//------------------------------// // Mistakes of the Past: Explanations and Surprises // Story: Equestria Without Harmony: Mistakes // by EclipseSight //------------------------------// Equestria Without Harmony:Mistakes Mistakes of the Past:Explanations and Surprises “Did you find anything?” the draconic figure asked, folding massive bat like wings as he looked down at the cluster of spirits around him. He was doing this for every single one of them, and those who had already lost themselves. They needed a place to call home, which now, thanks to events they had not even been a part of they did not have. Shaking his head, he pushed aside the feelings of guilt. He had to focus if he was ever going to right this wrong. “No… nothing that will tell you much… we are sorry… All we really found out is that the orange one is good with a lasso.” “That is helpful,” he nodded, giving the spirit something akin to a reassuring smile, though it was slightly strained. What he was about to do did not really warrant smiles. Another spirit spoke up. “The pink one is…rather interesting… she did not seem fazed when she woke up while we were looking around.” The dragon took this all in note, bringing up a claw to his jaws and chewing on the hooked talon idly. The elements of harmony were by all reports back within the Tree of Harmony, and as such out of reach. However, the former bearers of the elements would have to be special in some way. Otherwise why would such powerful artefacts choose them? The only other bearers were Celestia and Luna, two beings whose power he knew first hand. After listening to the other reports, nothing really interesting came up that he didn’t already know from past events. Except that Twilight had not slept all last night. That he may be able to use. There was no way the alicorn could be able to forgo sleep yet, as he, Celestia and Luna had done about two thousand years ago. Without sleep, she would be a weak link. Dismissing the spirits with a thank you, the jet black dragon stood up and gave himself a shake. The spirits he’d sent to Celestia and Luna would have made themselves known by now. That meant they now knew exactly who they were facing. Celestia would do what was necessary once again, and Luna, he wasn’t too sure. The moon princess would probably follow her sister, for better or for worse. Regardless, if they stood against him, they would lose. He’d been preparing for six hundred years to assure his victory here today. Old feelings would not stop him from saving those he’d sworn to protect. No sooner had Twilight sent her letter to the princess than Spike was burping up a reply. Twilight frowned as she took the letter; it was far too quick to be a reply to such a weighted subject. Reading the flowing elegant script, the princess quickly realised that her former teacher had drafted this letter before she had sent her own. “My dearest Twilight, I am sorry to inform you that you and your friends will all be in serious danger very soon. Luna and I will be departing Canterlot to arrive in Ponyville shortly. Stay together until we arrive. I will explain everything then. Princess Celestia” It was short, formal and to the point. Usually the princess spared a little more time for informality in her letters, which made Twilight worry about what was wrong. The princess of all Equestria was unnerved, something that until now only the return of Discord had been able to cause. Without the elements of harmony could they really stand up to any threat of that magnitude again? Taking a deep breath, Twilight tried to focus her thoughts. She couldn’t and would have quickly succumbed to her worries had the door opening not distracted her. “We’re back!” Applejack called, causing Twilight to snap out of her thoughts. That had been close. Twilight hated her breakdowns, and even if Cadance had helped her, it wasn’t a one hundred percent solution. Sometimes she would think herself into a muttering mess, just as she had all that time ago when she had turned the town into chaos with a “want it need it” spell. When that happened, only Spike awaking in the morning could bring her out of her own twisted imaginations. Spike closed the door behind the other five ponies that had walked, or flown in Rainbow’s case, into the small library. Applejack had partially filled them in, and now all five sets of eyes were on Twilight, waiting on the princess to shed some light on the situation. “Uh…well” Twilight stammered, never actually sure how to tell her friends that she had no idea what was going on. They all expected her to know, or at least be able to find out. Hopefully the knowledge that the princess sisters would be coming soon to shed light on the situation would sate them. “While I wasn’t able to discover what is happening… Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are coming to Ponyville, and they seem to know what’s going on.” “Well… that’s good,” Fluttershy smiled. “The princesses will be able to sort it out I’m sure.” “Well… uh… not to be rude.” Rainbow started, only for Applejack to interrupt. “Sayin’ that means that ya are gonna be rude.” “Whatever. I just… well, do the princesses really have the best track record? We’ve saved them more than they’ve saved us…” “There’s… some truth to that.” The orange earth pony had to agree, a heavy sigh punctuating the statement. “Let’s not forget how many times the princesses have helped and saved us… like with…” Twilight started strongly, only to falter as she realised just what she was about to bring up. “…Nightmare Rarity…” Rarity muttered, guessing why her friend had faltered. “Well… yes…” Twilight nodded. “And there are other instances