//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: An It Harm None // by DuncanR //------------------------------// ~ Previously, on My Little Pony ~ Ur-Zog’s defeat was sudden and absolute. His massive black armor shattered into a cloud of glassy splinters, revealing nothing at all within. Perhaps the power of the Rainbow of Light had reduced him to a fragile shell... or perhaps, like all tyrants and bullies, the demonic warlord had been hollow from the very beginning. The remnants of his ursine army abandoned the bleak mountain fortress and fled into the Twisting Labyrinth that surrounded it for miles. The Millstone of Misery ceased it’s endless churning and fell silent and still for the first time in centuries. The stronghold was besieged from all sides, from top to bottom. A vast flock of flutter ponies streaked overhead and swept away the accursed storm clouds with their shining wings. Pods of sea ponies entered through the aqueducts and purified the black murk clogging the lower catacombs, allowing a great wave of gleaming, sapphire-emerald water to flow in it’s place: waterspouts burst up from the tower parapets, and the stone spiral stairways became rushing rapids. Even the friendly goblin hordes were popping out of every nook and cranny, using their uncanny mastery of stonemasonry to rescue whatever prisoners remained trapped in the lower dungeons. Ponies of all colors and races gathered in the stronghold’s central courtyard to celebrate their freedom, singing and dancing with unbridled joy. It had been over a thousand years since all five races had been reunited in peace, and even longer still since the demonic warlord’s shadow had darkened their skies... but despite all of this, the celebration centered on two people in particular: two brave souls ultimately responsible for their victory. Princess Harmonia, though weakened from a century of imprisonment, stood tall and proud as the two human children approached her. The crowd quieted down, and her voice rang out like a chorus of silver bells. “Lady Lisa. Sir James. Ur-Zog the conqueror has been utterly defeated, never to return, thanks to your bravery. All the creatures of Ponyland—great and small—owe you a debt of gratitude. A debt that can never be repaid in full.” Lisa offered a curtsey, and her curly gold pigtails bobbed. “you don’t owe us anything, Princess. We’re always happy to help our friends!” “You bet!” James nudged his cap up and leaned on his baseball bat. “I’m just glad we finally gave that nasty Ur-zog what he deserved. We knocked him right into the cheap seats!” “Your selfless nature endures as always.” Harmonia smiled at them warmly and lowered to one knee: an unprecedented gesture. “May all your days be bright and shining... and wherever you go, may you see only joyful and smiling faces.” The entire assembly lowered to one knee as well. A moment later, Radiance the pegasus and Homerun the unicorn burst out of the crowd and ran towards them, overjoyed to be reunited with their companions. They embraced each other joyfully but of the four of them, only Lisa’s smile was bitter sweet. “Whats-a-matter?” Radiance said, “everything’s better now, isn’t it?” “It sure is! But do you remember the very first wish we made when we found the rainbow of Light?” Homerun lifted his head. “I remember it well. You wished for nothing more than the chance to bring peace to Ponyland. It has been an honor to remain by your side throughout your noble quest.” “And now our wish has finally come true,” said Lisa. “The next time we go home, we won’t have a reason to come back.” Radiance nudged her nose against Lisa’s golden, heart-shaped locket. “But you have the Rainbow of Light! It can make a bridge to take you anywhere, quick as a wink!” Lisa opened her locket and gazed at the glittering light nestled within, but her eyes were drawn to the faded photograph behind it: a man and a woman smiling up at her as they held each other. “We can’t take it to earth with us,” she said. “The rainbow belongs here in Ponyland. You never know when you might need it again!” Lisa hugged radiance’s neck. “We all knew this would be our last visit—it has to be—and you all have your own kingdoms to rebuild: Paradise Estates, Flutter Valley, the Unicornia isles...” James nodded. “And the Sea Ponies and Goblins have never had a home of their own: they both have to build a whole new kingdom from scratch.” A goblin poked his head up from the crowd, waving frantically: two other goblins lifted him up, using their arms and legs to form a wobbly little tower. “We can help the Sea Ponies build! Goblins love building!” Several sea Ponies began splashing and diving out of a nearby waterfall, forming a pyramid in the air and singing like birds. Even though their language had no spoken words, the melodious voices were thankful and excited. James smiled at his sister. “Hey, I think I’m finally learning their language... and I think they like the idea!” “Of course they do,” she said, “they like everything!” They broke into giggles, and the ponies all joined in. The laughter ended abruptly as a commotion from above caught their attention: a group of pegasus hovered overhead and dropped three familiar witches beside them in a tangled heap. The ponies all gasped in horror and stepped backwards. Princess Harmonia stepped towards them with a stern gaze. “You three sisters have caused much trouble in the past, but assisting Ur-Zog was more than mere mischief. If his scheme to summon the Deep Eye had come to fruition, the whole of the realm would have been consumed by the Forever Nightmare.” Each of the sisters pointed at the other two. “It was her idea!!” Harmonia stamped a hoof on the floor, and the three sisters hugged each other tight. “Despite the horrors you caused,” the Princess said, “you three are