//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 : Battle Lines // Story: Shifting Equilibriums // by kugetsu //------------------------------// Through the winding passage of a small mountain range, one of the few vessels used by the ponies for mass transportation chugs away. In an age of magic wonder, one might question the reason behind keeping such an antique going. Sometimes they would use fossil fuels like coal, other times pure horsepower in the form of sturdy earth ponies. But it was simple and comfortable, and as such, served it's purpose without fail. As some might say, there was nothing like a long slow journey to put things into perspective... "Two months." Sentinel thinks as he sits upon the seat in the private car booth, "How the hell am I going to survive two straight months constantly surrounded by ponies..." he ponders to himself as he turns his head towards the wall where grinding metal sounds the most crisp, "Well, Blind or not, it isn't as if they can always have me lassoed". "So how we planning to keep him from wandering without one of us watching him?" Applejack whispered. ...or help break them. "I'm actually starting to think that is the least of our worries." Twilight whispered back. "Well then talk to us darling," Rarity stated in a hushed voice. "It feels like we're one hoof back from where we were on the train ride here." Twilight tried to explain to her five friends, "Before we were concerned along with the princesses as to his increasing self imposed isolation along with his refusal to accept our help. We came for answers and we though we got them..." she hesitated a bit, "I'm not sure what we should do now." "We can be his friend and help him build a home like he said he wanted to." Fluttershy, not needing to whisper, spoke up. "I'm just angry," Rainbow started to say as she got looks from the rest that she was too loud, "that he's scared of us." "Why ever would that make you angry Rainbow Dash?" Rarity barely whispers from her surprise. "Cause." Rainbow was about to leave it at that when Applejack leaned over and smacked her hoof against Rainbow's to keep going, "Cause I don't get why." She finishes, giving Applejack a slight scowl as she does. "Were you not listening when he was addressing Aurelia?" Rarity further inquired, a bit perplex and annoyed at the notion. "Well yeah but..." It wasn't the truth." Rainbow started to defend herself when Applejack interrupted. "Least not entirely." Applejack elaborated as the others exchanged even more worried looks at the prospect of lies, causing Applejack to sigh and elaborate further, "But he wasn't exactly lying either." "Maybe AJ's broke from too much excitement?" Pinkie tried to whisper out, only to for everypony to miss the tiny smirk that quickly formed and then left Sentinel's lips as they tried to silently get Pinkie to lower her voice. "Ah ain't broke Pinkie!" Applejack struggled to state without plain yelling. "The words he spoke were true but he wasn't being entirely honest about it. If ah could explain it better than ah wouldn't be so bothered by it myself." As they all sat on the other side of the private car silence filled the inside until... "I also want to know how the hay he knew all that stuff to paint down there." Rainbow solemnly whispered, "Don't know about all of you but I know for at least Fluttershy and myself there is just no freaking way he could of known." which slowly turned into a tone mixed between defensive and confrontational. "I think I may have an answer on that." Twilight said to try and soothe the chaotic atmosphere slowly enveloping her friends, "I think it's directly related to when he was hit with the elements of harmony." "You mean when we accidentally hit Sentinel?" Applejack questioned, "Ah mean all in all ah'm glad it did but you really think so?" "I don't think it was accidental AJ..." Twilight confessed, "At least not from what I was feeling when we used it." garnering looks of surprise, "I know none of us want to ever go back to that day but If we want to get to the bottom of all this then we have to." Getting nods from the others Twilight decides to lead off, "It didn't click in my mind until I overheard what Sentinel was telling Aurelia about being inflicted with madness." she explained making sure she had all of their undivided attention. "The moment that we formed and let loose the elements of harmony on the giant demon the only thing going through my heart was for the madness to end." she confirmed as she waited for the realization to dawn on all of their muzzles, but missed seeing it form on a sixth. "I believe the elements knew where it needed to go". "Ah...don't know how I feel about it being said like that sugarcube." Applejack said looking directly at Twilight, "Makes it sound like Sentinel was the bad pony in all of that." causing the others to look a bit conflicted as well. "I think the elements just thought our dear Sentinel needed a good hot bath is all." Rarity spoke up getting Applejack's perplexed