//------------------------------// // I'm What?!: Harmony's Shock and Celestia's Tale // Story: The Power of Friends // by kurusagi16 //------------------------------// I'm What?!: Harmony's Shock and Celestia's Tale The party began to whirl by in no time, until soon, it was time to sit down and have some birthday cake. One of the cooks wheeled the three tier cake into the ballroom and placed it onto the center of the table. Each tier was a different flavor, the bottom being angel food cake, the middle strawberry, and the top blueberry. And it was all covered in light purple and light blue icing, with pink frosting flowers dotting it and sixteen candles shaped like crystals on top. The cook also placed a gem cake in front of Spike, which had been especially made to suit his tastes. Cadence lit up the candles with her magic and smiled at Flurry Heart. "Make a wish, dear." she said. Flurry gently flew up to the cake and thought over what to possibly wish for. Then, she thought of a good one. She closed her eyes and said her wish in her thoughts. I wish that it'll always be like this, with, my family and friends all together and happy. She took a deep breath and blew out all the candles. Everypony clapped lightly as Flurry sat back down. Shining Armor cut out the first slice of cake and passed it to Flurry Heart. "So, what'd you wish for?" asked Sparks, curious to know. Flurry smirked at her. "You know I can't tell you." she said. "Otherwise, it won't come true!" "She's right!" chimed Pinkie Pie and Razzaroo in unison, both trying to get a good slice of cake for themselves from each tier. Sparks rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, well, let me know if it ever comes true. Okay?" "I'll be sure to do that." giggled Flurry. "So Morning, how's the cake?" asked Harmony, trying to establish some friendly conversation. "It's okay, I guess." she replied with a shrug. "I prefer red velvet honestly." "Red velvet is pretty tasty." said Razzaroo, butting into the conversation. "But I've always had a soft spot for confetti cake!" Harmony arched an eyebrow and smirked. "I thought you always had a soft spot for all kinds of cake." she joked. Razzaroo shrugged and gave an embarrassed smile. "Can I help it if they're all so delicious?" she licked her lips thinking about it, and took a large bite from one of the three cake slices on her plate. "That's quite a bit of cake you have there." remarked Morning Star, eying her plate. "Are you sure you'll be able to eat it all?" "Please, this is nothing." said Razzaroo proudly. "When it comes to food, my stomach is like a bottomless pit, I eat and eat and eat and I never seem to get full. Well, most of the time anyway." Harmony and Morning laughed along with Razzaroo. This caught Kimono's attention. "What are you guys talking about?" she asked. "Razzaroo here was talking about how she has a bottomless pit for a stomach." said Morning Star. Kimono chuckled. "It's true! You should see the way she wolfs down my rice cakes and dangos." Morning Star speared a large bit of cake onto her fork and lifted it with her magic. "Even still, I can't believe you've never gotten sick from eating all those sweets." She then glanced over at Pinkie Pie, who was stuffing her cheeks with an entire slice of cake. "Well, almost. But seriously, if you keep eating like that, it'll end up causing nothing but trouble." Morning was waving her cake-filled fork around as she lectured, and accidentally ended up flicking off the cake, which landed right on Harmony's chest. "I'm so sorry!" cried Morning Star, a hoof flying to her mouth. Harmony waved a hoof. "It's fine. I'll just go and wash it off." She got herself up from the table and went toward the doors. "I'll be right back." "Don't be too long!" Razzaroo called after her. "Well, it's official." said Harmony with a frown. "I have no idea where I am." After wandering around the castle, Harmony had managed to find the bathroom, but in the process, she ended up lost with no idea how to get back to the ballroom. "I swear, this place is like a maze." she muttered. She stopped in front of a tall, thin door. "Maybe this will lead me somewhere familiar enough to find my way back." Harmony opened the door, and stepped into a what felt like the millionth hallway she'd come across. As she walked down it, she couldn't help but notice the tall stained glass windows that lined along the walls. There was one that depicted Flurry Heart's aunt Twilight, another that showed a younger version of Spike and a Crystal Heart, and one of both Flurry's parents surrounded by an aura as they formed a giant heart. "What is this place?" Harmony wondered aloud. "It is the hall that leads to Canterlot Tower." answered a voice. Harmony let out a startled shriek as she turned to see who was talking to her. She then breathed a relieved sigh when she saw that it was only Princess Celestia. "Oh, princess, it's you." said Harmony. "Forgive me, I got a little lost on my way back to the ballroom." "That's quite alright." said Celestia, walking past Harmony and standing in front of the windows. "Princess, if I may ask, what exactly is all this?" she asked, gesturing to the various windows and their images. "These are important moments that have happened in Equestria." answered Celestia. "From the reign of Discord to the coronation of Princess Twilight." Harmony looked