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// New Times for Old Friends 
// Story: Living Myths 
// by Fluxxdog 
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	Trixie and Big Mac were laughing rather heartily as Derpy told her story. "And I say, 'I just don't know what went wrong!' I land one of my hooves in the right spot and make the whole cloud thunderburst!" All three were catching each other up on their current lives. Derpy was regaling them with her "clumsiness" when it came to town hall. "I swear, Rainbow Dash was almost positive I was doing it on purpose."

Big Mac chuckled and added, "I notice you left out the part where you broke the stage just by sitting on it!"

Trixie caught her breath for a moment and asked, "Wha... heh... what do you mean?"

"She conveniently left out the part when Dash told her to sit down, the stage under her broke and she fell through!" Trixie howled with laughter and collapsed on the ground, laughing herself silly. She pounded the ground with her hooves as she she tried to catch her breath.

Derpy just growled. "Yeah, well, at least I didn't drag a house because I was under the influence of a love potion!"

This got Trixie's attention. "Wait, what? A love potion?"

Big Mac grimaced. "Now that's not fair. First, it was a love poison, second I was tricked into drinking it, and third I wasn't the one who tied me to the house!"

Needless to say, Trixie would not be catching her breath for a while. Derpy capitalized on it, "Oh? Are you sure about that, shmoopy-doopy sweetie-weetie pony pie?"

Trixie gasped and tried get them to stop. "HA HA HA HA HA! OH SWEET PONY PRINCESS! HAHAHAHA STOP! I CAN'T... I CAN'T BREATHE! HAAAAAAAAAHAHA!" Her rolling around in the dirt did little to keep Derpy and Big Mac from laughing.



After a few minutes, Trixie finally got back on her hooves, dusted herself off, and cleared her throat. She was a tad flustered, but it had been a couple centuries since she last had a good laugh like that. "Oh, you two are a riot. I almost wish I could have grown up around you."

As they started walking again, Derpy chuckled, "Yeah, that would have been fun, but dangerous. Heck, the only reason Big Mac and I live in the same town is because I was assigned to Ponyville. I was supposed to go to Appleloosa, but they had problems out there and the mail office wouldn't be up for a few months. So rather than keep me waiting, they sent me to Ponyville."

Trixie looked at Bic Mac. "The Apples played a big part in Appleloosa being founded. Any idea for the delay?"

Big Mac sighed. "I blame Cousin Braeburn. The site they were supposed to go to, he called unfit. Said it wasn't fertile enough. They'd have to work it for a couple years before it was fit for any crop. It took them a couple more months to find a good spot. Of course, we know what happened there."

"Right, right, the Buffalo." Derpy scratched her head. "That doesn't make sense. That area was scouted. I know Apples are kinda conscientious about the land they use, but the scouts would know the difference between good soil and bad."

Trixie nodded. "They would. Of course, if somepony had come along and cast a spell that made the land less preferable, someone would notice and they'd move the site."

Big Mac and Derpy looked at her. Big Mac seemed almost angry, "You did WHAT!? That entire expedition was jeopardized by that! They were out there for weeks extra, made them run low on supplies! Do you know how many ponies you could have hurt?"

"Yes I do. Exactly none. Braeburn's talent is finding the right spots for growing. Not just plants, but anything. I made the soil a little less preferable, but it was enough to make him look elsewhere to set up Appleloosa. His instincts took him to just the right place."

"And that place was right in the middle of the Buffalo's stampeding grounds! Why? You risked a lot of good ponies."

"Because Celestia put him in charge." Derpy and Big Mac stopped in their tracks. She turned back with a sly smile. "Oh, you two didn't know? Celestia had him make the calls. She knew that wherever his instincts chose, it would be a great gain for all."

Derpy shook her head. "Wait wait wait, is this that... uh, whadya call it... precision thing you told me about a couple centuries ago?"

"Precognition, and yes. Celestia can tell the future. Think about it, we've all heard the stories. She's had Twilight in the right place at the right times. She sent her to Ponyville the day before Nightmare Moon, sent Twilight those letters before learning about her failure against Discord, even had her go up against Sombra. Sombra! I was afraid of Sombra when he was alive, let alone some specter. Everything she's done was to prepare Twilight for ascension. And still, she guides her."

Big Mac slowly spoke next. "Then why? Why would Celestia put Twilight through all that trouble? If Celestia knew these events were coming, why not handle them herself?"

Trixie was quiet before turning back to the path, a solemn look on her face. "Let's get to that tree. We have work to do."


