//------------------------------// // Contradiction (Part 2) // Story: The Whisper of Freedom // by Gapeagle //------------------------------// "Double Diamond...What are we going to do with you?" "Starlight please!" "No, no, no, no. I have been patient with you for so long. All you've done is make life harder for all of us. No more begging, no more arguing, no more...of you. There must be some way for you to see the light. I won't stop until you do. You see, if I didn't love you like a brother, I would cast you out in the desert. Leave you in the snow of the mountains. But I care for you far more than you do for me. I can't let you suffer in your willingness to stick with the old society. You have wasted your whole life as a skier. Always showing off to everyone, especially yourself. I can't believe you still wish to ski like that. I guess that is my fault. I have not drilled equality into you hard enough." I rubbed my aching temples in frustration. It had been a long day. Make that a long week. Ever since Double Diamond followed me into Our Village, he had been nothing but trouble. Sometimes he tried to runaway, sometimes he argued for his cutie mark back, and other times he was just a ruckus for the village. He whimpered pathetically as I pinned him to the wall of my house with my magic. I never had this much trouble with a new follower. Never. I flared my nostrils and snorted loudly. Tears rolled down his face as he cried like a foal before me. I growled at him and pinned him harder against the wood paneling. "Oh quiet! All this pain is self-imposed. You keep feeling so sorry for yourself. It's disgusting!" "Starlight, I'm sorry," he cried. "No, you are not! I've heard you say those very words seven times now! I'm not stupid or naive. I know you did everything on purpose and you lie to me now." He did not reply as he hung his head low. I started to pace around the dark room. I had closed all the curtains to prevent the other residents from looking in. I wanted privacy. They never took to liking whenever I punished a free-thinker. I was fine with that as they should not enjoy another's pain, but they must realize its necessity. Without discipline, they would never learn, they would never grasp the concept of equality. I had to guide their weary minds to the vision of Our Village. Sometimes a stick was the best guide. "I have never had a pony as stubborn as you in Our Village," I muttered. "Most either see my message or after some persuasion accept equality. Some choose equality once the cutie mark is gone. You have done none of those. None! You've been here for a week now, without your cutie mark, and with all your friends here as well, and you still haven't come close to seeing my vision." "I have no friends here. Starlight, I don't belong here. Can't you let..." "No! You have friends here. Every single smile out there is your friend. Those are your friends. They want to be your friend. I want to be your friend, but it must be mutual. All you need to do is be my friend and all the troubles will go away. You belong here. You followed me here." "You took me!" "You followed me here. It was on your own terms. We gave you what you wanted: food, bed, and company. Those were your terms. You must realize, Double Diamond, that you don't simply leave here. Not in your state of mind. You're unfit for travel and certainly less ft to spread the message. Besides, it's far too early to start equality around Equestria. They aren't ready. All you will do is spread suspicion with your new cutie mark. They will ask you questions that you cannot answer. One slip of your rugged tongue and they'll swarm here and take all this away. I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend my life in a dungeon because Princess Celestia mistook my message of equality!" I shook my head and released his legs of my magic. Like I predicted, he took the opportunity to run for the door. I grabbed him with my magic and slammed him to the ground. It pained me to do such a thing to him, but I forced myself to remain stern for his sake. "I didn't say you could leave," I told him. He got up quickly and charged at me. I was quick to wrap my magic around his throat and lifted him in the air. He gasped for air and waved his legs about as I hung him there. With a sigh, I simply shook my head in disappointment. "You know, I think I know what to do now. Simply telling you about equality will solve nothing. Something else must be done. There is a vacant house at the end of the row. We built it wrong and thus it only has one room. Windows are too small and the door jams quite a bit. It's a thick door too, far thicker than the others. I'm going to put you in there. You'll be in there until you accept my vision! No food, no water, no toilet breaks! And all you will hear, day and night, shall be my voice. I have some magic-powered recorders in the closet. I'll play my best slogans over, and over, and over again. You won't come out until you see my