//------------------------------// // Act Three: Chapter One - Tea and Prospects // Story: Turning Points // by Slatewings //------------------------------// Act Three Chapter One - Tea and Prospects With every corner filled with ponies passing balloons, beads, and noisemakers to the gathered crowd and every street packed curb to curb with celebration, the ponies of the city of Equestria were happy. The anniversary of the Princesses’ coronation was always the biggest celebration of the year, and this year, the seventieth, promised to be the biggest yet. A chorus of horns announced the passage of the parade, sending ponies rushing to make way as they scrambled for the best view amongst the throng. On the corner of the Palace Street and Hayseed Way, Peridot found a place between a cart passing out free bags of caramel popcorn and a bouncing yellow filly exuberantly tossing celebratory beads into the crowd. Peridot hopped up and down on her hooves, tossing her mane back and forth, creating an aura of wild hair as green as her namesake gemstone. She waved and cheered to each float as they passed. The parade was lead by the Royal Guard dressed in their gleaming gold armor and the Honor Guard wearing the traditional silver armor of the old country. The guards ponies passed by, their hoof falls landing in a single beat as their armor shined under Celestia’s sun. Behind them marched a rag tag formation of fillies and colts, only a few old enough to be sporting their cutie marks but all wearing matching scarves and blue and gold vests festooned with patches and waving banners proudly proclaiming themselves to be the Troop Six of the Junior Scouts. The children marched along while belting out a cheerful, if poorly synchronized, cadence: Happy citizens we be, at our best for our country. Born or moved here, we won’t roam, Equestria is our home. Land of silver, land of gold, hope of the young, pride of old. Loved by stallion, loved by mare, guarded by Princesses fair. Celestia, mare of light, Luna of the sacred night Crowns seventy years they bore, may they rule a thousand more. A scout alumi herself, Peridot sang along with them as they passed, pausing in her bouncing to stand at attention and salute, hoof on heart. Following the scouts were floats sponsored by merchants and guilds declaring their wares and skills proudly as ‘made in Equestria’. A few of the more exotically decorated floats were built by the various ‘heritage brigades’ that had sprung up among the old tribal villages as more conservative elements tried to preserve their ancient traditions in the face of ‘equestriazation’. Finally, surrounded by banner wavers, dancers, and musicians, came the float everypony had been waiting for. Atop the lovingly crafted platform stood the Princesses Celestia and Luna. Each princess wore a dress styled to represent their domain. Celestia’s was brilliant white and pale blue trimmed with a billowing edge that gave the impression of midday clouds, and a golden sun sat upon her chest. Luna’s gown was deep midnight blue trimmed with a lighter shade of blue and pattern with tiny stars and a moon set in a silver necklace. The princesses looked down at the ponies they both ruled over and served. Luna stood straight backed and regal as her mane flowed about her, sparkling like the night sky, silently commanding a respectful bow from everypony the float passed. Celestia, however, laughed happily as she tossed beads and sweets to the fillies and foals who rushed to the parade side to greet her. Peridot waved to the float’s royal occupants, catching the solar Princess’s eye who smiled in return. Behind the Princesses’ royal float followed the ‘Founder’s Float’. Decorated with banners and flags from celebrations past, it carried ponies who had made great contributions to Equestria during its formative early years as a colony of refugees. An aged Puddinghead waved enthusiastically beside the ever timid Pansy Blossom and the Hero of the Great Dragon incursion Sir Finish Line stood proudly in his old armor as he waved a tattered flag over his head. But, of all the honored ponies who rode by on the float, two were most near and dear to Peridot’s heart. A elderly unicorn mare with a dark chocolate brown coat and grey streaked blue mane who stood hoof-in-hoof with an old beige coated stallion with a exquisitely styled mane of deep burgundy. Peridot cheered and waved, “Woooo! Yay Grammy Tourmaline and Grandpa High Horse!” Somepony tapped her on the shoulder, interrupting