The Tree of Harmony was a sight to behold. Scholars would study it incessantly. Artists would be inspired for centuries. All that was kept from happening because of its location: The Everfree Forest. It was the proverbial diamond in the rough.

To these three, however, it was something they knew nothing about. The Titans did not grow it. The Valkyre did not plant it. The Shadows did not conjure it. They knew nothing, not even if it was dangerous or not.

"So, why is it dangerous? Or why could it be?" Derpy asked.

Big Mac spoke slowly. "Those elements have been used as weapons. At least four times I can think of. No, five. Twice against Nightmare Moon, twice against Discord, and once against Tirek."

Trixie shook her head. "Make that 8. Once in a parallel world against one who stole the Element of Magic." Derpy and Big Mac were shocked! "In another parallel world, they were turned against Celestia herself."

Big Mac stopped her. "Wait a moment, only the Element of Magic was stolen, if'n I recall correctly. Applejack stayed here throughout that whole thing!"

"Twilight was able to call on their power from that world. I've seen the debriefings. She is the central nexus for their power and can channel it anywhere."

Derpy said, almost panicking, "So she attacked Celestia? Why?"

"Don't misunderstand me. They didn't attack her directly. They were used to fight off a parallel version of Celestia. But there were consequences that were unforeseen. To trap one Celestia, they would have to trap both of them. The Sombra from that world prevented it and turned the Elements on himself, allowing him to take all the evil." Trixie bowed her head, looking sad. "Broke the poor dear's heart. The pieces to that mirror were destroyed for all time."

Big Mac and Derpy just looked at each other. Derpy spoke up first, "I can't believe something like would... wait, why did it break her heart?"

"The Sombra from that world? He was a good king and they loved each other."

Everyone remained silent for a bit. Big Mac finally broke it, "Okay, that's seven. What was number eight?"

Trixie looked at the Elements and said, "Twilight. When she ascended, the Elements unloaded an unbearable amount of energy into her. Not quite as a weapon, per say, but any other pony? They would not survive the energy. I think it was because she is the Element of Magic that she was able to use the energy to ascend."

Big Mac looked at the tree. "Well, that's a heap of trouble." He planted his hooves on the ground. "You mind if I take a look first, it being a tree and all?" Trixie motioned for him to go ahead.

Titans did not just create the land, they were living embodiment of it. If anything, the land was the Titans' child. Being the last Titan, Big Mac could bond with the land like no pony could. His hooves turned to wood and rooted into the ground. His roots plowed the earth and coiled around the root of the tree. A look of shock suddenly came to his face as his roots retreated, leaving him like the pony he was known as. "It's not there."

Derpy and Trixie looked at each other. "What do you mean it's not there?" Derpy asked as if she had been told Rainbow Dash was slow. "It's right in front of us! You got rocks for brains or something?"

"You don't understand. I... I don't know how to explain it right. It's like... I mean, I can see it as a pony, but as a Titan? It's like there's a tree-shaped hole. Derpy, you try. Maybe the wind can tell you something?"

"Okay. Weird, but yeah. I'll see what I can do." Derpy faded as the entire area felt fresh, like a spring breeze that had just blown in.

The Valkyre were Wind, Storm, and Sun incarnate. This second aspect made itself known as the air took on a tingly feeling. She floated and caressed the tree. Nothing on the Tree of Harmony moved. She reappeared as if nothing happened. "Whoa! I see what you mean! That's way trippy. Seriously."

Trixie rubbed her chin. "Odd. Then why can we sense it as ponies?" She took off her signature hat and cloak. "Big Mac, be a dear and hold these for me please?" He took her possessions as she shifted.

Shadows were creature not of light or darkness, but both. The mare turned to a smoky, dark grey, and flooded the room. Everything seemed not darker, but clouded. It was if a pinch of color had been taken from everything. Everything, that is, except the tree. Suddenly, she was back. "This is disturbing. Thank you Mac, I'll... Take my hat off!"

Big Mac just smiled.

"Aw come on, it looks good on him! The Great and Powerful Big Mac!" teased Derpy.

Trixie just harumphed and levitated her hat and cloak back to her. "This is not the time to be fooling around. We need to decide what to do. This tree is not natural. We have no idea where it came from and no idea what it will do."

Derpy shook her head. "Yeah, for all we know, it could be big trouble. But then, it helped protect all the ponies, so it can't be that bad. What do you think Big Mac?"

Big Mac shook his head. "I have no clue whatsoever. We need more information, and we can't get any from this tree."

From behind them, a voice spoke gently, "Now what brings my father here with a Shadow and Valkyre?"