//------------------------------//
// The Echoes of Dissonance 
// Story: Renaissance Pony 
// by Dafaddah 
//------------------------------//


Renaissance Pony


Chapter 15: The Echoes of Dissonance


by Dafaddah


Globe spanning editorial team: Microshazm and SecondLaw
Chapter title in part suggested by SecondLaw










"There be no neutral parties in this war!” Princess Luna’s pronouncement echoed through newly constructed Hall of the Tribes in Canterlot. The very columns and rafters of the huge room shook with what had become known as the Royal Canterlot Voice. “All must choose and make their colours known, for they who stand not with us most assuredly stand against us!"

Luna looked out over the three hundred or so assembled ponies of the Equine Assembly. She knew she was a fearsome sight in her full regalia as the Princess of the Night, Defender of the Realm. Celestia had at first resisted her wearing the uniform at royal functions as a public display of the diarchy’s resolve, but in the end Luna’s good sense had prevailed. The enemies of Harmony needed to be reminded of the cost of their intransigence. Let them tremble in fear in the face of justice, her face.

“Ten years ago, the enemy first raised its hoof against us, and drew forth evil from Tartarus itself in a cowardly attack upon an innocent hamlet that had our blessings." Luna scanned the assembly. "The wage for this monstrous act was paid in their own blood.

“In the days that followed, we trothed a pledge before this very assembly that we would henceforward defend our realm with all our vigour and the totality of our will, a pledge we have honoured to this very day. And this we say to them that wouldst succor and give comfort to our enemies, let them know the sword of our justice shall spare them not, even unto the ends of the earth!”

Applause started and built into a thunderous tumult. Just to be sure the message had sunk in she snuck a glance at the ambassador from the Crystal Empire, sitting just to the other side of her sister. The poor pony stood and clopped hooves with the others, his eyes wide and ears swiveling first one way then another. Luna felt the edges of her muzzle curl up the slightest bit. Yes, the message has been received, she thought. She sat down at her throne, very satisfied with how the evening was proceeding.





Celestia looked over the Assembly cheering Luna’s short speech, projecting a carefully neutral demeanor. Ever since the arrival of the ambassador from the Crystal Empire, she and Luna had argued repeatedly on how to respond to this totally unexpected contact. The very existence of a nation to Equestria’s far north composed entirely of earth ponies had been embraced with glee by the separatist factions of all three tribes. 

Luna’s reaction had been characteristically direct: she wanted to tell the Empire’s ambassador that any statement favouring any of the separatist factions would be interpreted as a declaration of war. Thankfully she was able to get Luna to see the value of stating Equestria’s policy by less direct means before confronting the Empire, such as through a policy statement presented in the Equine Assembly. Nevertheless, this evening she had still been shocked at her sister’s vehemence.

Even though she deplored Luna’s methods, she had to admit they seemed to have produced the desired result: the ambassador from the Crystal Empire was giving every sign of recommending that the empire officially support the diarchy and refuse to deal with agents of the rebel factions. She stifled a sigh. The diarchy could ill afford even the hint of a difference of opinion between the ruling princesses, especially before a delegation from a foreign government. She rose and the crowd quieted down.

“As our sister remindeth us... ” Celestia winced as her words reverberated and were echoed back towards her. Perhaps we don’t have to be so loud, now that we finally have an indoor venue large enough for the entire assembly, she thought. She continued in a slightly softer tone of voice. “It is indeed a decade full since the three tribes decided to join their destinies in a common cause and live as one pony nation, indivisible, with justice, equality and Harmony for all!" She grinned, letting anticipation build. “And so to commemorate that fateful night, when earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns put aside their differences, we declare Hearth's Warming Eve an annual national holiday henceforward!”

As Celestia expected, the applause was warm and polite, but not nearly the clamour that followed Luna’s speech. The news was expected, as she had canvassed key members of the Assembly beforehoof and had asked the Minister of Culture to sponsor a bill that had already been voted into law. She sat down, allowing the Speaker to call the next order of business to be presented before the Assembly.