plan. Everypony will know you're in there too. I won't let them talk to you, aid you, or even look at you through the window. This is how it will be done from now on. If I pick up any ponies like you in the future, they shall end up in that house. I hope, I pray, and desperately wish that you'll come out like a new stallion, reborn in equality." = "You make your dresses with gems? Isn't that expensive?" "Well, not when your cutie mark lets you find gems." "Ah yes, because a cutie mark can make one life easier and one life harder. There's fairness in that, right?" Rarity resorted to ignoring me as she made the blue night dress. I did not appreciate the tactic, but I decided to go along with it peacefully. She was a pony who was easily upset. I had no real reason to fear her, but why aggravate her? She was one of the six that destroyed my life's work, but she was also Sweetie's older sister. Sisters have such strong attachments and if I sever them too quick, they may affect more than just them. "Miss Glimmer, would you bring the measuring tape to me from other there?" Rarity asked curtly. "You have the magic," I replied. "Yes, but I am trying to get you involved. Would you please retrieve it?" she pointed a hoof at the tape. I nodded and walked over to it. The tape was white and slightly worn from use. I slipped a hoof under it and turned around. Rarity levitated a hundred objects through the air. I had to slide around several fabric rolls and pins. I accidentally poked my flank against one of the pins and jumped with a yelp. "Gah!" Rarity glanced at me with a raised brow before returning her attention to the dress. She had removed some of the gems and instead added a silver lacing on the edges. I rubbed my flank while I handed her the tape. She whistled a tune as she took it and spread the tape to my leg, inspected it, and then rolled it up again. "I hope this dress isn't mine," I muttered. "Do you see any clients?" Rarity questioned rhetorically. "If you know me so well, you should know I would never where something so....gaudy," I gestured at it in disgust. "Gaudy?" Rarity deadpanned, "If this is gaudy, you haven't seen gaudy. Oh, whatever, the customer is always right." Rarity began to ruffle the dress about and started to sketch a design on a parchment that laid on the small table beside her. I leaned over her shoulder to see what she was drawing. It was a much more simple dress, though still classy in its own right. Sh took noticed of me and pushed me slowly away with a hoof. "I may be doing this through my generosity, but I do require some personal space," she explained. "Oh, of course," I backed off. I did not understand it. Rarity was furious with me just two hours ago and now she was making me a dress? I was skeptical, of course, but there was nothing that showed some other plan under the surface. It was obvious she was doing it reluctantly, but that would suggest somepony told her to make the dress. The only one I could suspect of ordering her to do such an action would be Twilight. That or Sweetie Belle, but they had no private conversation since the tea and the following brunch. "Is there any particular reason why you are making this dress?" I ventured. "I started to think for once today. I've realized what you do. You argue, you never talk. So I thought we could do something together and keep our thoughts off anything that may offend the other. Also, I am not making this dress, you are too," was the answer. "I talk quite a bit! In Our Village, I..." "Starlight, you are not in your village anymore," Rarity reminded me. "It's easy to be at peace in your home. However, I...I can't start to describe how terribly uncomfortable you are outside your village." I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Of course I'm uncomfortable. I'm among my enemies. I've lost my only friends. I know that everypony else do not hold my beliefs to be true." "I understand why, Starlight. I may be inconsiderate towards you at the moment, but the reasons why you would be upset are obvious. I know how it is being among those who don't see eye-to-eye with you and I know how it feels to be cheated, manipulated, and even controlled. I just wanted you to know that we are trying to reform you, not control you or even force you to give up your beliefs." "Lies. All you've done is give me more pain. You're trying to break me so that you can turn me into a satellite of your friendship propaganda. Well, guess what, you won't ever break me." "Not again at least..." Rarity muttered casually. "What are you suggesting?" I crept forward. "You think I've been broken before?" "Everyone's been broken at one time or another, Starlight," Rarity nodded in self-agreement. "Ha! Then you once again assume wrongly. Ever since I was a foal, I was strong-willed and determined. I wanted to excel and did." "To excel is to fail," Rarity said flatly. "Well, yes. I never said that was a good thing for me," I replied quickly. "I didn't always believe in