//------------------------------//
// Chapter 23 Lesson Three: Cleave Reality 
// Story: Wayward Hearts 
// by SilverTopHat 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 23
Lesson Three: Cleave Reality.

I still couldn't believe what fell out of Lilly's mouth.
“What do you mean!?” I asked sure that I must have heard wrong. The air blew gently across the sandy plains between town and Braeburn's orchard. 
“You proposed to her, you said it was meant for her and your words were very touching.” Lilly with her wide storm gray eyes filled with confusion from my questions. “You meant for the song for her, you even knelt to touch her out stretched hoof! How do you not know these kind of things? When either of you kneel and stretch your hoof out, even the way you did it was an old form, it showed that you wanted to become one.”
“I-”
“What would happen if you told her that the song didn't mean 'marry me'? Things would be very hard for you, how would you explain that to Glitterlamp? Moron!” Fear hissed in my ear.
“Would it be any better living a lie? Do you really love her, or are you just doing your end of the bargain for Luna?” Vengeance's gravely purr filled the air. Then I felt Courage ask me 'Why break her heart?'
“What? What's wrong Michael?” Lilly asked me seeing my hesitation.
“If anything, don't tell her!” Fear hissed at me indicating towards Lilly. 
“Tell the one that would be affected the most.” Vengeance agreed.
“I- I need to see Glitt- erm, Springdew.” I said chewing my lip and walked faster in attempts to catch up with Glitterlamp and the rest of the ponies talking to her.


“Why break her heart? Was that song, even though it wasn't yours, just a pretty hollow lie? All in vain?” Fear spoke as if disappointed. “She didn't think so, just feel her now. She is as happy as she was with Fritter on that picnic.”
“I can't, I mean, She's a pony, a Changeling! I'm human!” I spoke out missing a step and almost falling into the sand. Fear caught my arm and hoisted me back to my feet. I stared into his dead purple eyes as they glared angrily back at me.
“Doesn't mean a damn thing! And you know it! We know that friends in our past were nothing but hollow lies, flirts as cold as ice, compliments with no sincerity! Don't be like that! Leave that behind!” Fear cracked his neck like I would and walked towards me angrily. “We need to talk, now!” I took a step back from his grasping hand and found myself falling backwards through the sand.





“Just like before, you need someone to watch over you. You never watched your health that closely, stupid.” Fear held me by my throat with one bone thin arm that stretched too far. He mutated, before he at least looked like me but now he truly looked fearsome. A mottled skull with needle teeth, no lips, no eyelids, skin pulled taut over his thin diseased body, his eyes glowed purple with smoke pouring from them, Fear crouched naked on an edge of a deep crevasse.
He reached down, holding my neck tighter now and lifted me up. I was clinging to the side of the cliff and found that Fear was pulling me out.
“I hate you. Never mistake that, but I die if you die.” He spat in my face and stalked away from the edge dragging me behind him like a rag doll. “Maybe that's why you did it. Something to talk to.” He flung me into the weightless void but kept up with me.
“Then why are you here?” I asked weakly feeling tired again, I guess I put too much into that song.
“Because as sad as it is, I'm the only one that understands! Vengeance is too logical, Courage doesn't truly understand, but I do.” Fear grabbed me and seated me down on something solid. “You fear that she doesn't feel like you do, that you may not be enough, that she's only using you. As much as I love to bring these up, they're lies.” He said bluntly sitting across from me with his elbows on his knees.
“Says the fragment of Sombra!” I said pulling a spear out of the void and ramming it through his stomach. A sharp pain entered my stomach and I recoiled backwards. A hole appeared in my guts and Fear only flicked my forehead, enough to send me reeling.
“That's what manifested me before, a wound in your head. Then you healed the wound with more of us. You can't survive without me!” He clicked his tongue and with a gesture pulled the wound out of me. “Focus!” Fear yelled at me setting me back down. I looked at what was beneath me and it was a bench.
“Speak then.” I snarled losing strength as Fear towered over me.
“I wasn't asking for permission! I know that going through this is weird! But think for a second!” Fear held one knife like finger before me.  “Which is worse? Having to stay with her for eternity or having me as company forever?” He sneered at me. “for our sake, figure it out Mr. Smooth!”

