//------------------------------// // Act Two: Chapter Six - Heart’s Birth // Story: Turning Points // by Slatewings //------------------------------// Act Two Chapter Six - Heart’s Birth Tourmaline woke to the sound of birds chirping and the warmth of sunlight streaming through the bedroom’s paned windows. She stretched under the covers, feeling every knot and sore muscle but not minding them as much as she once had. Hard work was a part of everypony’s life now, from farmer to cleric and every ache and pain was a badge of honor, a reminder of the labor spent to hew some little part of their new home from the wilderness. She rubbed the fog from her eyes and threw back the covers. Instinctively, High Horse pulled the blankets around him tighter lest Tourmaline allow the comparatively cool air of the room invade the warm coziness of the blankets. Tourmaline smiled and kissed her husband’s cheek. “Goodmorning my lord,” she joked. “It’s time to get up, there’s an assembly at the palace this morning.” High Horse pulled his blankets in tighter and mumbled, “...but the seven times apple farmer promised the cinder broom he’d bake up the gemstone stew for the mushroom babies...” Tourmaline snorted, that was a new one. Beside High Horse, on the nightstand was a tall stack of scrolls and ledgers. Some had been stamped and were ready to go, most we’re still waiting for his approval. Tourmaline smiled sympathetically and brushed his mane out of his face. The poor stallion had been spread too thin recently. Thanks to his former position as choir liaison and his political maneuvering in the old Court, his talent for negotiation and administration was well known. Along with a passionate, Tourmaline thought somewhat obsessive, pursuit of organization, this had made him the official go to pony for everypony in charge of a program or project. At times it seemed High Horse was single-hoofedly running the new government. Tourmaline decided she could let him sleep a little longer, they weren’t due at the council hall for a few more hours, and the stallion really did need his rest. On still half asleep hooves, she trotted over to the mirror and set about trying to make herself presentable. She had fallen asleep before bothering to dry her mane again and now was regretting it. No amount of brushing seemed to work. One day she’d have to get Clover to teach her some basic styling spells. Giving up, Tourmaline set her brush back on the dresser knocking over a small picture frame. Tourmaline levitated it back into position, smiling as she looked at the image. The portrait had been High Horse’s first anniversary gift to her. It showed High Horse in his suit and herself in her blue and white wedding dress on day of their marriage. The painting itself was amateurishly, even crudely, rendered. Infact, High Horse had painted it himself. Tourmaline loved it. Tourmaline set the picture back in its place between the four gilt roses High Horse had given her, one on each anniversary. With another glance at her sleeping husband, Tourmaline headed to the kitchen to fix herself breakfast. She never had to bother making High Horse anything to eat in the morning, he never bothered eating breakfast. He was one of those lucky ponies who always managed to spring out of bed fully refreshed and rejuvenated, assuming he had his required eight hours of beauty sleep. Tourmaline, on the other hoof, drank three cups of black tea with her morning toast and egg and still she felt half sleep. When she was done, she washed the newly made dishes in the sink and replaced them in the cupboard before strapping on her saddlebag. She kissed High Horse on the forehead, which elicited another line of mumbled gibberish, before heading to the council hall for the weekly address. Tourmaline’s hooves clopped against the fresh cobblestone road as she walked. Everywhere she looked there were ponies working, building homes, clearing trees, painting, planting, and plowing. The new homeland of ponies, dubbed “Equestria” in the first council elections held just over two years ago, was growing rapidly. Even the roaming groups of ponies from the Canterlot Tribe were impressed, despite their tradition of trying to hide and blend their homes into the landscape. A few of the other tribes and sent ponies to openly protest the construction but the protection vouchsafed by Chieftain Stormsong kept them from getting too rowdy. The limestone arches of the new palace soared ahead of her. Tourmaline ran a hoof over the porous stone as she passed through the always open gate. Travertine wasn’t the most solid of stones, they’d have to put down a layer of plaster over the rock soon or else risk cracking in the winter. Unlike the old palace this one had no roped off corridors and barred gates. Construction was simple. The Council chambers, a kitchen, a few meeting rooms, the library, ahoof full of offices, a few towers, and the treasury (the only locked and guarded room) made up the bulk of the structure. The jewel of the palace, though, was the Great Hall. The whole of the palace was built from the stone of the cave where Clover, Private Pansy, and Smart Cookie first discovered the Fire of Friendship and though the hill had been torn down, that flame still burned, unmoved, high among