her revelry. Peridot turned to find a white coated pegasus mare in a nurse’s outfit. “I’m sorry to interupted, Ms Peridot, but we need you back at the first aid tent,” she said. “I’ll be there in just a minute,” Peridot answered, turning back to the parade, “this is my favorite part.” She jumped and waved again, trying to get her grandparents attention. After a moment Tourmaline spotted her and waved happily and blew a kiss from the passing float. Ever dignified, High Horse raised his cane and nodded to his granddaughter. “I’m very sorry to bother you but we really do need you,” the nurse pony insisted. “One of the members of the school’s marching band dropped his gong on his hoof during warm up and cracked it pretty badly.” Peridot winced, a cracked hoof was like having a toothache that you had to walk on. She sighed in defeat, “Okay, okay. I’m coming, head back to the tent and let them know I’m on my way.” She waved again to her grandparents and called out, “Love you Grammy and Gramps!” Tourmaline answered by pointing to her eye, heart, and to Peridot while mouthing an ‘I love you too’. Peridot waved goodbye and backed into the crowd, letting somepony else take her spot in the forefront. She levitated her first aid band out of her hip pouch and slipped it over her foreleg before weaving her way back through the crowd to the medical tent. A short while later she lifted aside the flap and entered. Most of the patients they’d gotten that day were just what you’d expect from the carnival atmosphere. A few stallions had overexerted themselves at the hay toss booth. A couple old timers had gotten a bit too hot and needed to cool off. Other than that, most of the benches were filled with ponies who had been a bit too optimistic about their gastrointestinal fortitude and soon found themselves with a stomach that kept rebelling against the onslaught of the deep fried, the over-salted, and the caramel coated. Peridot found her patient on a cot in the back corner with one of his rear hooves hoisted in a sling. The nurses had bound the earth pony’s hoof tightly to prevent the crack from spreading, Peridot noted with approval. “Hi,” she greeted the grimacing young stallion, “my name is Peridot and I’ll be taking care of you today. Would you mind telling me what happened?” “I just, uh... kind of dropped my gong on my hoof during practice,” he winced, “It really hurts. I think I broke it.” “Hmm,” Peridot hummed as she considered his hoof. She light up her horn and passed it over the injured limb probing the wound with her magic. “Well good news, it looks like the bone is fine but you crack the hoof wall pretty badly. You’re lucky it didn’t split down to the corium when you ran over here.” “Can you fix it?” he asked hopefully. Peridot prodded the wound with her magic, eliciting another grimace from her patient. “Hm,” she said as she thought before smiling, “I’ll have you back on your hooves in no time,” she answered cheerfully. She carefully removed his injured hoof from the sling and gingerly unwrapped it. The cracked formed an ugly gash from the bottom of the hoof almost to the top. Peridot closed her eyes and wrapped the limb in her magic. As the light from her horn intensified the magical aura around his leg retracted and flowed downward into the cracked hoof until it seemed the injury had been packed with with brightly glowing, sky blue, puddy. The stallion watched in amazement as the gap began to close stitching itself together from top to bottom and leaving only a pale white line where the injury had once been.Peridot opened her eyes and smiled at her patient who was staring at his hoof in disbelief. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “It’s healed.” “Well of course it is,” Peridot chuckled. She turned to the side to he could see the symbol emblazoned on her flank. It showed a stylized rod of asclepius with a star at the top of the staff and wrapped in a gracefully twisting red a flower instead of the traditional snake, the emblem stood out boldly against the sky blue of her coat. “I didn’t get a cutie mark like this for nothing,” she piped proudly. “When my brother cracked his hoof he was laid up for a couple of weeks,” he swung up hooves over the edge of the cot, preparing to stand. Peridot put a hoof to his shoulder, “Fortunately for you,” she directed him to lay back down, “it’s only going to be a couple of days.” He groaned in protest. “Just take it easy and soak your hoof for an hour a day to keep it malleable. I don’t want