too.” “Regardless, I do not think it is appropriate for us to be speaking about the princesses behind their backs.” Rarity said, cutting off any further conversation on the matter. This left an awkward silence, as the six ponies reflected on similar situations from their past. Those times they had been equipped with the elements of harmony. This time, they were not, so… how much help could they really be? Only Twilight had the ability and power to be at least a factor in any battles involving foes like Nightmare Moon. Rainbow Dash could use the Sonic Rainboom as a weapon, but that could do more harm than good. Destroying a rickety old barn was not the same as crashing headlong into an alicorn or something similar. Once again, Twlight was unable to shake the feeling that a wedge was being driven between her and her friends. She knew what they were all thinking because she was thinking it to. Ever since her ascension, she could feel herself becoming more powerful each day. Rainbow Dash could still outrace her easily, but other pegasi were having a harder time. Ponies like Big Mac would thrash her in a physical contest, but even Applejack wasn’t having as easy a time if they ever did engage in a hoof wrestle. Then there was her magic, which had already been above average, was now spiralling almost out of control. It had taken longer to see the change, but now every spell was easier, and often she had to concentrate just to stop herself from going overboard. Fluttershy moved forward slowly, moving to Twilight's side and putting her wing around her. The alicorn flashed the mare a gentle smile, and used magic to pull everyone else into a group hug. Spike tried to get away from all the girly mushiness, but Twilight quickly pulled him in as well. He huffed for only a moment before cuddling up to his best friend and sister figure. The hug lasted for a long time, each pony and dragon, contemplating what would be coming. This was shaping up to be the first real test they would face together without the Elements of Harmony to back them up. A brace of loud pops sounded just beside them, and both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna materialised within the library. "Princesses," Twilight said bowing low along with the rest of her friends. Luna opened her mouth to remind the young alicorn of their now shared status. Celestia shaking her head in her peripheral vision made her stop and look up at the pristine white alicorn. Her sister was looking down at her former student with a certain melancholy. The solar princess was clearly torn. Luna could sense that much, though she could not quite understand why. Celestia sighed wearily, stepping a little forward to address the seven. "I believe that I owe you all an explanation, since I am afraid that it is my actions several centuries ago that have brought this upon us." A collective murmur sounded, and Luna turned her head to the ground. Celestia had filled her in on some of what had happened after her banishment, and she had inferred the rest. A lot of blame had been thrown around, and things had gone into a downward spiral… “But… how is that possible?” Twilight asked, once again learning that her mentor wasn’t the unshakable infallible ruler everyone viewed her as. She’d made mistakes, and banishing Luna had been the only time Twilight had ever seen her shed a single tear. Now another demon from her past was rising up against her, friend turned foe. “So… lemme get this straight…” Rainbow snorted, stopping any reply Celestia may have had for Twilight. “The ruler of the underworld… is coming up to wreak revenge on Equestria for something that happened six hundred years ago? I thought the underworld was guarded by Cerberus.” “That’s only Tartarus.” Twilight cut in. “The rest of the underworld would require a more… intelligent being to govern over it.” “Right. Though that still doesn’t help us. Why is he coming back? What could you do that could be so bad?” “That is a long story that you do not have time to hear,” Celestia said firmly, only for an objection to immediately punctuate her statement. She would have expected Rainbow Dash, or Applejack to be the first to object, but Luna was probably one of the last on that list, besides Fluttershy. “No sister... they need to know just who they are going up against. And I need to hear the details… You know we will just hear it from him anyway. Keeping his emotions in check was never his strong point.” A heavy sigh escaped Celestia’s lips and she nodded. “You have a point there Luna… but the story is far too long to tell in one sitting, whether I want to or not.” “Summarise then, they only need to know the important parts for now. They do need to know however…" "Yes...well...very well then," Celestia sighed. She wasn't used to this, having to expose everything to some other pony besides Luna. Thousands of years of rulership had distanced her from her subjects, and even though she would take small steps to bridge the gap during less formal meetings, no one except Luna could understand what life was like as an immortal ruler. Now, the six ponies she could call somewhat close to her, would have to have the mistakes she had made laid down upon their young shoulders. "Our...foe... Is a dragon called Slasher. He was a fillyhood friend of both mine and Luna's… though Luna was a little more close to him than I." "Given that it was my chambers he burrowed his way into," Luna said dryly, remembering that rather, awkward meeting. Celestia nodded, "We were all only young then, and it was certainly an exciting point in our lives. Our parents were still ruling Equestria, though as they were not alicorns, they