what I do now. I earned it through my viewings on society and seeing the obvious errors that all seemed blind to." "You were broken. To form such radical opinions on your own could not come any other way," Rarity stated. "No, I just saw the blatant wrongs of ponies before everypony else. Scratch that, I wasn't he first to see it, but the first to do something about it." She returned this with a shrug. Her magic picked up the new sketch of the dress and she displayed it to me. With a raised eyebrow she waited for my conclusion. I shook my head slowly. "I...I can't wear that," I told her. "To wear something of such worth. It's....It's not like me." "Forget the cost," she almost whispered. "Others wear so little. Not only that, it's unnecessary..." I continued. "It's very necessary, dear." "...How could I accept it..." "Easily." "...It's not equal..." "I don't care." She crunched the paper and pitched it into the trashcan. Another paper soon took its place on the table and her black chalk ran across it once more. My ears were far forward as I listened to the chalk lightly scrap along the parchment, making elegant swerves and intricate loops. In little to no time, she displayed another sketch. It was not simpler than the last but it was of a smooth design. It was more pleasing to my eyes, even if I may have said otherwise. Rarity was an artist, there was no doubt. I could not have had the precision with my magic to guide the chalk like she could. It was almost showing off, but I felt it was unintentional. "I guess it's better?" I shrugged. "Hmph," Rarity grinned, "just as I thought." Rarity pumped a hoof in the air before regaining her composure and commencing her work. She brought a ponnequin forward and moved the blue dress over to it. She then paused and glanced my way. "I never asked, but what color do you prefer? I chose blue because it complements your pink fur. Though your personal preference is more important than my opinion." "Your opinion is no more important than mine," I reminded her. "Alright." She threw the blue dress away." Then I take back my opinion. It's all your choice. You have free choice and I make it. Fair right?" "Not exactly..." "Good! I thought you would say that!" she said quickly. She ignored my slight protest and awaited my choices. I took a look at all the colored fabrics. Pink, yellow, blue, red, orange, purple, lavender, they were all there. I opened my mouth more than once to select a color, but ended up closing it right after. Rarity seemed very patient with me at the moment. I could only guess she was exercising some sort of restraint. That or she understood my hesitant choosing because she was a fashionista. "Now that you mention it, the blue does fit me the best," I gave in. "As you wish." Rarity brought the blue dress back and began to adjust it accordingly. Like any logical pony I felt suspicious by this change of heart. Yes, she stated she was trying to keep the peace, but we could be doing that in a myriad of other ways. This felt specific to a purpose. A future purpose I wagered. "Rarity, on what occasion would I even wear this dress? It's too elegant for casual wear," I observed. "Huh? Oh, don't worry, darling, you'll have a time and place for it," she answered. "Why the change of heart?" I asked. She paused and blinked in confusion. I had purposely made the question sudden and out of the blue to increase the chances of her answering it truthfully. Sometimes I could catch ponies off guard and they would answer immediately with their true intent. However, Rarity caught my question as soon as I uttered it and turned around to face me. "I have not changed heart at all. Things are just quieter at the moment. I do not think my actions earlier were unnecessary or harsh. I was defending my sister; I setting the tone of this household for you. I never wished for Twilight to send you here. In all honesty, I did not want to see you at all. It's Twilight's mad plan that has you here. As a friend, I should help Twilight and thus help with you. However, I know what you are capable of. Twilight thinks she has you under control because she took your magic away. To me, your magic was never the issue. It's your tongue. I've been cheated by those I thought I could trust. They weren't strangers or anything like that either. She was actually an old friend of mine that shared the fashion business with me. She burned me. She stole my work and did with a smile. I'll never forget that. It was my fault that she was able to steal my work. Her words, though much simpler than yours, went right through me. I'll never be tricked like that again." "So you think I'll trick you?" I questioned. "No, you already have," she stated. "When?" "Your false story of Princess Celestia. Sweetie Belle may believe it, but I know Celestia would never do that. Her letter to us concerning you was heartfelt and sincere. She said you begged to be thrown in a dungeon because you didn't want to see Twilight," Rarity told