//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14 
// Story: My Little Pony: the Harmony of Friendship 
// by Godzilla313 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 14

It was not so much that the twins trotted down the hall as it was they were prancing, ears playing, and even nickering a bit.  They felt renewed, charged, and ready to face anything the world threw at them.  When they entered, the proverbial glow off them was remarkable.  “My, my, my, little ponies!” said Celestia, Either you two got a good nap in, or you had too much coffee!”
Quill was floating his copy of the Bardic tome of practices with him, figuring those involved in teaching them would want to know what they had learned.  They also noticed another dinner guest, nodded towards her, and said, “Well, it’s more like we have so much we want to learn and accomplish,” answered Quill, taking his place and setting down the book, “Have you ever had an epiphany, where everything in life suddenly made sense, and you clearly knew your purpose in life?”
Some nodded vigorously, while others shrugged.  Downy then said, “Well, I tell you, if we have our way, the Bardics will be back in this world, new and improved.”
“Sssssoooo…” said Twilight, “I take it that means you want to stay?”
“This is our home,” said Quill, grinning like a dog eating bumblebees, “It always has been our home.  This is where we belong.  We felt out of place in that world…” but he then stopped, noticing the guest.  He quickly apologized, but Luna said, “Fear not, child.  In order for her to understand the approach to teaching your music, she had to know the truth of everything.  She knows what is going on.  This is Octavia.  She is a classical musician who lives in Ponyville, but she is also an expert musicologist as you two are, and they can indeed teach you how to play your pet instruments.”
They greeted her, and each one raised their right hoofs, but realized they were trying to give the peace sign, forgetting that they could no longer do that without fingers.  The twins looked at each other, lifted their peace medallions and said, “Peace.”
“Greetings to you as well,” she said in return, “And I assume that is what those symbols represent?”
They nodded, and she said, “And tell me: what kind of music do you two like to play.”
“Folk music, mostly,” said Downy, “But we are also into the harmony groups of the…  Well, I guess you don’t track years the same way here, so mentioning the era of music based on that would be useless.  Well, do you understand early rock and roll based on the 12/16 bar blues progression?”
“Well, yes,” she said, “I would guess that music is universal, but that is not exactly my cup of tea.”
“Well, in our case, these were artists that based most of their music in that genre heavily on four or five part harmony,” responded Quill, “This sometimes meant a mixture of rock and roll with folk, a style called doo-wop, and other such things.”
“Hmm…” pondered Octavia, and then she said, “Well, are you versed in the classics?”
“Oh yes,” chirped Downy, “Though, I am not sure you had the same composers here.  The one we love the most was named Johann Sebastian Bach.  All music development before him funneled to him, but after that, every composer that followed him could only be his successor, not his replacement.  He was that fundamental.”
“We have one in our own history that was similar,” answered Octavia, “But that does help me to know you are grounded in your musical theory.  Thus, all I should have to do is teach you your chords and such, and teach you how to play as unicorns.”
Twilight watched the exchange go back and forth, upset they had jumped so quickly off the matter off the twins stating that they had no desire to go back to where they came from.  She said, “Hold on, and please forgive my changing the subject, but rewind a bit to where you said you did not want to go back.  What’s going on with that?”
“Oh, that…” said Quill, levitating the tome again, saying, “We’ve examined this and realize the mistakes they made, and also realize that, not only do we have a line to them, but we can now retroactively go back and not repeat the mistakes they made.  The way they did their thing actually may have helped contribute to their downfall.  I’d say about 80% of what is in here has nothing to do with actually contributing to honing one’s musical skills, and magic operated through it.  We understand now; we have a calling to this, and we must answer it.  We must find all musical unicorns that bear the circle of fifths and have talents in music and magic, as well as all unicorns that have this talent without such a mark, and find as many as we can that would want to join our cause.  We won’t be exclusive, and we will allow all those who can to join us.  No more shall this be based on birthright, but upon someone whose special talent is that of the Bardics.”
“Wow,” exclaimed Moon Dancer, “You must have been hammering away at that book.”