you walking until that seam hardens.” He nodded in begrudged agreement and Peridot left him to the nurses. After checking to make sure there was nopony else who needed her expertise she stowed her legband away in her hip pouch and slipped back into the celebration. She was a little disappointed to have missed the end of the parade but soon cheered as she heard the sounds of music begin to swell within the crowd. It started with a single pony playing a fiddle on the street corner. Soon she was joined by another with a guitar, then another with a banjo. Within a few short minutes a full band had materialized and began belting out an irresistibly danceable melody. Peridot felt herself swept up and pulled into the dance. The tide of the rhythm carried ponies from partner to partner, stepping, turning, and bowing in time to the demands of the self appointed caller. In time, the music began to quiet and dancers broke away one by one and headed home. The Princesses set the sun and raised the moon and the day long celebration came to a close and Peridot returned to the first aid tent to help the medical ponies clean up. “Thanks for your help today, Ms. Peridot,” one of the volunteers said. Peridot smiled and waved a dismissive hoof, “Don’t worry about it. I’m always happy to help.” “We could always use a mare with your talents down at the hospital you know,” another, named Rose Petal, offered. “Ya, I know,” she answered. “I’m always happy to help out when the college can spare me but my hearts always been on the research side of things.” “Well, the offer still stands if you change your mind,” said Rose, “If we could find a unicorn that could cast half of your spells it’d make our job a lot easier. Hey, you remember that outbreak of pony pox a couple of years ago?” “Oh no don’t remind me,” Peridot said with faux exasperation. “I think my poor coat still has a few stains.” They chatted happily, trying to top each other’s stories as they packaged up the various bandages and medicines lent by the hospital. When they packed the last of the supplies there was a flap of cloth as somepony entered the tent. Peridot heard somepony ask, “I’m sorry folks, we just finished packing up. Can we help you?” She turned to see who it was. “Grammy and Grandpa!” Peridot cried happily as she rushed over to wrap her grandparents in a hug. “And how’s my favorite Granddaughter today?” High Horse asked. Peridot rolled her eyes; it was an old joke. He would call her his favorite granddaughter and she was suppose to answer that she was his only granddaughter then he would say that that’s why she’s his favorite. This time she settled on giving the old stallion another squeeze. “You guys looked great today,” said Peridot. “Your float was amazing.” Tourmaline smiled proudly, “Well thank you, Peridot. I was happy to see you found a minute to get away from this tent to see the parade.” “How could I miss it?” Peridot answered, “Especially when you had a place of honor.” Tourmaline smiled, “I was wondering. Do you suppose you might be able to leave early and join me for a cup of tea before your grandfather and I head home?” “Um...” she looked to the ponies behind her, one of which waved her on, “Sure I could do that. You coming too Grandpa?” “Sorry dear, I have a few administrative details to handle before it gets too late. I’m afraid I’ll have to make it up to you later.” he answered. “You know you’re suppose to be retired,” Tourmaline teased as she poked him in the side. “Only officially, my love,” he answered before saying his goodbyes and excusing himself. Peridot offered her grandmother the crook of her foreleg and the two of them walked out of the tent together and up Palace Street until they reached the open gate of the Palace itself. She looked around nervously but followed her grandmother’s lead. Walking along the side of the magnificent building they reach the vine covered cast iron gate to the Palace Garden. “Are you sure it’s okay for us to be here?” Peridot asked as they found a seat at a small cloth covered table beside of fountain. “Of course,” Tourmaline answered. “I hope you don’t mind, but I was hoping we could meet a couple of my friends from the palace while we’re here.” “Oh, um, sure.” Peridot answered, still feeling like she was trespassing. That feeling subsided a bit when a dapper stallion in a palace uniform approached them and placed a silver tray of tea and cookies on the table between them then bowed and left without a word. Peridot giggled. “I can’t wait