attention, "Applejack dear, think of it as getting ever more dirty throughout the work day on the farm." Rarity explained, "What do you do to get clean when you're done?" "Jump in the crick!" Applejack replied with a shit eating grin big enough to knock Rarity out of her moment. "I...is that why he did what he did knowing he might die?" Fluttershy asked as tears threatened to brim over. "Cause he didn't think he could ever get clean?" knocking the previous moment out of the park. "Fluttershy dear.." Rarity gently said as she moved over next to her, "Sentinel already said that the reason he did that the day he arrived was because he was filled with madness." she then added, "I don't think he had much of a choice." "I didn't mean then!" Fluttershy raises her voice a little, "I meant yesterday!" she exclaimed as she saw the looks on her friend's muzzles, "Remember he said then he didn't have a choice but now he was given a chance." as tears seemed to dry a bit under agitation, "The more I hear the less I seem to understand..." finishing in frustration. "Oh that's me all the time!" Pinkie adds in with a smile, "But there's no way that TinTin wanted to die!" she seemed to express with bountiful innocence at the weight of the statement, "You taught us that!" she finishes with an even brighter smile. "What?" Fluttershy asks with utter confusion also supported by all of the others. "You said when we were on this very train on the way to Canterlot that sometimes you fight to survive until get the chance lay down and let go peacefully." Pinkie recollected with a rather goofy expression due to the confused ones. "Looked like he was fighting really hard to me." causing confusion to soften to slight understanding, "Cause maybe he wanted to finally live peacefully". "I know I'm going to pay for this..." Rainbow states with a grumble, "But none of this answers how he knew very personal events in our lives without any of us telling him, or some even to each other." "Emotional resonance." Twilight simply stated, earning multiple tilted heads in response, "I talked to Princess Luna about the elements when we used them on her as Nightmare Moon. She informed to me that she considered all of us a little closer than the average pony not just because we are the bearers but because she was able to connect to all of us for that moment in time." "What?!" yelled five voices before six heads with worried expressions looked over towards a rather unmoved and docile Sentinel, before five looked back to one. "Why the hay wouldn't you tell us about something this big?" Rainbow demanded. "Because I found out only a few hours ago myself Rainbow." Twilight replied with a notion of discomfort herself, "Which was in part why I needed to talk to all of you as soon as possible in regards to understanding Sentinel". "I want to help him as the next pony here," Rainbow quickly interjected, "But can we maybe get a full recap of this conversation with Princess Luna?" Rainbow asked as nicely as she could at that given moment. "I think we deserve at least that much." "Was already planning on it, Rainbow." Twilight said with a understanding smile. Several Hours Earlier "Personal belongings? Check!" Twilight spoke to none other than herself, her voice accompanied only by the sound of scratching onto the parchment held before her as she took once more gander at all of Sentinel's possessions. "W-well maybe a fourth check just to make sure..." she whispered, still put off by how little Sentinel considered his own. She trotted, then almost galloped, about the private chamber's designated to foreign diplomats that has been turned into his temporary quarters. There be not one pony who could argue that fact that she herself was organized to a T, but she found her thoughts wandering as another check garnered no other objects to pack. C'mon Twilight, he's just tidy and low maintenance! as she stopped back in front of three pairs of clothing and a small little pouch neatly organized upon his seemingly unused bed. He's been here three months not three years as she tilted her head, unbeknownst even to her the continued scratching above her. It's not like he was preparing to not be... as the tearing brought her back to her senses, and into an exasperated sigh. "You seem troubled, Twilight Sparkle." Princess Luna gently spoke from behind Twilight, causing the lavender unicorn to yelp in surprise as she quickly turned to face the Princess of the Night. "Princess Luna!" she bowed her head, "I guess I am just a bit weighted down." letting worry and stress shine through her eyes as she lifts her head to meet her Princess's gaze. "If thou wishes we can have the current arrangement rescinded." Princess Luna carefully suggests. "No!" Twilight almost yells before flattening her ears at having raised her voice to her Princess, "I mean that will not be necessary Princess Luna. Myself along with all of the girls are up to the task we've been given." "Thou speaks as if this will be any mere task." Princess Luna kindly addresses to