“I couldn’t put it down,” said Quill, “It was insightful, but also ridiculous how oddball they had become in their practice of musical magic.  Truth is, they could have been more effective against Ponaeros if they had just let nature choose who should be Bardics and been more open.  I’m thinking that many may have had our cutie marks, but really were not supposed to be Bardics.  Music doesn’t come from birthright, it comes from the heart.  They did mention that a few times, but it was so buried in all the other useless nonsense that they must have forgotten the essence of that, that it was all just words to be said by that point.”
“Indeed,” interjected Octavia, “If it is not fun, or something you truly enjoy, how can you truly allow your talents to bear sweet fruit?”
“Right,” answered Downy, “Therefore, it is up to nature to decide who is what, and not us.”
Twilight listened to this and thought about the Tree of Harmony.  In them were the Elements of Harmony that kept the tree alive, which were only to be taken in used in the most extreme and dire emergencies now.  Considering what the tree did, she wondered where this came into play.  She then said, “It makes me wonder how the Tree of Harmony is involved?”
“The tree of what?” asked Downy.  Twilight, at that point, as they dined, told her story, and all about the tree and the elements.  She then said, “Since harmony is a musical term, could that kind of harmony get or give power to the tree?  I wonder how it is involved.”
“You said something interesting,” said Downy, “You talked about the sixth element of friendship as magic.  But even magic must have a source.  What powers the magic?”
That caught her attention sharply, and it was something she had never pondered.  She then said, “I would suppose that comes from the other elements involved.”
“I’m not sure about that,” interjected Celestia, “The elements gain their strength and power one from another equally, and by it power the tree.  You know, that is a good question.  Perhaps this could be something for the princess of friendship to discover.”
Twilight then perked up, now knowing she had a challenge that went right down her alley.  “Well then, my friends and I are up to the task!”
Celestia laughed and said, “Oh my dear Twilight: I wasn’t issuing you a challenge or task, but, if you do discover it, it would definitely benefit your work as the princess of friendship.  Moreover, there could be some connection between the magic of the Bardics and the magic of friendship based on the tree.  To have harmony in music, one must have harmony in his or her heart.”
“Well, it will be fun finding out just what we will be able to do,” added Quill, “Never before have our lives shown any kind of real purpose more than what we have now.”
“Then, it is my pleasure to aid you in being able to play to your best,” added Octavia, “We must gain you proficiency to play fretted instruments in your present form, considering that such instruments are key to your music.”
Spike had been listening quietly, heard that, and then said, “Why bother?  Why not just use the magic you are learning to play them.”
“Can’t do it,” said Quill, “Because it would not allow for things to flow right.  At least that much I agree with in this tome.”
He flipped open to one of many places he had marked, saying, “There are some things that are correct and do need to be put in place.  One of them is this…”
With that, he read, “Thou shalt not use they magicks to play thine instruments to which thou art proficient.  Thou shalt always play thine instruments by thine own efforts, lest thy mind become lazy in thine execution of thy music and magic.  If thou wouldst play by thy magic alone, thou shalt play by head only, and not with thine hearts, and thy magic shall have no effect.  Thy music must emerge from within in all thy strength and through all thy being.  Therefore, thou must play and sing by skill, that the whole of thy heart, and of thy mind, and of thy strength, and of all thy being would become one with the music that thou playest and singest.  Hath not the Creator blessed thee with two hoofs to play and execute thy skill?  Use it more the rather, that all thine heart and creativity wouldest flow from thy heart to thy hoofs.”
Spike’s head was spinning with the style of writing of the ancients, and he said, “Can anyone translate that for me?”
“It means that if they play by magic alone, it becomes automatic and robotic, and your heart won’t be in it,” answered Twilight.  Moon Dancer added, “From my research, it seems that, in order for the magic to have its proper effect, one has to be—for the lack of a better term—into what you are playing.  By doing so, you can control how much of an effect what you are doing goes forth.”
“That’s what caught my attention,” said Quill, “because I have to agree with that part.  However, I also think that it was that same thinking that must have led them to all these useless traditions.  I mean, we musicians are our own worst critics, and find it hard to receive constructive criticism from those who know nothing about music.  In short, we’re perfectionists.”