to tell the girls back at the college that I had tea and cookies at the castle,” she said. The two nibbled their cookies and sip their tea beside the fountain while filling each other in on the recent events of their lives as the night began to deepen overhead. “Shouldn’t we be going,” Peridot said with concern as she noted how high the moon had risen in the sky. “Oh don’t worry, Peridot, they’ll be along soon. Just as soon as they finish their duties,” Tourmaline promised “I don’t know grammy,”Peridot responded, “It’s getting really late, I have to be at the college in the morning.” A regal voice boomed behind her,“‘TIS A SHAME, WE HAD HOPED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THEE BEFORE THOU LEFT.” Peridot sprung to hooves and bowed as deep as she could, “Your majesty Princess Luna!” she exclaimed in surprise. With a flutter of her wings, Celestia descended from above and landed beside her sister, “Oh come now Luna, this young mare is Tourmaline’s family, I think we can drop the formality,” said the Princess. She rubbed an ear with her hoof, “Besides, you're a little too good at that voice.” “But sister, should we not try to maintain proper decorum as befitting our...” Celestia gave her a sidelong look. Princess Luna sighed in defeat, “Very well.” Both sisters closed their eyes for a moment and a change passed over them. Peridot looked on in amazement as the two princesses’ height reduced before her eyes from almost twice her height to only a head taller. As they did, the princesses’ manes grew still and retracted and become like normal, though still beautiful, manes of hair. Tourmaline rose to her hooves and hugged each diarch in turn. Peridot stared in bewilderment. Celestia sensed her confusion and explained, “It’s something of a spell. It came naturally to us a few decades ago.” “It’s more like a visible display of our power,” Luna interjected. “I believe it to be a natural consequence of our transformation.” Celestia nodded, “At first we did it to meet some of the tribes expectation of what an alicorn should look like but as time passed it simply became second nature. In fact it actually takes a bit of effort to drop the effect.” Celestia smiled, “Besides, it lets me sneak out into the city from time to time. Just have to drop the effect and throw a dress on to hide my wings.” “Tia! Tell me you didn’t do that again!” Celestia playfully nudged her sister who rolled her eyes as she realized Celestia was teasing. The royal sisters joined them at their table and poured themselves each a cup of their own. “So, Miss Peridot, I heard from your grandmother and others that you’ve become quite the prodigy in the field of healing magic,” said Celestia. Peridot nodded, still nervous to be speaking to the Princesses. “We were hoping that you might be interested in something of a job,” the Princess continued. “Well, I’d be honored of course but...” Peridot said hesitantly, “I’m not sure I can. The college is about to start classes again and I’m the only one on staff that can show the students how to cast some of the healing spells.” “That is exactly why we need you, young Peridot,” Luna said. “Nopony else knows as much about medicinal magics and it’s associated energies as you. Allow me to show you something.” The princess produced a simple brown bag and offered it to Peridot, “Have you had these before?” Peridot looked inside to find the bag filled with shiny plump pink and strangely angular berries, “Crystal berries?! I love crystal berries!” Celestia waved a hoof, “Please, enjoy.” Which Peridot gladly did, only offering the other three ponies some as an afterthought. “Crystal berries are actually somewhat of a mystery,” Celestia said. “If you were to take the seeds from the berries we gave you and plant them in your garden you’d only get a run of the mill berry bush. The only place in the world where they grow into crystal berries is the Crystal Empire.” “Crystal Empire? Isn’t it Crystal City?” Peridot asked before popping another hoof-full of berries in her mouth. “At first it was the Crystal Lands,” Luna answered, “then Crystal City, now its the Crystal Empire. Apparently the Prince and Princess want to start establishing more villages in their land and thought ‘empire’ was more fitting” she shrugged “a little ambitious sounding for me but to each their own.” Peridot accepted that with a nod. Celestia continued, “We believe the reason for the difference in the berries, as well as other local plant and animal life is the energies