From her seat just before the diarchs’ thrones, Princess Platinum watched as Princess Celestia resumed her seat. On her left was the head of the Unicorn Council for most of these last ten years, Sombra, a commoner. Every time she saw the pony she wondered if she had made the rights decision ten years earlier to ask that a regent be appointed, and thought back upon those difficult days. She turned to her right and squeezed Clover’s hoof. The Prince Consort glanced at her and squeezed back reassuringly.

Something in her expression caught his eye. “You’re thinking about her again aren’t you?” he whispered into her ear. She nodded solemnly. After the attack on Ponyville she had begun to doubt that she was indeed ready to lead the unicorn tribe. That so many under her rule had defied her, causing so much destruction and death including that of Hydrangea, had rocked her to the core. It was Clover’s patience, love and support that had saved her from the depression that clouded her thoughts during those first difficult years. 

“It’s been ten years, and still my heart aches that she lost her life because of me,” she whispered back.

“Hush, love,” he whispered back. “It was in Hydrangea’s nature to protect others, just as she was always pulling her brothers out of trouble. She did what she thought was right. We honour her sacrifice, but love, you are not to blame for her death.”

Not to blame, she thought. If only other ponies thought so. She sighed and recalled the moment her responsibility in Hydrangea’s death had been made clear to her. It had been at her funeral...




Princess Platinum shivered in the cold and leaned in closer to Clover. She looked at Hydrangea’s brothers and parents, huddled at the edge of the grave. Even without the cold snap firewood was a scarce commodity, too rare for a traditional unicorn pyre. Platinum had wept when the mare’s shroud clad body was gently lowered into the earth. 

Hydrangea’s younger brothers stood on one side of her parents and the eldest, Hyacinth, on the other. The latter scowled as he looked in the direction of his brother Cornflower with his tiny pegasi marefriend Dawn pressed close, her face hidden under his mane as she shook in grief. She had seen his sister die, and had been inconsolable since.

The eulogies had been moving. Princess Platinum had also been asked to say a few words. To her shame, when it was her turn to speak before the mourners she had only been able to stammer a few words: “I wish... If only...“ and then choked up and burst into tears. Princess Celestia had draped a wing over her and led her back to Clover, where she stood now, in the chill morning air.

“It’s our turn,” said Clover. She followed as he led them to the graveside. He levitated two blue roses from a bouquet near the grave, gently lowering them to join those already covering much of the shrouded form below.

They turned away and went to stand with Cornflower and Dawn. She was trying to think of any words of consolation she could offer the still weeping mare, when Hyacinth walked up to them, his face clouded and ears lowered. They stared at each other for a moment.

“It should have been you in that grave,” he said, eyes furious and dripping tears. Her eyes grew wide. She felt her heart drop into her stomach. “If you hadn’t agreed to this... abomination,” he pointed at the pegasus under his brother’s foreleg, “then none of this would have happened!” With a final glare he spun on his hooves and galloped off.

Everypony within earshot stared at the little group in shock. Hydrangea’s mother was the first to speak. Her midnight blue coat made her seem smaller than she actually was, but there was a fierce intelligence in her gaze. “That was just the grief speaking, Princess. He’s always been the hot-headed one. Hydrangea was constantly pulling his hoof out of his mouth, she was.” She patted Platinum on the back and slowly moved off. 

Platinum felt Clover’s leg shift as he held her even more tightly, and realized he was supporting much of her weight. As she glanced up at his muzzle, she heard somepony in the crowd whisper loudly: “Nothing good will come from this mixing of tribes. This is just...” the remainder of the remark was lost in the wind. She looked at Cornflower and Dawn in dismay. Thankfully neither one seemed to have been paying any attention to the evil words.

“Please take me home,” she asked Clover, her voice a hoarse whisper.

His horn glowed. The harsh daylight was replaced by the comforting and familiar surroundings of her bedchamber. She climbed into bed and lay her head down. Clover stroked her mane as she shuddered in grief and guilt.