Octavia nodded knowingly, and Downy said, “I guess they got so caught up in perfecting their art, they forgot the key reason why one plays music at all.”
“Which is?” asked Spike.
“Because it’s fun, silly!” answered Downy, but not harshly.
Downy then added, “I saw some of the ways they were expected to wear the hair in their manes and tails, but, though I can’t see how this helps, I do like the looks of some of it.  I’d wear some of that just because it looks good.”
Moon Dancer jumped in and said, “The whole point was to mark themselves as separate from the non-musical world, as if not being so separated would hurt their music.  It was more of a reminder of what they considered a sacred mission.”
“Spreading peace and resolving things with music and not war seems a pretty sacred act to me,” added Quill, “But I would guess that, if any difference between us and the non-musical world is to be marked, it should be in our playing, and from our hearts, not some outward show.”
Celestia and Luna were loving this whole exchange.  The flow of ideas were incredible, and only served to fuel the twins into reaching their true destinies, whatever they may be.  Celestia then said, “Then I think the world had better prepare for a new golden age if this ever goes to its logical extreme.  We could see eras of great peace all over the land.”
“Well, I don’t think war will ever fully go away,” answered Downy, “But the more we can do to lessen it, the better off all shall be.”
With that, they finished their suppers, all abuzz and in chattering conversation as they all began to see just where all this was going, and seemingly, to bringing Equestria to bright, sunlight uplands.

Later, in the conservatory, Octavia met with the twins and asked to see their guitars.  She frowned a bit on the strings and she said, “Considering that the picking of the strings will be with the corner of your hoofs, you need to use strings more suited to the task, and not these flimsy looking things.”
The conservatory master took note of this and looked among the supplies for proper strings.  She then said, “Now, if you would please, tune them in the way you know how.  I need to hear the base notes and get a feel on how you play your chords.”
They did so, and she said, “Just this once, use your magic and play chords for me the way you would if you still had hands.”
This, they also did, and she noted where the glow pressed on the strings based on what she had heard the stings play.  She then said, “Well, it looks like we’ll have to start from scratch.  The strings are keyed different in this world and laid out in such a way that you can hit your chords by how you twist your wrists and place your hoofs on the frets.”
The conservatory master came with two sets of the needed strings for the twins, and she said, “Take off the strings from your guitars and restring them in the order I tell you.”
This, they used their magic to do, carefully listening to her instructions, knowing that they were in what was uncharted waters for them.  She then went to the piano and played the key that corresponded to how each string was to be tuned, and this they were able to do quickly.  She then said, “Now, I want you to look closely at the edge of my left hoof.  Notice something?”
Looking closely, they then noticed the hoof edges, (which they now knew were made of the same material as fingernails and which grew in the same way,) and that there was notches filed into them, though shallow, but in such a fashion that allowed her to play more than one string at a time on her cello.  She then told them, “I am a cellist, and I had this done so that I can play the cello properly.  In order for you to properly play the chords, you can either do this, or wear a special shoe designed for the guitar.  However, many professional musicians do what I do because the shoe can be awkward.  It feels more natural this way.  You’ll need about four notches to play your chords properly.  You don’t go too deep, or else you’ll be walking awkwardly for a time until you let the nail grow to where it is not uncomfortable and more useful to your playing.”
With that, she pulled out a file and asked the conservatory master to assist her in preparing the twins for playing.

After about a half hour of careful and meticulous hoof-a-cure, they were ready.  However, the going was slow, as they had a couple of issues.  First, it was hard to tell how much pressure on the strings they were placing. With hands, they used their fingers and sense of touch.  With this, they could not feel anything but the vibrations of the strings.  They also found it hard to manipulate their wrists to hit the chords right.  With fingers, it was only a matter of shifting fingers.  With this, it was moving the wrist to have the knobs now on their left hoofs land right on the strings, and it was now making them sore.  Octavia then said, “You cannot think like you did before about how you played.”
“It’s hard to tell if we have the right placements for the chords,” said Downy, to which Octavia said, “You can feel the vibrations on the strings, right?”
“Oh, of course,” answered Downy, “It kind of tickles its way up my hoof into the fleshy part.”