the hall’s souring buttresses. Today the hall was filled with ponies standing almost shoulder to shoulder, a lucky few managed to find chairs or cushions. A podium had been erected at the far end beneath the Fire itself. Tourmaline felt the light of that mystical fire warm her very heart as she entered. From across the hall, Celestia waved. The filly (young mare, Tourmaline corrected herself) beckoned Tourmaline to join her and her sister. “Good morning, Tourmaline,” Luna chipped as Tourmaline joined them. “High Horse sleep in again?” Celestia asked. “Yeah,” Tourmaline laughed. “Poor stallion’s been so overworked I couldn’t bear to pry him out of bed. Not that I could. I’ll just make sure i get him a copy of the minutes when I go.” “Esh... I know how he feels,” Celestia goaned. “Today was the third day in a row Luna and I had to take care of the dawn ourselves.” Tourmaline winced, “Sorry girls. They’ve been keeping me so busy and this was the first morning off I’ve had in weeks.” “Oh its okay,” Celestia waved a hoof. “I know you’ve been working. But you’d think that somepony could give us a hoof once and a while, not even Clover’s been helping us. I might have the sun for a cutie mark but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.” “So, why are we here instead of the Council Chambers?” Luna asked. “No idea,” Tourmaline admitted. “Maybe they’re doing some work in there.” “Nope, empty. I peeked,” Celestia said. Tourmaline shrugged, “Guess we’ll find out.” “Good morning everypony,” Clover’s amplified voice rang through the Hall from the podium, drawing everypony’s attention. Behind her stood the other council members, including the newly joined representative from the Canterlot Tribe. “I apologize for the change in venue but I thought it important that we meet here today.” Clover gestured upward to where the pink, heart shaped, flame burned above them. “For almost five years now, we’ve lived under the light of the Fire of Friendship. First it thawed the hearts of our leaders. Then it drew us across frozen mountains to our new homes where its light proved our sincerity and earned us our new friends,” she nodded graciously to the canterlot pony beside her. “And, ever since it has been our guiding light, inspiring us to live in harmony and urging us to be better ponies. “That is why it is so hard for me to tell you this now,” she continued. “The Fire is fading. In just a years time it will flicker and go out forever.” Gasps and murmurs rippled through the gathered ponies. The Fire had become the very symbol of harmony for them, the thought of losing it forever was... unthinkable. Tourmaline looked up at the flickering pink flame. It seemed just as bright as ever. “It looks the same to me,” somepony said, echoing Tourmaline’s thoughts. “I understand that,” Clover answered. “It was Chancellor Puddinghead who noticed it first, don’t ask me how. I didn’t believe it either until after months of careful measurement and examination. Believe me though, it magical matrix that sustains the manifestation of Harmony that we call the Fire of Friendship is starting to break down. In short time it will fail.” “Is there anything we can do?” “There is. Some of you might have noticed my absence for the past few weeks. I’ve been busy pouring over every text and tome we managed to bring with us, looking for an answer,” she paused, “and I believe I’ve found one. “The answer came from a text on geology, specifically gem formation. You see, gems are formed when the energies releasing by a falling star are absorbed by the minerals of the rocks and soil, triggering their crystallization. I believe we can do the same with the energy of the Fire of Friendship, crystallizing it’s light in the form of a gem and allowing it to shine forever.” Again murmurs rippled through the crowd, notes of concern rose from a few of those who were well versed in magical lore. “Will this not result in creating a simple gem?” asked a unicorn mare Tourmaline recognised form the arcanium. “Normally yes,” Clover answered, “a rather large gem at that. But I intend to only allow a portion of the Fire’s energies to be expended in the gems formation, the remainder will be drawn by magical association with the into the crystal lattice of the gem.” “Do you think that’s even possible?” asked the same unicorn. “It is,” Clover answered, “but you’re right. If something goes wrong we will be left with nothing but a memento to remind of what we once had, but if we do nothing then nothing is all we will have. The Fire will go out and we will lose our guiding light. We have to try and we have to try soon. In only a few weeks time, the magical structure of the Fire will be too weak to save. “This is why I called for a public assembly. This isn’t something that the Council has a right to decide ourselves. If we are going to attempt this I want it be Equestria’s decision, not just ours. If my fellow Council members agree, I call for a vote to be held immediately.” The other ponies at the podium nodded in assent. “Then it’s agreed. Everypony who supports my proposal to save the Flame, please, raise a hoof.” Tourmaline immediately raised her hoof in support, as did Luna and Celestia. They were soon joined by more ponies until it seemed everypony Tourmaline