“Wait, why isn't there anything representing my love? My positive emotions!” I demanded suddenly wanting some other voice than his.
“That was the first thing I took! Pride! Spite! Sympathy! Caution! Agony! Pain! I wrestled for compassion with Courage and only got half of it! Courage got the rest,” Fear cracked a thin smile and shrugged. “And right now I'm telling us to just accept her. Vengeance will probably come up with twin explanations of why you should and shouldn't. Courage doesn't really understand the severity of this situation. Luna told you to never abandon her! We killed Sombra to prove it! Why is this,” Fear pulled out a box with wedding rings inside. “Scaring you! I may not inspire you like Courage can but can you live with yourself if you abandon her now? Can you stomach having to see her cry?”

A golden light made Fear flinch and courage riding on Vengeance's back flew into view. Fear rolled his eyes at me and turned to the duo.
“Fear, you are wrong to think I cannot see this situation clear enough.” Vengeance growled. “He is human, she is not. The union would be unnatural!”
“I don't care!” I and Fear shouted together. Fear smiled at me and courage slid off Vengeance's neck, a note pad in his hand.
“Do it, whatever you do, do it truly! Sing it from your heart!”

“No, no, no!” Vengeance roared. “Don't let your emotions cloud your thoughts! This means more to us than you know! Don't pick 'the one' by the heat of the moment!”

Then absolute war broke out. They all spoke so loudly I couldn't breathe, they were so big. Bigger than the mountains, I was so small, all my features faded until I was a smokey shadow of myself as I watched. They all had their points; I was human, she was not, the mind is important, she feeds off of you, I give willingly, she takes from you. Brought down to my knees I felt Fear kick me in the chin back to my feet.

“Don't you dare wither! Don't you dare give up!” Fear hissed in my face making his gruesome features all the more horrible. “Luna told you to never abandon her!”
“Listen to him! For once Fear is right!” Courage tossed his note pad down and swung his sword in a broad arc at the other two trying to break up the fight.
“Can you live with the consequences! This severe misunderstanding! A hollow marriage!” Vengeance thrashed his tail down nearly crushing me. “Make a liar out of yourself! This makes no sense! Live true to yourself! Not the terms others have forced upon you, you have given enough!” 

A green wave passed through all of us and Glitterlamp stood close by and looked at the three pieces of me reducing them back to manageable sizes. Courage fell to his knees in respect and scooted away from me. Fear stood to his gruesome height and slowly paced away from me. Vengeance snarled twisting his face into rage but took a few steps away from me.
“What is this?” Glitterlamp trotted over creating a road with each step.
“This is the fruits of Lesson one, my inner counsel apparently.” I said weakly waving a hand around me struggling to stand. 
“You fell down in the orchard and we couldn't wake you up. We got you to Braeburn's house and still couldn't wake you. Everypony's asleep now, what's going on?” Glitterlamp looking at the others with a 'what are you?' kinda look.

“You are the cause of this!” Vengeance snapped with massive jaws sitting up in a noble position. “That song was for fun! Everyone took it wrong!” The cracking growl shook us both.
“Who are you to say what it meant!” Glitterlamp challenged Vengeance.
“Glitter, that is a piece of me. So to a degree, that is my thought.” I admitted standing straight now, ready for whatever came. “I didn't mean that song to mean 'marry me' I just thought it was fitting.” Fear towered over me and hissed once.
“Don't let that lizard bully you! You meant every word of that song!” Fear swiped at Vengeance making him back off and Courage tried to get in between them.
“That is true too, I guess I'm confused.” I held my head and tried to figure it out. Then Glitterlamp started laughing making Fear and Vengeance stop cold in their little fight.
“You're tired,” Glitterlamp pointed out, “you can't think well when you're tired.”
“But that's when I understand things the best.” I said with a yawn when she mentioned being tired. “What do you understand about love?” I asked randomly and Vengeance growled behind me.
“She is not human!” He reminded me coldly.
“I want to hear it from you,” Glitterlamp buzzed off the ground to look me in the eye. “Do you love me? Enough to spend the rest of your life with me?”