“Then, what has to happen is that you have to repeat your circle of fifths, along with your augmented and diminished major and minor chords, over and over until you both recognize the feel of each chord, as well as the position of your wrists until it becomes subconscious and rote memory.  Let us take a short break and do some chord drills.  This, you can practice on your own.  I shall be here next week to check on your progress.  Try no actual songs until you get this much done.  If you can master that, then doing songs should be easy.”

They spent a good two hours with Octavia, and they were worn out now.  She said, “You two are coming along just fine.  If you put as much effort into your practice that I saw today, you shall be playing full songs in no time.”
She nodded with a smile and dismissed them for the day.  They thanked her graciously and cased their guitars, and she gave them both a gift of tuning pipes that were designed for tuning guitars in the pony world, considering that what they had now was obsolete.  With that, they went to their rooms.  But as they went, they began to talk, with Quill saying, “Boy, this isn’t going to come so quickly.”
“What would we have said in our former lives…?” Downy started to say, but was cut off by Quill as he said, “Former lives?  What do you mean?”
Downy raised her hoof and said, “I’ll explain that in a minute, but we would have said that we must crawl before we can walk, and walk before we can run.  We are starting over again in everything—just about.”
“Okay,” he agreed, “But what do you mean about former lives?”
“Think about it, Quill:” she said, “Remember the whole thing with Luna and how she got us acclimatized to our new forms?”
“Sure,” he said, “like, who could forget that?”
“We are so different than from what we were that we might as well have been reborn,” she answered,” Hey, I mean, think about it: I have never been happier than I have been now.  There was only one time before we felt like this.”
Quill nodded, not needing to answer that, because he knew what she referred to, and that was their time with their hippie foster parents; the ones that seemed to help them find some self-worth and purpose, and those were indeed happy days.  Downy then asked, “Are you happier now?”
“Well, sure,” he said, “It seems so odd to have people…ponies…treat you like a peer and not an outcast or misfit.”
“Well, how can we be misfits now?” she answered, “I mean, how can the fit be amiss when we now fit in so well?  I mean…”
She blushed a bit, and she said, “I have not seen us smiling so much since we’ve been here.  It actually seems awkward to be so accepted, as if what we had before was normalcy.  I guess why I feel like all that on the other side of the portal was a former life.  Applejack…their Applejack…was right: how often does any…pony get a do-over?  This has got to be the most ultimate do-over anypony can get.”
“So, you’re saying…?” asked Quill, thinking he already knew the answer, but wanted to hear her say it.
“I’m saying that Quill and Downy Feathers human are dead,” she said, “We’ve been reincarnated.  We’ve been reborn, but with that comes all the baby steps that come with growing.  Yet, we have grown up minds, and I think that we have to start thinking pony.  I think, even though we have been made to be used to this form, we still think like humans.”
“I’m not sure that will ever stop,” responded Quill, “I think that will always be a part of us.”
“But, we have to do what we can to think pony,” she answered.
“How do we do that?”
“We do that by just living day to day, taking in each experience as a learning experience.  We have to inundate ourselves as much as possible.”
Because they had spent so much time with one another, their finishing one another’s thoughts habit started to kick in again, and Quill then said, “We have to dive in head first,” to which Downy added, “And we really need to make mistakes.”
“We have to do some faux pas.”
“We have to learn like fools.”
“Just like children, like foals here.”
“We have to ask to spend some time in town every day.”
“Being stuck in this castle won’t do us any good.”
They both then decided to talk to Celestia the next day.  They wanted to go out and meet other ponies and learn how to function.  They were able to do enough of the basic magic that they could function without looking too odd, and if they were to find other Bardics, they would have to know how to mingle.  “This is going to be some hard work,” said Quill.
“We’ve gotten each other through rough spots before,” answered Downy, “But I think this is the first time we’ve ever faced a challenge on our terms.”
He nodded in agreement, and the next day, they brought this up to Celestia.  She was a bit reluctant to let them go completely free range just yet, and she then figured that what they ought to do as have Twilight take them out on daily forays into town, and let them meet some of the friends she had here in Canterlot.  It was time to leave the old world behind, and be the ponies they were meant to be all along.