Starswirl the Bearded looked at Celestia and Luna, sitting poised on their thrones. They projected calm, benevolence, wisdom and unity, and he knew it was nothing more than a façade, a charade to please the ponies of the Equine Assembly. The last few years had seen increasing strife between the sisters, and to his own guilt, he was in no small part part responsible for much of the rift, even though most of it was not of his own making.

The biggest bone of contention between he and Celestia was the behavior of Princess Luna. Her zealotry in defence of the diarchy was progressively less restrained. Even though many ponies supported her actions unconditionally, an increasing number had begun to fear her as well. Unavoidably these feelings were being projected onto her sister. He feared that if things continued on the current course, it would only drive more and more ponies to join the separatist movements, and so he constantly advised Celestia to counsel her sister to moderate her actions. Of course Luna knew that this was going on, and she openly resented Starswirl’s intrusion into the diarchs’ affaires. Relations between the two were tense at best. 

However, Luna’s words had reminded him of another issue that had caused a great deal of strife between Celestia and Luna. Starswirl unconsciously raised a hoof to touch a star shaped diadem affixed to his broad-rimmed hat: the Element of Magic, one of the mysterious Elements of Harmony. On that perilous day ten years earlier, to save his life Celestia had invested him with the object. It had multiplied his magical power several fold and had been the focus of much of his magical studies ever since. 

When Luna found out, she had been furious. He recalled the first argument that had resulted from these events ten years earlier...




They sat at a round table on which lay two silver trays, one covered in scrolls and another graced with a very delicate looking tea service. Starswirl watched in silence as Celestia poured for her guests, the mayor of Ponyville Oya and her son Joly, the deputy mayor. When everypony’s cup was filled, she put down the teapot, and paused to collect her thoughts. Starswirl knew what she was going to say, but that did little to allay the dread he felt at what must come.

“We regret that we must abandon Ponyville,” said Celestia. The grim words seemed out of place in the cheerful decor of her quarters in Everfree Castle. Starswirl saw Oya and Joly wilt under the pronouncement. “There are still too many creatures escaped from Tartarus wandering the woods nearby, and given the nature of the Everfree, it may take generations to reduce their numbers sufficiently to ensure the residents’ safety. I’m sorry.” Celestia took a sip from her teacup while her guests left theirs untouched on the table between them. “However, we do have a proposal to make.”

Starswirl raised one ear, and looked up at the princess. Her expression remained serious. Celestia took another sip, her gaze steadfast upon her steaming cup.

“I take full responsibility for what has happened to you all. I sent the colony to the slow world, where I knew you would be safe.” Her eyes met Starswirl’s. “I never once imagined how ill-prepared for life in Equestria your descendants would be. I fear that establishing Ponyville on a new site would just preserve that vulnerability. I see only one solution: settling colonist families into existing towns with ponies who know how to deal with the local perils.” 

Joly hid his face behind a trembling hoof. His mother covered his other with her own.

“It was always our plan that families from the colony would leave Ponyville and move into existing towns. Your goal is to become living examples of the success of the amniomorphic spell, and to spread understanding of multi-tribal families.” Finally the corners of Celestia’s mouth sketched a smile, though it was tinged with sadness. “And since Starswirl’s introduction of three-houses, most towns will have ponies sharing mixed-tribe accommodations, at least into the summer. We are fully confident that many of these will result in more permanent families that will need the example and advice of the former colonists.” 

“We understand, your Majesty” said Oya, finally venturing to speak. She looked at her son as she spoke. “This is the task to which we had agreed, all those years ago.” She smiled and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes momentarily showed her age. “Even if to everypony else it was mere weeks.”

Joly pushed back from the table. “But mother, our town... the only home most of us have ever known, will cease to exist!” His eyes were moist and his mouth gaped in dismay. 

Oya patted his hoof. “Nevertheless, we will do our duty, son.” There was no mistaking the iron will behind the words. It reminded Starswirl of the filly he had first met when she was barely past foalhood. Now she seemed so much older and wiser than he. He suddenly regretted the time he had spent away from the colony, where the years had raced ahead while he spent mere hours in Equestria.