This was it. The moment of truth or the ultimate lie. The point of no return, well maybe not that extreme. A decision must be made here and now, and within my head I could not hold anything back. Perhaps since she can read my thoughts she already knows the answer and is only trying to get me to see it. 
That's the thing about telepathy I guess, no real secrets. Even now she felt a little worried that I was so torn over this but she understands that this means so much to me. Assured since I felt so torn over it what I say won't be hollow. 
“I know you liked going from place to place,” Glitterlamp said a little sad, “I've seen it in your dreams and memories, I know staying in one spot is weird for you now. And being my special one doesn't mean we have to stay still.” 
“This just happened so suddenly is all.” I said rubbing my neck. “I don't really oppose the idea really, but how would we do it? I'm kinda lost on the whole thing, in my world both parties get rings to wear on their fingers, usually.”
“Well, unicorns get a ring on their horn. I think it's a bracelet for you.” Glitterlamp shrugged and looked at my wrist. “Yes, I think it'll suite you. It'll be at eye level and nopony will be able to miss it.” She said squirming with delight.
“At least I won't worry about it slipping off then.” I agreed having a silver band appear on my left wrist then nodded. She isn't that much of a stranger to me, she needs me and I need her. We care for one another, we enjoy the other's company. Why not?

“That's my point.” Fear hissed in my ear. “Now do it, make the call!”
“This is merely a coma after all.” Vengeance growled. “But I'll try to understand this choice.”
“Give her the answer in voice!” Courage's words floated by. “And let happiness ensue!”

“Glitterlamp,” gathering my body back to stand on solid ground I spoke for the first time within my Void. “I do.”

“I knew it! I knew it! I can have a happily ever after!” She cheered through her tears. “Thank you so much! The stories are true, so very true.” I wrapped my arms around her in a passionate embrace and our joy was fit to burst our tiny shells.

A silver ribbon floated not far from us. Glitterlamp stretched a hoof out to touch and answer Luna's question. I was too happy to care what exactly she wanted or came to tell, nothing can stop me now.




We stood the halls of Canterlot's castle with Luna and Celestia in conversation with no guards in the room. The general feel was of relief and security.
“Oh, Luna I was silly.” Celestia laughed quietly placing her head on Luna's in a way of a hug. “The teams haven't reported any unusual activity. Except for some odd cloud in Appaloosa but that's probably Discord's power wandering throughout Equestria. It'll pass, it always does.”
“We are grateful that you have ceased the search.” Luna said returning the hug.
“I'll try to listen to you more, dear sister.” Celestia said laughing a little at her silliness.

Then Celestia faded like smoke and Luna turned to us.
“Thee have changed,” Luna remarked with an arched eyebrow. “No longer you come in armor, we are glad.”
“I have not been always friendly. I was scared then and distrusted you and everything in this world. I hope you can find room to forgive these trespasses.” I said giving a bow from the waist.
“You are more like Draiden than you know.” Luna smiled. “Celestia has called off the search, you are safe, both of you are.”
“Princess Luna!” Glitterlamp trotted forwards. “I want your blessing for our wedding!” Luna's eyes shot up and quickly looked from her to me several time and smiled openly with tears in her dark blue eyes.
“You have certainly shown your commitment.” Luna nodded her head towards me. Her blue coat glowed gently in this dream and she seemed lost in thought for a moment. “Of course I'll give you my blessing. I'll even try to attend, when is it?”
“Oh, it'll be small.” Glitterlamp said shyly. “This Saturday?”
“I'll make it.” Luna smiled warmly. “And it'll be great to see the two of you face to face. Sleep now, you'll need you strength. Saturday is not far away.”




Dawn jabbed it's unwanted fingers into my eyes stirring me from sleep. Glitterlamp held onto me smiling even in her sleep, of course the face was Springdew. This was Braeburn's house and on the floor was the cutie mark crusaders with Lil Dune and Sadie asleep next to the couch.
“What are the Cutie Mark Crusaders doing here?” I wondered sitting up with Springdew reluctantly letting go and waking up smiling and yawning at me. Something nagged my memory.
“Don't forget to complete the lessons we made.” Vengeance reminded me sounding like he was right next to me.
“I won't, what's the last anyway. What did Lesson one accomplish anyway, more than a headache I hope.” I said softly walking around Braeburn's house it was early again, I still wanted to sleep but Vengeance prevented it.
“You defined us as barriers of the mind, mind control displayed by both Glitterlamp and Chrysalis was a threat to you and her so you made us. The back fire was that we might have created some insanity within us. You gave the three of us paradoxical emotions to have. Hate is not logical, Courage displays hesitation now and then, Fear can care. Very strange indeed.
“Anyway,” Vengeance continued. “Lesson Three is gonna be hard. In fact it was originally going to be lesson two but the damage had to be dealt with first. The final Lesson is an experiment really, take your power, the Void, and make it belong in the waking world. The target is Fearbane, your power focus, Fearbane has already gave it's consent. Since that your power can be cut off by knocking it out of your hand. We needed to find another way, and we found one.
“So today, assign Braeburn and Glitterlamp to manage the wedding detail and I'm not going to lie. This experiment will probably hurt, a lot.” Vengeance purred in my head as I made it to the door. “Oh, this conversation is private. Fear was always great with illusions, he's keeping a wedding themed barrier up.”
“No,” I thought determinedly remembering the pain that I had caused to myself and her. “I promised not to do anything dangerous without her. She WILL be present!”
“Your will be done.” Vengeance bowed away in defeat. 

