//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Breaking Free // by Nrdygrl //------------------------------// Epilogue The grass by the lake was soft and lush. The warm sun was golden and bright as it beamed on the pink and yellow flowers blooming on the spring soil. The weeping willow cast its branches over a small pony as she crawled through the grass. Her tiny frame slowly made its way over the ground as her glistening eyes analyzed a ladybug crawling on a tiny pink flower. The little filly flapped her tiny wings and squealed as she saw the ladybug land on her nose. An unfortunate sneeze blew the small insect off, however, and destroying the petals of the pink flower. However, the little filly was only sad momentarily. She closed her eyes and in a burst of light from her tiny horn, the flower regained its petals. The little alicorn started flapping her wings and hovered over the lake, sending magic onto the water and swirling it into the air in beautiful patterns. She began turning with joy in a little dance until she saw a white alicorn appear over the hill. "Oh. Having fun are we?" said a gentle voice. Celestia approached the little alicorn. She was a light cyan with a dark pink and light yellow ethereal mane and tail. Her eyes shimmered like gems. One was a bright green. One was deep violet. "Mama!" She chanted, floating along the breeze effortlessly over to Celestia. The Sun Princess embraced her daughter. "I learned water tricks! And a spell to make me teeny tiny like a little baby bug," the little filly gushed. "Someone's had a busy afternoon!" Another voice chimed in. "Auntie Luna!" The alicorn filly hugged her as well. "Am I going to see Auntie Twilie later too? And Cousin Cadence, Shining, and Skyla? They all love me!" Luna laughed. "Oh yes, they do love you, my dear. All in good time. Perhaps you can show your favorite aunt what you've been working on for magic today?" "Yeah!" the little filly squealed in enthusiasm. "Oh, showing off magic without me? Now I'm so offended!" Another voice chimed in. "Daddy!" The cyan alicorn galloped across the lawn and Discord embraced her. "I did water and shrink spells," she said proudly. "Well now! That's an accomplishment, my Harmony," said Discord proudly. "But I must teach you the chocolate milk cloud spell. Your mother loves that one. Right over her," he murmured. "Hm? Yes dear?" said Celestia smirking. "Nothing, Tia!" "Auntie Luna, are we going to the cliff where the stars talk tonight?" little Harmony asked. "Of course! As long as your mom doesn't mind you staying up past your bedtime," said Luna smiling. "Yes. I'll let it slide," said Celestia nodding. "Yay!" Harmony squealed. The little cyan alicorn sat with her father by the lake as her mother and aunt stood a little ways from them talking about kingdom related things she could never begin to understand. Her hooves bore a slight resemblance to goat hooves. They thinned at the ends and the hair disappeared. They were also cloven. Her wings looked more like the delicate, translucent wings of a butterfly, collecting the sunlight in every little flap. She had small horns on the sides of her head, her ears were large and furry like a deer's, and she had one small fang protruding over her lip. All along her small soft back, she was speckled with faded white spots like an innocent fawn. The specs became freckles on her bright young face. Amidst her slight draconequus appearances, Harmony was as adorable and lovable as any young filly could come, if not more. Everypony around her instantly felt drawn to her, enamored by her pure laugh, smile, and love for everything around her. Discord reached over to tickle her with his paw. She laughed and rolled onto the grass, grasping his paw lovingly. "You still need to show me your new magic, you silly filly," Discord said poking her nose. "I'm too tired now," she replied yawning. "Mama says everyone was so proud the other day." "It was a special day!" said Discord poking her flank. Harmony giggled. "Your cutie mark is a very special thing." Harmony glanced down at the symbol. It was a circle melted into two halves, white with a spec of black and black with a spec of white. It was the ying and yang symbol of the gods. It was the balance of the world, another thing she could never begin to understand. "Tell me what it means again," she said raising her eyebrow. Discord chuckled. "It means you are very special," he replied. "It means you are the middle." "What's that mean?!" Harmony said expressing confusion. “Like the monkey in the middle? I’m not a monkey.” "No, my silly filly. You are a balance between good and evil," said Discord. "You are our little Harmony. Your mother and I...we made up two sides of a coin for a long time. There was a push and pull. Chaos and Order. And it all fits. And now you are here to fill in any gap." "That's very confusing," said Harmony sighing. She looked up and beamed. "Tell me the story about you and mom again!" "Oh. You want to hear all about that again? There's a lot to tell," said Discord smiling. "Please, Daddy?" Harmony pleaded, putting her little hooves on him. "All right," said Discord. He laid back onto grass, letting her climb onto him and curl up on his furry chest. "It was a long time ago, way before you were born and your mother and I got married..." he said quietly. "It was a long, long, time ago, in fact. When, one day your mother and I met and became the best of friends. Now, so many wonderful things happened, but also terrible things. And soon, it would be that your dad would find his way into a very bad place." "Is that why mommy had to put you in stone?" Harmony whispered, her eyes widening in intensity. "Yes, my darling; that's why," said Discord patting her head. "I don't like that part," she said sadly. "Or when you forget. But then Auntie Fluttershy helped you." she beamed again. "And mama told you the story so many times. And you got to know things again, right?" "Right." "And even if we have the chaos in us, we won't be like Grandpa and Grandma, right?" she asked. "Yes," said Discord. "Because you are like me, my little Harmony. I'm reformed forever. And you are pure. The light shows in your eyes." Harmony grinned again. "Will it always be like this?" she asked hopefully. "Yes it will." "I know you'll always be good, Daddy" she said hugging him."Because mommy never gave up on you, right?" Discord paused and smiled. He gazed into the little filly's eyes. "That's right, Harmony," he said quietly. "She never did and she never will." "And you will love mommy forever?" "I will love her forever until time itself dies and the sun stops shining and the stars fall to the earth from the heavens themselves," Discord replied. "And she the same." Harmony yawned contently and closed her eyes, dozing off for a minute or so. The warm sun made her tiny cheeks glow. She awoke with a little jolt and tumbled down onto the grass onto her back, kicking her hooves into the air. She set her eyes on her mother, Princess of the Sun, as the sun itself seemed to set her mane ablaze as she stood by the shimmering water. Harmony's eyes glistened with joy and bliss at her beautiful young life. "Daddy, will you and Mommy live happily ever after?" she asked in a tiny voice. She looked at Discord hopefully, with a serious look making its way across her face. Discord looked back and kept a moment of silence. He softened his gaze and began patting his little daughter's head with his paw once again. He smiled a little and his eyes softened even more. "Yes, Harmony," he whispered softly. "We will live happily ever after." Harmony beamed and closed her eyes as Discord kissed her tiny head. Celestia smiled at him from across the lake and walked over to join him. "She's sound asleep already?" she said chuckling. "You have a way with her, Dear." "I was telling her a story," said Discord brushing Celestia. "...the most wonderful story. "I'll take it from here," said Celestia smiling. Discord nodded and flew to the cottage by the lake. Celestia nuzzled Harmony as she twitched and snored softly. Celestia laid by her side, entranced in the moment, and having the revelation of how blessed she was. "Forever," she whispered softly. "Now and forever." ~THE END~