//------------------------------//
// XVII 
// Story: Finding Harmony 
// by Alice Eddor 
//------------------------------//

It was bright and sunny in the meadow, just as it always had been. A cool breeze was gently blowing, rustling the leaves on the trees that were sprinkled here and there in small clumps. The flowers danced with the grass, gently weaving flora sprinkled with dew from a fresh morning. A weaving trail wide enough for two people ran through the field, dandelions sprouting here and there. It was an image frozen in time, one of peace and pure serenity, just as it had always been, and just how she liked it. Distant memories were etched in the bark of the trees, though there was no marks. Of course, he did not know any of these memories, and he payed no attention to the beauty of the moment.

His glanced about warily, though he knew there was no threat here, at least not from the keeper of this meadow. She had made a promise long ago, one she had kept. It was her 'pets' that he had to watch for.

"Fluttershy?" he said quietly, knowing his voice would carry, knowing that if he spoke too loudly she would be frightened. "Are you here?"

"I'm always here," came the answering voice. He echoed around the area.He pin-pointed the source of the sound and smiled to himself.

"Of course, where else would you be?" He turned to face her. She was clearly just touching down behind him, her wings still opened, hair slightly windswept.

"It had been a long time Discord. I have heard nothing from outside this pasture in decades."

"You've missed a lot."

"Why is it that you did not come to visit me? I thought that we were friends." Her bright eyes were filled with confusion and pity.

"Let me fill you in." He gestured to the trail and she smiled, joining him. Her dress, as yellow as sunflower petals, followed behind her silently. "I was put back into my own prison, not long after you and the others were exiled."

"I am truly sorry to hear that."

"It a shame I couldn't be involved in that lovely storm you six brewed up. It caused quite the disturbance in Canterlot. That would be why they tossed my back in the stone purgatory. I did nothing to help that. You can understand why."

"Of course."

"But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I suppose I should go out and tell all of your friends, but I never felt compelled to."

"What is it?"

"You need to know that the Princesses have started to gather the new Elements of Harmony. This means that there will be someone coming along to take you amulet and with it its power. I want you to be ready, if none of the others are."

"The amulet cannot be taken. It can only be used by the person who best represents the Element. That person is me."

"The Princesses don't think that anymore. In fact, no one does. The Elements have changed hands. Short of staying here with you, there's nothing I can do. You'll need to watch out for yourself, I know you can handle it."

"With all due respect Discord, I think you're wrong."

Discord raised an eyebrow and sighed, biting back a brief flash of anger. He couldn't stay mad at Fluttershy, she was the first one who had shown him any kind of affection. The only one who had shown him affection. Others had acted it sure, but she was his only true friend. "All I ask is that you're cautious, Fluttershy. Where is the amulet?"

Fluttershy said nothing, but reached up to her neck, her hands closing around a thin gold chain that Discord hadn't noticed before. She pulled the pendant out from under the yoke of the dress and held it reverently in her hands, a small pink crystal in the shape of a butterfly. "It has not left my possession since I was sent here."

"I thought the chain was bigger. And that it wasn't a chain."

"It seems like the power doesn't come from the amulet as an ensemble, but from the pendant itself. Angel got his hands on it and broke the original. I had to improvise. He's a little rough, but he means well."

Discord blinked. "Angel? I could be wrong, shouldn't he be dead by now?" He had been in stone for a long time, and he wasn't one to scoff at time travel or manipulation, hell, he even endorsed it, but it didn't seem right. Fluttershy wasn't one to toy with the natural order of things.

"I thought it would be kinder to him to keep him with me. This amulet has granted me wonderful power, even though I am not a Mage. He has not died." She tucked the amulet back under the yoke of her dress. "Do not worry about me Discord, I can understand your concern, but I have many friends here, all of whom will help me in a time of need. I can assure you that I am perfectly safe."

"If you need me..." He scanned the field and began to notice the smaller details, small piles of earth that had been dug up here and there, small red spots on the grass. "You say he's not dead. How so?"

"I have brought him back. I brought them all back. No one wants to die. It was kinder to bring them back. Especially Angel. I would miss him far too much, and he would miss me."

That was it. She let them die, and then brought them back. For their own good. This is what the Elements of Harmony had become? He considered the others, the other five and how they would be. He had no reason to see them, he never particularly liked them, but perhaps he would check on them. If this was Fluttershy, the pink one must be a riot.