This day was going to be chaotic I can feel it. If not wedding detail, Lesson Three detail.

“This Saturday!” Braeburn said with a wide smile. “Well, shucks! Sure we can get it ready by then! Humans may have really big fancy weddings but things are easier here. Don't worry, the whole town is gonna be as happy as pie to help, we'll be ready by tomorrow!”
“Are you sure Braeburn? I know this is a lot to ask of you and the town, especially so suddenly like this.” I said not sure if I should be placing the burden on his back. 
“Ain't no trouble at all! It's what friends do anyway.” Then he lowered his voice into a loud whisper. “Won't as grand as the one in Canterlot, hope you don't mind.” Then he laughed loudly.

Breakfast was quickly made pancakes and maple syrup as everyone was filled with a new found energy. 
“Cutie Mark Crusaders! We might be able to get our cutie marks by being wedding setter uppers!” Applebloom declared and the Three rushed out with Lilly pond to get started.
“Hey, Michael?” Cactai looked downcast and now looked me dead in the eye. “I was wrong about ya, sorry for given ya such a hard time. Friends?” She held a hoof out which I gladly shook.
“Friends.” I smiled back, glad that we put that behind us now.
“C`mon Cactai, gotta get those decorations started. Let's have it in the Town Hall so no one get too hot during the ceremony,” Braeburn's words faded out as he spoke with Cactai.

The room was silent now and only the wind made a sound. The room was painted in lovely warm colors but I needed to talk to Glitterlamp.
“Hey, Glitter. I got one more Lesson to complete.” I said earnestly. 
“Can it wait?” Glitterlamp asked me not wanting to touch the subject. “Please?”
“Vengeance, that dragon you saw, says that it's important.” I insisted. “I want you to be there in case it goes wrong.” Glitterlamp took a moment trying to decide. “If I help you with this, you'll help with the party.”
“Deal!” I said happily and we quickly made our way to our house in the early dawns light.


The notes had been tied up and locked in the desk while Glitterlamp had the key so I couldn't get into it. I flipped through the pages and found the page, along the edge a cipher of the English language was made.
“I don't like it. You don't have to do it.” Glitterlamp asked me as I read the passages. It was a pep talk to prepare me for the experiment.
“If this doesn't work, I won't touch it again.” I promised. 

-Lesson Three: Take Fearbane and change it. Reduce it to Void stuff and reforge it, make it unable to be disarmed. Fearbane knows what to do and will help. Potential dangers: Total insanity, finding out this is a dream, loss of consistent shape, pain.-
The words were written by Courage and I felt confident that it would work. My room had to be cleaned though, with Fearbane in hand I swept my hand around the room and had the papers fly into a pile neat and tidy. I had to focus for this.
My mouth was dry and Glitterlamp was watching. I needed to destroy Fearbane by what the notes say, send it into the Void and bring it back.
“The void isn't empty, it's like a big box of what the world is made of.” I repeated in my head. The black sand began to form around the sword but nothing was really helping and Fearbane blinked at me confused.
“Did it work?” Glitterlamp said looking me up and down. “Do you feel different?”
“No,” I said disappointed confused. “Hey Fearbane, Fear, Courage, Vengeance. Care to give me a hand? I'm not getting it, I mean. If I made the three of you couldn't I remake this thing?” I reached out to touch the sharp edge and thought better of it in fear that I would be cut. The silence that was given was frustrating me, I could hear them near me why aren't they doing anything!?
“Calm down,” Glitterlamp held her ears. “And stop growling you are not a timber wolf. Take a deep breath.” I breathed several times and looked at the edge again. I felt odd, like being made of cardboard and I could hear a wind blowing. Spells always needed rhyming, right? Maybe I need to rhyme.