were getting on in years... Even as we were settling into her own duties, Slasher was settling into his. For a few thousand years, things were relatively peaceful. Then everything seemed to come all at once." "You had parents who weren't alicorns?" Twilight interrupted, unable to help herself, "Does that mean you and Luna were born as alicorns?" "Yes... For some reason, a few years after Luna’s birth, the unicorns lost their connection to the sun and moon. We learned very soon that we were able to take up that mantle." "It would have ruined our childhood, had our parents not pretended that it was they who were responsible for the sun and moon’s movement. Pony society started to worship them, saying that they had been chosen to lead… To protect us, they accepted, even though it was something that neither of them had wanted. The nobles were not too pleased about this, and the former ruling families had to be placated, though this is another story. With mother preoccupied, I became the mother figure to Luna, who stayed as a much needed sister to me. Then one day, Slasher showed up. He was training to be the guardian of the underworld, taking over from the previous guardian. It was the former guardian’s zealotry that drove him to tunnel under the new castle, desperate to escape each night once training got too much. He found Luna, and even though she threatened to push him through the wall, they sparked a deep friendship. Every moment he wasn’t training or sleeping he was with Luna and then I was introduced to hm Slasher became a close friend, and a much needed male influence and middle ground. If two of us were fighting, the other would fix the issue. Then, Luna and I revealed ourselves as the ones able to move the sun and moon, when we felt we were old enough to do so. Of course this meant that we took over the duties our parents had been attending to. I adjusted better than Luna in the beginning, but we both became comfortable in the position. Our parents passed and it was already clear that Luna and I were not going to age as a normal pony would. Though the decision was made that we would remain in our position indefinitely. Some nobles disagreed but once again were placated… though I do not believe they expected us to last this long…” Here the sun princess put a hoof to her head and sighed, rubbing her temple. "I am sorry, I have been stalling even as I just said that time is of the essence. Much later, one thousand and one years ago, I was forced to banish Luna to the moon. I had no choice but, even though I think he saw that...it caused a rift between Slasher and I. Luna had incapacitated him before coming after me, but we both knew that it was our own actions that had caused her descent into darkness. We had been negligent with her worries, trying to help her forget them, rather than address them directly. Now, Luna was gone, and we both could barely look at the other without being consumed in our own guilt. Four hundred years is a long time to simmer, and when it finally did boil over... The argument shook all of Canterlot. I sent him away from the castle, with several words I now regret. My true atrocity came later... Still upset and angry, I foolishly allowed several ponies into the Canterlot archives without the proper investigations. These ponies turned out to be very fanatical necromancers, willing to do anything to ply their craft. It was forbidden arts, but with the knowledge they gleaned from the private archive, they were able to render Slasher powerless as the underworld's guardian. They then tried to raise up several spirits, but even weakened Slasher was able to stop them, though now he was wounded, betrayed and unable to do anything for the spirits he protected. I offered my help, but he ignored it, retreating to his former domain to keep away from me. He knew that only I could allow the necromancers to access that information." "But why is he only coming back now?" Twilight asked, trying to process all the new information. All of this could have been prevented by better communication and three friends being more open with each other. Even so, this one conflict had now plunged Equestria into chaos twice already and would now do so again. "More than likely he has been preparing. Celestia is more powerful than he is, and I think that I am more skilled with magic as well. However with so much preparation, I do not think this will be an easy battle,” Luna answered. "Umm... Well how can we umm... Help? I mean, we don't have the elements so... Umm." Both princesses turned to the speaker, Fluttershy. The butterscotch mare looked ready to pass out at the prospect of a battle. She did bring up a good point, one that was on everypony's mind. It was one that Celestia had thought through thoroughly. "I think it would be best if you all sat out this battle... Luna and I will handle it. Your duty will be to make sure that nopony is hurt during the fray..." "Oh... Okay..." Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, and flew up into the air, flaring her hooves in a dramatic gesture. She was not happy being left on the sidelines just because she wasn't in possession of the physical element of harmony anymore. None of the group had needed them to stand together against Nightmare Moon. So why were they being brushed off like foals now? "Seriously! You're gonna go and fight this psycho, who was once your friend and just leave us outta it? Nuh uh, that is not happening! Friends don't leave friends to do the work, and you two are as much my friends as Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy are. And I'm sure they all feel the same way." "Rainbow is right Princesses... We ain't gonna let ya both go into that without back up," Applejack nodded. "I most certainly agree, even if I usually prefer not to get my hooves dirty, there are always exception,” Rarity added, tossing her mane out of her eyes and putting her hoof down in a firm display of agreement. "Well... When it's put that way... Then... Yes... I... I think we have to f-fight alongside you,” Fluttershy whispered, though she was much surer than her voice suggested. "Yep, and then we gotta show this Mr meany pants that you can't try and destroy all of Equestria just because of a silly argument between friends. Friends are meant to forgive each other, not fight and fight and fight." The seven ponies and dragon were all expecting another voice to speak up. When it didn't, they all turned to see Twilight, her head bowed and her wings hanging limp at her sides. A ruffle of feathers sounded as Celestia moved to her feet. Twilight stayed unmoving, even as her friends gathered around her. "Twilight?" Celestia asked, "What is wrong...?" "...I just... Wish that this didn't have to happen... I saw what happened in the past... And it destroyed so much... I thought you had died!" The mare didn't wait for a reaction, and started to furiously rifle through her books. Breathing heavily, she started once again throwing them around the small room. Her friends ducked for cover but Celestia merely sighed and started catching the books with her sunlight coloured magic and gently laying them down. As a filly, Twilight had often gotten frustrated, so this had become common for the princess to have to do if she was ever with other ponies while researching something important. So this was nothing new. What she said next however, threw even Princess Celestia for a loop. It was a simple command in a tone that was as convicted as it was cold. "You all are staying here. I'll take him on myself." Silence fell over the library as the occupants tried to come to terms with what had just been said. When everything finally sunk in, a protest immediately broke out. "Twilight! Have you lost yer mind?!' Applejack snapped, storming towards the mare. "No, but too many ponies have been hurt over this, and I won't allow anyone else to get hurt. Especially not my friends." By going out and getting hurt yourself?! How are we just meant to sit here and let you fight a maniac yourself. We’re a group, and you said it yourself, we have to do things together. Just because we don’t have the elements anymore doesn’t mean you can just leave us behind! Are we not good enough anymore?” “Rainbow, that was uncalled for,” Rarity cut in. “Twilight isn’t going out because we doesn’t think we’re good enough.” “Then why?! To protect us? That doesn’t matter if she’s gonna get herself hurt, or worse.” “It isn’t up for discussion.” Twilight said firmly, putting down a final book with a loud thud. “No, it is not…” Celestia said calmly, moving towards her student once more. “You are not fighting Slasher yourself. It is far too dangerous.” “You were fine with putting me against Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Sombra.” “Yes… but you were never alone… it is different.” “I’m also a Princess now. If I can’t protect my friends, then who can I protect?” Twilight asked, her voice shaking as she hid from the world behind her mind, not wanting to look at any of them. She knew that what she was doing was the only way to keep them all safe, but was it the right thing to do? Could she even do this by herself? "Protecting your friends is admirable Twilight Sparkle, but in this room I do not think I am out of place to say that the ponies in this room are about as much equals as possible given the situations and circumstances. You cannot order my sister and I to stay in this room like fillies, nor can you order your friends to do the same." Luna stated firmly. "You shouldn't go out on your own Twilight... We're all here to help you." Fluttershy said gently, moving over to try and soothe her friend from her irrational thoughts. What nopony expected to happen was Fluttershy to walk face first into an invisible wall. The mare backed up a bit, rubbing her nose. "Twilight?" she stammered, looking towards the still slumped mare with wide eyes. "I'm sorry everypony.. But I have to fix this..." A slight spark from the tip of her horn was the only warning the others received before an unseen force clubbed them on the back of the head, knocking them all flat. With everyone splayed out on the floor, Twilight slowly stepped around them, moving to the door. Even if it would do little once they woke, she decided to lock the library door. Still doubting her decision, the mare took a deep breath and moved away from ponyville. She didn't know where or when her enemy would come. But it would be soon. "Interesting..." Slasher said gently as he dispelled the viewing pool. Standing up he stretched his large leathery wings, testing the misty air. "If that is how you want it Twilight Sparkle, then I shall leave your friends alone... If you can defeat me. Prepare yourself, for after six hundred years, I did not come to lose." A large whoosh of air signaled his take off, and several spirits moved to where he had been. They hoped he succeeded, or their home would be overcome with madness. Twilight sat down, waiting on the dragon to come. She didn't have to wait long. A swirling mass of shadows and flames appeared on the ground in front of her and a figure leapt out of it. Landing on all fours, he raised his chilling silver eyes to Twilight's. He met her sharp violet gaze with his own silver glare and smirked slightly. "Let's see what you are made of then, Twilight Sparkle!"