me. "Fine. That may have been a lie. Everything else is sincere. You should know that my equal views are sincere. I do believe in what I say. I hope that the cutie mark incident in Our Village would not have you believe otherwise. "Don't worry, I know you are sincere in that. Applejack told me. I thought you were just some deceiver, but no. I think you just don't know how to execute your plans," she nodded absently. "My plans? I'm not some power-hungry villain. My plans are visions, and my visions are hope. I hope that Equestria would see what I am trying to accomplish. I hope they see that cutie marks only lead to frustration and bitterness. I hope they see that cutie marks give some ponies a life of wealth and others a life of poverty. That's my plan." "Perhaps. However, that gives you no right to force your ideals onto ponies. If some ponies wish to be equal like you, that's fine, but if they don't, you must accept their denial. Being forceful is not going to get you friends, dear, only enemies and cowardly followers. Of course, there are exceptions, but that's different." "I don't often use force. I use it when needed," I told her. "It did not take long for you to use force on us," Rarity huffed with a roll of her eyes. "That's because you six started snooping about and asking about the vault. I know ponies well. I knew what you were planning on doing and I had to stop it. I don't see anything wrong with that," I shrugged. "It's all on perspective," Rarity nodded before returning to her work. I soon found the measuring tape around my shoulders and legs before it floated away from me again. She took the information and continued to work on the dress. She was operating at such a pace that I could barely tell what she was doing. I watched her by dodging all the whirling materials that made the room a dangerous place to be. "Hey! Miss Glimmer!" I turned to see Sweetie Belle enter the room. She was panting from fatigue and I assumed she had ran up the stairs to us. Rarity was still focused on the dress and so I was the only one who knew of Sweetie's presence. I casually walked over to the filly, making sure I would not receive any more bruises from the fabrics that soared around me. "Yes, Sweetie?" I asked pleasantly. "You know Diamond? Well, she's just down the street. Scootaloo and I ran into her. I think you can have some....words with her?" "Certainly," I glanced back at Rarity," your sister may not think so." "It'll be real quick I bet. When she's dressmaking, she wouldn't notice if the Boutique was on fire! Trust me, it's happened. By the way, the dress looks great so far! Who's it for?" "Apparently me," I answered. "Oh, huh," Sweetie said surprised. "Never though Rarity would make you a dress. Especially after what happened." "Something's up; we both know it," I nodded, "but let us not waste time thinking about it yet. Lead the way." = The early afternoon was a bit too warm for my tastes. It was also rather humid from the spotty rain showers that the pegasi conjured an hour ago. I never understood why spotty showers were needed. Why not have a proper rain storm and be done with it? I mentally shrugged at the idea. Sweetie led me on. She had a skip in her stride that only a filly could do. I no doubt gave her a confidence like no other. I knew the feeling myself. Having an adult with you when you confront a bully is almost as powerful as a magical shield bubble. I also was confident in myself about resolving the issue of this bully, whether I had my magic or not. That, and I was out of any Bearer of Harmony's vision. It was relieving to be out of their sight and influence. I could go wherever I wanted. Such freedom felt so fresh after the past few days. I could see the lemonade stand and finally get some more of that precious drink. I could leave town. Though, that may not be a smart option. I had done my running already, and at the moment, I did not feel like running again and abandoning these whispers of freedom. "Sweetie, how lon-" In less than an instant, I found my face in the soft dirt. My muzzle was the first to hit ground and it became numb upon impact. Somepony was sitting on me. That or standing. I sighed as I thought it was Rarity who tackled me. Wait, Rarity would not tackle me by hoof. This made me suspicious and I ventured a glance to my left. I saw a bright pink hoof on my shoulder and my ears picked up a joyous giggling. "Hey ya!" the culprit laughed. "You!" I growled upon realizing who it was. "You? My name's not "you," it's Pinkie, silly!" she jumped off of me. "Not you...." I moaned. "That's right!" she giggled even louder. Pinkie started to "bounce" in place from some excitement I could not fathom. She did not help me up and I had to get my face out of the dirt. Sweetie Belle seemed unfazed by this mare's brutality on me and waved at her with a white hoof. "Hey Pinkie! What brings you over here?" the young one asked. "Oh nothing, just my Pinkie Sense and Starlight," Pinkie explained