could see had been won over. “All those opposed,” Clover called from the podium. A few hooves raised. Clover sighed, obviously dissatisfied that the decision wasn’t unanimous. “The proposal passes. I thank everypony for their trust I know how much this means to our people. If we succeed, then the Flame will shine down on our grandchildren's grandchildren's grandchildren, and I promise you, we will not fail.” The meeting concluded, the gathered ponied dispersed and went back to their homes, shops, and families. Tourmaline, Celestia, and Luna waited afterward to talk with Clover. They waited for her to finish speaking with the other Council members before approaching. “It doesn’t look any difference,” Tourmaline said as Clover stepped down from the podium. “It’s hard to believe.” “I know what you mean, but you know appearances, and all that,” Clover answered. She looked up at the Fire, wistfully, “We can’t let it happen, Tourmaline. It’s a living, breathing manifestation of Harmony itself. There hasn’t been anything like it since the Shattering.” Tourmaline nodded, “You’ll figure something out. Are you sure trapping it in a gem is the only way?” “I wouldn’t say I plan to ‘trap’ the flame. Think of it more like placing a candle in a lantern,” Clover retorted. “I’m going to need your help on this one.” “Me? I don’t know anywhere near enough about magic.” Clover smiled, “Yes, you still have a lot to learn about magic but you do know stones and minerals, including crystals. I’m going to need you to help me guide the gem’s formation.” She looked at the sisters, “I’m going to need your help too.” “Of course,” Celestia answered happily, “what can we do?” Luna seemed concerned. “You two are sisters who bear a connection to the sun and moon, naturally as well as instilled by attunement, together you represent Harmony almost as purely as the Flame itself. I’m not sure if I can manipulate the heart directly without you.” “I promise we’ll do our best,” said Luna. The four dove into their work immediately. The first several days consisted of little other than Clover giving them a crash course in some of the finer points of magical theory. Fortunately, Clover had already devoted a fair amount of time giving Tourmaline the background in magic befitting a member of the Choir and Celestia and Luna, although lacking in formal magical education, possess impressive natural talent and took to Clover’s lessons like a bird to the air. Each day left Tourmaline exhausted, as the approaching deadline brought out Clover’s inner taskmaster. Still, it was nearly a month before Clover taught them their part in the spell and another week before she thought they were ready. Soon after, following weeks of preparation, the day finally arrived. Like every day since taking up her new task, Tourmaline woke before dawn, kissed High Horse on the cheek, triggering a semiconscious mumbled rant about the high price of blueberries, and had a quick brain fueling breakfast of oatmeal and fruit and walked out her front door before dawn. The sky was still dark when Tourmaline walked through the gates of the palace. “Tourmaline, good morning,” Clover said from over the lip of a book at the desk she had set up in the corner of the hall. Aside from a few candle stands and the desk, the room was empty. Even the reed mat carpet,a gift from one of the local tribes, had been removed. “Good morning Clover,” Tourmaline trotted up to the desk and thankfully accepted a steaming cup of tea. “Are Luna and Celestia here yet?” “They never left,” Clover answered without looking up from her notes. “They stayed late and fell asleep. I put them in one of the rooms.” Tourmaline smiled. No matter how much the sisters had grown, she couldn’t help but imagine them as little fillies passed out while draped across their homework. “I hope they’re rested enough.” “They will do fine,” Clover put down her quill. “I’ve don’t think I’ve met another unicorn who had their raw power. Not even me. Maybe not even my old teacher, Starswirl the bearded.” She rose to her hooves. “Then again, nopony has ever raised the Sun or Moon on their own either. Maybe they share some kind of primal connection.” She shook her head sadly, “Starswirl would know.” Tourmaline touched a caring hoof tip her shoulder. They’d grown closer as the years had passed and she knew how much Starswirl’s loss had hurt her. He had been family to her, the only family she had for over a hundred years. Times like this when her mind drew her back across the decades, Tourmaline could see the mark of every day in her face. “I’ll go get them up,” Tourmaline offered. Clover nodded, “Please be gentle. This isn’t a day for you three’s pranks” Tourmaline nodded and cross her heart. She found them asleep on a padded bench in one of the back offices and, despite the temptation, managed to respect Clover’s request and wake them without incident. Unfortunately Celestia didn’t quite believe that she had passed up such a perfect opportunity and suspiciously investigated every inch of floor, ceiling, and wall as she passed it as if she expected something to splash down or jump out at her. Tourmaline’s faux-faux-sincere suggestion that she relax and her insistence ‘absolutely nothing is going to happen... you can trust me’ somehow failed to assuage Celestia’s fears. Once they arrived in the hall, Clover carefully explained her latest, final, refinements to the spell before she, Luna, Celestia, and Tourmaline took their places. From directly beneath the now pitifully flickering Fire of Friendship, Tourmaline cast a nervous glance to Celestia and Luna who stood at opposite ends of the hall. Clover stood beneath the fire with her. “Are you ready?” Clover asked. Tourmaline swallowed and nodded and Clover gestured to Luna to begin. As the light of Luna’s horn spread out across the room Tourmaline felt a familiar magical song flutter to life in her heart. She watched as the silver light of the moon cast shadows through the long windows of the hall as it approached the horizon. Just before the moon touched the skyline another, different song rose to meet Luna’s and the golden light of Celestia’s magic spread out to reach her sisters in the center of the room at Clover’s and Tourmaline's hooves beneath the Fire. Through the windows, Tourmaline watched as the sky brightened and the eastern stars faded away to the brilliant orange, reds, and pinks of the sunrise. The sun rose and the moon set until each only shown halfway over the horizon, then they stopped. Clover lowered her head and closed her eyes as her horn wrapped itself in its white glow, she murmured quietly to herself as she concentrated. Above them the Fire began to respond, it’s flickering pink flames started to swell with Clover’s white magical light. Soon it blazed as brightly as it had when Tourmaline first saw it. Entranced by the view, Tourmaline felt herself drawn in by the sight and feeling of magical warmth. A strained grunt from Clover snapped her mind back to the here and now. She lowered her horn to the silver cask of finely powdered corundum at her hooves and filled it with her magic. Under Tourmaline’s magic, the pure white powder flowed up in glowing streamers of dust to meet the blazing Fire. As it did, something began to take shape within the flame. A shape, small at first but under Tourmaline’s guidance it slowly grew and filled out the blazing white flame and drew the light within itself. When the last of the powder was consumed it flared a gleaming pale prism of light and lowered, under Clover’s magic, to the floor. Celestia and Luna allowed the moon to set and the sun to rise. Their task completed, the sisters joined an exhausted Clover and Tourmaline. “Did we do it?” Luna asked nervously, out of breath from holding the Moon in its place for so long. Clover stepped to one side to reveal what they had, together, done. Suspended by it’s own power just above the silver cask that once held the material from which it was made, glowed a single heart shaped gem as large as a foal that shined with a light all its own. “It’s beautiful...” Tourmaline found herself whispering. “It’s unique,” said Clover, “a little piece of Harmony made tangible.” “What do we do now?” Luna asked. “I don’t know...” Clover admitted. “I’ve been so busy working on the spell that I never thought about what we would do afterward. Besides, I wasn’t sure it would even work.” “You what? You risked...” Celestia started. “In less than a week the Fire would have been gone anyway and now look at what we have,” Clover scooped the gem and held it out. It hovered just over the surface of her hooves. “A symbol of Harmony that will shine like a beacon over Equestria from now until the day the alicorns return.” “We should put it at the top of the tower, where everypony can see it,” Luna suggested. The others agreed and Tourmaline and Celestia rushed to the tower to make a place for it. They cleared the pitch soaked firewood from the center platform that served as an emergency beacon until they could have a proper bell cast and swept away the dirt and refuse left behind by the tower sentries over the years. Clover gently wrapped the magnificent gem in cloth and carried it as carefully as a newborn up the winding steps to the top of the tower followed by Luna who was levitating a pillow under it, just in case. Clover placed the gem on the platform that had once held the firewood and drew back the cloth. It rose slightly from the stone and held it’s place aloft. Tourmaline felt the familiar warmth of the flame upon her heart and smiled happily with her friends at their accomplishment. The gem’s glow brightened as if it was sharing in the four ponies moment until it was bright enough to cast their shadows on the tower’s shutters. “Do you hear that?” Luna asked as she walked to the window and peered out. Far below them had gathered hundreds of ponies. They had tried to keep the actual day of the ritual a secret, to avoid any unintentional interference, but seemed the light and harmony of the Flame had drawn them. The sound of their cheers rose until it reached the tower itself. As the ponies celebrated the heart shaped gem grew brighter and brighter in response. Suddenly there was a flash of brilliant pale blue light that washed out of the tower over the ponies below and out to the whole of the city and a shimmering beam of light shot upward and sent an aurora of rainbow colored light spreading out across the sky. The ponies of Equestria, quieted for only a moment before celebrating louder still.