over the windows, stopping in front of the one that showed Discord, the Master of Chaos in all his terrific might. Celestia noticed her interest and asked, "Tell me, Harmony, what do you know about Discord?" "Well, not a lot." Harmony admitted. "I mean, I know that he caused all lot of trouble in the past and how he's pretty powerful, but other than that, I don't really know." She turned her head to look at the princess. "Why do you ask?" "Just curious." answered Celestia simply. "What would you say if I told you that there was another spirit, similar to Discord?" "You mean, another Spirit of Chaos?" Celestia shook her head. "No, as far as I can tell, there's only one Spirit of Chaos. What I'm talking about, is the Spirit of Peace and Harmony." Harmony blinked. "The Spirit of Peace and Harmony? I've never heard of it before." "That's not surprising, so few ponies know her or remember her." "Her?" Celestia turned back to the window. "Let me tell you a little story." she said. Harmony wasn't sure exactly where Princess Celestia was going with this, but decided it was best to just listen. She was the princess after all, and she seemed like she wanted to talk with her (for whatever reason). Princess Celestia exhaled and began to tell Harmony her story. "Many eons ago, before Equestria was founded, there lived a benevolent Spirit of Peace and Harmony, who protected the ponies and creatures alike from great danger and brought light and love to all. She believed that as long as there was friendship, light, and harmony in the hearts of the ponies, then the land would remain in peaceful balance. And then, one day, it happened. A dark and powerful entity appeared, threatening to consume and corrupt the world for his own gain, the spirit took a stand against him and fought with every ounce of her power. In the end, she managed to defeat him and save the land that would one day be Equestria, but it came with a high price." "What happened?" asked Harmony curiously. "Because she used so much of her power, the spirit was greatly weakened, and she knew that she wouldn't last much longer. So, in order to preserve herself and her magic, she mustered just enough strength to transform herself into a tree." "A...a tree?!" Celestia nodded slowly. "Yes, the legendary Tree of Harmony, which contained the magic, the very essence of the spirit inside. And the most powerful essence of her magic was stored inside the Elements of Harmony." "Why?" asked Harmony. "Why'd she do that?" "Because," Celestia answered wisely. "She knew that the ponies and creatures of the land needed protection, they needed her magic, without her, there'd be nopony to stop others like the entity from laying waste to the land and destroying everything that she'd strived to protect. She'd turned herself into a tree, so that others could still call upon her help, and created the elements, for the chosen few who would truly be able to wield them. It is because of her, that we now live today in this era of peace." "It's certainly a nice story, princess." said Harmony politely. "By why are you telling me all this?" "I've been having visions recently. Visions in which I see the Spirit of Peace and Harmony. I wondered what it could mean, so I went to the Tree of Harmony, seeking answers to what my vision could mean. And it is there, that I discovered that the power and consciousness that had slept deep within the tree, had disappeared." "Disappeared? Where did it disappear to?" Celestia looked Harmony in the eye. "That, is where you come in." she said. "Huh?" Harmony said, looking perplexed. "What do you mean? What does any of this have to do with me?" "I have reason to believe that you, Harmony, now hold inside you, the soul and the power of the Spirit of Peace and Harmony." "Wait, what?!" The princess went on. "I can sense it inside you. You are the reincarnation of the spirit, Harmonia, and the new Spirit od Peace and Harmony." * * * ".........I'm WHAT?!!!" Shouted Harmony. Celestia repeated herself calmly. "You are Harmonia's reincarnation, and as such, you hold all of her powers as the new Spirit of Harmony." Harmony wildly shook her head. "Forgive me for saying this princess, but you're nuts!!" She frantically began pacing. "I mean, do really expect me to immediately buy all this stuff you're dumping onto me? Let's say that even for a moment that I am this supposed "Spirit of Harmony", where's your proof? Is it my name or something? Not to mention, I'm a Pegasus, I don't even have magic!" Harmony tried to calm herself down after her hysterical rant. "It's not becuase of your name." said Celestia, "Although it is quite coincidental. No, when I first went to the Tree of Harmony, all I knew that the Spirit of Harmony had returned, but I didn't know where she was or what had happened to her. All that was left in the tree was an enchantment to help continue to keep all that grows in the Everfree Forest contained. When I came back, Luna mentioned you to me and wondered if there might be some connection. I thought nothing of it, until I saw you earlier today." "Earlier today? What do you?" asked Harmony, demanding some answers to all these questions swarming around in her head. In a glittering flash of magic, Celestia produced an old thick book, and opened up to the bookmarked page. "This, is a picture of Harmonia, the spirit you are reincarnated