Chapter 4
“Kindness and Generosity”
Perspective: ???
NO! NO!
The limbs have been severed! My roots in them are being broken!
It’s them! It’s those two! Always those two!
They ruin everything! Every time!
But no...no nonononono…
They will fail this time...for even if they manage to crack the next two roots...I’ll be waiting...to snag…
Our prize Luna...soon he’ll be with us...forever…
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Perspective: Private
I felt the floor as Twilight and I came out of the dreams. I groaned as I was helped up by Tenebros. “Did, we get them?” I asked.
Twilight was helped up by Celestia. “Well, I took care of Applejack’s” She said.
Tenebros turned to the two earth ponies. “They should awaken any minute now.”
“That was a surreal experience,” I said, a little wobbly on my hooves.
“It will take some time to get used to the real world again,” Celestia said. “But you two did an admiral job.”
“We’re not done yet Celestia,” Twilight said, “We still have four other ponies to cure.”
“Are you certain you two can handle going in a second time so soon?” Tenebros asked.
“Hey, just remember who you’re talking to,” I said with a smirk.
“Very well then,” Tenebros said, “I do insist on a little rest before you venture onwards however. I need to wait a little for my own magic to recharge.”
Twilight and I slumped on the floor beside one another. Twilight looked over at me. “So, how bad was Pinkie’s imagination?”
“Like Discord and her collaborated to create the most insane world ever. Yours?” I asked with a smile.
“Oh, you know, typical AJ,” Twilight said. “She’s got a lot of baggage she refuses to get help carrying. Like somepony I know.”
“Hey, I let you carry baggage, sometimes,” I replied.
“Maybe, but, I sometimes wish you would be just a little more open.” Twilight said, putting her head on my shoulder. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I really need a soft pillow for a second.
“Alright,” I said, leaning in to her. “Let’s rest up for a minute, and hope for the best.”
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Perspective: Celestia
Tenebros and I stepped outside while the two of them were resting. To think, the last I saw of this young alicorn was so long ago. I was happy to see him back, he really made Luna such a joy to be around….
Yet…
“Tenebros,” I said to him as he sat in the hallway, “I have to ask, do you have any idea what caused all this?”
He shrugged. “I doubt I could even pinpoint an exact cause. Maybe some sort of wraith, or ghost?”
“Do you think…?” I began.
Tenebros looked away.
“Tenebros, what happened was not your fault. You had no way of knowing that Luna would fall as far as she did.” I said.
“Is that what you say to everypony who was there?” He asked, an edge to his voice. “If it wasn’t for that foul unicorn! That... that... MONGREL! She wouldn’t have been caught and-”
“Blaming Nocturn will not fix everything, Tenebros,” I said sternly. “Luna gave her heart to another, he did what he thought was right. Had he not interfered, Nightmare would’ve escaped and I would’ve had a much longer war with her.”
Tenebros looked away again. “And now here I am, helping his descendent fix everything. How cruel a fate is this?”
“You still care for her, don’t you?” I asked.
He looked up at me, his wings drooping a little. “I never stopped caring. There were no shortage of mares who wanted to be with me over these many centuries. But, none...none of them were Luna…”
I walked over to him, and laid my wing on his shoulder. “I understand that while it pains you to not be able to do much, you must keep on going for her sake. Even if Luna will never return your affections again, you must trust Private and Twilight to succeed.”
“We trust the fate of Equestria’s princess with a newly made alicorn and a half breed detective?” Tenebros asked.
“I have, on numerous occasions, and you’d be surprised what the smallest of us can do,” I said. “Now, is your magic ready?”
“It is. I just needed a moment’s rest,” He replied. “Will you be staying?”
