Chapter 10: Mastering Harmony
Time and Space Await…
-A lie is only powerful because it hides the truth. Those who sever the chains of harmony are only strong as long as the links remain broken. When the strings of the orchestra finally unify, the pandemonium ends.
Interlude 4:
The two alicorns descend into an abyss. It is dark and each of their lights reveals a path; a path that is different, but that leads to the same place. There is no room for chaos in the deep; it operates on its own designs. Eventually, a light other than their own comes into view. It is faint at first, a distant yet sure glow against the subterranean shadows. It is an icy blue light, an inviting yet foreboding shimmer prefiguring the presence of a benevolent, yet terrible power. They stumble upon it as naturally as a river leads to the ocean. Before them stands a great tree. Not a normal tree to be sure, but this tree is the source of the eerie light, surrounded by its own version of plant life. It is a life unto itself, self sustaining in the darkness of obscurity; a resolute force waiting for purpose beyond its mere existence. Its leaves hang like ornaments from a mantelpiece, its branches jagged and crystal like, its trunk an indestructible pillar of flawless diamond. Out from its star like center, stem five branches whose ends bulge in knots that contain shimmering jewels; gems that seem to pulse with their own life. Pink, blue, red, purple, and orange.
The younger alicorn turns to her sister, tentatively. She shrugs. This is certainly the source of magic, but not what they had expected. It is not what Sombra had envisioned. How could they use this? How was this supposed to help them against Discord? If this really was the source of the power that was negating his own, how were they to bring it against him? In its current state, it is content to exist. This is all harmony has ever needed. They both take a step forward. The floor comes alive and the first of the gems begins to glow and one by one, it as though the sisters are spoken to, in silence. A second turned into an eternity of standing before a greater force. It is both brief and a prolonged test of willpower.
Equine of the moon, I am your driving force, your crux and bane. Understood by the simplest minds, but a tangled obscurity to the genius. In peace I am the most comforting friend and in war I am the bringer of victory. In the light of the sun my banner shines the brightest and the winds of force will always test the muse of its sway in the breeze, but its facing will always find favor in its friends. Even as shadows of doubt haunt my steps and I stray in the twilight, the sureness of my presence will continue to bring me back no matter how far the fall has taken me. I am the grand debate of fiction. To whom does your allegiance lie? Answer without uncertainty. Answer as though there is only one choice, not because there was only ever one given to you, but because to choose the other is to destroy yourself. Shout one name to the heavens because it is who you swore your love to, it is what you stand for, what you struggle against, and why you suffer this unbearable ache deep in the heart of your spirit. In the end, I am what holds your ties, strengthens your love, deepens your toil, and shows you your true self. My name is Loyalty.
The first crystal comes to life glowing brighter than the others and as each subsequent voice graces the void, its gem follows suit casting the chamber into a kaleidoscope of color.
Bringer of the great light, I am the feeling in your gaze. With my gentle aura do you look on the world with hopeful eyes. Innocence unbroken of youth, yet tempered by wisdom, my light shines much less harshly than the one you share your being with. I am the life in the forest leaves, vigilant, powerful, but never forceful; the winner of hearts, commander of grace. There is strength in the softer things. The comfort of your feathered wings will accomplish more than the might of your horn. I am no conqueror, I am a healer. The wars under my emblem are not waged by the sword, but with a mighty consciousness and a countenance unbreakable by the erosive waves of aggression. I am your rock, your wind wall defense, and your one great blindness. I will never see things the way others do and in my gaze there are few true enemies. They will hate me for it. They will ridicule and wonder what ignorance inspires the stupidly empty faith I carry before me. So it will be too with you. Never waver. Doubt is your greatest enemy and it will never leave you. Remember my name and know on what to call when impossibility stares you in the face. There is no time in which I will not help. My name is Kindness.
The two alicorns take a step forward simultaneous, staring up at the tree in wonder as the second gem comes to life, seemingly unaware of each other.
Lift your wings from the shadow dear sister. I will set you free and the light of your moon will guide you. Life’s web of incongruity can be a mess of tangled thorns that only one lit fire can burn through. It is not a greedy flame, but one that seeks to reveal, to bring to light what cannot be seen through the mist. This is my nature and yours. Never let that light go out. It will be your salvation. The darkness hides many things, but they cannot hide from you. Every star in the sky is a flame burning everything but the truth. Those who bear my name will never be doubted by others, only questioned. These actions of yours will hold fast to the path you have always believed and will always believe. It is the truth, it must be the truth, I will not lie. I am the simplest of them all and my strength is brutal. My name is Honesty.
Another gem comes to life.
Crowned face of the sun, the dusk is always welcome. I am of no alliance and those at the top will always be puzzled by me the most. I am a notion of the naïve and vapid on the surface, but the layers underneath will not be reached so easily. I am lack of regard, I am selflessness. Stopping to think will only cloud the process with hesitation. Giver of heart, I am of a beautiful mind. Look down not with arrogance, but with compassion and those who look back up will look with love and not anger. Consider me lost of mind, but competent of will. I am some form of insane, a kindness that is not truly kind. I have left part of the equation out. I will endeavor always to help those who fall under my care and those for whom I care. I only want to help. Infinitely and inwardly beautiful. I will give to everyone save for a single being. Myself. My name is Generosity.
