Chapter Ten: Seeking Peace
“...And now Pinkie Pie owes him a favor!” Spike listened to Twilight’s rant as she paced back and forth. “We don’t even know what or who he is, I can’t find anything in any of the Daring Do books!”
“You said he’s kind of like a fox?” Spike asked and Twilight paused to nod her head. “That sounds like an Ilniad… or how Aurora describes them.”
“Ilniad?” Twilight paused as she mulled it over in her brain. Spike was still thinking about the other bit. “Maybe she had agreed to his help before, you know before she knew who he was, but when she found out the price for his help….”
Then it clicked in Twilight’s head. ‘Of course! I knew the word was so familiar!’ Twilight ran to one of the earliest known copies of Daring Do and opened it flipping to a page. “The Scoundrel, a fox-like creature from a civilization that was scattered a long time ago. She was exploring some ruins near the Basin when Ahuizotl. The Scoundrel appeared and offered to help her for a price and Daring Do accepted it, but one thing happened after another so her debt to him kept growing.”
“He must have been having a lot of fun calling on those favors and holding the debt over her head,” Spike sighed as he looked at the picture drawn into the book and the description underneath. “He never asked for any bits, that’s what drives me crazy. Like Caballeron he wants some of the artifacts I find or a simple spice. He’s a Trickster and a fiend but in the end he has what I need… a way out of a sticky situation.”
“I always loved reading this story because of his appearances,” Twilight sighed as she put the book away. “I like all of Daring Do’s books, but when it began to show more of her fight against Ahuizotl and less of her finding ancient ruins of civilizations outside of the basin… I guess the thought of just staying in one place appealed to me a little more.”
Twilight looked out the window. “Now when I look at these old books I just find myself remembering what Rainbow Dash did and it gets me even angrier. Like I just want to leave to see these places myself for a bit to calm down.”
“Why are you mad?” Spike pointed out. “She apologized, right?”
“I… it’s hard to explain, I just keep telling myself that it’s Rainbow Dash but that shouldn’t excuse her lack of awareness in this situation!” Twilight huffed as she began to pace, Spike catching a different scent coming from her. He looked towards the bookshelf that Aurora had used to connect their libraries together. “Hey, I have an idea. You’re not feeling like yourself, right?”
“I….” Twilight paused as she thought about it. “You’re right.”
“I think I know someone who can help,” he motioned her towards the bookshelf, found the book and tapped it. The bookshelf vanished and he led her through the tunnel. Twilight looked around in awe for a moment before asking. “When was this here?”
“A little bit before you got back,” Spike answered her honestly, Twilight stared at him for a moment before her gaze was drawn to a light. There, in front of her, was a library like she had never seen before. Shelves that were made of stone so tall that she couldn’t see them anymore. Books upon books everywhere. Something slumbering on one of the shelves with a slightly split tail.
“Aurora?” Spike called out and Twilight looked at him. This was what he was going to show her before Rainbow Dash demanded that she find out where Daring Do lived. This caused the feelings of irritation towards her friend to increase. Then something glimmering caught her eye, turning her head. Twilight looked up seeing a massive dragon pulling a book off a shelf. She was in an argument with something that Twilight couldn’t see. “I keep telling you Maple, I don’t care how you organize everything in the fiction section, just do not touch History!”
“You have it organized by Era and Historical Events, didn’t the discovery of the Cores happen after the first city was constructed?” a voice replied Aurora seemed like she was going to reply before looking down at the two of them. Her form began to shrink until she was about the size of Celestia. “You must be Twilight Sparkle, I am UntryrUryte.”
“Sorry for disturbing your organization time,” Twilight said and Aurora chuckled. “You do not have to worry about that.”
The dragon leaned in close to Twilight and placed a hand on her head under her horn. “You have been to the Core Realm recently and formed a Soul Stone there haven’t you?”
“How did you know?” Twilight asked in surprise, Spike had a look of confusion on his face before the Ilniad appeared next to him saying. “Well I know because of Lethoras, Aurora knows because dragons are the closest to the Core Realm. She can sense it around you.”
“Maple is correct,” Aurora said as she turned Twilight’s head from side to side. “The spirit you have bonded with has strong feelings towards those who are inconsiderate and act without thought. Hmmm, seems to have a connection with both spirits and dragons.”