“I will be here in support if necessary. Here’s hoping it doesn’t reach that point,” I said as Tenebros went back inside. I heard him converse with Private and Twilight, before the dream walking spell was put on them again…
Be safe...my little ponies...please…
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Perspective: Twilight
This was Carousel Boutique, but it was dark. Almost scary. Scattered balls of paper littered the floor, scraps of fabric hung in ragged pieces. In various tints were scrawled various words. “NO NO NO! This is wrong wrong WRONG!” “WHY won’t the fabric COOPERATE?!” Rarity must have created, then shredded a multitude of different dresses. Several of them looked like they had… blood on them. What has been happening, in here? I walked on, searching for Rarity, in a boutique that seems to have expanded to… well… nightmarish proportions, marked with the remains of dresses that didn’t seem to make Rarity’s cut. I’ve never seen Rarity like this. Sure she had her little snits, and dramatic moments, but… I’ve got to find her!
“Why can’t I find my muse?!” I heard Rarity growl. “This one’s too plain, this one’s too fancy, this one has too many gems, this one not enough! It has to be perfect. PERFECT!” I galloped toward the voice to find Rarity spotlighted in the middle of a huge mess. Her figure was gaunt, her eyes were bloodshot, and wild, her hair uncombed, and unstyled. All over her body were raw red scars, and scabbed over wounds. Her face… I barely recognised it. Rarity what have you done to yourself? “It must be perfect… Why can’t you find it, Rarity?! You horrible horrible wench!” Rarity spun, grabbing a sharp pair of scissors, and aimed them at herself, ready to plunge them into her own flesh!
“Rarity, no!” I shouted, running to stop her, when I was grabbed and held down. I struggled with all my might to free myself from the grip of whatever had me. I looked up, and saw the discarded dresses had wrapped me in their fabric, and were stopping me from helping! Great. More opposition. Time to take out the trash.
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Perspective: Private
Endless fields again. That’s what I saw as I entered Fluttershy’s dream. This had to be her, nopony else could dream up something so beautiful and nature filled among us elements.
But something was wrong, something very wrong. I walked a little ways in, I saw to my horror, the entire town of Ponyville was overrun with these creatures. Vicious looking, mutated animals all glowering and moving around. The plant life was just as worse, it was the Everfree Forest invasion all over again. Only this time with just vines instead of black and blue.
I soon caught sight of Fluttershy sitting in the center of the creatures. She said, rather distantly, “Nopony wants my critters...I’m the only one who’s kind to them...the only one who understands them...yet everypony fears them so…”
“Fluttershy!” I yelled, charging towards her, only to get blocked by two creatures, who bore their teeth at me. “Fluttershy you gotta wake up!” I kept yelling.
“No...no nopony can be so cruel to animals...so cruel...everypony is so cruel…” She said, and then slowly turned to me, “why must I be kind, when the world is so cruel…”
Suddenly the animals leaped at me, I tried reaching for blackbird, but it wasn’t there! Damnit! I must’ve left it in Pinkie’s dream somehow!
I turned and began to run, trying to find high ground. I moved and dodged my way around the creatures. Come on! Private! You can do this!
Or...if I can’t do it…
Hope’s chanting was heard….
Oh Please be somepony who’s good at hunting scary beasts!
A portal opened in front of me, all of the creatures behind me stopped. I looked into a portal as...a rugged looking unicorn began to step out. He was tall, well muscled but he bore a scarred face and a long silvery mane and tail. He was clad in leather armor and bore two swords on his back. His eyes were yellow, with slits like a Lunar stallion but...no, there was something far more feral about him…
He looked at me, then simply walked past me towards the monsters. He spoke no words, simply stared, and crouched down into a fighting stance. His horn glowed and his magic slowly pulled out one of the swords. It looked like it was made out of silver. It was covered with extravagant runes that seemed to glow on their own accord.
Just who was he…?
He strode forward, purposefully, his eyes flicking around at the group, his sword waving back and forth in a sinuous motion. Then in a flurry of surprising motion, he swung his sword in a circular arc around him, injuring the creatures that surrounded him. The blade seemed to cause great harm to the monsters, because upon it’s touch, the creatures screeched in pain. One of the larger ones, looking suspiciously like a giant bear, came rushing at him. The unicorn dodged, switching his sword stance, bringing the sword down on the giant bear, twice, seriously injuring the beast.
The creatures then started backing away from him, totally in fear of him. He then turned his yellow eyes to me, and said in a low, calm voice, “Silvered Steel…”
“Private Eye,” I said with a gulp.