human, and humans are beyond our authority to punish. No pony can pass sentence upon you.” One of the witches blew a smug raspberry at her. She arched a single, reserved eyebrow. “Therefore, we must allow our human friends to pass judgment upon you.” The two children stepped forward, crossing their arms together in perfect synchrony. The witches resumed their cowering. “I dunno, sis... they did cause everyone a whole lot of trouble.” “I think I know just what to do.” Lisa stepped forward. “All right, you three, here’s the deal: if one of you agrees to come with us willingly, we’ll let the other two go free. But if none of you step forward, then you’ll all be punished. What do you say?” The ponies gasped in astonishment as one of the sisters leaped forward: Tall and gangly Hortencia, all knobbly knees and elbows, sobbed at Lisa’s sneakers. “Me, take me! Please, just let them go!” Her two siblings stared at her for a moment, stunned, but soon ran over and began kicking her. “Yeah, it was all her fault! She’s the one you want: take her!” “Silence!” Harmonia called, her voice thundering and majestic. The two sisters staggered back. Harmonia stepped forward and leaned down, whispering to Hortencia. “Why do you sacrifice yourself so? Your siblings have offered you nothing but cruelty!” “I don’t care!” she sobbed. “They’re... they’re the only family I’ve got left! Even if I never see them again, at least I’ll know they’ll be all right!” She turned to Lisa and James with a sniffle. “That’s what a good sister would want... isn’t it?” Harmonia nodded, solemnly. “So shall it be. Hortencia: you will come with us to begin serving your sentence. Your family is free to go.” The two witches ran off, cackling uproariously, and the crowd of ponies parted quickly as they passed. They watched them flee out of the stronghold’s main entrance and into the endless labyrinth beyond: a maze they would surely never escape from. Lisa knelt down beside Hortencia and gently set a hand on her shoulder. “Come now. There’s no time for dawdling.” Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at her. “What’re you gonna do to me?” James smiled at her. “Aw, we’re not gonna do anything bad to ya. You were the one who gave us the special brew that stopped the Grye Goo. We’ll call it even!” Hortencia gasped. “You knew that was me!? But I never told anybody!” Lisa took her hand and helped her stand up. “You only helped make the Grye Goo in the first place because you wanted to impress your sisters, but when you saw how awful it was you did the right thing. You’re a good person.” “My family...” She looked out at the labyrinth outside the stronghold. “I’m all alone now, with nowhere to go. I don’t know what I’ll do!” Radiance hopped forward. “You can stay with us!” she said, “there’s always room at Paradise Estates for everyp... for everyone.” Hortencia clasped her hands together. “You’d do that for me? That’d be wonderful!” Lisa turned to address the gathering. “We have to go home now, and I don’t think we’ll ever come back... but we’ll never forget any of you as long as we live.” The crowd looked to them with teary eyes, despite the caring smiles. Even Hortencia wiped a tear from her cheek. “All this time I wished you would just go away forever and stop ruining my curses. And now that you’re really going away... I feel like we just met.” James leaned his bat against his shoulder. “You gotta be really careful what you wish for. We learned that the hard way, didn’t we, sis?” Hortencia clasped her hands. “But I’ve been so horrible to you! Is there any way to make up for it all? There must be something I can do!” The children shared a solemn look. James gave his sister a slight nod. Lisa stepped forward, took her golden locket off its necklace, and held it out to Hortencia. “Here. Use the Rainbow of Light. Use it to wish us back home.” She gasped. “You’re letting me hold it!?” “No,” Lisa said, “we’re letting you keep it. Only a human can make wishes on a rainbow... and when we leave, you’ll be the only good human left.” Hortencia opened the locket and gazed at the flickering glimmer within. “Why is it so small? Whenever you used it, it was big enough to cover the whole sky!” “It was the same size when we first found it,” said Lisa. “The more friends you have, the bigger and stronger it gets. Good friends always help your wishes come true.” Lisa set the locket in the witch’s hands and closed her fingers around it tight. “Make some friends, Hortencia. You deserve some.” She looked at her own feet. “But... but I’ve never... I wouldn’t know how!” One of the youngest ponies, barely old enough to walk, hopped out from the crowd and smiled up at her. “I’ll be your friend! Can I please?” Without a moment’s hesitation, a chorus of voices called out with similar requests.  Hortencia looked around, bashfully, as the crowd closed in all around her. Every face in the crowd looked up at her, warm and caring. Hortencia closed the locket and held it close. “I wish... I wish... I wish!” She held the locket up to the sky and opened it wide: a brilliant arc of color surged out, bathing her awestruck face in a spectrum of lights and sparkles. The arc streamed up to the sky above and pierced a hole in the clouds, and through the opening they saw the rolling hills and lush forests of another realm altogether. Compared to the idyllic Ponyland, it seemed faded and dull... but to the children, it bore the incomparable beauty of a familiar home. Lisa and James held each other’s hands and stepped into the rainbow together, and a great rush of wind and light carried them up into the sky. The gathering of ponies waved and cheered as their old friends faded into the distance far above. Hortencia closed the locket, sealing the unfathomable cosmic power within, and held it tight against her heart.