Celestia’s expression was no less serious than Oya’s. “Though it is probably of little comfort, I make you this pledge: one day the town of Ponyville will be reborn. I swear it.”

Joly’s shoulders drooped and he leaned closer to his mother. He picked up his cup, staring into the tea. “Then that will have to do, I guess,” he said, and took a sip. “How long do we have before we... part ways?”

Celestia’s horn glowed a moment. A scroll moved into view, which she passed to Oya. “This is the resettlement timetable for towns and villages. Each will take a family or two. I shall leave the specifics in your capable hooves.”

Knowing when they were dismissed, Starswirl, Oya and Joly rose from the table and bowed. The princess bowed in turn. “Starswirl, might you remain a moment? I have some other matters to discuss with you.”

He waved the other ponies onwards. They left Celestia’s apartments with a last bow at the door. He turned to Celestia. “How may I further be of service?” he asked.

“Please sit, Starswirl.”

Starswirl resumed his seat. Instead of sitting down Celestia went to a low table on which lay a chest. Her horn glowed a moment and the chest opened, revealing a half dozen jewelry pieces. For some reason, once they were in sight he could not tear his gaze away. One piece, with a star-shaped jewel, rose in Celestia’s telekinetic grip and floated over to the table. As it approached he felt his heart beat stronger. Finally it lay on the table before him. His chest was pounding so hard he wondered that his heart had not yet burst from it.

Celestia’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Do you know what this is?” she asked.

“No majesty,” replied Starswirl, in equally hushed tones. “But I must admit, I have never felt so fiercely drawn to an object in my entire life.”

“That,” said another voice from the entrance to Celestia’s quarters, “is the Element of Magic.” 

As if the words broke the spell, finally Starswirl tore his eyes away from the bauble, and saw that it was Princess Luna. He rose and bowed. As she approached she stared first at the star shaped jewel and then at Starswirl. Her eyes grew wide.

“Sister! What have you done!” she cried, an expression of horror on her face. Their gazes met. In all the time Starswirl had know Princess Luna, upon her face he had seen laughter, suspicion, boredom, determination, anger, regret, vengeance, victory, tenderness and tears. But he had never since such naked fear.

“I had no time to consult you Luna. I feared for Starswirl’s life,” replied Celstia.

“But this puts the entire world at risk! What if Discord were to escape? What if some other power once again threatens to destroy all we have built? Have you forgotten what it cost us to acquire them and keep them out of the wrong hooves?” The pitch of Luna’s voice, normally much huskier than her sister’s, was both loud and shrill.

“Then Starswirl would simply add his power to ours!” said Celestia hotly. “We have discussed this before, Luna. I believe the Elements will be even more powerful if we have more ponies bearing them.” She pointed at Starswirl’s flank. “And you yourself have remarked that his cutie mark certainly resembles the Element of Magic, did you not?”

Starswirl had long ago ceased wondering about the mark on his flanks. All adult ponies had them, and stars could mean anything. Luna’s hoof smashed down onto the table next to the jewel, leaving a deep hoof-mark on the polished wooden surface. The tea set rattled dangerously and tea pooled onto the table from an overturned cup. Starswirl forgot about his cutie mark and began to inch away.

“So what next, sister dear? Shall we apportion them all to worthy ponies across Equestria? Shall we then pray they remember the meaning of Harmony and form a committee to take action, whilst our enemies patiently await our deliberations? What madness is this?” 

Celetia's eyes narrowed and her ears pulled back. This was the first time she had shown such emotion since their last disastrous trip to the human world.

"Perhaps we should distribute the Elements! You know full well they were never meant to be concentrated into the hooves of only two ponies. By gathering them to ourselves we betray the very principles we are sworn to protect."

Luna's head and ears were both dangerously low. She glared at Celestia for a moment, then resumed her usual upright, regal posture. Her smile was terrible, haughty and cold as she gazed down at the other princess. "I remind you that you did not voice your objections at the time, sister dear," she growled. "You fought no less than I did to acquire the Elements. You had no qualms using them, and rejoiced no less to see Discord cast into stone." 