the bearer of magic, "And yet while this isn't as dire as confronting a trickster, corruptor, or deceiver thou may find the means to completing it to be just as troublesome." "I....we...." Twilight narrowed her eyes in frustration at having trouble finding something to verbally reinforce her resolve, "Ugh!" finally relenting to her fears, "Its just that what he considers a friend is... is... " "Depressing?" Princess Luna eluded with a raised brow. "Yes!" Twilight quickly agreed before cutting off what the Princess was about to continue saying, "The first time he calls anyone a friend and it was about ki..." she closed her eyes as her ears flattened once more. "Please, thou no reason to hide any feelings Twilight Sparkle," Luna gently spoke as the doors behind her were pushed all the way shit and magically locked for privacy, "Speak thou's mind if thy wishes." "I can't find common ground with him." Twilight softly whispers with half lidded eyes laced towards the tile below. "He almost never speaks of himself and when he does it's never been happy moments. He has a roundabout way of approaching the very things that most ponies love to openly express! At first I wondered what his hobbies might be but now I wonder if he even has any." she steels herself as she looks up to Princess Luna, "And it seems to him that friendship is something tested through horrible nightmares that are actually," lightly shivering, "real." Taking the cue from Princess Luna's continued silence, "When he questioned if Princess Celestia was truly his friend if she wouldn't kill him if the madness started again It felt like something bucked my concept of friendship with all of it's might." "Thy fears that what makes a friend, a true friend in thou eye's, is of no consequence to a being such as Sentinel?" Princess Luna addresses Twilight, who gently nods. "Have thou discussed this with the other bearers?" as she receives another nod. "We all had such high hopes on the train ride here days ago." Twilight remarked with a coy smirk as the memory, "But after all that has happened since then I am unsure if they still feel the same." as the smirk straightens back to reality. "There seemed to be no hesitation on thou or thy friend's part to save Sentinel last night." Princess Luna tried to wedge into the barely crept open door. "Even if he may not consider us his friends that doesn't mean we don't consider him ours!" Twilight once more raised her voice before flinching at herself for doing so. "Sorry." along with slight embarrassment. "How can thee consider him a friend when thou has barely interacted with him?" Princess Luna presses her hoof into the barely wedged open door, hoping to creak it open a bit more. "Or does thou misplace friendship for gratitude?" "What? No!" Twilight defends, "I mean for all that he's done for us the very least that we can do is..." but not without hesitation "...is do our best to..." at the realization, "Aw crud." "Element of Magic." Princess Luna gently speaks as she uses the tip of her left wing to lift Twilight's muzzle, "Do not be so hard on thyself, for even we made the same error such as thou in the beginning." "You mistook repayment of gratitude for the gesture of friendship too?" Twilight asked in astonishment. "We tried to save him." Princess Luna said with a soft smile, "We mistook memories for nightmares. The mere prospect we refused to accept, and thus continued to confront such memories as a danger needing to be removed. Night after night we further alienated the one we wished to help by trying to rob thee from the very thing that thy valued most." as she moved her wing back to her side, "Eventually thou contacted our sister to try and entirely shut us out." "Sentinel asked Princess Celestia to interfere?" Twilight flattened her ears at the prospect of the princesses once more in conflict, "I'm sure that Princess Celestia only inter..." "She refused." Princess Luna responded with just a hint of pride, with lavender portraying less than subtle surprise. "We are the Princess of the Night. The dream scape is under our domain and to interfere would of done greater harm to both involved than to trust us to find our way." "So what did you do?" Twilight asked with the sincerity that has always been one of her greatest traits to the Princesses, and just a hint of hope. "I would be grateful for anything that might help us." "There was a pony whose nightmares continued night after night. Through one of the more horrible memories that we experienced of Sentinel's past we found something that not just chased the pony's nightmare away, but vanquish it at it's core." Princess Luna recalled as she drifted into a more solemn mood. "That was when we in turn shut Sentinel out." as a bit of remorse hinged on her tone. "I..." Twilight looked down, "don't understand." before looking back up. "We were ashamed." Princess Luna sharply inhales before exhaling into a more relaxed posture, "We felt like we had robbed Sentinel of something. Taking something that scarred so