from." Harmony gasped, her eyes widening in shock. The picture...it was her. And yet, it wasn't her. The illustration looked like an older, stronger, more elegant version of Harmony, as tall as Princess Celestia, as well as an Alicorn. "But...that can't be." said Harmony in denial. "There must be some mistake. I...I can't be--" "But you are." said Celestia. "This all too complicated, and confusing." groaned Harmony, rubbing her head. "You must have me confused with somepony else or...or something!" Celestia shook her head. "Despite what you may think now, Harmony, you are Harmonia's reincarnation." "But I don't even know or remember any of the stuff you just told me! If I am Harmonia, shouldn't I--" "Tell me," said Celestia. "Have you been having strange dreams lately?" Harmony froze. She recalled the strange dream's she'd been having, how they all seemed vaguely familiar. "H-how did you know?" asked Harmony shakily. "It is a sign that your powers, Harmonia's powers, will awaken within you, and you will become the Spirit of Harmony." said Celestia. Harmony shook her head, this was all too much. "No, it...it's not true. You're wrong!" she shouted. "Harmony--" "I'm not Harmonia, I'm not the Spirit of Peace and Harmony, all you told me is nothing but crazy talk! I'm just Harmony...I'm, I'm just a Pegasus. I'm not...I'm not..." Her eyes began to water, she sharply turned her head away from Celestia. "Harmony, I--" "Leave me alone! I don't want to hear it!!" Harmony sniffed. "I know you're the princess, and that you're Flurry's great-aunt, but I'm afraid you're wrong. I'm just a regular old Pegasus and nothing more. I hang out and joke with my friends, I work at a cafe...I'm not what you think I am." Celestia softened and took a few careful steps toward Harmony. "If that is truly how you feel, then I will not press the matter any further. If you still don't believe me, then you can continue on with your life as it is. But, should you change your mind, I will be here to help you with any questions and to offer you guidance." Harmony rubbed her eyes. "Thank you, princess, but I don't think I'll be needing it. Now if you'll pardon me, my friends are waiting for me back in the ballroom." She stalked past Princess Celestia, and closed the door loudly behind her. "Well, that certainly could've gone better." said Princess Luna, stepping from her hiding place. "She's in denial." said Celestia. "Maybe after she's calmed down, she'll be able to think things over more clearly." "Sister, are you absolutely sure that she's Harmonia's reincarnation?" "Yes, I'm sure of it." "Then why did you let her go? Shouldn't we explain to her how important it is once she awakens?" "I've already explained to her what she must know. Harmony needs to find out and see for herself what she is capable of." Luna sighed. "I hope you're right Celestia. I hope you're right." Flurry Heart was looking worriedly toward the ballroom doors. "Harmony's been gone for a while." she said. "I hope she's okay." "I'm sure she's fine." said Sparks assuredly. "I think I'm gonna go check on her, just to be on the safe side." Flurry Heart hurried out of the ballroom and began to search for Harmony, and calling out to her. "Where could she be?" she wondered. "Your highness." Flurry Heart jumped by the sudden voice, until she saw it was only a couple of royal guards. "Oh, you startled me! Is there something I can help you with?" "The princess requests your presence at once in the throne room, and has asked us to accompany you." said one of the guards. "She said it was urgent." Flurry Heart wondered what her great-aunt could possibly want, so she followed the guards as the led her to the throne room doors. "The princess is in there." Flurry Heart opened the door and took a step through the doorway. It was completely empty. She slowly turned her head. "I don't see--" She let out a cry, as a flash of green light hit her, rendering her unconscious.Her body dropped to the floor, as the two royal guards stood over her body and sneered. "Well, that was easy." Harmony trudged down the hall, thinking over her very weird conversation with the princess. "She must be crazy!" she said. "Okay, crazy is a bit of a strong word, but I mean, come on! Me, a spirit? It's nuts!" Harmony heaved a sigh. "I probably shouldn't have snapped at the princess though, but...she can't be right. I just...I just can't be the Spirit of Harmony. Can I?" Harmony stopped walking and looked back over her shoulder. That entire story Celestia had told her was so strange, and to suddenly declare that she was some reincarnation of a spirit...it sounded insane! Was reincarnation even possible? She put a hoof to her forehead. All of this was giving her a headache. "I'll have to apologize to her later for how I yelled at her." she said. "But if she still thinks that I'm supposed to believe all this confusing spirit nonsense--" "Harmony!" "Harmony's attention snapped to Razzaroo, Kimono, Morning, and Sparks, who were all rushing toward her in a panic. "There you are!" cried Razzaroo. "Where have you been?" demanded Sparks. "I got a little lost. What's going on?" "It's Flurry Heart." said Kimono. "She's gone." "Gone? What do you mean gone?!" "She stepped out to look for you and then....and then..." "Then what?" Morning Star spoke up. "They found a note left behind, Flurry Heart's been...kidnapped."