of the Crystal Heart.” “Crystal Heart?” ““Remember the story of Hearth’s Warming Eve?”Tourmaline asked, “After a few years the Fire of Friendship began to fade, so we did what we could to preserve it by trapping it’s energies in a crystal lattice of pure sapphire.” “Somehow,”Celestia began, “the Heart is affecting the processes of life itself. Plants are able to grow despite the cold, crops and animals experience surprising health and often take on new forms. The Heart is even responsible for the characteristic crystalline appearance of the crystal ponies’ coats and manes.” “So... what do you need me for?” Peridot asked. “Peridot,” said Tourmaline, “the energy given off by the heart is a manifestation of Harmony. It repels and repairs many of the effects of chaos, even those that we normally assume are just a normal part of nature. Most notably are it’s healing properties, an injury that might take weeks to heal will recover almost instantly in the Light of the Heart.” “So...” Peridot ventured, “you think I might be able to help understand the Crystal Heart because of my healing magic?” “We do,” Celestia said. “Your magic is the only other that we've seen that has similar effects as the heart. We believe that this similarity will allow you to make sense of the Heart’s energies. As Princess Luna has said, the Empire wishes to establish new settlements throughout the north but they do not wish to leave any of their citizens outside of the Light of the Heart. The Crystal Empire has very few unicorns and even fewer have any true magical ability, and so, the Empire has asked for our help.” “Your Majesties...”Peridot said nervously, “I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m the right pony for the job.” Tourmaline turned to her granddaughter. “Peridot,” she said, placing a hoof across her shoulders, “I helped create the Heart along with the princesses and our dear friend Clover. I have every confidence that you will be the one to finally unlock its secrets.” “I.. I guess the college can get along without me for a bit...” Peridot said. “Wonderful!” Luna said. “What is the soonest you can be ready to go?” “Well, Princess, classes don’t start for another few weeks. So... I guess I can go now.” “Thank you, Peridot,” Celestia said. With a flash of golden magic she produced a simple brown covered book bound in ribbon, “This journal contains everything the Empire has been able to learn so far.” Another flash produced a scroll bound with the Princesses’ gold seal, “Give this letter of passage to the carriage or skywagon driver of your choice once you are ready to go.” Luna nodded her head graciously, “You’ve done us and the ponies of the Empire a service, Peridot. What you learn will benefit both our peoples.” The Princess rose to hooves and and together wrapped Tourmaline in a royal goodbye hug. “You girls are getting to big,” Tourmaline joked, touseling Celestia’s mane. An act that sent Peridot’s jaw plummeting toward the ground in disbelief. “Again, we thank you. Oh yes, Peridot, when you arrive at the Crystal Palace, look for a young stallion named Lumine. He’s one of only few unicorns there, you can’t miss him,” Celestia said. With a bow she added, “If you will excuse us...” With a flash of gold and blue magic the princesses returned to their full glory and took wing, leaving a stunned Peridot wondering if maybe she shouldn’t tell her friends about her tea at the palace after all, lest they think her crazy. “Well, it’s been a wonderful evening, sweetheart, but I’m afraid I had better be on my way too,” said Tourmaline. “If I don’t get your grandfather home soon he’s liable to work till he falls asleep on his hooves again.” Peridot walked with her grandmother in stunned silence until the reached the fork in the road that would take her home. “Again, my dear,” Tourmaline began, “thank you for doing this for me. Don’t forget to write when you get there.” Peridot smiled. “I promise and it’s nothing, Grammy,” she said, despite her apprehensive expression that said otherwise. “I guess I can’t really turn down an opportunity like this.” “Besides, you know,” Tourmaline said, “its all the crystal berries you can eat.” Peridot laughed, “Well why didn’t you say that in the first place?” The two shared a fond farewell and parted ways. When Peridot reached her front door she paused, wondering what she had gotten herself into. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and smiled cheerfully. “Well, I guess I better get to packing then!”