deep that it lingers in place of actual nightmares and used it to soothe another without permission. For almost an entire week we neither visited Sentinel in or out of the dream scape." closing her eyes at her foalish course of action. "But you two seem like good friends at the dining hall!" Twilight grasped in confusion, "You were joking and acting like me and the girls do!" "After one week had passed we were so riddled with guilt we once more entered Sentinel's dream scape and confessed our transgression. We told of how we had used something so precious and private to mend another without permission and awaited our rightful backlash." Princess Luna said through closed eyes. "But we never expected..." Thank you Princess Luna chuckled, "Nor the smile that followed." as she looked down at purple iris so eager to understand, "Does thou love thy fellow element bearers just the way that they are today?" "Y-yes of course!" Twilight answered without hesitation, "I couldn't imagine my life without them. I mean we all have our little problems but I've come to love the bad just as much as the good." as her eyes flicker. "Each and every pony is the sum of the entirety of thine life experiences. That includes the good, bad, and even what nopony else can understand." Princess Luna smiles, "While it is true that some of us carry more of the bad that does not mean it is to be cast aside." "Because without the bad they wouldn't exist!" Twilight beams with realization. "Once we stopped trying to destroy Sentinel we found it much easier to get to know Sentinel." As Luna's smile turns into a smirk, "And in time we rediscovered a few things about ourselves that we thought best to forget, in our folly. While one might not consider, Sentinel just might over think even worse than thyself." "What? Really? wait..." Twilight stammered out before shaking her head to clear her thoughts, "Do you think I can ask you something that has been driving me and the girls crazy about Sentinel since you may know him the best?" "While dependent on the question, we shall determine whether to answer." Princess Luna bluntly addresses. "How does he know all those things that he painted about us?" Twilight asks with worry. "Because thou and thy friend's told him." Princess Luna addresses with the same dull edge. "No we didn't!" Twilight is quick to dismiss as if an outright lie, "Even you yourself asked how we could consider him a friend when we've barely spent any time getting to know him. Some of what he knows is very..." she searches for the right word, "intimidating." "A rather strong word indeed." The Princess of the Night makes emphasis, "Does thou anticipate deeds running afoul on Sentinel's part armed with such personal information?" "No..." as lavender ears droop almost as much as the tone. "Does thou fear Sentinel making light of thy personal trials?" Princess Luna digs with her hoof, barely holding back a smirk. "...no..." as a tail wraps around crouched forelegs. "Does thou fear..." I feel vulnerable!" As the grinning moon finally heeds the lavender tide. "I feel vulnerable okay." Twilight eludes with little enthusiasm, "I mean I didn't tell him. I didn't tell anypony! He isn't telepathic and has absolutely no magical source or aptitude." as she begins to show agitation where enthusiasm walked away, "So if I didn't tell him and he didn't gleam it magically then that can only leave reading it like you read some simple book for foals on the shelf!" "And that couldn't be any further from the truth." Princess Luna almost chided. "Then what is the truth?" Twilight chides right back, giving emphasis on how much it must hurt a pony who considers herself an intellectual to be read so easily. "That I'm easy to read as if a foal or is it just to him my struggle akin to one?" Princess Luna merely stares at the lavender unicorn before her. I can't find common ground Before moving in a gentle stride closer. my concept of friendship As she veers off as if to walk past the troubled unicorn. easy to read as if a foal Ending it instead along side her as a true friend would. my struggle akin to one "The Elements of Harmony are an absolute in our world. As the bearers each must open thou hearts not only to your elements but also each other." Princess Luna soothes out, "But through personal experience we must now inform thee that such a profound act does not stop there." as lavender ears straighten and pivot to better focus on the sound of her voice. "As if intertwining our hearts, the innermost experiences that each bearer holds dear along with thine own attempted harmony through true empathy." Teal and purple met once more, "There can be no lies, inequality, or contempt for only through true understandings of the heart can such unbridled connections be made." "So we were able make true connections to you and Sentinel and that was why we brought you both back?" Twilight asked as gears began to lock in place. "And why..." and turn. "And why when our sister wielded the elements we were banished, and