A fourth gem lights up a glimmering purple.
In the end we are fragile dear moon. I am fragility’s medicine, its healer. I am the mender, the uplifter. In the face of gloom you provide the starry night, the light in the darkness and salvation from fear. I am the same. I can soothe anger and fight sorrow. When tricks, magic, and remedies fail the ailing, I prove stronger than all of them. There is nothing that can take a fading light and give it life like I can. Find cheer, find life. I know you will need me. These darker wings will find their current on which to sail. I do not desire emblematic praise, nor the songs of nations nor the throne of a king. I only want one thing. A smile. In my eyes this is the greatest success. It will conquer fears, silence doubts, and end conflict. This is the truth, my only truth. My name is Laughter.
The fifth and final gem brightens and as the alicorn sisters look on, the star pattern at the tree’s center opens in jagged shards like a window slowly sliding away as it breaks. Out of the space another gem emerges, this one violet, in the shape of a six sided star but holding to the diamond like quality of the others. It hovers above them and they watch in a wondering awe as the others circle around it and just like the others it seems to speak to them. But they are not sure if its speech is really a sound or if they are only imagining its words.
Dear sisters, you’ve come such a long long way. You’ve struggled, you’ve failed, you’ve been angry, you’ve been sad, and you’ve seen what it means to take in a friend. Your presence here can only mean that harmony has finally found the bearers of its will and you have shown that you embody its attributes. And yet… you will inevitably fail in time at this task as well. This is not set in stone. It is simply what it means to live in this world. There is none who can truly stand with perfection. If there is, you will be the first to rise to its standard. Can you do it? I am your final piece, the last of six. I am the spirit of the world. People struggle to know me, I slip away, they lose sight of me only to realize that I have been there from the very beginning and never truly left. I am over thought. My simplicity is deceptive and those who dive too deeply find themselves confused and they become angry at the incongruity. Their mistake is that these mists were not meant to be taken on alone. There are two of you for a reason. There are few challenges that were ever really meant to be done alone. The danger is that some of them are easier to do alone and so I remain cast at the wayside unable to help them draw out the riches they seek from their solitary endeavor. Remember me in your darkest hour. When there are tears flowing away from your eyes and the dirt gets more of your attention than anything else, remember me. I will be your greatest support in standing back on your feet. I am a companion, I am family. I am your brother, sister, the voice of confidence. I am the source, the light, the soul. I am laughter, I am generous, I am loyal, I am honest, I am kind. Above all I am magic. My name is Friendship.
These are the six. These are the elements. This is Harmony. Go. Banish the chaos.
The two alicorns blink and shake their heads as if waving off drowsiness. They look back to the jewels hovering above them and then to each other. Their eyes meet and across their faces their expressions of awe are replaced with smiles that they cannot hold back.
“L-Luna…?” The pink maned one says tentatively as the smile begins to force itself onto her face.
“Eeee!” The midnight blue mare immediately lets out a squeal and trots in place with a wide grin. “We did it Tia! We did it!” She exclaims and she leaps at her sister, throwing her front hooves about her sister’s neck. The taller alicorn returns the embrace with one hoof and looks up at the circle of radiant artifacts with a less beaming, but softer smile.
“Do you think they’ll work?” She asks.
“They have to Tia!” He sister replies. “They have to. Just…Just look at them…” She pauses. “The elements…” She murmurs.”
“Of harmony.” Her sister echoes.
“You heard them too?”
“Of course silly. Why wouldn’t I?
“Oh…” The smaller alicorn shuffles in place. “Well they spoke all funny. I’m not sure I really got what they said.”
“That’s okay…” They pause and watch as the elements descend and surround them in a circle.
“Hey Tia?” The smaller alicorn asks her sister.
“Yes?” The elements start to spin around them, slowly at first but building speed at a steady pace.
“What do you think Equestria will be like…you know…after this is over? What are we gonna do?”
“I guess we’ll rebuild. It certainly won’t look the same as it did all those years ago.” The elements begin to dissolve into a blur as they pick up speed and they encapsulate the two sisters in a case of light that forms a bubble around them.
“Do you think we’ll still be able to live in the castle?”
“I hope so…” As they rise into the air with the elements hissing about them, the midnight blue alicorn turns to her sister.
“Hey sis,” She says with a smirk. Her sister turns to her as their ascent stops and they are suspended in the air, standing on nothing but light.
“Hm?” She raises an eyebrow.
“Let’s kick Discord’s sorry butt!” She raises a hoof. Her sister, gleaming white in the storm of luminosity, smiles back at her.
“Yeah.” They click hooves and in a flash like lightning they vanish, leaving behind the lonely tree, without its flowers.
Interlude end.