With every sentence Luna leaned forward and Starswirl shrank back even further. "In times of such disunity you would place the Elements into the hooves of the tribes?" The Princess of the Night shook her head. "You talk about scruples, yet you did this behind my back, you who in the past have selfishly placed your scruples above the needs of Equestria time and again, and then watched as I did that which was needful," she spat. “Is this is the measure of your gratitude for all I have done?”

She turned her head in his direction and Starswirl shivered. “As to you, Bearer of the Element of Magic,” she sneered, “it seems trust has not abandoned my sister entirely, as she has just placed the most powerful magical item in this world into the hooves of a creature born of another.”

Starswirl dared glance at Celestia. Her expression was as hard as he had ever seen it.

“This time, Luna, it was I who did what was needful. Otherwise Starswirl and who knows how many more in Ponyville would have died on that day. And perhaps the reason there is still such a lack of unity amongst our ponies is because we have never entrusted its protection into their hooves. The only limits to their growth so far, sister, have been those we have imposed upon them.”

As she spoke Celestia leaned in as well. The sisters were now muzzle to muzzle over the table, and Starswirl shivered in dread. It was long moments before either sister spoke.

“So be it,” said Luna. “You may do what you want with your three Elements. Mine I will keep in my own care. Somepony has to take the defence of Equestria seriously, and it is a burden and duty that I for one have never shirked.” With a final glare at her sister and Starswirl, Luna turned and stormed out the door.

“I’m sorry you had to see this, Starswirl,” said Celestia. She still had that very determined look on her face. “However, circumstances often dictate needs, and so I have a request.”

“Anything, your Highness,” replied Starswirl in a muted voice.

Celestia’s horn glowed, and the Element of Magic rose into the air. A circlet of gold formed behind it, incorporating the star shaped gemstone as its centerpiece. It floated further into the air and slowly descended onto the cone of his broad-rimmed mage’s hat. The moment its weight settled onto his head Starswirl again felt as he had when he had first spied the gem. His blood rushed in his ears, and he felt light as a feather.

“Starswirl,” said the Princess, “I want you to do for the Elements of Harmony something akin to what you have done with the Amniomorphic spell. I want you to craft a spell that ensures that each Element will always find the most suitable pony to bear that Element, and that the elements are distributed two to each tribe. The spell should also have some means to draw all the bearers of the Elements of Harmony to seek each-other out, so that in times of need they will be able to come together quickly.”

“My Princess,” gulped Starswirl, “I have no idea where to start.”

Celestia indicated the scrolls on the table. “I have written down much of what I know about the Elements of Harmony. Please study this. That is all, Starswirl. You may go now.”

Starswirl rose, bowed and gathered the scrolls in his telekinetic grip. At the door he turned to bow once again. Princess Celestia had not moved from her place at the table. With a pang he saw that her earlier determination had deserted her, and she leaned heavily on the table. The teapot levitated and refilled her cup. With a trembling hoof she picked up the cup and brought it to her lips. Starswirl bowed again. With a feeling of relief and then shame, he left the Princess to her thoughts.





Sky Blue sat down at the long table and tried not to fidget. It took all the willpower he had laboriously amassed in his eight years since birth not just to go muzzle down into the bowls heaped high with every imaginable amazing dish his grand-parents had prepared. And they were both great cooks! So he told everypony who would listen. Just ask.

He eyed a leaf, fallen from a serving bowl onto the table-cloth. If he took that, surely it would qualify as tidying-up! He raised a small blue hoof and noticed his uncle Hy glaring in disapproval. With a sigh he slowly retracted his offending appendage.

Uncle Hy was a challenge for young Sky. He knew his uncle didn’t like it that his dad had married a pegasus. Uncle Hy was ‘one of those unicorns’ according to his dad. They, and Sky’s Grandma, always kept a wary eye out whenever he and his uncle were together in the same room. Not that Uncle Hy was ever outright rude to Sky, but he wasn’t exactly Sky’s favourite uncle by a long shot. That honour was reserved for uncle Mo. 