Discord turned to stone." as teal took notice of worry anew, "Thou must remember that while one may not always understand that does not mean that such understanding cannot be afforded later and by another. Our being here, saved by the current bearers, attests to this." "But we were able to bring Discord back from stone?" Twilight tried to wrap her thoughts around the prospect. "I mean he was reformed, mostly, but what could of changed in such little time between us and him?" "For such an answer, one would need to ask the source." Princess Luna carefully diverted as she herself was not the princess to have such discussion with the bearers of Discord's reform. "So that means that If my struggle is what Sentinel connected to..." as eyes widened once more, giving way to renewed vigor and confidence as a smile crept across her muzzle. "That he truly understands, and acknowledges the struggle equally against one of his own." the widening smile almost causing Princess Luna pause on what needs to be said next, "But..." as she emits a slight sigh earning full attention once more. "While the connection was without lies, inequality, or contempt no pony princess or otherwise can truly claim the same." Princess Luna softly warns as she cranes her neck down, "Pain may be relative, but empathy is not quite so forgiving." "I...think I get it." Twilight answers honestly, giving way to a rather serene atmosphere of silent reflection. "Ahhh!" Twilight screams. "Gahh!" Princess Luna yells even louder, launching a lavender ball across the room as he wings shot open before catching Twilight in her magical grasp, "What is the matter Twilight Sparkle!?" "I forgot to take any notes!" Twilight yells to nopony as she frantically tries to scribble everything she heard down before she forgets even as she floats back to a rather frazzled Princess of the Night rubbing a hoof below the base of her horn. "We can merely show you how to magically inject the memory of our conversation to thy fellow bearers." Princess Luna mumbles out before grumbling what could only be something unbecoming of a princess. "What? New magic! Really?!" Twilight responds with excitement as if any gloom from the conversation never existed just as she is released before Princess Luna. "All thou needs to do is make physical contact, such as hoofs, like so..." Present Time : Well Mostly Having given in to the white noise, coupled with the abnormal silence given current company, Sentinel couldn't help but let wandering thoughts take him back through the years. As six pairs of eyes open once more in order to see what they hadn't before, another set had long since closed them in order to see in a different sense. "Put it out of it's misery and lets keep moving." said as rather toneless but feminine voice as the constant low wailing almost overtook it, "Regardless shut it up before it attracts more." "Damn bitch..." muttered one of the two armor clad beings who seemed bent down on whatever wounded creature called out in utter pain and agony. "Damn abomination...!" as the armored being punched the grotesque abomination beside them that seemingly was made up of various mutilated animals. The other armor clad being seems to hold onto the wailing creature as if to comfort it. "My name is Sinclair." as the wailing stifles into quivering sniffles, "Whats your name little one?" "...R-reb..ecca..." as a leathery deformed arm reached alongside the armored one holding onto the back of her head, "s-save..m...me?" as solid black eyes shift about. "Yeah." as Sinclair is forced to lean down more as very little sticks out of the center mass, "We're going to take away the pain Rebecca." as Sinclair lifts his head towards his comrade who gives an hesitant nod back. "..t-thank you" as the disfigured arm presses tighter against Sinclair's own just as he starts to take notice of puffs of hot air seemingly passing his faceplate and hitting him in the face. Even as the image of his knelt comrade heaving his claymore into the air tip down slowed to a still, the puffs of air got stronger in force and...cotton candy. "pfff pfffff pffffffff pffffffffffffffffff" wh-what the hell?" Sentinel mutters as he snaps back to reality, reaching forward and taking in a hand full of bouncy hair followed by a trademark giggle and snort, "Are we entertaining ourselves at my expense Pinkie Pie?" "Pinkie that was terribly rude." Rarity chided, "Our dear Sentinel seemed to be utterly relaxed and I'm sure waking up to you blowing in his face was anything but." After giving off a set of more giggles Pinkie backs up, letting her two front hooves clop back down onto the train booth floor before turning around and bouncing away as if she just successfully brightened somepony's gloomy day. Taking note of the utterly surprised look on Sentinel's face as he just continues to stare at where Pinkie's face used to be, "You get used to never getting used to Pinkie's randomness." Twilight speaks towards Sentinel, getting silent nods of agreement from the others. "Hope