casually. "Pinkie Sense? What did it tell you?" Sweetie questioned confusedly. "That Starlight left Rarity and was actually trying to escape and also kick Diamond's rear for you," Pinkie said in a quick burst. "I was not trying to escape!" I defended myself. "But you were thinking about it," Pinkie shot back. "How did you know?" I blinked. "Just a hunch," she shrugged. "So, are you going to report me to Twilight or something?" I crossed my front legs. "What? Pfft, of course not silly! Twilight's orders were "keep Starlight under watch at all times." Pinkie imitated the princess. "So I see you and can watch you. Do I need to do anything more? Of course not! So I was thinking we could go to Sugarcube Corner, or the small shops, or...Oh wait...I have you one of these days. Whoops, I would have done the party before it was ready. My bad. Oh! That doesn't mean we can't hang out for the rest of the afternoon. I'm sure Rarity won't mind." "When did you become so chirpy? Last I remember of you, you were the grumpiest of them all," I observed. "Well, that was because all of your followers were actually pretty sad and sometimes heartbroken under the big smiles. That was why I was grumpy. Though we fixed the place up and they are all happy again! So there's no need to remain mad at you. I forgave you long before today!" "You're the first to say that..." I muttered. "So since I forgave you, this means we're friends right?" The pink mare pressed her nose against mine. I tried to push her away with a hoof, but it was like pushing an oak tree. I actually pushed myself away from her, as her hooves were firmly planted in the ground, despite being on the tips. As I thought about it, there was no sense in how this happened. But then again, it made perfect sense when one takes the pink mare into account. "We are not friends," I told her sternly. "You sure?" she closed the gap between us and our muzzles met once more. "Yes. Do you believe in personal space?" "Personal space is just the separation of true feelings," she said in a matter-of-fact manner. "I guess that means 'no,'" I sighed. She finally backed off. "C'mon! Ponyville has so many places to hang out! We can go to-" "I'm not interested," I hissed. "I was actually trying to help Sweetie here. I would like to go back to that." "Pluhleeeese!" Pinkie waved a dismissing hoof. "You can do that any day. This opportunity we have right now is running away! We should go catch it. Sweetie can come along too!" "You can watch me help Sweetie. That wouldn't break Twilight's rules," I suggested. "Wow! Miss Glimmer is right," Sweetie squeaked. The pink mare froze. Her face was twisted in a thousand emotions. I could not read her at all. There were very few ponies I could not read. One was Celestia, but with her age, it was understandable. Pinkie, however, was younger than me. Every frown, smile, twirl of the eye, and that flexible mane all disrupted my concentration. I could not predict her actions or her words. "Well, I have a feeling Twilight wouldn't approve. I mean, she did tell me about how you spoke with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle last time you were here. And I know what you're "helping" her with," she rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Twilight isn't here. She doesn't have to know," I reminded her. "Well, she kinda does," Pinkie rubbed harder. "Well, maybe not. But why would I keep it secret? It doesn't make sense..." "When do you know about making sense?" I asked incredulously. "Since 3rd Grade," was the casual answer. "Ugh," I moaned. "Alright, I'll make it simple for you. Just let Sweetie and I go over there for a while and then we shall return. When that happens, we can do whatever you want." Pinkie slid over to me and placed a leg on my back, leaning on me like I was some furniture. Her eyes were only half open, giving me a smug-like look. She slowly shook her head at me. "You think I'm just some balloon-headed, pink-maned bimbo, but the joke's on you! I'm not actually naturally pink-maned," she boasted. "What?" I shouted. "Shhh," she placed a hoof on my lips. "If you were anyone else, I would let you go away like that, but, unfortunately you're Starlight Glimmer. Twilight gave me orders and by Celestia, I'll follow them! Hehehe! So that means I'll follow you over to Diamond. So I'll follow both you and Twilight, see?" "Wow! Both of you are going to help me with Diamond?" Sweetie gasped excitedly. "Brilliant..." I rolled my eyes. With that, Sweetie started on her way again with the pink mare skipping happily behind her. I grumbled lowly and followed them, much less excited than moments prior. Pinkie was interfering with my interaction with the filly. Apparently forgiveness does not equal trust with this mare. She was trying to hide this under "Twilight's orders" but I could tell what she was actually getting at. She didn't trust me. I would have to either fix that, or somehow keep this pink mare distracted. It was not going to be easy.