“The sword is made of sand,” I said feeling a little weird now, the eye had an odd twinkle in its eye now. “My skin is made of iron,” I felt my body get a little numb, Fearbane drew upon me. I felt myself being peeled to pieces but it didn't hurt, like I was supposed to split like this.

“The sword was made in Fear, I was made to defend those under attack of fear.” Courage's text floated around next to me placing his hand on the hilt next to my hand. He gave me a smile, or what passed as one. The light went out, thunder could be heard in the distance.
“I was made in defense against others, I held us safe when our family couldn't.” Fear hissed and placed a hand over mine on the hilt. Black smoke began to seethe around Fearbane as the topaz bled onto the floor leaving a window into the void in it's place. The topaz curled off the floor and went straight for my eyes! I couldn't move! Glitterlamp lunged forward to interrupt the spell but Fear held her back with one hand stopping her as the liquid topaz coated my eyes.

“A sword is as good as the one who holds the handle, I know when and where to strike in anticipation.” Vengeance curled his tail around the hilt trying us together. 
Fearbane melted into sand except for the gem that once was the topaz eye. Now the two gems merged to become one large lens and it now held a view port to the Void. I got to see this before the lens placed itself into my chest, just over my heart and became one with my flesh.
No pain came from this. Vengeance, Fear and Courage in turn touch the void-stained gem and returned to my mind. It happened so fast! My shirt was still intact and the gem, now warm against my chest buzzed with energy. I stood in a daze as the cloud of Void Sand rested in the air, I held out a hand to the sand as Glitterlamp watched since the danger had seemed to pass.
The sand acted like a shapeless cat, rubbing against my hand and purred happily. The sand turned into a silver band with little void beads as jewels with an elegant emerald as the crown jewel. The ring was just how I imagined it to be, but there was still sand left for one more piece. I crafted a matching silver bracer with a emerald in style of a snakes eye upon my left wrist. The use of both my hand to shape this magic was like wearing shoes for the first time and not having to worry about thorns in my feet.

“And so concludes Lesson Three, I have blurred the lines between fantasy and reality.” I said the magic receded back into me. My voice was layered upon itself much like Glitterlamp's when she has her changeling form out. The affect was wonderful but steadied myself to my original voice. “AaahhHHHhh,” I vocalized enjoying the new voice effect. “That was pretty crazy wasn't it? Sorry,”
“Are you alright?” Glitterlamp rushed over and had me kneel down to look at my eyes. “They're like Fearbane's eyes, but in you. Not just a little of your eyes, all of it. There is no white now.” I touched my face with a hint of regret.
“I didn't know this was going to happen.” I said holding Glitterlamp in my arms. “It didn't hurt, felt kinda tingly but not hurt. But at least we won't have to worry about the ring and bracer.” I said slipping the ring on her horn, it fit just right.

She pushed me away and quickly took the ring off and yanked my bracer off with a gasp.
“Don't you know it's bad luck to wear these things before the ceremony!?” Glitterlamp jumped up and looked back at me. “You didn't know, well, this whole 'Lesson' business is over right?”
“Yeah.” I said happily.
“So you have to absolutely have to help me with preparing now, Princess Luna is coming after all. And we don't have that much time!” Glitterlamp said urgently then placing the ring and bracer in a box.
“Oh yeah, that.” I said brushing myself off ready to face the day. I looked around the room and saw a piece of paper I missed earlier. I was a letter nailed above the door inside my bedroom. I pulled the nail out and handed the letter to Glitterlamp.
“What's this? Is this yours?” Glitter asked looking at it skeptically.
“No, but you can read equestrian better than I can.” I said waiting for her to read it. Glitterlamp read it once then shredded it with her magic. She was laughing at it and shook her head but she felt like someone placed a cold stone in her guts.
“What was it?” I asked confused and now wishing I didn't hand it to her.
“An empty threat of crashing my wedding day.” Glitterlamp flicked her hair. “C`mon, you promised to help me pick a dress.”
“I did?” I asked following her.
“You said you'd help with this wedding, there's a list.” She said playfully.