you're not upset." as she tests to the waters. "I'm not so surprised at the randomness, but at the notion of that being anything but." As Sentinel lets his facial features relax, along with his once outstretched arm, "Regardless I am not mad in the least so no worries." "Wha'tcha mean by that sugarcube?" Applejack questions across the private train car. "Just rambling Applejack." Sentinel slowly answers, still on edge about something. "Gosh darnit there it is again..." Applejack mutters under her breath. "You think he's lying again?" Rainbow neither mutters nor under her breath. "lying?" "Ah never said he lied Rainbow!" Applejack clarifies without hesitation. "Ah just said he wasn't being very honest about a few things..oof!" as she has to turn her head to the sudden dust flung her way. "So either one of you opened a window or I have another up and close visitor." Sentinel deduced as he one again reached up with his arm only to find more coarse and shorter hair along with annoying grunts instead of giggles. "Rainbow, the biter." "Start being honest with us and maybe I won't..!" Rainbow started to assert when something caught her eye, pulling all of her attention like salmon to the diving falcon. And being so unlike the cyan hurricane to pull any hoofs when so early in the fight... "Whats wrong Rainbow?" Fluttershy is the first to voice what all, including even Sentinel, were wondering. "N-nothing." Rainbow answers without any movement save for her abnormally gentle wings against the air. "Dang nabbit not you too!" Applejack yells out in frustration before giving a rather disgruntled look to her other friends who bare the look of confusion and worry, "Getting the same vibe from Rainbow that I've been getting from Sentinel now!" "Then what vibe do you get when I tell you that everything is cool and under control?" Rainbow is quick to turn about verbally and physically as if a whip is cracked behind her. "First you bite me..." "Don't need no fancy ability to believe ya when you say something like that Dash." Applejack concedes, "Just callin it like ah see it and you and Sentinel better remember that." as a try and sneak it by me again expression forms on her muzzle. Rubbing his hand on the side of his face, "Why isn't the train moving?" Sentinel questions. "We arrived at Ponyville station ten minutes ago." Twilight deadpans, "You refused to wake up and I didn't want to teleport and maybe scare you." "While somewhat unnerving, nonetheless, I appreciate the patience." Sentinel casually speaks as he haphazardly stands up, narrowly missing the drawn drawers for upper luggage, "Lead the way, if you will." as he swings his palm up arm towards a wall. "Um...w-well now that you're awake I was just going to teleport us to my home." Twilight cautiously informs. "You fear being embarassed?" Sentinel not so casually questions, but not in an accusing tone. "Of course not darling." Rarity chips in, "We know that your current...uh...ailment might make the trip rather perilous." "We just don't want you to fall or..." Fluttershy throws in. "We all figuring that taking it easy till ya get used to the parts been best for ya." Applejack tries to reassure. "So lets grab our..." No." As lavender is interrupted. "If I fall or walk into something and a pony laughs let them. Rather be embarrassed for trying than pitied for hiding." as Sentinel straightens his back, "Hey Pinkie Pie. You there somewhere?" "Of course TinTin!" Pinkie responds with her usual cheer. "Tell me." Sentinel openly asks, causing the others to tilt their heads or quirk their brows. "Oooo what do you want me to tell you?" Pinkie perks up at the chance to talk to her friend. "Everything." as muffled gasps ring out, "Also can you lead the way around Ponyville while you tell me everything?" "You don't know what you've done!" "Sure can do TinTin!" as Pinkie leaps to directly in front of Sentinel before doing a few spins, "Onetimetherewasthishugedragonwhowouldsnoresmokesowe..." as the Pink Wonder and her sidekick TinTin slowly made their way out of the private car. "Did..did they just ditch us!?" Rainbow accused with a slight scowl as she flew towards the door, hovering for a second as if what lay ahead might be her undoing, before zooming out. "Ain't nopony gonna call me yellow!" before Applejack looked at a rather annoyed Fluttershy, "Ah...hehe..sorry sugarcube." before she hoisted her saddlebags onto her back and galloped out of the train car. "It. Is. On!" Rarity growled as she levitated her many suitcases, tromping her way out of the train car. "You're not getting out of being measured for new clothes that easily Sentinel!" "Wait!" Twilight zapped her saddlebags onto her back as she also took off in full gallop, "We don't have enough time for everything!" Letting a little giggle escape her muzzle at the display from all of her friends, Fluttershy couldn't help but smile, "What a nice way to make Pinkie's day..." as she slipped her saddlebags onto her back and fluttered out of the train car after her friends.