffed, feeling tears gather at the corners of her eyes. "She was kind to everypony she met. Even the ones who...treated her with disrespect. She never had a bad thing to say about anypony...She always knew what to say when we needed cheering up...She was everywhere at once...lighting up our days with her happiness...a-and her silly eyes..." A choked laughter momentarily escaped her throat. "I know you'll s-still be watching over us from the heavens, higher than any other pegasus could fly...I love you, Mom...I'll miss you always."
Sparkler wiped her face, prepared to return to her seat. She then found herself wrapped in Celestia's comforting wing. "Do not weep for the days you will spend without her," the princess whispered in Sparkler's ear. "Smile for the days you did."
Sparkler hugged her. "Thank you, Princess."
The magenta unicorn then returned to her seat, and Dinky was the next to stand, fighting back her tears. "My mommy was a s-special pony," she wept. "Her eyes weren't funny because s-she was weird. Mommy a-always said her eyes w-were goofy 'cause one was w-watching over m-me and the other w-was watching the world s-so she would always k-keep me safe...I'll always b-be your special l-little muffin, Mommy..."
Not a single dry eye was in the audience. Dinky hung her head, unable to finish through her tears. Celestia hugged her as well and brought her over to Sparkler, who held the filly in her arms and comforted her. Lyra, the pianist Key Stroke, and the violinist Octavia stood up next, each carrying their signature instruments. "Princess," Lyra began. "I was never really good with words...but Bon Bon always loved to hear me play. I-if you don't mind, my friends and I would like to play a song for my sister...a-and everyone that knew her."
Celestia smiled and nodded, stepping aside to allow the musicians some space. Lyra readied her harp, and Octavia readied her violin as Key Stroke rolled up his piano. The three musicians then played a beautiful song, a soft, sad tune that tugged at the heartstrings of everyone in the audience.
Celestia wept.
The Mane Six wept.
Spike wept.
Luna wept.
Prince Irontalon wept.
Discord wept...figuratively.
After they were done, they returned to their seats, taking their instruments with them. The other family and close friends of the deceased each said their final goodbyes, until it was time for the caskets to be lowered into their graves. The unicorns all pitched in, removing the photos and flowers before lowering the coffins into the plots that had been dug out for them. Then, one by one, everypony present, unicorn, pegasus, Earth pony, alicorn, dragon, and Gryphon alike, all grabbed handfuls of dirt and tossed one into each grave in a procession. When this was done, the undertaker, Pale Eyes, set about finishing the task of burying the caskets while the mourners all congregated outside the graveyard and mingled together, sharing stories and comforting one another.
XXXXXX
King Sombra surveyed the handiwork of his slaves as they built an array of strange, crystalline devices along the Crystal Empire's walls under the watchful eyes of the Obsidian Guard. The devices were weapons arrays to be manned by Obsidian unicorns, who would fire beams of energy into the devices, the crystals amplifying the magic to a lethal degree. Anypony save the Princesses struck even once would instantly be killed. They had a considerable range too: accurate up to five hundred yards away.
After the attack on Ponyville, Sombra was certain the Princesses would retaliate just as they had after Stalliongrad a millenium ago. And this time he was ready. They weren't protected by the Elements of Harmony, and any army that assaulted his stronghold would be cut to pieces before they could even get close. Pleased with his hard work, (or rather theslaves' hard work) the Tyrant King laughed, his deep, booming voice sending chills down the spines of all who heard.
XXXXXX
Princess Celestia brooded on her throne late that night, reflecting on the tragic events of the day. She was unable to sleep, an irrational fear of another attack ever present on her mind. She was Equestria's protector, and Sombra had staged a devastating attack right under her nose. Luna had tried and failed to convince her sister to go to bed, so she resigned herself to doing her duty as Princess of the Night to bring peace to the frightened populace's dreams.
"Where did it all go wrong?" she whispered to herself.
"You know, sitting there pitying yourself won't do anypony much good," a disembodied, familiar voice abruptly spoke.
Celestia gasped in shock and stood up straight, scanning the chamber with her eyes. "Discord!" she yelled.
"Oh relax, Tia. I'm not in the mood for our usual fun."
Celestia's horn glowed. "Where are you, Discord?!"
"Hmm. You'll find out when you calm down a little. Sheesh, Celestia. You're always so overdramatic."
"I had to watch several of my subjects be buried today, Discord!" Celestia snapped. "I had to look their friends and families in the eye and watch as they grieved hopelessly for the loved ones they lost to a war that shouldn't even be happening! I HAVE EVERY GODDAMNED RIGHT TO BE OVERDRAMATIC!"
"Yes. I'm aware of everything that's happened. I even paid my respects at that funeral today...in spirit, of course."
Celestia slowly fizzled out her horn. She was just so emotionally exhausted she was too tired to stay angry. "What do you want, Discord?" she softly asked, her voice devoid of emotion.
"I want to help, of course."
Celestia blinked in surprise.
"Weren't expecting that? Good. I'm doing my job right, then."
The Sun Princess scoffed bitterly. "And how can you help? You're a statue again, thanks to your usual tricks."
"Ah, yes...about that..."
There was a sudden, bright flash of light, and from it emerged the spirit of chaos himself, smirking playfully as he idly floated in the air. "I finished busting out about half an hour ago," Discord finished, resting his chin on his mismatched hands.
Celestia narrowed her eyes. "How?"
Discord mischievously wagged his finger at Celestia's nose. "Ah ah ah now, Tia. A good magician never reveals his secrets!"
Celestia watched Discord touch down and sit on Luna's throne, who ignored her scathing look as he stretched himself out all over it. "Listen, Tia," Discord began, for once getting down right to business. "I know you've been through a lot with that King Sombrero guy showing up again, and believe me, I ain't too happy with that blowhard either."
Celestia only glared suspiciously at Discord. He took it as a sign to continue. "While the chaos he's caused has enabled me to break out of my latest prison, I know what Sombra wants, and I don't agree with it. He wants order, perfect, tyrannical order under his hoof. Everypony has one specific purpose; paying tribute to that scuzball and feeding his enormous ego. As boring as your rule is, it's at least a heck of a lot better than his would be."
Celestia looked down and said nothing. "You allow personal freedoms for everypony. Freedom is chaos, dear Celestia. And what good would I be if I didn't stand up for chaos?"
Celestia glared at Discord. "You would betray us," she accused.
Discord frowned. "Still don't have much faith in me, do you, Tia?"
"Why should I?" Celestia snapped. "You were once in charge of Equestria, and your chaos and pranks left our country in a state of disrepair! Everypony was miserable! You were arrogant, irresponsible, thoughtless, and-!"
"Young?" Discord suggested, raising one bushy eyebrow. "I agree. I was an arrogant, self-centered jerk. I still am, by the way, ha ha ha! But I have grown up a little. Being encased in stone twice has given me time to think. Perhaps my second stint was too...predictable. I hate predictability."
Discord floated up into the air and rested on his back. "If I heard correctly, you and Lulu both had a hard time putting ol' King Sombrero out of commission, even with the Elements of Harmony. Face it, Tia. You need me."
Celestia looked uncertain for a moment, but her eyes quickly steeled as she said, "If you even think about betraying us..."
Discord chuckled. "Ah, Celestia. You're expecting me to do that, aren't you? You should know by now; when it comes to me...always expect the unexpected."