The hand fell away as Aurora thought for a moment. “You are bonded through contract but nothing else. You need to strengthen the magic of your core and your connection with him. That way your emotions will not affect each other unless they are overwhelmingly strong.”
Aurora looked around for a moment before moving through the shelves. “I know the books to start with. This way.”
Aurora moved between the shelves with the other two right behind her. Twilight looked at Spike before giving him a sideways hug. “I’m sorry for not being there for you lately Spike. I’ve just be… dealing with everything.”
“It’s alright Twilight,” Spike assured her as they continued on, though he hung back for a moment. “It’s alright.”
He moved quickly to catch up with the group passing a glowing blue flower.
“It’s alright.”
The Tree of Harmony sat in silence for a moment before pulsing. Discord appeared a few moments later as well as Harmonia. Discord looked at the other half of the Spirit of Wisdom. “You too?”
“I am the other half of the Tree of Harmony, I felt what it felt,” Harmonia answered as a cloaked Earth Pony appeared. “Crystal.”
“You have felt it too, the presence that should not be,” Crystal replied it’s voice like a multitude of people speaking at once. “Hades told me that not one seed had escaped Tartarus. We should located where it originated from.”
“That includes you, Discord,” the Tree of Harmony pointed out and Discord snarled. “You do not give me orders!”
“Enough! Both of you!” Crystal spoke a humming ringing throughout the cave. Discord cleaned out his ears for a moment before asking. “You came all the way from the Crystal Empire to do just that? Getting a bit temperamental now, aren’t we?”
“Pardon me, oh Ancient Tree. Perhaps this is what you seek,” spoke a voice from the entrance of the cave. “A flower that when I talk echoes what I speak.”
“Impossible!” Discord exclaimed flying to Zecora as she presented the blue flower in a clear but sound proof case. “Where did you find this?”
“In a field that was not from here. The only problem is it is no longer there. Despite the growth with roots so deep, it seems like the earth could not keep. Twice this has happened to me, haunted I seem to be,” Zecora explained as Discord reached for it. “With a child’s voice this creature speaks, yet death and destruction it wreaks. When I mentioned what happened to me the time before last it’s response had me seal it behind glass. The Echo Flower repeats what it has last been said, I wondered what misfortune would occur that could leave me for dead.”
Discord watched as Zecora opened the box and a giggle escaped as a child’s voice spoke. “Just you wait, Zebra.”
“We will need to begin the trials,” Harmonia said, these words caused the other three spirits to frown. “It needs to be done.”
“It is too soon, our Gifts were just given,” the Tree of Harmony pointed out, “They are not ready.”
“The other Heroes were, but we were too late because we were afraid,” responded Harmonia, moving up to the tree. “The Sands that we have stopped are now falling once again.”
“I hate to admit it but Harmonia has a point,” Discord sighed as the spirit form of the Crystal Heart turned to address Zecora. “You have our thanks Zecora, we need to speak in private from here on out.”
“Another thing, walking bones I have seen. It does not seem to do harm but to ponies may cause alarm,” Zecora left them with the warning before leaving. The Crystal Heart sighed before asking. “How many tests this time?”
“Two, my other half will decide on the two tests for us,” Harmonia answered, it had another plan in mind, Discord knew that to be certain. The Spirit of Wisdom had learned something from the other tests of heroes. That they needed to learn when not to interfere with something they didn’t like. Discord always made fun of Steel Edge and Star Forge for that. They never knew when to stay out of something. The Tree of Harmony was silent for a moment before speaking. “I will need to contact the Norns for my test, I suppose you will be looking for the Raven?”
“Considering that I do not trust the Norns to actually get the work done, yes,” Discord hissed as his eyes narrowed. “Playing with time is dangerous. I do not want what happened to Snowfall Frost to happen to them especially….”
“Fluttershy?” Harmonia looked at Discord who reeled back. “None of us wish for that, yet remember this must be done for all those who follow the Heroic Paths.”
The Crystal Heart placed a hoof on Discord’s side. “Playing with time is dangerous, however I vote that Harmonia shall be placed in charge of searching for the Heroes of Old. We shall put our trials forward as soon as we see fit.”