Uncle Mo was a teacher at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns and he knew all sorts of amazing magical tricks. He was still a bachelor and so didn’t have a wife or foals, but had a mare-friend with him at supper tonight, a light yellow coated earth pony who worked at the Ministry of Science. He said they had met a long time ago in a tree house. Sky had a hard time imagining his uncle as a kid in a tree house. 

A sudden thought struck him. “Hey, we got all three types of ponies here tonight!” His wings fluttered in excitement as the table conversation died.

“They’re called tribes, nephew,” said Uncle Hy.

“Hydrangea would have been happy,” said Grandpa, putting a last serving bowl onto the table. He sighed and then smiled. “She was always so happy around all types of ponies.” He gave his grandson a wink.

“Well I’m pretty happy about all of us being together tonight,” said Grandma, the last to sit down at her place. “And I’m especially glad Cornflower, Dawn and Sky were able to come all the way from Cloudsdale.”

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world, mother,” said his dad. To his embarrassment, his mother gave his dad a squeeze right there in front of everypony. “And with Hy joining the Unicorn Council’s mission to the Crystal Empire, this might be the last chance for us all to get together for quite a while.”

Uncle Mo stood and raised a glass of wine. Again the table became silent. He turned to a place setting where there was nopony seated. His mother explained that it had been placed there for his aunt Hydrangea, who had died before he was born. Everypony stood and also raised a glass. Sky’s had grape juice in it, his favorite. 

“To the pony who isn’t here tonight, the mare we still love and hold dear in our hearts, the heroine who saved a Princess, the sister who made my younger days bright and whom I still miss every day: Hydrangea, you are always in our thoughts.” 

“To Hydrangea!” The words rang out all around the table. His Grandma’s eye’s grew wet, so his mother went over to give her a hug. Together they shed a few tears. Concerned, he was about to flutter on over himself when his father put a hoof on his withers. “They’re okay, son. Let them remember your auntie together a bit.”

Everypony started filling their plates, and it wasn’t very long that his mother returned to her seat and joined in the eating. The rest of the evening was the eight year old colt’s idea of the best supper ever: amazing food, his Grandma and Grandpa refilling his plate whenever he managed to empty it, grape juice, and his Uncle Mo doing really cool magic tricks. There was a lot of laughter and his elders all told stories about his aunt Hydrangea.

At some point Sky was cuddled up next to his Grandma, who had a foreleg around him. In the heat and the pleasant smell of her fur he found himself nodding off. His father whispered in his ear: “It’s time for bed mister. Go say goodbye to your uncles, they won’t be here when we leave tomorrow morning.”

He stretched and went to hug his Uncle Mo, who pulled a golden bit from his ear. Then he went to his Uncle Hy. He hesitated a moment, but then hugged the old stallion fiercely. He could tell his Uncle was surprised. He looked up into his eyes and whispered. “Please be careful up in the north Uncle Hy. Granpa ‘n Granma ‘n all of us don’t need more sad things like what happened to Aunt Hydrangea.”

His uncle got a faraway look just then. “No, I guess you don’t.” He smiled for just a moment. “You know, you’re exactly the same shade of blue as she was,” he said. “Good night, Sky.”

“G’night uncle Hy.” He was sleeping in his aunt Hydrangea’s old room that night, and to his embarrassment his grandparents insisted on tucking him in. After they left he had to admit to himself that he felt pretty glad they had. His Grandma had told him the same bedtime story she often told his Aunt Hydrangea when she was a little filly. 

In the semi-darkness, he realized that he was looking at the same things his aunt had looked at, slept in the same bed she had slept in, and loved the same ponies she had loved. With all the stories he had heard about his aunt tonight, somehow he now felt that he knew her, at least a little bit. He imagined her in his mind, and fell asleep, images of his Grandma, mother and aunt Hydrangea swirling in his thoughts. He dreamed of his aunt cuddling him while reading bedtime stories.