Chapter 5: The Shards of Love
In modern times, there are six Elements of Harmony, but many thousnads of years ago, there was a seventh Element, the Element of Love. It had been destroyed by the intense hate that many races on Equus felt for each other, and when it shattered, so did the peace it had held, many races wiping each other out in mere days, ad the shards, each for one of the other Elements of Harmony, were flung across Equus. By this time, however, the ponies had learned to co-eist, and so were not affected by the shattering of the Element of Love. The Changelings were the hardest hit, their once grand appeareances being warped into what they are today.
Crystal was examining the Shard in the Winter's Study in the Winter Palace with Nightmare Moon and Luna. Snowdrop was also there, but was rather peroccupied with her candy.
"Where did you find it," asked Crystal.
"The cave where we found Snowdrop," Luna replied.
"So," said Nightmare, "Which Shard of Love is it?"
Crystal examined the nearly translusent shard carefully. It showed many small fractures examining from the jagged endges that had once connected it with the other pieces of the Element of Love.
She lifted her head. "If I'm correct, this it the shard of Magic, which would explain the barrier in the cave and why it was so powerful."
Nightmare looked at Crystal curiously. "Do you think it could have killed Winter?"
Crystal shook her head. "Absolutely not. The Shards of Love are powerful, but not enough so to kill a person."
Nightmare nodded solemly. "Alright."
Crystal peered out the window. "Hmm, it's getting late. Luna, perhaps you should raise th moon?"
"Agreed," Luna said before turning and leaving to do her duty as Princess of the Night, leaving Crystal, Nightmare Moon and Snowdrop with the Shard of Magic.
They were all quiet, save Snowdrop's munching on her candy, for quite some time. It was Nightmare Moon who finally broke the silence.
"What exactly fractured the Element of Love?"
Crystal turned to her. "All I can really tell you is what Winter told me, but he said that the Element of Love is the most powerful of the Elements of Harmony, and is therefore the most vunerable to the impressions of others. Winter created it, along with the other Elements, to try and end wars that had been raging across Equus. The anger of those who were fighting, howerver, were greater than the Element of Love could deal with, so it fractured, sending it's pieces to the far ends of Equus. He told me that when a time come that the Element of Love can exist, it's Shards will reveal themselves to Equus. As we have found the first Shard, I suspect such a time is upon us."
Nightmare nodded thoughtfully. "I see. If I may ask, what will the Element of Love do when it's completed?"
Crystal shrugged. "Winter said it might end all war, as it was made to do. He also said it might be far less powerful, but still substantially more powerful than all the other Elements of Harmony. He really wasn't sure, so I don't really know."
Nightmare nodded again as Luna returned from raising the moon.
"Tis a beautiful night tonight," said Luna thoughtfully, "There is not a cloud in the sky."
Crystal looked out the window and smiled. Indeed, there was not a cloud in the sky. She could see every star, and even the Milky Neigh Galaxy in the sky to the South, which is where she knew a world much like Equus was. To the North was a mass of beautiful pinks, blues and purples only visible from the Kingdom of Solstice. That was know as the Solstice Cloud, as it was just a giant cloud of gases Winter had suspended in space to add the the grandeur of Solstice at night.
"Magnificent, isn't it," said Nightmare, to which Crystal nodded. "Winter and I would sit for hours just sitting and gazing at their beauty, you know." She lowered her head, a tear coming to her eye.
Crystal raised Nightmare's head with a hoof. "I miss him, too. He was a great teacher when I was a filly, and raised my as if I were his daughter before I was old enouh and left. At least I saw him before he died." Nightmare Moon nodded. "If it makes you feel any better, we could stargaze together?"
Nightmare perked up at the suggestion. "That sounds nice, thank you."
Crystal nodded and was about to ask Luna and Snowdrop to join them, but noticed a sleeping Snowdrop draped across Luna's back. Luna looked up and saw Crystal looking at her and Snowdrop.
"She hath fallen asleep, and is having the sweetest dream at present."
Crystal nodded. "Perhaps take her to the guest rooms?"
Nightmare nodded. "A good idea."
Luna nodded and left with Snowdrop. A few minutes later, Nightmare and Crystal left for the Private Gardens.
When they arrived, they made their way to the spot Winter had set up for stargazing. Crystal felt weird, though. She did this almost every night, but this time she wasn't a male, or even human, for that matter. Still, while she changed, the stars and all their pleasure would not.
"Did Winter ever say how beautiful the stars at night are," asked Crystal, knowing the answer before Nightmare said it.
"Every night," said Nightmare, "He'd go on about how one group looked like me, or how another looked so nice, or how the entire sky just looked so beautiful, almost as beautiful as my mane." Nightmare sighed sadly. "That's what I miss most about him. The compliments."
Crystal sighed. "Yeah, he was like that even back when he was tutoring me. He's always say that I was his favorite student. Then his moon visits started, and soon after I finished my training. My only regret is not keeping in touch as well as I should've, because now he's gone."
"It's my fault Winter and you grew apart," asked Nighmare.
"I didn;t say that," said Crystal, stunned at Nightmare's accusation, "In fact, I admired the way he loved you. If I'd know my parents, I'd have wanted them to be just like him, loving and caring."
Nightmare nodded. "You got that right. He always was the best, wasn't he?"
Crystal nodded.
"So, why didn't he mention you until recently?"