Harmonia looked over at the Crystal Heart with suspicion. It always seemed that the Spirit of Love and Courage knew what she was planning. Yet held back the information for some reason. It was always the most straightforward and honest of all of them. Not even the Tree of Harmony, her other half, suspected what she intended to do. Discord sighed. “Fine, I agree, Harmonia can go search out her old pet projects while we test the new Heroes.”
“Thank you, Discord,” Harmonia told him before vanishing alongside the Crystal Heart. Discord looked at the Tree of Harmony before teleporting away as well leaving the tree in complete solitude once again.
Applejack walked through the streets of Ponyville. She had arrived home to find that Big Mac had gotten all the chores done giving her a day off. She smiled enjoying the nice day when a voice caused her to jump. “Applejack!”
“What in tarnation?” Applejack turned around to see Rarity running towards her. “Rarity? Is everything alright?”
“I need your help! There is something off about my shop and I cannot for the life of me figure out what it is.” Rarity explained. Applejack paused wondering what she could do about it before it hit her. ‘Oh yeah, no secret can hide from me.’
“Ohhh, that could work too!” Rarity told her as she led Applejack off to her shop. Applejack was about to protest yet the moment she entered the shop everything felt off. Her green eyes glanced around the room carefully before she noticed that one of the stripes lining the middle mirror was glowing. Tilting her head to the side she walked over to it and tapped it with her hoof. It gave way pushing in like a button and the floor began to open revealing stairs.
“I think we found your problem,” Applejack spoke as she walked over to the top of the stairs as Rarity moved behind her. “This was just recently put in.”
“Applejack, darling, let’s get the others. What if there is something dangerous down there?” Rarity questioned as Applejack began her way down. Looking behind her, Rarity rocked back and forth before following Applejack down the stairs. She cast a light spell glanced around as they walked down for a bit before the area evened out into a long hallway filled with doors.
“This is new,” Applejack said, walking up to one of the doors and pressing her hoof against it. “This one’s locked.”
“So is this… oh!” Rarity let out a gasp as one of the doors opened revealing a big room with pony mannequins and lots of fabric. The room was lit by natural crystal formations lining the walls. It looked like someone had begun to panel the walls and would stop at the crystals and build around them. Fabrics lay in neat stacks in containers. It was like her normal workspace, except it did not have a bed. Where the bed would have been was a strange rack.
“Why this is amazing! I have been wanting a workspace like this for a long time! Somewhere private and large enough for many projects.” Rarity gasped as Applejack glanced around. “I was hoping to save up some bits for a project like this.”
“Sounds like someone found out and decided to do you the favor,” mused Applejack as she looked at the craftsmanship. “How did you not notice anyone making this? It’s directly under your shop?”
“For your information, we’ve been busy,” Rarity replied as she looked at the fabric. “This… is odd though. Whoever did this only has one entrance and one exit, so where did they get this fabric from?”
A cold wind swept throughout the room causing the ponies to look around. White eyes opened causing them to scream and run out the room and back up the stairs. Rarity tripped and saw something pale reaching out for her causing her to scream.
‘Is it her?’ Rarity paused at the thought as the light shined upon a figure. It stared at her with white eyes hidden behind long black hair,
‘Alone… for such a long time.’ Rarity heard Applejack coming back down just as the fingers touched her coat. A chill ran up her spine before Rarity spoke quietly. “Go. If she sees you, she will react to protect me.”
The figure nodded his head before vanishing back into the shadows.
“Are you alright?” Applejack called down as Rarity got to her hooves and began to walk up the stairs. “I hope whatever that was didn’t hurt you. Maybe we should seal this up.”
“Nonsense Applejack, it seems to be afraid of the light. Plus I will not let such a useful space go to waste,” Rarity replied as she pressed the switch watching it close back up. “Remember, I do know how to take care of myself.”
“But…” Applejack was cut off by Rarity saying, “Applejack, darling, trust me. I do need that space and I will take the precautions. Would you let something useful go to waste?”
“Guess not. But I don’t want you to get hurt and no one knows where you are,” Applejack explained, Rarity patted her on the shoulder before leading her out of the shop.
“Don’t worry! I’ll be fine! If I vanish you know where to find me,” Rarity assured her before glancing back to see two white eyes peering from the hidden door. She smiled and winked knowing that she could question this strange being later.
Pinkie Pie bounced by them humming as she headed towards the antique shop. She opened the door seeing Comet placing items on the shelf as Aqua Star cleaned the counter. She glanced up and gave a welcoming smile to the pink pony.