I can’t help but feel this may have been a little overkill…
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Perspective Twilight
Why must Rarity make things so durable? These dresses are hard to take down, even with my magic. I finally shredded my way out of the dresses.
“Rarity! Stop!” I cried, rushing toward her.
“I can’t! I can’t stop, until I find the perfect design… I’ve got to show everypony… show everypony I’m not shallow, and self-centered… Show my darling Spikey Wikey that I’m not as horrible as he thinks I am,” Rarity said, tears streaming from her eyes, and blood streaming from the cut she made. “My vanity… Nopony knows that there’s more to me than...”
“Oh Rarity…” I said, wrapping up her cut. “I know there’s more to you than your pretty face, and love of fashion…”
“Twilight? Somepony… somepony came to check on me?” Rarity uttered, looking at me with such profound gratitude.
“Yes, Rarity, I came to check on you. You’re one of my best friends,” I said with a warm smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here, sooner.”
“Oh, pish tosh,” Rarity said, some of her old accent coming back. “What matters is that you’re here, now.”
“C’mon. Let’s see about these cuts. Then we can clean up this place,” I said laying a wing on her.
I then looked up, as the dresses parted, revealing the root before me. I smiled.
Well, time to test that blow torch spell I’ve been working on.
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Silvered Steel cut his way through the monsters whilst I tried to help by using what little magic I could use in this realm.
When it was over, all of the animals laid on the ground. Fluttershy wailed in grief. She looked to us, her eyes filled with a rage you rarely see in the yellow pegasus. “How could you! How could you slaughter them! They were only trying to live! I was right! Everypony is just cruel!”
Silvered Steel turned his yellow eyes to her and said, “They aren’t dead...I didn’t cause any fatal damage.”
“You... didn’t?” I asked.
He shook his head and simply said, “Sometimes cruelty, is the greatest kindness you can give…” With that, he sheathed his blade, and a portal opened for him.
I walked towards Fluttershy as she backed away from me. “Stop it! I cannot accept such cruelty! Such slaughter! Kindness should be kind! Not cruel! Ever!”
I shook my head and simply said, “The world is not black and white Fluttershy, I should know, I was born into it grey…”
“Private…” She said.
“You can’t just give everypony what they want. That isn’t kindness that’s pandering. You gave these animals Ponyville at the cost of everypony’s homes. The animals belong in their own habitat, and you should’ve known that.”
“But I...I don’t want to force them…” Fluttershy said, tears streaming down her eyes. “It’s cruel…”
I simply walked to her, and pulled her into a warm hug. “It’s the best decisions that are always the hardest to achieve.”
She hugged me back, crying, “You, you were right. I was being immature and naive. I shouldn’t just give them what they want. I should...do what’s right, no matter the inconvenience or cruelty…”
“But never lose sight of kindness in the first place.” I said with a smile, rubbing her head affectionately.
She laughed, her musical laugh and said, “Thanks Private...I feel, like I can get up now…”
I looked on as the root appeared behind her. My horn sparked and a metal fence was reforged into a blade. I took a swung at the root, slashing it in half.
Like before the dream became distorted, and I could hear a far off screaming...now all that was left was Rainb-
Something grabbed me! One of the roots had ensnared my leg! Oh no! TWILIGHT!!!
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I awoke in… a palace… It was dark, and very ornate. Stars dotted the ceiling, and sculptures representing nocturnal animals decorated alcoves. The floor depicted a lunar eclipse, the moon covering the sun. Pillars supported the ceiling, and banners displaying a crescent moon were hung all around the area in which I found myself.
Why did this place feel familier...and why was a feeling comfort...and dread….?
Wait...no I’ve been here once before...not me...but…
Nocturne…
I heard the door open behind me, I turned to see, Luna was standing there, clad in...an ornate wedding dress…
Wait...just what was going on?!
“Luna?!” I said in shock.
Luna just smiled…”We are together at last...my Nocturne…there are none standing between us...all is as it should be...all is perfect...all is as I imagined it...let us be together...in true harmony...forever...”