“Hello… Pinkie Pie right?” Aqua Star greeted and Pinkie Pie nodded her head as she looked around the now clean shop. “We were never properly introduced.”
“Oooh, right. We meant to do that when we got back to Ponyville, but then you were busy taking care of Comet!” Pinkie remembered before bouncing around looking at the wares. “Are all of these antiques?”
“I decided to expand it to potions and books as well. I realized that there are not that many antique traders who come through Ponyville, so I decided to expand my business,” explained Aqua Star as she looked around the store with a smile on her face. “I’m not the best at potions but I’m not the worst either. Most of it is for magic restoration and poisons.”
“Do a lot of ponies get poisoned?” Pinkie questioned as she looked at a few of the bottles before spotting a pink one. “Ooooh! What does this potion do?”
“That is a Giggle Bubble Potion. I used to make it a lot of time for my brother,” Aqua Star walked next to Pinkie who looked next to her seeing a sad look in her eyes. “The potion allows for the bubbles to be shaped in the mind of the one who blows the bubble and it lasts far longer until the image pops.”
Pinkie could tell that this was a bittersweet potion for Aqua Star to explain. She took it carefully off the shelf and pulled off the top seeing the bubble wand. Thinking for a bit, Pinkie Pie blew two bubbles. They floated up into the air taking the shapes of a cupcake and a balloon. The two ponies watched as the bubbles bumped into each other before floating away.
“Would you like it?” Aqua Star asked and Pinkie nodded her head before pulling out her bit purse. When she paid the amount Pinkie decided to blow a few more bubbles in the shop. Star shaped candies, and treats floated around the shop. Pinkie noticed a small smile upon Aqua Star’s face as she watched the bubbles float out the door as another customer walked in.
“Sometimes it is the small things in life that can bring us a bit of laughter,” Pinkie Pie said, watching the pony laugh as she was almost carried away. A tan pegasus flew up and carried her down before walking in together. Aqua Star tilted her head to the side before walking up to greet them. Pinkie grinned before seeing the fox sitting outside the door. She bounced out seeing him leading her away from Ponyville. Shrugging her shoulders she bounced after him. She waved to Fluttershy who was looking around at the skies. She spotted Rainbow Dash on a cloud and flew up to her.
“Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked and the fast flier glanced at her over her shoulder before returning to her original position. “Are you alright?”
“No offense Fluttershy but I don’t need to hear it,” Rainbow Dash retorted and Fluttershy tilted her head to the side. “You’re here to tell me what I did wrong with Daring Do. Twilight’s already done that.”
“Twilight just wanted you to know that your behaviour was a bit… rude. I’m not here to….” Fluttershy was cut off as Rainbow Dash. “I don’t want to hear it! You’re here to ‘check up’ on me. Then when I tell you how I’m feeling you just ‘kindly’ point out to me where I went wrong!”
“That’s… not… I was….” Fluttershy shrank back, her eyes filling with tears and Rainbow Dash yelled. “I DON’T CARE! I DON’T WANT TO TALK TO YOU!”
Regret flashed through Rainbow’s eyes as Fluttershy took off crying. “Fluttershy… dang it! Screwed up, again.”
Fluttershy didn’t stop until she landed at her house. Angel bounced out and towards her stroking her mane.
“ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” a voice asked, causing her to jump and stumble back. She felt herself fall and everything vanish around her. She felt herself floating causing her to look around.
“Welcome Fluttershy,” a voice spoke, causing her to turn around and see three Pegasi standing in front of her. It was the oldest who spoke.
“I am Urðr, the one who sees what lies behind. This is Verdandi, the one who sees what is,” the eldest Pegasi introduced herself waving a hoof towards a full grown mare before moving on to the filly. “And finally, this is….”
“I’m Skuld! I see what is to come!” the youngest Pegasi interrupted, causing Urd to sigh, shaking her head. “Your test is about to begin. The task is quite simple! All you have to do is find the strength of who you are and stay alive.”
“Oh my,” Fluttershy whispered, Urðr gave her a comforting smile before holding out her hoof saying. “Take my hoof young one. We shall look after you and when you come back from this test remember what you have learned.”
Taking a deep breath Fluttershy reached out and grabbed the hoof. She felt a downwards pull causing her to scream as the three Pegasi vanished.